Dance with an Evil God

"This happened in my grandfather's time."

Baron Gladin hunched forward, resting his hands against his chin. His gaze lingered on the coffee table as though his thoughts had drifted back long ago. "He was a Knight of the Kingdom Army, ordered to the border to wipe out a group of followers who worshipped the evil god Bazatos."

Ethan had read this story before. There was a book recording it in Brookwood Town's public library, written in a fairy-tale style. It portrayed three brave and fearless Kingdom Army Knights and an evil Witch who sacrificed the residents of a border town to an evil god.

It had been one of the first books Ethan read to understand exactly where he had transmigrated to.

Like countless fairy tales, the three valiant Knights endured innumerable hardships before finally defeating the evil Witch and bringing peace to the town. To reward them, the King granted all three noble titles. Two chose to remain in the area. One was Baron Gladin's grandfather, while the other stayed in Riverside Town and devoted himself to its development and construction.

The close ties between the two towns were partly due to the friendship between the older generation of the two barons.

"I've read that book."

Ivy spoke up. Time was pressing, and she did not want to waste it on a story she had already heard. "What details did the book leave out? For example, did that Witch leave behind any descendants or apprentices?"

"All the followers connected to the Witch were executed. But when they killed her, something strange happened... My grandfather revealed a secret in his old age. By then, his mind had already grown confused, and he woke from nightmares every day."

Gladin's face turned deathly pale. After hesitating for a moment, he finally gritted his teeth. "After defeating the Witch, they cut off her head. But the headless Witch remained alive for a long time. She cursed the town, saying that one day she would return and kill everyone.

"No one was braver than my grandfather. He dared enter the mountains alone and face every beast."

Gladin emphasized the point, as though defending his family's honor. Yet his clenched fist soon loosened in defeat. "But nightmares frightened him out of his wits. He would scream and roll out of bed, seize his longsword and swing it at the air, shouting, 'She's back!' Several times, he even injured servants who rushed over after hearing him. Before sleeping, Grandfather had to keep his sword by his bedside. Even so, he did not last long."

His father had suppressed the news. Few people knew that Brookwood Town's hero had died in fear and madness in his final years.

The baron hung his head. "But the Witch's curse continued. A few months later, guards found my father drowned in a pond."

This time, it was Riverside Town's turn.

He could not help recalling his grandfather's clouded eyes. The town's hero had lost his courage, leaving only fear and despair as he muttered, "She's back. We're all going to die."

A bolt of thunder tore across the sky. Dark, oppressive clouds blotted out the light, and the town was instantly shrouded in gloom.

This storm was certainly fitting.

Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. The sudden lightning had startled him.

A Witch who had returned from the dead and a town that had perished mysteriously made everything he saw seem tainted with a sinister air.

"You think the Witch did it."

After pondering for a moment, Ivy turned to Ethan. "Ethan, what kind of witchcraft did she use?"

"How would I know?"

Three question marks practically appeared over Ethan's head.

The baron had described the Witch like some female ghost. It was seriously creepy.

"Huh? Aren't you the expert? There's actually occult knowledge you don't know?"

"I'm just a clerk who has read some occult books. I've never dealt with a Witch... Still, resurrection isn't impossible. Understanding 100 Dark Creatures mentions that the evil god worshipped by Witches, Bazatos, is a deity symbolizing death. His followers possess deep research and understanding of death. The book also says that high-ranking Witches can summon monsters from the underworld through contracts."

Ethan glanced at Baron Gladin's dispirited expression and could not bear to continue.

The book also mentioned that sacrificial rituals were a form of contract. Bazatos's followers exchanged sacrificed souls with Him for power. Therefore, the worst possibility was that the Witch had already sacrificed every resident of Riverside Town to the evil god.

With such a vast number of souls, she was probably invincible by now.

Compared with a Witch making a comeback, Ethan would rather encounter a female ghost. After all, the book said ghosts only looked frightening and were not actually very dangerous.

"It's over. We're dead..."

Baron Gladin trembled nonstop. Ethan felt that he was about to become a mushroom, just like the traveling merchant.

The knowledgeable Ethan analyzed the town's predicament and made a difficult decision.

