Fleeing Blind from the Lesser Outer God's Warning
I bolted in the opposite direction from where the Lesser Outer God had pointed, not even glancing back. I kept running until I was dead certain those grinning plants she commanded weren't chasing me anymore. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my legs throbbed like hell.
"Are they still after us?"
The Lesser Outer God, peeking out from my pocket, shook her head. That was my cue—no pursuit. Finally, I skidded to a halt and caught my breath.
"Hah... huff..."
I looked perfectly fine on the outside, but my body kept draining away, leaving me clueless about my actual condition. Thanks to Super Coward Mode, no visible wounds showed up, but not knowing my internal state was turning into a real problem. My body still moved, so I kept going, but what if my guts were twisted to hell inside?
...Imagining the worst wouldn't help. I shoved the dark thoughts aside and started thinking. With the Gardener so hostile to humans, there was no way I could face her alone. What I needed was raw power to match hers—something like the Hunter's skill, which could've ended it in seconds. But I had zilch like that. Impossible.
"Friend, can you grab the candy?"
The Lesser Outer God dove into my pocket and pulled out three stick candies one by one: physical enhancement, mental enhancement, and suicide. For someone like me with mental immunity, physical enhancement seemed most useful, but how much of a boost? How long would it last? No way to know on my first try.
"This won't take down the Gardener."
Not without a weapon, anyway. No way they'd arm a criminal who'd waste precious Outer God-hunting tools. To break this stalemate... I needed...
"Mu Yeon."
That underground prison-smashing strength. The axe that cleaved trees like paper. The community tales of the Martial God's daughter. With Mu Yeon, everything would click into place. But if she'd already escaped, it was pointless.
"Friend."
I called her, and she fluttered up to eye level.
"Can you guide me to where Mu Yeon is?"
She shook her head. Couldn't detect people like she could escape routes? ...Thinking back, when I'd asked about escape, she'd pointed at the Gardener—maybe her responses weren't the simple mechanism I'd assumed.
"Then can you fly up and find the pink-haired woman?"
She nodded eagerly and shot upward. I worried she'd get caught by the Gardener in such an exposed state, but apparently, the Gardener couldn't reach the skies. Thankfully, the Lesser Outer God landed safely on my shoulder.
"Found her?"
She nodded, but her expression darkened. Had something happened to Mu Yeon?
"Lead the way. Let's check it out."
Following the Lesser Outer God's guidance, we arrived at the gate area. As expected, Mu Yeon had fled toward the exit... but it was blocked by thick stems, no escape in sight. And she was supposed to be here...
I'd been the underdog, but even I had to gripe a little as I scanned around. My jaw clamped shut.
"Wh-what the hell."
Those beautiful flowers I'd admired on entry were now crawling across the ground toward one spot, inching on tiny stems and leaves. They hopped, piling up layer by layer. Intertwined stems thickened unnaturally. And trapped in the cage they formed was Mu Yeon.
"Snap out of it, Mu Yeon!"
Her condition looked dire. I rushed over, trying to rip the stems by hand, but they were rock-solid, like tree trunks. After a futile tug-of-war, the Lesser Outer God offered stick candies of different colors.
Right—physical enhancement! She pointed to the red one. That must be it.
"But is this really the physical boost candy?"
Under Super Coward Mode, they all looked alike; I couldn't remember which was which. One was suicide—if I picked wrong, I'd be gone before trying anything. She pointed confidently, but after her earlier Gardener detour, I eyed her skeptically. She bounced insistently, insisting it was legit.
...This won't kill me, right? Whatever—in this emergency, down the hatch. Die from candy or fail and die to knights? Six of one...
I unwrapped it and popped it in. A sharp, sweet cherry flavor flooded my mouth—insanely delicious. I'd eat these forever if they kept tasting like this. But no time; I crunched and swallowed.
As it hit my throat, it vaporized, absorbed instantly—no digestion needed, Outer God style. Did it work? Tension built; sweat beaded despite the chill.
Seconds ticked by. Nothing. Did I grab the clarity pill? I glanced at the Lesser Outer God; she scowled like an angry emoticon and jabbed at the flowers.
Fine, whatever. No strength surge, but I grabbed the flowers around Mu Yeon anyway.
Crack!
