Chapter 571: Cheers of victory echoed through the valley

Outside Dusk City, hundreds of kilometers from the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, the autumn wind rolled withered, yellow leaves into the dried-up moat.

The black-robed Inquisitors and Theologians had finished assembling outside the city walls, with hundreds of high-spirited griffins standing by at their sides.

They either scraped the rigid ground with their sharp talons or groomed their steel-needle-like feathers with their sharp beaks, looking completely indifferent to the world.

Standing before the assembled griffins, High Inquisitor Jimenez put on his leather gloves in a leisurely manner.

Anyone familiar with him could tell that the High Inquisitor was in an exceptionally good mood today.

The "cleaning work" in the Dusk Saint Saint Xingsheng was basically complete, and the Saint Clement Cathedral had also recognized his contributions.

Under the wise deployment of Lord Jimenez, the heretics entrenched in this land were like fallen leaves swept away by the autumn wind—rustling down, leaving not a single piece of armor behind.

A report that could be called perfect was currently lying in his pocket, carried close to his body.

Once he returned to the Shengcheng, this report would become one of the most dazzling medals on his person.

The only fly in the ointment was that this year's winter seemed to have come earlier than in previous years; it was only October, and the earth was already covered in frost.

However, thanks to this early frost, the poor harvest this year could be blamed on the bad weather.

The city gate of Dusk City was bustling with people, filled with citizens who had come to see off the Inquisition.

Those Leon commoners had expressions of relief on their faces, or were filled with confusion about the future.

But all in all, they should still be grateful; otherwise, they wouldn't have come here to see them off.

Just as Jimenez was pondering in his heart whom he should visit first after returning to the Shengcheng, a heart-palpitating chill suddenly struck from the southern horizon without any warning!

That was not the bleak autumn wind, nor did it look much like the aftermath of magic; it was more akin to a tremor that struck directly at the soul!

It was as if a giant hand hovering above the firmament had forcibly snapped the stone pillars supporting the sky.

"Screech—!"

The group of griffins, which had been bored and shaking their heads, suddenly erupted into a collective, terrified screech.

These aerial overlords, whose strength was second only to dragons, seemed to sense the arrival of a natural enemy; they all crouched down their massive bodies, and some of the timid ones even tucked their heads into their wings.

The Inquisitors all changed their expressions, and Jimenez's fingers froze in mid-air as he looked fiercely toward the direction of the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain.

Only those Theologians who possessed no extraordinary power looked around in a daze, not understanding what had happened.

And those Dusk City citizens.

Their soul fires were too weak, like duckweed in the vast ocean; instead, they couldn't feel that surging, overwhelming power, only finding it strange why a south wind had started blowing in autumn.

Jimenez's expression was uncertain, his vulture-like gaze staring fixedly to the south.

That aura...

What on earth is that?!

Just as he couldn't make up his mind, an accompanying Inquisitor ran over in a panic, coming before him with a deathly pale face.

It was obvious that this young man had also been badly frightened by the sudden pressure.

Although it was true that he was a battle-hardened knight of the Inquisition, this level of heresy was usually not the Inquisition's job; they mainly dealt with more conventional opponents.

"My lord, there seems to be a situation in the south."

Jimenez said with a cold face.

"I know."

Looking at the High Inquisitor's uncertain expression, the Inquisitor hesitated for a while before tentatively asking further.

"An aura that can scare the griffins like this... I'm afraid it's not an ordinary disaster. Should we send someone over to take a look?"

Jimenez did not answer immediately, only glancing at him indifferently before casting his gaze toward the distant horizon again.

Go over and take a look?

Are you kidding me?

The report in his pocket was already written; did you want him to tear it up and rewrite it?

Moreover, this concerned not only his own future but also the group of people currently standing behind him.

The brothers were all here to gild their resumes, not to throw away their lives.

Besides, this was the very edge of the Empire, the territory of the Leon barbarians; if something strange really happened, it was what those blasphemous things deserved.

Although the Inquisition had killed over a thousand people, Jimenez understood in his heart that these few people were just a fraction of the blasphemers.

