Fairy Tale: With Sin Of Pride

Being targeted by the incarnation of the God of Death is akin to a death sentence.

"The Viscount is gravely ill, and even I cannot save him."

The young doctor glanced at the frail old man on the bed, shaking his head with regret.

Nearby, a middle-aged man's eyes lit up briefly with joy before he quickly masked it with an expression of sorrow. Turning toward the doctor, he adopted a pleading tone, his voice trembling with apparent anguish.

"Is there truly no hope? Doctor, if you can save my father, I will agree to any condition—even offering my daughter's hand in marriage!"

His acting was remarkably convincing, enough to deceive the inexperienced young doctor. The physician, moved by what seemed to be genuine filial piety, sighed inwardly at the bond between father and son.

Yet when the mention of marriage entered the conversation, the doctor's eyes flickered with a different light. Everyone knew that the Viscount had only one heir, and that heir had a single daughter. Marrying the granddaughter of the Viscount meant a direct path to inheriting the title.

An opportunity like this was almost too good to be true.

"Well…" The young doctor hesitated for a moment, lowering his voice. "It's not entirely impossible."

The middle-aged man's smile froze in place. Beneath his calm facade, his mind screamed: You idiot! What are you saying?! Shut your mouth!

However, with the legendary mage Rhode present, he dared not let his anger show. Instead, he maintained a polite smile, his expression unchanging even as he fantasized about having the doctor dragged out and executed.

Before the awkward atmosphere could escalate further, a raspy voice croaked weakly from the bed.

"Save me…" The Viscount, drenched in cold sweat, mustered his remaining strength to speak. His sunken eyes locked onto the young doctor. "Save me, and I'll name you my heir!"

The promise struck the young doctor like a thunderbolt. His body trembled with excitement as he hurriedly called for the guards. They repositioned the Viscount's bed—an odd maneuver that left Rhode puzzled. However, to his surprise, the ominous shadow of death hovering beside the bed began to dissipate.

Even as it vanished, the incarnation of death shot the doctor a peculiar glance, as if acknowledging the absurdity of the situation.

"Changing the bed's direction chases away death?" Rhode muttered, raising an eyebrow. "This is next-level nonsense."

"Cough! Cough!"

The Viscount's frail body convulsed with violent coughs, but a faint vitality began to return to his ashen cheeks. Slowly, he pushed himself upright, his face a mix of confusion and lingering fear.

The scene of familial hypocrisy between father and son was almost too much for Rhode. He smirked and left the room, unwilling to endure any more of the nauseating charade.

---

The Viscount's hospitality didn't extend to offering female companionship, though Rhode had noticed the Viscount's granddaughter was quite attractive. However, even if it could help "exorcise demons," Rhode wasn't about to request her presence outright. He still had some shame, after all.

"Sign in!"

Ding! Sign-in successful!

[Reward obtained: The Ten Commandments (No Killing)]

[Commandment Effect: Those who kill will have their remaining lifespan taken away.]

Rhode rubbed his chin. "A decent reward," he mused, though it was useless against the immortal gods who lacked finite life spans. For now, it was a nice addition to his growing arsenal of abilities.

---

As Rhode stepped into the corridor, he felt the temperature drop. From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in black mist, wielding a scythe.

"God of Death?" Rhode muttered, a curious look crossing his face.

The deity stopped a few paces away, his cold gaze piercing into Rhode. However, the God of Death spoke first.

"I am not here for you this time," he said. "But I do owe you thanks for saving those innocent souls."

Rhode tilted his head, intrigued.

The God of Death continued, explaining the young doctor's fate. The man had been blessed with extraordinary gifts as the god's chosen child but had violated his divine covenant by saving the Viscount. For this transgression, the doctor's soul now belonged to the God of Death.

Moments later, the deity's scythe claimed its prize. The doctor's lifeless body was discovered by a servant, leaving the Viscount's heir confused and paranoid. He hadn't even begun his scheming, yet the doctor was already dead.

---

Rhode's carriage soon left the Viscount's estate, heading toward Count Ettel's lands. The journey required passing through a dense, ancient forest.

"This forest spans a vast area," Yulia explained. "If we proceed straight, we'll reach the Kingdom Castle in two days. A detour would take five."

"Straight it is," Rhode decided, steering the carriage into the forest. His demonic power cleared the path of obstacles with ease.

Suddenly, a white rabbit with crimson eyes darted onto the road, its aura radiating a strange, temporal energy.

Rhode's lips curled into a grin. "Interesting."

He summoned a demonic hand to grab it, but the rabbit's glowing eyes activated a series of magical barriers, neutralizing his attack.

"Oh?" Rhode smirked. "Think you can stop me?"

Dark golden hands materialized around him, crushing the barriers with overwhelming force. But before he could capture it, the rabbit vanished into a tree hole.

Yulia gasped. "That's the Moon Rabbit—the guardian of fairyland!"

According to legend, the Moon Rabbit could open the gateway to an otherworldly realm where time and space followed their own rules. Even gods could not intrude upon its sanctuary.

Rhode's eyes gleamed. "Fairyland, huh?"

Ordering his companions to proceed to the Kingdom Castle without him, Rhode unfurled his demonic wings and flew toward the tree hole.

Before him, a shimmering portal rippled in the air. Without hesitation, Rhode stepped through, feeling the strange pull of distorted time and space.

When he opened his eyes again, he was greeted by the sight of a vast starry sky. Giant beasts roamed the cosmos, and divine kingdoms sparkled like distant constellations. Amidst this wondrous scene, a colossal tree loomed in the distance, its roots and branches intertwining with the fabric of reality itself.