novelraw Chapter 470: Earthen Goblin
Chapter 470: Earthen Goblin
On the seemingly ever-unchanging continent, tiny little creatures flickering weakly beneath the ground, like blinking eyes, carefully and vigilantly watched their surroundings. It was as if some terrifying creature had suddenly appeared in this traditionally quiet wilderness.
The creatures residing in the southern part of the Dragon Continent were very familiar with this kind of creature that liked to bury its body under the ground. Legend has it that these adorable little things were one of the creatures created very early on by the great Chief God Ramastia. They are called "Earthen Goblins" and like to dig burrows under loose soil.
Although named after the Earth—a substance of great virtue that carries all things—their courage is actually the smallest among the four types of Goblins. Whenever living creatures passed by, they would hide under the dirt in extreme fear, yet couldn't resist poking out a pair of blinking eyes to look.
At this moment, the southern tip of the Dragon Continent was peaceful and quiet; only a gentle breeze blew past. It seemed their vigilance was entirely futile effort.
Thus, after several seconds of silence, adorable creatures looking like oversized chocolate beans, round and chubby with a pair of bean-sized milky-white eyes, slowly drilled out from the dirt one by one.
"Jiji!"
They greeted each other. Their pitch-black, potato-sized bodies hopped up and down in place. From a distance, it looked like a pitch-black patch; those unaware might even think the ground was jumping.
However, exactly at the same time and moment, the jumping for joy Earthen Goblins suddenly discovered a shadow on the ground constantly expanding until it covered more than half of them.
They all turned their heads to look toward the sky, only to see a levitating wooden boat rapidly diving down from the firmament. At the stern stood an Angel wearing a white skirt, her halo crooked, laughing maniacally.
"Passengers, the 'Helaire' has arrived at the destination on schedule. Currently, the surface temperature is optimal... Ah, look quickly! Looking down from the lower right of the wooden boat, you can also see the adorable local specialty of the Dragon Continent; they are called Earthen Goblins.""Jiji!"
Following the abrupt landing of the wooden boat, the immense force sent the screaming, fleeing "oversized chocolate beans" on the ground flying far away one after another. But fortunately, their vitality was like this vast continent—basically very hard to kill. Fisher still remembered that in the future, after the Mother Goddess split the Dragon Continent into two, this group of Earthen Goblins was still hopping around on the lands of the Southern Continent.
"Boom rumble!"
With a loud crash, the slender wooden boat violently smashed into the ground, dragging an extremely long tail-mark on the surface.
Speechless, Fisher grabbed Asuka Karasawa, who was about to fly out beside him. He turned around and glared fiercely at Helaire, asking.
"Could you not land a bit gentler? When we went to the Tree Continent, couldn't we land slowly?"
Hearing this, Helaire's expression seemed somewhat troubled. Subsequently, she looked at Fisher with a pitiful expression, acting coquettishly.
"But, would that still be considered an emergency crash-landing?"
"..."
Fisher was already too lazy to debate with Helaire about why it absolutely had to be an "emergency crash-landing." Since even if he asked, there would only be more fallacious reasoning, he might as well just drop it.
"Where are we?"
Fisher glanced at the vast, boundless wilderness around them. He only saw a broad river within it, but didn't spot the place called the "Ideal State" with his naked eye.
Gou Wen coughed and jumped down from the wooden boat. He said to Fisher.
"The Dragon Continent has three parts in total. The southernmost peninsula shaped like a tail is also called [Dragon Tail Island]. The middle continent with the most living beings is called [Dragon Heart Continent]. And the northernmost continent across the sea from the Dragon Heart Continent is called [Snowlands]. The Dragon God generally doesn't govern his territory much, so the living beings here basically grow wildly."
