Chapter 522

The Twilight City entering March is always rainy, the sky is like a rag that can never be washed clean, covering everyone's mouth and nose.

In the attic of a hotel not far from the central cathedral, the air is filled with the musty smell of damp boards, and there seems to be the sound of mice running under the floor.

Ailin wrapped in a wool shawl long enough to drag on the ground, curled up on the old wooden chair by the window, her tall and straight back looking a bit lonely.

It is not just the "Radiant Knight" who is trapped by the "Bishop," but also the legend of the Campbell people.

She has been here for almost half a year, and the Tribunal shows no sign of leaving. She doesn't know how long she has to stay, and she doesn't know what the point of continuing to stay is.

She still remembers that the Northern Expeditionary Army came to solve the chaos corruption that eroded the Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng.

But perhaps only she remembers.

"Teresa."

"I am here, Your Highness."

Hearing the voice from behind, Ailin didn't look back, and said after a moment of silence.

"How is it outside recently?"

Teresa answered respectfully.

"Twilight City is still the same, but the changes outside the city are quite big. The spring plowing in the Jing Shui Tan territory has begun, and there is also the Jiliu Pass... thanks to you, the warriors who followed us to the Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng have all been allocated their own land."

"Is that so."

A hint of relief rose in Ailin's heart, and the dark clouds pressing on her brow were blown away a little.

Her gaze passed through the dusty window and cast onto the bleak and muddy street, where patrolling soldiers occasionally walked by, and skinny citizens sat on the side of the road.

Although many people still live in fear, at least the people behind her can be spared from death and fear.

It seems... there is nothing to regret.

Just as she thought so, a sudden sharp pain climbed onto her chest, making her fingers gripping the shawl tighten involuntarily.

It was not a physical illness, but like a string tied to the tip of her heart, plucked by that finger in the dark, making a short trembling sound.

"Your Highness?"

Teresa keenly noticed Ailin's abnormality, hurriedly got up and walked to the chair in a few steps, her eyes full of concern.

"Are... are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

The silent Sarah also raised her head and looked over, the cat ears hidden in the shadows shaking gently, and the amber pupils could not see the gloom.

"Nothing, just... suddenly felt a bit flustered in my heart."

Ailin took a deep breath, the feeling of palpitation came and went quickly, leaving only a piece of empty phantom pain.

She shook her head slowly and loosened her hand gripping the shawl.

Teresa was a bit at a loss, just wanting to try to comfort Her Highness, but Ailin, who was lowering her head, suddenly opened her mouth in a whisper like a dream.

"Teresa, do you remember the summer when I was eight?"

Teresa thought for a while.

"I remember that year you awakened your extraordinary power, and His Majesty the late King seemed very happy."

Awakening extraordinary power at the age of eight is relatively rare, and can even be said to be gifted.

In the Aus Continent, the concentrated awakening period of extraordinary power is generally between twelve and sixteen years old, while the growth period is after sixteen.

As for the specific growth rate, it depends on the growth environment, the upper limit determined by innate factors, and the adventures experienced later.

Some people are still bronze at sixteen, but grow to platinum or even diamond in the short four years to twenty.

For example, Ailin is like this.

Teresa remembered very clearly the joy of Grand Duke Alan Campbell at that time. However, what she didn't expect was that Ailin shook her head gently.

What she wanted to say was not this matter.

"That summer, I picked up a red-tailed sparrow with an injured wing in the castle garden. It stayed in my palm for a whole summer, singing to me every morning, waiting for me to wake up."

Sarah thought for a while and said to herself in a voice that only she could hear.

"It might be hungry."

Ailin didn't hear her unromantic interruption and continued to say to herself.

"... It spent a pleasant summer with me, but when the autumn wind blew down the birch leaves, it flew away from my eyes and never came back."

Ailin, who said this, had a blurred look in her eyes, as if she had recalled that summer when she was a child.

"I remember I looked for a long time, but couldn't find it again. My mood now is roughly the same... I always feel that something important is moving away from me."

Sarah didn't want to interrupt, but her chances to speak were too few, and finally couldn't help but say a few more words.

"According to my experience, if it didn't come back in spring... it should be nesting somewhere else, or eaten by a wild cat."

Teresa: "..."

