Aqua, rubbing her sore bottom from the fall, looked up and glared at Ash.
“What are you doing!
That’s a Lich!
An undead creature!
It’s only natural for This Goddess to purify her!” “Did you forget?” Ash squatted down, meeting Aqua’s gaze.
“Sus-tain-able de-vel-op-ment!” Aqua blinked.
“What…
what development?” “She runs an item shop.” Ash interrupted her.
“Everything she sells is legitimate.
That potion yesterday was bought from her.” “But…
but that doesn’t prove she’s not an evil Lich…” “If she were an evil Lich, the Adventurers Guild would have already defeated her.
Axel might be a beginner’s town, but it’s not so incompetent that it can’t even detect a Lich.” Aqua was silent for a few seconds, then reluctantly climbed up from the ground.
“I just told you yesterday.
Keeping the Demon Kings Army around means a continuous source of income.
Similarly—” Ash glanced at Wiz, who was cowering behind the counter, only her eyes visible.
“Keeping this Lich will allow her to serve her greatest purpose.” Aqua opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Her expression changed from anger to unwillingness, and from unwillingness to grievance.
“B-b-b-but…
we can’t just let it go at that.” “I didn’t say we would.” Ash stood up and walked towards the counter.
Wiz was still crouching behind the counter, hands clasped over her head, her body trembling slightly.
Her long brown hair was scattered over her shoulders, and her ahoge had completely flattened, as if it had been scared limp.
Ash walked up to the counter and looked down at Wiz, who was squatting on the ground.
“It’s alright now.” He said.
Wiz slowly raised her head, her almond-shaped eyes still filled with terror.
“Sh-she won’t purify me anymore?” “No.” Ash reached out and patted Wiz’s head.
Her ahoge bounced once from the pat, then stood up again.
Wiz froze for a moment, her expression changing from terror to confusion.
This action…
it was too casual.
Just like treating a child!
“Um…
Mr.
Ash…” Wiz cautiously stood up, still clutching the hem of her skirt.
“This is…” “Aqua.” Ash said.
“The Goddess of Water.
The one worshipped by the Axis Order.” Wiz’s pupils constricted again.
A goddess?
A real goddess?
She looked at Aqua, with blue hair and blue eyes, wearing a translucent purple feathered robe, and a chain tied around her waist.
At this moment, the goddess was sitting on the ground, arms crossed, pouting, and looking displeased.
Wiz’s mouth twitched.
This is…
the Goddess of Water?
How is she so different from the legends?
“You don’t need to be nervous.” Ash said.
“Although she seems unreliable, she is indeed a goddess.
And she won’t purify you—I guarantee it.” “How can you guarantee that!” Aqua yelled from behind.
“Because the chain is around your waist.” Ash said without turning his head.
Aqua looked down at the Enkidu around her waist and fell silent.
Ash didn’t pay any more attention to her; instead, he turned around, his gaze falling on Wiz.
He reached out, picked up a strand of her hair, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it hard.
At this, Wiz froze completely.
“Eh?” “Eh eh?” “Eh eh eh?!” Her face instantly turned crimson, and the ahoge on her head twitched violently like an antenna.
“M-Mr.
Ash?!
Wh-what are you doing?!” “Smelling!” Ash released the strand of hair without changing his expression and nodded.
“Hmm, no smell of decay.
A faint, mellow fragrance.
Good, good…” “Wh-what does ‘good, good’ mean…” Wiz’s voice was barely audible.
Aqua watched in stunned silence from the side.
“Hey!
Ash!
What are you doing!
Flirting with another woman in front of your wife?!” “I’m confirming if she’s a real Lich.” Ash turned around, his face serious.
“Liches usually have a smell of decay, but she doesn’t.
This indicates that she’s not one of those evil Liches who maintain their existence through slaughter.” “But you can’t just smell someone’s hair!” “Why not?” “Because…
because that’s…
that’s…” Aqua stammered “that’s” for a long time without making any sense.
“Alright, don’t dwell on it.” Ash looked at Wiz again.
Wiz blinked, unsure what to say.
This man—yesterday he came to the shop fully armed, bought a potion, and left, revealing her identity before he did.
Today, he brought a goddess, restrained by a chain, who almost purified her upon entering, and then he smelled her hair.
What exactly does he want?
“Miss Wiz.” Ash began.
“I came today to ask the same question as yesterday.” He paused.
“Are there any enemies nearby with undead or demonic attributes?” Wiz hesitated, her gaze shifting back and forth between Ash and Aqua.
Aqua had already stood up from the ground, hands on her hips, her blue eyes still filled with hostility.
“Speak!” Aqua shouted loudly.
“Tell us quickly!
Otherwise, This Goddess will purify you!” Wiz recoiled.
“I-I’ll tell you…”