Volume 6, Chapter 25 – Grasping Fate

“Right now, based on what you said, Julius should still be holding off those attacking enemies on the frontline, right? So up to this moment, from which direction have the troops still not withdrawn?”

Now that she had calmed down quite a bit, Tianyin quickly thought of some possibilities.

That was, Julius might still be commanding the troops that had not retreated.

After all, the army that had stayed behind really would be caught up to by the enemy. Because they were locked in battle, they might not have been able to get in timely contact with the main force in the rear.

Hmm… although that possibility was very slim, Tianyin felt that this might actually be the best explanation for losing contact with Julius and Orgum.

“Hurry up and check which direction’s troops still have not withdrawn.”

With Tianyin’s order, everyone present moved into action.

A few minutes later, the information they brought back made Tianyin feel a little relieved.

Because there really was one unit that had not withdrawn in time. Not only that, several hours earlier that unit indeed had not been in contact with the command post in the rear.

“Looks like it should be that unit that has not made it back in time. Here is what we will do. I will go over there in person and take a look. The rest of you just stay here and guard this place honestly.”

“Lord, how could we let you go alone? Let us go. Leave this kind of dangerous task to us.”

A few of the younger officers were not especially calm. Acting on impulse, they suggested going to provide support themselves.

Well… even though that kind of thinking was good, Tianyin felt quite gratified when she heard it.

But while she felt gratified, Tianyin was still just a little bit, just that tiny bit, unhappy.

The reason she was somewhat unhappy was actually very straightforward.

Because the ones saying this seemed to have been somewhat fooled by Tianyin’s cute loli appearance and had, for a moment, forgotten that Tianyin was actually a Throne-tier existence.

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“What are you even talking about? I am at least a Throne-tier existence. For this kind of thing, going alone by myself is clearly faster, right? If you go, can you guarantee that you can find that unit faster than I can?”

“Honestly, this is not the time to mess around. Put your efforts into organizing the newly established defensive line for me. Julius’ plan to pull the defenses back, even if it were me, I could only make the same choice. Right now your duty is to do your own jobs well, not to cause me trouble. Understood?”

Tianyin’s retort left everyone present in silence.

After that silence, the few who had taken the lead in wanting to move together with Tianyin all turned red in the face at the same time and hung their heads in shame.

“Understood… we did get a bit carried away just now…”

“Well, as long as you know you acted on impulse, that is fine. Next time you cannot do something like this again. Alright, I need to go support that unit that still has not made it back. Everyone, focus on shoring up the defensive line first.”

“Yes…”

After soothing these officers, Tianyin did not even think about resting. She immediately rushed toward the direction of the last unit that had not yet withdrawn.

Of course, for Tianyin, traveling did not mean running on her feet, it meant flying.

After all, flying really was faster than running.

And once she was in the air, her view was much broader, which made it easier to locate Julius, Orgum, and that unit which had not retreated in time.

「I have to say, I suddenly feel like Tianyin has become more and more mature…」

As Tianyin hurried on her way, Samael suddenly spoke with a sigh in her mind.

『Mm… mature and all that… Samael, hearing you say that does make me a bit happy, but why are you suddenly getting so sentimental. Growth and such is something everyone goes through, isn’t it?』

「But the changes in you are really far too fast, Xiaoyin.」

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As if recalling something, Samael sighed over Tianyin’s growth and at the same time her tone softened.

「Far too fast, Xiaoyin. At the very beginning, you were clearly just a little thing who could not even take care of herself, who needed other people, for example Xiaomengyao, to look after her~」

『W-Who could not take care of herself!』

At those words Tianyin’s small face could not help flushing red.

『I… I just felt that since Xiaomengyao is my disciple, she ought to do some things a disciple should do. Mm… yes, that is right, a disciple taking care of her master should be taken for granted, shouldn’t it?』

By the time Tianyin finished speaking, she was actually sounding quite righteous about it.

「Pfft… what do you mean it is only right for a disciple to take care of her master. You have that backwards. As the master, you should be the one taking care of the disciple, right?」

『Mm… my situation is special. And that is your opinion, Samael. That is your idea of the relationship between master and disciple. It has nothing to do with me at all… yes, nothing to do with me.』

「Xiaoyin is being tsundere~」

『Tsundere? I am not tsundere. There is no way I would be tsundere.』

「Alright, alright, let us drop this. I was only joking just now. But Xiaoyin’s growth and change really are plain to see…」

「Still, Xiaoyin, there have been far too many things happening lately. After going through that much, it is only natural that you would grow.」

『Mm…』

When she thought of the things she had gone through, Tianyin’s mood involuntarily grew heavy.

Thinking about it…

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In the past, in Tianyin’s eyes, the Undead Grand Duke Sargus, the Heavenly Father, and the King of Knights who had been killed by Yunchou… Tianyin had all, more or less, had some connection with them.

Whether she had witnessed it with her own eyes, or learned of it afterwards.

Every time she thought about the fact that these people were dead, a feeling like a fox grieving for a hare would rise up in Tianyin’s heart.

Throne-tier beings also died.

But then… Why did people still speak of Throne-tier as so strong?

Sometimes, when Tianyin thought of these things, she would fall into brief confusion, into brief anxiety over gain and loss.

Because at some point, Tianyin had started to fear that she would die like those Throne-tier beings who had fallen, had started to fear her own death.

Could fate really be ruled by oneself?

Even though she possessed Throne-tier power that countless players envied, Tianyin was still thinking about this question. Honestly speaking, if the players knew that, their jaws would definitely hit the floor.

However, the fact that her Throne-tier strength was, more or less, given to her by that mysterious System Light Orb in the first place… made Tianyin’s feelings even more tangled.

So then…

Could fate really be grasped by oneself?

Every time Tianyin asked herself that question in her heart, the answer she gave herself was always silence.

『Hey… Samael.』

「What is it, Xiaoyin? Your mood suddenly does not seem very good.」

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『I do not know… Samael, tell me, in this world, aside from Throne-tier, is there anything that is stronger than Throne-tier?』

「Stronger than Throne-tier? Hmm… that would probably be the Creation Dragon God spoken of in legends. After all, this world was created by the Dragon God alone.」

『The Creation Dragon God…』

Mention of the Creation Dragon God made Tianyin naturally think of Supreme and the End, those two existences that had been brought up many times.

『Then Samael, do you think the Creation Dragon God… can it control its own fate?』

「Pfft… Xiaoyin, fate is far too vague and insubstantial. Rather than thinking about this, you should put your mind toward how you are going to handle the problems right in front of you.」

『Mm…』

Samael’s answer did surprise Tianyin a little.

But that answer also pulled Tianyin back out of the mental dead end she had wandered into.

『Mm… first, let us get Julius back…』

Just as Tianyin said that, she heard the sounds of battle not far ahead.

「Xiaoyin.」

『I know. Julius and the others must be over there.』

Without any hesitation, Tianyin shot off at full speed toward the direction the sounds of fighting came from.