"Is that so..." Ailin was stunned for a moment, then smiled tactfully, "Then I still hope it found its own happiness, and don't be eaten by a wild cat during migration."

Sarah didn't speak.

Campbell people don't eat birds, but it's hard to say about demons who eat everything. When she was hungry, she even dared to grab the Demon King's food.

Ailin took back her gaze, looked out the window with blurred eyes, and whispered for no reason.

"Can you not leave me..."

She didn't know why she suddenly popped out such a sentence, but she always felt that the mood that was about to come out was exactly like the summer in her memory.

Although her father later gave her a parrot that could talk, she could never find that pure and simple happiness again.

Not everything in this world has a substitute, and not everything can be exchanged with money or extraordinary power.

Teresa was silent.

Although the books she read were no less than Ailin's, and were even occasionally borrowed by Ailin, she still couldn't understand the poetic metaphor of Her Highness the Princess.

After all, the books she read were mostly pure, just like the sword in her hand, often open and close, straight to the point.

"Your Highness, I think... you might be unaccustomed to the water and soil."

Teresa tried to analyze.

"The Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng is too cold, and the supplies are too scarce. When you were in Lei Ming City, you liked to eat sweet cherries in Nanxi Valley, but here you can't even buy a fresh apple... I'll go to the black market later to see if I can get some honey."

"I've been there, there isn't any," Sarah interrupted in a flat tone, put down her arms, sighed and said, "I'll solve it."

Although she doesn't like humans, especially doesn't like people of the Campbell family, but the two have been together for a while, and she has let go of some prejudices.

Friend?

Perhaps this is the word.

Humans always like to complicate simple relationships. She still prefers the rules of the Great Cemetery. She only needs a master to serve for life.

Others are superfluous.

"Mm, thank you."

Ailin looked at Sarah and nodded gently, gave a grateful smile to this girl with a knife mouth and tofu heart, and then buried her chin in her curled knees.

Perhaps—

While answering Sarah, she also answered Teresa's guess in her heart. She also felt that maybe she just missed home.

The sun in Lei Ming City should be very warm now, right? Have the flowers in the manor all bloomed? The spice merchant from Wulan Port might have brought nuts from the east coast of the Vortex Sea.

She likes figs the most.

And all sweet fruits.

After all, practicing swordsmanship and riding really consumes physical strength.

And the happiest thing in this world is to have a salted pineapple after sweating like rain... She can show three in a row without stopping!

"Teresa, you say... what is Prince Kelin doing now?"

The sentimental hero Her Highness suddenly murmured again. This time Sarah's cat ears also stood up. No other meaning, it was purely a subconscious reaction.

"I heard that he is currently preparing to build Lei Ming City University. Speaking of which, the changes in Lei Ming City recently are really big. I believe you will be surprised when you go back."

"Is that so? I hope he hasn't been entangled in any strange troubles."

A woman's intuition is sometimes so unreasonable.

Although hundreds of kilometers away, she always felt that an evil aura was approaching the simple-minded Prince Kelin.

Teresa heard the worry of Her Highness the Princess, a reassuring smile appeared on her face, and her right fist was placed on her straight chest.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. Prince Kelin is the most capable person I have ever seen, not inferior to your brother at all. Even a giant dragon has to bow down in front of him... I think any trouble will be easily settled by him."

Hearing this, Sarah's erect cat ears folded to both sides, seemingly agreeing with this statement.

Listening to Teresa's firm comfort, Ailin finally showed a smile left for herself, and said in a very light voice.

"I hope so."

The afterglow of the sunset dyed the courtyard of Kelin Manor blood red, and a neatly trimmed hedge in the front yard flew out with a bang—

It was not just the hedge that flew out.

In the middle of the surging dust, the eight-year-old little Duke Richard was crawling out of the broken branches and leaves in a mess. That exquisite silk shirt was covered with grass clippings and mud, and his young face was full of confusion and fear of the whole world.

Such a fast movement!

In order to protect his three-year-old brother, he moved subconsciously, and his arm was solidly hit by a flying kick.

He didn't even see the afterimage of Her Highness Vivian!

And on the lawn not far away, Vivian was covering her heart with one hand and supporting the flower bed with the other, with an expression like being shot in the chest.

