Over the years, Fenmu found all sorts of ways to “bury” himself. He followed Elder Lise’s instructions and took good care of himself.

When he was hungry, he’d kill two bamboo rats to fill his stomach. When he came across a graveyard, he’d kill two as an offering. When he was lonely, he’d kill two for company. When he was injured, he’d kill two to nourish himself. And when he was happy, he’d kill two to celebrate. Before long, tales of a coffin-dragging evil spirit who slaughtered bamboo rats were spreading everywhere.

Regardless, he grew up healthy and strong, becoming a handsome, delicate-looking young man with long hair.

That beautiful corpse big sister kept Fenmu company for several years at first. It really was strange that she never rotted, but he didn’t pay it much mind. He kept asking around about missing people, but none of the cases matched this purple-haired “corpse lady.”

After spending countless nights sleeping beside the corpse big sister, Fenmu used his max-level Coffin-making skills to build her a coffin. He gave her a water burial in the great river, hoping the gods who ruled over rivers and seas would take her home.

...

Tonight was the last night before he came of age.

Lately, more and more strange incidents had been happening around him. They defied logic, but fortunately, he’d escaped every disaster without a scratch.

The weapon he’d brought out of the settlement had been no more than a blade blank back then. He’d long since forged it into shape. Its mirror-bright, icy blade reflected the young man’s eyes, while a soul-chilling gleam shimmered along its edge. The blade had a purplish hue and a heavy aura of death, and even the hilt had been carved with astonishing skill.

Fenmu couldn’t figure out where such a heavy aura of death came from. Was it because death clung to his fate, or because he’d killed too many bamboo rats with this blade?

A faint glimmer passed through his dark eyes. This was his ability to Appraise weapons, and information about his proudest work soon appeared in his mind.

*

Name: Unnamed

Quality: Supreme

Rank: Unknown

Origin Trait: “Constant Dripping Wears Away the Stone: Every enemy killed permanently increases the blade’s attack power. Current total: 9999......”

*

Just as no one could count how much meat they’d eaten in their lifetime, Fenmu couldn’t keep track of how many 9s there were. He’d heard that several species had gone extinct from being eaten over the years, and couldn’t help feeling a sense of kinship with them.

But what was the point of killing so many little animals? What good was a blade with 99999 attack power? He was still just a weakling at Rank Zero.

He sat beside his Coffin with a skewer of roasted bamboo rat in hand, watching the sun sink below the horizon and night climb across the sky. The sorrow in his heart only grew.

“I’m so unlucky. I burned this bamboo rat a little.”

After he finished eating, he changed into the new clothes Elder Lise had prepared for him long ago and quietly waited for his death to come.

Thinking about how unfair this matriarchal society was to men, Fenmu broke out in a cold sweat despite the summer heat, his hands and feet turning ice-cold... He’d forgotten the rest of the phrase.

It really was a shame that he hadn’t gotten to see more of the world. If the calamity coming for him could communicate, maybe he should try reasoning with it. That was what Fenmu thought as he hefted his blade.

Gradually, the atmosphere in the forest grew deeply unsettling. Insects and birds fell silent, afraid to make a sound. The evening breeze suddenly died, and everything stood perfectly still. The oppressive surroundings made him feel sick. In the silence, it was as if something were watching the young man beside the Coffin. The air grew thick and viscous, like he was swimming through blood.

“Is it here?”

Fenmu closed his eyes and waited for malice to come knocking.

?

All at once, the oppressive atmosphere vanished. A sudden gust sent the trees rustling, and a human-shaped shadow stood on a branch, seeming to watch Fenmu.

Fenmu opened his eyes and stared hard at the shadow. He couldn’t make out the details, only its outline. Then his pupils suddenly widened, and his face twisted with fury!

“You bastard! You shouldn’t desecrate the dead!” he roared.

He was furious because he recognized the figure. There was no mistaking that beautiful curve of her hips—it was the purple-haired big sister he’d given a water burial.

Because of the calamity hanging over his life, that kind and beautiful woman was being controlled by some anomalous entity to kill him—even after death!

“Hoh, you’ve got a good eye. Even in this situation, you still recognized me.”

The woman on the branch gave a teasing little chuckle. So he thinks something’s possessed my “corpse”? He’s gotten so mad over it—he looks adorable~

She casually tossed something toward the dark-haired young man.

Fenmu hurriedly dodged. Only after taking a closer look did he realize it was the head of a strange creature about the size of a barrel. Dagger-like teeth grew in every direction inside its gaping maw.

What did she mean by that?

“...Who are you?” Fenmu stayed on guard and took a few steps back.

The woman stepped out of the shadows and walked toward him, her long, shapely legs crossing one another. Her full, rounded hips and stunningly sexy figure were just as he remembered!

“You spent so many nights holding my corpse, and now you’re asking who I am? Well, I suppose I should introduce myself. I’m an ordinary historian and scribe, as well as the blasphemous god and god-slayer of [Death and Farewell]. In terms you’d understand, I’m probably just an insignificant false god.”

Insignificant, my ass! False gods weren’t necessarily all evil. Most simply weren’t recognized by the Church as legitimate deities, and plenty still had followers among the common folk. But some false gods were evil gods, the kind the Church wouldn’t tolerate. And the woman before him was clearly one of the forbidden evil gods!

“This head belonged to a Hound of Tindalos—the death star that’s been entangled with your fate. Strange. These creatures are supposed to hunt souls that sneak across the boundary. Why would one have had its eye on you since you were a baby...? Anyway, I’ve taken care of this little problem for you. You belong to me now. You have two choices: become my apprentice, or die.”

A soul that sneaked across the boundary? Did she mean when he’d transmigrated into a baby’s body? And the offer she’d just made wasn’t to become a follower, but her apprentice?

Fenmu had nearly blurted out, “I’ll take both!” He still hadn’t quite figured out what was going on, so he swallowed and stalled for time:

“I-is there a third option?”

He was actually trying to bargain for a third option? This kid really had no idea how dire his situation was. Still, she didn’t dislike how clueless Fenmu could be. After all, he was absurd enough to want to help a stranger’s corpse return home.

Watching him stand there, wary and uneasy, the woman found herself liking him more and more. After letting the suspense build for a moment, she teased him with a joke:

“Then how about adding the option of becoming my husband?”

“I’ll take the first option, then,” Fenmu replied without hesitation.