Volume 6, Chapter 74 – Wave of Death

A pitch-black giant wave extended from the left side of her vision all the way to the right where the end couldn’t be seen, as if the Chaos beneath the abyss had been enraged and surged up to the earth. The overwhelming quantity was such that even she, at the eighth rank, couldn’t contain it in a short time. No, perhaps even her own mother would find it difficult to curb. The most troublesome part about Chaos lay in its quantity. Just the Chaos appearing in her vision was enough to wash away most of the Weeping Mountains. Heaven knew how much more was under the cliff!

Her dignity was provoked to her face, and even the Weeping Mountains she had painstakingly managed for a long time were about to turn into ruins. Anger almost filled Ruth’s eyes. She knew Absolute Evil wouldn’t die under the [Butterfly of Death Beyond the Shore], and thus glared at Absolute Evil amidst the explosion.

“Do you know what you are doing? Bringing Chaos to the World Tree Continent, you will die too!”

Just as Ruth guessed, Absolute Evil emerged unscathed from the swarm of burning butterflies. He seemed unaware that the Chaos behind him was about to crash down on his head. He opened his arms, his tone full of mockery.

“Just this bit of Chaos isn’t enough to submerge the World Tree Continent. Someone will solve them eventually. I’m merely borrowing the loophole left by the Sovereign to verify the Sovereign’s idea. I apologize deeply for destroying your back garden, but this is a necessary sacrifice. If Miss Ruth wants to take revenge on me, just bring it on. I accept all challenges.”

As soon as Absolute Evil’s voice fell, the wave of Chaos smashed down with unstoppable momentum. Absolute Evil’s voice was subsequently drowned in the roar of the earth. The giant wave of Chaos even splashed water tens of meters high. The pitch-black wall reaching a hundred meters high was something even Ruth dared not confront head-on.

Madman.

The sense of danger made Ruth subconsciously retreat. She immediately flew high into the sky to avoid the surging Chaos. However, she had ascended less than a hundred meters when Absolute Evil’s excited shout came from the air, followed by a rapidly enlarging dark red long spear in her vision, containing explosive power as if to smash Ruth into the Chaos wave with one blow.

“Undying undead also fear Chaos?”

“Tch, you will pay the price for your actions!”

With the gray long spear held horizontally above her head, a terrifying aura surged from Ruth’s whole body. The berserk aura of death turned into gray-white airflow, instantly occupying most of the sky.

Things have reached this point. Even if it violates the original Pact of the World Tree, I have reason on my side.

As for now, let the demon who dares to provoke the majesty of the Kingdom of Death pay the price!

◇

“Ugh.”

Having just stepped into the range of the Weeping Mountains, Nola, who was half a step ahead of Fia, let out a muffled groan, her hand uncontrollably touching her chest.

Fia slowly caught up, a bit of confusion appearing in her ruby-like eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have a bad premonition.”

“What do you mean by bad premonition?”

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“Can’t say for sure, just that my instinct makes me feel uncomfortable. It’s like there’s something bad in the mountains.”

“Must be a wrong feeling. Not a single Darkborn is left. What else could make you feel bad?”

And even if there is something, dead or alive, just solve one when one comes.

Thinking of this, Fia touched the hardcover book tucked at her waist. This book looked ordinary on the outside, but it was actually a unique copy she brought out from the Holy Tree Forbidden Library. Recorded inside were all magic above the sixth rank and even forbidden spells.

Although the incantations of forbidden spells were very long—reading from beginning to end without missing a word would take at least five or six minutes, and long ones could reach up to half an hour—ordinary magic chanters would take a considerable amount of time just to memorize them, let alone chant with a fixed rhythm while mobilizing the appropriate amount of mana. Coupled with the fact that the use of forbidden spells inevitably accompanied physical damage—for example, [Spatial Confinement] would cause blindness, [Venix’s Sigh] would burn the soul, [Cherubim Creation] would sacrifice the physical body and all life within a hundred meters—magic chanters would absolutely not use forbidden spells unless it was a last resort.

But for Fia, most of the difficulties and costs of use could be exempted. The ability of photographic memory allowed Fia to chant incantations at high speed without obstacles, while the [Nanomachines] could restore damaged tissues the moment the physical body was damaged. It is worth mentioning that the damage caused by forbidden spells often could not be restored by healing magic, like things sacrificed in a witch’s ritual, but the [Nanomachines] could exempt this point.

