Chapter 313: Demon Mouth

Today, Rosalia wore a practical warrior outfit, relatively plain.

She looked like an ordinary mercenary.

But her elegant, dignified aura and stunningly beautiful face were far too eye-catching; even in plain attire, no one would truly mistake her for an ordinary person.

"Perhaps we can advance slowly, establishing a few more defensive lines."

Luo De pointed toward the distant mountain path.

After all, this is mountainous terrain—there are always higher elevations than the road.

Who knows how those beast-transformed patients, as if under a spell of dumbness, think? What if they suddenly decide to take a leap of faith?

The current defensive line sits at the very edge of Claw Valley, near Dusk Hill.

Once breached, open plains lie beyond, and rebuilding a defense won't be nearly as easy as it is now.

Right now, the best course is to clear the entire Claw Valley.

Rosalia nodded, agreeing with Luo De's idea.

"Occupying the whole of Claw Valley is indeed the best position, but there are several passes near Koe's Plain—our defensive line might stretch too thin."

That's another problem.

But discussing it now is still too early.

The two discussed a few more details.

Rosalia suddenly smiled, glancing at Una below, chatting with Pan Ni.

"An eighth-rank mage. Mr. Luo De, you've got some impressive connections."

"She's a true friend. By the way, she'll be staying temporarily in Shiying Town to investigate something in Dusk Hill."

"We'd be delighted. Having an eighth-rank mage lady settle here is a blessing. But lately, there've been too many mercenaries arriving in Shiying Town—there may not be room to spare. Perhaps Argel's estate could accommodate her? The city hall will cover the cost."

Argel owned an estate in Shiying Town, where the Land Naga once held a banquet.

The city hall could rent the estate—and naturally, use it themselves.

"Thank you, but no need for such trouble. I have an empty house on Xin Lanke Street."

Xin Lanke Street was built jointly by Luo De, Dimia, and the old gentleman Humbert—and naturally, they each kept a room for themselves.

Rosalia gave a knowing smile:

"Keeping a concubine in a golden pavilion?"

"Hah—don't make up nonsense."

The two descended from the watchtower.

They saw Pan Ni showing Una her undead legion.

Her duty here these past few days had greatly strengthened her undead forces.

The increase in numbers alone isn't even the point.

Zombies, ghouls, skeleton soldiers, wraiths—all types numbered at least fifty each.

One could only say: no wonder she's a necromancer; her troop-spawning power is terrifying.

Among them, eleven six-rank skeleton soldiers with black bones stood out dramatically.

These were all the beast-transformed patients Luo De slaughtered on Koe's Plain the day before—of course, their corpses weren't wasted; he brought them back to turn into undead soldiers.

Too bad their flesh and blood were toxic and couldn't be kept—if they could, the upper limit might've been higher.

Of course.

Luo De had wanted to capture some goblins or ogres to turn into undead for her.

There were a few small ogre tribes on Koe's Plain, but unfortunately, he hadn't encountered any.

The rabbit-girl Una was naturally talkative, and with Pan Ni's already overflowing need to chatter, they clung to Yaguan the fairy Rosalia, talking nonstop.

Girls chatting, you know.

Once they started, it was hard to stop.

The three women laughed and chatted; Luo De couldn't join in, so he went to find Bond, who was sniping from afar.

On the way,

Tally jumped out from the shadows, urgently saying:

"That rabbit-girl, Master! Let's eat her!"

"Where did you get this lecherous streak? You're even more impatient than I am."

"Rabbits! Rabbits are the epitome of cuteness!"

With that, she transformed into a tall rabbit-girl, her face stern and cold, yet adorned with two high, fluffy gray rabbit ears.

A striking contrast between maturity and cuteness.

She gave Luo De a cold snort.

It looked just like Kali Site putting on rabbit ears to act cute.

"Oh!"

Luo De couldn't help but applaud.

Tally was already qualified to graduate—when it came to contrast.

"A race with a distinctive appearance can create a very clear contrast… Look~ Master, I can feel your inner excitement~~"

"It's fine if you don't joke around here—Una is a chaste rabbit-girl. Don't even think about it."

Luo De always respected others' beliefs.

Just like Buddhist nuns on Earth—you wouldn't act on personal desire and destroy someone's inner foundation, would you?

Speaking of which,

There was a scene in a TV drama where Wu Zetian became a nun—thin gauze monastic robes, sss—

Hm?

A celibate nun in sheer, low-cut monastic robes—isn't that also a kind of contrast?

"Don't trust human nature."

Tally shook her head with a look of world-weary insight.

"Perhaps Master doesn't know—even chaste rabbit-girls have their own ways."

"How so?"

"Do you know the 【Demon Mouth Technique】? A illusion spell that makes a selected object appear to speak—but it doesn't actually open its mouth; it only affects the viewer's sight and hearing."

"I never thought I'd live to see you giving me a lecture on spell knowledge."

Luo De sighed.

"Hmph!"

Tally, annoyed, shoved her gray rabbit ears against his face—only to tumble into his arms, kiss his neck, then giggle.

She continued:

"Chaste rabbit-girls place a spell-cast 【Demon Mouth Technique】 there—and just through imagination, they complete a soul-shattering experience."

"That's some wild trivia—I'm almost not sure I believe it."

"Believe it or not."

As they spoke,

Luo De had already found Bond the pony-girl.

She was drawing her bow from a tall tree, while the giant squirrel Cui Qian napped below—apparently guarding her.

He'd expected Bond to sulk after two days of duty, but she was unusually responsible when it came to protecting her home.

She was drawing her bow almost constantly.

When her mana ran low, she chatted with Cui Qian while recovering.

In just two days, her long-stalled fifth-rank early stage broke through to mid-stage.

After all, with half-horse blood, combat was always their fastest path to advancement.

"By the way, Luo De, near the Great River, there's a mage infected with the beast-transforming disease—my arrows can't penetrate his defenses."

Bond said this while munching on snacks Luo De brought.

The Great River?

The only river on Koe's Plain worthy of that name was Hansen River.

"What's the mage doing?"

An infected mage can still cast spells—as long as he doesn't have an outbreak.

But even without an outbreak, he won't be normal—the infection has corrupted his blood and mind; even good people turn antisocial.

"He brings wave after wave of beast-transformed patients to the riverbank, then uses magic to drain their blood and pour it into the river… Oh, and some mushroom folk are trying to stop him."

The pony-girl's attention was entirely on her snacks.

She spoke casually, occasionally showing a look of pleasure.

But Luo De couldn't help frowning.

(End of Chapter)