May the Ash Bless You, Undying Warrior!

As he listened to the little nun ramble on about her tragic past, Lin En fell silent inside the statue.

In the few days since he had crossed over, he had been running this place like a game, treating the players as tools to milk for profit.

But for Sivir, and for the native inhabitants of this hopeless world, this was a real, brutal fight for survival.

In this Wasteland, an ordinary person's life was worth less than a weed by the roadside.

Without a deity's protection, even closing their eyes to sleep at night was an unattainable luxury.

I can't just leave her here as an NPC who provides faith points. After all, she's the most devoted follower this pathetic little rogue god has!

Besides, the second beta is about to start. The players need an NPC to guide them, and she'll help them feel more immersed and invested!

Looking down at the little girl whose shoulders shook with sobs, Lin En decided to have a proper conversation with his one and only follower.

Hum!

Inside the Divine Hall, the dim candle flames suddenly leaped.

Then a deep, gentle blue divine light flared in the damaged stone statue's eyes.

An ethereal, majestic divine message, no longer as cold as a synthesized system voice, rang out deep within Sivir's mind:

"Raise your head, my child."

Sivir shuddered violently!

She jerked her head up and stared in disbelief at the statue shimmering with divine light. Tears filled her wide eyes, and her lips trembled so badly that she could barely speak.

"M-my Lord? You... you answered me?"

Sivir trembled all over with excitement.

"I heard your prayers, Sivir."

Lin En tried hard to sound like a kindly elder while maintaining an inviolable air of holiness.

"I have witnessed both your devotion and your suffering."

"The darkness will pass. Together, we shall keep watch through the long night before dawn."

That single sentence broke through Sivir's defenses.

She prostrated herself on the ground and sobbed, as though trying to cry out every grievance and every terror she had endured over the past few years.

Only after her crying had mostly subsided did Lin En turn to the matter at hand.

"Sivir, what do you think of the apostles I summoned?"

At her deity's question, Sivir hurriedly wiped away her tears. Her little face became solemn and reverent. "My Lord! They are the bravest, most fearless warriors in the world!"

"When facing monsters, they show no fear at all. Instead, they become as eager as... as if they had spotted delicious food!"

"Even without the gift of your divine power, they can dig deadly traps with their own hands and slaughter those demons in pits like livestock!"

Uh... they are a little too eager, Lin En quipped inwardly. That was because they saw the monsters as walking piles of gold.

"But although they are brave, they are also like newborn lion cubs, lacking respect for the laws of this world."

Lin En began spouting nonsense with a perfectly straight face.

"They are souls reshaped from pure ash, and their memories are damaged. Sometimes, their behavior may seem... well, very bizarre, even incomprehensible."

"For example, rolling around on the ground, saying things no one understands, or even tasting monster venom."

Recalling "Ma Lou," who had eaten monster brains and foamed at the mouth, Sivir nodded in wholehearted agreement:

"My Lord, I understand. Surely the power contained within them is so immense that it sometimes throws their minds into confusion!"

"...Yes, you can think of it that way."

Lin En went along with her explanation, utterly awed by the girl's ability to fill in the blanks.

"So, Sivir. I have a sacred task for you."

Lin En's tone grew solemn.

"Give me your command, my Lord! Sivir will carry it out, even at the cost of her life!" The little nun straightened, her gaze resolute.

"In the days to come, more Ash Apostles will descend upon this Church."

"I need you to serve as my guide in this world."

"When they arrive or feel lost, you must guide them to gather wood and stone, and build a camp."

"If they bring you food and materials, you may reward them with smiles and praise as my representative."

Lin En patiently led her along. He was setting up an NPC who would issue daily quests and provide emotional rewards.

"Guide those honored apostles?"

Sivir waved her hands in a fluster. "But... they're so powerful, and I'm just an ordinary person. Will they listen to me?"

"They will."

Lin En's voice carried unquestionable authority.

"Remember, Sivir."

"You are the nun I personally chose. In their eyes, you are not merely a girl, but the bearer of a deity's will."

"When they approach you, you must remain dignified."

"If an apostle greets you, you may reply with, 'May the ash bless you, undying warrior.'"

"If any apostle dares behave disrespectfully toward you, do not be afraid. Rebuke them loudly!"

"I will send down divine punishment myself and reclaim their bodies!"

After hearing her deity's instructions, Sivir felt as though an invisible power had flowed into her.

Her once-timid eyes grew bright.

Her deity had actually entrusted her with such a sacred task!

What extraordinary trust!

"Sivir understands!"

The little nun folded her hands over her chest and bowed deeply.

"On your behalf, my Lord, I will take good care of these brave and somewhat... mischievous apostles!"

"Very good. Go to sleep, child!"

"Tomorrow will be a busy day."

As the last trace of the divine message faded, the blue light in the statue's eyes gradually vanished, and peace returned to the Church.

Her face flushed, Sivir rose and carefully withdrew from the Divine Hall, returning to the crooked little wooden hut the players had built for her that day.

Although drafts blew in from every side, Sivir felt safer and warmer than ever as she lay on the pile of straw.

"May the ash bless you, undying warrior..."

She quietly practiced the line her deity had taught her, then fell into a deep sleep, full of anticipation for tomorrow.

Inside the statue, Lin En watched the "guide NPC," who had fully embraced her role, and smiled in satisfaction.

Conditions were harsh for now, so the little girl would have to make do as a one-woman operation and beginner guide.

Once he had faith points to spare, he would not only renovate this ruined Church into a great fortress, but also give the girl some serious upgrades.

As this deity's sole representative in the world right now, how could she possibly go without a little prestige?

In his mind, Lin En dangled a grand promise before Sivir.

Once the system unlocked more advanced permissions, he could easily use faith points to give Sivir special treatment and grant her a portion of a deity's authority.

For example, he could give her a Mass Life Restoration aura, then dress her in a sacred, magnificent holy maiden's gown with a measure of absolute defense.

Not only would that give her powerful means of protecting herself in this hopeless Wasteland overrun with horrors.

More importantly-how could a game not have a poster girl?

Right now, everyone running around in Awakening of the Old Gods was either a white-haired edgelord, a foot-picking brute, or a scrawny monkey who stole electric scooters.

The whole aesthetic was so overwhelmingly masculine it was suffocating!

They desperately needed a beautiful, kindhearted, innocent holy maiden who could gently say, "May the ash bless you," to balance out all that testosterone.