So as long as Fia didn’t touch those mysterious forbidden spells that burned the soul, she basically wouldn’t encounter trouble. Of course, this was just Fia’s guess; she wasn’t clear if it would actually work. Without determining the limit of the Nanomachines, she really couldn’t harden her heart to burn her soul. No one would joke with their own life.

“Why do you always keep this book on you? Don’t you find it heavy?”

While Fia was stroking the book at her waist, Nola stuck her head out curiously. The fluffy cat ears brushed past Fia’s nose tip, making Fia want to sneeze.

“This is something that can turn the tide at a critical moment.”

“A book can turn the tide? It’s not a magic crystal.”

“What’s written inside are all forbidden spells, forbidden spells. The lowest is sixth-rank magic.”

“Huh?”

Eyes full of disbelief, Nola suddenly raised her head, and then the top of her head hit Fia’s chin with a thump .

Even Fia couldn’t help grimacing.

The Fire Cat’s head is way too hard.

“Hiss—Are you trying to murder me?”

Nola covered her head with one hand, teary-eyed, but didn’t argue with Fia.

“How can you just keep forbidden spells outside like this?! All of us in Cold Night added together might not even have three forbidden spells. Your father actually allows you to carry this kind of forbidden book that can’t be bought with money? You taking it too lightly!”

“Calm down a bit.”

Don’t you feel your head hurts? Fia wanted to say this, but since Nola herself didn’t say anything, she could only return to the main topic.

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“This thing is much safer on me than in the library. Besides, people in Silvar who can use forbidden spells can be counted on one hand. Now only I can use them.”

“Uh,” Nola’s breathing stagnated. She suddenly came back to her senses; she shouldn’t apply common sense to Fia. Her face showed embarrassment as she sheepishly withdrew her head. “…I was too excited. Forbidden spell incantations can sell for a sky-high price in any country. Seeing you carry it with you, I feel like I’m seeing someone walking around the street with a gold mountain on their back.”

“Huh, carrying it is for unexpected needs. Does Nola want to take a look?”

Unbuttoning the book, Fia handed it to Nola. Although Nola showed a moment of desire, she finally restrained the thought and pushed the book back.

“I’ll pass. Such a precious thing…”

“Just a look; the words on it won’t disappear.”

“Even just a look counts as a favor. I don’t know how many high-rank magic chanters beg for this one look by every possible means but can’t get it. Besides, I can’t read Elf script. I can only speak Elf language, not read or write.”

Admitting she didn’t know the Elf language was a matter of inferiority for Nola. Her voice became much smaller, turning her head away to defend herself.

“My time is all spent on improving strength, not as learned as Ying… In the end, it’s me not being smart enough. As soon as I sit at the desk, I can’t calm down. Someone with a character like mine would be looked down upon by you elves, right? I heard even elves who haven’t come of age have reading and writing abilities.”

“Isn’t that normal?”

Fia’s statement made the inferiority in Nola’s heart even worse. The latter’s ears and tail drooped down together. Just like how Claire felt she was cursed and thus unworthy of Fia, Nola also thought there was a considerable distance between her and Fia. Any relationship required matching status, and Cold Night emphasized this point even more. Realizing the gap between herself and Fia again at this moment, she couldn’t help feeling she was much lower, and disappointment surfaced in her heart.

However, Fia’s next sentence made her look astonished.

“After all, elves’ lifespan is more than ten times that of beastmen. Living three or four hundred years is easy. It’s normal to have much more study time than Nola. If one can’t master reading and writing in a hundred years with someone teaching, that’s no different from an idiot. Nola doesn’t need to be embarrassed. Putting it another way, if Nola’s battle results were placed among elves, it would definitely be a shocking achievement that leaves people dumbfounded.”

Nola subconsciously looked at Fia. The latter had a “that’s how it is” expression, neither exaggerating nor mocking.

She must be genuinely praising me…

She’s really a good person.

Being so gentle to me will only make me unable to control myself.

“What’s wrong? Staring at me non-stop.”

As if discovering a fun toy, Fia’s expression became sly, looking up at Nola from below with ill intentions.

Nola hurriedly turned her face away.

“Ahem, just feel you are unexpectedly good at comforting people. It was like this in Tsukuyomi’s mansion before, and it’s like this now.”

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“This gentleness is only used for beautiful girls, you know. If not a beautiful girl, I wouldn’t be so gentle.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“No no no, Nola’s reaction should be blushing and saying ‘I… am I actually a beautiful girl?!’, right?”

“But I am a beautiful girl.”

