After a brief silence, Lucian turned his gaze toward the cross-shaped mark left behind by Miquella.
Leda noticed and began to explain.
"Lord Miquella has chosen to abandon everything."
"His body tied to gold, his power, and even his fate."
"This cross is the trace left behind when he cast off his flesh."
Lucian listened quietly, letting out a faint sigh in his heart.
'Fate… again.'
He had heard that word often when dealing with Ranni. The fate of the Carian royal family was said to be deeply intertwined with the stars themselves.
And yet, even now, Lucian still had no real grasp of what "fate" truly meant.
So many demigods were obsessed with it.
Clearly, it wasn't something that could be dismissed lightly.
He reached out and touched the Miquella's Cross.
A message surfaced in his mind.
"I abandon here the first of the flesh of my body"
Lucian's eyes widened.
So… beneath this cross… was a piece of Miquella's body?
Wait, if he had discarded his body, how was he even moving around?
Was he just… wandering as a soul?
Looking closer, Lucian noticed small sprouts nearby, young growths known as Scadutree Fragment.
That confirmed it. This wasn't metaphorical.
Miquella had quite literally shed his flesh.
Lucian opened his mouth, intending to complain, but couldn't even decide where to begin.
Miquella really was something else.
What exactly was he trying to accomplish?
—
Off to the side, the Hornsent's fingers twitched.
He was waking up.
But he made no attempt to stand.
If he got up now, he would be forced to lower himself before those aligned with the Erdtree, and that was unacceptable.
But he also knew that if he kept provoking them, he'd probably be killed on the spot.
He still carried the burden of avenging his mother, his wife, his children.
He couldn't fall here.
So he lay still, pretending to be unconscious.
Damn it…
That woman's aura was so similar to Queen Marika, she might even be one of her offspring.
And yet, not only had he failed to kill her… he had nearly lost his own life instead.
Just what would it take to bring them down?!
They had only just entered the Land of Shadow. They shouldn't have gathered many Scadutree Fragments yet, their strength should still be suppressed.
In the Hornsent's memory, when shadow first fell upon the Scadutree, the land was sealed off from the outside.
At the same time, the Scadutree underwent a violent transformation.
Its sap and fragments scattered wildly, as if it had gone mad, plunging everything into chaos.
From that point onward, all creatures within the Land of Shadow were granted its protection.
Outsiders, however, were suppressed—their power restrained.
Only by collecting Scadutree Fragments could one reduce that suppression, and eventually gain the same blessing as the natives.
It should have been a clear advantage, blessing against no blessing.
And yet he had been crushed like a stray dog on the roadside.
What kind of absurd logic was that?
If he couldn't deal with them now, it would only become harder later.
The Hornsent roared silently in his heart, but there was nothing he could do.
That helplessness… it reminded him of when he faced the army of Messmer the Impaler.
Back then, too, he had been filled with rage and unwillingness, yet powerless to resist.
Only after the army had finished its devastation did he dare step forward.
Nothing had changed.
The Hornsent clenched a handful of dirt, the flames of vengeance reigniting in his chest.
—
Leda and the others had noticed his movement.
Seeing that he was still alive, Leda quietly let out a breath of relief.
There were still many things in the Land of Shadow that required his knowledge. He couldn't die yet.
Lucian, however, wasn't surprised.
He had deliberately held back earlier.
If he had wanted to, he could have reduced the Hornsent to ashes with that first strike.
Leda gestured toward the cliffside path.
"Lord Lucian, next we will head toward the town before the tower, where we will meet two more companions."
"One of them is the one who drew the map, a very reliable ally."
"As for the other, he collects items from across the Land of Shadow that may be of interest, and has prepared supplies for us."
"What are your plans?"
Lucian looked in the direction she indicated.
A path had been carved into the cliff, reinforced with massive stone archways to prevent collapse.
Beyond it likely lay the road to the "Tower Settlement" she mentioned.
He nodded.
"Alright. I'll come along."
