While the strongest beings in the world were sensing that strange feeling and trying to determine what had caused that ominous sensation, the King of the Giants had already concluded an alliance with the leader of the werewolves. However, he did not meet him personally, because the envoys informed him that their leader had been injured by Princess Forn of the Human Empire, along with the imperial knights, and that he was now resting and receiving treatment until he fully recovered.
The King of the Giants could not hide his frustration; he had been eager to see that powerful leader whose strength and size, when he transformed into a wolf, were said to surpass even the giants themselves. Feeling disappointed, he left matters of the alliance to his ministers and advisors and went away to take care of the accumulated duties caused by his long absence guarding that cave.
On his way to the royal city of the giants, the king would glance from time to time at the Saint as he rode one of the beasts tamed by the giants. Those beasts, had humans seen them, would have terrified them with their enormous size, but in the eyes of the giants they were much like horses to humans.
Both the king and the Saint were riding those beasts, with the royal guards behind them riding similar ones as well, though at a slightly greater distance from the king and the Saint. The king often discussed matters he did not wish anyone but the Saint to hear; nevertheless, the distance was not great, as the guards could intervene and rush to their king within moments if any danger arose.
The King of the Giants noticed that the Saint's facial expressions were changing with every passing moment, growing steadily worse, until he began rubbing his brows as if trying to drive heavy thoughts from his mind. When the king saw him in that state, he spoke:
"What is wrong, Saint? Is everything all right?"
The Saint did not answer, for he was deeply lost in thought. When the king received no response, he did not grow angry; instead, his concern increased, and he said, raising his voice slightly:
"Saint, are you well?"
Suddenly, the Saint snapped out of his reverie, looked toward the king, and said:
"Is there something, my king?"
The king looked at him and noticed that his expression had become worse than before, and said with clear concern:
"I called you more than once, Saint. Are you all right? I do not like the way you look… Are you injured?"
The Saint looked at the King of the Giants and said in a low voice:
"I think we rushed the matter of that corpse, my lord. We should have purified it and eliminated that evil forever."
The King of the Giants looked at the Saint as the conversation returned once more to that heavy subject and said:
"Do you think we made a mistake by selling it to the werewolves?"
The Saint nodded and said:
"Yes, my king. I have a feeling that that corpse was not merely a cursed corpse… I feel that we have committed a grave mistake, a very dangerous mistake, my king."
The features of the King of the Giants changed as he said:
"How did we make a mistake? We removed that deformed corpse from our land and our people, and we gained a new ally by doing so."
The Saint remained silent for a long time, then finally said in a hesitant voice:
"I believe that corpse was not an ordinary one, my king. A strange feeling came over me when I saw it, as if it were something that should not exist in this world, as if its very existence were a mistake… something that is not meant to exist in our world, Your Majesty."
The king did not grasp the Saint's words and said in confusion:
"Then how did that corpse come to our land, if what you say is true?"
The Saint looked up at the sky and said:
"I believe it has something to do with the coming war, my lord."
The King of the Giants looked at the Saint in astonishment and shock and said:
"Do you think that corpse is connected to the war that will arise in the future? How so? True, it is dangerous, but it is not of such power or threat as to cause something like that. The coming war will be a great war, Saint."
The Saint insisted and said:
"I am certain, Your Majesty. I felt that that corpse was not ordinary, and I do not know why I think this, but I have a feeling that it may be the cause of the coming war. Once I thought of it, the idea lodged itself in my mind and refused to leave."
The King of the Giants looked at the Saint, saw the determination in his eyes, then finally sighed and said:
"We cannot do anything now, Saint. We gave the corpse to the werewolves in order to ally with them and have them aid us in the coming war. True, we did not explicitly say that we wanted them as fuel for the war, but we implied it, and they agreed. We cannot go back on our word, Saint, after the alliance has been concluded. Giants do not go back on their word, nor do they betray their allies. We inherited that from our ancestors, Saint."
The Saint looked at his king and knew it was impossible for him to retract a word he had given. And the king was right; giants do not go back on their word and do not betray their allies. Therefore, the Saint did not wish to press the matter further; his goal had only been to warn and to urge caution in the future, and to observe whether that corpse would cause trouble among the werewolves, so they could be wary of them.
He said calmly:
"Your Majesty, I did not—"
But the King of the Giants interrupted him and said:
"I know, Saint. You did not want me to retract my word; you were only warning me. Do not worry, I will be cautious in our dealings with the werewolves in the future. But more importantly, you should get some rest, for I do not like your condition, Saint. Remember that the giants still need you, and you know how difficult it is for us to find a Saint and train him until he reaches your level of power."
The Saint smiled at his king and said:
"Do not worry, Your Majesty. I was only thinking a little about that corpse. I will not exhaust myself over it. I know that we are on the brink of a massive war."
The King of the Giants looked at the Saint's face and knew from his features that he was sincere and would take care of his health in the future. He smiled slightly and said:
"That is better. You must take care of your health, Saint."