As Wood casually saved people along the way, he continued moving toward the Latria estate.
Unbeknownst to him, the group following him was steadily growing. Those he saved on the road, after hearing the explanations from the larger group, quickly learned that Wood was the so-called "Child of the Gods." As a result, they all decided to follow him to the Latria estate, seeking the family's protection.
The Holy Knights and the Millis Church had proven unreliable—otherwise, the beast horde wouldn't have broken into the city.
Moreover, many people were already heading to the Church, but the number of priests and Holy Knights there was insufficient, and they lacked the capacity to protect everyone.
In contrast, Wood's side was different. The Latria family was one of the most powerful families in the Holy Kingdom of Millis, and now, with Wood's emergence as a powerful descendant, seeking refuge with them seemed like a far better option for survival.
The Millis believers Wood had saved outside the city had now become his super fans, eagerly spreading tales of his deeds to anyone they met.
From Wood descending like a god to save them, to him charging alone into the heart of the beast horde and casting a divine-level spell to freeze the entire horde—though the facts were accurate, the way these "Wood fanatics" embellished the story made him seem almost godlike.
Those who had been saved by Wood along the way, already impressed by his ability to effortlessly slay magical beasts, quickly joined the fan club under the influence of these "Wood enthusiasts." Together, they formed a massive procession heading toward the Latria estate.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side, after learning that Wood might have become a sentient undead or had truly "resurrected," the Greyrat family resolutely embarked on an adventurer's life.
Taking an entire family on an adventure was probably a first in this world.
Fortunately, while the Greyrat family included many women and children, every member possessed some level of combat ability.
Rudeus, for instance, after two years of training at the Ranoa Magic University, was now strong enough to rival the Seven Great Powers.
Paul and Zenith were former members of an S-rank adventurer team, and after the labyrinth incident with Wood, Zenith's combat abilities might even surpass Paul's.
Lilia, though not particularly strong, had once been Paul's senior and could at least protect herself.
Even the weakest members, Norn and Aisha, had mastered beginner-level magic and intermediate swordsmanship, making them capable of holding their own against ordinary adults.
Add to that the strength of the Wolf King, who was only slightly weaker than Rudeus, and his pack of wolves, and it was clear that few adventurer teams in the world could match the Greyrat family's current lineup.
Traveling with such a large family was expensive, so Paul and the others took on guild quests along the way to earn the funds needed for their journey.
Paul and Rudeus were responsible for accepting quests at the adventurer guilds, while Zenith and Lilia searched for clues about Wood in the towns they passed through.
This time, when Zenith returned to the inn to regroup with the family, she didn't find any new information about Wood. Instead, she brought news of turmoil in her homeland, the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
Due to internal strife within the Church, a beast horde had been unleashed, and the capital was now engulfed in war.
Hearing this, Zenith was immediately distraught and rushed back to the inn to inform Paul, Rudeus, and the others.
Zenith didn't care about many people—only her small circle of family.
She had been estranged from her mother, Claire, for years, but just as Claire had always worried about her daughter, Zenith had never stopped caring for her mother.
Their decade-long conflict had been resolved two years ago, thanks to Wood's clever intervention.
Now, hearing that the Holy Kingdom of Millis was under attack and the capital was in flames, Zenith naturally feared for her mother and sister, Therese.
Torn between her love for her son and her concern for her mother and sister, Zenith was at a loss.
Fortunately, Paul, for once, stepped in with a clear-headed suggestion: "In that case, let's head to the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
Finding Wood won't happen overnight, but the situation with the Latria family can't wait.
Besides, the Holy Kingdom of Millis is one of our search targets anyway. Who knows? Wood might be there."
Hearing Paul's words, Zenith felt a sense of relief. Seeing that she didn't object, Paul turned to Rudeus and asked, "Rudeus, what do you think?
We'll temporarily change our original plan and head to the Holy Kingdom of Millis first. Wood is our family, but your grandmother and aunt are also our loved ones."
In most families, once the "head of the household" and the matriarch made a decision, there was no need to consult anyone else.
The opinion of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old like Rudeus would typically be ignored.
But Rudeus was no ordinary child. Not only was he the strongest member of their group, but it was also thanks to him that Zenith and the others had learned of Wood's "resurrection."
"I don't have any objections, but I do have one request.
I hope you and Mother can wait here for two days. I've just received a letter from a close friend at the Ranoa Magic University.
He's the grandson of the Old Pope of the Millis Church, and after learning that we're heading to the Holy Kingdom of Millis, he wants to join us.
And Cliff isn't coming alone—he's bringing Elinalise and Talhand, former members of your old team, *Black Wolf's Fang*."
Cliff was one of Rudeus's few close friends at the magic university, and it was through Rudeus's help that he had managed to win over Elinalise.
