Outer God's Follower, Alexia
"Ahahaha! Oh, my stomach hurts. You really crack me up to the very end, don't you?"
A clear, ringing laugh burst from Alexia's lips.
It clashed horribly with the gruesome scene of the ruined imperial palace.
It was the very picture of an innocent girl out on a picnic.
Alexia wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and swept back her dazzling golden hair.
She readjusted her grip on her staff.
Her gaze locked onto Esmi, who was panting and covered in blood.
"What did you just say? That you're going to take me down? You?"
Alexia's lips twisted into a venomous smirk.
Contempt and mockery flooded her previously innocent tone in an instant.
"Know your place, Esmi. You're just a coward who hid behind Seol-ah, trembling in fear. With all that talent, you don't have the guts to kill a single person—you're a hypocrite who only puts monsters to sleep. And now, even injured, you dare think you can beat me, empowered by the great Outer God's might?"
It was blatant ridicule.
A vicious barb stabbing at her opponent's sorest spot.
But Esmi didn't back down anymore.
She steadied her shaking legs.
She stared straight at Alexia.
"...You're right. Everything you said is true, Alexia."
Esmi spat out the blood pooling in her mouth and replied.
"I can't kill people while laughing like you. Taking someone's life... it's still terrifying and horrifying to me."
Woooong—
Jet-black dark mana began swirling around Esmi.
It wasn't killing intent aimed at destruction.
It was a vow to protect her loved ones no longer.
A resolve to safeguard her dearest friend, Han Seol-ah.
"But I can stop you."
Esmi's amethyst eyes gleamed with determination.
"I don't have the resolve to kill... but I do have the resolve to take you down and restrain you so you can't hurt anyone else."
Esmi declared with fierce will.
"I'll protect Seol-ah."
Esmi's violet eyes bored straight into Alexia's blue ones.
"Witch! A witch has appeared!"
At the entrance to the fog-shrouded Black Mist Forest.
The moment Esmi appeared, a roar shook the woods.
The red glow of torches danced across the frenzied faces of the crowd.
"K-Kill her!"
"That bitch killed our livestock!"
"We're next! Kill her before she gets us!"
Killing intent crashed over her like waves.
Esmi felt her breath catch.
Her legs trembled.
She wanted to turn and run right then.
But she couldn't flee.
If she did, everyone gathered here would die.
"N-No, it's not like that!"
Esmi cried out in a quavering voice.
She desperately waved her hands and approached the villagers.
"I didn't kill the livestock! It's a misunderstanding!"
Her voice was desperate.
"The real culprit is someone else! There's a dangerous person nearby using the power of an Outer God…!"
Whoosh—!
Before she could finish.
A stone flew toward Esmi.
"Shut your lying mouth, you witch!"
"Quit flapping your tongue!"
That was the spark.
One thrown stone ignited the crowd psychology—permission to hurl their own.
Stones rained down indiscriminately.
Not just stones—improvised weapons mixed in.
"Kyaaak!"
Esmi reflexively curled up.
Dozens of deadly projectiles surged toward her fragile frame.
Any ordinary person would have collapsed in a bloody heap.
Ting! Clang! Shatter!
But nothing so much as grazed her clothes.
A transparent barrier spanned about a meter in front of her.
Flying stones pulverized against thin air.
Weapons bounced off an invisible wall.
"Damn it!"
"Nothing's getting through!"
It was only natural.
Esmi was a 7th Circle mage.
The 7th Circle realm rivaled a Sword Master.
Stones or crude weapons from commoners couldn't pierce her defensive spell.
Unless the thrower matched a Sword Master's might.
All Esmi feared was the villagers' malice.
"That monstrous witch!"
"She's dangerous! We have to kill her quick!"
But her refusal to retaliate made her seem easy prey.
They bristled with murder, readying another assault.
"P-Please, just listen to me!"
Esmi pleaded once more.
Tears welled in her violet eyes.
She gazed at the villagers with desperate sincerity.
"I have no intention of harming you! I've been the one stopping the monsters attacking the village! If I were the culprit, why would I do that?!"
The villagers hesitated.
Not from her plea.
Memories of Esmi felling monsters flooded back.
"Stop this instant! Have you all lost your minds?!"
Then, the Village Chief pushed through the crowd.
He gasped for breath.
"Have you forgotten who she is? She's the black mage who dealt with the ferocious monsters targeting our village!"
Unlike Esmi's appeal to injustice, he stoked their fear.
He knew only greater terror could halt this irrational mob.
So he emphasized her power.
"She felled ogres and trolls with a flick of her finger! If she wanted, our village would have been wiped off the map ages ago! You think we can take her? Do you all have a death wish?!"
The chief's shout worked.
Villagers flinched, exchanging uneasy glances.
What if she turned those monster-slaying attacks on them?
The thought alone terrified.
"W-Well, yeah."
"If that witch attacks us…"
Their murderous glares wavered.
Sickles lowered in fear.
Esmi sighed in relief.
Thank goodness.
Dialogue might work.
The real threat was the Outer God's follower.
"Don't be fooled, everyone!"
A clear voice rang out then.
"Who's that?"
"Who is she?"
Villagers whipped around.
A golden-haired beauty approached gracefully from behind.
Two armed guards shadowed her like wraiths.
"Licia?"
They recognized her.
Licia, the merchant who'd visited regularly since last year.
She'd sold goods cheap last week.
Even shared drinks and food, winning hearts.
Her beauty and gentle speech made her the envy of village youths.
"The chief's in league with the witch too!"
Licia pointed at the Village Chief.
"W-What?!"
"What're you saying?"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Licia pressed a hand to her chest, face anguished.
"I saw it. A week ago, sleepless, I went for a walk. I witnessed the chief meeting the witch outside the forest, whispering secrets."
"A week ago?"
"Wait, I saw the chief leave the village that night!"
"Me too! Was he heading to the forest?!"
Doubt flickered in their eyes.
Some recalled the chief's midnight outing.
"And I heard him clearly with my own ears telling the witch, 'Once the villagers' fear grows, let's offer the village children as sacrifices.' He demanded youth in return!"
Licia hugged her arms, trembling as if reliving the horror.
"I was too scared to speak up then… Only after hiring these strong guards could I tell you."
The chief paled and bellowed.
"Lies! I've never said such a thing! What nonsense is this?!"
But suspicion toward him swelled.
His earlier attempts to stop the attacks on Esmi fueled it.
"Come to think of it… the chief's been acting weird."
"Yeah, keep defending the witch."
"Is he really with her?"
Doubt hardened to certainty.
Fiercer killing intent surged at the pair.
Now laced with blind hatred.
"Traitor!"
"Kill the chief too!"
"He tried to stay young by sacrificing our kids!"
"Don't let her accomplices live!"
A mere merchant's words twisted them.
Proving they'd slaughter fellow villagers without hesitation.
"N-No… please…"
Esmi despaired.
She couldn't stop it.
Subduing them was easy.
Protecting the chief, too.
But quelling the murder in their hearts? Impossible.
I can't stop them.
Without killing, they won't stop.
Even if knocked out.
Even restrained.
They'd keep coming endlessly.
Mercy would be seen as weakness.
Kang Jin-ho's words echoed in her mind.
Those people…
Then, Esmi's eyes fixed on the golden-haired merchant, Licia.
She was watching Esmi.
With an innocent, girlish smile.
But deep in those eyes gleamed cruel delight at cornering prey.
She savored the chaos.
"……!"
Esmi examined her closely and gasped.
Masterfully concealed, she'd missed it at first.
Immense black mana emanated from her.
Kang Jin-ho watched the scene, arms crossed.
"Finally, you've shown up."