The next day, Hewg, who hadn't seen Roderika return, also came to Stormveil City. Upon hearing the news of the past few days, he joined in cleaning up the bodies.
Nidhogg noticed that Nepheli and Hewg clearly didn't know each other. So the Roundtable Hold in this timeline truly did not exist.
Several days passed before the corpses in Stormveil City were cleared. But the lifelessness of the castle did not diminish at all.
Only a dozen or so guards remained alive and had been persuaded to surrender. After fully carrying out the orders of Nidhogg and the others, they were now idle and a little dazed.
What should we do next?
The guards looked at each other, and then many looked at Nidhogg.
Nidhogg naturally stood up and said, "I know what you're worried about. You're confused, and you don't know what to do next."
"Well, if you trust me, I give you a promise. You can stay in Stormveil City for a while. In the near future, I promise to return you to the light of the Erdtree."
Godrick's soldiers, the exiled soldiers, and the residents were stunned and looked at each other.
A promise again?
This was a promise Godrick had given them, but it wasn't fulfilled before his death. Now this Tarnished knight also wants to give us this promise.
In fact, thankfully, Nidhogg isn't like Godrick. He doesn't need to take our limbs or force us to take others' limbs. We just live here and wait.
Moreover, he is the first to directly defeat a demigod...
Everyone quickly made a decision, deciding to believe in Nidhogg's promise and live in Stormveil City for now. After all, there was no harm. Why not try to believe?
This promise could also be regarded as an expectation and hope in their lives.
Seeing that Nidhogg had earned the trust of these guards, Nepheli said with some emotion:
"You have great ambitions to return them to the foot of the Erdtree. But it's a pity I can no longer help you, because I want to help my foster father ascend to the throne of the Elden Lord."
"The next time we meet, we may become rivals."
Nidhogg shook his head inwardly. The next time we meet, you will see the true face of the cold and ruthless "Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing," and you will be able to choose to join me.
He didn't say this. Instead, he said, "Then it will depend on who is stronger."
Nepheli smiled slightly and said confidently, "Although you are very powerful and the first Tarnished to defeat a demigod, I believe my foster father is not bad either. His wisdom will surely be able to dominate the overall situation."
"Then I'll wait and see," Nidhogg said.
"Alright. Wait and see."
The next day, Nepheli bid farewell and left.
She wanted to return to her foster father. She had already delayed too long in Stormveil City and feared her foster father would be angry.
Soon after Nepheli left, Nidhogg, Melina, Azan, and Serpico would also leave the group.
Hewg and Roderika saw them off to the entrance and exit of Stormveil City at the intersection of the real world.
Hewg, who had spoken little about Stormveil City lately, only immersed in his work, said solemnly, "Nidhogg, you must become the Elden Lord."
Nidhogg turned and nodded to him: "Alright. I will become the Elden Lord."
Hewg nodded, standing still with Roderika, waving at them until they disappeared into the entrance of the Junction.
It was at this moment that Nidhogg truly understood how much expectation the NPCs, whom he had ignored in the Elden Ring game, had placed on him to become the Elden Lord.
Before, for Nidhogg, it was just a game that could be replayed if he failed. But for them, it was hope for the future.
In this world, it seemed almost nothing had changed.
It was only when they arrived at a nearby town that everyone felt a sense of reality in the real world.
Soldiers at the city gates, merchants in the market, women washing clothes by the water, and travelers in the inn—all were closely connected to this truth.
Nidhogg didn't lead the three directly towards the Spirit Tree Pavilion. It wasn't that he didn't intend to fulfill his promise, but because they needed to return to Castle Morne to conclude another agreement.
A few days later, Nidhogg and his group returned to the dilapidated but towering Castle Morne.
Although only a dozen soldiers remained in Castle Morne, at least the "city lord" Edgar was still there. He had organized the soldiers. Two heavily armed soldiers guarded the city gates.
Seeing that Nidhogg and the others had returned, they hurried to report to Edgar.
However, Nidhogg and the others' attention was drawn to the tents set up on the plains outside Castle Morne, and the ragged people walking there.
Who are these people? Survivors from Castle Morne? Why didn't I see them last time?