Rudeus was shocked to learn that his friend was the grandson of the Millis Church's Pope. No wonder Cliff had always said his family had "some influence" in the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
Some influence? In a theocratic state like Millis, the Pope was practically the emperor, and as the Pope's only grandson, Cliff's status was akin to that of a crown prince.
Rudeus hadn't expected that his two closest friends at the Ranoa Magic University would turn out to be the Pope's grandson and the prince of the Kingdom of Shirone.
"Elinalise and Talhand? They're both nostalgic figures and reliable companions.
But Rudeus, you understand, right? We don't have much time. We can only wait for them for two days. If they don't arrive by then, we'll have to set out on our own."
Hearing Paul's words, Zenith didn't object. Though she disliked Elinalise's promiscuous nature, they were about to face a terrifying beast horde, and every bit of combat strength would help.
"I understand. If they don't arrive within two days, we'll set out on our own."
Since they were preparing to face a beast horde, Paul and Rudeus went to a nearby town to stock up on food and water while waiting for Elinalise and the others to arrive. They also began drafting a battle plan.
Two days later, when Elinalise, the elf, and Talhand, the dwarf, arrived with Cliff, Paul and the others warmly greeted their old companions.
Zenith, however, was visibly displeased when she saw Elinalise.
Elinalise had been cursed, requiring her to engage with men every few days. As a former member of *Black Wolf's Fang*, she had, of course, been involved with Paul, the team's notorious womanizer.
So, it was no surprise that Zenith held a grudge against her romantic rival.
In fact, Zenith harbored resentment toward all the female members of the original *Black Wolf's Fang*, including Ghislaine, who had also been involved with Paul.
From this perspective, Paul's womanizing ways made him deserving of a hundred deaths. Not a single female member of *Black Wolf's Fang* had escaped his advances.
"Zenith, there's no need to hold such a grudge against an old comrade. What happened back then was consensual.
Paul and I were together before you even joined the team. Besides, after you two got married, I never went near that awful man again."
Seeing Zenith's hostility, Elinalise remained unfazed and even wrapped an arm around Cliff, indicating that she had found a better man.
"Mother, since everyone's here, shouldn't we hurry and go save Grandmother and Aunt Therese?"
Seeing his mother on the verge of exploding, Rudeus quickly stepped in to mediate. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Zenith reluctantly turned away, kicked the scoundrel Paul, and stormed off.
Since the entire team consisted of high-level adventurers, and they had been traveling at a fast pace, they reached the borders of the Holy Kingdom of Millis by the next day.
Considering the danger of the beast horde, the less combat-capable members—Lilia, Norn, and Aisha—were left in a nearby town under the protection of the Wolf King and his pack.
The rest of the group continued at an even faster pace toward the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
The closer they got to the capital, the more disturbing the scenes they encountered became.
Along the way, they saw fleeing citizens of Millis and countless corpses…
Most of the bodies were incomplete, some mangled beyond recognition by the beasts. With the summer heat and no one to bury them, the stench of decay filled the air.
Witnessing this hellish scene, both Zenith and Cliff, who were from the Holy Kingdom of Millis, and Elinalise and Paul, who were unfamiliar with the region, were equally horrified.
Regardless of their origins, seeing humans devoured by beasts struck a chord in everyone's hearts.
Especially for Zenith and Cliff, their moods grew increasingly grim, and their anxiety intensified.
One was worried about her mother and sister, the other about his grandfather. Seeing the dire state of the Holy Kingdom of Millis only heightened their fears for their families' safety.
"Zenith, don't worry too much. You've said before that your mother is a very strong woman, and your sister is the captain of the Holy Knights.
Even if the capital falls, they shouldn't be so easily killed by the beasts."
Paul, the scoundrel, tried to comfort his wife, understanding her distress. He had felt the same way two years ago during the *Teleportation Incident*, when his family had been scattered.
But deep down, even he didn't fully believe his own words.
From the level and number of beasts they had encountered along the way, the scale of the beast horde assaulting the Holy Kingdom of Millis was likely far greater than they had imagined.
And the areas they had passed through weren't even the main disaster zones. The situation in the capital, which had been the primary target, was undoubtedly worse.
If the Latria family had the sense to retreat while fighting, they might be fine. But if they chose to stay and fight the beast horde to the death…
Considering Zenith and Cliff's emotional states, the group increased their pace and, by the next day, finally reached the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
The half-collapsed city walls and the shattered gates were clear evidence of the brutal battle that had taken place. Unfortunately, the human defenders had failed to hold back the beast horde.
"ROAR——————!"
As soon as Rudeus and the others entered the city, a wandering magical beast spotted the group of "prey" and let out a deafening roar before charging at them.
Unfortunately for the beast, it had no idea that this group was no easy meal—they were a tough nut to crack.
Before its gaping maw could reach anyone, Rudeus fired a "Stone Cannon" that pierced straight through its skull.
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