Chapter 26: Going Their Separate Ways

“I’ve taken the money, so I’ll do the job.”

“That’s a matter of principle for an adventurer.”

Dwarf Duval muttered to himself.

Luo Yi—after all, he was the hero who killed the Manticore. Thanks to the loose-lipped monster material merchant Lawrence adding fuel to the fire at the tavern, many people learned of Luo Yi’s story and felt injustice for him.

Thus, in this boy’s darkest hour, the Adventurer’s Guild of Baldwood Town extended a helping hand.

The Guild wanted to pay for the burial of poor old Roderick.

But the price was that Luo Yi, at just twelve or thirteen, had to become a member of the local Guild, serving as their living spokesperson and contributing to the Guild’s cause.

“I object!”

The ones who said this were the merchant Lawrence and the adventurer Duval.

It was the former who couldn’t keep his mouth shut and spread Luo Yi’s story around.

It was also Lawrence who paid for Roderick’s burial… without any conditions attached.

Because heroes deserve respect.

It was the latter who took on this big job—Duval sarcastically remarked that since he accepted the money, he had to deliver Luo Yi to Bali’s side.

Originally, this was Kalgon’s responsibility, since Roderick had been his friend in life.

But Roderick also said he didn’t want his old friend to be torn between loyalty and friendship.

So Kalgon had no choice but to return to the Linde family manor.

Luo Yi’s future was to rely on a kind-hearted dwarf and a foreign merchant?

This was a disgrace to the Kingdom of Norsenia!

But what could be done?

It had been decided from the moment this kingdom chose to pin all the blame for the war defeat on Bali, seize his property and reputation, and even blind the kingdom’s general.

Luckily, Bali wasn’t hard to find.

But unluckily, how was he supposed to explain the situation to this kid Luo Yi?

About how Bali was a pitiful wretch whose eyes had been taken, wandering the streets begging with a child.

Duval found it hard to speak.

It seemed Roderick had never mentioned General Bali’s situation either.

If Luo Yi found out, how heartbroken would he be?

This naive, foolish boy had even mistaken an old monk on the road for Bali…

That old man had once been a military chaplain in the kingdom’s army.

The Sun God Helong’s amulet was rusted, yet he still insisted on wearing it around his neck.

He knew where Bali had gone—so he told the dwarf and the boy.

And so they traveled together in a borrowed carriage (the monster material merchant Lawrence was a really good person), crossing several ferries and villages across the land of Norsenia…

Luo Yi wasn’t the only one running around.

Xue La was too.

The young lady of House Linde had finally arrived at the convent.

This convent sat on a sandbar island in the middle of a river.

Its desolate brick-and-stone structure sent a chill down the spine just by looking at it.

A narrow bridge connected the island to the mainland.

“So this is my new home?”

Xue La frowned, sizing up the people who came to greet her.

House Linde wasn’t a major noble family, but not an obscure minor one either.

So they were well able to pay a hefty sponsorship fee to get Xue La into a convent…

Money makes the world go round—that saying held true everywhere.

It seemed to be a huge sum, so much so that both the head and deputy head nuns of this convent came out to welcome her.

The moment she saw their wrinkled faces, Xue La’s desire to back out grew even stronger.

Stuck with a bunch of old ladies?

That was totally loserville.

Xue La had thought there would be pretty young nuns in the convent!

Wait, wasn’t she herself going to be a young nun?

Anyway, her mother’s arrangement was just this: send her own daughter to a convent for chastity education, sing hymns praising the three gods, copy scriptures, and learn some proper ladylike manners…

Many noble ladies considered training in a convent a required course.

Xue La just never thought it would fall on her head.

The head and deputy nuns had distinct roles, which seemed reflected in their work: the head nun, even while welcoming a newcomer, still clutched a thick scripture, softly singing a hymn to welcome the new sister;

Meanwhile, the deputy nun was more richly dressed and refined, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, walking gracefully with measured steps.

Total game over!

The first taught knowledge to nuns, the second taught maid skills.

She was probably going to have to study day and night without a moment’s free time, right?

She really wanted to look back at her family’s carriage—but the green-backed sheep flag was obviously running faster than a prairie leopard.

It disappeared in a flash!?

She didn’t even get a chance to cry to her father, Count Brian.

“Welcome, Miss Xue La of House Linde…”

The old nun with gold-rimmed glasses began.

“This convent is a sanctuary dedicated to singing the praises of the Moon Goddess Lu’anna. Maisonlogi—in the ancient language, it means ‘River Heart,’ because this land is a blessed treasure ground favored by the goddess…”

Uh-huh, Xue La got it!

…The life that followed was somewhat boring.

Xue La had really wanted to see what she looked like in a nun’s robe—even if it was just a boring black outer robe and white inner clothes.

With her face, she still looked like a little beauty in the mirror.

And if she lifted the hem just a little, she could see her long, fair thighs, wrapped in smooth white thigh-high stockings…

“This is Lust Sin!” the devout head nun would probably shake a bell to warn.

Lust Sin?

She’d rather worship Cunning Sin!

Xue La felt a bit miserable.

She couldn’t see Luo Yi.

Didn’t know how he was doing.

Hiding herself in the convent was just a temporary measure.

If the goal was only to avoid meeting Luo Yi, then she should have already accomplished her mission.

At least Luo Yi didn’t hate her.

But for some reason, she felt a little strange.

There seemed to be a missing piece in her heart…

Because of Luo Yi?

Xue La wasn’t sure.

Luo Yi would eventually become a great Brave—she hadn’t changed the world line, so counting the time—Roy would sooner or later meet Bali and become his disciple and inheritor of his legacy.

Essentially, Epic Fantasy Legend was still a classic RPG of “Brave vs. Demon King.”

Luo Yi was bound to win, so what did Xue La have to fear?

It was good to just be a harmless NPC, living a leisurely, easy life as a noble parasite, wasn’t it?

But she just couldn’t stop worrying about Luo Yi.

He could kill a Manticore with one sword strike, but he couldn’t handle the poison wounds…

That little brother still needed someone to guide him.

With Xue La not by his side… she always worried…

“No, no, no!”

Xue La turned around, no longer looking at the mirror in her room, nor at the calendar on the wall—even though the dates had already been crossed out by Xue La with red ink.

Counting the days, Luo Yi should have met Bali by now, Xue La thought.

…Duval clapped his hands and glanced at this barren land.

“Damn, this is Lower Grino Street?” the dwarf adventurer grumbled, spitting a thick glob of phlegm onto the empty ground.

“I’ve never been here before, but I’ve heard of its reputation.”

“Not a good one, right?”

Luo Yi said, holding his heavy sword—that sword was the last link between him and Sister Xue La.

On this filthy street.

It was filled with suspicious-looking people.

The boy couldn’t believe that the idol of his dreams was now living here.