Lazy Salvation Vacation's End

Esperra Continent, Vandalar, April 11, 2029

After six months in Esperra, Ashen's vacation was finally about to end.

During that ti, his parents were the happiest to have him with them for such an extended period. His father still liked to act like a tsundere, though.

Aside from that, the most significant event was Alice slipping up and confessing how her body had been remade by Ashen's 'hands'.

Seraphine, who had just returned from Seravelle, of course latched onto that like a cat catching a fish. Ashen was woken up "violently" the next day with a demand that he do the sa to her body.

He could only put on a grumpy face and spend the better part of that day using Somatic Autonomy to do this and that and fix this and that. He could swear that so things he had to do and redo more than ten tis just because they seed "off".

The only solace was that the "violent" way he was woken up involved a lot of moans and groans, so he was content.

His Saintess had apparently taken a liking to waking him up that way from the mont she got her Heartbound Thrall innate skill.

Either way, Ashen had always wanted to gift her sothing for the amazing brand of cigarettes she made for him, so this could work out as one.

The real problem, though, was when his sister heard about this… and her demands were far more outlandish than the other two's.

'Cute cat ears? Whiskers? A cat tail? What the fuck, sis…' Ashen felt his facial muscles cramp that day, and his two girlfriends' snickers behind his back did not make it any better.

That was when he decided to put his foot down and regain his authority as the big bro. Though that show of force proved moot when his dear partner ca back, promptly noticed the change in the blonde, and then proceeded to look at him with a wronged expression whenever their eyes t.

Heck, by the end of the day, he was the one begging her to co to him instead of the other way around.

'As expected, my partner is the scariest of them all.' Ashen shook his head with a fond look and looked to the side.

The scenery was rapidly changing as he rode in a car. He was not the only passenger, as Lucia was sitting next to him and Alice was in the car right behind them.

This small procession of cars represented the Wrath Domain. Though it only contained the Sin Lord herself and her most direct aides.

That was why the car was being driven by none other than Sabrina.

Right now, they were on an island that Ashen could swear everyone in Esperra thought was abandoned. He had already taken a private flight to get here, and now this ride was taking them to the center of the island, where the Sin Lord eting was to take place.

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The other domains had already arrived, and theirs was the last. So Seraphine, as the Saintess of the Lust Domain, would of course go with Lust, and thus she was already present.

'I would have never thought that the eting would take place in Esperra, though…' Ashen rembered his dumbfounded face when Cornelia appeared and told him so.

As for the reason behind the improbable location, it was simple.

'... The Sloth Sin Lord.'

When it ca to defending territory, or addressing anything within the human lands, the council eting was the de-facto gathering to organize, but to Ashen's surprise, it was not the sa when it ca to attacking and invading foreign territories.

The eting beca mandatory in Esperra, and it wasn't even due to Dorian's demands. The man did not even care, according to Cornelia; it was quite the opposite.

It was the six of them who wanted his blessings and his views on the matter, not the other way around.

'My uncle is turning out to be a real big shot.'

Having the largest territory among the Sin Lords was one thing, but having them act like ek children who ca for advice was on a whole different level.

Either way, this only made Ashen more cautious in his approach to the upcoming attack on the Narkals.

If the all-powerful Sin Lords were taking it this seriously, who was he to act nonchalant?

And so, he decided to ask the one who likely knew best what was going on in those unknown lands.

'So, what do you think? Is it the right move to attack now?'

Ashen had taken this decision on his own based on his understanding of the situation and his experiences in the Wrath Domain, and during that ti, the other Ashen had been slumbering, so he had not been able to seek his advice.

But better late than never.

{I approve.}

It was only two words, but Ashen felt imnse relief upon hearing them.

{But the matter won't be as easy as you think.}

That relief was short-lived.

{Unlike what you are imagining, the Sin Lords would not be able to blitz the monsters.}

'Are you talking about Narkals that are equivalent to our First Step powerhouses?'

{Not only that… because it is not solely Narkals that live there.}

'Then who?' Ashen asked, though he was already dreading the answer because he had a feeling what his other self would say next.

{Don't you already know…? Dorian has spoken of it already.}

'... Outer Gods are already present on this planet?'

{Yes. The "Darkness" had never fully receded from our lands.}

'Aren't we already running to our deaths, then?' Ashen frowned.

{Not really. While those creatures are called Outer Gods, they are vastly inferior to the Seven. In fact, they too are the thralls of Secrets' companions. So in a sense, they are like Narkals, just on a higher hierarchy.}

'So… they are not as strong as Secrets.'

{Exactly. Though they are still vastly superior to Narkals, as long as the Sin Lords are united and unafraid, they can be vanquished.}

'Is that so…' Ashen's expression turned thoughtful. 'Why are they still here, though…? And why have they remained silent until now? Shouldn't they be as bloodthirsty as Narkals?'

{Heh, no matter what, they have the word God in their nas. Do you think of them as beasts? As for why they are still here, of course, they were hidden away for the sole purpose of breaking the Shroud from within whenever they get the chance.}

Ashen's countenance kept shifting, and even Lucia, sitting beside him, noticed.

Can the Shroud be broken from within?

Who exactly allowed them to remain on the planet after their masters were driven out?

And... is their sole mission to break the Shroud, or do they have other sches?

A million questions raced through Ashen's mind, but the magnificent castle appearing on the horizon brought all of them to a halt.

It was ti for the eting of the Sin Lords.