Including Dusk City, there were quite a few who had slipped through the net, not just lackeys of the Salvation Army, but also lackeys of the Green Forest Army... especially the latter, those were all things that would dig out people's hearts and livers to eat.

Jimenez had no sympathy for these barbarians at all.

Back when they slaughtered priests and blasphemed nuns, they should have thought that this day would come.

The vast majority of people who did not believe in retribution eventually met with retribution.

Except for those who came with a mission in the first place.

In just a few seconds, the shrewd High Inquisitor had already weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

"No need."

He turned around, mounted his griffin, looked down at the Inquisitor, and continued in an indifferent tone.

"The Ten Thousand Swords Mountain is the territory of the dwarves and does not belong to the jurisdiction of the Holy Light. If our dwarf friends need help, they will naturally go to the Shengcheng to find us... there is no need for us to take the initiative to create extra trouble."

The Inquisitor lowered his head deeply, not daring to say another word.

"Yes, my lord."

Saying this, although there was a trace of regret and helplessness in his heart, there was also a bit of relief mixed in.

Watching his subordinates return to the formation and mount their griffins, Jimenez cast his gaze toward the direction where the sun was setting.

"Set off!"

Following his order, hundreds of griffins took off into the air amidst a vast cloud of dust.

The massive wings beat against the airflow, whipping up gusts of howling wind on the ground, even blowing down several unlucky shanties in the distance.

An Inquisitor and a Theologian shared a griffin, and this team of over a thousand people, under the gaze of the Dusk City citizens, triumphantly returned toward the direction of the Shengcheng with victory and glory.

Once those people had gone far away, the militia of the Holy Light Council came out and called out to those citizens who had been summoned to make up the numbers.

"Alright, alright, work's done, everyone disperse."

The crowd scattered in a flurry, not wanting to stay here for even a second longer.

After all, it was cold enough outside, and the current Dusk City had been tossed into a state of decay; not everyone could still find an old overcoat in their wardrobe to wear.

The regional bishop of the Dusk City Cathedral sighed and silently made a cross on his chest to pray.

"Saint Saint Xisi above..."

If that endless catastrophe is the divine punishment you have sent down, I hope your people have already repaid all their sins.

Don't let it come again.

On the other side, the Viceroy of Dusk City and Chairman of the Holy Light Council, Alarick, was standing at the very front of the crowd seeing them off.

He looked up, watching the black dots disappearing into the horizon, and a smile that could not be suppressed gradually bloomed on his face.

Finally gone.

Those shackles that bound the hands and feet of the Dusk people.

He used both hands to tidy up his viceroy's formal attire embroidered with gold trim, and came before the Holy Light councilors with a smile on his face.

"Alright, gentlemen, the era that belongs to us has finally arrived... There is still a lot of work to be done next; for instance, first we must let the people who are hungry have enough to eat, otherwise, in a few days, they will be lured away by that Saintess."

His train of thought was clear; he paused and continued.

"The harvest in the fields is definitely not something we can count on, but fortunately, there are still quite a few merchant ships on the Running River, and we can buy some from old friends. As for the funds to purchase grain... I'm afraid I need you all to donate a little."

The group of Holy Light councilors exchanged glances with each other; although there was some reluctance in their expressions, they basically agreed with the Chairman's point of view.

The price of being stingy was "the skin not existing," a principle they still understood.

Besides, this money wasn't being donated to the Emperor, but spent on their own territory, so it wasn't that hard to accept.

As for the specific fundraising amount, it could be discussed when they held the meeting...

Unlike the optimistic Chairman Alarick, Saron, standing at the edge of the crowd, had a trace of faint sorrow on his face, looking toward the direction that the High Inquisitor had deliberately ignored.

Although he couldn't feel that terrifying aura, he was good at observing people's expressions and could read the looks on the faces of the Inquisitors.

Something bad probably was born there...

"Relax, my friend."

At this moment, a large hand rested on Saron's shoulder, interrupting the latter's train of thought.

