I Reincarnated as an NPC ◇ Solo Leveling

✠ Chapter 3 ✠

✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠

Sacrifice
✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠

She's cold.

Even when big arms held her close to a warm body. Still, she shook. Her small hands clutched tightly at the dark robes.

She's afraid.

Of fate and its silly games. Of the growing dampness she feels on the shoulder she's crying on. Of the blooming pain and the sight of gold instead of red as it pours out of her chest.

✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠

"An altar"

"Like the ones in myth? How people offer blood sacrifices?"

"The last rule. Prove your faith in the lord."

"What are you saying?!"

"That thing wants us to have to sacrifice one of us!?"

Jinwoo is tired. Tired of this one-sided game that this demon seems to be playing. The deliberate misdirect on that last one made him think there was more to this.

Uncertainty grew among them. Many are injured and are beginning to show signs of shock. Joohee and the other healer are trying their best to at least staunch bleeding wounds and most importantly, stabilize Mr. Gi. He was almost cut in half after getting near a statue. The early warning prevented that, but not the large gash hitting him in the spine rendered him unconscious and would probably need intensive care after this. There is also the matter of Jinwoo and Mr. Song's lost limbs.

The B-rank healer can't help but think she'll need therapy after this -all of them would- but there is no time to make a fool of herself and be useless right now. People are becoming paranoid, speaking of sacrifices and will be blaming each other soon. She worries that the first ones they'll turn to are the weak and injured if push comes to shove. Despite her need to flee and/or cry, she needs to stay and keep these people alive.

The statue moves once again losing its maniacal grin in favor of its earlier lifeless facade standing in front of the cage, its back facing the great throne. They watch each thundering step in agitation. While it was walking away from them, they were terrified that it might decide for them who among them it wanted in its sick ceremony.

Their worries were seemingly answered when suddenly, the hand opened and unceremoniously dropped its captive in the middle of the altar. Tight shackles and collar seem to materialized on the poor creature.

Its implication were not lost on them. Its offering it like a proverbial lamb. An obvious answer served to them on a silver platter by the god himself.

But, something about it all seems wrong.

"Is that?"

"Guess we've known from the start.."

Joohee blanched at the implication. No, this can't be right.. the only one who helped us.. this can't be how it ends for her!

"Even some old fool like me can take a hint." Sangchik started, "We have to sacrifice someone.." The hunter took out his sword and started walking to the altar.