He didn't have anything urgent to do anyway.
It would be useful to meet the rest of Miquella's followers and decide how to deal with them afterward.
Seeing him agree, Leda took the lead.
But Dane remained where he was.
Leda glanced back at him.
Dane met her gaze and gave a silent nod.
She took out a map and handed it to him.
After a moment's thought, she also retrieved two flasks filled with shimmering golden liquid and passed them over.
"If you're injured, drink these. Take care."
Dane paused, then smiled faintly and accepted them.
He pressed his hands together in front of his chest in a brief gesture of farewell, then slowly set off toward the northeast.
Since Dane never spoke, Leda explained in his place:
"He seems to have something to attend to. He'll be leaving us for a while."
"In that case… we can ask our next companion to draw another copy of the map."
Freyja scratched her head.
"Do we really need another one? Two people sharing one should be enough, right?"
Leda shook her head.
"It's always better to have a spare. We might end up separated due to unforeseen circumstances."
Freyja thought about it and nodded.
If Leda said so, it was probably the right call.
After Dane departed, Leda resumed leading the way.
Melina cast one last glance at the Hornsent lying on the ground, then quietly turned and followed Lucian.
Their figures gradually disappeared along the path toward the tower settlement.
Only then did the Hornsent slowly climb out of the crater, trembling, and spit out a mouthful of blood.
"Damn bastard… just you wait…"
Suddenly, he sprang to his feet and drew the sickle at his waist, turning sharply behind him.
Dane, who should have left had returned.
The Hornsent relaxed slightly, though gripping his weapon felt awkward with a missing finger.
He remained wary, refusing to lower his guard.
Grinding his teeth, he snapped.
"Tch. What are you back for? Come to laugh at me?!"
Dane spread his hands and shrugged.
Then he took out one of the golden flasks Leda had given him.
He drank a small sip himself, recapped it, and tossed it toward the Hornsent.
Before the Hornsent could react, Dane turned and left again, this time for good.
The Hornsent caught the flask and examined it.
The golden liquid shimmered with power.
If he drank it, even the loss of a finger would likely be healed instantly.
Before he realized it, he had already opened the bottle and brought it close to his lips.
He froze.
What… was he doing?
With a sudden motion, he crushed the flask in his hand, scattering its contents.
He flung the fragments away as if they were something cursed.
From his clothing, he took out a foul-smelling black ointment and began applying it to his wound.
"People of the Erdtree…"
"I won't accept your charity."
—
As they traveled, Leda spoke again.
"Lord Lucian, there are some things you should know about the Hornsent."
"By Lady Marika's command, Sir Messmer led the purge of the Tower folk. His people suffered greatly in the flames."
"It's understandable that they cannot forgive those aligned with the Erdtree."
"However… cruelty toward one's own kind is also human nature. The Tower folk were no exception."
"They weren't innocent victims without fault. They simply happened to lose… which makes their fate tragic."
Lucian nodded.
He understood what she meant.
There were things she couldn't say directly, given her position.
It seemed there were deeper secrets behind Marika's decision, reasons severe enough to justify such a massacre.
But none of that concerned him.
If the Hornsent caused trouble, they would die. Simple as that.
If they behaved, he wouldn't bother with them.
Leda then took out a crude map and handed it to him.
"Even if your impression of the Hornsent isn't good, he does have his uses."
Lucian accepted it and examined it.
Several locations were marked with Miquella's crosses.
Though the map itself was rough, it could easily be aligned with the more detailed one he had.
"These are the places where Lord Miquella cast aside his flesh, his trail."
"We need to follow..."
—
Passing through the valley, a massive staircase came into view.
It stretched upward toward a grand city at the end of the road.
Surrounded by spiraling towers, the city radiated an overwhelming sense of divinity.
The Hornsent were a people devoted to their gods, their faith ran in their blood.
Perhaps that was why such a fierce and seemingly barbaric race had been able to construct something so magnificent.
Lucian's gaze lingered on the city.
But what caught his attention even more was something beyond it.
