The Hunted Regressor: Rise of the Heretic Saint-Chapter 133: Welcome Me Home!

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║RUNE RANK UP!║

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[Second Rune: Wise Fool (Rank 4)]

[Description: He who knows that he knows nothing. The bearer may channel Divinity directly through his weapons and armor, bypassing all Runes. Effectiveness is determined entirely by Luck. It may yield nothing… or an effect belonging to an item of much higher class.]

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Ignotus had done it.

He actually did it.

Though the description read the same, he could feel the difference. Just how much stronger it had gotten and how much smoother it flowed from his Soul into, and through his body.

Earlier, he needed to use Acid against that Demon to end it because its regeneration was off the charts, but with this, if he hacked at it enough, he could eventually kill it with just a sword... Only if his Luck smiled, of course.

Though it was going to 'smile' more, as the higher the Rank of the Rune was, the lower the chance of it failing would be.

"Now this feels right."

Ignotus exhaled deeply, the glow around his arms fading as he slumped back against the forge wall. The blacksmith gave him a look that screamed, "Get out before you break something," but Ignotus just happily waved.

It was a hilarious scene if looked at from the blacksmith's perspective. Some random guy came in, waved things around, and gradually grew exhausted until, all of a sudden, a bright gold light shot out of him.

Unfortunately, Ignotus was too tired to laugh.

'Satisfied?'

Eris teased, Her voice light in his head.

'Yeah. I'm ready to Dive now.'

'You're going right now?'

He yawned while stretching his arms.

'No, I need proper sleep first. I might be a little crazy, but I'm not stupid. Traveling through the dark sounds like a good way to get stabbed by something with too many teeth, and besides, I'm all out of Divinity.'

Ignotus also didn't know what assassin might come after him; he had had enough interruptions.

'Wise choice, for once~.'

Ignoring Her jab, he walked out of the forge.

Night had fallen, and the small village had gone quiet.

Again, Ignotus wasn't in the mood for another ambush, so he went looking for an inn, but there wasn't one, just a few farmhouses and a tavern that looked like it doubled as a stable.

So he did the next best thing: knocking on a random door and offering to pay for a place to crash. Many rejected him, finding him suspicious, giving him that half-tired look of a villager who'd seen one too many strangers.

But eventually, Ignotus met one who hadn't looked at him with hostility from the get-go.

"So are you asking to sleep in for the night?"

The man seemed suspicious as well, but was willing to listen.

Though when Ignotus dropped a few silver coins in his hand, suspicion quickly became hospitality.

"Come in, dear traveler!"

Ignotus stepped aside, gesturing him in.

Inside, the warmth hit Ignotus instantly.

The smell of stew followed, and the crackling of a fire.

Over it, a woman stirred a pot, and a small girl peeked out from behind her apron.

He was about to just nod at them, go to the free bedroom, and leave it at that—transaction done—but the wife looked at him for a few seconds and smiled, making him pause.

"I've heard you from the door. You should stay for dinner."

Her kind words were surprising, as was the little girl.

She curiously approached and tugged at his sleeve.

Ignotus was a tall man; he already felt like a giant when standing next to the husband, but now, when this little one approached... He couldn't help but be reminded of how weak the normal folk were.

"You fight monsters, mister?"

Ignotus lowered himself and chuckled.

"Sometimes."

And that was how he found himself sitting cross-legged at a tiny wooden table, way too undersized for someone like him, eating stew that tasted good for how simple it was.

It was warm and peaceful.

The father talked about the "harvest" and about foxes raiding their chicken coop.

The mother complained about the cost of salt these days, while the little girl told him about her cat, who she claimed could talk but only when nobody else was around.

"Uh-huh..."

Ignotus nodded seriously.

"You should check if it's a God in disguise."

The girl gasped.

"You think so?"

"Could be. Cats are suspicious creatures."

Her mother laughed while hiding her mouth.

"Don't fill her head with stories."

Ignotus just smirked and spooned more stew.

It was strange; he'd faced many stronger than himself, many that could curb stomp him into an early grave, but somehow this little table talk was what felt most… grounding.

Ignotus had realized how rare it was for him to just be somewhere, without fighting or scheming or nearly dying.

He found himself listening more than talking or acting.

These three weren't heroes, monsters, or players in any grand play.

To put it plainly, they weren't interesting at all.

Though rude to say, that was objectively true.

They were just… people.

Normal, fragile, fleeting people.

Ones that he'd never ever talk to.

And for once, that wasn't boring.

'It's the first time you've done this since you've... changed, isn't it?'

Eris asked, and he slowly nodded.

'Yes, maybe that's why it feels different.'

They had Runes in their Souls, sure, but none had ever taken the step to awaken them.

Too dangerous and costly, so they were content living small lives, and somehow, that felt impressive in its own way.

Perhaps they were happier than he'd ever been.

"So, traveler..."

The father eventually leaned back, asking him:

"What do you do?"

Ignotus paused, thinking of how to answer.

"...a bit of everything."

"Oh? A mercenary?"

"Something like that."

The wife smiled kindly.

"Be careful out there. My distant cousin went out with mercenaries once... he never came back."

Ignotus nodded at her.

"I won't die easy."

"Good. The world's cruel enough as it is."

He almost said something cynical but stopped.

These people deserved better than his normal act.

"Yes. I guess it is."

The rest of the dinner passed quietly.

Ignotus helped the husband stack firewood, teased the little girl about her 'Divine cat,' and even washed the dishes after dinner, much to the mother's protest. She wanted to do everything by herself, something that he found hilariously typical... or so he heard.

By the time he finally laid down on the straw mattress they offered him, tiredness had claimed him.

His last thought before sleep was simple.

'...this is nice.'

...

Morning came fast.

Sunlight shone through the wood, and birds chirped.

After bidding Eris good morning, Ignotus stretched, yawned, and stepped outside to find the family already awake.

He thanked them sincerely, handed the man an extra silver coin, much to his wholesome surprise, and turned to leave.

"Mister!"

The little girl waved from the doorway.

"Goodbye, mister!" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

He waved back.

"Keep an eye on your God-cat!"

Her giggle followed him down the path.

'You seemed to enjoy yourself back there.'

Ignotus nodded at Eris as he walked toward the hills.

"Hm… The days since I've... 'changed' have been crazy fun, but sometimes living quietly is nice too."

Eris had nothing to say about that.

Ignotus had answered Her honestly and directly with no vague nonsense.

That was...

'...good.'

Indeed, it was.

As was the speed of them finding the entrance Ignotus fell into last time.

By noon, he'd reached the twin hills, where the massive hole in the ground sat.

The wind brushed through the grass, carrying that familiar smell of Corruption from below.

"Lucky day."

It seemed that Lady Luck had blessed him; no one had covered it yet.

Dropping down willingly and being seen by someone would have him immediately branded as Debter of Oath, but that risk mattered not to Ignotus. He was sure he needed to Dive to create this overpowered Rune Path he had in mind.

"Yes... I've got a path to finish."

That was enough to hold up in court.

Materializing his Stranger's Mask, he adjusted it over his face.

Ignotus stepped closer to the edge and leaped.

Wind roared past his ears...

Darkness swallowed him whole...

"I've returned~!"

And his laughter echoed all the way down.

"WELCOME ME HOME!"