Rise of the Rejected Deity from Chaos

Chapter 62 - 61: Their First Step into the World

As they moved farther from the ruins of the facility, they paused to feel the cool breeze brushing gently against their skin.

"Finally, I can smell freedom!" one of them exclaimed, arms wide to embrace the breeze.

"It does smell quite delicious," another agreed, a smile creeping across their faces.

For a brief moment, they reveled in their newfound sense of liberation, but their joy quickly faded when the harsh realization hit them—they had nowhere to go. No home, no shelter for the night.

They exchanged knowing glances, and in unison, let out a heavy sigh.

"Given the time, the police are definitely out there patrolling. We can’t risk drawing their attention," the bulky senior remarked.

In that moment, they understood they needed to think quickly, improvise, plan their next steps, and find a place to stay for the night. With several children in their care, they had to be extra cautious.

"First things first—we need a place to rest tonight. Even if we plan to

Then, after a lingering pause, Seiya finally turned to Hayne.

"This way," he said, his voice calm yet certain, as he pointed toward the left.

He moved to walk ahead, but before he could take a step, Riena surged forward, blocking his path.

"Huh? That’s it? You just say ’this way’ and expect us to follow you without an explanation?!" she snapped, her voice laced with frustration.

The others tensed. They had long since learned to tread carefully around Seiya, but Riena had no such reservations. Though her confrontational approach unsettled them, they couldn’t deny that she had a point.

"Wait, Sei," Hayne interjected gently, stepping past Riena to face Seiya directly.

"That way," he said, gesturing in the direction Seiya had indicated. "Are you saying we’ll find a river there?"

"Mn," Seiya affirmed with a curt nod.

His curt response only deepened the confusion among the others. How could he be so certain? Had he been here before? Did he know more than he let on? The thought unsettled them, yet none dared to voice their suspicions aloud. They could only speculate since they had no idea how Seiya’s eyes worked.

Riena, however, was not one to hold back.

"So, just because you say there’s a river, we’re supposed to blindly trust you and follow?" she scoffed, eyes narrowing. "And why should we trust you at all?"

Her words grew sharper, each syllable dripping with accusation.

"For all we know, you could be another elite planted among us—a spy. What if you’re leading us straight into a trap? Luring us to get rid of us. You even got one of them to ’work’ under you," she added, curling her fingers into exaggerated air quotes.

She towered over Seiya, her height and age giving her a natural advantage, and she used it without hesitation. Her gaze bore down on Seiya, clouded by a mixture of disdain and irritation—eyes that had once been the very ones with which the world viewed Seiya.

Though he had forgotten much of it due to his fading memory, his body reacted instinctively, his patience beginning to fray.

With the eyes she regarded him, it was as if she was irritated by his mere existence.

Then, in the midst of the thickening tension, Seiya’s cold voice cut through the air.

"Second time."

Riena blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Huh?"

Slowly, Seiya lifted his gaze to meet hers. His eyes, already unreadable, darkened further, their eerie glow standing out even in the dim light.

"This is the second time you’re getting on my nerves."