"Gee—"

A trembling sound came from her mouth.

What's going on?

An unprecedentedly strong palpitation was surging from the depths of her soul, and resonated with that ripple from the dark.

This damn dependent—

Dare to covet her brother!

Vivian was so angry that her lips trembled.

The fox spirit of Partridge is fine, but doesn't that guy have her own brother? Why do you still want to grab other people's toys?!

Looking at Vivian who was in pain, the young Richard was stunned.

Clearly, it was he who was kicked, how could it be Vivian who was hurt?

Could it be...

Is he actually very strong?!

Out of gentlemanly demeanor, the little guy didn't take advantage of the injured lady, but took the initiative to care.

"Vi, Vivian big sister, are you okay?"

"Me? I'm fine! Very fine!"

That obviously didn't look very fine.

Richard is clear, people only emphasize the same thing more than twice when they are covering up.

Just like a drunk person who repeatedly emphasizes that he is not drunk.

The poor "little Campbell" had just reached the age of being surrounded by a group of lackeys, but before he could enjoy the flattery of his peers for a few days, he was forced to learn to observe words and colors.

Looking at Miss Vivian who was about to bite her teeth, he swallowed, trying to learn from his steady father, and negotiated with that trembling voice.

"Ca, can I see you are not lightly injured? Why don't we truce first... next time, next time we will decide the winner?"

Saint Xisi is above, he really doesn't want to play with Miss Vivian anymore.

This is too scary!

Alfred, who was holding his head and trembling, was the same.

His father said Miss Vivian would play with them, but this is not her playing with them, it is clearly them being unilaterally beaten.

If it were before, Vivian would probably not have been so heavy, but today she was clearly a little unable to control her emotions.

Just because through the glass window of the manor, she clearly saw the expression on her brother's face—that was the embarrassment she had never shown to her.

Why is this?!

A bloody wedding appeared in her mind, guests drinking Minotaur blood, clinking glasses to celebrate, but the happy protagonist was not herself... Thinking of that tragic world, Vivian felt a pain in her heart again, unable to breathe.

Clearly she came first!

Damn—

The anger with nowhere to vent rampaged in her narrow chest, and finally turned into two fierce gazes, falling on Richard and Alfred who just wanted to take the opportunity to slip away.

"Who did you say was not lightly injured??"

Looking at the purple-haired witch who was clenching her fists, Richard was completely panicked and shouted at his brother.

"Alfred, run!"

"Brother!! I can't leave you!"

"Go! The glory of Campbell cannot be broken in our hands!!"

What a pair of bitter mandarin ducks.

Facing the little bully who is invincible in the Demon Capital, the "country nobles" of Campbell are finally a few years younger.

Of course, the nobles of the Holy City would probably be the same if they came.

After all, the human world is civilized, even Marshal Eberg didn't suffer the beating of a platinum-level powerhouse when he was eight.

Even if Vivian kept her promise not to use extraordinary power, and didn't use the vampire's sharpest claws and teeth, the little fists that could beat a group of demon second generations in the Demon Capital were not something two human cubs could block—the latter turned into afterimages in the yard in minutes.

"I don't play anymore! I want to go home! Woohoo—"

"Cry? Crying also counts as time!"

"You... demon!"

"Kukuku, little ghosts of Campbell, this is the world of adults! Kneel before the Kelin family and feel the fear!"

In the spring of 1054 Aus calendar, the future Duke Richard left a riddle in his diary that stumped countless historians—

【That day, the Demon King descended on Kelin Manor.】

No one knows what he experienced that day, or what amazing secrets he saw.

Darkness shrouded the entire historical community.

Research on the Demon King fell into a bottleneck again.

In the evening, the tea party in the manor living room finally ended, and Grand Duke Edward and his party walked out of the main building to say goodbye.

Luo Yan tried to persuade the couple to stay for dinner before leaving, but Edward said that Sir Andes had already prepared a banquet to wash away the dust for them.

Edward emphasized again that he came to Lei Ming City for the summer hunt, and happened to receive the reply, so he took a detour to visit, not specifically to disturb here.

"Miss Midia, please rest well. If you need any help in your life, please be sure to tell me." Lady Andoni held Miss Yaya's hand, her face full of concern and heartache.

