Fractured God

Kevin looked around the room and pushed himself off Tibaut’s back when he noticed the pale women.

He tried to run outside but had his arm grabbed by Tibaut.

“What are you doing? We need to leave before those things change their mind.” He said. He was struggling to drag Tibaut and seemed to be frantically trying to run away.

“Dude, what are you talking about?” Tibaut asked, confused.

His brain ran for a few moments and spat out a serviceable answer. (“Oh shit, don't tell me he recognised Agnes as a cultist somehow! Probably has the girls confused for them as well. ‘Things’ seems a bit harsh but they are bastards so I don't wrong him for saying that.”)

“Those things next to the blue-haired girl. We need to leave now, I'm not going through that agai-”

He looked down and around his body. His wounds were looking considerably less serious. He even rubbed one and all it did was rub blood off his skin. His wounds weren't just better, they were gone. He still felt pain from the areas affected but it was night and day difference between now and earlier.

“It looks like we have a lot to talk about,” Tibaut said, as he looked towards him.

The group were now walking down the hallways of the fifth floor, with Tibaut providing a much-needed light.

They had just provided each other some much-needed information, omitting details when necessary, and decided to have a chat as they headed up the dungeon.

“So no need to run, right?” Tibaut asked.

“I don't think so. Last I saw, the others weren't even close by when I came here.” Kevin responded.

He was taking in more of the scenery as they walked and realised just how creepy this place was.

(“What the hell was that big gate with demons on it anyway?”)

“Phew, so all we need to worry about is heading up and killing that priest, right?”

“Tibaut, please don't say that like he's still alive.” Kevin cringed while holding his hands against his face, thinking about meeting that little boy again.

“I hate to say it but there's a good chance he's alive. He mentioned them leaving him alone or something like that.”

Kevin's arms went limp and he proceeded to have a long drawn-out sigh.

“So I've been meaning to ask since it never came up but how did you get those two to be so calm?” He asked. His gaze turned to the two pale women who looked to be picking on Agnes.

“Uh, well, (should I tell the truth?)”

("Do you even know what the truth is?")

(“Tsk, you have a point. Wait, you didn't do anything weird to me, did you?”)

(“No, this is something that strictly relates to you.”) They said, sounding unamused.

Kevin was still waiting for an answer and wondered why he froze up.

“They only wanted him for his body,” Agnes mumbled as the two women, walking directly in front of and behind her, with Agnes sandwiched in between, played patty cake with each other.

What was meant as a disgruntled complaint of a woman who felt she was wronged had made its way to Kevin's ears.

He quickly turned around. “Wait, is that true!?”

She moved her head down into the chest of the pale woman in front of her and desperately tried to hide her blushed cheeks. (“OH LORD HE HEARD THAT!!!!”)

The pale women looked to each other for a moment before nodding their heads, whilst they held back their giggling.

He cleared his throat when Tibaut turned around to see what the reaction was for.

“Uh, well, um, you can tell me why they didn't attack when you feel like it. (So that's why they were all asleep together. If it was regular women maybe I might see myself doing the same thing, but those things!? I feel for you Tibaut. Yet even after that he can talk and walk as if nothing happened. We're the same age, but it feels like there's leaps and bounds between us…)” For Tibaut’s sake, he decided not to ask any more questions.

“(Why's he looking at me like that? Whatever, at least I don't have to explain this whole thing.) Yeah, man don't worry about it. With me around you shouldn't have to worry about another run-in like earlier.”

“(Even after all he went through, he's willing to do it again for my safety. I-is having the stomach to do something like that also a part of being an adventurer?) T-thanks.”

Kevin felt he needed no more answers after that, but Tibaut heard something earlier that caught his interest.

“(He mentioned escaping a red one… I should probably keep quiet about that… No I'm the one who technically revived it, I should be more detailed in case I have to help put her down.) So about this red woman-”

“Please, Tibaut, you don't have to talk about them anymore,” Kevin said as he gave an understanding look and patted his shoulder.

“Them? Oh, no, no, these girls and that red woman are different. Like I said these girls were sold or given to the cult by Albus. I even saw a report saying as much.”

He momentarily stopped to process this information and ran back to Tibaut’s side.

“...really? Then what was she?”.

“A demon.”

“...” He went completely silent and held his face in silent contemplation.

(“I know I haven't said I'm the one that gave it mana, but it feels like he's judging me.”)

“This is going to sound stupid but is that any worse than these girls?” He asked while pointing behind.

“Huh?”

“I mean, I felt way more threatened when I met that pale woman, no, I guess she's a victim, on the third floor than the demon.”

(“And that bitch was hyping her up like she was something to worry about. My God, were you trying to get me to have a heart attack?”)