Alarick had walked to his side at some point, squeezed his eyebrows at him, and said.

"We have survived the most difficult days; could tomorrow possibly be worse than yesterday?"

"I hope so, I hope I'm just overthinking it..." Saron sighed and looked at Chairman Alarick. "Then, Mr. Chairman, I think we need to consider not just how to get through the current winter, but also more long-term issues. About our future... have you thought it through?"

Although the Holy Light Council had over a hundred people, in fact, the only people who could truly decide the fate of the Dusk Saint Saint Xingsheng were the former Viceroy and the three Earls.

Considering that the other two Earls were trash, Saron, the only tall one among the short, didn't count on those two pieces of trash to offer any constructive opinions.

Whether to respond to the expectations of Campbell Castle and establish the Dusk Principality, or to respond to the summons of Roland City and go back to report on his duties as Viceroy...

Alarick heard the deep meaning in Saron's voice, and the smile on his face gradually turned into entanglement.

In fact, maintaining the status quo was the best result for the Holy Light Council, but at the same time, he knew in his heart that this state could not continue forever.

"This matter must be decided cautiously... I want to observe and observe before taking the next step."

"Observe what?"

"Roland City, you know, it hasn't been peaceful there lately. Even if we want to fall out with the Emperor, now is not the 'best' time."

Saron understood his hint and nodded in mutual understanding.

"Then let's get through this current hurdle first."

Regardless of what the citizens of Dusk City and the members of the Inquisition were thinking, the Corrupt Flesh Clan ratmen who survived under Master Mo Ke's bloody maw were fleeing like birds and beasts.

Master Mo Ke was dead.

Dying along with him was the clan rats' fantasy about the "Gluttonous Rat" Hael Hael Geer.

At least for a few days, these little mice wouldn't be muttering His name again.

The mice of the Corrupt Flesh Clan scurried around the battlefield like headless flies, drilling into every crevice they could find.

Looking around, the entire hillside was covered in the armor they had discarded, as well as the magic devices and magic scrolls they hadn't had time to use.

Since these things were all produced by the Academy, there was no lack of high-quality items among them.

This, however, was a bargain for the players of the Graveyard.

It was a pity that this game didn't have an auto-loot function; otherwise, they could have recovered the equipment dropped by the friendly forces as well.

"Damn it, brothers, don't pick it all up, leave some for me!"

Looking at this group of animals pushing carts to pick up equipment, 【Blue Side】, who only had a head left, was so envious that his soul fire was about to turn red.

However, his wailing not only failed to make the group of players restrain themselves, but instead added to everyone's fun.

Gourd Baby: "It'll be many days before you run back to your corpse."

Lighter: "Exactly!"

Ad Space: "Kick him further away, so he doesn't get in the way."

Blue Side: "@#&!"

On the other side, the warriors of the dwarf race and the human race also erupted into overwhelming cheers, but that cheering sound was a completely different style compared to the "Dragonborn" of the Gutav Kingdom.

"Oh oh oh!"

"Victory!"

"Long live Campbell!"

"Long live the High Mountain Kingdom!"

Bathed in the cheers of the crowd, Princess Ailin watched the meat mountain gradually collapsing under the burning of the black flames, the "Light of Praise" in her hand slowly returning to its sheath.

As the battle ended, the power she had burned her life to erupt also receded.

Although just a moment ago, she had successfully broken through her own bottleneck and stepped into the hall of Purple Crystal-tier powerhouses, the exhaustion that followed almost hollowed her out completely.

Her eyelids were heavier than ever before, the scene before her began to blur, and the world seemed to spin and turn upside down.

Princess Ailin's figure swayed, her body uncontrollably tilting backward.

And it was at this moment that a pair of powerful hands supported her shoulders, taking her tottering body into a warm embrace.

"... Prince Kelin?" A fragrance of books drifted into her nose, and Princess Ailin struggled to open her eyes.

Seeing that face close at hand, her cheeks felt slightly hot.

Luo Yan lowered his head and said with an apologetic tone.