“Wow, you can admit it with a straight face. People who don’t know would think you learned from me… Alright, alright, what I said just now was all true. If Nola really takes not being able to write Elf language to heart, I’ll let Claire or Anastasia teach you.”

Fia patted her chest confidently, even her long black eyelashes trembling lightly along with it.

“Just pushing the trouble to Claire and Anastasia like this, and with a smug expression. Worthy of you.”

“I’m doing this for your sake. It’s not impossible for me to teach Nola, but someone who is a genius herself isn’t necessarily a genius at teaching others to learn. Many places that are problems for Nola, I might not be able to understand at all. So better ask someone more suitable to be a teacher to teach Nola. Learning will be more effortless.”

“Are you saying I’m stupid in a roundabout way?”

“No, it’s not that Nola isn’t smart enough, but that I am rather special.”

Fia still had the self-awareness that she was a genius.

Speaking of this, she quietly opened one eye to observe Nola. At the distance of walking side by side, the pleasant scent drifting from Nola was much stronger. This was a scent mixed with many kinds of flowers carrying a delicate fragrance. She had consulted Tsukuyomi. No matter which type of cat tribe, once entering the estrus period, the body would emit this kind of tempting aroma, and the person herself wouldn’t notice this smell. The closer the period was to the peak, the more obvious this smell would be. According to Nola’s trend, it had probably reached the most intense time.

Better talk to Nola properly about this problem from a friend’s standpoint. For example, advise Nola not to be so rigid. If you are really unable to control it, better go find Ying or Tsukuyomi to solve it. Holding it in too much, when it explodes, it will become quite terrible.

However, just as Fia was about to speak, the thoughtful Nola snatched the topic. She seemed preoccupied, her tone much lower.

“I chatted with Anastasia for a while just now. Fia, I have a question.”

“Ah, I see. What question?”

“You… What do you think of Anastasia? I mean emotionally. If Anastasia wasn’t important to you, you wouldn’t have given the ring I gave you that day to Anastasia, right? She seems to have more than just a servant’s admiration for a master toward you.”

“This…”

Coming up with this kind of fatal question right away. Don’t know whether to call Nola gossipy or kind-hearted.

Fia looked distressed.

“Anastasia is of course very important. What does Nola want to express?”

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As if deliberating how to express it more appropriately, Nola hesitated for a long time, until her cheeks turned slightly pink before she stammered.

“How to say it… Um… The only one engaged to you is Claire, right? Leaving Anastasia alone on the side, and also Tilulu and Liti who like you… Don’t you think they are very um… very pitiful? Clearly the person they like is right beside them, yet they can’t get recognition.”

Did this Fire Cat take the wrong medicine today?

Fia’s eyebrows raised to a subtle angle, and the look she gave Nola became strange. Not long ago, Nola was angry because she joked with her, saying she misjudged her, that she was too frivolous, and even said “What would Claire think if you are like this.” In just one or two days, her attitude took a one hundred and eighty degree turn, starting to act as a matchmaker for her and Anastasia. Simply incredible.

And leaving Anastasia aside, how does she know about my matters with Liti and Tilulu? Doesn’t she think these two little guys are too young, that it’s a crime?

Thinking to this point, a weird thought suddenly popped into Fia’s mind. She looked at Nola who was hesitant and still blushing, the suspicion in her eyes becoming heavier.

It shouldn’t be that Nola and Claire colluded to come and test my sincerity.

But Claire is someone who can joke about a second princess consort in front of me and Anastasia, and even said more than once she could accept Anastasia. So there is absolutely no need to test my sincerity. Fia also doesn’t think Claire is that kind of pretentious woman. Claire has always been consistent inside and out; she says what she means.

It shouldn’t be that Nola genuinely wants the best for Anastasia.

What the hell is this guy doing?

“Didn’t you say I was frivolous before, how could I face Claire? Now suddenly you’re like a changed person.”

Nola’s eyes widened instantly, defending herself vigorously.

“Th-That! That was… That was because I didn’t know Tilulu and the others’ thoughts back then. Now knowing the story of Tilulu seeking but not getting, of course I would sympathize! Tilulu is a bit small, but that feeling is not fake. She even said words like willing to work like an ox or horse for you, yet you still rejected her. How can you be so hard-hearted? Is your heart made of stone?”

“Then if it were Nola, Nola would agree? Don’t you think this is very frivolous?”

“Uh—”

Now the difficult problem was thrown to Nola. Nola’s face immediately turned dark.

This is called digging one’s own grave.

Why do I always do this kind of thing?

For a moment, Nola only hated why she had grown a mouth.