I Tricked a God

Kael walked calmly along the bustling street of a small frontline town, studying the buildings around him with interest.

The atmosphere here was noticeably different from that of the Capital.

If the Imperial Capital gave the impression of a majestic, meticulously planned city, everything here looked far more distinctive.

Single-story and two-story houses lined both sides of the street, built from dark violet timber. Even from a distance, it was obvious that the local trees were nothing like the ordinary ones. The surface of the planks was covered with beautiful spiral patterns, as though the very grain of the wood twisted into elaborate whorls.

Some of the buildings even looked as though they had grown directly out of the ground.

Tufts of lilac grass sprouted from the rooftops, and in places entire branches with dense foliage pushed their way through the wooden structures. Because of this, the town seemed like something halfway between a human settlement and a part of the surrounding forest.

The air was no less unusual.

The humidity was so high that a faint haze constantly hung over the streets. It did not obstruct the view, but it gave everything a slightly blurred appearance, as though the town were wrapped in a thin veil of mist.

That was why many of the streetlamps remained lit even in broad daylight.

Beneath their glass covers, small lilac crystals flickered softly, their gentle glow shimmering through the mist.

Yet despite the town's unusual appearance, it was full of life, and people moved constantly through its streets.

Some hauled crates and sacks, others led harnessed beasts, while many simply hurried about their business. Soldiers, merchants, artisans, and travelers could be seen throughout the crowd.

Several of the town squares were especially lively.

Entire caravans were gathered there.

Long rows of wagons occupied much of the open space, while laborers and officials hurried around them, checking lists and distributing goods.

“Judging by the crests painted on the sides, many of these caravans arrived from the Capital...” Kael noted to himself.

Sacks of grain, crates of alchemical materials, barrels, fabrics, tools, and countless other supplies were steadily unloaded before being sent farther onward toward the front.

“It looks like this town serves as one of the army's supply hubs...” Kael observed inwardly as he continued walking.

That explained a great deal.

Despite its relatively modest size, the town was unexpectedly crowded. More than that, nearly everyone seemed occupied with some task, as though the entire settlement was constantly working to support the armies farther ahead.

Looking around, Kael murmured thoughtfully, “Just judging by the number of soldiers, it's obvious the front isn't far away...”

And indeed, there were surprisingly many soldiers.

Military personnel could be found near most shops, inns, and lodging houses. Some were purchasing supplies, others were resting after the journey, while a few simply sat at tables outside, grabbing a quick meal before continuing on their way.

Organized groups were especially common.

Dozens of soldiers moved through the streets in small squads, maintaining formation even within the town. Many carried lists and documents with them, as though they had been sent here under orders to procure specific supplies.

Remembering Salazar's words about the constant flow of resources between fortresses and strongholds, Kael thought, “They must have come here for provisions...”

As he continued observing, Kael noticed another category of soldiers.

These soldiers looked different.

They were not escorting wagons, standing in line outside warehouses, or loading goods. Many remained at permanent posts, patrolled the streets, or stood guard at the gates and administrative buildings.

Apparently, they were permanently stationed here.

“The local garrison...” Kael surmised.

Returning his attention to the groups of soldiers hurrying through the town with procurement lists and official assignments, Kael continued analyzing everything he saw.

“These kinds of assignments are probably given mostly to recruits...”

His gaze shifted to another squad just emerging from a shop, carrying several crates.

“Most of them are Channel Mages under the command of a Mark Mage...”

It seemed perfectly logical.

Supplying the army required an enormous number of people, and assignments like these allowed new recruits to gradually grow accustomed to military discipline and life at the front without sending them straight into dangerous areas.

Before long, however, another detail caught Kael's attention.

Most of the soldiers wore the Empire's black uniform, but only a handful bore the embroidered red dragon on their chest. Moreover, those who wore that insignia were far from recruits—they looked like seasoned warriors.

“I feel a little sorry for them...” Kael thought. “Those who didn't graduate from the Imperial Academy have a much harder time advancing through the ranks.”

