84.5. Little Ghost, are you playing with fire?!
After having a somewhat meaningless private moment with Rose, at least in terms of the “ceremony,” which was a more “elegant” acknowledgment of the master compared to the previous unavoidable circumstances, as Rose put it, I had already finished my duties towards the earlier “masters.” No longer needing to, nor being able to protect the last “bloodline” of the white-haired elves, Rose had decided on her next course of action.
She resolved to truly hand over the position of the head of the royal family to Lin Ke, no longer hiding in the dark castle, lurking by day and night, but instead leaving with me as my fairy. To put it more vividly: this noble, splendid, and elegant queen of the night was finally willing to step out of the novice village.
This time, Rose intended to fulfill her duties as my fairy, which perhaps aligned with her original plans: she wanted revenge, using the methods she still had tucked away in her little head to deal with the three white-haired elf sisters. Although my main storyline had once vanished due to being disrupted by Ilushir…
When Rose said this, I was no longer sleepy at all! And… I had no reason to refuse her following me.
A few days later, after the exquisitely elegant Rose, who pursued “elegance and nobility” at all times, finally loaded up cart after cart of gifts, we left the Merli United Kingdom under Lin Ke’s farewell. Our destination on the way back was, of course, the Great Ying Empire; the queen had been urging us to return for quite some time.
At this moment, inside the carriage.
The usual banter between Kefir and Nilu resulted in Rose now lounging on my lap like a big cat, both women too preoccupied to pay her any mind. The recent re-acknowledgment of the master had made Rose happy, and it also made me realize: perhaps I really had to fulfill my “master” duties?
I stretched my arm towards Rose, almost placing it directly by her mouth to prompt her to speak.
“Here, since we’ve re-acknowledged the master, it’s perfectly fine for you to bite me occasionally from now on; the two of them have already agreed.”
The cat, Ros, opened one eye on my thigh, first glancing at the very “harmonious and friendly” Kefir and Nilu who were engaged in conversation. After confirming that they were too busy to pay me any mind, she spoke up with a tone of disdain.
“Did you do anything disgusting before washing your hands? Like, you know, relieve yourself or something…”
Don’t use such gross words! I was fine with it before, but now I’m starting to doubt whether my arms are clean!
“I’m very hygienic!”
“Then… what did you eat for lunch today?”
Huh? Does this question have anything to do with your refined little self’s noble dining requirements!?
I was taken aback for a moment, then managed to suppress my irritation and replied, “A big chicken leg.”
“Mm…”
In an instant, Ros’s previously doubtful expression turned even more disdainful, as if she had caught a whiff of something foul. She tightly closed her eyes and pushed my arm away.
“Then I don’t want it. After someone eats meat, the smell of blood lingers for at least a day and a night, and it’s disgusting.”
I was the one who kindly offered my arm to you, and this little fairy has such refined demands about “eating”!?
“If you want me to take a bite, I doubt you can meet my strict requirements, so… just hold off on the oil, salt, and meat for a day and a night, and then come back to see if the taste is any better~”
This little imp…
“Then how have you been surviving all this time?”
“I have the servants draw my blood, then send it in batches for dialysis to remove the odor, and finally refine it into a ‘drink’ that looks like tomato juice to deliver to me~”
The process of eating is so overly complicated that I couldn’t even muster any surprise.
But in the next moment, Ros unexpectedly revealed a… more conservative side.
“No, but now that there’s a new master, I can’t just use the blood of outsiders. So, you better fulfill your duties as a master properly. Don’t keep feeding me rich foods every day; the blood in your body is starting to look like a stinking gutter full of garbage to me!”
Before I could react, Ros shouted, “If the top won’t do, then the bottom! I don’t mind the bottom; after all, that disgusting fishy smell can cover up all other foul odors.”
She paused for a moment and added, “Ah~ don’t get me wrong, I’m just guessing~”
Rose… rather than explaining such things to me, you… should pay a little more attention to what’s behind you. The topic of blood just now wasn’t a problem, but… if some “dangerous” content is overheard by Kephir and Nilu, they definitely won’t let you off the hook.
“Ahhh!”
In the next moment, Rose, who was comfortably lying on my lap, was yanked away by Nilu and Kephir working together.
“What’s the big idea? Right now, I’m his fairy, so you two women should show me some respect~”
I don’t know about respect, but I do know: Rose, you’re playing with fire.
“‘Your Majesty,’ are you really not considering letting me ‘educate’ this wild fairy for a while?” Nilu said with a “smile” while tugging on Rose’s long ears, “At least let her, as your fairy, become slightly more ‘reasonable’ like your other fairies before bringing her back to your side.”
“Exactly.”