Mia smiled shyly and said embarrassedly.

"Mm... I will."

"In addition, regarding the preparation of the Art Department of Lei Ming City University, please also ask Miss Midia to pay more attention."

Following his wife, Edward also nodded to say goodbye to Mia, and at the same time mentioned Lei Ming City University again.

Whether it is for the future of the Campbell Principality or for his sister's happiness, finding something for this Miss Yaya who came from afar to do is a good choice.

At least she can't be allowed to stay here all the time.

This is too dangerous.

Edward himself is also a man, he knows very well how difficult it is to withstand such temptation...

On the other side, the accompanying imperial physician is checking the injuries for the two little young masters, using holy light to heal their bruised wounds.

Just at this time, the imperial physician who applied ointment to Richard suddenly let out an exclamation and shouted at the Grand Duke who was walking towards him.

"Saint Xisi is above... Your Majesty Grand Duke, look!"

Everyone's eyes gathered immediately.

I saw that on Richard's bruised arm, a layer of pale golden light actually faintly emerged.

Although the light was weak, it carried a pure aura that made people palpitate, and was autonomously repairing the bruises under the skin.

That was clearly not the magic cast by the accompanying imperial physician.

Grand Duke Edward's pupils shrank, and as a gold-level powerhouse, he recognized at a glance that it was a sign of the awakening of extraordinary power!

This is—

Black Iron Level?!

Edward stepped forward and grabbed his son's wrist. Feeling that subtle but real power flowing like a pulse, his face showed unbelievable ecstasy.

"Richard, you awakened!?"

In the history of the Campbell family, being able to awaken "Holy Qi" before the age of ten can be considered a genius, and Richard actually stepped into the threshold of extraordinary at the age of eight!

As expected of his son!

This talent is not inferior to Ailin!

Although for nobles, extraordinary power is not as critical as ordinary people imagine, having it is better than not having it.

Not to mention that based on Edward's experience, a good body is the capital for handling work, at least extraordinary people can endure more than mortals.

Richard was also a bit confused, looking at his excited father, a proud flush could not help but float on his cheeks.

"We, well, it seems so?"

At this moment, he didn't know what kind of childhood his father had arranged for him after seeing his talent.

In contrast, Alfred was much luckier.

Edward, who had experienced the Winter Moon Coup, had fully learned his lesson and wanted to carry out the happy education of Princess Lina and his second son to the end.

The future of Campbell—

Must be shouldered by the eldest son!

"Miss Vivian!"

Putting down his son's arm, Edward walked towards Vivian excitedly.

Seeing Richard's father walking towards her, Vivian, who had experience, thought this guy was here to hold her accountable, and hurriedly glanced around, looking for the trace of her brother.

It's not that she also needs to find a parent, but that her brother forbade her from using extraordinary power, but if she didn't use extraordinary power, she really might not be able to beat a gold-level powerhouse who went all out.

No—

Should it be said that she definitely can't beat him?!

Just when she was about to set up a defensive posture, Edward's action exceeded her expectations. This noble human Duke actually nodded slightly to her.

"Miss Vivian, you are truly the most outstanding teacher I have ever seen! The knight mentors of the Campbell family were helpless against him, but I didn't expect you to wake him up in just one afternoon! This kindness, the Campbell family will keep it in mind!"

Vivian was stunned for a moment.

Ah??

This works too?!

"Wa, wait a minute—"

Lord Bayeli is above, she, Vivian adult, did not help humans awaken extraordinary power, this is a naked frame-up!

Actually, she doesn't care about Lord Bayeli, just like not many human nobles care about Saint Xisi. She is mainly worried that Miss Partridge will catch her pigtail and use it to threaten her brother.

That would be a bit bad!

The little ancestor of the Kelin family has always been unwilling to use the worst malice to speculate on the fox spirit of the Partridge family, although she didn't realize that wasting her IQ here is purely superfluous.

Not to mention that Mia couldn't think of this level, even if she did, she would definitely not take the risk of being hated by Kelin to do the kind of thing that only goblins would really do.

At that time, a certain trash succubus threatened a certain trash human in the auditorium, purely because she was anxious to see her sweetheart jump into the fire pit, and couldn't help but be a little willful with the power in her hand.

