Chapter 157: Unexpected Effects

Celes’s heart skipped a beat.

“What happened next?”

“After that, the Demon King was gone. They say he was gravely wounded and never recovered, his soul returning to the grave. Some ambitious high-ranking officials and tribal chiefs drove us out and reverted to their old brutal ways, short-sighted and eager to expand outward!”

Even though Ayla had told him to stay calm last night, Gumu couldn’t hold back his righteous anger when talking about these things.

But then he realized the girl had gone silent.

Crap, did she not believe him?

To prove it was true, Gumu gave an example.

“Take the Wolfhead Tribe for instance. Lady Ayla had once restrained them, forbidding them from crossing the border. But after those vermin came to power for just a few days, the wolf pups openly attacked Lilburg. In the end, they brought disaster upon themselves and others.”

Lilburg…

Yes, there used to be a place called Lilburg, where many residents struggled to survive, but now there’s nothing left—only a cold Northern Frontier Line and countless corpses buried beneath the frozen soil.

And all of this happened after the Demon King was driven away.

Celes’s mood grew heavy.

Gumu didn’t know her exact thoughts, but seeing her reaction, he guessed she was listening, so he cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

“Miss Celes, I have an unreasonable request. It’s a thought buried in the hearts of all our brothers. No one wanted to bring it up to avoid burdening her. Today, for the hope of returning home, for the countless people yearning for peace, and to stop the current demon clan’s reckless attacks, I decided to speak out!”

The girl seemed to awaken from a dream.

“What is it?”

“Please persuade Lady Ayla to lead us back, purge the traitors, and set things right!”

Gumu bowed deeply.

“Please!”

***

Ayla tried for a long time but couldn’t convince Leah to give up her wild ideas.

“You command so many evil magic spells. It’s impossible for you to just abandon your skills. If this keeps up, it’s too dark—you need something bright to balance it.”

Saintess spoke with righteous confidence.

“Using pearl powder on the statue so it glows every night means you’re constantly replenishing light energy.”

As a divine Saintess, she naturally thought like a god.

“I’m begging you…”

“Begging won’t work!”

Zero finished her carving, blew away the coral dust, and immediately wrapped it up in cloth, hiding what she’d made.

Even Vina tried to sneak a peek, but saw nothing, feeling both annoyed and helpless.

After all, as a mage, she was at a disadvantage trying to spy on an assassin.

“What happened between you three, anyway?”

She asked, not giving up.

“Why are you covering for those two?”

Zero tied the cloth-wrapped bundle to her waist and gave a sunny smile.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. We’re a team—it’s normal to be close to your companions. We’re all good friends.”

Vina rolled her eyes hard.

A team?

More like a little clique!

At that moment, a girl’s figure slowly returned in the distance.

Ayla, who had been watching, immediately stood up and ran over.

“Celes, you’re back. How do you feel? Any better?”

The girl lifted her head and managed a weak smile.

“I’m okay.”

If you said she was relaxed, she didn’t look it.

But if she wasn’t, then the six fishmen who were beheaded didn’t die for nothing.

Ayla looked past her and saw Gumu in the distance making an innocent gesture.

I don’t know. I said what I had to, and didn’t say anything I shouldn’t.

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing.”

Celes shook her head.

“I just want to go rest.”

No matter what, lunchtime had arrived, and the day’s trip to the beach was over.

Leah picked up a bag of pearl shells, planning to send them to the Church Division in the afternoon for Ami to examine.

Since he used to be a skilled worker in the Workshop, he could see how to turn them into building materials.

Zero found a large piece of coral on the beach, finished her carving, and packed it away.

No one knew what she had made, but she seemed in high spirits.

Everyone gained something and returned satisfied.

After eating at the inn, Celes locked herself alone in her room.

“What’s with her?”

Vina asked curiously.

“She doesn’t look like she’s in a hurry for a nap.”

“Maybe she’s tired,”

Ayla replied gently.

“In the morning, she joined the Patrol Squad in hunting sea demons, so she probably needs a break.”

In truth, she didn’t know why either—and she wanted to know more than anyone.

In the afternoon, Leah went to the Church, and after she left, Ayla stood up as well, saying she wanted to check out the Church too.

But instead, she went alone to the beach and found the Patrol Squad.

“Where’s Gumu?”

A few minutes later, the one-eyed general rushed over and stood before the girl, carefully repeating everything he’d told Celes that day.

Ayla listened carefully.

“That’s all?”

“Yes, that’s all.”

Gumu raised his hand and swore.

“I didn’t say a word more.”

That’s strange. If that’s all, why did Celes react like that?

“Lady Ayla, did I mess up?”

“Hard to say. I don’t know either.”

After sending Gumu away, Ayla wandered the beach for a while before returning to the inn.

The small room was still quiet.

She walked over, raised her hand as if to knock, but finally let it fall.

Don’t rush.

If she went over to talk now, it would seem too deliberate.

Compared to the morning at the beach, the girls’ afternoon was uneventful.

Everyone had their own things to do—eating and sleeping as usual.

Closing the window and shutting out the sea breeze, Ayla lay down on the bed, pulled up the small blanket, and prepared to sleep.

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

Footsteps made her open her eyes again.

Half a minute later, a somewhat familiar yet not-so-familiar body climbed onto the bed, hugging her from behind.

Ayla blinked in the darkness, feeling a little complicated.

How to describe it?

It was like opening the door to an old friend, only to realize it was a childhood friend you hadn’t seen in decades.

To confirm her guess, she tested it.

“Celes?”

“Mm.”

So it really was!

“You… what’s wrong?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

The girl hugged the waist of the pink-haired girl tightly.

“Someone told me some things on the beach today.”

Ayla’s mouth twitched, feeling even more puzzled.

She knew that for Celes to come over and hold her like this in the middle of the night could only mean one thing—the pressure was too much to bear.

But the problem was, the number of times the Sword Saint girl couldn’t handle pressure could be counted on one hand.

When fighting evil cultists in Harbor City, she didn’t falter.

In the Great Forest, battling thousand-year-old demon spirits, even when her sword broke, she didn’t waver.

So why was she so affected by a few words today?

Why?