"What did you say!" Valger became instantly agitated upon hearing those words.
He didn't care at all whether the man intended to rescue him; he only pressed for an answer with urgency: "My daughter can still be saved? Is that true?"
"That Great Lord promised it personally," the middleman nodded with conviction. "Rest assured, the lord never makes empty promises. If he says she can be saved, there must be a way."
Ansu listened to their conversation from the side, his mind naturally beginning to process the information.
Although he hadn't seen Valger's daughter, he had heard her illness was caused by black magic corruption, similar to the situation with Danielle's husband.
For such a condition, even on his end, he could only rely on the 【inhibiting serum】 to barely maintain stability, while Barcas's so-called "solution" in the original plot... was to subject humans to a necromantic transformation. In truth, he couldn't cure the disease at all.
So Barcas was bluffing.
Ansu wondered how he intended to cover up the lie later. Surely he couldn't just perform a necromantic transformation on Valger's daughter too?
Or perhaps...
A more sinister method surfaced in Ansu's mind.
Perhaps Barcas... had never intended to save Valger's daughter in the first place.
"If That Great Lord can truly save my daughter, I am willing to work for him!" Valger responded with excitement, speaking in rapid succession as if afraid the man might take back the offer. "I am willing to swear loyalty to him!"
"Very good!" The middleman nodded, his tone shifting to one of heart-to-heart sincerity. "Since you are willing to serve the lord, then we are on the same side."
"I won't hide it from you. The sudden changes in the city have disrupted many of the lord's deployments, so we need to wait for the most appropriate moment. Next, the specific plan is..."
"I have one more question." Valger interrupted suddenly, a flicker of rational struggle remaining in his eyes. "Why is That Great Lord going to such lengths to save me? What exactly does he want from me? Is it just... to have me continue my research?"
"What else?" the middleman countered. "The lord admires your talent. Your research is very important to him. So, serve the lord well, and both you and your daughter will have a good life."
Valger's last bit of hesitation vanished. "Fine, I understand."
"Excuse me..." At this moment, Ansu, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up. "Can you take me with you in your jailbreak plan?"
The middleman's gaze slowly turned toward Ansu.
Ansu's face wore a perfectly timed look of eagerness. "I am a mage. Although... although I am not as capable as Mr. Valger, please give me a chance!"
Ansu looked incredibly sincere. "I can also swear loyalty to That Great Lord!"
"Yes, yes!" Freya showed only a small portion of her face, which was filled with nervousness, as she nodded in agreement. "We are both willing to serve That Great Lord! Please take us with you!"
"Of course." The middleman nodded, his gaze scrutinizing Ansu once more.
A frightened young mage with a likely mediocre level of magic; but since he was Valger's friend, it was certainly right to bring him along.
Moreover, Lord Barcas was currently in need of manpower, so having two more wasn't a bad thing. Perhaps this person... could also bring unexpected surprises to Lord Barcas later?
After agreeing to let Ansu's group join, the middleman lowered his voice again and laid out the next part of the plan.
...
It was two in the morning, and the night was as thick as ink.
Under the shroud of Holy Light, the silent line of prisoners trudged with difficulty along a narrow gravel path, their metal chains clashing with a cold, rhythmic sound.
The transport was still managed jointly by the city guards and church clergymen. Since the "troublemakers" among the prisoners who dared to resist had long been filtered out, most of the remaining people had trembling eyes, moving their feet numbly under the pressure of the Holy Light like driven livestock.
Ansu followed behind Valger, quietly looking up and watching the silhouette of the rugged valley ahead.
The secret prison in the south of the city they were just in was merely a transit station; once the prison was full, prisoners would be transported in batches to the western and northern borders, or even beyond the national borders.
Border lords were in a constant state of war and had an almost endless demand for "cannon fodder" they could expend.
The only chance to escape was during the transport.
According to the information revealed by the middleman, when the group passed through Blackstone Canyon—the area ahead where the shadows were deepest—support would appear. That was the ambush point pre-arranged by the Squirrel Party.
"Lord Ansu, just now..."
Freya spoke softly from behind him. "What did you say to Celia at the end? Was it something... that isn't convenient for me to know?"
Ansu looked back at her. He indeed didn't want Freya to know about those last few lines he had exchanged with the Miss Witch.
