novelraw Chapter 433: Margaret
Chapter 433: Margaret
At this moment, on the exterior of the Phoenix Race's encampment, inextricably not far in the exact opposite direction of Fisher and Asuka Karasawa's previous landing position, a path was artificially separated amidst the dense thicket. Because the vast majority of Elves on the Tree Continent don't require roads; those who truly require roads are invariably the nobles and slaves under their governance.
The life ranks of many among them weren't high, humans especially so, basically relying on quite crude horse carriages for traveling and transporting goods.
And the ruts of various nations were all different in distance. For example, the ruts within the borders of the Wutong Fiefdom were generally around eight feet, relatively spacious, whereas the Tao State further west was six feet, relatively narrower.
At this moment, inextricably numerous people clustered densely surrounding that quite crude eight-foot road, divided into two sections. One section possessed fewer people, roughly around ten, all wearing heavy red and black armor. Excluding the leader possessing the Fourteenth-Tier, the remaining ranks were all around the thirteenth tier, and additionally divided into two Demi-human Races.
One type exhibited a beast's head, possessing a pair of short and sharp small horns atop their heads, a ring of thick white fur piled upon their heads, identically with not a few cyan scales distributed on their faces, appearing quite bizarre; the other type conversely exhibited a human shape on the upper half of their bodies, whereas the lower half was a ring of thick black snake body coiled together, mostly female, uniquely possessing armor on the upper half but lacking any on the lower half.
If Marquis Hiiragi were present, he would definitely highly adore these two Demi-human Races. Yet simultaneously, the armor they wore identically indicated their identities weren't simple.
That black and red armor was the 【Ceremonial Armor】 uniquely qualified to be worn by Ceremonial Officers within the Royal Capital. They were Royal Capital Envoys arriving bearing a mission.
And aside from these ten relatively higher-ranked Royal Capital Envoys, the remaining densely packed crowd shrank at the back, their ranks extremely low. There were not exclusively humans but identically other Demi-human Races, wearing tattered and dirty linen clothing, evidently all slaves.
"Which nation are you from, Wutong Fiefdom?"
That Fourteenth-Tier beast-headed envoy sat upon horseback, casting a disdainful glance at Gou Wen and Mikhail besieged by them in the middle of the road. His gaze primarily rested upon Gou Wen's body for a moment, subsequently withdrawing his line of sight in satisfaction, opening his mouth and inquiring thus.Gou Wen and Mikhail were simultaneously teleported by Helaire not far from the periphery of the Phoenix encampment. Their thoughts identically aligned with Fisher's, both preparing to first head to the Phoenix Race's dwelling before converging. Unexpectedly, halfway there, they bumped into these several Royal Capital Envoys leading a massive cohort of slaves, forced to halt.
Mikhail perceived the other party's contemptuous gaze. The mechanical arm of his right hand brightened for an instant, leaning slightly closer to Gou Wen, whispering,
"What Demi-human Races are these bizarrely shaped ones?"
Gou Wen swept a glance at this ring of two armor-clad Demi-human Races before his eyes, identically sweeping a glance at that densely packed expanse of slaves at the rear, similarly replying in a low voice,
"【Qilin Species】 and 【Black Snake Species】, their ranks are fairly high, they are Ceremonial Officers within the Royal Capital. They ought to have descended to execute some decree from within the Royal Capital. Those slaves were gifted by the Elf monarchs along the way. Currently news within the Royal Capital has become an enigma; estimating they all desire to obtain a tiny bit of something from the mouths of these envoys..."
Mikhail narrowed his eyes, gazing at those slender slaves bound together by chains, subsequently uttering not a single word. And Gou Wen cleared his throat, taking a step forward carrying a gentle smile, stating to those envoys,
"Indeed it is so. Dare I ask what business the envoys have?"
"Presently the King is urgently conscripting all individuals upon the continent approaching the Mythic level to head to the Royal Capital. Your level is suitable, you have been conscripted. After packing up, prepare to set off with us... Is that human beside you your slave?"
