After enduring more than ten minutes of prolonged torment without resorting to any powerful attacks, Leila finally depleted the energy within the monstrous creature.
Just as Violet had anticipated, once the energy was completely drained, the creature didn’t recover again. Even when Leila refrained from further attacks, it resembled a machine that had exhausted its power source, its eight compound eyes instantly losing their radiance, motionless.
Dead?
The abrupt change surprised even the priestess herself, who had vaguely anticipated some outcome. She had pondered how the entity might behave after using up its energy—perhaps becoming extremely weak or undergoing some other transformation.
However, she hadn’t expected it to straightforwardly die.
Even the tough exoskeleton and menacing spines covering the creature’s body noticeably softened, losing their intimidating presence.
“Not consuming... results in death?”
Without any means of acquiring resources through alternative methods, as Rene had pointed out, this entity’s purpose of existence seemed to revolve around killing and devouring.
Well, regardless of what it was, the information obtained today through this fortuitous encounter was essential.
Casually burning the creature’s soft and lifeless body to ashes, Violet had her pet use its skills to search around. After confirming that there were no other similar traces, she decided to return to the expedition.
As for the villagers who had been consumed and other subsequent matters, Violet didn’t care and had no intention of getting involved.
Once the news spread, someone would take care of it.
After all, the village hadn’t been wiped out entirely, and most of the able-bodied men and women were probably safe, toiling away in the fields.
The priestess shifted her gaze toward Theresa, who was attentively watching the burning carcass of the creature.
“Miss Theresa, are you feeling very sad?”
The village girl wiped her face, still turned away from Violet, and then turned around with slightly reddened eyes, forcing a smile.
“Well, a little bit... but since the culprit has been punished by you and your companions, everyone’s spirits should find rest in the heavens. Thank you, Miss Violet.”
“It’s nothing. I’m sorry this happened. We should be leaving. If there’s nothing else, let’s part ways...”
However, for some reason, the black-haired girl suddenly paused in her speech. Her expression also underwent a subtle change that was hard to detect, but she quickly skillfully concealed it and changed the subject.
“Cough, cough... Miss Theresa, this might be a bit presumptuous, but I wonder if your parents are doing well now?”
“Oh? My parents?”
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
The village girl, seemingly preoccupied with her thoughts, was momentarily stunned by the question. Only after a brief daze did she understand. Miss Violet probably thought that her family had also...
Theresa quickly waved her hands.
“Ah, there’s no need to add any ‘Miss’ to my rustic self. Just call me Theresa. My mom and dad are fine. They are probably still sowing seeds in the fields right now... It’s also a kind of fortune in misfortune, I guess.”
“I see...”
A bit perplexing, the black-haired girl fell into a thoughtful silence for a long time before continuing to talk to the somewhat uneasy Theresa.
“I recall you mentioning earlier that you’re of mixed bloodline. Can you reveal which bloodline it is?”
“M-Mixed bloodline?!”
The village girl nervously stared at Violet for several seconds. Seeing that Violet’s face didn’t show any signs of disgust or disdain, she finally relaxed, rubbing her hands awkwardly.
“This... can’t really be considered a secret...”
Immediately, Theresa candidly shared her situation with this noble girl whom she held in high regard and who had saved her life. She even included the past her mother had told her about the Earth Sacrifice.
The black-haired girl nodded as if unsurprised.
“I see... Well, Theresa, I don’t like beating around the bush. I’ll ask the next question only once, so please think it over before answering.”
The priestess smiled and extended her fair, slender, and charming little hand toward the village girl, smooth as condensed fat.
“I wonder if you’re interested in traveling with me for a while?”
Seeing the shock, confusion, and perplexity on Theresa’s face, Violet naturally understood that this proposal was somewhat abrupt.
In truth, she hadn’t planned to have too much interaction with this little girl. The main reason was the fragment of Sethlin – by the way, that’s what Violet had chosen as a nickname to distinguish the consciousness of the fragment from the former Goddess of Earth.