"There are many settlements and nations of living beings on the Dragon Heart Continent, and much fewer on Dragon Tail Island. This occurs because when the Dragon God Fafnir returns from the Crevice to rest, he frequently digs a hole randomly on Dragon Tail Island and burrows into it to sleep for a long time; it's like an earthquake every time. The nation 'Ideal State' built by that Transferred Person is on Dragon Tail Island. We should also be on Dragon Tail Island, otherwise we wouldn't see Earthen Goblins."
It had to be said, Gou Wen, this Whale-kin, was indeed worthy of being a traveling doctor Marquis Bai invited to treat the Elf King; in this team, excluding Helaire who was constantly slacking off, only he could serve as a suitable guide. Fisher didn't belong to this era, Asuka Karasawa and Mikhail were transmigrators and didn't know much about this either. As for Nekelia... uh, she was a bit too dazed, hardly speaking even in the Tree Continent.
Fisher guessed that the Dragon Tail Island at this moment was probably the future Southern Continent. Or rather, a part of the future Southern Continent. Since the term "Snowlands" was simply too obvious, it was highly likely the place where the Phoenix Race fled with their entire clan in the future, whereas the Dragon Heart Continent was the West Continent inhabited by humans.
Afterwards, he thought of an interesting matter. He had once obtained a scroll recording the location of the [Desire's Abyss] where Demons lived from the Demi-Human Completion Handbook by researching Eliog. From there and from Eliog's mouth, Fisher generally knew that ancient Demons lived in the Southern Continent.
But right now, there were no Demon-kin here. When did they appear and reside in the Southern Continent then?
They prepared to pause here slightly for a night, as it was also about to get dark anyway. Entering the Ideal State tomorrow morning would be more appropriate.
According to Helaire, the Elves had actually completely surrounded the exterior of Dragon Tail Island, and many surveillance traps had been planted near the Ideal State. It was hard to say whether the World Tree had recovered from the pain of losing a child at this moment, but Helaire and Pandora both believed that once the Elves sent the Elf King Bing that Fisher killed into the reincarnation ritual, they would devote themselves entirely to dealing with that Transferred Person thief.
"Karasawa, your ring."
After finalizing the arrangements for the night and everyone's free activities, Fisher called back Asuka Karasawa who was still dry-heaving on the side. Given her normal human constitution, it was indeed somewhat hard to endure Helaire's prank; hence, she still hadn't recovered even now.
"Urgh... Angel Helaire is truly... making me feel like I took an airplane without wearing a seatbelt... I... I haven't even taken an airplane before... Urgh..."
Fisher didn't ask her specifically what an airplane was; he merely looked with concern at her mouth leaking a bit of saliva and asked.
"Need help?"
"I-it's fine, Teacher Fisher... speaking of which, Teacher Fisher shouldn't know what an airplane is, right? It's... a kind of machine that can fly in the sky. Earlier when Helaire spoke, she also sounded exceptionally like a flight attendant on an airplane."
"...Your ring, I've finished carving it."
Fisher smiled faintly and handed the carved ring to her. Unconsciously, she extended her finger and aimed it at Fisher's ring, leaving Fisher stumped. He looked at her, slightly stunned.
And Asuka Karasawa still foolishly glanced at Fisher, seemingly puzzled why he didn't put the ring on. Only a second or two later did she realize something. Face flushed red, she turned her raised finger into an open palm, while her head also drooped lower and lower.
"Sorry... I... I've been watching too many manga and movies... I didn't mean that."
Speechless, Fisher placed the ring in her palm. Following her drooping head and black hair, he coincidentally saw that pair of slightly red earlobes. His heart skipped a beat, but he hurriedly reached out and knocked on her head, seemingly wanting to knock the garbage out of her heart and his own heart.
After knocking, Fisher even bluntly said.
"It's fine."
Although not knowing why dispelling the thoughts in his own heart required knocking the other's head, Asuka Karasawa merely pouted cutely at him. The ring in her palm warmed slightly. Just as she wanted to thank Fisher, the sparkly bad Angel behind Fisher had already walked over smilingly.