Of course, such people could still rise to high positions through merit, strength, and experience, but they started at a clear disadvantage—especially on a section of the front like this.

As he assessed the young mages around him, Kael thought, “Even though they're fighting here under General Salazar's command, they're still not considered part of the Scarlet Serpent Army...”

Lowering his gaze to his own chest and looking at the embroidered red dragon, Kael silently added, “I'm only a recruit, yet I'm already part of the Scarlet Serpent Army...”

The more he observed the soldiers around him, the more clearly he realized just how unusual his own position was.

Most of the young soldiers nearby were older than he was. Many had already spent years serving at the front, yet they still wore ordinary black uniforms without any special insignia.

Looking toward another group of recruits hurriedly checking a shopping list outside a shop, Kael continued to himself, “They'll have to distinguish themselves to earn an official invitation.”

And that was only the beginning of the problem.

“And considering the assignments they're given... it's much harder for them to earn military merit points.”

After all, it was difficult to accomplish heroic feats when most of your time was spent escorting supply wagons, handling logistics, or carrying out routine duties.

Of course, that kind of work was essential to the army, but opportunities to distinguish oneself came along far less often.

Still, Kael didn't dwell on it for long, thinking, “Right now, I need to focus on my own goals...”

Casting aside those thoughts, he changed direction and headed toward one of the groups of soldiers standing not far from the caravan square.

✦ ✦ ✦

At that very moment, the group of five was engaged in an animated discussion.

From the way they behaved, it was obvious that the leader was a slender young woman with short white hair.

She swept a stern gaze over her subordinates, waved a list in her hand, and said, “Check one more time to make sure we've bought everything. If we mess up again, we won't get off with just a reprimand.”

The four young men standing before her immediately looked dejected.

One of them—a short, lean youth with tousled hair—offered an awkward smile, trying to lighten the mood.

“Come on, Lipa, why are you bringing that up again?”

His words only added fuel to the fire.

The girl whipped her head toward him and barked, “Why am I bringing it up?”

She even took a step forward, making the young man instinctively draw his head into his shoulders.

“Maybe because, as the leader of our supply squad, I was the one who took the brunt of the punishment?”

At those words, all four of them visibly shrank back, but Lipa was clearly not finished.

Planting her hands on her hips, she looked at each of them in turn before raising her voice even louder.

“Do you even want to advance through the ranks? Or are you planning to spend your whole lives as ordinary errand boys?!”

With that, she jabbed a finger at her chest, right where she dreamed of one day wearing the coveted red dragon.

“I want a red dragon right here!”

There was not a trace of humor in her voice. On the contrary, she spoke with such conviction that even the four young men beside her instinctively straightened up.

“And as my subordinates, you're going to earn that right too!”

At those words, the young men immediately squared their shoulders and puffed out their chests, as though they were already standing before a commander of the Scarlet Serpent Army.

“Yes, ma'am!”

“We'll do our best!”

Lipa nodded in satisfaction, clearly intending to build on the moment and continue her inspiring speech, but just then, a calm voice spoke up from the side.

“Excuse me for interrupting. Could you help me with something?”

All five young people turned their heads at once. Lipa had already managed to put on a welcoming smile, prepared to hear yet another request, but the moment they saw who had spoken to them, her smile froze, while the faces of the others visibly fell.

And it had nothing to do with the speaker himself.

Their eyes almost immediately dropped to his chest, where the embroidered crimson dragon stood out prominently against his black uniform.

The next instant, all five of them straightened up so abruptly it was as though they'd been struck by lightning.

Lipa was the first to press her fist to the area over her heart and say with sincere respect, “Greetings, senior!”

“Greetings, senior!” the others echoed almost in unison.

Kael could only offer a wry smile at their reaction.

Rubbing the back of his head and raising a hand slightly, as though trying to put them at ease, he replied, “Take it easy, guys... I'm just a recruit.”

Lipa did not answer right away.

