novelraw Chapter 236 : Chapter 236
Chapter 236 : Chapter 236
Volume 4, Chapter 24 – Drenched in Blood
Even now, having regained a significant portion of her memories, Teresa still couldn’t figure out the instigator’s motive.
The prejudice she once held toward the elves had vanished like the gloom that once shrouded her memories. Now, she truly couldn’t comprehend how a traitor—someone who helped outsiders harm their own kin—could have appeared among her own people.
Though it might sound a bit biased, elves—while proud—were, for the most part, kind by nature. Their care for one another wasn’t rational; it stemmed from a deep, instinctual connection rooted in their bloodline.
No matter how deep the discord, Teresa refused to believe that an elf would draw swords over it, let alone harm their homeland.
She believed every one of her people was good and loved their home. None of them would ever do such a thing.
Elves were pure. They didn’t have the malicious scheming of humans, nor the tendency to profit at others’ expense. How could they possibly commit such heinous acts?
Rather than believe in a traitor, Teresa was more inclined to believe it was an accident—a tragedy born of some high-ranking official’s mistake or unintended action.
It was to uncover the truth that Teresa had to go to Ruglian—to confront those who had been there, to speak face-to-face with those involved.
Their departure for Ruglian was set for three days later. That time would be used to rest and fully prepare all necessary supplies.
No one objected to this schedule. Astrid never argued with Teresa—whatever Teresa said went. Yimi, whose homeland and the Sacred Tree of the Elves were suffering in Ruglian, naturally wanted to go as soon as possible. Felicia, the battle-mad royal daughter, was raring to test her strength post-breakthrough to see whether she could hold her own deep within Ruglian.
Only one small cat girl showed visible dismay. Upon hearing that they were leaving in just three days, Wenfu’s shimmering eyes grew watery.
“Umm… meow… do we have to leave so soon?”
“What are you talking about, little Wenfu? The final exam is the practical combat test in the Demon Realm. So whether we like it or not, this trip to Ruglian is inevitable. Since we can’t avoid it, what’s the difference between going now or later?” Felicia patted Wenfu’s little head.
“Uu… m-meow… that makes sense, but… it’s still a bit too soon…” Wenfu fidgeted with her maid apron. Her memories of Ruglian weren’t pleasant: one time she was mind-controlled to stray from the group, another time to attack her teammates. Even though nothing bad ultimately happened, those incidents left her with lingering trauma.
“Can’t we go later?” she murmured quietly. She didn’t let the others hear—just venting to herself. She knew she couldn’t delay the entire team’s plans just because of her.
She was already no more than a non-combat mascot and cook. If she became a burden on top of that, she couldn’t forgive herself.
“What’s wrong, little Wenfu? Do you have any questions?”
“No, not at all!” Wenfu quickly replied when she noticed Teresa’s attention had turned to her.
“Oh? But I remember last time we traveled, you got blisters on your feet, didn’t you?”
“Huh? I think so… but it’s nothing serious, meow.” Wenfu didn’t understand why Teresa suddenly brought that up—until the latter smirked knowingly and pulled out a pair of thick-soled, yellow duck-themed children’s shoes.
“Considering that, I bought you and Yimi each a pair of thick-soled trail shoes—perfect for cross-country trekking and hiking. Very versatile. A bit stuffy, but super protective.”
“Eh?! You’re so thoughtful, Teresa! Thank you~” Wenfu was clearly overjoyed with the ducky design and lovingly examined her new shoes.
Yimi peeked from behind her book with her watery eyes, only to deliberately act indifferent and set the book down as if preparing to leave.
“Yimi, don’t run! Yours are right here too. Try them on so I can exchange them if they don’t fit!”
“I don’t want them. You can keep them for yourself.” Yimi’s tone was firm and resolute.
This time, she wouldn’t cross her line. She refused to accept these childish fashion choices again!
“…What did you just say?”
“...I’ll kill you one day.”
Her tough façade crumbled in less than a second. Yimi muttered symbolically in protest, then reluctantly walked over to Teresa and took the shoes, putting them on with an unwilling expression.
“Mm-hm, very cute.”
Despite Teresa’s praise, Yimi wasn’t happy at all. She glanced at Wenfu, who was already joyfully changing into her new shoes, eyes sparkling.
Was she now in the same tier as Wenfu within the team?
It wasn’t about hierarchy—but Yimi couldn’t accept being lumped together with Wenfu as a “mascot.”
She was over four hundred years old, thank you very much!
Her eyes brimmed with grievance—like a four-hundred-year-old child sulking.
With departure approaching, the frugal Wenfu began packing her little backpack: iron pot, spatula, portable cooking stand, fuel—everything essential for cooking.
As for weight—no problem. With Felicia around, no matter how heavy, she could carry it all with one hand. She alone bore the team’s entire carrying capacity.
“Just toss everything you’re bringing in here.” Felicia produced a large sack from who-knows-where and opened it casually. “Whatever you think might be useful—just throw it in. I can carry it.”
So Wenfu’s entire chef set, tent, water bottle, foldable chair, utility knife—all got tossed in at once.
Yimi thought for a moment and bundled up the books she usually read in the library, adding them to the pile.
This wasn’t a picnic—but she didn’t want to feel bored during downtime.
Seeing Yimi packing books, Astrid considered something briefly, but ultimately gave up the idea.
The three days of prep flew by. Despite Wenfu silently praying the time would pass more slowly, it rushed by like flowing water.
While most students were still attending classes, Sun-Moon Radiance had already finished their coursework and once again set off for Ruglian.