After a while, Edgar emerged from the city with a group of soldiers, followed by his daughter Irina.
But this time, Irina was assisted by a maid.
"Mr. Nidhogg, you've returned!" Edgar was quite surprised and hugged Nidhogg as he approached.
Although Irina couldn't see everyone, she smiled upon hearing familiar voices.
Lately, she had been praying for this group of saviors. Fortunately, they had indeed returned safely.
"I wonder what the situation is in Stormveil City?" Edgar couldn't help but ask.
Nidhogg immediately took out Godrick's Royal Axe. After all, actions speak louder than words.
Edgar and the others stared at the royal axe and quickly recognized it. This was the weapon that Godrick the Grafted often held, inherited from the "First Elden Lord" Godfrey. It was absolutely impossible to give it to someone else.
Since this royal axe was in Nidhogg's hands, the fate of Stormveil City and Godrick could be imagined.
Edgar was overjoyed.
It seemed his earlier judgment was correct. Nidhogg had indeed defeated Godrick and become the first Tarnished to kill a demigod. He was also the person most likely to become the Elden Lord at present.
His investment was accurate, but he didn't know how much he would gain in the future.
Edgar was about to invite Nidhogg and the others into the city to rest.
Nidhogg waved his hand, pointed to the tents set up on the plain and the people living in them, and asked, "What's that?"
Edgar glanced at the camp over there before replying:
"You should know, the country outside has just ended the Hundred-Year War. But its monarch doesn't want to restore the people's livelihoods. Instead, he sends troops to arrest the escaped criminal."
"Outside, it's desolate and plagued by illness. Many people have been forced to leave their homes. The nearby lords refuse to accept them into their cities. So they can only stay in the wilderness."
"The people I sent to buy supplies returned and reported this. I couldn't bear it. Castle Morne is currently short on people, so I sent someone to bring them here."
"There are less than 50 refugees in total. They are all poor people who can't live in this area. They have no weapons. But I still want them to build camps outside to prevent a repeat of the previous rebellion."
"After that, I asked them either to reclaim the nearby wasteland and feed themselves, or to come to the city to do something. We provided food. Now, the maid who cares for Irina, as well as several cooks and servants in the city, came this way."
"The misbegotten rebellion didn't plunder the treasures here. They were taken to buy supplies in the current world. Plus, our soldiers hunted all over the world. Our lives are still self-sufficient."
Nidhogg listened to Edgar's words and understood what was happening.
Of course, this group of refugees was the result of the Hundred-Year War, which continued to this day.
The King of Midland completely ignored the internal situation, as if he had gone mad, and sent a large number of soldiers and horses to search for Griffith everywhere. This exacerbated the country's dire straits.
If this continued, it would create an excellent situation for the future invasion of the Kushan Empire, and the dove "Holy Eagle" would occupy the magpie's nest.
That night, despite the lack of supplies, Edgar held a small banquet in the banquet hall of Castle Morne to congratulate Nidhogg and the others on their victory and to thank them for their help.
Nidhogg and the others came to report that Godrick was dead, and Castle Morne no longer needed to worry about the threat that might come from Godrick, so Edgar, Irina, and the others could relax.
After this, Nidhogg and the others naturally planned to leave.
Before leaving, Nidhogg also went to the Sword Hill near Castle Morne—a hill full of giant swords stuck in the ground, like monuments.
On one of the largest swords, it was impressively inscribed:
"In the Siege of Castle Morne, a lone vengeful hero fought and was defeated by King Godfrey."
It seemed that the former owner of the Grafted Blade Greatsword in Castle Morne had also been defeated by the "First Elden Lord" Godfrey.
Another day passed, and Nidhogg and the others left Castle Morne. They refused Edgar, Irina, and the others' offer to stay, returned to the real world, and then headed all the way west.
Like Hewg and Roderika, before Nidhogg left, Edgar repeated his wish: "May you become the Elden Lord and return Castle Morne to the light of the Erdtree."
Nidhogg agreed.
All four rode on four horses, kicking up dust and smoke on the road.
In this dust, Azan and Serpico were already imagining the details of their reunion with Farnese. They wondered what Farnese had become after being separated for over half a year.
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