Casting a quick glance at Kael's chest, she discreetly checked the embroidered crimson dragon and the runes beneath it marking his affiliation with the Scarlet Serpent Army.

Once she was certain her eyes had not deceived her, the young woman instantly became even more serious. Abandoning any attempt at casual conversation, she said evenly, “It wouldn't be proper for us to speak so casually to a senior. How may I help you?”

Hearing that, Kael could only let out a tired sigh, realizing there was no point arguing. Deciding to get straight to the point, he replied calmly, “I've been assigned to report to the nearest section of the front from this town. Could you tell me the easiest way to get there?”

Lipa nodded almost immediately, as though that question was far easier to deal with than everything that had come before.

“Military wagons leave regularly from the south gate,” she said at once. “If you wish, you can travel with us. We've just finished purchasing provisions.”

Straightening slightly, Lipa respectfully added, “If, of course, that would be acceptable to you, Senior.”

The offer noticeably brightened Kael's mood, and he even chuckled as he said, “I'd be very grateful. The sooner I reach the front, the better.”

As he spoke, he gave a slight wave of his hand, retrieving a sealed red envelope from his spatial ring.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“I'd be especially grateful if you could tell me exactly where I need to go,” Kael continued, extending the letter toward her. “I think the accompanying envelope should bear the seal of my future squad...”

But he never finished.

The moment the young soldiers' eyes fell upon the envelope, something strange happened to their expressions.

Lipa's smile vanished. The lean young man beside her drew in a sharp breath, while the others seemed to freeze in place. As the envelope slowly moved toward them, all five faces grew paler and paler, their lower jaws trembling ever so slightly, and a look appeared in their eyes that Kael had never expected to see here.

It wasn't respect, but pure fear.

It was as though they had seen something so terrifying that, more than anything else in the world, they wanted to be as far away as possible from both the letter and Kael himself.

The next moment, however, Lipa forced herself back under control.

Summoning every ounce of her will, she forced a strained smile onto her face and, trying to sound as calm as possible, murmured, “O-oh... So you're with the Doomgrin Squad...”

Her words sounded so strained that even Kael noticed it immediately.

Lipa instinctively took a small step backward before adding in a much quieter voice, “It would be an honor to escort you...”

Behind her, the four young men exchanged quick glances, so expressive that they utterly failed to conceal what they were thinking.

Watching them, Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.

“It feels like they're praying I'll refuse to go with them...”

That was what troubled him the most.

If this were merely a matter of respect for the Scarlet Serpent Army, they would never have reacted like this. More importantly, before the envelope appeared, they had been acting perfectly normally.

After a moment's thought, Kael decided to clear things up.

“Why did the name of my future squad frighten you? If I understood correctly, it's called the Doomgrin Squad?”

The instant the question left his mouth, all five of them visibly flinched.

Lipa immediately let out a nervous laugh, so unnatural that it almost sounded painful.

“What are you saying... We simply didn't expect to meet someone of your status.”

But the moment she finished speaking, a cold glint flashed through Kael's amber eyes.

Over the past month, he had spoken with Archmagisters, General Salazar, and many far more dangerous people. Telling the difference between truth and lies was no longer difficult.

Looking directly at Lipa, he said with quiet insistence, “I'm not an idiot. Tell me what the problem is.”

At those words, one of the young men behind her suddenly let out an involuntary squeak.

The sound was so unexpected that the other four immediately shot him sideways glances, as though he had just made some terrible mistake.

That only made Kael even more wary.

“Calm down,” he sighed. “I'm not going to do anything to you.”

As he spoke, he gave a slight wave of his hand, retrieving five small vials of mana elixir from his spatial ring.

Sunlight immediately shimmered through the bluish liquid inside.

Holding the elixirs out to them, Kael added calmly, “Here. A token of my appreciation for your help.”

But that display of generosity seemed only to frighten them even more, as though Kael had offered them poison instead of elixirs.

