Chapter 40: Playing Both Mother and Father, Luo Jia, Don’t Get a Tattoo!

"I will go and pacify the masses. Malum, go pack our luggage."

Anda finished his wine, patted his belly with satisfaction, and wiped the droplets from the corners of his mouth.

Aaron chased after him, asking, "And what about me?"

Anda frowned. "Go rummage through the clothes of the dead priest's attendants nearby and find some precious metals. I cannot have a repeat of you selling me off; our family cannot afford to be short on money."

Aaron snorted and turned his head away. Every time his father showed even a glimmer of human-like sensibility, he immediately reverted to this state where not a single serious word could escape his lips. However, money was indeed a good thing; at the very least, it meant they wouldn't have to rely solely on hunting for food on their way to Sais. In the wilderness, after eating too much roasted meat, one inevitably yearns for food prepared by normal means and longs to live normally in a town filled with the scent of hearth fire.

Anda climbed to the highest point at the edge of the arena. Golden light flickered in his eyes, reshaping the memories of the people in Lavist who had witnessed the appearance of the demon. He pointed casually at two people: "Now, you are Dalet, and you are Erest. You will stay in Lavist as instructed and wait for the Pharaoh's decree from Sais."

Aaron, having tucked the money away, looked at his father’s divine power with a touch of envy, though he asked curiously, "Father, doesn't it get boring for you? Being able to alter everyone's perception and mold the world into whatever shape you desire—what is the point of that?"

Anda turned around confidently. "That is why I usually find a place to stay. Once I confirm that the early faith won't be tainted by demons, I settle down to be a mortal. My abilities are still limited for now, but Malum says that in the future, I will be able to radiate across the entire galaxy."

Aaron was stunned. "An entire galaxy! Those are the stars in the sky! Father, back then, was it just a casual wave of your hand that snatched away Europa and her companions?"

The pride on Anda’s face didn't last long. At his son's change of topic, his expression quickly lengthened, and he spoke through gritted teeth: "I have said, those rumors were fabricated by Erda—your mother—to slander me! Some of those are just stories invented by humans to justify their own rule! I have no interest in cows!"

Anda walked away with a dark expression, then turned back to add, "And neither in swans nor little boys!"

That night, the three of them snuck out of Lavist, the town where the value of an Emperor had, for the first time, been measured in clear financial units. There were two larger cities on the way to Sais, but fortunately, they were now within Egyptian territory, where roads had been built by official institutions. They had acquired a carriage in Lavist and hitched the donkey, "Number Five," to it. Anda and Aaron sat in the carriage, while Malum walked in front, one hand guiding it—though, in truth, he was the one pulling it forward entirely.

The poor donkey, however, was to be pitied. Despite having eaten and slept to its heart's content and even having a fine mare to snuggle with, its good days had lasted only a few short days before it was forced to walk again. Though it wasn't bearing any load, it still missed the experience of riding on the back of an Astartes. At least, it thought, the ground beneath its feet was still solid earth, right? Not some strange, otherworldly place.

At night, when there was no chance of meeting anyone on the road, Malum would unhitch Number Five and place it on the carriage to serve as a pillow for the master and Aaron. Then, he would shoulder the carriage and run forward, maintaining a steady pace to avoid jolting his master. Under the moonlight, a carriage without livestock, carried by a man, traveled eerily along the road.

Both father and son slept soundly. Aaron turned over, one hand draped over Number Five's neck, and drifted into a long-overdue slumber.

Colchis, beneath the Peak of Skulls.

This was a fortress within the Dark Fortress network—one that ranked mid-tier in overall strength but was the most dangerous. This was solely because it was home to a slaughter demon powerful enough to enter a state of fusion with the Dark Gods: Kharn-bost. Kharn was the deity, and Bost was the believer. According to legend, because of the perfectly equal relationship between the two, Bost could wield Kharn's divine power in his human form, transforming into a red-skinned entity with wings, massive horns, and a battle-axe. Whoever could defeat Bost in a one-on-one combat trial would have the entire Peak of Skulls bow to them.

This was the place Lorgar had sent Erebus to. The road to the Peak of Skulls was safe; the nearby Dark Fortresses knew Kharn’s temper and would not hinder anyone going there to throw their life away. If a believer of the One True God could conquer the Peak of Skulls, it would establish a foothold within the Dark Domain, which carried profound significance.

Erebus tightened his clothes, walking beneath the cold, gray cliffs, careful to stay close to the rock wall to avoid falling. Looking up, the skull of an unknown ancient beast was wedged into the path leading to the summit. This skull served as the final resting place for challengers. After a long while, Erebus finally arrived, glad to be shielded from the biting wind and able to light a fire for warmth.

"Kales, are you certain Lorgar doesn't suspect me?" This was not the first time Erebus had asked this.

Kales’s voice echoed in his mind: "I have confirmed it. The Cursed Son is merely testing you. A guard unit personally trained by Lorgar is following right behind us. Believe me, I never lie. You are Erebus, the beloved Erebus."

Erebus touched his own face and hissed viciously, "The one who is beloved is the real Erebus; I have merely usurped his identity. Forget it, forget it. Can you communicate with Kharn-bost? The Chaos Gods should be cooperating with us."

This question stumped Kales, who stammered, "W-well, the general direction is correct. We will definitely ensure our goals are achieved, especially the goals set for the future."

Erebus stirred the fire for warmth. "For example?"

Kales urged, "For example, you will fight Kharn, but you will definitely survive. This is a fixed future! Lorgar will also certainly betray the human sun to pursue a higher existence!"

Erebus’s expression relaxed, feeling the warmth of the fire. "That is what I want. Chaos itself."

Neither of them realized that while Kales was technically correct, they both seemed to have misinterpreted the future.

More than twenty kilometers behind them, Lorgar reached out his hands to catch his brother falling from the sky. His guard unit was further ahead, separated by several hills.

"You always appear in such a strange way, brother."

A smile appeared on Lorgar's face. Ever since they last parted and he found his ultimate goal in life, the frequency of Lorgar’s smiles had increased.

Aaron landed in Lorgar’s arms, looking at his younger brother's well-developed pectoral muscles and the symbols carved into them, which resembled text. He immediately grew anxious.

"Lorgar, it's so windy out here—why are you out wearing nothing but a monk's robe? What if you catch a cold? And why on earth would you tattoo your skin? Haven't you already transcended your pursuits? Do you still need some scriptures to express them?"

Aaron looked very worried. His brother was here without parents, and as the older brother, he had to take responsibility. Clothes had to be worn properly, and he couldn't go astray. What was the point of looking ugly with scales tattooed on his face like that Dalet fellow?

Lorgar comforted Aaron, gently setting his brother down and straightening his own clothes. "These are not tattoos. They are just children drawing and writing on me; they say it blesses my safe return. As for the cold, I don't feel it, though you are right—I should dress more properly."