CHAPTER 93
093 An Old, Decrepit Castle

The Elves, who had been about to drive the monster away, relaxed their guard slightly. However, they did not lower their bows.
With dozens of arrowheads aimed at it, the crow delivered its polite proposal.
—I heard the temple where you stayed has collapsed. If you need a place to take refuge, how about our Temple of Light? It is a very bright and pleasant place. Hahaha.
Although it was laughing jovially, the crow speaking these words seemed far removed from the light. It wasn't just that its feathers were black; the monster exuded a uniquely ominous and sinister aura.
"You mean to say you will take us in?"
Ipril, the leader here, stepped forward to speak with it.
Although Jinwoo had protected them all, as a human, he was not suited to lead Elves, and Jinwoo himself had no desire for such a position.
Rona possessed the skill and status to lead everyone, but she yielded the leadership role to Ipril. Ipril had been active on the 3rd Floor the longest and had been the one to protect her kinsmen from the Orcs' attacks.
Thus, Ipril, now representing the Elven refugees, sat face-to-face with the monster messenger of the God of Light.
—Our temple is open to all. It is our role to extend a hand of salvation to those with nowhere to go.
"...Before the 3rd Floor became like this, I heard a rumor. That the Temple of Light was gathering monsters."
—It couldn't be helped, as we lacked troops. We couldn't just kill you all and use you as soldiers, could we?
The words were strong, almost sounding like a threat, but the crow's tone was as calm as if it were everyday conversation.
"Are the monsters there all like you?"
—Are you asking if they possess self-awareness and intelligence like me?
Ipril nodded.
Based on what she had heard before, the Temple of Light had become completely overrun with monsters, essentially a fortified stronghold.
In fact, she had even heard Orcs complaining that they couldn't attack it for that very reason.
It could be a trap, so there was much she needed to hear beforehand.
—Not all of them are like me. Most are beings used without a proper ego. Cannon fodder, you could say.
A strange sense of superiority was embedded in the crow's words. The feeling that it was different from the monsters used as disposable pawns.
[The God of the Moonlight Forest advises you.]
[It's probably not a trap.]
While Ipril was having a serious conversation with the crow, a divine message descended upon Jinwoo, who was listening from the side. Coming from a spirit, it was indeed a true oracle.
'If it's not a trap, does that mean they genuinely intend to take in all the Elves?'
[That Lord has always enjoyed playing the role of a leader...]
Did she mean it likes to wear an armband and boss people around?
Still, it probably wasn't some incompetent fool with a stiff neck. It was the only spirit who had first identified the God of War's plot and prepared for it.
'In short, it thinks it's the one who will save everyone in this situation, right? The God of War is the evil villain, and it's the hero who will defeat him.'
[Something like that.]
'Then do you think we should accept this offer?'
Jinwoo asked for her opinion. She was the only one here who knew even a little about the God of Light. It was only natural to ask.
[Hmm...]
But her reaction was lukewarm. She didn't seem too keen on the idea.
It wasn't a matter to be decided lightly, but it also seemed she didn't view the God of Light very favorably.
'If we need a place to take shelter...'
If the Temple of Light was a dubious choice, what about somewhere else? With that thought, Jinwoo recalled a god he had a past connection with.
'What about the God of the Ice Valley? I received some help from her on the 2nd Floor before.'
[Absolutely not. Absolutely!]
Her reaction was more violent than expected.
'Absolutely? Is it that bad?'
[The God of the Moonlight Forest protests vehemently.]
[You should forget about any help you received from a place like that, quickly!]
If her attitude toward the God of Light was ambiguous, her attitude toward the God of the Ice Valley was unequivocal. It was an even more intense reaction than when she spoke of the God of War, who had arbitrarily seized control of the 3rd Floor.
Did that mean it was an extremely dangerous entity, or did she just personally dislike it...?
'She did seem dangerous.'
Jinwoo recalled the past. The gate to hell opening at the bottom of the Labyrinth, dragging Johann's soul inside.
Back then, when he had tried to peek beyond the gate, the God of the Ice Valley had stopped him, saying it was dangerous to look.
Because of that, and the help he received in defeating Johann, his impression of her wasn't bad.
'Alright, I get it. I won't mention the Ice Valley to Ipril.'
There was no reason to bring it up when she hated it this much.
The God of the Moonlight Forest wanted to protect the Elves here. She had said the Temple of Light's offer was likely not a trap, and she had a fit the moment the God of the Ice Valley was mentioned.
The answer was clear.
—This is all I have to say. Please discuss it thoroughly with your kinsmen.
"We will. For now, thank you for bringing the offer."
—I merely relayed my master's words, so no thanks are necessary.
By then, Ipril had also finished her conversation and stood up. Even as the leader, she was not their queen. A matter of such importance needed to be discussed with the other Elves, and of course, with Rona and Jinwoo.
"Jinwoo, what should we do?"
