novelraw Chapter 983: New Teammate
Chapter 983: New Teammate
"I wouldn't say we deify him. Yes, it's all true, not some fabrication. For a mortal capable of wielding divine power, he is undoubtedly a legend, a hero, and we shouldn't demand too much of him..." — Hunter Wheeler, Exorcist.
"Although Lu Li is a household name, he is not yet officially a 'legendary exorcist' within the Exorcist Association... This is due to strict protocols, much like how a worker can't simply become the boss overnight... Of course, that doesn't stop us from considering him a legend and placing our hopes in his future." — Count Flay Adler.
"Perhaps I should throw some cold water on this... We cannot count on Lu Li's help, nor can we covet his power. Even back in the Ancient Era, he couldn't change the course of events, and certainly not now, at this darkest of times. Even a deity can only protect itself, and he, for all his accomplishments, is merely a man. To survive in this dying world, we must rely only on ourselves."
"He perfectly fits our image of a hero. Like a hero from a fairy tale, a brave soul overcoming hardships and vanquishing foes. Just think about it: he killed an evil god, slayed an evil spirit, and perished alongside Silence... Though Silence did not die, it became the Hour of Silence, no longer destroying our future. Lu Li also miraculously returned, gathered companions, journeyed beyond the bounds of human civilization in search of old friends, then shook the Old Sewer to its core, defended Winnelag from a descending Ancient God, thwarted the conspiracy of Winnelag's Pope, and finally, befriended an ancient god from the river of time itself, ultimately opening up a pure land bathed in sunlight... When all other lights were fading and the darkness gathered, he was the only one left shining." — Otis Kuhn, scholar.
"Elegant, handsome, mysterious, rational... I would use every praiseworthy word I can think of for Lu Li. His deeds need no retelling, his legend needs no memory—he is a part of history itself. And most importantly, he is alive." — Flakimir Rolens, Dean of the University of Claire.
...
"There are rumors that Lu Li was involved in the incident with the infamous vengeful spirit, Michelle. I don't believe it, but if it were true, I'd like him even more. Didn't those who perpetrated the violence get what they deserved? I suspect some schemer wanted to tarnish Lu Li's reputation, but I don't buy it. An exorcist shouldn't be a hypocrite, especially not a legendary one, and villains and fools must reap what they sow." — Peter Palat, humanist.
...
"...He is very young, I mean... inexperienced. Back then, he even thought the ghost he was seeing was a mental illness and came to me for help. He's the absolute protagonist, isn't he? A few months ago, he knew nothing, and a few months later, he became a legendary hero known to all... I think Mr. Lu Li's talent was already apparent back then. He told me about flying steel monsters, about how people could talk to each other from thousands of miles away; it was like a divine revelation. Lu Li predicted fragments of the future... Incredible, isn't it? He foresaw it all before it happened, but sadly, even he couldn't prevent everything. When the darkness comes, only a deity can..."
..."He wasn't like this at first. He opened a detective agency, and you wouldn't believe it, but he even had a dark sense of humor back then. But rationality was always with him. I never saw him smile or show any other emotion... It's not an illness; I see it more as rationality, an extreme rationality, a mind devoid of emotion. But Lu Li wasn't like that from the start. Um... I think at first, he was like a cream cake. Then, fruit was added to the cream cake. And then—meaning now—the fruit is gone, and he's become a cake covered in a layer of chocolate..."
...
"Something interesting about Lu Li? Does the fact that he loves money count? Not in a greedy way, but I saw that Lu Li was desperate for money back then. Haha, just like all of us in our youth, he hustled to make a living. He seemed more real, more alive. But I don't think it was just about the money. If you put Lu Li on a pedestal, you might think he wanted to help people suffering from anomalies, that he wanted to find the truth."
...
"He was very kind to everyone, especially children. The children from the Sailor Street district loved following him around, because every time Lu Li went out shopping, he would share something with them, and sometimes he would buy candy just for them. If Lu Li knew the children were still alive, he would be very happy."
...
"That was the sweetest candy I've ever eaten..."
...
"'...Who would have thought an abandoned house would attract a legendary exorcist? He wasn't one back then, but I knew early on that he would eventually become a legend! He left such a deep impression on me, I still remember so much. He even had a ghost companion...' My father often told me this, and also about a commission from Lu Li... I don't know what the commission was; everything vanished when my father died in Belfast."
...
"Who would have believed Lu Li could be such a cheapskate? He was meticulous about money, and when he felt he'd taken a loss, he would pester you endlessly to get some of it back until he turned a profit—despite that, I have to admit he truly had a charm that inspired trust." — an exorcist who wished to remain anonymous.
...
Fudot was engrossed in a book titled "The Legendary Exorcist". In the bottom right corner was the note: "Second Edition".
As calm, reassuring footsteps approached, Fudot looked up and unnaturally snapped the book shut, covering the title.
Lu Li sat down across from Fudot and regarded her calmly.
Few could remain composed under the gaze of those deep, black eyes, which were like dark pools. Fudot turned her head slightly, avoiding his gaze:
"My application for advancement has been approved. I'll be moving to the middle courses tomorrow."
"I will inform the Holy Light Squad."
After his words, an awkward silence settled over the table.
"...There's nothing else. You... you can go!" Fudot blurted out, unable to stand the awkwardness.
Lu Li gave a slight nod, leaving behind a wooden box containing an eyeball.
"Opening the wooden box will summon the Merchant. You can use it for trade or to send messages."
As a future new teammate, Fudot was entitled to receive the eyeball. And after Vita found the fourth Merchant in the Museum of Foreign Races, the pressure of transporting supplies to Winnelag was significantly reduced, allowing Lu Li to open a new "trading post".
After Lu Li left, the students who had been afraid to approach began to chatter and surrounded her, making the library as noisy as an assembly hall.
"Are you two on a date?"
...
Lu Li returned from the Crown Level library, which was bathed in bright sunlight, to the dark but cozy common room.
"Quick, go talk to Kiruet."
Yeger, who had been anxiously awaiting Lu Li's return, hurried over and warned him in a low voice.
"What happened?"
Lu Li looked toward the back of the common room, where Kiruet was clearing Margaret's bed.
"She's going to clear out Margaret's bed to give it to the newcomer..."
Even Lu Li could see a certain change in Kiruet's actions, a kind of resolve.