Two years were up. It was time to leave town and embark on a new adventure!

From what he had observed, Miss Chloe could fly. With her strength, carrying him during his travels should not be a problem.

As for Brookwood Town, he wished its people all the best.

Ivy suddenly said, "I know about your grandfather. He was an empire-certified Second-Order Knight. After receiving the order, they came to the empire's border without hesitation."

Ethan guessed that Ivy was trying to encourage Baron Gladin. Unfortunately, her overly calm tone sounded more like mockery, making the baron even more despondent. He covered his face in anguish and muttered, "Yes. If only I could be as brave and powerful as Grandfather... He taught me swordsmanship and left behind the Knight's Manual, but no matter what I do, I can't become someone like him."

"Then what are you going to do?"

The sudden question froze the baron in place. He stammered for a long time without managing to form a complete sentence.

"You are the descendant of the town's hero. No matter what, the Witch will not spare you. If you plan to do nothing and sit here waiting for her to kill you, then I won't waste any more time on you."

As she spoke, Ivy turned to Ethan and said seriously, "Three Second-Order Knights did it. Why can't we? We can prepare in advance, set traps, mobilize the guild's Hunters, and Miss Chloe can help us a great deal too... Ethan, go bring her back to town."

Ethan noticed that Ivy's Line of Sight passed over him and drifted toward the rainstorm beyond the window. She seemed to have already begun considering the town's defenses.

At least Brookwood Town had a reliable sheriff. That way, he could set off on his adventure without worries.

And just now, Ivy had created the perfect opportunity for him.

He could be attacked by the Witch on his way to bring Miss Chloe back and die tragically. Even if he never returned to town, he would not have to bear any blame.

With that in mind, Ethan turned around.

"Wait."

Ivy suddenly called out to him, making Ethan's Inner Heart burn with anxiety. This girl was smart. Had she seen through his escape plan?

He began reflecting on himself, thinking that he had agreed far too decisively. In the face of such a life-or-death crisis, he should have displayed intense inner conflict and acted as though he had mustered tremendous courage to make his decision. That would have made him more trustworthy.

Before he knew it, Ivy had walked up to him. In front of him, she removed the revolver from her waist and placed it in his hand.

"Don't die on the way."

The heavy weight left him somewhat dazed. It was the first time he had examined Ivy's revolver up close.

Its craftsmanship was exquisite, and its grip bore an engraved Family Crest he had never seen before.

Ethan had not expected to be placed in such a dilemma. He was planning to run away, but taking Ivy's only possible weapon for turning the tide before leaving would be far too cruel.

He did not want to get involved in other people's grudges, but neither did he want to harm anyone, so he tried to decline. "There's no need for this."

Ivy was firm, frowning as she urged him, "Stop dawdling. Go and come back quickly."

In theory, Ivy was a smart person.

Being admitted into the Enlightenment Society was itself recognition of her intelligence. Yet Ethan had recently discovered that in some respects, this girl could be astonishingly foolish. She had actually handed the weapon she carried with her so easily to an outsider.

He believed plenty of people in the guild could leave with this gun without the slightest burden, sell it on the black market for a fortune, assume a new identity, and live freely ever after.

He could only guess that Ivy had rarely dealt with truly bad people while growing up. In this era, that was itself rather unbelievable.

The same opportunity now lay before Ethan.

On the eve of their parting, Ivy had even generously given him some starting capital for his adventure.

"Aren't you afraid I'll run off with your gun?"

The moment he asked that, Ethan regretted it. He suspected that, without realizing it, Ivy had dragged him down to her own level.

Prompted by his words, Ivy suddenly realized. "Oh, right. That's also possible."

"I was only joking..."

"If you're going to run, then run far away. Go to a big city. Once you get there, find an Officer, show him this gun, and tell him Ivy Margaret sent you. Tell him what happened in Riverside Town and Brookwood Town, and have him send the Kingdom Army to eliminate the Witch."

Ethan could hardly believe his ears.

"And one more thing."

Ivy shot him another disdainful look. "Next time you're going to run, don't tell anyone. You'll get tied up."

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