Shara was brewing a medicinal decoction, tossing herbs into a pot that bubbled and boiled.

  “Lord Shara.”

  “Ah… you’ve come.”

  Shara set a lid over the pot for the moment and pulled out a chair for Azael.

  Azael asked briefly after his well-being.

  “Yes, our village has seen a great harvest. We’ve expanded the fields, and the villagers’ lives are growing more prosperous. It’s thanks to you.”

  Azael smiled, then took a leather pouch from his robes.

  He carefully opened it.

  Inside was the spoils taken from Neragalsu—the Sphere of Deadly Poison.

  Seeing the deep green orb exuding toxic energy, Shara instinctively pinched his nose.

  “Such an overwhelming poison! Where did you obtain this?”

  “From an enemy general, during the war.”

  When Azael cautiously handed him the orb, Shara examined it with meticulous care.

  Azael clasped his hands together and lowered his head slightly.

  “My siblings and I draw upon our lifespan to wield our power.

  How much time we have left… even I do not know.

  I have heard in visions that potent poison can be transformed into potent vitality.

  Could you use this orb to create a medicine that extends life?”

  Absorbed in the orb, Shara paused and looked at Azael with pity.

  “Very well. I’ll try. A god of agriculture and medicine should be capable of at least that much.”

  Azael’s face, which had carried a quiet sadness, brightened.

  At the same time, Ella was undergoing special training with Tamar.

  Facing a small vine creature conjured by Tamar, Ella fought desperately.

  “Don’t just swing wildly. Offense and defense are one—don’t think of them separately. Even if Liana protects you, if your head or torso gets cut in two, that’s the end.”

  The vine creature lashed out with ruthless tentacles, attacking without mercy.

  Ella desperately wielded her meteoric-iron dagger and fought back.

  The training creature’s speed and ferocity exceeded her expectations.

  Even as she became covered in blood, Ella searched for an opening.

  At last, a tentacle pierced straight through her shoulder.

  “Ghh!”

  Gritting her teeth through the pain, Ella shouted and charged forward.

  She grabbed the tentacle, holding it fast, and drove her dagger straight into the creature’s torso.

  As the monster let out a strange scream, she stabbed again and again.

  When it finally went limp, Ella roughly pulled the tentacle from her shoulder.

  Seeing the enemy completely withered and turned brown, she collapsed flat on her back.

  The wound through her shoulder quickly closed, healed by Liana’s blessing.

  Tamar grinned.

  “Well, you’ve got the spirit—pass. But don’t just flop over after a fight. I’ll let it slide this time.”

  Ella took out one of the pills she had obtained from the treasure vault and chewed it.

  By now, the sky had darkened, and stars were beginning to appear.

  “Stronger… I have to get stronger… kill the evil gods… ah… Mom, Dad, Noah…”

  Staring at the falling stars and the night sky, she drifted into sleep right there on the ground.

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