Her words that had reached her throat seemed to get stuck like that. Thus, the thanks that should have been clear became as difficult to distinguish as a mosquito's buzz.
"Thank you..."
"Oh my, Teacher Fisher, quickly come help me. Your student Helaire needs your assistance!"
Hearing the exact same "Teacher Fisher," Asuka Karasawa became even more embarrassed. Clutching the ring in her hand, she hurriedly ran backward, mumbling something about "I'm going to practice the magic I just learned."
Fisher didn't use his gaze to chase after her. Instead, he turned his head to view the smiling Helaire behind him, yet saw no one else.
"Where are they?"
"Reporting to Teacher Fisher, Gou Wen went to send a letter to his wife, Mikhail is going outside with Nekelia to find dinner for tonight, and I'm slacking off and resting."
She made her report smilingly and rather improperly like a student. that infuriating appearance made Fisher furious. He rubbed his temples and said in a low voice.
"I don't know where you get the face to tell me you're slacking off and resting..."
"I'm the leader! I have to play a leading role and take leadership responsibility!"
"Aren't you a student?"
Pursuing her lips, Helaire leaned a bit closer to Fisher and whispered in his ear.
"During the day I'm your student, but at night I'm your leader..."
Fisher reached out and grabbed her cheeks, pinching them gently, making her cheeks deform slightly and forcing her to pout. However, not even a second or two later, she took a step back and escaped Fisher's hands.
"Such audacious behavior, daring to treat an Angel of the Mythic Rank this way..."
Helaire said this verbally, but her face wasn't the least bit annoyed. Merely putting her hands behind her back, she levied. From her peripheral vision, she looked at Asuka Karasawa in the distance who was engraving magic but was actually secretly peeking in this direction non-stop.
Fisher didn't notice his student's gaze behind him at all. But Helaire looked over there smilingly, startling her already timid gaze so much that it retreated completely like an Earthen Goblin.
"Speaking of which, when Margaret threatened the Elves, didn't she say she would refuse the entry of any Mythic-Rank existence? Could it be you aren't included in this, or are you not entering with us?"
"What, worried I won't be by your side seven days later?"
Floating in mid-air, Helaire reached out to touch his chin, smilingly saying so.
But Fisher returned a serious expression, asking righteously in return.
"Am I this kind of person?"
"Hahaha..." Helaire was amused. Covering her mouth, she spun a half circle in mid-air, lazily speaking like sitting on a half crescent moon, "I will enter with you all. By pretending to be an existence of the same rank as you, she won't know I'm an Angel."
"That's incorrect. Back then in the Tree Continent, she should have seen the circumstances of our escape. In other words, the truth she deliberately hid from Lord Tao was intentionally shown to us; there's no way she doesn't know your identity."
"Exactly, that's why I have to stay outside for a day and go in tomorrow. I'm very skilled at transforming. I'll use my ability to cover myself, so she won't be able to recognize me... in her eyes, I will be something else."
She lifted her bare foot, once again teasing Fisher's chin. However, Fisher dodged it, even grabbing her ankle, abruptly yanking her down from mid-air and falling into his own embrace.
"Your ability is this miraculous? But she has the Loom of Fate."
"There are still many things you don't know about my abilities... Even if she has the loom, the item of a True God cannot be fully mastered by a mortal like her. Even the World Tree can't do it. If she could truly manipulate the loom freely, she wouldn't threaten the Elves, but would go to war directly with the other party."
Helaire's body was as supple as a cat, and because she hovered in mid-air, she was also as light and nimble as a feather. Lazily stretching her legs in Fisher's embrace, her scattered blue-gold pupils also narrowed comfortably.
"Speaking of which, your rank has risen very quickly; you'll soon reach just before the Mythic stage. Do you still remember the method I told you?"
Fisher touched the water droplet Renee entrusted to him in his embrace. That was exactly the trigger to let him enter the Mythic Rank, and also the tool she prepared for him previously to toss into the Holy Grail to break free from death.
