The Strange God

1. 6. What The F*ck? (Part 1)

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"Oh, he was attacked by the barrier I set up to protect my son," Kabun said, unconcerned.

After Kabun said that, Stephen took a finger-sized bottle from his robe and uncorked the cover. He moved the opening near his mouth and drank all the green liquid inside it while his hands shook.

Gulp— Gulp—

Higante looked at him and asked, "Stephen! Are you alright?"

A faint green glow emanated from Stephen's body, and he sighed, and then the light disappeared. He sat on the ground cross-legged and took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood that had come out of his mouth.

"That potion is good. His internal organs healed instantly," Kabun observed while looking at Stephen.

"What—What happened to him?!" Higante shouted, staying close to Stephen like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

Without looking at Higante, Stephen looked up at Kabun and said, "I apologize."

He then put away the potion container and handkerchief and stood up with Higante's help.

"Why are you suddenly apologizing?" Higante asked worriedly.

"That—I—"

"He tried to take a peek at the soul of my son," Kabun interrupted Stephen.

"You did what!?" Higante shouted, flabbergasted.

Looking at someone's soul without their permission is like forcibly undressing a woman or a man.

"I am sorry. I thought there was something wrong. Why would a hunter talk about souls like he is a priest, necromancer, or a god? I was just concerned about the child."

"You know you cannot just look at people's souls like that! That was not a good reason to do what you did," Higante scolded.

Higante faced Kabun and bowed ninety degrees. "There is no excuse for what my friend did. I hope you forgive him."

Stephen followed suit, his face and voice filled with sincerity. "I am sorry. Without proper reason, I will never do this again and not act on suspicion and assumption alone."

"Hmm," Kabun nodded without changing his facial expression. "I want to rest from my long journey. Lead me to my house."

Kabun then walked in the direction they were initially headed.

"May I ask what you mean about your son's soul and body?" Stephen asked persistently.

"Oh, my son's body died for a second or less, and his soul left his body immediately a few days ago," Kabun answered, satisfying Stephen's curiosity.

"Well, his body died, and I had to pluck his soul out to hear his wish properly." Kabun thought.

"I then had to put his soul back to keep him alive."

"I reformed his body from his old one, then put his soul back and gave him a new breath of life." Kabun again added in his mind.

The two walking beside Kabun held their assumptions until they had all the facts.

With a twitching eyebrow, Stephen continued to ask questions, much like a nosy neighbor. Kabun, on the other hand, answered them all as if it didn't concern him.

"How did your son die?"

"We were attacked by a huge monster a few days ago, and my son suddenly stopped breathing."

"Someone stabbed him multiple times in the stomach, and he lost a lot of blood."

"How did you bring your son's life back?"