Surprisingly, Kephir, who stood on the same side as Nilu, nodded, “Though I had a feeling, but Euclid, this fairy you brought back… compared to your others, she’s really dragging you down a bit.”
“Dragging… dragging me down!?”
Rose struggled to shake off Nilu’s hand, her eyes wide in disbelief as she glared at the two women, “You ignorant women, how dare you say that I, with my long history and heritage, noble and excellent in body, appearance, power, and behavior, am dragging you down?”
Then, this little imp put her hand to her mouth, revealing a completely “villainous young lady” smirk.
“Oh ho ho ho~ I think it’s you two who are the frogs at the bottom of the well~ No matter how you look at it, my excellence is not something that the few fairies this pretty boy has can compare to~ To be recognized by me is a miracle that he used up several lifetimes of luck to achieve~”
“Hey~ Pretty boy, don’t just stand there in a daze~ Hurry up and praise me, say the truth that’s in your heart~”
“And also, even though I haven’t seen your fairies, don’t bring them to meet me in the future~ Even if they’re all fairies, there should be a distinction between those of mediocre talent and me, the most excellent among your fairies. If there’s nothing going on, don’t let them come before you to flatter me; it’s disgusting to watch~ Do you understand, pretty boy?”
Understood.
I nodded, and Kephir even simply gave up on explaining.
Rose, on the way back, you…
Just take this time to enjoy your last moments of happiness; I can’t save you anymore.
After this, there will be about two chapters of extras, and then onto the next volume!
The content of this volume ends here! Everyone remember to cast your monthly votes! Thank you, Eggplant!
Epilogue: Day of Judgment
A long, long time ago, when there were no proper “kingdoms” or “empires” among humans, there existed, on the far side of the continent, a kingdom that was already thriving, yet remained largely unnoticed by humanity, whose history and culture were slowly passed down due to the limitations of their lifespans.
This was the realm of the elves. With their long lifespans and exceptional talents, they had long established a prosperous kingdom composed of several fertile territories, along with a remarkable civilization.
All the citizens here were elves, characterized by their long ears, which symbolized their noble status, and their snow-white hair, the most obvious traits. The beauty of this lineage of elves seemed like a “gift” bestowed upon them by a great goddess, and the white-haired elves themselves believed in this notion.
This was the place closest to the “goddess.” The goddess’s blessings brought fertile lands, flourishing civilizations, and noble citizens. The white-haired elves worshipped a goddess whose name had been passed down for an unknown length of time, a goddess they prayed to for faith—her name was “Order.” For Order was the foundation upon which all civilizations began.
However, none of the white-haired elves anticipated that such a prosperous civilization could be destroyed in a mere instant.
From the moment the first scream echoed through the opulent palace, the bloodline of the white-haired elves was already on the path to destruction.
“Ah!”
Though this scream was quickly drowned out by the chaotic sounds of panic.
“She, she got up! Princess, this, this woman has gone mad! She must be possessed!”
The royal family of the elves trembled in fear, and the hands of their guards, gripping their weapons, inevitably shook. No one expected that the usually silent and composed, dignified, and seemingly powerless princess would become so terrifying, as if possessed by the Grim Reaper.
Yet the truth was: the princess appeared in a place she should not have been, and without hesitation, she began her slaughter!
“Order, goddess of Order… please stop her quickly!”
Moreover, the princess had definitely gone mad! Despite committing such bloody and insane acts, she muttered…
“Esteemed nobles, elders, it is not I who defies the will of ‘Order,’ but you. I have come to deliver judgment upon those who have lost all respect for the goddess.”
“Nonsense! Princess! Look at what you are doing! You are the one defiling the faith of the goddess! Stop this at once! Do not continue…”
In the next moment, a lightsaber pierced the speaker’s body, and the others were horrified to discover: they had no power at all! The elven mages, who had just prepared to resist with magic, realized that what they held in their hands was no different from a mere firewood stick.
“Who among you holds a more steadfast and fervent faith in the goddess? In this realm of judgment, we shall all receive the correct answer. Groundless arguments will only cause you to lose more of your ‘faith,’ Elder.”
In the gaze of all, the usually gentle and quiet Princess now dragged a long scythe, taking away life after life behind her! Immediately, more light swords spread out in the air behind her, reflecting the princess’s graceful and calm steps and demeanor, even at this moment.
“Regardless of your faith, I will now act on behalf of the great goddess and carry out the ‘judgment’ one by one.”
Another elf rushed in front of Urasiru, attempting to stop her, only to find themselves “rendered powerless” and pierced by a light sword. As they fell, wailing, the order within the palace… finally collapsed at this moment!
“Run, run!”
“The princess has gone mad!”
“Why does she possess such power!?”
The light swords spared no escaping elf, and at the same time, the elf raised a hand, wiping away a streak of dark blood from the scythe.