It had to be said, Renee's power truly helped him a lot; the incident before Lord Tao was like this, breaking free from death was like this, even entering the Mythic Rank was like this.
And right now he was currently...
Fisher looked at Angel Helaire in his embrace, who was so lazy she was already starting to get drowsy. He suddenly blinked, but quickly seemed to remember something again, temporarily setting down the throbbing in his heart.
"Oh right, the game you mentioned earlier, specifically? You shouldn't be the type to toss a game aside after wanting to play it, right?"
Mentioning this, some depth and mirth appeared in Helaire's eyes. She merely leaned against Fisher's embrace, yawning and answering.
"Specifically... guess?"
It was the same phrase again. Many things regarding Helaire previously weren't left for him to guess like this, this made him increasingly curious about what the content of this game was.
Therefore, he pinched Helaire's waist, as if forcing her to spill the truth.
"Are you going to tell or not?"
"Ahya, you're so annoying!"
Annoyed by the pinching, Helaire immediately struggled and nuzzled her head in Fisher's embrace. That already crooked halo above her head surprisingly even dodged knowingly. Only after she finished nuzzling did it hang back crookedly onto her head again.
But seeing Fisher still not stopping, she bit her lip and stared at Fisher. Then suddenly she reached out and grabbed the collar of his white robe. That power of the Mythic Rank instantly yanked him before her, followed by a profound kiss placed fiercely on his lips, turning him silent like a punishment.
"Done being restless?"
Helaire released his collar smilingly, then stretched lazily like a cat, leaning her head against his embrace and saying so.
Fisher's heartbeat accelerated from the kiss. Slightly stunned, he subsequently wiped the corners of his mouth. Gnashing his teeth at this Angel in his embrace, but before he could act, he saw her reach out a finger and point to the slowly rising, rather dim moon in the sky.
Fisher didn't understand the meaning. But she opened one eye and closed the other, whispering to him.
"Shush, it's night now. Right now I am the leader. Quiet, be good."
"..."
Fisher stopped speaking, merely speechlessly allowing her to rest in his embrace.
In the distance, Asuka Karasawa had been peeking and peeking, then abruptly saw the explosive kissing scene. Her small face instantly flushed crimson. Although she possessed the corresponding knowledge, witnessing it with her own eyes naturally was still very shocking.
This dealt a considerable blow to her small mind—oh no, high schooler mind—but naturally, what prevailed was mostly curiosity.
What does it feel like to kiss Teacher Fisher?
She couldn't help but lick her lips, thinking to herself.
Ahya, this is too shameless!
Lord Buddha, forgive my impurity, Namo Amitabha...
Wait, that's not right, doesn't the Jodo Shinshu I recite allow one to marry?
The Buddha's name she had just started reciting disappeared again. She raised her head blankly, yet inadvertently caught sight of Helaire acting coquettishly in Fisher's embrace. Her face flushed red again and she lowered her head. This time, as if Mount Tai was pressing down, she didn't dare raise her head again.
Drooping her head lower and lower, she suddenly noticed that at some point, many adorable little creatures full of stars and blinking eyes had appeared beneath her feet and were looking at her.
Those cute creatures adept at hiding looked at Asuka Karasawa, seemingly viewing her as a creature akin to themselves, hence weren't afraid of her at all...
Mm, indeed, they were both Earthen Goblins, in a certain sense.
At this moment, in the darkening firmament, the terrifying-aura-bearing Gabriel carrying Eimhart had also followed their footsteps silently and without a trace to the sky above the Dragon Continent. Reclined above the cloud layer, she held the circular crystal with the phantom baby on her left, and the Eimhart constantly peering downwards on her right.
"Mama, Mama, right below! But I can't see; is there any way for me to see clearer?"