The unyielding stems still felt heavy, but they started tearing bit by bit. Proof it worked—why no obvious kick? Disorienting.
"Mu Yeon, I'm getting you out now!"
Her vitality was fading fast—no time to waste. I tore away the clinging flowers, spotting some wrapped around her legs—the killers. They stuck back like gum, but my boosted strength outpaced them. For a split second, she was free.
I seized the moment, grabbed her arm, and yanked. The stems stabbed where she'd been—tap-tap-tap! Adorably cute sounds, but the intent was grim.
"Sorry 'bout this, Mu Yeon!"
I scooped her up and sprinted like mad. Talk later—the stems were now gunning for me.
As the candy's effect waned, my strength plummeted.
"Safe yet?"
After ages of running, the stems stopped pursuing. Did plants have territories? Reaching a flat, flowerless spot, I finally set up camp.
I laid Mu Yeon down and shoved a mental stabilizer candy from the Lesser Outer God into her mouth—first aid done. What a shitty day. Sighing, I checked her: stem marks faint, vanishing fast thanks to her insane recovery. Impressive.
"Mu Yeon. Wake up."
Weak call, no response.
"You're already awake, right?"
Still nothing. I raised my voice.
"I won't rag on you for running. Get up."
Her eyes fluttered open, face heavy with sorrow that sobered even me. Tears welled.
"...Sniff, sorry. I was scared, wanted to run, because of orders..."
"No crying. Talk."
"Th-thankful you saved me, b-but lying hurt so much, I'm ashamed, unworthy..."
"C'mon, calm down."
Her words slurred through sobs. Hand dipped into my pocket absentmindedly—felt like a handkerchief. I passed it to her. Was it always there? Weightless, thanks to the Lesser Outer God—pocket status: mystery.
I dabbed her tears stitch by stitch, helped blow her nose. Finally, eye contact.
She stared, wide-eyed shock.
"Wh-why... wait..."
She scanned me, tears gushing anew.
"Tantun-ssi, your body... your body...!"
She pointed exactly where pain throbbed. Super Coward Mode tricked me—serious damage?
"Oh, this..."
"Holes... visible... hng!"
No way—that bad? People trust their eyes, huh. No sudden agony hit me, but shock rippled through her sobs. I patted her shoulder.
"Mu Yeon, I'm fine. Stop."
She stayed stunned. Sigh.
"...Mu Yeon, relax. The scary stuff's gone. I'm a huge coward too—I get it."
Thought I'd nailed the comfort.
"...That's not it!"
She choked back sobs, yelling. I shushed her urgently with a finger to lips. She quieted, sniffling.
"...Scared... yeah, but... more than that...! You got hurt saving me, but I... I'm so sorry... hate myself...!"
"Got it. Calm first."
I rubbed her back till sobs eased. Minutes later, she spoke, nose still runny but clearer.
"...Truth is, Vice Captain had ulterior motives sending us to catch an Outer God as proof."
"Ulterior?"
"The other two knights besides me—they're criminals. That bead in rock-paper-scissors? Steals opponent's luck for user advantage. As probationary knights, they committed crimes left and right. Knights gonna knight."
Ah, rigged game confirmed. But that bead's voice...? Not urgent—shelve it.
"Vice Captain only handles manageable people. Uncontrollables? Useless. So he sent them with the criminals to die."
...I'd suspected as much. Knights' view: we were dangerous felons. Bundle and purge—efficient. Understandable, but after repelling an Outer God? Harsh.
"...And you?"
"...He told me to return alive. Father's prowess, White Mask senior's disciple—made me lead. But I'm a coward who can't even do this. Vice Captain always says: can't follow orders? Useless, disposable. ...So I'm no different from those two. Coward shaming father's name—probably sent to be culled too. Might as well have..."
Negative spiral. I shushed her trailing words.
She'd done something I'd have every right to rage over. But she just followed orders—fair treatment for criminals. (Sure, I was framed, but normies don't care.) No grudge against her.
Now that I'd found her, time for what I needed.
"Mu Yeon."
"...Yes?"
"There's a way to erase your guilt toward me and prove you're capable."
Cowards understand cowards best. I knew her heart.
Curiosity lit her face. I smiled faintly.
"Wanna try?"