The entrance to Audo Canyon was like a giant mouth waiting to devour its prey, shrouded in an ominous silence.
Knight Commander Lyon ordered the force to stop, his cold gaze sweeping over Lin Gui and Theia.
“For the sake of efficiency and safety, we will move in groups.”
“You, you, and you two, one group. And you...” His finger pointed at Theia, and then at a sturdy knight on the other end of the group, “...will be with him.”
The intent was beyond obvious.
He wanted to separate Theia and Lin Gui, dividing and controlling them.
“No!” Theia reacted instantly, lunging in front of Lin Gui with a resolute look in her eyes. “I must stay with him!”
She didn’t know what would happen to Lin Gui if they were separated, but she was certain it wouldn’t be anything good.
“Hmph!”
Lyon’s expression instantly darkened as his hand moved to the hilt of his sword.
The pressure of a High-tier Transcendent bore down on Theia like a physical weight.
“Is it your place to haggle here?”
The atmosphere suddenly grew taut, as if blood were about to spill at any second.
Theia gritted her teeth and didn’t retreat an inch, her elven longbow already held tight in her hand.
At that critical moment, the fury in Lyon’s eyes slowly subsided.
He took a deep breath, and rationality regained its footing.
He needed this half-demon ranger.
She was someone who had managed to escape with her life from Moragus.
Her danger-sensing and concealment abilities made her an irreplaceable bait.
Furthermore... his cold gaze swept over Lin Gui. This kid seemed to be her weakness.
As long as he controlled the boy, he didn't have to worry about her not complying.
“Hmph,” Lyon snorted coldly, suppressing his anger as he changed the assignments. “In that case... you two will be in a group with me.”
There was no conversation along the way.
Theia kept most of her attention on Lin Gui.
She watched him closely, expecting him to do something unexpected.
However, Lin Gui was exceptionally quiet.
He merely adjusted his bulging backpack from time to time, counting the letters inside.
That focused look made it seem as if he weren’t about to enter a monster’s lair, but was instead out on a casual picnic.
Eventually, the group reached a hidden outpost situated on a cliff in the middle of Audo Canyon.
The moment they entered this chaotic den filled with the scent of alcohol, tobacco, and cheap perfume, the eyes of many male knights lit up.
They almost couldn’t wait to rush into the mini-bar.
Soon, they were clutching several scantily-clad dancers, laughing as they led them into the dark partitions behind the bar.
Even Knight Commander Lyon only frowned slightly without stopping them.
Instead, he signaled to Priestess Martha, and the two walked together toward another section of the outpost.
They appeared to be going to handle certain "business."
Only four knights were left behind—the unlucky ones assigned to sentry duty.
They watched the direction their companions had vanished in with faces full of resentment and envy.
Cursing under their breaths, they sat around a wooden table and pulled out low-quality ale and a set of dirty dice and cards.
Taking advantage of their attention being completely absorbed by booze and gambling, Theia quickly leaned toward Lin Gui’s ear.
Her warm breath brushed against his ear as she asked urgently in a low whisper, “What exactly is your plan?”
Catching the faint scent drifting from her side, Lin Gui’s ears turned visibly red.
He unnaturally tilted his head away but didn’t answer.
He simply pressed a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he shot a pointed glance at the knight nearby who was scowling and swearing over his lost cards.
Theia’s heart sank. She couldn’t understand him.
The knights spent two whole days in this outpost, indulging themselves without restraint.
Finally, Lyon gave the order to assemble, preparing to enter the truly dangerous territory—the Black Demon Forest.
Right at the edge of the forest, a scout with a lean, capable aura dressed in light leather armor had been waiting for a long time.
He was currently the only Transcendent Rank scout remaining in the Caran City Adventurer’s Guild.
He respectfully reported the latest forest activity to Lyon, focusing specifically on the current location of the Legendary demon, Moragus.
Upon hearing the exact coordinates, a satisfied smile appeared on Lyon’s face.
He turned to Theia, his tone carrying an unsettling flippancy.
“Alright, it’s time for you to make yourself useful.”
The group ventured deep into the forest, eventually stopping at the edge of a hollow that reeked of sulfur.
Through the sparse trees, one could see a pool of murky spring water in the center of the hollow.
A massive, twisted, terrifying figure covered in moss and thorns was nestled by the spring, sleeping.
Every breath it took caused the ground to tremble slightly.
It was Moragus.
“Its flower is right on top of its head.”
Lyon lowered his voice and pointed at a strange plant emitting a faint, dark shimmer above the demon’s skull.
“Your mission is to sneak over, cut it off, and bring it back. We will be watching you from the periphery; don't even think about trying any tricks to escape.”
Theia’s heart pounded wildly. She knew this was almost certainly a suicide mission.
She took a deep breath and made her only demand.
“Fine. But you must let Lin Gui go! Once I confirm he’s safely out of the forest, I’ll go!”
Lyon’s brow furrowed, and just as he was about to give a cold refusal, he hadn’t expected Lin Gui to speak up first.
“No! Theia!”
Lin Gui suddenly grabbed Theia’s hand, his face filled with "deep affection" and "resolve."
“How could I let you go into danger alone? If we die, we die together! I will never leave you behind!”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for everyone nearby to hear.
His eyes were so "sincere" they practically brimmed with emotion.
At an angle where no one else could see, he gave Theia a quick wink.
Theia’s heart skipped a beat, then began to race.
She instantly realized something. Although her heart was still full of fear and confusion, she cooperatively put on an expression of being moved and conflicted, gripping Lin Gui’s hand in return.
“Lin Gui... you...”
Lyon’s suspicious gaze darted back and forth between the two.
He had seen Lin Gui’s behavior throughout this journey.
At times he was a cowardly sycophant, and at other times he seemed strange; Lyon absolutely did not believe the boy’s current "passion."
However, after thinking it over, what kind of tricks could a Low-tier High Rank mage and a newbie Transcendent Ranger play in front of his elite squad?
Did this kid really think his bit of concealment magic would be of any use?
“Bringing him along will only affect your movements and drag you down,” Lyon said coldly, attempting to split them.
“Lord Knight Commander!” Lin Gui looked "grief-stricken."
“I know a High Rank Concealment spell! Although I can’t maintain it for long, I can at least cover a certain distance for Theia’s approach and retreat!”
“Please let me go! If I can't live or die with her, what point is there in my living?”
His performance was bordering on melodramatic, but it fit perfectly with the image of a young man blinded by "love."
Lyon stared at him for a long time, his suspicions never truly fading.
But the current situation and mission priority forced his hand.
He let out a cold snort.
“Hmph, if you’re so intent on seeking death, then suit yourself! Remember, don't try anything, or you two will die a very ugly death!”
“Thank you, Lord Knight Commander!” Lin Gui bowed, appearing "overcome with gratitude."
Before they set off, Lin Gui seemed to suddenly remember something and asked casually.
“By the way, Master Scout, there seemed to be more than one Legendary demon in the forest before, right?”
“Where is the other one, the Ironclad Sovereign Gorog Ironjaw, located right now?”
The scout looked at Lyon. Seeing that the knight didn't object, he pointed roughly in a direction.
“It’s deeper to the northwest, near the mine ruins.”
“That area is relatively quiet. As long as you don't actively attack or make a massive noise, that one generally ignores outsiders.”
“Oh, okay, thanks.” Lin Gui nodded, showing no signs of anything unusual.
Then, he took Theia’s hand.
The two looked at each other, took a deep breath, and turned to cautiously sneak toward the terrifying, sleeping giant in the hollow.
Rate on N.U.
