He finally didn’t have to squeeze into a small space with those three “knives” anymore.
Lynn was the first to step off the carriage, taking a deep breath.
The night air carried the scent of damp soil and the decay of withered leaves. He felt the tugging sensation around his ankles temporarily weaken.
**[Vivian’s Blackening Value: 86%]**
**[Alicia’s Blackening Value: 88%]**
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value: 92%]**
System notifications pulsed before his eyes. These numbers gave him no chance to relax.
Vivian jumped down from the carriage right after him. She scanned their surroundings, her hand resting on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
“This is no place to linger. Build a fire, set up camp, and then rest.”
Her voice was curt and carried a tone that brooked no argument.
Alicia also exited the carriage. She walked over to a large tree and thumped her Magic Staff against the ground.
A holy light spread out, enveloping the area.
“God’s protection is here. It will be safe for at least one night.”
Her voice was calm, but Lynn could sense that the light seemed exclusionary, as if it were sealing something out.
Lilith was the last to get off. She moved to Lynn’s side and grabbed his sleeve.
Her fingertips were icy cold.
“Brother, it’s dark, and it’s so scary,” she said in a soft, sweet voice.
Lynn felt that tugging sensation coil around his ankles once more.
Lynn did not respond to her. He turned his gaze toward the area illuminated by the Holy Light.
Vivian had already begun to deftly start a fire, her movements practiced and efficient.
Alicia had closed her eyes, her lips moving slightly as if she were praying.
Lynn knew well that the night was when these yanderes were most likely to “act out.”
He needed a foolproof plan.
The campfire blazed to life, crackling loudly.
Vivian brought out some dry rations and water from the carriage.
“Someone needs to keep watch tonight,” Lynn began, looking at the three of them.
“Since we all have our own abilities, to be fair, I’ll take the first half of the night, and you three can rotate for the second half.”
The moment he spoke, silence fell over the campfire.
Vivian stopped chewing her rations. She looked up, her gaze fixed directly on Lynn.
“Lynn, are you joking?” she asked, her voice low.
Alicia opened her eyes.
There wasn’t a hint of a smile in her deep blue orbs.
“Holy Son, your duty is to save the world. Watching the night is something we will handle.”
Lilith leaned closer to Lynn until the tip of her nose almost touched his ear.
“Brother, it’s very dangerous outside. There are many bad people and succubi. Succubi love to snatch away brothers at night.”
Her voice was soft and thin, yet it carried a clear threat.
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value: 93%]**
the numbers jumped again.
Lynn’s body tensed.
He thought that he couldn’t let them keep watch alone; that would mean losing his only chance for independent action and would give them an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
“Succubi?” Lynn frowned, trying to look puzzled.
“Where would succubi come from? This is the border of the Empire, not monster territory.”
“Why wouldn’t there be?”
Vivian set down her dry rations and rested her hand on her sword hilt again.
“Lynn, have you forgotten the people we met along the way? Those men and women who were so eager to please you—who knows if their minds have been corrupted by evil, causing them to disguise themselves as ordinary people. At night, they will reveal their true forms.”
Alicia nodded, her gaze lingering on Lynn.
“Vivian is right. Filth is everywhere in this world. Evil God Believers and corrupted heretics will view the Holy Son as their target. Especially at night, when a person’s will is at its weakest.”
Her voice carried a cold certainty.
Lilith simply hugged Lynn’s arm, pressing her body even closer.
“Brother, I’m so scared. I hear so many strange sounds at night. And those banshees… they sing beautiful songs to steal a brother’s heart away.”
Lynn felt her fingertips gently stroking his arm.
‘Am I a grown man who needs protection?’
Lynn wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t. He knew this was no joke.
“A grown man?”
Vivian let out a cold snort.
“Lynn, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about your own identity? You are the Holy Son now, the hope of the world. Your safety concerns the fate of everyone. Do you really think you’re just an ordinary person?”
Alicia followed up, her words feeling like a cold draft.
“Furthermore, the Holy Son’s body is sacred. No filth is permitted to violate it. Succubi and banshees will use any means necessary to defile the Holy Son’s body.”
**[Vivian’s Blackening Value: 87%]**
**[Alicia’s Blackening Value: 89%]**
The Blackening Values began to rise in tandem once more.
Lynn felt a headache coming on. He knew that none of these three would ever let him keep watch alone.
Nor would they let him sleep alone while giving the others the chance to stand guard.
“I will keep watch,” Vivian spoke first.
She stood up and drew the longsword from her waist, pointing the tip toward the ground beside Lynn.
“My martial prowess is high. I can repel any evil that dares to approach.”
Alicia also stood up. The blood-colored gem at the tip of her staff emitted a faint glow.
“The Holy Light Barrier can purify all filth. If I keep watch, I can guarantee the Holy Son’s absolute safety.”
Lilith poked her head out from behind Lynn, her eyes sparkling.
“Brother, I’m not very strong, and I can’t fight off bad people. But I can sing songs for you and tell you stories so you can sleep soundly. And I can also cast a little bit of magic to drive away all those nasty things trying to peek at you.”
Her gaze swept across the faces of Vivian and Alicia.
Lynn felt the tugging sensation at his ankles intensify.
“Who keeps watch isn’t for you to decide,” Vivian said, the tip of her sword shifting toward Alicia.
“Can that Holy Light Barrier of yours stop my blade?”
Alicia’s gaze was icy.
“My barrier is meant to protect the Holy Son. If your sword dares to approach him, it is an act of sacrilege.”
“Hehe,” Lilith let out a soft giggle.
“Both of you older sisters are so impressive. But what if Brother has a nightmare at night? Only I can comfort him.”
Her voice was filled with pure triumph.
**[Lilith’s Blackening Value: 94%]**
The muscles in Vivian’s cheek twitched.
The knuckles of the hand Alicia used to grip her staff let out a faint creak.
Lynn knew that if he didn’t do something, this “battle for the right to watch” would soon escalate into a real conflict.
He looked around. There was no one else here, just the four of them.
His gaze fell on the campfire, then swept over the carriage.
“Stop!” Lynn’s voice rose. He pushed himself off the ground and stood up abruptly.
“Stop arguing, all of you!”
His voice was slightly raspy, carrying a trace of suppressed exhaustion.
The three of them fell silent instantly.
Their eyes all landed on Lynn’s face.
“Watching the night must be done fairly,” Lynn said, looking at them while trying to keep his gaze steady.
“No one is allowed to monopolize it.”
He knew he was stating the obvious, but he needed a compromise.
“How about this?”
Lynn pointed toward the fire.
“The campfire is the center of our safety. Vivian, you are responsible for the north and east sides of the fire. Alicia, you handle the south and west. Lilith, you stay right by the fire to alert us at any time.”