novelraw Chapter 60: Miss Afuduo, You Dont Want Your True Identity Exposed, Do You?
Chapter 60: Miss Afuduo, You Dont Want Your True Identity Exposed, Do You?
Chapter 60: Miss Afuduo, You Don’t Want Your True Identity Exposed, Do You?
“There’s no problem with the samples themselves…”
This quantity was child’s play to produce.
But… Staring at the so-called Holy Light Stone in his hand—milky white, flawless as jade, faintly radiating a sacred aura—Lin Wei couldn’t help but frown in confusion.
He scrutinized the stone for a long moment before finally voicing his doubt.
“But what’s the point of using Holy Light Stones to infuse potions with holy power? I’ve never heard of these having any particular effect on demons.”
“No?” Nerinette replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “That’s what the Demon Research Department next door says.”
“They claim demons are a godless, inherently evil race, tainted by contact with heretical gods.”
“So, to them, any potion imbued with holy light is basically poison. The medicinal effects still work, but the holy energy alone is enough to make demons wish they were dead.”
“The Holy Church’s stance is: if these potions get stolen again, better no one uses them than let the demons get their hands on them… Of course, we have to control the dosage—too much holy light could alter the potion’s properties, which would be a headache.”The reasoning was so absurd that Lin Wei almost thought Veya herself might as well be the next Pope.
Did that so-called Demon Research Department actually use real demons for their experiments?
Lin Wei’s mouth twitched, and he fell silent, unable to process it all.
After all his years as Demon Lord, this was the first time he’d heard such nonsense.
Never mind whether demons were truly “inherently evil”—from the world’s perspective, they were just another ordinary race.
Their faith was different, their lifestyles were different, and, sure, their biology was a bit unusual.
There were bigger differences between them and beastkin or humans. Besides, the demon gods they’d once worshipped had, for various reasons, died out ages ago.
But… even if you added holy light, it had absolutely no suppressive effect.
In fact, a small amount of holy light actually accelerated wound healing. That principle held true for demons as well.
It wasn’t just a theory—he’d personally tried adding holy light to potions from time to time.
“I understand.”
But… what did any of this have to do with him, anyway?
Lin Wei quickly decided not to waste any more thought on it. He wasn’t the Coalition Army’s commander; if something went wrong, it would be the Demon Research Department’s mess to clean up.
“I’ll have the five sample potions ready for you by this evening.”
“But right now, I need to find a place to stay. So, can I take the materials with me and bring the finished samples back later?”
Making just a handful of potions was hardly any trouble at all.
Still, given how many people were around, Lin Wei figured it would be better to find somewhere quiet and get it done quickly.
Otherwise, being forced to brew potions slowly and methodically in public would be nothing short of torture.
“No problem! I’m not picky about the timing, as long as I get the samples.”
“How about I give you enough for eight batches? Or, if you’re worried about the pressure and the risk of mistakes, just take ten sets of materials. Don’t stress about the numbers—everyone knows there’s always some loss in potion-making.”
Nerinette’s eyes sparkled, her suggestion practically written all over her face.
“I mean, failing once or twice out of five attempts is perfectly normal, right?”
“How about… you just give me six sets of materials?” Lin Wei countered, unable to hide his eagerness to pocket the extra supplies.
Damn, it was tempting to claim that loss for himself!
But as a resident still in the probationary period, Lin Wei really didn’t dare take any risks until everything was safe and settled.
After all, if this woman got exposed, at worst she’d just be detained for a while. But if he were subjected to a thorough investigation, there was a good chance some inconvenient truths would come to light—then it’d be far more than just a minor issue.
If he wasn’t worried about his assets being traced back to suspicious origins, he would’ve already used his skills to rob the Empire blind from the inside.
Why bother working so obediently and saving up to buy a fief, anyway?
“Alright, I’ll give you an extra set to cover any losses. See you this evening—this job’s in your hands, Mr. Lin Wei!”
Say what you will, but this department head really did give off the vibe of trying to drag him into something.
Still, she was decent—at the very least, she trusted him a lot. Maybe it was because she’d been impressed by his strength.
“Sounds good. See you tonight, Nerinette.”
He quickly packed up the materials, bundling them together.
Waving goodbye, Lin Wei strode toward the gates, leaving the academy grounds behind.
◇
By now, the noon sun poured down, brightening the entire sky. The air was thick with the scent of greenery, perfectly complementing the scholarly atmosphere of the academy.
Passing through the vast central courtyard and heading out the main gate, he was greeted once again by the familiar bustle of the city streets.
“Hmm… I need to find a place to stay, but where exactly should I start looking?”
Faced with an area he’d barely set foot in before, Lin Wei fell into silent contemplation.
Aside from Veya, his only acquaintance in the capital was the ever-wandering Saintess, Miss Yalis.
Unfortunately, he’d forgotten to arrange a way to contact her when they last parted. And going straight to the Holy Light Department to look for someone… well, that felt a bit too much like walking right into a trap.
After all, Lin Wei couldn’t be sure whether his appearance—so utterly indistinguishable from an ordinary person—would really keep him from being recognized.
So far, it seemed that neither the Grand Judgement Knight nor the Saintess possessed that kind of ability.
But what about someone of even higher standing—say, the current useless Pope, or that legendary Archbishop?
“At this point, I might as well get something to eat first.”
He casually tossed the bundle of potion ingredients into a pocket dimension conjured by spatial magic, clapped his hands, and quickly zeroed in on a row of street food stalls before strolling over.
As the Empire’s famously bustling capital, the city naturally boasted cuisine from all over the world.
If only they had all the right spices and cooking techniques—otherwise, the retired Demon Lord conquering another world with gourmet food would have made for a great story.
“I’ll have a bowl of rice with meat, the vegetable soup of the day, and your house special stuffed flatbread…”
He ordered some familiar, everyday fare.
Settling by the window, Lin Wei quietly took in the sights of the imperial capital.
Most of the passersby on the busy street wore neat, well-tailored clothes. Occasionally, squads of gleaming armored guards would march past, lending the city a palpable sense of safety and order.
But beyond that—hidden deep in the alleys—he caught glimpses of ragged figures being violently driven out of this prosperous district, little more than refugees.
On the other hand, beastkin—often pressed into slavery—could walk these streets openly now, a testament to the capital’s remarkable inclusivity.
Otherwise, that Catkin woman yesterday wouldn’t have been eligible to seek employment at the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy.
“What was her name again…”
Lin Wei pondered for a moment, genuinely curious how that woman had managed to get into the capital in the first place.
“Afuduo?”
“Huh? I’m right here.”
The sudden response startled Lin Wei, making him jump.
He whipped his head around, only to see a familiar figure in a mage’s robe sitting brazenly at the next table—none other than Afuduo herself.
The table before her was piled high with an impressive array of dishes, a veritable feast, though there was only one set of utensils.
Her face, which had been glowing with excitement, instantly stiffened the moment their eyes met.
A faint flash of green flickered in her pupils.
The next second—
Miss Afuduo shot upright, snatched a piece of bread from the table, and spun as if to bolt.
Unfortunately, she didn’t even have time to move before Lin Wei’s voice froze her in place.
“Don’t even think about running. If you try it, I promise you’ll face some very serious consequences.”
“After all… Miss Afuduo, you wouldn’t want your true identity exposed, would you?”