"What... happened to you?"
At this moment, Rudeus also noticed the unusual changes in his surroundings.
Eris, who was usually so talkative, was now sweating profusely, her lips were tightly pressed together, and her hand gripping the sword hilt was trembling slightly.
The same was true of Rujierd beside him; he was taut like a fully drawn bowstring, looking as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
Rudeus's two companions looked toward the end of the corridor.
The figure that had just appeared gradually approached... its outline became clearer and clearer in the swirling snow.
The person approached, and the oppressive feeling emanating from them intensified.
With each step closer, the air grew heavier, as if an invisible mountain was slowly pressing down on us.
The temperature seemed to drop abruptly the moment I stepped next to them.
"Moo!"
The first to succumb to the pressure was the water buffalo. It let out a shrill cry, broke free of its reins, and charged wildly to the side.
It lost its footing and deliberately jumped into the bottomless abyss, preferring death to facing its fear.
Before Rudeus could even react, the bull had already disappeared below the cliff.
He got a clear look at the person's face.
Silver hair, golden eyes, and sclera visible above and below the iris.
His features were cold and sharp, as if carved by a knife, without any superfluous expression.
He wore a black and white robe, stood tall and straight, and carried only a long sword at his waist.
Just by standing there, one person makes you feel that the entire world should prostrate itself at his feet.
Noticing Rudeus, who was constantly looking around, Rujierd, sweating profusely, whispered a reminder: " Rudeus... don't move..."
Just as Rujierd finished speaking and the man brushed past him, he suddenly stopped.
A hint of doubt crossed his usually stern face.
"Judging from your voice... is that Rujierd Speludia? And the woman next to you is Eris Boreas Greyrat, right?"
Who are you? Why do you know my name?
"Why... do you even know my name?"
Eris and Rujierd spoke almost simultaneously, their faces filled with astonishment.
But the person in front of them ignored them, only uttering the names of the two people before turning his sharp gaze to Rudeus with a hint of doubt.
"You?... I don't think I've ever seen you before."
He paused.
"Never mind... I just didn't expect to run into you in such a strange place."
As he spoke.
He was about to turn and leave.
Just as Rujierd and Eris were about to breathe a sigh of relief, Rudeus suddenly uttered something astonishing.
"Please! Wait a minute!"
The Dragon God stopped and turned around, a hint of curiosity in his eyes about the boy who had called out to him.
"Who are you?
"Hello, I am Rudeus Greyrat."
Upon hearing this, Dragon God Orsted frowned slightly. "Are you from the Greyrat family?"
"Yes!"
Who are your parents?
"My family lives in the Buena Village in the Fittoa Territory. My father is Paul Greyrat, and my mother is Zenith Greyrat."
"Oh... so you're Paul and Zenith's child? A boy? No... you're not Rog Greyrat."
Rudeus looked at the other person with some curiosity and asked doubtfully, "Excuse me... do you know Luo Ge?"
"Yes, it's more than just knowing each other. Luo Ge and I are very good friends, like brothers who would die for each other."
Hearing this answer completely put Rudeus at ease. He never expected that this seemingly fierce-looking guy was actually Luo Ge's friend.
However, before Rudeus could inquire about the other party's identity, the Dragon God Orsted's gaze had already fallen on Rudeus again, scrutinizing him carefully for a few moments.
"Who are you? I clearly remember Paul Greyrat. Logically speaking... there should only be one more daughter."
"What's the meaning?"
"Does this person mean... Paul has other daughters? Are they illegitimate?!"
Rudeus was also confused by what the other person said. He didn't know why, but he always felt that this mysterious person in front of him should know a lot of things.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to rattle off the names of both Rujierd and Eris in one breath.
Rudeus was puzzled, and so was the Dragon God Orsted, who couldn't help but look at Rudeus again.
"... What's your relationship with Luo Ge? Are you Luo Ge's sister?"
"???"
Rudeus's lips curled into a smile, his tone tinged with pride. " The Luo Ge Greyrat you speak of is my brother!"
"Yeah?"
"Oh, I see."
The Dragon God Orsted murmured, seemingly trying to comprehend some difficult-to-digest information, and then his sharp, three-white eyes remained fixed on Rudeus, observing him.
"You're neither Aisha Greyrat nor Norn Greyrat, so... who are you? Then you can only be Rutius?"
" Rutius? How strange..."
"This name sounds a bit strange... Could they be mistaking me for a girl?"
Rudeus's lips twitched inwardly as he mentally scoffed, but he maintained his smile. "Hello, I think you've got it wrong. My name is Rudeus Greyrat, not Rutius as you claim. You've probably got it wrong."
After Rudeus finished speaking, he didn't notice that the Dragon God's gaze towards him was very strange, very strange...
There's even a subtle, almost imperceptible complexity to it.
Rudeus didn't think much of it. Since he had already introduced himself, he didn't intend to be polite.
Rudeus tried to make his tone polite and cautious.
"Um... excuse me, could you tell me your name?"
"I am Orsted."
"Oh? Oh what? Wait, you're Orsted, the Dragon God of the Seven Great Powers?"
Upon hearing this answer, Rudeus was dumbfounded. His mind went blank, and he instantly looked like he was questioning the meaning of life.
Orsted.
Holy crap! Isn't that the Dragon God, ranked second among the Seven Great Powers? The enemy who just killed Luo Ge a few years ago.
Rudeus's expression was completely frozen at that moment.
I was already starting to regret it deeply. Why did I rush to introduce myself? I had no sense of caution towards strangers at all.
Now that he knows the other party's true identity, and that they are very likely enemies, he really wants to slap himself twice.
ah?
Why are you being so sarcastic? Why did you call out to them?
Wouldn't it be better to just let him leave like this?
But it's too late to regret it now; there's no going back.
Rudeus... has now deliberately provoked this terrifying man before him.
Just then, the Dragon God Orsted suddenly spoke.
" Rudeus Greyrat, if it were you, you would know where Rog Greyrat is... right?"
"I... I..."
Rudeus was drenched in sweat, his palms and the backs of his hands were completely soaked. Did the Dragon God want him to betray Luo Ge's information?
Although he did waver for a moment due to fear, Rudeus quickly gritted his teeth.
"I... I don't know..."
"I don't know?"
"That's a real shame."
As Rudeus watched helplessly as the Dragon God approached him step by step, beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and even the atmosphere around him suddenly froze.
In an instant, Rujierd gripped the trident and shouted a warning, "Stop! Don't come any closer!!!"
He immediately assumed a defensive stance, stepping in front of Rudeus and Eris.
The Dragon God merely took a couple of symbolic steps in this direction before stopping.
Driven by his inner fear, Rudeus's voice unconsciously became hesitant and stammering. "Excuse me... may I... may I leave now?"
"You can leave now..."
Rudeus was taken aback; he hadn't expected the Dragon God to be so agreeable. He had thought he would also be doomed today.
But then, the Dragon God Orsted changed the subject, looking at the three of them, especially Rudeus.
" Rudeus Greyrat..."
"One last question for you: have you ever heard of the term ' Human God Hitogami '?"