"Sorry, I'm late. Rescuing the wounded of the Gutav Kingdom took some time... If only I had come earlier, I wouldn't have let you face such a monster alone."

At this very moment, he had already taken off that black cloak and changed back into the casual clothes he had worn before.

Although that luxurious coat was stained with a little dust, it did not affect Prince Prince Kelin's elegance in the slightest.

Looking at Prince Kelin, who was immersed in self-reproach, Princess Ailin hurriedly comforted him.

"Please don't think that way, I'm fine, just... a little exhausted. Compared to supporting me, I would rather you protect those I couldn't take care of. It is precisely thanks to your help that I could swing my sword without any worries..."

These were Princess Ailin's heartfelt words.

However, as she said this, her thoughts couldn't help but drift toward the mysterious person who had stood on the edge of the cliff earlier and rained black fire down on the Chosen of the Gluttonous Rat Hael Hael Geer.

It was precisely with that person's support that she could swing her sword forward without any scruples and break the heart of Hael Hael Geer's Chosen that was exposed outside in one fell swoop.

Perhaps it was a hallucination after exhaustion, but two figures uncontrollably overlapped before her eyes.

Even, it wasn't just two shadows.

Behind those overlapping phantoms, another man's shadow also emerged before her eyes.

'My name is Luo Yan... We will meet again.'

Chaotic thoughts intertwined together, like a ball of yarn that couldn't be untangled. Princess Ailin felt her brain was very messy, and for a moment, she stalled on the spot, her emerald-green eyes becoming blurred.

Until that concerned voice came from before her.

"Princess Ailin?"

"... Ah, sorry, I, I might be a little tired."

Looking at Prince Kelin, who was looking at her with concern, Princess Ailin immediately came back to her senses, and at the same time hurriedly averted her gaze, feeling so ashamed that she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

She actually thought of another... no, two other men in front of dear Prince Prince Kelin.

This, this was too blasphemous!

"Are you... really okay?" Looking at those dodging eyes, Luo Yan said with concern, but he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

When it came to "striking first," the Demon King could be said to be tried and tested.

When encountering something that couldn't be explained, the best way wasn't to follow the other party's doubts and make it worse, but to turn "I have a problem" into "You have a problem."

Although it was a bit sorry for Princess Ailin, Luo Yan also had his own difficulties... at worst, he would compensate her later.

"I, I'm really fine..."

Princess Ailin's gaze dodged, the panic in her heart had reached the point of being unable to face anyone; her lips opened and closed for a long time, and she finally thought of a way to change the subject.

"Ah, right, just now! I, my bottleneck seems to have broken through!"

"Really?!"

Facing this 180-degree turn in the topic, a perfectly appropriate surprise appeared on Luo Yan's face, and then he let that surprised expression turn into sincere joy.

"Saint Saint Xisi above... Congratulations! Princess Ailin, your bravery has been recognized by the Holy Light, you have surpassed your father!"

Recognized by the Holy Light...

Princess Ailin scratched her cheek with her index finger and said with slight shame.

"No... I am still far from my father; he became a Diamond-tier powerhouse entirely by his own strength, while I am always helped by others."

Not just helped by others.

She also became a non-human existence... and this was also her pain all along.

Luo Yan smiled gently and said.

"Being helped by others is not a bad thing; no one can exist in this world alone, and I have also met many noble people who have helped me."

Leaning on Prince Kelin's shoulder to rest for a while, Princess Ailin finally regained her strength and left his embrace with a blushing face.

After all, this was a battlefield, not a place for flirting.

Especially since pairs of eyes had already fallen on the two of them, whether it was the dwarf soldiers, the human soldiers, or the "Dragonborn" of the Gutav Kingdom... their eyes more or less carried a knowing, ambiguous smile, and some people even whistled.

Heroes and princesses were an eternal topic for people.

Miss Princess Ailin Campbell, who held the "Light of Praise" high, won the beauty after bringing victory to everyone, and from then on, the two lived a happy and fulfilling life... such an epic was not only something the Campbell people and Leon people loved to see, but also something the dwarves and Dragonborn loved to see.

