Volume 2, Chapter 66 – Like a Deity

High above the sky, the enormous Frost Dragon flapped its bony wings and took off.

Back on the ground, Tianyin watched in silence until Ysera, the Frost Dragon, carrying the Grand Duke of the Undead, Sargus, disappeared from sight before finally withdrawing her gaze.

“Xiaoyin… are you alright?”

Seeing the faintly dazed look on Tianyin’s face, Xingyu Muxi had already come over, concern written all over her expression.

“Eh…? I’m fine…”

Tianyin smiled, but her mind was still replaying the conversation she just had with the Grand Duke of the Undead, Sargus, and… the final request he made to her.

“Hmm, Master… what exactly happened just now?”

Xiaomengyao also came up curiously, though compared to Xingyu Muxi, her petite figure made her clearly shorter by a head.

At the same time, both Sharl and Orgum pricked up their ears without realizing it, clearly interested in knowing what Sargus and Tianyin had talked about.

It was no wonder everyone was curious. After all, Sargus, the Grand Duke of the Undead and leader of the Graveyard, had just spoken privately with Tianyin, who was also a Throne-class being. That alone was enough to pique anyone’s curiosity.

What’s more, after that exchange, the Grand Duke, who had initially appeared menacing and hostile, had quietly left without saying another word.

Though they all knew that as subordinates, it wasn’t right to pry into their lord’s affairs, if someone else close to their lord happened to ask, and the lord just “happened” to mention it, that was… a different matter entirely.

However, in response to Xiaomengyao’s question, Tianyin uncharacteristically shook her head.

“No, Xiaomengyao, there are some things I can’t tell you.”

“Eh, really…? Well, if Master doesn’t want to say, then I won’t ask.”

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Though Xiaomengyao was quite curious about what Tianyin and Sargus had talked about on Ysera’s back, since Tianyin didn’t wish to reveal it, she sensibly chose not to press further.

Just then, Tianyin came back to her senses, staring blankly at the surrounding NPCs, as well as Xingyu Muxi and Xiaomengyao, who were all looking at her.

“Eh…? why are you all staring at me like that? Is something wrong?”

Sharl was quick to react, immediately answering as soon as Tianyin asked her question.

“…We were only concerned about your safety, my lord. But since you appear unharmed, we are relieved.”

“Well, for now, I’m fine.”

Tianyin replied absentmindedly.

But those words, “for now”, carried a strangely uneasy tone.

After hearing that, Sharl cautiously asked,

“My lord, do you have any new orders for us?”

“Orders? Hmm, well, there is one thing.”

There really is something…

Sharl couldn’t help but feel uneasy, staring at her dazed and unreliable-looking master.

No matter how he looked at it, this master of his seemed far too easy to read. Though having such an innocent and straightforward ruler might seem like a blessing for subordinates, from another perspective, it was also terribly unlucky, because a ruler this pure-hearted… was hardly suited to be one.

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As Sharl thought this, Tianyin spoke again.

“Actually, some of what I talked about with Sargus can’t be shared, but regarding our situation, he did grant me a major concession.”

“Hmm? What do you mean, my lord?”

It wasn’t difficult to understand. The so-called “concession” from the Grand Duke of the Undead, put simply, meant… he had compromised. And if Sargus had compromised, that could only mean one thing, it was about Sharl and his group.

“The concession is that he’s letting us go.”

Tianyin said this with a proud expression.

Although those few words sounded simple, the meaning behind them was deeply stirring.

And it was most evident in the NPCs present, who all stopped for a moment before reacting.

“Really?”

“Can we leave this place?”

“Can we go home?”

“…Just like that, can we go home?!”

“…”

Not only the ordinary NPC soldiers but even Sharl and Orgum couldn’t hide the joy on their faces.

However, since the two were the highest-ranking commanders under Tianyin, their smiles only lasted a few seconds before they reined them in.

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“My lord… this news…”

“It’s really, really true.”

Tianyin thought the two of them still didn’t quite believe her, so she repeated it with a gentle smile.

“We… We never doubted you, my lord! We only wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for us…”

Sharl explained, his voice slightly trembling with emotion.

Beside him, Orgum spoke in his deep, gravelly voice.

“Though I’m a beastman, we beastmen believe in repaying our debts. So, I, Orgum, say this here and now, Master, the one who helped me and my beastman brothers escape the Undead lands… from this day on, you are the one we shall follow and serve for the rest of our lives!”

With that, the massive Orgum dropped to one knee, resolute and unwavering, facing Tianyin.

“Eh… y-you don’t have to do that…”

For a moment, Tianyin didn’t know how to react, her expression panicked and flustered.

Following Orgum’s lead, Sharl too knelt down without hesitation.

“We, the soldiers of the Kingdom, just like the beastmen of the stronghold, swear to serve our lord for life!”

“Ehhhhh…?!”

Honestly, the sudden turn of events left Tianyin utterly speechless.

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From her point of view, she hadn’t done that much to help. At most, she had stepped in when the NPCs were about to be slaughtered by players, shared her food when they were starving, and as for leading them out, well, that was Sargus’s idea in the first place.

To Tianyin, those were all trivial, effortless things.

So she didn’t quite understand just how difficult such “small favors” were for ordinary NPCs.

And in the very next moment…

All the NPCs present fell to one knee together.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

Their weapons struck the ground in perfect unison. Whether beastmen or humans, all of them bowed deeply toward the small figure standing before them.

“We pledge our lives to serve you!”

At that instant, sunlight broke through the clouds, piercing the heavens.

The beam of light fell upon Tianyin’s delicate, youthful face.

Bathed in that radiance, it was as if her entire body was cloaked in a golden, sacred glow.

And in that moment…

To every soldier present, Tianyin looked like a living deity.