A man sat at the entrance of the tanner’s house, working on a pair of boots. Peeking over the low wall, Colin noticed the yard was completely empty; there wasn’t a single leather-stretching rack in sight.

"Do you have any hyena pelts?" Colin asked, walking up to the man.

"Nope."

The man glanced at the uninvited guest, gave his one-word reply, and went back to fiddling with the boots in his hands.

Colin grunted in acknowledgment, then strode out of the village with Kase.

After walking several hundred meters, they looked at each other and said in unison, "This village is a little strange."

Kase rubbed his nose with a finger and said, "I smelled a hint of blood on that village chief. A very faint scent. It wasn’t like he’d just killed something, nor was it like he hadn’t bathed after a kill. It was just... weird."

"The villagers here don’t seem afraid of you, have you noticed? And for a place that supposedly produces so much leather, the tanner’s house is completely empty," Colin said, stroking his chin.

"So what should we do?"

"Let’s go to the mill first and check things out. When we meet the Mill Master, let’s not be too quick to act," Colin said. "If we just rush back now and there really are Cultists in the village, we’ll have to face them alone. If we find the Mill Master first, we can at least gather some information."

The two followed a small path up a densely vegetated earthen slope south of the village.

The windmill, with its large blades, was quite conspicuous in the forest. The two cautiously crept toward it.

Just like any other mill.

This one also consisted of a windmill and the Mill Master’s residence. Since Pig Badger Village had almost no fields, it was likely set up to serve the other surrounding villages.

"How are we approaching?" Kase asked.

"What, are we going to walk up and say hello? We’ll approach them armed. Just don’t make a move until we’re sure if they’re Cultists. I’ll handle the communication." Colin unhooked his Hand Half Sword and used the strap on the scabbard to secure the sword in its sheath.

The two approached the mill step by step, reaching the two-story wooden house next to the windmill. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Colin knocked on the door several times, but after waiting for a while, there was no response from within.

After giving Kase a meaningful look, he pushed open the wooden door and walked inside.

Inside the room were several platforms raised slightly above the ground, with a few grains of cereal scattered on them. It looked like some sort of granary. But now, the area was empty, save for a pile of empty burlap sacks.

"Is anyone here?"

Colin called out, but still, there was no answer.

After they took a few steps forward, a voice suddenly shouted from above their heads, "What are you here for? Did that old fox send you to kill us?"

Immediately after, four men burst out from a wooden door in front of them. They were holding things like short clubs and wooden mallets, looking ready to fight for their lives.

Several more men and women, looking a bit younger, rushed in from the outer door, armed with pitchforks.

"Can we talk about this first?" Colin shouted loudly.

The old man shouted, "What right do you have to talk to us? You look like a Mercenary who’d do anything for money!"

Then, another figure suddenly rushed in from outside.

It was a woman in a white robe, holding a Nail Head Hammer and a Round Shield.

But her skin was bright red all over. A pair of curved ram’s horns sat atop her head, and her white hair shimmered like forged silver. Her neck had some scales and Bone Spikes, and a pointed tail swished back and forth behind her.

The moment Colin saw this creature, he instantly began to doubt his own deductions.

Because this thing looked exactly like a Demon from the legends!

As soon as the Demon saw Kase, she raised the Nail Head Hammer in her hand.

"By the glory of the Morninglord, burn that villain!"

As she recited the prayer, the Nail Head Hammer burst with light, like a tiny, glowing sun. He could clearly see a Light Ball coalescing.

Colin charged forward without hesitation.

The Demon was momentarily stunned to see a human charge out, and she hastily raised her Shield. The Light Ball that had just begun to form instantly dissipated.

Colin lifted his Hand Half Sword and smashed it violently against the edge of the Shield.

His opponent’s Defense was much weaker than he’d expected; the Shield was knocked aside with a single blow.

Seizing the opportunity, he strode forward without hesitation.

With one hand on the scabbard and the other on the hilt, he viciously slammed the pommel into the Demon’s face, easily knocking her to the ground.

Seeing this, the villagers in the back immediately started clamoring, seemingly very displeased with Colin’s actions.

"Can we talk first, gentlemen?" Colin said coldly, his hand on the strap of his sword. "Or would you rather get a closer look at my blade?"

He glanced at the "Demon" on the floor.

’This creature was just chanting a prayer to the Morninglord, one of the most famous Good Deities in this world. Could she be a devout, good-hearted Demon?’

Several of the men looked in unison toward the old man on the mezzanine.

Perhaps sensing that the two meant no harm, the old man waved his hand dismissively.

The men in the room silently dropped their weapons. The Demon who had rushed in was now squatting on the ground, continuously rubbing her nose.

Colin sighed in relief. Finally, they could get down to business.

"Sorry, I meant no harm," the Demon on the floor said, speaking first.

