The package is missing!
The package that they had struggled to retrieve from the Divine Hall after suffering heavy casualties is now gone!
"..."
After confirming this, Steven remained silent for a long time and eventually just sighed in resignation.
Was everything that happened before just a nightmare?
Perhaps he never actually had those other nine companions, and he never encountered the Divine Hall in the mist?
No, those were all real.
He could recall every detail of what had happened before and could feel the strange sensation in his stomach.
As well as the injuries remaining on his body, all proving that it was not an illusory fantasy.
But even if it wasn't a dream, what then?
He didn't know what was inside the package, nor did he understand what presence had influenced his group.
He knew nothing.
Steven understood very well that as just a weak Ranger, he had no ability to resist against this terrifying mountain range.
If the previous encounters were their fate, then they could only accept it.
The weak have no right to defy destiny.
And after sorting out his thoughts, Steven did not continue to daze off; instead, he set out on his journey.
Given the current situation, he could only take it one step at a time.
Now, he wanted to verify whether everything he experienced in the dream was real.
Steven headed east and soon caught a familiar salty smell.
It was the sea.
It truly was the sea!
Unable to contain his excitement, he stumbled and ran, soon passing through the mist to reach the endless seaside.
In reality, he truly saw the same coast as in his dream!
The only slight difference from the dream was that the coast was littered with large pits, seemingly as if impacted by a Giant Dragon.
Steven couldn't care less about their origin and instead dashed toward the giant fish corpse left on the shore.
The massive fish corpse, about five meters long, seemed to have been chewed by an even larger beast, leaving only its massive head with some fish meat that hadn't completely decayed yet.
Having starved for so long, Steven couldn't bother with such details and rushed over to take a bite.
As he struggled to swallow the foul-smelling fish meat, feeling the slimy texture slipping down his throat, tears silently streamed down his cheeks.
"Sob, sob..."
After the long nightmare ended, he finally welcomed the dawn.
At this moment, within Steven's nearly collapsed mind, there was finally a flicker of feeling alive.
To be alive.
He wanted to live on.
No matter what, he had to survive.
As long as he could live... offering his soul to any kind of existence was worth it.
He had made his decision.
Once he was fully prepared, he would sacrifice himself to the unknown deity!
Be it his soul or this flesh.
.
.
Mist Monastery, Third Commandment Hall.
Endless Maze.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch... huh, it doesn't hurt anymore?"
When Herbert opened his eyes, he found that his body no longer felt pain.
He cautiously touched his chest and fortunately found no lingering wounds.
Thank goodness.
No huge opening of the heart.
Herbert slowly got up, glanced at the hourglass by his side, and saw that the sands inside were completely exhausted.
Did I sleep for a whole night?
He moved his body and found his joints stiffer than he expected, almost as if he had remained in one position for a long time.
More than just one night?
After squinting to sense that everything was peaceful in the various prison areas, especially when he heard Valentina's familiar, peaceful breathing, he felt somewhat relieved.
Thankfully, nothing seemed to have gone wrong.
"Nenasha, is it over?"
["Yes, it finally ended~"]
Somehow, there was a trace of sentiment in the Evil God's voice, sighing: ["If you didn't wake up today, I really would have had to find a way to wake you myself."]
Oh?
Herbert raised an eyebrow, stretching his body and laughing: "From your tone, did I sleep for a long time?"
["Long? Haha, not long at all, just under three days."]
Hmm?
"Three days?"
["Three days, oh."]
"..."
Rather than being shocked by how long he slept, the first thought that crossed Herbert's mind at that moment was Valentina.
It's not that he's love-struck, nor does he care that much about Valentina.
He was simply in shock!
What the hell.
Before I slept, she was already asleep. After I woke up, how is she still sleeping!
Are you the God of Sleep!!?
Though Herbert knew that before Valentina came to the Monastery, she'd been in a perennial state of slumber, able to sleep for a year or more at a time.
But ever since he got to know Valentina, she had never slept for more than a day at a time.
Especially after he started feeding her, she would wake up automatically at mealtimes, like a game character refreshing its daily state.
So what happened this time?
Three days without waking?
Are you truly full now!
Are you not hungry anymore?
No.
I haven't fed you for three days; wouldn't you worry about my safety?
Pissed and shivering with cold.
When will Dragon Breeder finally stand up!!?
Herbert huffed unhappily, ready to find Valentina and have a good chat with her.
I forgot to feed you, that's my fault.
But you not coming to find me, that's a matter of attitude!
And what I ever wanted was just an attitude... ahem!
Herbert lightly coughed, shaking his head to dispel the bizarre thoughts that had just sprung up.
"Cough, cough!"
Recently practicing Reversed Magic too much made him nearly lose control.
But kidding aside, the fact that Valentina seemed not to care for him at all did make him a little bit sad.
...really just a tiny bit.
["I suggest you not disturb her right now."]
"Mm? Why? She... wait, is her state special now?"
Herbert's brain moved faster than his mouth; halfway through speaking, several thoughts flashed through his mind, and then his eyes widened suddenly.
"Did she finally receive the Giant Dragon inheritance?"
["That's right~"]
Nenasha chuckled twice, teasingly implying:
["Congratulations, after all your meticulous sowing and tilling, she has finally managed to accomplish what other dragonlings are born capable of."]
Though Nenasha's words implied congratulations, Herbert somehow sensed a strange hint of sourness.
Maybe... it's just his imagination?
"How much longer will she be asleep?"
["That would depend on her own talent, being able to accept how much of the inheritance."]
Nenasha perfunctorily explained, then shifted the topic:
["However, rather than concerning yourself with her state, I suggest you check your own appearance first."]
"Hmm?"