A vague, shadowy structure hanging in the sky, obscured and indistinct.
'What was that?'
For now, however, something else drew his focus.
Near the city gate, by the cliffside, stood another Miquella's Cross.
And beside it stood a figure.
Slender, yet standing perfectly upright.
Even from a distance, Lucian could sense the power of cursed blood emanating from that figure.
His internal "Blood Dynasty radar" was practically vibrating, there were still remnants of the Mohgwyn Dynasty nearby that hadn't been wiped out.
Still, judging by the situation, that person was likely one of Leda's companions. Better to observe first.
As they made their way up the path, Lucian couldn't help but mutter to himself.
Just where had Miquella found all these people? Every single one of them was… something else.
Freyja was obsessed with fighting, straightforward to a fault, and a bit slow on the uptake.
Dane spent all day acting like a silent master. Whether he actually couldn't speak or just refused to was anyone's guess.
As for the Hornsent… forget it. No point even talking about him. Just a madman consumed by vengeance.
Even Leda, who seemed the most normal of the group, apparently had some hidden depths, at least according to what "Rico" had implied before.
And now there was even someone from the Mohgwyn Dynasty mixed in.
What a gathering of eccentrics.
There was no way this Blood Dynasty survivor wasn't under Miquella's charm.
Otherwise, Lucian couldn't imagine how these two sides had ever ended up working together.
The closer he got, the stronger that cursed blood felt.
If he compared this man to Okina he had encountered before, their strength was likely on the same level, both firmly within the tier of top-class champions.
But the density of cursed blood within this man was even greater… and purer.
In terms of status, he was probably higher than latecomers like that old swordsman.
Noticing Lucian's expression, Leda smiled faintly.
"Lord Lucian, I imagine you must find this quite surprising."
"Everyone here comes from completely different backgrounds. Conflict wouldn't be unusual."
"And yet, we are all drawn to Lord Miquella."
"That is what allows us to cooperate like this…"
"It is nothing short of a miracle."
Lucian twitched at the corner of his mouth, barely holding back a reaction.
A miracle, sure.
When a demigod-level charm was involved, "miracle" wasn't even an exaggeration.
Leda stepped forward and addressed the masked man standing upright by the cross.
"Sir Ansbach, we'll need to trouble you to draw another map."
The man called Ansbach nodded and looked toward Lucian and Melina.
Even through the mask, Lucian could feel the sharpness of his gaze—keen, piercing, like a blade.
He stroked the white beard attached to his mask and spoke in a low, aged voice.
"So, we have new guests? That explains the discrepancy in the numbers I prepared."
"That was my oversight. My apologies."
With that, he gave a slight bow, his earlier scrutiny fading as he withdrew his edge.
Lucian shook his head.
"We're the ones who showed up unannounced. No need to worry about it."
"By the way, the map you drew is excellent."
"It's rare for someone to earn praise from Melina in that regard."
Lucian glanced sideways at Melina.
She still looked somewhat distant, offering no reaction to his words.
He sighed inwardly.
Melina wasn't in a good state.
Ever since entering the Land of Shadow, the Hornsent's hatred toward Queen Marika had all been directed at her by association.
Being subjected to that many hostile stares… it was probably the first time she had experienced something like this.
It wasn't something she could simply accept in a few words.
He would need to talk to her properly later.
Ansbach chuckled softly, clearly pleased by the compliment.
Lucian shifted his attention back to him, finding the man somewhat intriguing.
If the Mohgwyn Dynasty were likened to a criminal syndicate, then this man felt like a seasoned steward, the one managing affairs behind the scenes.
His hands were undoubtedly stained with blood, just like the others.
But at the very least, he carried himself with a certain refinement.
Still, that didn't change Lucian's view of the Mohgwyn Dynasty's remnants.
Those who followed Mohg—the Pureblood Knights, the Sanguine Nobles, all of them were drenched in blood.
—
The group climbed the slope and arrived before the city, reaching the cliffside where Ansbach stood.