Her voice sounded stuffy from the blow to her nose.

"Don’t try any tricks." Colin drew his Hand Half Sword and pressed it against her neck. "Who are you?"

The Demon, clutching her nose, trembled. Drops of blood dripped down from her palm, and her tail coiled anxiously around her ankle.

She took out a round wooden plaque and said with a trembling voice, "I-I’m a Cultivator from the Dawn Monastery. I was on my way to Thousand Masts City to help..."

"Aren’t you a Demon?"

"I’m a... a, Tiefling."

’A Tiefling? The original owner of this body did have some memories about them.’

They were said to be the descendants of Demons left behind in the mortal world. In Thousand Masts City, they were even less welcome than Half-Orcs. They usually lived together in the city’s sewers, and even the most cunning and cruel gang members were wary of them.

Colin glanced at the round plaque again.

It was indeed carved with the Holy Emblem of the Morninglord, one of the major Good Deities of this world. Everyone in Thousand Masts City knew of it.

’He then recalled the moment she had tried to throw the Light Ball.’

’The Magic Net around her did fluctuate, but the Magic Power causing the fluctuation didn’t come directly from her. It came from another source, making it feel as if something invisible was Casting nearby.’

’I had the same feeling when I was being healed by a Priest in the Divine Hall.’

’So, if this Tiefling really is a Priest of the Morninglord, then she couldn’t be a Cultist of some Evil Deity.’

’A case of friendly fire, I suppose,’ Colin sighed.

"Can you still heal yourself?"

"I helped heal a villager this morning, and my Divine Art was just interrupted, so I’ve used up my boons for the day..." The Tiefling blinked, tears welling up in her eyes. "I’m sorry, I don’t mean to cry. My nose just really stings."

"You were about to start Casting, that’s why I attacked," Colin explained as he took out his medical kit, tore off a piece of bandage, and handed it to her.

"I know..." The Tiefling stuffed the bandage into her nose, then stood up and gave a timid bow. "When I came in and saw this Half-Orc gentleman, I thought he was here to rob the place. I’m sorry."

’She’s surprisingly polite,’ Colin thought, which actually made him feel a little embarrassed.

He was reminded of Edwin and the old Priest he’d met before.

’In a world where Gods are real, the proportion of good people among the Clergy who worship Good Deities must be quite high.’

"I was sent by the City Watchers." Colin turned to show them his ring. "Aren’t you going to let us in to sit down and talk? Frankly, if it had been someone else here just now, they probably wouldn’t have been able to stop themselves from attacking!"

At this, the old man on the mezzanine finally instructed the others to lead Colin and his group into a room furnished with a table and chairs.

The group sat down, while a few of the younger men stood to the side.

Colin sat and sized up the old man and the others.

"I believe some introductions would be a good start. I’m Colin, a field agent for the City Watchers."

"I’m the Mill Master here. People just call me Old Harvey." The old man crossed his arms, looking puffed up with anger.

The old man had a square face, giving him a stubborn and inflexible appearance.

’Considering he was about to attack us just now, his appearance certainly matches his personality.’

The Tiefling kept her head down. "I’m Orelia. I’m a Cultivator who has just learned Tier One Divine Skill."

"Good." Colin tapped the table. "The people in the village said that you..."

"It has nothing to do with us!" the old man said at once. "Who knows where the butcher’s meat went? Or maybe those Hunters just aren’t doing their jobs. In any case, you can’t blame us for it."

"Don’t get so worked up."

"Worked up? That old fox has been harassing us for weeks! He’s dead set on giving my property to that slick, powdered-faced nephew of his! Anyway, I’ve already made my preparations. As you saw, my four sons aren’t useless freeloaders!"

Colin thought for a moment and began to piece things together.

Just as he had deduced earlier, the village chief was the one with the problem, and he was using his power to sling mud at the Mill Master.

"Then what’s your story?" Colin asked, looking at the Tiefling who called herself Orelia.

She kept her head down and said meekly, "The Monastery heard about the recent winter disaster and sent a group of Priests capable of Casting Divine Arts to provide support. I was one of them.

Then, when I was passing through this village, I noticed a strange... scent in the air. A sign of an Evil Demon, perhaps. While I was investigating, I discovered that Old Harvey was a good person, so I decided to stay and lend a hand."

"Just you?"

"My companions didn’t sense it, and they also..." Orelia trailed off, waving her hand.

’That makes sense. A Tiefling, a half-Demon, becoming a Good God Priest is strange enough. It’s not surprising that this young girl would be ostracized by her fellow Priests.’

Colin looked her up and down.

The Tiefling wasn’t tall, only about 1.5 meters, and she looked quite young.

"Since you can perceive things your companions can’t, are the Cultists here Druids who worship Lady Rime?" Colin asked seriously.