Chapter 88: Sunset and Dimness

"Lord Luge, please don't blame her. Motel hasn't gotten any proper rest these past few days because of me," Young Master Lorigo said, holding his head. He had actually woken up first. He continued, "I drank some potions prepared by the family when I was a child. They probably had some effect."

The red-haired woman gradually calmed down. She looked left and right, held her forehead, and summoned an emerald-green gem. The gem rose and fell, circling around her once, then clung to her ear as if whispering something. She listened with a tilted head, her expression changing repeatedly. With a wave of her hand, she sent the emerald gem away.

Motel looked at Luge, let out a long breath, and stepped forward.

"Thank you, Lord Luge." She bowed respectfully, maintaining the posture for a good while before straightening up.

"And thank you for your guidance as well," Motel said, gathering her red hair. "The way Gem Summoners train Spiritual Power is quite special. I was previously anxious to contract more gems, which was somewhat irrational."

Luge waved his hand and continued savoring this strange Worm Milk Tea.

The camp seemed to return to normal. Lorigo and Motel sat silently to the side. The mercenaries dismantled their tents. Looking at Luge, these clueless mercenaries now had an added layer of fear in their eyes.

The tents were quickly dismantled and packed. Two Worm Carts were guided over, and everyone began the return journey once more.

The creaking, swaying sounds were still just as sleep-inducing.

Luge sat with an air of unconcern, eyes half-closed.

Perhaps that book about the ruins narrated by the Ancestor, which this Young Master Lorigo got to see, was deliberately shown to him from start to finish. That person knew his interests. It's also possible the book's contents were all fake.

Perhaps the successive accidents frightened the mercenary group. With the Employer's Agreement, they decided to stop resting along the way and finish the last leg of the journey in one go.

Luge didn't mind; he just wanted to sleep more because the swaying time had lengthened.

Dozing all the way, in a half-asleep, half-awake state, he felt the scene before him gradually brightening. It was an extremely slow transition, so slow that even though it was a shift from dark to light, it didn't feel abrupt in the slightest. Even in his half-asleep state, he didn't notice at first.

He opened his eyes. The mercenaries seemed tireless. The surrounding light had gradually reached the level of sunset. This was rare in this World — vast stretches of land could be seen clearly, even the fine details of ditches and uneven edges.

Some mercenaries began covering their eyes with cloth strips.

It is said that some people born and raised in the Yuanwo Area, if they one day have to enter the Underground City to live, must first obtain a bottle of Awakening Potion so their eyes can gain New Life and adapt to the light there. Those who drink the potion will be left with a circular mark around their pupils. Even if they become Nobles or powerful Extraordinaries, they will be maliciously gossiped about behind their backs. Not until the family's second generation is born without that circle on their eyes does it count as having put down roots in the city and being truly accepted by the Underground City.

The mercenary troop gradually halted. A town was faintly visible in the distance. It was time to part ways with these people who traded their lives for money.

Luge got off the Worm Cart. He also had to bid farewell to this little worm; it wasn't adapted to running in the light.

He looked at that town in the distance, which seemed bathed in sunset, waiting for that master-servant pair and the mercenary group to finish their final negotiation.

"Let's go, Lord Luge. Night is falling. Let's enter the town to rest together. Thank you for agreeing to my invitation." The handsome youth arrived at his side and said.

Luge was recalled to his senses by Young Master Lorigo's call. The fact that he could stand here, waiting alongside his companion, naturally indicated his answer.

Looking at those mercenaries — they didn't even enter the town to rest and reorganize. They fled as if avoiding a plague god, accelerating away from this Young Master from the Underground City.

The three walked slowly toward the town under the sunset.

"Lord Luge, please take this small item. Your appearance is too distinctive; it can save you some trouble."

Young Master Lorigo handed over a metal badge, engraved with specks of stars and a sword.

"Wear it, and you'll be a guest of the Starry Sky Family. It can prevent you from encountering some foolish, reckless, rude people," Lorigo said, curling his lip. "This world lacks no shortage of such fellows. Believe me, even if you are a noble Spellcaster, you wouldn't want to deal with them."

"Thanks."

Luge thanked the Young Master for his thoughtfulness, reached out to take the badge, and without hesitation pinned it on his Wizard Robe.

He noticed that the red-haired beauty beside him flashed a trace of envy in her eyes when she saw him accept the badge.

The town's roads were likewise paved with the same hard stone slabs as the Yuanwo Zhenzi, but children could be seen running and playing by the roadside. The vitality and vigor far surpassed the towns in the Yuanwo Area. The people coming and going no longer all looked so fierce and vicious. The street smells were also slightly better.

Luge took off his hood and twitched his ears, causing a wave of cries from nearby children. Some were scared off; others still wanted to crowd around and watch, toddling after him on little legs. But in the end, they were all carried away by their own adults with repeated apologies. Seeing the emblem on his chest, people on the road also panicked and actively made way. Making him seem even more imposing than the actual principal, Young Master Lorigo, beside him.

"Lord Luge, there's a pretty good little tavern up ahead. When I used to sneak out, I'd go sit there."

Young Master Lorigo spoke as he led the way in front. The two Spellcasters followed behind him.

This Young Master seemed to have shaken off the gloom, his spirits high. His walk was even lighter. In Luge's view, the gloom in this Young Master's heart these past days wasn't just the failed ruins exploration, nor the anticlimactic assassination attempt. It was the suspicion toward the person by his side, or the distress after guessing the other's identity.

The little tavern Young Master Lorigo pointed to was right before them. Suddenly, vibrations came from the ground. Dozens of Knights riding Six-legged Underground Beasts charged down the town's main street.

The red-haired Motel started to get a little nervous, then gradually relaxed.

Luge glanced at the youth beside him. Seeing he was still fairly calm, he knew it wasn't a big problem.

The lead Knight charged ahead alone, the first to reach the street corner. He violently yanked the reins of his mount, making the beast let out a low roar, and twisted around to halt.

"Young Master Lorigo, the Baron Adult sent me to escort you back."

The Knight's voice was meticulous, without a shred of questioning tone. The eyes beneath the helmet visor swept over Luge with emphasis, then looked at the badge on his Wizard Robe.

……

In a dim room.

"I've been waiting for your news."

A young man's voice rang out in the room. From his tone, one could sense his dissatisfaction. But despite his displeasure, his voice remained steady.

"We did what we were supposed to do……"

"So only my people died?"

"We also had many Believers complete their path of Redemption……"

"I remember you promised a Bishop would act. Couldn't even two Bishops manage it?"

"The two Bishops did not act. There was a Wizard by his side. This is something you didn't mention before. This is your mistake, and your sin……"

"A Wizard? I once hanged an arrogant fellow who dared offend me. That person was also a Wizard."

"That's different. That was just an ordinary Wild Wizard……"

(Chapter End)