Lipa almost immediately took another step back and, raising both hands in front of her, hurriedly said, “Oh, no... We wouldn't dare accept something like that from you.”

She looked as though refusing the expensive elixirs was far from her biggest concern.

The young woman hesitated, clearly searching for words that were safe to use, but after a few seconds she added honestly, “We wouldn't dare gossip about one of the elite squads. Especially in the presence of one of its future members.”

Hearing that, Kael became even more convinced that his future comrades had a very strange reputation.

Deciding to ease the pressure a little, he softened his voice and even tried to joke, “Guys, I don't even know where I've been assigned, and your reaction is starting to worry me.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“I'd be grateful even for ordinary gossip. I promise I won't tell anyone.”

With that, he gently rocked one of the vials in his hand and then waited patiently for an answer.

The five young soldiers exchanged glances.

The first one looked at another, then they all glanced at Lipa, before looking back at each other again, silently deciding who should be the first to speak.

In the end, it was the same lean young man who had squeaked earlier who finally couldn't hold back.

Carefully clearing his throat, he said uncertainly, “To be honest... A moment ago, you had exactly the kind of aura that fits the Doomgrin Squad...”

Lipa spun toward him and barked, “Watch your mouth, idiot!”

The young man immediately drew his head into his shoulders, while the others merely closed their eyes in resignation, as though they all knew there was no taking those words back.

But Kael simply raised his free hand, stopping Lipa before she could continue scolding her subordinate.

“I told you to speak frankly.”

Hearing that, the lean young man hesitated noticeably, but finally gathered his courage and added cautiously, “And just now... You had that same commanding aura.”

At those words, the other four all winced at once.

This time, however, Lipa did not shout at him. Letting out a heavy sigh and rubbing the bridge of her nose, she looked at Kael much more carefully.

“Please forgive my subordinate,” she said. “Sometimes he speaks before he thinks.”

“It's alright. I'm a straightforward person myself,” Kael said with a chuckle.

The lean young man could only offer an awkward smile, drawing relieved sighs from the others.

After a brief pause, Lipa finally decided to answer honestly.

“The thing is... the Doomgrin Squad has a very peculiar reputation.”

“Could you be a little more specific?” Kael asked at once.

The young woman swallowed nervously.

It was obvious that she still did not like having this conversation, but it was already too late to back out.

“Officially, it's one of the Scarlet Serpent Army's elite special units,” Lipa began to explain. “They're used for reconnaissance, sabotage, eliminating high-value targets, rescue operations, and any mission that everyone else considers impossible...”

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Kael said in confusion, “So it's their strength that frightens you? Honestly, that seems a little strange...”

Lipa only shrank back even further and hurriedly shook her head.

“No... People aren't afraid of them because they're strong.”

For several seconds, she fell silent, clearly searching for the right words and trying to soften what she was about to say. Then she continued, “People fear them because no one understands where the line between courage and madness lies in their minds.”

Hearing that, Kael couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

Noticing his reaction, Lipa quickly added, “According to the rumors, they constantly volunteer for the most dangerous assignments and almost never refuse a mission. Even when the chances of success are practically nonexistent.”

The tall young man standing behind her immediately nodded vigorously.

“The scariest part is that those crazy plans usually work.”

He said it in a tone that suggested he himself still couldn't comprehend how such a thing was even possible.

“That's why there's an old saying among the soldiers: ‘If the Doomgrin Squad starts smiling, someone is already doomed.’”

The young man let out a nervous chuckle, then continued, becoming completely absorbed in his own story.

“They say the worse the situation gets, the calmer they become. They also say their captain orders them to smile before especially dangerous operations, to remind themselves that fear is already useless.”

At that moment, however, the lean young man suddenly shouted in irritation, “What are you even talking about? That's not the real problem!”

At the outburst, the others immediately looked toward him, while Lipa actually winced, as though she already knew what she was about to hear.

The young man himself initially shrank awkwardly beneath his companions' gazes, but then looked at Kael and asked respectfully, “May I speak frankly?”

