The Rise of the Urban God

CHAPTER 14

Ulmer, Ayana and everyone in the house ate the same food in the afternoon and at night because not a single customer came to their shop.

Dustin and Robin felt so depressed and ashamed that they didn’t even come out of their room to eat. Ayana had to take the food to their rooms and make them eat.

After they ate the food, Ayana stored some food in an advanced yet earthly refrigerator that was in the shape of a giant pot with doors and many compartments. Then, she tossed the rest of the food in the dustbin.

There wasn’t a single street dog present in this neighborhood because Henry had his subordinates hunt every single one of them down. It was only the birds and squirrels that came to eat from the leftover food.

At night, after Suki finished her reading, Ulmer asked her to tell him about Henry because he wanted to hear a child’s perspective.

To his surprise, Suki told him about Henry’s role and authority as an officer. The gold-badged Senior Officers were ranked from one to five stars. However, it was only the five-star Senior Officers that were given the head of the district post. Henry was only a one-star officer so he was given authority over seven villages.

Suki told him that Henry bribed some higher ups to get promoted to a Senior Officer at a young age. She also told Ulmer to not talk about this outside as it could be dangerous.

At some point, she began to talk about her family’s past.

And Ulmer was greatly surprised by what she had to say.

“What? You were a family of nobles in the past?” Ulmer was visibly surprised to hear Suki talking without a filter.

“Mama told me that the Revers family used to be a noble family almost a century ago,” Ayana joined their conversation. “They were framed for selling poison to rebel forces. The adults of the family were executed, and the children were sent to the borders. The Revers family has been moving around many places. Right now, we’ve settled in this place for the past forty years. Nobody considers us as a noble family. In fact, most people probably don’t even think about it when they see us. But I do think that Henry wants to marry me because I’m from a fallen noble family.”

“What will he gain from it?” Ulmer couldn’t help but ask.

“Though the Revers family has been stripped of nobility, it was written on a seal that our family as still allowed to sell alcohol if we wanted,” Ayana said. “That was probably allowed so that our family would pick itself up over time. But our predecessors refused to sell alcohol because they continued to say that they were innocent. The emperor however did not show them any grace and refused to hear their voices. So, the Revers family never made use of that, to this day. I think Henry wants to marry me so that he can sell alcohol through my family. After all, only nobles can sell alcohol or cigars or drugs and such things.”

“I see… so that’s what he’s after, huh…” Ulmer now understood better. “I was thinking that maybe he really loved you, but since you already said that he has many love-interests over the years, I highly doubt he ever loved you. He just wants to use you and your family for his own benefit.”

“Yeah. Even if that’s not the case, there’s still no way I would have married a pervert,” Ayana said. “I’d rather be single than marry a man who has his eyes on many women.”

“U-Uh, then why did you marry me so fast?” Ulmer couldn’t help but ask. “I mean, you didn’t know anything about me.”

“Yeah, but we kissed, didn’t we?” she reasoned. “I think it is destiny that we met.”

Ulmer looked a bit bamboozled by how easily she said that. “You believe in destiny?”

“Nothing happens in this world without a reason,” Ayana added. “There’s no such thing as a coincidence, so, of course, I believe that you and I met AND kissed because we were meant to be together!”

Ulmer smiled because her words sounded innocent and cute.

“Why are you laughing?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he calmed down and said, “maybe, destiny really is what is driving this world. Then what do you think about the destiny of my revenge?”

“That’s… only time will tell,” Ayana replied.

“Mm, by the way, what’s the name of the village we live in?” he queried.

“The Bright Moon village.”

“Bright Moon village? Why is it called that?”

“Because there’s the moon lake in this village where the moonlight shines the brightest,” Ayana said. “I think the village got its name because of that lake. It’s a tourist spot, too.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I will take you there tomorrow if you want.”

“Sis, I’ll come too!” Suki quickly said.

“Y-You’re still too young to go near water!” Ayana said, even though the real reason she did not want to take Suki was because of a completely different and rather scary reason. As Suki started crying, Ayana had to reason with her. “I’ll take you when you’re old enough. I promise.”

Somewhere else in the city.

On top of a lone building situated in the middle of the woods, Brianna was staring at the moon in the sky. There were six dead bodies of men around her, with their blood and vitality completely sucked out of them.

A man wearing a black cloak and white mask was standing behind her with his head slightly bowed.

“The day my dream comes true isn’t far,” Brianna said.

“Which place do you want to go to next, Your Highness?” the masked man asked.

“Find me a virgin youth…” she said, “where the moon shines the brightest. There I shall have my thousandth meal.”