1 Chapter 1

The sky possessed a gloomy aura, clouds forecasting heavy rain.

Beneath it, a cemetery was almost empty.

Only one grieving soul could be seen after the loss.

His name was Jacob.

Tears ran down his cheeks, dripping to the ground in a leisurely fashion.

His fists were clenched tightly, denoting the immense pain he felt.

However, it was not physical pain but an emotional one.

His wife and daughter were murdered.

The murderer remained free, lacking a deserved punishment at the hands of justice.

And he, as a husband and father, could do Nothing.

Nothing!

However, with a heart full of hatred, Jacob vowed revenge.

But as if the world itself was against him, the authorities informed him that the man had already left the country, unpunished.

Powerless and unaware of the perpetrator's whereabouts, Jacob drowned in a sea of tears and grief.

"... I'm sorry," Those were the only words that could comfort him.

...

The reduced light in the area was decreasing even more, the leaves of the trees began to cast less shade.

Seeing that it was already getting late, Jacob decided to go home.

He still had to continue investigating, even knowing that failure was the most likely outcome.

His steps were heavy.

Soon he came to a bus stop, where he sat down distractedly.

Plink.

But something woke him up; it was a drop of water: it was not the only one.

The clouds thundered, and the rain started.

His clothes began to get wet, yet Jacob reacted slowly.

He looked from side to side, hoping to seek shelter, without success.

"... Sigh. Not my day," He sighed deeply.

Misfortunes were coming at him one after the other, non-stop.

"You're right. Lucky I have an umbrella with me," A female voice followed his unexpectedly.

"!?"

Confused, Jacob turned around.

Behind his back, a beautiful woman with golden eyes looked up at the sky in annoyance.

Where did she come from?

Jacob, filled with uncertainty, said, "You... did you just get here?"

He didn't feel her footsteps or any noise.

Maybe it was the rain.

Turning her gaze in his direction, the woman smiled, "Hmm, you could say that, Jacob."

His eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't lose his cool.

"Have we met?"

"you don't know me, but I know you," she said with amusement.

Strange, but not weird enough.

After all, his story and photo had recently appeared in the paper.

"... So that's the case," Uncomfortable, he did not know how to proceed.

"If you want, we can share an umbrella," The woman offered a helping hand.

Jacob felt his body wet, and though not entirely in agreement, he voiced, "Okay. I appreciate it."

The woman just nodded.

Reaching her side, Jacob remembered that he still didn't know her name.

"... This is kind of awkward, but what's your name?"

Jacob asked out of synergy.

After all, she already knew who he was; this had to be fair.

"I thought you wouldn't ask me," The woman complained, seemingly annoyed.

But the next second, with a cheerful expression on her face, "Nevertheless, I forgive you, Jacob."

She was undoubtedly a woman with a changeable mood.

"My sincerest apologies. I was a bit distracted," Jacob tried to excuse himself.

Of course, he didn't care either.

"... It's okay. Seeing as you're sincere, I'll forgive you."

The woman nodded with a soft smile.

"Then..."

"Oh, now I'm the one being rude," The woman proceeded to clear her throat.

"My name is Valtherus."

'Valtherus? I've never heard that before.'

She... No, Valtherus must not have been from this country.

Jacob trying to warm his hands with his breath, said, "So, what are you doing around here at this hour?"

There was only a cemetery and hotel in the area, which is where he was headed.

Since the death of his family, he had exiled himself to a secluded area—all to offer his mind and body in search of clues about the killer.

"Nothing special, just helping you," Valtherus shrugged.

"Uh, help me?" Jacob frowned at that comment.

He even turned slightly away from Valtherus, worried that he'd run into a madwoman.

Or some fan of his tragedy.

"Hey, it's true. I mean that from the bottom of my heart."

Reciprocating her message, he patted his chest.

Still frowning, Jacob questioned, "Help me what, with the killer? For your bad luck, I can handle it on my own!"

Jacob finished the sentence forcefully.

Tilting his head to the side, Valtherus looked at him in confusion.

"But... That's not why I come here."

Jacob said with dwindling patience, "Are you coming to comfort me?"

"Hehe, that would be fun. You're still mistaken," She shook her head.

"..." Jacob used the law of silence.

Seeing that she was rambling too much, she hurried, "I'll help you revive your family!"

Jacob looked at her for a while with a blank expression.

"I'm sure." Jacob looked at her as if he had understood something.

"Therefore, you should..." Valtherus, who was about to start his speech, was interrupted.

"You should go to a psychiatrist," Jacob began to dial on his cell phone.

