Chapter 29: Escape and Reinforcement

Moments later.

Falshad stood in place.

“Good afternoon, human sir.”

He looked embarrassed: “I asked Siti for your address, but accidentally triggered the magical alarm—I’m truly sorry.”

Seeing it was someone familiar.

Luo De let out a sigh of relief.

“Long time no see, Falshad.”

“Where’s your fiancée? Did she die from her injuries?” Tally asked curiously.

“Thank you for your concern, Kalist is in good health.”

Falshad handed over a magical satchel: “The shape of those scythe-claws limits what can be crafted, so I took the liberty of selecting two weapons that best suit a craftsman’s art.”

Luo De pulled out an asymmetrical shortbow with strange lines and a curved blade shaped like a scythe-claw.

And the repaired leather whip.

【Scythe-Claw Shortbow】

【Bonus Effect: Poison, Spiritual Arrows.】

【Scythe-Claw Counterblade】

【Bonus Effect: Poison, Regeneration, Magic Specialization】

【Pleasure Whip】

【Bonus Effect: Pleasure】

Bond’s transformation into a centaur was still far off, but all those archery skills couldn’t be wasted—having a bow on hand made sense.

As for the 【Scythe-Claw Counterblade】.

【Magic Specialization】 was a noble skill against mages—definitely worth keeping.

Luo De’s current role was roughly that of a tank-warrior; once pinned down, he was utterly dominated by spellcasters.

So he always left the role of sneaking into the backline to Tally.

The succubus’s 【Shadow Magic】 was originally meant for infiltration or smuggling “food.”

Luo De and Falshad chatted casually, both in high spirits, not stopping for a moment.

But Tally wasn’t happy.

She was still hungry.

“Cough cough, this relatively normal elf, you’ve delivered the items—could you please leave now?”

“Tally!”

“What? I haven’t even bitten yet—he showed up.”

In this vast world, the succubus lady’s meal came first.

Falshad looked awkward.

He understood—what else could the succubus possibly “bite”?

“Sorry, sorry, I’ve interrupted—actually, I’ve come to ask Luo De for a favor.”

“See? See? Elves are all up to no good!”

Luo De pinched her cheek.

Falshad was a friendly elf—rare indeed—and he wanted to keep this friendship.

“Go ahead.”

“Um… I’d like to find a place to stay in Shi Ying Town.” He looked slightly embarrassed—he rarely asked others for favors.

There was no choice: to settle in Shi Ying Town, one needed to apply for a residence permit at the town hall.

As the first elf ever to apply for a residence permit in Shi Ying Town—and during this wartime emergency—the process and review could take months, easily.

So he needed a guarantor.

Luo De, as a forest warden and an acquaintance, was the ideal candidate.

“No problem at all—but I know elves aren’t a race that leaves their homeland easily. Why…?”

Upon hearing this, Falshad hesitated for a moment.

Finally, he made up his mind.

“It’s a long story—you know Kalist is my fiancée.”

“You ran away from your wedding!” Tally interrupted excitedly before he finished.

“How did you know?!” Falshad was stunned.

“Hahaha, not hard to guess! You’re a rare normal elf—you couldn’t stand her, hahaha—”

He wore an expression of guilt, clearly feeling terrible toward Kalist.

Luo De felt he’d been infected by the residents of Shi Ying Town.

Upon hearing this news, his first reaction wasn’t to comfort—he wanted to dig for details.

He placed a hand on the elf’s shoulder.

“I believe you have your reasons, and I admire your courage—after all, leaving your homeland isn’t easy… By the way, who cheated on whom?”

“It’s not that complicated a story.”

Falshad’s face was filled with bitterness: “We’re a hundred and five years apart. We’ve been together since birth. Though I once studied in Dusk City for ten years, I always saw Kalist as my elder sister. I love her—but not as a lover. I believe she feels the same.”

“So simple—just say it outright.”

Tally sneered: “It’s not that simple. Elves are notoriously domineering—even within their own kind. A junior defying an elder is like a human killing his father.”

“Is it really that extreme?”

“Of course it is! Do you remember Elder Manla? That high-tier succubus told us this elder once exiled a young elf who refused to wash his feet.”

Falshad was dumbfounded.

Elder Manla? How did this succubus know about Elder Manla!?

Luo De quickly grabbed Tally’s arm.

What if Falshad blabbed and the entire elf race came hunting Tally?

“Then what about Kalist? What’s her stance?”

“I can tell she doesn’t want it either—but Kalist is the type who never speaks her true feelings.”

The group walked toward Shi Ying Town.

Talking, comforting.

The town hall gave Luo De full respect—within ten minutes, the residence permit was issued.

Now Falshad only needed to rent or buy a house to officially become a temporary resident of Shi Ying Town.

The elf no longer wished to trouble Luo De further.

“By the way, Mr. Luo De.”

Just before leaving, Falshad remembered something and grew serious.

“I cast a divination on my way here—you may face bloodshed soon. Please be careful.”

Luo De’s expression turned grave.

It matched his own recent premonition.

“I understand. Thank you.”

Nightfall.

Forest Warden’s Cottage.

Unlike the succubus, bloated and drooling in sleep.

Luo De tossed and turned.

Anxious. Unwell.

The Igo Cult.

More than a month had passed since he killed Father Owen and the halfling Ali—the Igo Cult had taken no action.

Perhaps the Argyle family’s retaliation had successfully distracted them.

But the matter still sat like a stone in his chest.

What to do? He wanted to destroy them—but lacked the power.

He rolled out of bed and went to the stable.

“This past half-month has been slow—【Growth Spirit】 only accumulated nine points.”

Bond slept lightly.

Upon recognizing Luo De, he immediately nuzzled his head against him affectionately.

Luo De silently stroked his head.

His mindset was unstable.

The original plan couldn’t be maintained—he planned to pour all nine points of 【Growth Spirit】 into Bond.

A high-stakes gamble.

“Good boy, good boy, listen to Dad once—change, okay?”

Luo De injected all the 【Growth Spirit】 at once.

【Nine-Star Volley】

【Massage Proficiency】

[The Great Eater King]

[Pouting]

[Adventurous Spirit]

[High Endurance]

Of the first six skills, Luo De shook his head at all except [High Endurance] and [Nine Star Volley].

His hope grew dimmer by the moment.

[Ultra-Long Range]

[Competitive Drive]

[War Trample]

“Did I lose the bet?”

A move made, no regrets; accept the loss with grace.

Luo De had no regret using [Growth Spirit] here—he felt a quiet relief settle in his chest.

So what if it’s brute force?!

Just then.

A bit of new [Growth Spirit] was successfully accumulated.

He instinctively channeled it into Bond’s body.

[‘Growth Spirit’ used successfully—Bond has grown successfully]

[Physical stats increased, potential upgraded]

[Skill acquired: Take Human Form]

[Details: Bond shed his beastly form and took on a more potent human shape, breaking through his limits and gaining the ability to absorb spirit autonomously. Archery Proficiency, Explosive Arrows, Nine Star Volley, Melee Proficiency, and Centaur Bloodline have all been reactivated.]

[Remaining ‘Growth Spirit’: 0]

“Huh!?”

(End of Chapter)