That Qilin Species extracted a bundle of Scrolls emitting a faint golden divine light from his armor. The surrounding space twisted bit by bit, revealing the aura of Destiny Rule unique to the World Tree.
Hearing this, a hint of contemplative color flashed across Gou Wen's face, whereas the complexion of Mikhail beside him turned slightly cold. Right when his right arm grew increasingly scorching, Gou Wen, however, patted his shoulder, stating to the envoys before his eyes,
"Several envoys, this is my companion, not a slave. My name is Gou Wen, I am a doctor. I previously went to the Royal Capital in secret to provide medical treatment for your King; estimating you identically don't know the details. Unknown what purpose the Royal Capital holds for summoning our likes, even if I must depart I must first inform my wife of the details."
"We identically don't know the details, you'll know once you go. Cease your nonsense, we additionally must go inform the Phoenix Patriarch to make a trip with us. Lord Wu and Lord Tong say their Patriarch is uniquely one step away from the Mythic Rank."
Hearing this, that Qilin Species shook his head. Gou Wen meticulously swept over his expression; upon confirming he wasn't lying, the gentle smile on his face grew slightly denser.
On the contrary, the Black Snake Species females at the side looked at Gou Wen's handsome face, gentle like jade, and licked their lips. Their slender and bifurcated snake tongues flicked out and retracted, their voices charming and seductive,
"Yo, you're additionally a doctor ah. Doesn't matter, return with us, why concern yourself with what your wife does ah, how can domestic flowers be as fragrant as wild flowers. In the Royal Capital we have many sisters who have fallen ill, uniquely requiring you to give them a treatment ah... Right, entirely forgot to ask, do you know acupuncture?"
"I am already married. Ladies, do not make such jokes." Perceiving the other party's gaze, seemingly bearing tangible substance, Gou Wen frantically straightened his expression, hurriedly emphasizing thus, as if failing to speak thus would incur some severe consequences.
"She Xuan! Enough!" That Qilin Species growled in a low voice, interrupting her improper flirtation, rendering the charming Black Snake Species beside him stalling her expression, curling her lips and very swiftly retreating several steps, speaking no further.
Subsequently, that Qilin Species identically spoke to Gou Wen, "This matter is of utmost urgency, not allowing your refusal. Think carefully before making a decision. You must know, as long as I return to the Royal Capital and speak a word or two to the King, let alone you, even the twin Lords Wu and Tong cannot bear the responsibility."
Gou Wen identically ceased playing around, a hint of contemplation flashing at the bottom of his eyes. His smile remained gentle, uniquely a heavy shadow fell at the corners of his mouth, intentionally mocking,
"Meaning, you intend to concurrently report the slaves you privately accepted from the Elf monarchs to your King? A Ceremonial Officer privately accepting slaves, incompatible with the ritual system, your King will not spare you."
"...What do you understand, these are to be given to Duke Huai, how could we privately retain them?"
"Oh, I still hold some doubts, why aren't you properly serving as a Ceremonial Officer in the Royal Capital, but went to serve Duke Huai like a dog and horse?"
"You court death?"
"Take a guess?"
Witnessing that punch-inviting smile of Gou Wen, unknown if secretly learned from Helaire, that Qilin Species's pupils shrank upon hearing this. In a split second, his blood surged to his head. Fiercely stomping his foot, he leapt off the horseback, intensely unfurling a stable yet seemingly extremely heavy weapon in his hand, smashing towards the Gou Wen before his eyes.
Looking carefully, that seemingly was an Iron Mace with distinct layers, fiercely swung by that Qilin in mid-air, heading toward Gou Wen and Mikhail below.
"Boom!"
Gou Wen's smile didn't diminish. Abruptly reaching out to grab the back of Mikhail's neck, his feet tapped, retreating a considerable distance like water. Perceiving the colossal sound of earth shaking and mountains trembling, in order to not involve Mikhail's ordinary human Constitution, he conveniently gave a push, throwing Mikhail out, whereas he himself stopped steadily atop the densely packed earth fissures.
