Chapter 27. Divine Shade
Lilian's breath trembled as they crossed the threshold beyond the gate, her eyes darting around in confusion. The lights of the bars, the Pleasure Hub—everything familiar—were gone. All that remained before her was the suffocating darkness of night, so thick it felt almost touchable. She clutched Shin's arm, trembling.
"Wh-What is this place?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "Did we... did we go to another world?"
Shin turned to her, feigning calm with a smirk, though he was just as terrified as she was. "Another world? Maybe. But isn't it exciting? You're seeing something most people never will."
Lilian's legs trembled beneath her. Every fiber of her being screamed that this place wasn't safe.
"No... no, we should go back. The grace of God is faint here! I can't feel it—I can't hear the voice anymore!" Her voice cracked with rising panic. "We have to go back to our world! Please!"
Shin tilted his head, eyes narrowing. So she really believed the system's voice was divine. He placed a hand on her cheek, gently. Almost too gently. Then he smiled, calm and cold.
"Relax, Lilian. The 'grace' of God isn't gone—it's just quieter out here. Think of this as a test. Maybe God wants to see how strong your faith is without the voice."
"But... I've never been here. There's no one. Nothing. The world ends at the gate. We're not supposed to be out here. This place... it looks like a forgotten world!"
Her nails dug slightly into his sleeve.
Shin sighed. He needed to get her somewhere safe—without forcing her or that would draw unwanted attention from hiding predators. The last thing he needed was for her to scream and attract whatever might be lurking out here. He couldn't afford that risk.
"Then maybe," he said coolly, "we're rewriting what's possible."