What kind of nonsense is this, that you'd be chosen by the gods and favored by all the gods?

"Ah, so Helena found you."

Lyle smiled and turned to hold his hand, but accidentally got pricked by the iron ring on the other's hand.

"ah--"

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry..." Kintae looked at his hand in surprise. "Damn it! I didn't even notice my iron ring had a crack. How rude of me..."

However, he acted quickly and hurriedly took off his iron ring.

"It's alright." Lyle glanced at the iron ring; his intuition told him there was no problem, so he shifted his attention to other matters. "What do you think of Helena's condition?"

"Alas... I am sorry for my incompetence, but I have no idea how to describe that young lady's illness. I'm afraid we can only wait for the witch from Cat Tail Mountain to visit so that she can offer some treatment."

Dr. Kintel felt very sorry for his incompetence and sincerely expressed that he was powerless to do anything about it.

"It's alright, I actually expected this result."

After exchanging pleasantries, Lyle walked toward the old city lord on the bed.

The old city lord looked rather weak, but he still raised his head when he saw the guests.

"Hello, young man, I heard you saved Adele's life, I must say thank you..."

"She was my most beloved child. I simply cannot imagine how my deceased lover would view me if something were to happen to her... cough cough..."

He coughed a few times and seemed listless.

"Not at all, it was just a small favor."

After exchanging pleasantries for a moment, Lyle changed the subject.

"I've been wanting to ask you about the situation during this time, because as a traveler, planning the next leg of the journey is a very important thing."

"However, judging from your current condition, I suggest you get some rest."

Lyle's words seemed to please the old city lord, who smiled and forced himself to sit up.

"There's no need for that. Although I can't explain it to you in detail, I can recommend someone to you."

"Hab of the Yorn family, he's an excellent hunter and cartographer. After the festival, go find him and tell him I sent you. He'll take care of you."

"Thank you for your generosity."

But just then, a series of crisp, rhythmic footsteps came from outside the door.

Immediately afterwards, a strange fragrance wafted into the room, and everyone turned to look at the doorway, where a woman dressed in a very peculiar manner walked in.

"I apologize, Lord City Lord, I'm late..."

What came into Lyle's view was a stunningly beautiful woman with a tall, curvaceous figure and a slender yet full body. She wore a black dress and a soft hat, and her swaying gait was captivating.

calm--

Lyle noticed that his emotions were not quite right, focused his mind and quickly reined in his desires, immediately regaining the initiative.

It was only then that he noticed that most of the people present were looking at her, as if she possessed some kind of magic.

Adele's gaze was complex. Doug was simply attracted by her beauty and stared intently at her chest, while Jade was quite disdainful, though he was also glancing at her secretly.

Kim Tae-il was more normal, openly looking at the exposed skin along her lower back.

...There is indeed some kind of influence.

Lyle's expression shifted slightly as he reached out and grasped the Desire Symbol. He then noticed that the pink lines of desire on everyone's pink bodies were leaning slightly toward the woman.

Is she the witch of Cat's Tail Mountain?

"Ah...it's you, Carter, you've finally come."

I've missed you so much!

When the old city lord saw the witch's visit, he grinned, and his mood seemed to have improved a lot.

The witch named Carter simply said lightly, with a hint of mockery:

"Given your current condition, Lord City Lord, it might be difficult for you to sleep with me, wouldn't you?"

"Besides...your daughter is still here, shouldn't you be more discreet?"

Then Lyle looked at Adley and noticed that her expression was somewhat stiff.

Oh no... could it be some kind of family drama?

Lyle suddenly wanted to get some sunflower seeds...

"Cough cough... Doctor, I'm not feeling well, please ask them all to leave."

The old city lord's smile faded, and he waved his hand, signaling Jin Tai'er to drive everyone out.

Lyle, who failed to get to witness the spectacle, was among them.

However, once the door closed and only the old city lord and the witch remained in the room, he lost his former composure.

He then became very weak and his face turned pale.

"Sigh...can't you at least put on a little more dignity when you see me?"

"If this continues, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to have private meetings and entertainment with me like before—"

The witch toned down her flirtatious expression and placed her hand on the old city lord's chest.

The latter's weak expression seemed to have eased somewhat, and even his face regained some color.

"Go to hell... The last time we met in secret was decades ago!? Do you think I'm like you witches, immortal?"

The city lord wasn't in the mood to speak, and after a while, he continued muttering:

"How much longer do I have?"

"...I have no idea."

"I thought you'd know. You've always told me since I was little that you're incredibly intelligent and all-knowing, but it turns out you know I can't even die right now? You useless piece of trash!"

"Ouch!"

Carter reached out, grabbed the old city lord's beard, lifted him up, and made the latter yelp and scream.

"I'm not in the mood for arguing with you right now," Carter said seriously. "You're in very bad shape. To be honest, even I'm not sure if you'll survive the winter."

"But I still have you, don't I?"

The old city lord gave a bitter smile and turned his head away.

"As a warrior of Suenmozer, it is already shameful not to die on the battlefield. I have been bedridden for over twenty years. If I am to continue living a life of ignominy... I might as well die now."

"But at least... let me get through this celebration... I must see the new city lord... born..."

He started coughing, and speaking became increasingly difficult, but he still tried to persevere.

"The covenant is broken... the gods are silenced... Suenmozer cannot protect us... only a powerful and wise successor... can..."

"My children...are all immature...please help me take care of them..."

"Besides you...who else can I trust?"

He was finding it increasingly difficult to speak, and each word required considerable effort to utter.

"You should rest first, and stop saying those strange things."

Carter patted the city lord's face impatiently, and soon he fell asleep and his breathing became steady.

The room fell into a deathly silence once again.

Getting this guy through this celebration... won't be difficult for Carter...

But this winter is absolutely impossible to get through.

He was just a mortal.

"If you leave... what will happen to this city?"

"Whether it's a god or not... look at this terrible era... look at this abandoned era..."

Witches are not allowed to pray to any gods.

She was born on the night of the Black Moon, burdened by a curse from birth, and naturally able to control unclean forces and dark magic... but for this reason, she is also regarded as a symbol of impurity.

When she was wanted, hunted, and driven to the brink of despair, only one person was willing to accept her existence...

What happened back then? She remembered that she was stabbed in the neck by a mob with a pitchfork, or maybe in the chest, she couldn't remember... She stumbled forward, her vision blurred, and she fell to the ground.

And a warm hand... He first removed his own arm armor, touching his unclean self with his warm flesh. She always remembered to bury this small, humble feeling deep in her heart.

Her inferiority complex led her to watch her beloved marry another woman, have a child, and raise their offspring.

Now she has to watch this person leave this world, taking away the last bit of color from her world...

"You're gone... what am I supposed to do?"

In the silence, she reached out and stroked the old city lord's face, tears streaming down her face.