His right hand probed slightly, a golden liquid very swiftly extending upward, transforming into an extremely short and thin curved blade. Simultaneously, the whale tail behind his back additionally trembled slightly, seemingly representing the activation of a certain ability of his.
Whale-Human Breed Curse: Qi-Viewing Mind's Eye
Effect is, enhancing Gou Wen's observation ability towards details of living creations...
Mm, apart from this, there's nothing else.
Accompanying the activation of the Curse, Gou Wen's eyes abruptly grew profound and obscure. In his eyes, the other party's moving body became invisible bit by bit, displaying itself layer by layer within Gou Wen's eyes.
First skin and flesh, then meridians, and finally a certain indistinct airflow...
Exactly as Gou Wen previously told Fisher, the Blessing and Curse of Wholesale-Human Breed are invariably closely related to the personality traits of that specific Whale-person. Gou Wen is so obsessed with medical skills, inevitably possessing a heart to heal people, therefore whether his Blessing or Curse, they basically lack any direct offensive capability.
However, this equivalently doesn't solely harbor disadvantages. Gou Wen's Curse possesses the lightest burden among all Whale-people; he fundamentally doesn't require any Attendant Sea Beast to help digest the Curse burden. Consequently, he can freely traverse land and Ocean, becoming a slightly famous traveling doctor within the Ocean.
He smilingly looked at that Qilin Species holding the Iron Mace, the Golden Scalpel in his hand mysteriously shaking. Looking carefully, the tip of that scalpel surprisingly shook bit by bit, subsequently extending an extremely fine golden silk thread. Right as the other party was about to raise the Iron Mace anew, that silk thread had already soundlessly pierced through his skin and flesh accompanying the shaking of Gou Wen's fingers.
"Loose..."
Accompanying a gentle quiver of that silk thread, that Qilin Species's legs instantaneously turned soft and clamped together, as if all the energy in his entire body vented out in an instant. The Iron Mace in his hand turned heavy in the blink of an eye, causing his wrist to turn sore, utterly unable to be raised no matter what.
"Wu!"
In a split second, sensations like frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination instantly flooded his heart, causing his entire lower abdomen to ache, as if severely overworked upon the bed for several days and nights.
Gou Wen's gaze was slightly cold, looking at the Essence within his body stirred into a mess by the silk thread. This silk thread couldn't directly vent them, but could block their smoothness, causing the body to mistakenly believe it was depleted, feeling unwell.
"There's deceit, She Xuan!"
That Qilin Species's complexion turned pale, painfully clutching his crotch, as if enduring some pain incapable of being endured by ordinary people, turning his head back with even a somewhat trembling voice to seek aid from his companions behind him.
And the other Qilin Species and Black Snake Species hearing this identically invariably changed expressions, raising their weapons to besiege Gou Wen. Regardless, the rank discrepancy between Gou Wen and them wasn't large; truly fighting, he definitively wouldn't be their opponent.
Gou Wen's complexion turned grave. That minuscule silk thread tugging at that leading Qilin's kidney water remained unchanged. Facing the other party's fierce offensive, he shook his robe, arduously dodging their attacks.
"Buzz buzz!"
No good, too many people, gotta run.
Gou Wen's fingers shook, thoroughly preparing to let go, but behind him were entirely people of equivalent rank, even retreating with all his might was evidently too late.
"Husband, what are you running from?"
Beneath him, that sticky and wet thick snake tail of a Black Snake Species tightly bound and locked his waist. Gou Wen's back instantaneously turned cold, unknown if it was entirely due to the other party's binding or due to her joke-like "Husband".
"I am already married."
Gou Wen smiled bitterly. The tails of three Black Snakes behind him separately bound his waist and both arms, rendering him utterly unable to move, yet he still gritted his teeth and emphasized a sentence thus.
"Aiyo, so observant of husband virtues? Doesn't matter, older sister additionally likes those who have been trained..."
"Zzzt zzzt!"
