An awkward silence followed Grim's words and we both did not know what else to do but to sit down and think.

"Since you're here already… how about a cup of tea? It does not sit well with me to send you back without inviting you back."

I asked. Even though my nerves were still buzzing from his warning, I felt like it was right to invite the kid to come with me for now.

Grim blinked at me, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he nodded.

"If the shopkeeper is extending an invitation, it would be rude of me to refuse. I also have something to talk to you about."

He said

That was probably the closest thing to politeness I'd ever heard from him.

We walked back to the shop together. The moment I pushed the door open, Luna rushed in from the side, her usual bright expression freezing the instant she saw him.

"Shopkeeper… the person you brought back feels… dangerous."

Leo appeared from behind the counter a second later, eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Grim. His hand instinctively moved toward the stack of books he used as makeshift weapons.

Even Nyx, who usually didn't react to anything unless food was involved, peeked from the stairwell with flattened ears.

'Great. Perfect. Just what I needed.'

I lifted both hands, trying to calm the sudden tension.

"Everyone, wait,"

Before I could finish, Grim stepped forward. The air shifted around him and everyone's eyes flashed as they looked at him in worry and caution. They were ready to take action in case Grim made any sudden moments.

But Grim didn't do anything suspicious. He only raised his hand before he gave a small bow.

"In the name of the God of Death, I swear I am not here to harm any of you."

He said. Sincerity dripped from his every words, but the kids did not relax even then.

The temperature in the room dipped, not in a frightening way but in a strangely stabilizing one, like the quiet stillness of a graveyard before dawn.

"My purpose in this town is to assist. The balance has been disturbed, and my presence here is to help restore it. That is all."

Grim continued.

The tension didn't disappear entirely, but it loosened just enough for everyone to breathe again.

Luna hesitated before giving me a glance.

"Shopkeeper… is he really safe?"

"Safe is… a strong word. But he's not our enemy."

I muttered.

Nyx sniffed the air once more from the stairs, tilted his head, then silently padded back up the steps,as if that was his version of acceptance.

Leo didn't look convinced, but he backed off and stopped hovering like a guard dog.

"If he tries anything, I'll be ready."

he muttered quietly.

"I doubt you will be able to do much, but you are free to try."

Grim said, tone dry.

Leo stiffened but didn't apologize. Frankly, I didn't expect him to. But I needed to interfere before a fight broke out.

I gestured toward the back of the shop.

"Alright, let's get you that tea."

Grim followed me inside, his steps silent, almost weightless.

As I prepared the teapot, I could feel the others watching him carefully from the doorway, unsure whether he was a warning or a blessing.

Grim stood calmly by the counter, gaze drifting across the shop as if he could see the unseen threads woven through the place.

"I understand why they reacted like that. My presence carries my god's aura. Mortals instinctively sense the danger of it."

He said quietly and his eyes looked at me steadily.

"But you invited me in regardless. That alone… is interesting."

Once the tea finished brewing, I carried the tray to the table.

Luna accepted her cup without a word, though she stood behind my chair as if ready to snatch me away at the first sign of danger.

Leo remained seated but alert, one hand on the armrest, the other loosely curled into a fist.

Even Erebus, of all kids, slithered down from the stairs and perched quietly nearby, his eyes never leaving Grim's face.

Grim accepted his cup with both hands, polite in a way that felt older than his body. He took a single sip before placing it down again with an almost ceremonial calm.

The tension in the room didn't fade.

If anything, it thickened.

After a few seconds of silence, Grim raised his eyes.

"I suppose you all want answers. And since you've offered hospitality, it is only fair that I share what I've discovered."

He said.

He rested his hands lightly on the table.

"The first thing I sensed when arriving in this town was the influence of an unknown god growing."

He continued,

I swallowed and leaned in slightly.

"Unknown god? As in, not one of yours? Or not from this world?"

Grim shook his head slowly.

"No, it's nothing like that. What I mean to say is that this is not a god we have any experience with. Usually, gods try to curry favor with their followers and entice them into following them. But this one…uses fear…and it's also feral."

"Feral?"

Luna repeated softly.

It cares nothing for rules or balance. Instead of entering through the proper channels or negotiating domain space, it is attempting to forcefully swallow another god's territory. That is beyond reckless."

Grim clarified.

The implication hit me instantly.

"So it's invading?"

I murmured.

"Precisely. And if it is not stopped… this town will fall. Everything,and everyone,within it will sink under the invading god's influence."

Grim's gaze swept over the room.

A cold chill threaded down my spine and my hand tightened around my cup.

Leo leaned forward, voice low.

"What exactly happens if a god takes over?"

Grim answered without hesitation.

"For your normal lives, I guess nothing much will change. But you will likely lose your sense of self and…anything that makes you 'yourself' might also be lost. In other words, you might become a shell of your former self, going about living your life as normal."

I forced myself to stay steady.

"Okay. Then what can we do? What's the solution here?"

I said slowly, carefully.

Grim looked at me with an expression that was almost respect.

"The solution is simple….But not easy."

He said, lifting a pale finger.

"We must crush the support this foreign god has managed to sneak into your town. Every servant, every vessel, every anchor it has planted must be destroyed."

Leo's frown deepened.

"You mean the imposters?"

"Yes….And everything else it has inserted to establish its presence."

Grim nodded.

Luna shivered.

"They were everywhere today… pretending to be normal people."

Grim's voice turned grave.

"That is only the beginning."

I felt the air in my lungs tighten.

"If we remove these supports… what then?"

Grim folded his arms, his posture suddenly more formal,almost priestlike.

"Then we perform a ceremony. A ritual of purification to weaken the foreign god's hold, sever its anchors, and prevent it from entering fully."

Leo's eyes narrowed sharply.

"And let me guess. This ceremony would just so happen to strengthen your god's claim on this town. Isn't that convenient?

He said, tone suspicious.

Tension flashed in the air like lightning as that accusation hung in the air. No one moved for a second before Grim blinked and decided to give us all an answer…or at least acknowledge that he had been asked a question.

"You are free to believe whatever you wish. I cannot force you to trust me."

He said, calm and then that gaze turned toward me.

"But what I say is true. If no intervention takes place, the foreign god will devour this place whole. And once it sinks its roots in, even I will not be able to undo the damage."

Leo's jaw tightened, but he didn't interrupt.

Grim continued, voice steady.

"Once the ceremony is complete, my god's influence will be present here, but only as a deterrent. A warning to other gods that this territory is under protection. Of course, you are free to inject any influence of your own."

"Protection."

Leo echoed skeptically.

"Yes, for now. If you are not so fond of the idea, you can suggest something else. But we are in a time crunch, so I would suggest you hurry up."

Grim told them in a neutral voice.

Luna looked between the two of them, biting her lip.

"…Shopkeeper?"

She whispered.

I ran a hand slowly over my face.

Of course my quiet life would escalate into divine politics.

Grim watched me patiently, not demanding. But I could tell that he needed an answer from me.

"If this ceremony is the only thing that can stop the foreign god…then we need more details. All of them. As for your solution, I would like to have a talk with your god before we decide anything."

I said quietly.

Grim's lips curved, not into a smile, but something close to approval.

"Very well. I will try to contact our god for you."

He said.

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