The sound of the numbers echoed to match the water droplets.

"Well, it's logical that you don't believe me," spoke a sympathetic Valtherus.

Hearing her words, Jacob looked at her, "It's logical. If you talk garbage, I can only get scared."

Click!

Valtherus snapped her fingers.

The rain that had not stopped until now, did.

Literally!

A countless amount of droplets remained suspended in the air.

With a growing panic at an event never imagined, Jacob looked to his vicinity quickly.

"What's going on!" Jacob shouted to Valtherus.

He considered himself a person in command of his emotions, but this was getting the better of him.

Looking down at her nails, she said, "Nothing special. Just a demonstration that I can keep my word."

Gulp.

Jacob swallowed audibly, "...Are you serious?"

If he wasn't dreaming, Jacob decided to take everything that had happened, at least for now, as accurate.

"Of course. I am a God, no need to lie to a mortal," Valtherus said languidly.

God?

"How do I know you're not deceiving me?"

"Look me in the eyes," Valtherus commented lightly.

Jacob hesitated a moment and decided to do so.

The eyes of this apparent God were beautiful, shining like a star in the night sky.

Also, they resembled his wife, pure and sincere.

"... I believe you, "Jacob said in doubt.

But he did not stop there, "Nevertheless, it is not clear to me why me."

It was logical to think so. Jacob was just average, no special.

"That... I can't say, sorry, "Valtherus hesitated a moment to answer, finally stating her position.

'It might be a trap, but...'

"It's fine. If I can revive my family, that will be the least of it."

With a smile, Valtherus said, "That's the attitude, Jacob!"

Not bothering with the consequences anymore, Jacob decided to find out as much as possible.

"What should I do?"

Valtherus, with palpable excitement, explained, "Well, you have to become a pilgrim. My pilgrim."

"Pilgrim?"

Jacob knew what a pilgrim was. A person who visited a sacred place, usually on foot, for religious reasons.

"Yes, exactly. As such, you will serve me. Which to a simile in this world would be becoming employed in a job."

'Oh, what a good explanation.

"Wait, this world?" Jacob cried out in shock.

Jacob felt like with every step he took in this conversation, the reality he knew was being destroyed.

"Whoops."

Valtherus covered her lips with her thin, delicate hand.

Taking that as an answer, Jacob analyzed, "You're from another world... Perhaps, not a god, but an alien!"

Jacob exclaimed like a detective discovering the killer's master plan. Besides, it was an idea he could feel more comfortable with.

"No, I'm nothing of the sort," Valtherus waved her hand gently.

'Was I wrong?'

Jacob was calming down from the initial excitement.

"Hey! Why are you disappointed?" Valtherus said with palpable anger.

How is a God worse than an alien?

She was a Divine existence. When was she despised?

"Ah, excuse me. I'm an enthusiast."

Ever since he was a little boy, he has always liked movies and serials about aliens.

With a hand on her chin, Valtherus came to understand, "So that was the case..."

"That would be it?"

Valtherus shook her head, "The most important thing would be missing. I want you to go somewhere very special and win something."

Jacob remembered all the hero epics and imagined what that place would be like.

It was best to cease if it was something beyond his limits, like fighting a dragon.

Anyway, he could kill the assassin while alive, which would be impossible if he were dead.

"What I want is the holy grail."

Jacob was surprised: "That one where the blood of Christ was shed? Is it real?"

"Not quite accurate, but you're not wrong either. Still, it is once again beyond my ability to tell you now about it."

Valtherus lamented.

"No problem. Besides, you said it's not possible now, but it may be in the future, right?"

"You're very clever, Jacob," Valtherus smiled.

"Thank you very much."

He didn't entirely trust her, but it was either that or never seeing his wife and daughter again.

Suddenly, Valtherus closed her eyes for a moment and said, "Time is short. I must hasten the process."

Noticing her questioning look, "You'll just notice a sting."

Jacob looked around her but saw no needle.

Seeing that they were straying off-topic, Jacob hastened his words, "Where is the holy grail located?"

He didn't want to go unprepared for whatever he might have to face.

With an increasingly uncomfortable expression, Valtherus sheepishly stated, ".... Sorry."

"Why?"

"Oh, I almost forgot," She smacked her forehead, showing her awkwardness as she continued to ignore him.

"What is it?" Jacob said despondently.

'Can I trust her?'

Valtherus looked away and advised, "You will go to another world. You must be careful."

After that, she takes his right hand.

That was all he knew, as an abyss enveloped him.