Kael merely nodded, allowing him to continue.

“My friends are afraid to mention the main issue... Almost every member of the Doomgrin Squad is incredibly strange and reckless. Most soldiers try to avoid them because you never know what will happen if you get involved with them.”

The tall young man standing beside him immediately nodded.

“It's true! Once, this poor guy got so drunk that he didn't recognize Magpie. When she started buying him drinks, he thought he was the luckiest man alive.”

At those words, several of his companions turned pale at once, clearly realizing where the story was headed.

“The next morning, the poor guy woke up tied to a bed. Magpie was sitting beside him with a notebook, pouring all kinds of elixirs down his throat.”

“Oh, stop telling that stupid story,” Lipa said, covering her face with her hand.

“Why should I stop? It explains the problem—and why we're scared—perfectly!” the young man protested before turning back to Kael. “It turned out she was testing a new treatment for poisoning. She successfully neutralized the poison, but afterward the poor guy had diarrhea for an entire week!”

The lean young man was about to continue his complaints when he suddenly remembered an even more convincing example.

“Remember what happened to Romulus?”

The moment that name was spoken, all four of the others winced simultaneously.

Even Lipa could no longer defend them, muttering,

“Not that story...”

“That story exactly!” the young man shot back. Spinning toward Kael, he opened his eyes so wide that it seemed he still couldn't believe what had happened. “Hector from your squad looks like the kindest person alive. Calm, polite, always smiling. But it's all a lie!”

“It's not a lie,” the tall young man objected automatically. “He really is kind.”

“That's exactly what makes it even more terrifying!” the lean one exclaimed, throwing up his hands.

Without giving anyone a chance to interrupt him, he continued, “One day, Hector asked one of our fellow soldiers to transport several crates to a ‘perfectly safe position’ and wait there until the others arrived.”

“That already sounds bad...” Kael murmured.

“Because it was bad!” the young man immediately picked up. “A day later, it turned out those crates were part of some sabotage plan. Romulus ended up almost twenty miles behind enemy lines, right in the middle of a fierce battle!”

At that, Kael smiled awkwardly, feeling as though he himself had been involved in such a shameless deception.

“If this Romulus is one of your fellow soldiers...” Kael began, “then he's a recruit too. How did he even survive?”

“That's the problem!” the young man threw up his hands. “He doesn't know either!”

Several of his companions nodded in agreement behind him.

“The last thing he remembers is calmly heading off to carry out the assignment. Then there were explosions, shouting, some kind of assault, beastfolk charging everywhere, and the next thing he knew, he was being decorated for helping destroy an enemy supply depot.”

“And the award was completely official,” the tall young man added. “The command confirmed his participation in the operation.”

“But he still has no idea at what point he even became part of that operation!” the lean one finished indignantly.

Silence settled over the group for several seconds.

Kael turned to look at Lipa.

She let out a heavy sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“Unfortunately... that story is true.”

“See?!” the lean young man exclaimed triumphantly, pointing a finger into the air. “That's exactly why everyone tries to keep their distance from the Doomgrin Squad. First they ask you to help with something trivial, and then it turns out you're already involved in a secret operation you didn't even know existed.”

As Kael listened, he felt an increasingly crooked, slightly uneasy smile spread across his face.

At first, everything he'd heard had sounded like a string of amusing stories soldiers told to scare newcomers. But the more tales the five of them recalled, the stronger the feeling grew that at least half of them might actually be true.

“Just where did General Salazar send me? Is this some kind of joke?” Kael muttered inwardly.

The worst part was how sincere they all sounded.

These people weren't trying to frighten him. If anything, they looked as though they were genuinely warning him about something dangerous.

Apparently encouraged by the fact that Kael was actually listening and not punishing them, the young soldiers really got carried away.

“But the scariest one of all is your leader,” the lean young man declared suddenly. “Lieutenant Morkroft.”

The name alone noticeably quieted the others.

“More gossip...” Lipa muttered, though without much conviction.