He hadn't expected Freya to be so sensitive; he had thought she hadn't been paying attention at the time...
"If it's a secret you can't tell me..." Freya blinked. "Then I won't ask."
"Well... there's nothing to hide, really." Ansu's tone was natural, though he only told her half the truth. "It was just some arrangements for subsequent actions."
Freya nodded. "I see..."
She didn't ask any further.
Ansu silently watched her profile, thinking that if the kind and righteous little Holy Maiden heard that he was about to start a massacre—specifically to destroy the Church of Holy Light and wantonly kill every believer of the Holy Light...
That might be a bit too much 'stimulation' for her.
Even if this was just a simulation... for some reason, Ansu still didn't want her to see this side of him.
Perhaps it was because he wanted to maintain a good image in front of her? He didn't want to disappoint her?
As this thought flashed by, he found it a bit subtle himself.
From being a little Holy Maiden tool at the beginning to where they were now after experiencing so much together...
He seemed... to indeed care more and more about Freya's thoughts.
Forget it, now wasn't the time for such things. Ansu silently pondered his future plans.
Before the strongest hitter Celia made her appearance, he would find a reason to let the little Holy Maiden go home and rest obediently...
...
The group continued forward.
Ansu scanned his surroundings again. The rock walls on both sides had become increasingly rugged and towering, the shadows they cast almost merging into one.
They had arrived at Blackstone Canyon.
According to their plan, the ambush point was...
Boom—!
Without warning, a violent explosion tore through the oppressive silence.
Several scorching fireballs accurately slammed into the city guard ranks on both sides of the group. The soldiers didn't even have time to dodge before they were instantly incinerated into black charcoal by the high-temperature blast.
Almost at the same instant.
On the towering rock walls of the canyon, the previously still shadows seemed to come alive. Shadow magic, as dense as if it were physical, instantly eroded and suppressed the Holy Light divine arts, returning the canyon to darkness.
"Enemy attack!"
"Quick! Hold the formation! Fire! Fire!!"
The soldiers raised their rifles by instinct of training, but it was difficult to aim at the figures moving at high speed in the darkness.
Ansu narrowed his eyes. With the help of the faint firelight, he noticed many figures dressed in dark clothing with simple masks on their faces appearing from various hidden spots on the rock walls.
Their movements were as swift as ghosts, and they coordinated with perfect chemistry. Even more notable were their casting movements—
These combat-oriented mages had almost no long incantations. Fireballs, ice spikes, sharp wind blades, pitch-black shadow bolts... In less than ten seconds, the soldiers fell in heaps like harvested wheat, their screams filling the entire canyon.
Ansu's brow furrowed slightly. This performance... didn't look like Squirrel Party grunts. This was clearly the headquarters of the demon remnants personally taking the field.
Demons.
Natural-born casters who used mana as naturally as breathing, a so-called noble race that claimed to be 'born for magic.'
No wonder David and the others couldn't find a single member of the Squirrel Party...
"Watch out!"
Freya's nervous voice sounded in Ansu's ear.
The bright glow of the 【Holy Shield】 bloomed in her hand, blocking a splashing shadow bolt for Ansu.
"Lord Ansu, I'll protect you this time!" Freya's gaze swept over the cumbersome magic-suppressing handcuffs on his hands. Her other hand subconsciously grabbed Ansu's wrist, gripping it very tightly this time.
In the chaotic battlefield, the sounds of killing and explosions were incessant. The light of the 【Holy Shield】 softly enveloped the two of them, isolating a small safe zone.
"Freya... I can handle this myself." Ansu gave a helpless smile, and then his thoughts shifted slightly.
With a crisp metallic click, an invisible Mage's Hand easily tore the handcuffs apart.
Ansu scanned the surroundings with a wary gaze and applied another layer of a larger, stronger magic shield over the two of them.
"Oh..." Freya watched his smooth, flowing casting movements, and she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in her heart.
Lord Ansu's magic level was truly becoming more and more impressive; he didn't need her protection at all...
But the hand gripping his wrist did not let go.
Ansu looked down, silently watching her hand, wondering if Freya had become addicted to holding hands today.
Why had the little Holy Maiden become so proactive? Or even... a bit stubborn?
Rate on N.U.