“Though it seems that your faith is so despicable now that you cannot even resist, I sincerely wish for you all: to possess a faith strong enough to survive the ‘judgment’ that is to come. Otherwise…”
“Pray to the ‘will of order,’ repent, for this moment is indeed the time of judgment.”
When the revered Sword Saint of the kingdom, Ludwig, learned that the capital had turned into a sea of flames and immediately dispatched troops to return and assess the situation, it was already several days later.
This was the capital of the kingdom! How could both territorial towns be fine, yet the capital be reduced to ruins!? As for monsters, that was simply impossible, for the kingdom was so prosperous, and the defenses were so tight. Not to mention, the recent reverence for the goddess had reached new heights; there should not have been any accidents!
Leading the way, Sword Saint Ludwig dismounted, her anxious heart tightening her fists. From above, there was no sign of activity, but… it was precisely because of the silence that everything in her sight felt so eerie! How could a city be so still!?
Tsk! At such a critical moment! What on earth had happened in the capital!? If there were any lapses in defense while she hurried back with her troops, what would happen!? The kingdom’s “order” was still waiting for everyone to maintain it!
“Why hasn’t the reconnaissance team returned yet!? How long has it been!?”
In her frustration, Sword Saint Ludwig turned to her subordinate and asked!
“I-I don’t know. We have dispatched the reconnaissance team, but they haven’t returned yet…”
“That’s not the issue! The key is the support from the territorial towns!? At the very first moment the news came through, didn’t I instruct you to notify the territorial troops to check the situation first? Why is there still no response!?”
The capital of the kingdom was situated behind the two territorial towns, so logically, there should have been a response from the territories before she returned with her troops! Yet the current situation was: not only was there no response, but even the messenger sent to report had not returned! Clearly, that messenger had the ability to fly back!
“You… have you notified them or not?!”
“Yes, we notified them! Of course we informed the Sword Saint! It’s just that we’re not clear…”
The trembling subordinate was about to respond when they suddenly looked up in surprise at the distance, “Wait, Sword Saint! Over there, coming this way… it’s the reconnaissance team! They’re back!”
Hoo… they’ve finally returned! Regardless of whether the news is dangerous, any report from within the city will do.
Sword Saint Ludwig let out a long breath, but the look of relief on his face gradually froze as he observed the strange actions of the approaching elf.
This elf was running out of breath, but what happened to her equipment!? Rather than delivering a message, it seemed more like… she was fleeing!?
Wait! I sent a reconnaissance team! How is it that only one has returned!?
The elf, nearing Ludwig, had a pale complexion, devoid of any trace of her former elven grace! All at once, she rasped out in a hoarse voice, her face twisted in terror, and shouted.
“Quick… quick… hurry…”
“Hey! You… what on earth happened in the city…”
Just as Sword Saint Ludwig was about to inquire, in the next instant!
A shadow flew in from the distant sky, and as it descended, the exaggerated “great sword” in its hand, resembling a monstrous weapon, instantly “smashed” the elf before Ludwig! The splattered dark blood even stained half of Ludwig’s face red!
In that moment, all the elves were frozen, as if time itself had come to a standstill.
Fear, tension, anger… all emotions seemed to vanish, as Ludwig and all his subordinates stared blankly at the blood-soaked figure before them, who stood up and casually scraped the flesh off the great sword.
Then, a smile.
“Yawn… though it’s quite troublesome,”
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Sword Saint.”
There’s one more chapter tonight, and then the volume will conclude~
Extra 2: Day of Judgment 2 (End of Volume)
Accompanied by the figure of a monster that seemed to be drenched in blood, it slowly rose, its hands less “holding” and more “dragging” a massive sword as it approached the Sword Saint Ludwig. At that moment, time, which had seemed to freeze, finally resumed its flow!
But for everyone, what loomed ahead was the fear of the unknown! Just as all the elves regarded the figure before them as a “humanoid monster,” the next moment, this “monster” clearly uttered a voice that belonged to a young woman!
The Sword Saint Ludwig, who was called out, felt a surge of panic! Even though she was the strongest in the entire kingdom, bearing the title of “Sword Saint,” she instinctively placed her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist! In the next moment, all the elves were astonished to discover…
They had overlooked her appearance because she was drenched in filthy blood, but now everyone realized: this person’s clothing, makeup, and even those long ears!
She is a member of the elven army!? How… how is that possible!? Is there… such a monster in the army!?
The first thought that crossed the minds of all the attendants was to ask the Sword Saint! It was also to find a refuge for their hearts, which had fallen into fear!
“Sword Saint! She… she is an elf! And what she just said… is she an elf you know?”
Unfortunately, this time even the “refuge” they trusted and revered could not provide any solace.