The former Eimhart naturally wouldn't call Gabriel "Mama" so sappily. But ever since he discovered that after role-playing as "Nob," Gabriel treated him exceptionally well, and could even take him out for a spin. Furthermore, this Angel seemed very, very strong; practically walking sideways in the Sanctuary. Even after she left with this sentient Holy Artifact like himself, that fierce and malicious Archangel Michael didn't pursue.
Mm, and then Eimhart discovered that "it smells so good." Now calling her "Mama" left and right didn't carry the slightest bit of guilt; even his signature drake-like voice had softened a few degrees.
Gabriel's face remained largely expressionless. She merely looked rather worriedly at the Eimhart in her embrace who constantly wanted to poke his head out, as if terrified he would fall through the cloud layer.
But precisely as per Eimhart's reason for calling her mother, as long as he called Gabriel "Mother", she seemingly would provide extremely obvious responses.
Gabriel pondered for a moment, then reached out and moved one of the illusory eyes floating behind her to position it in front of Eimhart. Only at the moment that illusory eye floated in front did Eimhart suddenly feel the scene before him clarify significantly, and he could even adjust the focal length.
"Wow, truly very clear!"
Legend has it that the Archangel portraying wisdom, Gabriel, once observed the ground and all things day and night like the stars in the Spirit World. Through such observations, supplemented by her wisdom unrivaled by other living beings in this world, she discovered the rules governing all things and matters, and comprehensively understood many secrets of this world. As such, she was revered by the other Angels and living beings.
Perhaps no one would have imagined that at this moment, Gabriel would lend her arrogant ability to Sir Book Artifact to... ugh, peep?
Excitedly, Eimhart shortened the focal length bit by bit. Finally, seeing the Fisher he had been separated from for so long and yearned for day and night, he was both somewhat eager and somewhat worried.
Don't forget, that damn Baimon was still beside him. What if he was plotted against by Baimon, what should he do?
But fortunately, before leaving, he promised Renee he would no longer be messing with flowers and grass. No matter what, he should...
Thus, in the next second, within the closer and closer field of vision, Eimhart clearly saw Fisher and the Angel in his embrace... Oh, and their gradually approaching lips.
That ambiguous and unrestrained coveting could be seen completely clearly even from ten thousand meters high up, right?
In the next second, Eimhart in Gabriel's embrace turned black-and-white bit by bit. Like a dried corpse drained of its moisture, he stiffened in place, practically entirely unable to control his body as he was about to plummet downwards.
"Nob..."
Seeing this, Gabriel's expression shifted slightly. Immediately reaching a hand out, she caught that Sir Book Artifact who was as stiff as iron, yet convulsing incessantly all over, bringing him back and hugging him into her embrace once again.
"Hoook... Hoook..."
Eimhart gasped constantly in Gabriel's embrace as if struggling with heart angina, seemingly suffering extremely as if having a heart attack.
Oh boy... oh boy!
Separated for so long, naturally, Eimhart felt the first glance was to resolve the pain of yearning.
Even at worst, if he saw the other person failing to change his old habits and flirting with that human girl beside him, Eimhart would merely click his tongue and condemn his actions internally.
And at absolute worst, even if he went mad, suddenly began liking men, and got together with those males beside him... Eimhart would merely frown, wondering if there was a problem with his psychology.
But how could it be... how could it be that fellow?! How could he hook up with that guy?!
This single glance directly caused Eimhart to implode from looking. It was exactly like a heart attack, leaving him unable to catch his breath for a long time. It was simply a traumatic opening act, leaving him in disbelief about exactly what occurred during the time he was absent.
"Hook... Bai..."
Even though Eimhart was struggling for breath, he was still mumbling something in his mouth. However, Gabriel completely couldn't understand. She thought Nob wanted to sleep, and thus lightly rocked him.
"Nob sleepy... Mama will take you back to sleep..."
"No! No! I don't want to go back! This fellow deserving a thousand cuts... Wuwuwu..."