Only then did Lucian notice another figure behind him.
A silent man clad in heavy bronze armor.
Behind him were piles of crates and barrels.
This must be the one Leda had mentioned, the one in charge of supplies.
Once everyone had gathered, Ansbach took the initiative to introduce himself:
"I am Ansbach. Formerly in service to Lord Mohg..."
"But now, like the others, another soul guided by Kindly Miquella. "
"I am hardly the steady hand I once was. My fighting days are far behind me."
"Which is why I have chosen to dedicate myself to investigation."
Lucian gave him a sideways glance.
Old and weakened?
That didn't match what he was sensing at all.
If anything, this felt like the classic "hiding one's strength" type.
After introducing himself, Ansbach turned toward the armored man.
Everyone else followed his gaze.
Realizing he was now the center of attention, the man finally spoke.
"Ah… Hello there. Welcome."
"Together, we work… Together for Miquella the Kind.…"
"Many things we have found."
His words came out haltingly.
Lucian blinked.
…Somehow, Freyja didn't seem that simple anymore.
At least she was straightforward.
This one felt more like someone withdrawn, almost childlike in his awkwardness.
Lucian gave a brief introduction of his own.
"Lucian. And this is my partner, Melina."
"We may be traveling with you for a while."
Melina snapped back to attention and gave them a small nod.
Ansbach cleared his throat.
"Sir Moore, bring it out."
Moore nodded and turned, retrieving a carefully wrapped container from the supplies.
"This is… collected by the forager brood…"
When he opened it, everyone saw what lay inside.
Fragments of the Scadutree.
Leda and the others didn't yet understand their purpose, so they waited for an explanation.
Ansbach picked up a fragment and placed it in Leda's hand.
"I believe you've already felt it."
"In the Land of Shadow, we outsiders are suppressed."
Leda looked at the fragment glowing with dim, shadowy light.
"This… is the solution?"
Ansbach nodded.
"Indeed. I've spent some time studying records and materials, and have learned a few things."
"The Land of Shadow underwent a great upheaval. The Scadutree itself was affected."
"After that, its fragments and sap scattered across the land."
"At that moment, the natives received its blessing indiscriminately, while outsiders were afflicted with a curse."
"That Hornsent has no need for these. But the rest of us do."
"These are all we currently have. But there's no need to worry, SirMoore's forager brood continues to gather more."
He laid out the remaining fragments.
There were roughly a dozen in total.
"We tested a few, but have refrained from using the rest."
"I would like to hear your thoughts, Lady Leda. How should we distribute them?"
Leda bit her lip slightly, thinking.
If they wanted to maximize efficiency for Miquella's cause, the best option would be to give all the fragments to Lucian.
Others didn't know, but she did.
Lucian had already been influenced by Miquella. He could be trusted.
If his strength were fully restored, sweeping through the Land of Shadow wouldn't be far-fetched.
But that was exactly what worried her.
Letting Lucian regain overwhelming power again beyond their ability to control, was a frightening prospect.
If something went wrong, and they lacked the Scadutree's blessing themselves, they wouldn't be able to stop him.
After a pause, she spoke.
"In that case… each of us should gather what we need ourselves."
"How much we obtain will depend on ourselves. Any excess can be distributed afterward."
The others nodded.
It wasn't a particularly bold proposal, but it was reasonable.
Their group wasn't tightly bound to begin with. Forcing a strict allocation might only lead to conflict.
After the arrangement was settled, Ansbach asked.
"Lady Leda, where do you intend to go next?"
Leda looked toward the grand gates ahead.
"I'd like to take a look at the tower settlement ahead."
Ansbach glanced at the gate as well, stroking his beard.
"That place… won't be easy to enter."
"There are horned warriors who survived the war. They wield a unique divine invocation, quite formidable."
"When I explored it earlier, this old body of mine nearly didn't make it out."
Lucian gave him a once-over.
Not a scratch on him. Clothes still spotless.
'Yeah… right.'