Chapter 1071

Okay. I will choose a day to tidy up the belongings and pick a good grave for him.

... Madam, if you need help, please feel free to give orders.

I am a spearman. Death, sacrifice—I can face them calmly. Kalininus... though he is a scholar, every time he comes to visit me, he asks me to teach him martial arts. How laughable—a Golden Descendant actually learning martial arts from someone like me, an ordinary person. The woman sighed deeply, "I have long been mentally prepared... in this era, even an ordinary farewell could be eternal."

Nakesha felt a mix of emotions: "I'm sorry."

The woman turned and gazed into the distance: "There's nothing to apologize for. I was once a warrior… and I will eventually return to the battlefield. Now, the new king of the Spearpoint is about to descend. I will personally settle my husband's grudge, using the spear in my hand against the Black Tide monsters."

After bidding farewell to this orphan, Nakesha quickly found the next victim's relative—a white-haired, stooped old man.

Are you the father of Kunana and Atakama?

Oh dear, yes. My two daughters have gotten into trouble at school again—" the old man said, slapping his forehead, "Oh dear, look at me, I'm getting senile in my old age. Those two promising daughters of mine have already graduated; now they work as scholars in Shu Ting. You say I'm getting old, always spacing out and seeing things from long ago.

「「……」」

Nakesha lowered her head in silence.

The old man looked at him suspiciously: "What's up, young man? Why aren't you speaking? It couldn't really be that my daughters caused trouble, could it? If they refuse to apologize, just tell me—I'm their old father, I still have some sway with them."

Xiachie tightly gripped her skirt, looking pleadingly at Star: "... What should I do, my lord? I can't find the words..."

... Mr. Faber, Kunana and Atakama... were killed by the Black Tide.

The old man doubted his hearing for a moment: "... Huh?"

Nakesha closed her eyes and spoke solemnly, word by word: "... They fought to the very end to protect Shu Ting and resist the Black Tide."

It felt as if a heavy hammer had slammed into the old man's body, making him tremble uncontrollably, as if the whole world had lost its balance. Everything in his sight spun violently, sky and earth blending into a blur, leaving him unable to tell direction.

Old sir—!

Just as he was about to fall, a hand firmly steadied his shoulder.

I am a Golden Descendant stationed in Shu Ting; I failed to protect them, Mr. Faber—if you have anger...

The old man's withered lips trembled; after struggling to keep his posture, he finally lifted his head, fighting back a sob: "... Look what you're saying. My Atakama, even if she isn't the prophesied Golden Descendant, isn't she still a hero?"

——

The Kobayashi family's dragon maid.

"I really can't watch this..." Kobayashi took off his glasses and wearily rubbed his eyes with his index finger.

It made his nose feel sore.

Sigh, I thought the hardest part of the Ember Journey was defeating the mighty Titans scattered across Wufaluos; as long as we gathered all the fire seeds, we could create a beautiful new world… but I didn't expect there would be two additional prerequisites: one, to finish before the Black Tide corrodes the world; two, to finish before the black-clad swordsman slays all the Golden Descendants.

Tor lightly poked the fried tail meat on the plate with a fork; the loving dinner originally prepared for Kobayashi had given way to a sorrowful atmosphere in the living room, and Kobayashi spoke even less.

By the way, the black-clad swordsman's target is to kill the Golden Descendants, right?

Hard to say—if he is the embodiment of the Black Tide, able to freely command its corrosion, then his goal would likely be to exterminate all humanity and prevent the completion of the Ember Journey. Wait…" Kobayashi suddenly realized something, slapped the sofa, and exclaimed, "... I get it!"

What?

Even if he is stronger than the Titans, he couldn't possibly fear something that poses no threat to him. The more he tries to stop the Ember Journey, the more it shows that the Ember Journey itself is a great threat to him! Whatever he fears, Agraeya and the others must accomplish. Perhaps the rebirth foretold in the oracle is the very means to utterly destroy him.

But Kobayashi's speculation didn't clear things up; instead, it made Tor even more puzzled: 'If he wanted to stop the Ember Journey, he should have acted when the first demigod appeared among humans centuries ago—why wait until now?'

Kobayashi also thought Tor made sense, and, pondering, lowered his head: 'Then we need to consider what changes have recently occurred in the Ember Journey of Wufaluos…'

Kobayashi's gaze unconsciously drifted to the star in the sky.

... The air seemed to have a flash of inspirational spark.

Could it be… that the black-clad swordsman is coming for Star and Danheng?

——

After consoling the last victim's relative, Nakesha turned to Xiachie: "Those are all the colleagues' relatives I remember. Let's go; take me to see Agraeya."

The three arrived at the Cloud Summit Palace, and Xiachie said to the guard outside: "Hello, we have business to see Lady Agraeya; please inform her."

Sorry, Miss Xiachie… Lady Agraeya previously instructed me that she currently has no time to receive anyone.

"Ha, how convenient—she won't even see me." Nakesha snorted coldly, "Hey friend, let me ask you: did Lady Agraeya order you to drag me straight to prison?"

The guard blinked, sized up Nakesha from head to toe: "You… who are you again?"

Please don't joke… she's probably indeed busy. Let's wait a moment; I'll try to contact her using the stone tablet.

Xiachie sent a string of messages to Agraeya, but received a reply from the tailor instead; convinced that Agraeya truly couldn't free herself, Xiachie proactively helped the teacher secure today's rest.

There's no need to drag my sick body to confront that woman—what a relief. Xiachie, and this friend I barely have time to get to know, I'll take my leave today. That Titan has been messing with me on its own… my head still aches faintly. If possible, I don't want to linger another second in this noisy city.

Please be careful. Ohma is not Shu Ting; here…

"——All over the ground are her golden threads, I know. That woman is quite confident, certain I can't escape her palm. Rest assured, just as I said before, I will maintain propriety."