The several Black Snake Species binding the stationary Gou Wen flicked their snake tongues, seemingly preparing to lick his face. Yet at this critical juncture, they abruptly heard a certain extremely dangerous sound. The side cheeks of the Black Snake Species warmed slightly; twisting their heads to look, uniquely witnessing a scorching blue beam fiercely heading toward their faces.
"Ya!"
They screamed and retreated from Gou Wen. One of them raised her weapon to block, but that raised weapon was effortlessly melted open before that blue beam. That terrifying might directly frightened those Black Snake Species into scattering and fleeing, vigilantly gazing into the distance.
There, Mikhail coldly raised his right hand. Witnessing at this moment, the joints of his mechanical arm spread out bit by bit, revealing a dangerous deep blue radiance from within, merely remaining not the Cardinal light Fisher witnessed later on.
"Mr. Mikhail, many thanks. Didn't expect you to be so fierce ah, couldn't tell at all before."
Panting, Gou Wen hurriedly ran to Mikhail's side, while somewhat disgustedly wiping clean the mucus left on his body by that group of Black Snake Species. Mikhail glimpsed at that Qilin Species far away clutching his lower abdomen with a wet patch beneath him, identically replying with a sentence,
"You aren't bad either."
"I am truly un-adept at combat. Mr. Mikhail, can you resolve them?"
"..."
Mikhail didn't reply. The mental threshold bar represented by the illusory subtitles before his eyes was constantly rising, extremely swiftly rising to around 52% accompanying the utilization of the right hand weapon.
He invariably maintained a cold face, decisively shaking his head and stating,
"Cannot."
"Doesn't matter, escaping kung fu is identically my specialty. Straight ahead is the Phoenix Race's encampment, unclear if Angel Helaire and the others have arrived there or not, but it's best not to lead these people over there."
"Why?"
Compared to Mikhail, Gou Wen was evidently slightly more knowledgeable regarding the crucial points within. He explained,
"Currently the Tree Continent is locked down. Once an outsider from the Sanctuary like Angel Helaire is discovered by the people of the Elf Royal Capital, she definitely won't have a good end, by then we will identically be in much trouble, we just need to run in the opposite direction."
"Mm."
Mikhail nodded, agreeing with Gou Wen's reasoning. Subsequently casting a glance at that Qilin Species far away clutching his lower abdomen and relieving himself on the spot, looking at his resentful gaze, Mikhail then knew the other party wouldn't easily spare the two of them.
The creatures of this world are all highly powerful. Even these beings before his eyes possessing ranks at the thirteenth and Fourteenth-Tier far exceeded the limits of the weapons designed by Siberian Wind Company, causing one to doubt whether the creatures of this world were carbon-based lifeforms at all, let alone Mythic Rank beings like Michael.
Mikhail rubbed that eye within his embrace, seemingly contemplating whether to embed that thing into his Completely Empty eye socket.
"Coming, Mr. Mikhail!"
But contemplation at this moment already appeared superfluous. In the very next second, the complexion of Gou Wen beside him abruptly altered, seemingly realizing something, but the Mikhail beside him conversely reacted slower by more than a single beat.
The pupils of that thoroughly enraged Qilin Species shrank fiercely. Turning sideways and wielding that Iron Mace, the appearance of extreme exertion pulled his silhouette transforming into an afterimage into distortion, arriving before Gou Wen and Mikhail in the blink of an eye.
Dodging was too late, Gou Wen's complexion sank, seemingly about to be struck by that Iron Mace on the spot.
Right at this moment, a spiraling fallen leaf broke through the wind from the rear above that Qilin Species. He identically thought it was some concealed weapon, his action of raising the mace midway identically abruptly stalling, yet too late to do anything but helplessly perceive that concealed weapon float into his clothes...
Mm?
Float?
That Qilin Species stared blankly slightly, rubbing his armor behind him, yet exclusively felt a leaf within that crevice.
A leaf?
"Fisher?! You've arrived!"
