“It happened exactly like that. Alexander burned his very life force in a desperate attempt to restrain the dragon, ultimately dying of exhaustion.”
The Imperial Princess also fully agreed with the prince of Qingxi's account.
With the joint testimony of Artedinis and Faust, Helen believed it completely.
After listening to Faust's account, the nun's face—previously graced with a holy and warm smile—was now pale and solemn. She pursed her lips, her golden eyes scanning back and forth between Faust and Artedinis for a long time.
Helen seemed to suspect there was something fishy about this, because Faust and Artedinis were, as luck would have it, the very ones the Sanctuary was cooperating with to secretly suppress other Brave One candidates.
What had they done? They were supposed to suppress other Brave Ones, so how did one end up dead? Had they done their job a little too well?
But that was unlikely. When it came to matters involving the evil dragon, they probably wouldn't dare lie. Thus, it could only have been an accident.
The nun finally let out a long sigh.
“I understand.”
Her voice was bitter. “I will report this truthfully to the Sanctuary headquarters. Please hand over Sir Alexander's remains to us.”
Her gaze fell upon the 【Blade of Praising Gods】 in Alkin's hand.
The once-dazzling divine-era relic was now dull and lifeless. Cracks remained on the blade where it had been crushed and then forced back together.
“As for this divine-era relic... if it has truly lost its former power, then as a mere ordinary occult object, the Sanctuary naturally won't care. Do with it as you please.”
...
After the secret realm prison closed, the bad news spread like wildfire through all of Saint-Vevia, the surrounding kingdoms, and the entire 【Sacred Alliance】.
When the news broke, it caused an uproar.
The Brave One Alexander had encountered the Second Empire's dragon lord, Lian, in the giant's secret realm. He fought valiantly and ultimately died of exhaustion.
Because the truth was far too embarrassing—the evil dragon hadn't even truly attacked, merely standing there and letting her passive aura burn away the first Brave One candidate's life—the Sanctuary embellished the story slightly to make Alexander's death seem more tragic and heroic. However, the impact was the same.
Within the 【Sacred Alliance】, some were furious and some were grief-stricken, but most were consumed by panic.
“Even a Brave One can't defeat that dragon...”
“Is there any record in history of a Brave One being killed so easily?”
“Can the Alliance... can the Alliance really win?”
Waves of panic and doubt rose higher and higher.
Because everyone knew what the evil dragon represented.
She was the evil dragon that forced the 【Sacred Alliance】 to pool all their resources into an encirclement network, yet they still didn't dare face her in open battle.
Those who had once been confident in the great cause of dragonslaying began to waver.
Kingdoms that had been eager to join the fight began to hesitate.
After all, the current peace was built on the premise that the Empire's fallen dragon fairy had always kept to herself. It was only because of this that the 【Sacred Alliance】 could form alliances and grow stronger.
According to ancient records, if an evil dragon had been out this long, she should have gone on a massive slaughter long ago. If her kill-death ratio wasn't in the hundreds of millions, she would be considered a passive player. Why would she let you develop in peace?
Did they think the evil dragon was like some demon king in a storybook who just sat idle at home? A god among mortals could go wherever she pleased. You'd better hide your family registries!
This time, the evil dragon had struck suddenly. Although there was only one casualty, it was a 【Brave One】 candidate. Killing him before he could grow meant the Empire's fallen dragon fairy wasn't as decadent or lazy as they had imagined.
If she dared kill a young Brave One today, she would dare slaughter a whole nation tomorrow! The day after, she would trigger a world-ending tide!
Oh, how wicked this evil dragon is!
Faust watched the people's anxiety and remained silent.
At this point, he couldn't exactly tell them that the dragon-maiden had only come to ask for a hug.
Three days later, the largest Sanctuary cathedral in Saint-Vevia was draped in black veils.
The bells tolled from dawn until dusk, dull and lingering, as if the entire city were mourning Alexander.
The youth who had risen from the countryside, the Brave One candidate who held a divine-era relic and carried everyone's high hopes.
In the center of the cathedral's main hall sat a coffin.
A Sanctuary monastic stood before the coffin, holding a scripture and reciting the eulogy in a raspy, aged voice.
Behind him, hundreds of monastics chanted ancient requiem hymns in unison.
The singing echoed under the cathedral's dome, solemn and grand, yet tinged with an indescribable sorrow.
Outside the cathedral, the plaza was packed.
There were Sanctuary believers, imperial commoners, nobles and knights from various nations, and Alexander's old acquaintances and admirers. They held white candles, heads bowed in silence. Countless flickers of candlelight swayed in the twilight like a sea of burning tears.
Faust did not attend the memorial service. Though it would have been proper for a "colleague" to go, Faust knew he would find it hard not to laugh if he attended a ceremony for a man who had died the way Alexander did.
The prince intended to leave the empire and return to his own territory.
His goals for coming to the trial had been fully achieved—surpassed, even. Besides testing the effects of the 【Witches' Feast】's continuation, he had confirmed that its power even trumped the 【Brave One】 fate-star.
It truly was a case of using someone as a stepping stone without a second thought. The hierarchy of fate-stars left anyone in the know feeling deeply chilled.
I'm shaking with rage on this hot day. Is there no hope left for this world? Do mortals without fate-stars have no rights at all? I really...
Wait, the girls around me have the top-tier fate-stars. Never mind, then.
He was definitely a beneficiary of the system.
But just before Faust was set to depart, an uninvited guest arrived at the residence where he was staying.
“Are you heading back now?”
Artedinis walked straight in and leaned back lazily on a chaise longue, raising her indigo eyes.
An aggressive smile played on her exquisite face.
Faust: “Of course. There's nothing left for me here. It's time to return to my own kingdom.”
“Is that so?”
Artedinis nodded.
“You have indeed stayed a while, so it's only right to go home. However, before that, there is something I must clarify. I've been tossing and turning for the past few nights, unable to sleep.”
Faust sat down opposite her.
“Whatever it is, just say it.”
Artedinis rested her delicate cheek on her hand, quietly observing the prince.
“I gave you a gift before; surely you haven't forgotten? Now, I'm here to collect a return gift.”
Seriously? You just wove a random wreath and now you're asking for a return gift? Her shamelessness is starting to rival my own.
She's clearly up to no good.
Faust said helplessly, “What kind of return gift do you want?”
Hearing this, the princess leaned forward slightly, her sweet breath brushing against his face.
Faust looked at her face, so close to his, and into her burning indigo eyes. She parted her cherry lips.
“I want you.”
“Faust, become mine.”
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