After all, the labyrinth of Lei Ming County at that time was not like it is now, a good job that juniors and juniors are rushing to, and going there is almost death.

Eighteen demon generals were left with only four. Looking at the entire hell, it was a high-intensity war. Humans and demons generally would not kill each other so hard.

And even without considering Mia's mind, she couldn't really hurt Vivian.

Miss Partridge actually still treats Vivian as her sister in her heart.

It's just that this sister is a typical Kelin vampire, her brain is not very normal, and she is not generally food-protecting, which makes her have to take out her true skills to deal with it.

As long as Vivian is willing to surrender and lose half, she can immediately hold Vivian's hand and agree to reconcile, and affectionately treat her as her own sister, just like before.

Maybe, she can share a bite with her.

However, Edward didn't listen to Vivian's panicked defense. Looking at her who was about to refuse, he continued without stopping.

"I hope Miss Vivian will not be stingy with her advice. In the future, I will often send those two useless things to disturb you! Please be sure not to be merciful!"

Whether to give advice or not is secondary.

Even extraordinary power is secondary.

Mainly, I have to disturb Prince Kelin a few more times!

Richard and Alfred, who had just woken up, heard that their father actually used them to nest, and suddenly their eyes went black, and they almost fainted on the spot again.

Vivian wanted to refuse, but feeling the gaze behind her that was more burning than holy light, she finally had to bite the bullet and squeeze out a fake smile that was uglier than crying.

"... Gee, gee is my honor."

Gee?

Edward was stunned, but didn't think much, just thought Vivian ran too fast just now and accidentally bit her tongue.

After saying goodbye to Prince Kelin who sent him to the door again, the respected Grand Duke took his children and wife, got into the carriage waiting at the manor gate, and headed towards Andes Manor.

The carriage finally started.

The sound of the wheels brought the last bit of noise into the night outside the manor.

Richard and Alfred sat in the corner of the carriage with tense faces, swearing that they would never want to see anything purple again, even eggplant.

Only Princess Lina was still full of energy.

She lay on the carriage window, waving hard at the purple-haired boy standing at the door to see them off, her eyes shining.

"Brother Gutafu! Next time you have to take me to catch butterflies!"

"Must wait for me—!"

She felt that her father was really smart. She didn't think that just praising Brother Gutafu a few times could make the manor's hedge turn into an afterimage.

Cackle, she will play like this in the future!

Watching Nan Fu stood at the manor gate, with a shy and happy smile on his face, waving until the carriage disappeared at the end of the road.

Then, he carefully glanced at the old sister with uncertain face beside him, and slipped back to the main hall with his neck shrunk.

Although the old sister's face was cloudy, he felt that today's sun was exceptionally bright, and the night he liked most was so long.

He had never looked forward to tomorrow's sun rising so fast as today, even if the scorching light was almost going to burn him into ashes.

However, compared to Princess Lina's smile, everything is not a problem.

Never before had anyone praised him for running so fast, nor had anyone praised him for climbing so high, so smart, so powerful, so amazing...

But Princess Lina is different!

In Princess Lina's eyes, he seems to be an omnipotent hero, and the crystal clear of worship always flashes in those bright eyes.

That feeling of being praised and needed made him feel like he was soaked in a honey pot.

It was also today that he had many precious memories about the first time.

His heart beat, and the feeling of being alive had never been so strong. Watching Nan Fu touched his hot cheeks, and the thoughts in his heart had never been so firm.

Humans—

Really great!

The lover talent of the Kelin family has been stable as always.

The goblins in the Demon Capital will never know that the biggest threat to hell is neither the abnormal Vivian Kelin, nor Mia Partridge who will stutter when her brain gets hot.

But the rising legendary lover king—

Watching Nan Fu Kelin.

Night fell on Kelin Manor.

Miss Partridge is talking to the teapot with a silly smile, and the trembling Miss Kelin is receiving her brother's education.

Meanwhile, the Three Estates Meeting of the Ryan Kingdom was held as scheduled, and ended the first day's agenda on this plain dusk.

Coincidentally.

The citizens of Roland City also don't know what on earth Mr. Newcas, who was praising the imperial chef's craftsmanship at the long table, discussed with them.

(End of chapter)