Supported by the captain of the Guard, the High Priest slowly made his way to the center of the square.
He gazed at the statue of the Weeping Madonna, now completely shattered into a heap of fine dust, his clouded eyes brimming with boundless sorrow.
"Our Lady... has faded away."
The High Priest reached out with a trembling hand, wanting to touch the pile of dust, but in the end, his hand could only fall helplessly to his side.
"We may have defeated the Cultists, but... we no longer have a deity's barrier to protect us."
"Once night falls, the Dark Moon Mist will swallow Fog Town."
"The Aberrants roaming the wilderness will tear us apart until not even our bones remain."
The High Priest's words weighed like a heavy stone on the heart of every resident of Fog Town.
Many women and children had already begun to sob quietly.
He was right!
In this world, a town without a deity's protection was like a lone lamp in the night, liable to be swallowed by the endless darkness at any moment.
The players, who had been excitedly picking up equipment just moments earlier, gradually slowed down as they heard the NPCs' despairing conversation.
"Neighbor, don't be so pessimistic!"
[Kindergarten Boss], honest soul that he was, could never bear scenes of separation and death.
He walked up to the High Priest, scratched his head with an earnest look, and offered everyone an idea:
"How about this? Pack up everything in town and come with us to the Ash Church, a dozen or so kilometers away!"
Lu Ziye came over too, thumping his chest as he promised:
"That's right! There's still plenty of empty land outside our church. We can squeeze everyone in and build houses and a camp together!"
"As long