Chapter 297: Disguise===GLOSSARY=[{

Why not kill him?

The group arrived at the Hansen River in Zhua Valley, watching Kalistra and Rosalia discuss their response strategy.

Tally asked curiously from the side.

I'm not a killer; it was just a verbal dispute. Not worth dying over—not yet.

Not yet?

This is me, as a respectable person, giving him a chance. I've shown part of my strength and made my intent clear. If he still doesn't get it, I'll have no choice but to send him on his way.

Luo De shrugged.

Like a minor traffic violation on certain roads—first offense, just a warning; second time, you get punished.

To prevent underhanded moves, he split off a small blob of Black Shi Laimu and flicked it onto the man.

His every move is now under surveillance.

Tch.

Tally pouted, "I thought you were going to kill him tonight, then fuck me on his floor, stepping in his guts and blood. My 【Shadow Trace】 was already locked on him—look, he's back in Shi Ying Town."

"Hah, I used a little trick to monitor him too."

"Really? Master and I are so in sync! Reward me with a kiss."

Luo De ignored Tally, who closed her eyes and puckered her lips for a kiss, since Daphne the Tiefling was standing right beside them.

Are you okay?

I'm great! It was awesome!

Daphne's face lit up with a smile.

"Good. But I'll remind you—always base your actions on your own strength. When it's right to let loose, let loose. When it's not, stay back."

Understood! Thank you, Master Luo De!

Luo De chuckled: "Don't call me Master. I'm not worthy of it. Find an elf who likes playing teacher."

The girl looked toward the distant back of Kalistra.

The terrain here was treacherous, the river swift; the elf seemed to need time to prepare the ritual.

In the meantime, she had summoned several water sprites capable of controlling the current, forming a temporary barrier.

Daphne's eyes burned with intensity.

"Professor Falshard always taught Prula and me to be kind to others, to endure when we can—better to have one more friend than one more enemy. But I can feel his distrust of our demonic bloodline. He truly hopes that, through later instruction, we can live quietly, like normal people, on this continent."

Falshard only wants what's best for you.

Luo De had no intention of correcting or criticizing someone else's teaching methods.

"I know… it just feels like he doesn't trust us."

"It's not your fault. Demonic bloodline can influence temperament."

"But isn't that what we Tieflings are? We're born this way—our violent nature when the demonic blood awakens is the norm. Sometimes I really don't want to hold back. I just want to let it all out."

Falshard had clearly applied the elfish style of restraint to these two underage Tieflings.

Perhaps he could have been gentler, less strict.

But for a race like Tieflings—neither demons nor free from the torment of demonic blood—such restraint might cause even greater suffering.

"Then let it out."

Luo De followed the principle that blocking is worse than guiding.

"Huh?"

"Releasing pressure is good. Even I need to release it sometimes."

Daphne stared in shock.

"Even Master Luo De?"

At that moment, Tally squeezed in.

She grinned and interjected: "."

Luo De grabbed her face and stopped her from speaking.

Take it easy.

Daphne's cheeks flushed crimson. She lowered her head, unable to look at him, her backward-spiraling horns glowing red-hot.

He quickly changed the subject.

"In short, if you ever want to find a way to release pressure, just come talk to me."

"Th-thank you, Master Luo De."

She whispered it, barely audible.

Then, as if remembering something, she pulled a small blue-glowing sphere from her spell satchel.

"Ryan. I'm not sure what kind of man he is. Now that we've clashed, just in case, I secretly placed a tracking spell item given to me by my professor on him. Here you go."

Your precautions are quite timely.

Luo De even began to wonder if he'd made a mistake by not killing the guy on the spot.

"You keep it. I already—"

"No problem, Master Luo De."

The Tiefling girl winked at him, her delicate face smiling warmly, endearing and eager: "I placed more than one."

Fine.

Very mage-like—cautious, clearly taught by Falshard.

I don't mind.

"Master Luo De, could you come over? Miss Kalistra needs your help."

The Yaguan fairy Rosalia called softly from ahead.

Luo De nodded, leapt onto the rock ahead, and arrived at the cliff where the two women stood.

There, the elf knelt before a large rock, casting a spell upon it.

What's wrong?

Something's off. A mage has set a delayed explosive timer spell here.

Timer spell?

Here?

Luo De cast an identification spell on the rock.

No reaction. It simply read: ordinary rock.

He probed with spiritual sense—even knowing it was magically crafted, he found nothing amiss.

Hmph. A remarkably advanced concealment spell.

No one knows how Kalistra spotted it.

"Not a coincidence?"

"No. The intent was to disrupt our water-blocking ritual."

Kalistra said grimly.

She rose and pointed to the cliff across the Hansen River—a shape like the letter 'r', mirroring their position, resembling a broken bridge.

"For a ritual to block the river, this stretch is ideal. The enemy clearly recognized that and laid an ambush to sabotage the ritual."

Luo De spread his hands:

"No need to guess—it's definitely one of Bahadur's students spreading the Beastly Plague."

"Nine out of ten."

Rosalia smiled bitterly: "With Miss Pan Ni's undead legion helping, the mountain path pressure will ease. I'll send the Wendigo to search the Ke Plain for that mage. We'll need your help then."

"Of course. I kill every Bahadur person I see—purely personal grudge. So, what exactly do you need me for now?"

Kalistra didn't answer directly. She used 【Far-Link Speech】.

【Kalistra: In the battle with the Plague Mage Amel, you used that domain. Apply it to this rock.】

That domain? Oh—【Domain of Preservation】.

Luo De instantly understood her meaning.

The elf feared alerting the enemy—she didn't want to dismantle it, only to freeze the rock's current state.

【Luo De: Just say it outright. Why whisper?】

【Kalistra: Domains can't be exposed before outsiders. This Yaguan fairy isn't harmless. Don't let her beauty fool you into being used.】

Fine, fine.

You're so overprotective.

Luo De pressed his hand against the rock and secretly infused a sliver of 【Domain of Preservation】's power.

【Contacted a portion of the authority of the 'Disguise Domain'】

(End of Chapter)