The Kou Wen before his eyes displayed a delighted complexion, witnessing several Phoenix Race unfurling giant wings in the sky flying toward this side, his companion Fisher identically residing upon the shoulder of one of the Phoenixes.
Yet before rejoicing for a single second, a scene shocking everyone present occurred.
Perhaps even Nekelia wondered, why did that human throw a tree leaf into the other party's clothes, could it merely be to attract attention?
Very swiftly, she thought wrong.
Witnessing the Fisher beside her carrying a cold face in mid-air and snapping his fingers. Accompanying a bizarre fluctuation entirely un-witnessed by everyone present spreading out, that Qilin Species staring blankly in place fiercely erupted with several dozen gusts of violent wind, blowing open his clothing, armor, and underwear entirely, exposing his furry and soft belly and claws.
That World's Echo triggered by Magic frequently utilized by people millennia later appeared so terrifying at this moment. That night, due to the intense fluctuations of the Death Rule, the Magic engraved by Asuka Karasawa blended insignificantly into it. Now, under the watchful eyes of the masses, everyone perceived the Rules being guided and twisted by the World's Echo.
"Sorcery! Sorcery! This is sorcery!"
That naked Qilin Species shockingly squatted in place holding his head, directly frightened by a remote snap of Fisher's fingers. That white long tail akin to a deer's tail behind his back identically swept uneasily upon the ground. He screamed and twisted his head to look at the Black Snake Species behind him, unexpectedly they identically retweeted successively, not daring to advance.
The Nekelia floating in mid-air identically cast an astonished glance at Fisher, causing himself to become slightly unnatural.
No, isn't this merely a low-ring Magic?
The corresponding rank hasn't even reached the Transcendent rank yet, how come you guys are frightened like this?
Fisher uniquely lacked clarity; the lifeforms of the Tree Continent, influenced by the World Tree, are largely extremely sensitive towards Destiny Rule. And aside from Elves, the Phoenix Race is precisely the most outstanding among them.
Consequently, they faintly perceived the terror of the principles of Magic operation, utilizing Spirit World power un-gazed upon by the deities to pry the World's Echo to alter Rules, causing them all to feel appalled.
"Don't blank out. Them remaining motionless is best, let's head down first before anything else."
"...Mm."
Nekelia's cold face, shattered due to being Filled With Doubt and Suspicion, recovered bit by bit. Accompanying the magical aura calming down bit by bit, she additionally gradually quieted down, responding with a sentence thus.
The scene of Fisher descending bit by bit upon the Phoenix's back faded bit by bit into the distance, simultaneously manifesting at the surface of an extremely deep water-covered abyss situated somewhere on an extremely distant continent currently enveloped in the dark of night.
A blurry figure stood beside the pool. Looking at the image of Fisher's descent projected from within the Water Abyss, upon seeing solely him and a cohort of non-Mythic Rank existences within the image, that figure revealed a tiny bit of a smile,
"Oh, l’ange qui dérangeait était enfin absent (French: That obstructive angel is finally absent)"
Accompanying that figure slowly extending a hand toward the Water Abyss projecting Fisher's silhouette, beneath the Water Abyss, a certain highly shining pale golden Destiny Rule radiance grew increasingly intense. The entire earth trembled slightly. Driven by that Destiny Rule radiance, the immutable Death Rule spanning aeons experienced subjective change for the first time, pouring out in full force akin to a deluge and ferocious beasts, heading toward that unlucky bastard pursued by Death.
Fisher!
Very swiftly, accompanying her remote actions, the ground of the distant Tree Continent fiercely shook violently. Amidst the natural disaster-like earth-shaking and mountain-trembling, the Rule of Death altered once again. Yet that figure minded it not in the slightest, merely staring fixedly at Fisher's silhouette within that Water Abyss.
A second or two later, she whispered beseechingly to a certain person upon the remote opposite shore,
"Et le tuer (Kill him)."
Pausing for a moment, a male voice abruptly transmitted from over there.
"...Mm, Margaret."
(End of this chapter)