Chapter 280 - 6.40 Most Devoted Follower
The air was so silent that not even a sign of breathing could be heard. Eyes flew wide in horror, mouths agape and bodies frozen in place, that was how everyone’s reaction was. Maia stared at the bloody figure in the mixture of dread and awe, breath held still in her throat. It was fortunate that she had had the honor of meeting Regius so she might have developed a stronger immune toward supernatural beings. As for the others...
"A—AAAAH—!!!"
A terrified shriek snapped everyone out of their frozen state and they began to back away in fluster, almost creating a small trampede event. In a blink, the tent was almost emptied save for a few bolder men. Their faces were pale as they observed the bloody figure warily.
"So, who has summoned me?" Izher asked in a bored tone, checking his nails all the while.
"It is me, my Lord!" Ernoul laughed and coughed out more blood, eyes manic. He was propping himself up with trembling arms, blood still seeping out of the wounds. "Your most humble and devoted follower!"
"Ah." Recognition bled in his tone. "You’re the one who has awakened me from my long slumber. You have my gratitude for that."
Heads snapped to Ernoul’s direction, incredulous. Maia couldn’t help the disbelief and anger in her voice. "What do you mean by that, Father?! You have made contact with the God of Plague before?!" All of a sudden, everything clicked in place and Maia swayed where she was standing only to be supported by someone behind her. But she could no longer discern who it was as she was looking at her father as if this was the first time she had ever seen him. The rims of her eyes reddened in dismay. "Don’t tell me... the plague in the country... is that your doing?"
Ernoul threw his head back in wild guffaws and that was already enough to answer Maia’s doubt. "Father!" She cried out, sorrowful and enraged. "How... How can you be so cruel?! They are our savior! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to survive this long winter!"
"Savior...? Did you say they are our savior?" Ernoul’s eyes flashed in contempt and malice so strong that it caused Maia to take a step back. Who was this man...? She... She truly couldn’t recognize him anymore... "They are nothing but a bunch of pretentious and arrogant pricks. Always thinking that they are above others." Ernoul spat out. "It’s only right that I teach them a lesson so they can suffer a bit."