"Who are you?"
At these words, Hel's expression immediately changed. She summoned a gleaming golden slender sword into her hand and activated her "Entry Scan" ability to analyze the two strangers.
However, upon seeing their entries, her pupils constricted in shock.
What kind of monsters were these two?
One was the lingering trace of a completely dead person, a fragment of unresolved will remaining in the world. The other… was the offspring of a god?!
At first, Hel only felt that these two were a huge headache, and she simply wanted to send them away as quickly as possible.
She calmed herself and spoke with feigned composure:
"The angel has already left here. If you're looking for her, you should head to the Knight Imperial Capital."
"Is that so? Looks like we've arrived too late. A pity, my time is limited."
The man spoke with a hint of melancholy, gazing at the little girl by his side with endless regret in his eyes.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Hel. We won't trouble you any longer."
"Safe travels."
"Understood."
The man's expression showed a tinge of sadness. He turned to the little girl, gently holding her small hand, and softly said:
"Come, Zephy. It's time for us to leave."
"But… Daddy…"
The girl looked back at him but continued to steal glances at the cakes in the shop window, a tiny drool forming at the corner of her mouth—almost as if the words "I want to eat that" were written on her face.
The man noticed her longing and, feeling a little embarrassed, looked at Hel, unsure how to respond. After all, he had nothing of value and couldn't possibly buy that seemingly precious cake.
Seeing his awkward expression, Hel sighed helplessly. She opened the cake shop's door, took out a small cake, and handed it to the girl.
"Here, consider this a small gift for meeting you."
"R-Really?"
The girl hesitated behind the man, unsure how to respond to Hel's kindness. But seeing the encouraging look in the man's eyes, she carefully accepted the cake.
"Th-Thank you, Lord Hel."
The little girl shyly took the cake and quickly hid behind the man again, though her bright eyes couldn't help but peek at Hel.
"Thank you for your generosity, Lord Hel, but I have nothing to offer in return."
The man checked himself, but found not a single coin. With some reluctance, he pulled a tattered bundle from his back. Opening it, he revealed a broken sword inside.
"This is probably the most precious thing I have. To thank you for giving my daughter this gift, I will give it to you."
"This is…"
Hel examined the broken sword, while her Entry Scan revealed:
[Name]: Holy Sword – Durandal
[Grade]: Red · Holy Relic
[Entries]: Eightfold Oath Barrier (Red), Immaculate Blade (Red), Roland's Will (Red), Corruption Erosion (Black)
[Description]: A true knight's sword, fully wieldable only by those who honor knightly virtues. Deals special damage to beings of corruption. A paladin once wielded it to confront a god, but the sword was tainted by divine power and cannot unleash its original might. The sword contains the strongest sword techniques imprinted by the paladin during the battle with the god.
Hel stared blankly at the sword. Before she could react, the man had already handed it to her.
Seeing the sword's details, Hel could vaguely guess the man's identity. But before she could refuse, it was too late, so she could only look at him with slight confusion.
"For a return gift, isn't this a bit… too valuable?"
"You seem to understand the sword's significance, Lord Hel," the man said bitterly, watching Hel hold the broken sword.
"Besides fulfilling my daughter's wish, this is my attempt to leave a mark in this world. My time is limited. Before I depart, I hope someone will inherit my will."
"Then I probably won't be that person, but…"
Hel glanced at the little girl behind him, implying:
"If the chance arises, I will find a suitable owner for your sword."
"Ha… is that so? Then I leave it in your hands, Lord Hel."
The man shook his head, saying nothing more. He looked at his daughter and gently patted her head:
"All right, little Zephy, say goodbye to Lord Hel."
"Lord… Hel, goodbye, th-thank you for…"
Zephyra stopped mid-sentence. She had never seen such a small cake and didn't know its name—she only knew it smelled and tasted delightful.
Hel sighed and walked over to Zephyra, taking a storage ring from her pocket and handing it to her.
"This is called a cake. Inside are some cakes and drinks made by my family. If you want more later, you can come back."
At first, Zephyra was wary, hiding behind the man. But sensing Hel's goodwill, she cautiously reached out and accepted the ring. Hel took the opportunity to gently stroke her fuzzy little head.
[Entry Theft: Emotional Deficiency (Black), Corrupt Whisper (Black), Vessel of the Evil God (Black)]
As these three entries detached from Zephyra, she felt a strange change within her body—an unusual sensation she couldn't describe.
"Thank you, Lord Hel."
This time, Zephyra smiled sweetly at Hel, her tone more sincere. This subtle change caught Roland's attention. He observed Hel interacting with Zephyra, deep in thought, but said nothing, patiently waiting.
"If you plan to leave, it's best not to go through Ashton's territory—the Beastmen army is passing that way."
"Thank you for the warning, Lord Hel."
Roland nodded, acknowledging Hel's advice, and led Zephyra toward the gates of Heim Castle.
After taking a few steps, he turned back, his expression serious:
"If I'm correct, Lord Hel, I suppose you plan to use the holy sword in your hand to deal with those Beastmen.
But please be aware: wielding a power that does not belong to you will exact an unimaginable price."