Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Evil God Cult
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One of the major plot threads in both the original story and Innocent Saga was the Evil God Cult.
Even in the original, which stuck strictly to Cain's party's perspective, and in Innocent Saga, which was a bit better but still didn't fully unpack the backstory, they were always the greatest enemies—the final foes.
The problem was that both Rolling Stones and the Innocent Saga developers were way too stingy with info.
In the true original, true to its no-dialogue party viewpoint, there was barely any solid information beyond them being the culprits who ruined Cain's childhood and the enemies of his village and family.
You just beat them whenever you ran into them, and stronger ones kept showing up in droves.
Innocent Saga gave a little more intel, but even then, picking Cain's party meant dialogue options rarely popped up properly—you had to eavesdrop on rumors with other NPC parties.
'Back then, the original author was a real cliffhanger master, and the game devs respected that... but looking back, it was just par for the course.'
I ground my teeth thinking of Rolling Stones and Rachel, then spoke up again.
"Like any pack of lunatics, they're a group that thinks they're the superior ones. They believe humans are the most valuable race, and their god is the only living one."
Hula snorted hot breath and replied in an agitated voice.
"How can a god be alive? A god is just a concept. And if humans are the most valuable, then what's with killing them as sacrifices?"
Cain lowered his flame-darkened golden eyes and murmured softly at Hula's words.
"If they value only humans, then beastkin have no meaning as sacrifices."
"Right. They only offer the most valuable lives. Funny thing is, even among those 'valuable' humans, it's mostly commoners they sacrifice. Nobles and those with special traits are seeds for the new era."
Total madmen. Human supremacists who incite monsters and beastkin to spark continental wars. And the one they believe is their living god is actually...
"So... why are they after us beastkin so much?"
I poked at the dying campfire to revive it, glancing at Hula, who muttered despondently, cutting through my brief thoughts.
"They're stoking endless rage. Filling it up until that blade finally turns toward the continent."
"Why? No... why do that, young master? What does it gain them?"
Luna spoke with a face on the verge of tears, and I tossed out the answer curtly.
"What else? Everything the Evil God Cult does is for their god. I don't know how those maniacs reasoned it out, but it all boils down to that living god—the one they delusionally believe will claim the throne of this world."
Zero, who'd been listening quietly with a blank look, finally spoke.
"But how do you know all this, Adelrian?"
Maybe because it was continent-scale talk, or maybe it felt too hopeless and scary—Hula's face was stiff, Cain deep in thought, Luna on the brink of tears. I tried to lighten the mood with a playful response to Zero.
"I'm a chosen one sent to this land to aid that god's arch-nemesis?"
I grinned at Cain, but their reactions...
Hula looked like, 'O-Of course! No wonder he's so strong!' Zero nodded like 'Knew it!'
Luna's face said, 'Young master will handle everything.' Only Cain stayed expressionless, speaking volumes without a word.
Of course, it was a joke wrapped around the truth...
But with no evidence beyond my words, why did they—especially Hula—believe it so completely?
"...What if I'm just sweet-talking you into delusion?"
"No."
Cain answered firmly, slowly rising from his seat.
"I trust you. As I swore, I'll become the strongest sword. To keep that promise, I naturally must surpass even them."
Nothing changes.
With that, Cain headed into the magic tent I'd set up on one side to light a fire inside. Luna met my gaze steadily.
"I trust you too, young master. I'm... not as strong as Cain. But I'll become better than I am now... and stay by your side."
"I'm not totally sure, honestly. My head says it's believable enough. The hunters' actions are that irrational."
Hula shrugged uncertainly at Luna's words, adding more.
"So if I return to my tribe later, I'll look into it myself. And if I'm convinced you're right... at least in Chabid, my tribe will be your strength."
Well, it'd technically be Cain they'd help, not me.
Even without me lifting a finger, the beastkin would become Cain's allies. The issue was that in the continental war, the Beast King’s power wins battles but loses the war, nearly wiping them out.
I felt a strange relief at their earnest eyes and hearts.
Otherwise, the weight of expectation and my own doubts might have crushed me.
'Plus, there's a reason I'm dropping these hints bit by bit.'
I sighed softly, watching Luna and Zero head to the tent to help Cain.
They might sense something's off. Or maybe they've already guessed it all.
A genius trait holder, not even twenty yet—a kid. But one who overcomes everything to wield his sword for the world.
'Bittersweet.'
Part of me thought I could wait a little longer to tell them, while another figured ripping off the band-aid now, letting them crash, then rebuilding their resolve might be better.
'Whatever. We're heading to meet Luna's parents, so let's keep it smooth.'
