"Lucille, where are we going now?" Sudiya asked, her arm held by Lucille as they darted through the alleys. "Even if you killed those three, the cult wouldn't notice so quickly, would they? Do we really need to move this fast?"
"The abilities in the transcendent world are unpredictable. We can't rule out the possibility they've already noticed," Lucille replied calmly. "Always prepare for the worst, Little Princess."
"Oh," Sudiya nodded, half-understanding. "Then… where are we headed? Back to the capital?"
"We can't go back to the capital," Lucille said, analyzing swiftly. "Don't forget, the royalists can't find you either. That's written in the contract."
"The contract… said that?" Sudiya asked, puzzled.
"Of course. If the royalists catch you, how can you help me? That's the hidden clause behind the contract."
"Oh…" Sudiya blinked, dazed. She'd never considered a contract could have such implications.
"Let it be a lesson, Little Princess," Lucille said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Don't sign contracts carelessly. And if you must, show them to me first, got it?"
"Okay," Sudiya nodded obediently, then suddenly wondered why she had to show them to him. Beyond the contract, what was their connection?
But no matter her thoughts, a small spark of joy flickered in her heart.
Sudiya pursed her lips, trying to control her expression.
"Don't worry. Night Star has already arranged a safe place for us. Once we get there, we won't need to fear the royalists or the Shadow Cult," Lucille said, soothing her.
Sudiya watched Lucille navigate the winding alleys with practiced ease, far more reliable than her, a newcomer to this world. Her worries eased.
Suddenly, Lucille spun around, pulling her into a narrow corner. They crouched, holding their breath.
"What's wrong?" Sudiya whispered, leaning close to his ear, her voice barely a breath.
Her warm breath tickled Lucille's ear, making him suppress a shiver. He leaned toward her ear in return. "Cult members. Duty Wielders."
Sudiya flinched, her ears visibly reddening. She quickly nudged him to turn away, then whispered against his back, "Can you beat them?"
"Barely. They're only Tier One Duty Wielders, not much stronger than ordinary people."
With that, Lucille quietly drew the handgun Sudiya had given him, extending it outward. Without looking, he fired.
Bang!
A heavy thud followed, accompanied by panicked shouts and chaotic footsteps. Lucille rushed out, firing in quick succession.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each shot dropped a body. The survivors, seemingly ordinary people, didn't dare charge the armed Lucille, nor could they escape his sights.
Soon, the alley was littered with corpses. Lucille pulled Sudiya forward, weaving through the bodies as they continued their flight.
"Lucille, you're really not a Duty Wielder?" Sudiya asked, her ears still flushed, unable to shake their earlier conversation.
Lucille realized she still didn't believe he was just an ordinary person, whether she was probing or not.
Even in the midst of their escape, he stopped.
"Sudiya," he said, looking earnestly into her eyes. "I told you, I don't like lying. On this, I'm not deceiving you. I'm not a Duty Wielder, nor am I powerful. Without the artifact you gave me, I'm barely stronger than an ordinary person."
"Is… that so?" Sudiya faltered under his serious gaze, fidgeting with her fingers. Then, as if making a decision, she pulled a golden ring from her spatial ring. "In that case, Lucille, take this."
"The Golden Ring?" Lucille recognized it, frowning. "It's too precious, Little Princess. Even as the last royal heir, you shouldn't give it away so lightly."
Lucille knew this ring from the game—one of the twelve divine artifacts, obtainable only in the mid-to-late game. Its power was immense. Even as an ordinary person, Lucille could use one of its abilities: Soul Absorption.
With this ring, every enemy he killed would enhance him—body, mana, soul—without limit. The more enemies he defeated, the stronger he'd become, enough to turn him into a superhuman, even with diminishing returns.
This was likely a reward for saving the Little Princess. Lucille hadn't expected to encounter such an artifact so soon, but now that Sudiya offered it, he felt unworthy.
"Try it, Lucille," Sudiya said, her tone suddenly serious. "Only those recognized by the ring can wear it. I believe in you."
This was exactly why Lucille hesitated. He'd been in this world too briefly, with no notable achievements or reputation. Would the ring really accept him?
But under Sudiya's expectant gaze, he couldn't back down. Refusing now would betray his own heart. How could he claim to hate lies if he faltered here?
Without further hesitation, he took the ring and slipped it onto his finger.
To his surprise, there was no resistance. The ring slid on effortlessly, as if the "legendary trial" was a myth.
"See! I knew you could do it!" Sudiya cheered, almost as if she were the one who'd passed the test.
Her voice snapped Lucille out of his daze. He hadn't expected to claim a divine artifact so easily.
In that moment, he realized that saving the Little Princess had altered the game's entire storyline. Only now did he truly feel he could change the future.
He was certain that by following the "correct" plot, he could save this world.
But now, he felt he could do even more.
The tragedies that haunted him, the losses that pained him—perhaps he could prevent them all.