Rona asked Jinwoo for his opinion. It was a difficult decision for her to make as well. The safety of all her kinsmen was at stake, and she had no information on which to base her judgment.
Jinwoo whispered quietly so that only she could hear, not the other Elves.
"The World Tree says it's probably not a trap."
"......! Did you hear the voice of Mother World Tree!?"
"I hear it sometimes. Did I not tell you?"
"This is the first I'm hearing that you can even hear her voice..."
Rona stared at Jinwoo as if looking at something unbelievable. A human, not a queen or even an Elf, could hear the voice of the World Tree.
Thanks to that, persuasion seemed easy, so Jinwoo relayed what he had just heard with a relaxed mind.

After much discussion, during which some expressed reluctance about a temple swarming with monsters, the refugee Elves ultimately decided to head for the Temple of Light, thanks to Rona's strong advocacy and Ipril's lack of strong opposition.
"You are not bound to this place. If you judge it to be dangerous for yourselves, you are free to leave. But know this, at the very least, Sir Garcia and I will not abandon those who have trusted and followed us."
In the end, no one left. While the Temple of Light was indeed dangerous, wandering alone was even more so.
Furthermore, the trust Ipril had built among them in the Moonlight Forest played a part.
And they were also accompanied by Rona and Jinwoo, powerful individuals that even the Orcs could not easily challenge.
"Well then, I shall guide you."
The Elves who had lost their forest decided to follow the crow's guidance to the Temple of Light.
Though it was accompanied by some worry and concern, there were no safe options in this situation to begin with. Whichever path they chose required a bit of a gamble.
"By the way, what's your name? I don't think I heard it."
—Ah, Sir Jinwoo. My introduction is very late. Please call me Galleo.
"You know me?"
—How could I not? My master said you are the most noteworthy person of interest here on the 3rd Floor.
Hearing Galleo's words, it seemed the God of Light was well aware of him. Aware that he possessed the Sky God's divine object.
'Well, it's not like anyone was unaware that I invaded the Sky God's Temple.'
It was the most famous topic on the 3rd Floor recently.
Of course, the existence of the divine object was a secret, so the rumors only went as far as Jinwoo destroying the Sky God's Temple, but the God of Light would know everything.
That bringing down the temple and driving out the Sky God's authority from the 3rd Floor meant that Jinwoo had stolen its divine object.
—It is truly a relief for us that you did not side with the God of War, Sir Jinwoo. I heard you were somewhat acquainted with Vertus.
"Not really acquainted. We just talked a few times, that's all."
—I see. In any case, thank you for coming to our side. If you had gone over to them, things would have become uncontrollable.
Jinwoo stared intently at Galleo, who chattered away while flapping his wings. Since the topic had come up, he felt he needed to understand the situation more clearly.
"You said you are fighting the God of War."
—That is correct.
"How many divine objects has he consumed?"
—...As far as we have determined, five temples have already fallen. That means he possesses six divine objects.
"Including the one from the Moonlight Forest?"
—Yes.
Putting the glass bead aside for a moment, Jinwoo had one divine object. The God of War had six.
"And your side?"
—Only my master.
"Just one."
That made eight in total.
It meant that of the thirteen divine objects, the remaining five were scattered somewhere in this desert. One of them would be in the Temple of the Ice Valley.
"He created a rift that large with only about half of them..."
—The more divine objects he gathers, the more his influence will grow exponentially. If he collects just two more, or even just one, it will become uncontrollable.
"What happens if he gets two more?"
—I'm not sure, but wouldn't he be able to achieve a partial descent, like a demigod?
With just one arm, and with a single swing of a sword, the Moonlight Forest and its temple were completely obliterated.
If such a being were to descend, even partially, there would truly be no one on the 3rd Floor who could stop it.
Then, the remaining divine objects would be easily taken. Realistically, two more was the final line.
'I see why he was so relieved I didn't side with them.'
If Jinwoo had joined the God of War, that alone would have been a +1 to their divine object count. Then, if just one more was stolen, the Lord's descent would become unstoppable.
They spent several days sharing information and sometimes making idle chit-chat.
Even for Elves, who were quite fast on their feet in the desert, the journey took several days.
"Is that..."
"I hate to say this, but... is that really the Temple of Light?"
Seeing the scene unfolding before them, the color slowly drained from the Elves' faces. Even though they had all agreed to follow, seeing it in person made them hesitate again.
A single, decrepit castle stood in the desert. Though it was clearly daytime, as they approached the castle, the sky turned black and dark.
The only light was a single streak of moonlight shining down through the dark sky.
And surrounding the castle, countless monsters were packed densely together, all with unfocused eyes, showing no signs of life. They were undead, corpses moving about.
'I heard that even among undead, high-ranking ones possess souls.'
To Jinwoo's vision, it was a pitch-black scene. Not a single Blue Flame could be seen among the monsters swarming around the castle.
—Welcome to the castle that yearns for light.
Galleo puffed out his chest and spoke with his shoulders raised high. He seemed quite proud of their castle.