“……”
In response to the elven army was the silence of Sword Saint Ludwig, along with her increasingly trembling hand.
The elven Sword Saint had no strength left to reassure her subordinates!
Because, unlike ordinary elven warriors.
Why! Must she be different from ordinary elven warriors!?
If the elves behind her saw only a “blood-soaked elven girl” wielding a massive sword, what Ludwig saw was beneath this “skin,” a formless, writhing, pitch-black “chaos.”
This is not an elf; this is… a genuine monster! But why would such an unfathomable thing appear in the elven city? And…
“You… who are you!?”
“Oh dear~ It hasn’t been long, and you’ve already forgotten? That sword technique that fell from the sky just now, I learned it from you, teacher~”
“Ga…”
The immense mental shock caused the Sword Saint to momentarily lose consciousness! And in that brief moment…
“Though it’s quite troublesome, I really don’t want to be disturbed by unnecessary people~”
“She” plunged the giant sword into the ground, and immediately… a mass of pitch-blackness erupted from the bloodied body, as that “body” collapsed rapidly, sending the chaotic substance flying towards the elven army behind the Sword Saint!
Chaos encompassed everything; there was no sound, no resistance, and it felt as if time itself had barely passed. In this silence, as Sword Saint Ludwig jolted awake from his earlier surprise, he realized: his unscathed aide was lazily striding back to the giant sword, gripping the hilt with both hands, and after a moment of tugging, finally pulled the giant sword free.
“It smells a bit like sweat, but this elf is much cleaner than the last one~ Just a bit weak, sigh… the quality of the elven army chosen by the kingdom really isn’t great.”
Sword Saint Ludwig felt as if his throat was being choked! Because, upon finally recognizing the identity of the “chaos” before him, he couldn’t help but feel suffocated by the sheer impossibility of the situation.
“Ei… Ederel?”
“Mm~ This time you finally got it right, Sword Saint.”
“What… what have you done!?”
The Sword Saint roared, for it was simply a coincidence that behind the monster before him lay a silent, desolate “dead city.”
“How troublesome~ Could you ask in a more orderly manner? If you’re talking about the city, I wouldn’t know~ The main city is being handled by my older sister, and the other lord city is where my younger sister is staying. As for me, I came from the lord city on the left side because I was bored~”
“Shut up! I’m asking about you!”
Perhaps it was out of anger, or perhaps just fear, but in the next moment, Sword Saint Ludwig had already drawn his sword.
“What exactly are you…”
“Me? Strange, didn’t I say I would come? I’ve been waiting for you, Sword Saint. Along the way, I even encountered a brave hero who said he wanted to ‘exterminate’ some monster~ Look, look, this is the loot; to be honest, his sword is surprisingly quite useful~”
“……”
“Of course, all of that was just incidental. The least troublesome thing for me is still you, Sword Saint.”
In the guise of his own aide, speaking such words before him, the Sword Saint felt as if he was being “watched” from all directions, sending chills down his spine.
“After all, what I’ve been waiting for is our ‘duel.’ Because these current bodies are far too fragile, I am more looking forward to your body, which is perfect in both talent and training. So, I want to take you away.”
“What…”
“If you lose, your body will belong to me. Of course, if I lose, then aren’t you just incredibly powerful? Ah, by the way, let’s consider this my graduation test, since you’re the teacher and should impart your knowledge generously~ Only this time, what you’re imparting is your body~ So, what do you think? I find this duel quite fair, Master Sword Saint.”
Sword Saint Ludwig could no longer endure.
“You monster! What curse have you been afflicted with!”
“Curse? Perhaps. But for us, it might be a ‘blessing.’ After all, my wish for power finally has a chance to be realized~ The surroundings are fine, the timing is perfect. Master Sword Saint, would you like some music? Just like when you taught me swordsmanship before. Anyway, I’ll place a magic stone here~”
In the next moment, Ludwig clearly saw: his “aide,” who only had a single skill in martial arts, had opened a space akin to another dimension and tossed a magic stone that was emitting a soprano voice onto the ground beside him.
“Don’t you think today’s date is quite fitting for our duel? Regardless of the outcome, it can unfold in such a beautiful place filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers.”
At this point, Sword Saint Ludwig was certain: what stood before him was not the Second Princess, but a chaotic monster. So…
“For the kingdom, I will tear you to pieces!”
“Hmm~ Your attitude is not troublesome at all~ I’m very much looking forward to how your body will perform. And then…”
The giant sword in his hand suddenly split into twin swords, the blades stirring up dust, even slicing through the magic stone on the ground, accompanied by a harsh noise from the damaged stone, as the monster swung down with its sword!
“Give·it·to·me!!”
——
Everyone, this volume ends here. There will only be a shorter .5 volume updated, so please look forward to it.
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