It wasn’t their first time passing through Coleman Forest.
[Floral Whisper: Eternal Renewal] had taken the form of a bracer, coiled around Teresa’s wrist. The golden-haired elf girl, in school uniform, walked at the head of the group, flanked by Astrid. Wenfu and Yimi, being the Divine Child and Shaman, were positioned safely in the center, while Felicia brought up the rear—laden with luggage and even dragging a giant sword—yet still calm as ever.
Two Divine Princesses led the front. Felicia, the "cargo truck," secured the rear—ensuring the two non-combat members were well-protected.
Yimi didn’t care too much. Ruglian was just the old land she used to live in. She’d been back and forth plenty of times. But Wenfu was different. She viewed Ruglian as a savage, dangerous place. Even protected like cheese between two slices of bread, she couldn’t feel safe. As soon as they entered Coleman Forest, she kept glancing around nervously, arms crossed tightly, her tail flicking anxiously behind her.
Unlike before, Coleman Forest was eerily quiet. These days, it felt like a deep pool with a giant beast lurking beneath.
Sensing the atmosphere, Sun-Moon Radiance grew tense. Astrid’s sharp senses had already guided her hand to her curved blade. Felicia’s gaze swept the surroundings, missing no spot suitable for ambush.
It was unnervingly silent.
Before entering the thickets, they could still hear a few birds. Deeper in, only the sound of their own footsteps on the grass and the dragging of a greatsword remained.
“Far ahead—there’s the smell of blood,” Yimi said, eyes glued to her book. Having fully taken over Dylin’s former role, she didn’t even lift her head. Sensing the growing tension, she added, “No living beings. The blood’s from yesterday—mostly dried.”
“Next time, say the whole thing up front.”
“And don’t read while walking. It’s bad for your eyes.”
“Elves’ eyesight doesn’t degrade. Give it back.” Yimi scowled as Teresa confiscated her book, glaring fiercely.
“Even so—what if you bump into something or trip?” Teresa tossed the book to their walking storage unit (Felicia).
“You’re not my mom!”
“But you are my subject.” Teresa smiled sweetly and poked Yimi’s forehead. “It’s my duty to keep you safe.”
“...I’ll kill you one day.” Yimi muttered, defeated once again.
The group moved on. Yimi, no longer reading, crossed her arms and sulked.
“Yimi, don’t be sad~ Here, Wenfu has a lollipop for you.” Wenfu offered a delicately wrapped candy from her pouch, reluctantly swallowing before handing it over.
She’d brought it from home and had been saving it.
“No need. You keep it.” Yimi saw right through her and didn’t want candy—especially not from Wenfu.
If she accepted candy from a kid, didn’t that make her a kid too?
They reached the bloodstain Yimi had predicted. The smell was now so strong that even Felicia—human—could detect it.
So much blood had soaked the ground red, but there were no corpses—clearly they’d been cleaned up.
“This blood… it’s all from Beastmen.” Yimi activated [Divine Appraisal]. Though still annoyed about her book, she took the task seriously.
“No traces of human, elf, or any other blood.”
“Another Beastman civil war?” Felicia had encountered fleeing Beastmen in Coleman Forest before she even enrolled. Back then, she already found it strange—why would Beastmen from the same clan hate each other so deeply?
“Seems so. From what you’ve all said, this kind of thing has been frequent lately,” Yimi analyzed. “My reasonable guess is that Ruglian is unstable. The Beastman tribes are clashing for some unknown reason.”
“Is it really just tribal infighting?” Teresa spoke up. “If that’s all it is, why now? Why not sooner or later? Why at this exact moment?”
Last time they visited Ruglian, it wasn’t like this. There was no sign of Beastmen turning on each other.
“You’re saying… it’s related to you leveling that forest?” Yimi caught Teresa’s meaning. Perhaps this all stemmed from the destruction of the Forest of Gluttony.
“That’s the only variable.”
As of now, they still had no idea what had really happened. They could only keep moving forward.
The closer they got to Ruglian, the stronger the stench of blood became. Everyone frowned.
Ruglian had always been a land of chaos. The sudden outbreak of civil strife only deepened its eerie mystery.
At the edge of the forest, the sun dimmed.
“Far ahead—clashing weapons.” Yimi’s expression hardened as she bit down on the lollipop she did end up taking from Wenfu.
“The blood scent is strong. Two groups.”
The team exchanged glances.
“Do we go?”
“Let’s take a look.” Teresa walked at the very front, deliberately distancing herself from her teammates. Her strength was now in a different league—safer to engage enemies alone.
Once out of the forest, the elves’ senses weakened, but Yimi still used her superior mental prowess to extend [Divine Appraisal], scanning for life signs and energy fields.
“Looks like we’re just in time for the main act,” she muttered. No explanation needed—the bloodbath was overwhelming.
Wenfu, terrified, shuffled behind Felicia and clung to her soft, muscular thigh.
But she had no need to fear. The two groups of Beastmen clashing in the nearby gully hadn’t even noticed them—and even if they had, they wouldn’t care.
They were too busy slaughtering each other.
If elven combat was magical bombardment, and human combat was clashing armor—then Beastmen combat was brutal, bone-breaking savagery.
A heavy battle axe slammed into a skull. A spiked club mashed a face, cracking bones and scattering teeth in a mist of blood. Spears pierced guts, dragging intestines out—gore splattering everywhere.
It was pure, raw violence—Beastmen nature laid bare in a single battlefield tableau.