Just a while ago, Sethlin had suddenly communicated with her mentally, saying that Theresa seemed to possess a very rare and precious bloodline. Although it was relatively thin, even Sethlin couldn’t remember what it was. Still, it was likely deeply connected to her original self.
Considering the various connections that might exist between the Goddess of Earth Seth, the Goddess of Sky and Freedom Minerva, and the seemingly suddenly active Abyss, having such a special bloodline accompany them on the journey to the Azure Sky Kingdom might play an unexpectedly crucial role at critical moments.
So, that’s why the priestess suddenly changed her mind.
It was a great honor.
Amidst the astonishment displayed by the three equally extraordinary young women behind Miss Violet, Theresa could sense something.
Miss Violet probably rarely allows others to join their journey casually.
This was a one-time opportunity, and the previous statement implied that Theresa only needed to answer with a “yes” or “no” now. Any additional questions or hesitation would be considered a refusal.
Her heart pounded violently.
Theresa had never felt her heartbeat at such a high frequency, almost as if it would leap out of her chest, and her breath became involuntarily rapid.
She was well aware of the enormous gap and difference between herself and the four individuals in front of her. This was a kind of honor that approached a blessing.
Just by holding the hand of the person in front of her, her life could undergo a transformative change.
If her parents were here, they would surely urge her loudly to accept.
More importantly, being able to stay by the side of this noble presence she had admired so much since their first meeting, just thinking about it made the village girl excited to the point of almost passing out.
She wanted to agree, she really did! She wanted to say yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!
However...
It happened precisely at this moment.
Theresa, who had never ceased to yearn to break free from the identity of a village girl, wanted to venture into the wondrous world beyond, depicted by travelers as vast and epic, to create her own story.
But... the 27th Village of White City was still her home.
While parents might smile and bid farewell to their children heading for a distant future, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t secretly yearn and shed tears, especially when disaster shattered their home and friends.
Even though reason, emotion, and even instinct were all urging Theresa to agree, there was a greater, stronger force suppressing them.
The girl struggled to swallow her saliva, resisting the inner impulse and guilt, and slightly turned her head.
“S-Sorry, I really can’t just leave like this. There’s been such a big incident in the village, many dads and moms’ friends have died. They must be very sad, and I... I have to...”
“...I see, that’s a shame.”
Violet hadn’t expected the obviously fond little girl to choose refusal, but Theresa’s reasoning was valid. Miss Priestess didn’t dislike dutiful children, and similarly, she had never intended to force anyone to do something.
In that case, let it be.
With a nod to the others, the black-haired girl turned around and waved to Theresa.
“Well then, let’s part ways here.”
“Theresa, since we’ve met, here’s a piece of advice for you. Something significant is happening in the south, and today’s disaster is probably just a prelude.”
“If you want to survive, head north. Whether it’s the Criv Kingdom or the more distant Holy Empire, leaving your hometown is much better than meeting your end here, isn’t it?”
White feathers floated down, and the radiant, slender divine wings emerged from behind. Several girls slowly ascended into the air, leaving Theresa in puzzled disbelief.
As if recalling something, Violet casually tossed two items that slowly descended into Theresa’s hands amidst the glow.
“Unsafe in the Forbidden Zone. If you decide to leave, use it to hire a few trustworthy adventurers. Of course, spending it yourself is fine too. As for the other item... keep it safe. You might need it.”
A gust of wind rushed in, and before the village girl could react, the sacred and noble figure had vanished at the edge of the sky.
“Ah! Wai...”
The raised hand froze in mid-air.
A strong sense of loss surged over Theresa like a tide.
She stood motionless on the chaotic village land for a long time before finally coming to her senses. She looked, somewhat dazed, at the two items tightly gripped in her other hand.
A small pouch containing several dozen coins and a thumb-sized... bluish-green seed.