Chapter 63 Part 3

Zhong Nian hesitated whether to avoid it when he saw the person following it.

One shoulder slumped, dragging a blood-drenched leg with limping steps.

Zhong Nian recognized him at a glance, his eyes lighting up like stars.

He unhesitatingly stepped out from the wall and ran over. “Masked Guy!”

The Masked Man looked up, saw him, and limped closer. He raised his uninjured hand to brush the hair from Zhong Nian’s face, his deep eyes fixed on him. “Are you hurt?”

Zhong Nian shook his head. “I’m fine. But you…”

The wounds were not as severe as when he was locked in the Confessional before, but still serious.

As he carefully checked the Masked Man’s shoulder and leg, something gently nudged his lower back.

Turning, the Black Goat bleated at him: “Baa!”

“After I shook off the devil in the Cathedral, I got lost. It led me to you,” the Masked Man explained briefly.

Zhong Nian blinked. “It knows the way?”

Inspiration struck, and his eyes sparkled at the Black Goat. “Can you take me to Little Yu? We were finding the way out when she suddenly disappeared… Oh, and we encountered that devil.”

The Masked Man’s heart skipped. “It attacked you?”

Zhong Nian nodded, but he had no time to explain in detail. He pleaded with the Black Goat, “Can you find her? She’s a girl.”

The Black Goat hopped twice, jingling its bell, then walked forward a few steps, signaling Zhong Nian to follow.

Unaffected by the fog that hindered humans, the Black Goat’s beast eyes gleamed lake-blue, as if seeing through all.

Zhong Nian supported the Masked Man as they followed.

Soon, he heard Little Yu’s voice.

“Get away!”

Hurrying over, they saw Little Yu cornered, confronting the black-liquid devil with a human face.

She held a candle in front of her, gritted her teeth in resistance.

Miraculously, the candle repelled the devil like fire to a wolf.

It was likely a game prop, but its dim flame flickered and went out just as Zhong Nian arrived.

Unrestrained, the devil lunged with black drool.

“Bang!”

A gunshot drowned Little Yu’s scream.

The devil shrieked from the Silver Spear shot by the Masked Man. The slime splashed like water but quickly reformed, visibly less solid.

The next trigger pull was empty. The Masked Man tossed the Silver Spear aside without regret and drew his dagger.

Zhong Nian gripped his dagger, ready for battle.

But they did not need to act again.

With tinkling bells, the Black Goat pounced on the reforming slime. Its mouth tore off a chunk and chewed it down like grass.

The devil shrieked and writhed, unable to escape or resist.

Zhong Nian stared blankly as the Black Goat finished and belched.

“Baa—”

Perhaps excited from eating its fill, the Black Goat bounced back to Zhong Nian, rubbing its head against his waist and nudging his hand.

Stunned, Zhong Nian instinctively rubbed the warm fluff approaching him.

The Black Goat grew ecstatic, bleating nonstop, bell jingling wildly.

Little Yu, survivor of the ordeal, forgot her fear and stared blankly at the Black Goat that had just savagely devoured the devil but now acted like a dog fawning over Zhong Nian.

“It… seems like the sheep by the Priest?” she said uncertainly.

“It’s it,” Zhong Nian nodded, his feelings toward the Black Goat complex.

It was hard to imagine how powerful the Priest was. Even a Clone/Avatar formed from his overflowing power could effortlessly devour a devil that left players helpless.

“Baa.”

After fawning, the Black Goat tugged Zhong Nian’s pant leg, as if leading him somewhere.

“What does it want?” Little Yu glanced at the five-minute countdown. “We’re short on time.”

Zhong Nian seemed to understand. “Are you leading us out?”

“Baa.”

The Black Goat rubbed Zhong Nian’s waist again and continued leading.

Zhong Nian looked at the Masked Man and Little Yu. “Let’s go.”

Compared to before, the goat’s pace slowed, frequently stopping to rub against Zhong Nian before proceeding.

Despite the urgency, Zhong Nian stayed unusually calm and unhurried.

Among the three, only Little Yu worried. “Will we make it?”

The Black Goat ignored her.

When one minute remained, the thick fog thinned, revealing scenery beyond the Small Town.

“We really made it out!” Little Yu exclaimed joyfully.

She had enough of this place and was eager to leave. “Hurry!”

Zhong Nian was not rushed. He told the Masked Man, “You two go first.”

He turned around and squatted down in front of the Black Goat.

The Black Goat seemed to know that he was about to leave for good and was no longer as lively as before. It let out a low bleat and rubbed its sticky face against his.

Zhong Nian looked straight into its eyes.

“Thank you.”

He said sincerely to the Black Goat.

He knew that the man was watching him through the Black Goat’s eyes.

“And thank you too, Priest.”

“Baa—”

Zhong Nian stroked the Black Goat’s head once more.

A hand reached out—it was the Masked Man waiting for him.

“It’s time to go.”

Zhong Nian’s eyes crinkled in a smile as he stood up on his own. “You’re injured, so don’t pull me. Let me support you instead.”

The two supported each other and walked side by side.

The Black Goat stood alone in the fog, watching the young man’s figure gradually recede until it vanished from sight.

Just like every time before, under the church portico, it could only watch him leave.

……

【Congratulations, player, on clearing the C-level Multiplayer Dungeon “Devil Town.”】

【Story Exploration: 100%】

【Obtained Rating: SSS】

【Obtained Prop “Portable Pet” *1】