Hiding one fact only I knew for now, I dusted off and stood at Luna's call that we were all set.
* * *
"That tent must cost a fortune, huh?"
I'd set an alarm spell via the codex, so no one stood watch—we all slept soundly till morning. Hula's skin looked smooth as a result.
"What, a magic tent that deploys automatically?"
"Yeah. When you're wandering, settling a camp is the biggest hassle."
After washing with the soap Luna gifted, I felt refreshed.
Drying my face with a towel, I eyed Hula, who looked deep in thought.
"Probably not cheap. And these things usually hit big-city auctions—no merchant hauls them out here."
"Can't exactly march into Chabid demanding one in our current state."
Even if we tried, beastkin get dismissed as strong only individually—tribal complaints carry no weight.
'Need to accelerate the unification a bit.'
Too long to wait for the future Beast King to come of age. And even then, beastkin won't rally instantly.
Since we're here, time to lay minimal safety nets and future foundations. I looked at Hula.
"What're you staring at me like that for?"
"Be grateful. We're doing all we can for folks who attacked us and lived."
Luna finished washing and changing, so I packed the tent.
"Just half a day's ride now."
Her tribe moved grazing spots around the same areas at similar times yearly, based on sun position and terrain.
Luna smiled, calculating roughly, and I nodded, mounting up.
"Three, four hours more, then. Lunch at Luna's place."
"Will I learn real cooking there, not just camp grub, Bunny Senpai?"
"My mom... she's amazing with meat dishes."
Luna and Zero chatted as they mounted. Cain grabbed the reins but came to me instead of riding.
"Haven't moved properly in days—I'll run."
"Need to?"
Not a question—more a statement. No reply, he headed to Luna.
"Tell me the direction. I'll clear small monsters ahead."
"Might throw off our path a bit...?"
"I'll sense the group's presence roughly. Fine."
"If you say so."
Sure, training's training.
Cain's faster and more enduring than most horses anyway.
"...Lots of continent humans like that?"
Hula sidled up and whispered. I shook my head.
"No way. He's the exception."
Answering, I urged my horse behind Luna's as she took lead—only she knew the way. Then me, Hula, Zero.
Sandy plains gave way to lush grasslands. Far off, ambiguous animal-or-monster herds roamed in groups of three or four.
"Monsters?"
"No. Animals. Not worth domesticating as livestock, but harmless. This is Chabid's outskirts—no real dangerous ones."
True, books said Chabid's interior had more threats.
Desert zones had basilisks, earth drakes, even colossal desert worms.
Behemoths lurked somewhere in the plains, rarely sighted.
'Feels like that. Wild elephants in Korea terms.'
Knew monsters existed somewhere, but it didn't feel real.
Outer edges, small fry only—Chabid seemed less dangerous than thought.
Eagle-like birds chased crows overhead; massive sheep-like meys bounded on cushioned feet below.
Cool breeze, Cain clearing minor monsters—no risk to the horses.
After a while, the thick grass thinned, grazed short.
Luna spotted it, grinned, used it as a landmark, spurred on. Fewer monsters along the trail—Cain rejoined, hopping straight onto a horse mid-stride.
I eyed the blood-splattered Cain, opened the codex for a purification spell, then spoke.
"Good morning workout?"
"Lacking."
He sounded unsatisfied. I chuckled and shook my head.
No mountains or big forests—just gentle hills. Near the horizon, small tents faintly appeared.
"That it?"
"Yeah."
Luna brushed her flapping ears back with her hair, beaming extra happily. I smiled back, idly twisting Krueger's ring.
A few meys under Hula. Some horses. Goat- or cow-like beasts.
Closer, more pastoral.
Rabbitkin like Luna in hide-and-coarse-cloth clothes, braided-fiber headbands, feeding tender grass to newborn goats.
"Whoa, outsiders!"
"Outsiders?"
"Outsiders?"
Dismounting away from four tents, tall rabbitkin and smaller twins scampered off like fleeing.
"Jeph! Keph! It's sis. Shalom. Me!"
Luna waved wildly, shouting. The fleeing twins scurried back, yelling "Sis sis!"
'Cute.'
Smiling warmly, the largest tent opened. A scholarly bespectacled rabbitkin man—Luna's dad?—emerged with who must be mom.
"Luna? Luna?"
Mild-faced, glasses, academic type. Beside him...
'Huh?'
I blinked. Beside him, unmistakably a feline predator.
Brown skin, yellow eyes. Long tail with black spots. Yellow hair with spotted patterns.
'Leopard? Jaguar?'
Fangs peeking from one side of her smile. Pure beastwoman. I blinked as Luna dashed over yelling "Mom!"