“What gossip? The whole front knows about this!” the young man protested before turning back to Kael. “They say the Doomgrin Squad got its name because of him.”

Kael raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Because of one man?”

“It wasn't the Doomgrin Squad back then,” the tall young man immediately explained. “At least, that's how the veterans tell it.”

The lean one nodded vigorously and continued the story.

“During one of his first missions, Lieutenant Morkroft's entire squad was wiped out. Completely. At least, that's what everyone thought.”

His voice dropped on its own.

“But Morkroft decided to finish the mission by himself.”

The young man fell silent for a few seconds, gathering his thoughts.

“When reinforcements arrived later, they found him in the middle of a mountain of beastfolk corpses. He was simply sitting there, smiling.”

A chill involuntarily ran down Kael's spine.

“Smiling?”

“Exactly. And if the stories are true, he looked like he'd just come back from a pleasant stroll.”

The tall young man immediately backed him up.

“After that, he was given command of a small special unit, which eventually grew into the Doomgrin Squad.”

Lipa shot her subordinates a sharp glare, and they immediately fell silent.

It was obvious the conversation was venturing much farther than she would have liked, so the young woman hurried to steer it back to safer ground.

“So...” she said carefully, choosing her words. “The members of your future squad are... rather extraordinary individuals.”

At those last words, several of the young men behind her nodded in unison.

“There are simply too many people among them for whom contact tends to lead to... unforeseen circumstances.”

Lipa grimaced slightly, clearly aware of just how gently she had phrased it.

Then she offered a somewhat awkward smile and added more sincerely, “Please forgive our reaction. It's just that... even if you seem friendly... our experience tells us to be careful.”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted completely unconsciously to the five mana elixirs Kael was still holding in his hand.

She looked away almost immediately.

As though she feared that if she stared at them any longer, she would somehow end up involved in a secret operation, an alchemical experiment, or some covert act of sabotage.

Noticing that, Kael felt the corner of his mouth twitch involuntarily.

For several seconds, he silently looked at the elixirs resting in his palm before silently returning them to his spatial ring.

“Now their reaction makes perfect sense...” he muttered inwardly.

Forcing a friendly smile, Kael spread his hands and said with a hint of resignation, “Considering everything I've just heard, I suppose there's no point trying to convince you that I'm actually normal.”

At those words, several of the young men exchanged awkward glances, while the lean one even coughed guiltily into his fist.

Kael merely gave a slight bow before continuing more seriously, “But I still need your help.”

Then he immediately added with a smile, “If it'll make things easier, I can stay completely silent the whole way, so you won't think I'm trying to drag you into some crazy scheme.”

This time, almost all of them let out quiet chuckles.

Even Lipa couldn't keep a completely straight face.

Still, they relaxed only a little. After all the stories they had shared, their wariness had not disappeared—it had merely become less obvious.

“We wouldn't dare refuse you in any case,” Lipa replied, returning to her businesslike demeanor.

Then she gestured toward one of the broad streets leading to the southern part of the town.

“Please, follow us.”

The group was just about to set off when Kael suddenly realized they still hadn't even exchanged names.

“My name is Kael,” he said.

Lipa blinked once before offering a restrained smile and nodding.

“Please follow us, Kael.”

With those words, the five young soldiers turned and headed toward the south gate, while Kael calmly followed after them.

Outwardly, everything looked perfectly normal.

And yet, every so often, one of the young men would still steal a glance over his shoulder, as though subconsciously expecting Kael to do something outrageous at any moment.

The sight left Kael feeling both amused and slightly uneasy.

“Damn...” he muttered inwardly as he walked down the bustling street. “If my squad has such a peculiar reputation, will I even be able to trade with the other soldiers and earn military merit points?”

Not long ago, that plan had seemed almost perfect.

Now, however, it had suddenly revealed a serious flaw.

“This is going to be difficult...” Kael thought, watching the lean young man ahead glance nervously back at him over his shoulder once again.