However—

Not everyone loved to see it.

For instance, Miss Vivian, who came from hell, could not sit idly by.

Just as Princess Ailin was about to muster the courage to ask the confusion in her heart, a purple afterimage accompanied by a sweet scream that made people's hair stand on end killed over like a cannonball.

"Dove~ Dove—!"

Before Luo Yan could react, Vivian had already hung on him like a koala, rummaging through him in a panic.

"Are you hurt? That aura just now was really too scary. Quick, quick, let Miss Vivian check!"

"I'm fine—"

Before Luo Yan's voice fell, he was interrupted by Vivian.

"Please don't be willful! Brother, whether you're okay or not is for the 'doctor' to say! Vivian is the commander of the Hospital Knight Order, you can always trust Vivian!"

"...?"

It wasn't just an interruption.

Those nimble, wind-like little hands were extremely dishonest, rummaging wildly on his chest, waist, and even thighs, and it looked like they had already touched the buttons on his collar.

That pair of scarlet eyes flashed with the cunning and intoxication of taking advantage of the situation.

Especially when taking advantage of the situation in front of Princess Ailin, Vivian felt even more delighted, and the little hands rummaging through boxes and cabinets became even more excessive.

"... And and, you also need to check under your clothes; what if you have internal injuries!"

Luo Yan felt black lines all over his head.

Although he could guess that Vivian had sensed something through her connection to her kin and was cooperating with his acting to interrupt the questioning Princess Ailin was about to blurt out, wasn't this guy's actions a bit too presumptuous?

"Enough, Vivian."

Pressing down on that increasingly excessive little hand, Luo Yan sighed. His tone carried a bit of helpless severity.

"I'm fine, not even a scratch. Instead of worrying about someone who didn't even enter the field, our doctor should care about Princess Ailin, who truly needs care. She defeated that terrifying monster head-on; she is our hero today."

"Tch... what kind of hero is she..."

Vivian curled her lips and muttered in a low voice, obviously very dissatisfied with her brother pushing the credit to another woman.

It was fine to lie to others with these words, but wanting to lie to Vivian was something not to even think about.

She was top-tier smart.

"Just now it was clearly—Cheep!"

Before she finished speaking, Vivian covered her smooth forehead and let out a painful cry, looking at her brother who had withdrawn his finger with teary eyes.

That aggrieved appearance made people's hearts ache.

It was just that Luo Yan was also a top-tier smart Demon King; he could guess with his magic wand that this guy had deliberately shown a "flaw," then got beaten and pretended to be pitiful to act cute, and then would dare to do it again next time...

Until the day he was forced to show some real skills.

Ignoring those pitiful and yandere eyes, Luo Yan turned his head and looked at Princess Ailin, who couldn't get a word in, with slight apology.

"Sorry, my sister was spoiled by me, and she always speaks without thinking... I believe she doesn't think that way in her heart."

"It's okay, I can understand... but having said that, you two have a really good relationship." Princess Ailin smiled embarrassedly, her index finger fiddling with the hair tail hanging on her shoulder armor.

After Vivian's fuss, the strong sense of déjà vu that had been lingering in her heart was interrupted quite a bit, and it even made her feel that her guess was a bit too absurd.

That "Flame King" not only possessed power like a god but also exuded pressure comparable to a god. That existence that was completely stripped of humanity and only had divinity left... no matter how you looked at it, it was two different people from Prince Prince Kelin.

And that "Luo Yan" too.

What they had in common was only the form of power; whether it was personality, temperament... or even the style of perfume, they were completely different.

Perhaps... it really was just a coincidence.

After all, there were many adventurers on the Os Continent who practiced the Dragon God's secret arts, and the black holy fire of the Gutav Kingdom was likely also inherited from the Dragon God's secret arts.

Perhaps it was just learned by that demon named "Luo Yan."

Hearing Princess Ailin's answer, Luo Yan's smile became a bit subtle.

A good relationship... huh?

Perhaps.

For hell, perhaps he was the most abnormal one. ===== CHAPTER 572 =====