Chapter 87: Could It Be?

“Magic? She was someone who could use magic?”

“But judging by the complexity of the badge, she was likely a magic apprentice who had only recently entered the Spirit Tower.” Hati tilted her head.

‘Did she meet with an accident so soon after enrolling…?’

Thinking of the “Ani” the girl had mentioned earlier, and that there might be family waiting for her return, Lin Shu’s heart grew even heavier.

“That monster—it’s my first time seeing one like it in all my years of hunting.” Hati stood up. “It’s like a newly appeared species. It’s so strange. It looks like a crawler, but it has feathers.”

“And strangely enough, its desire to attack me wasn’t very strong.”

Lin Shu recalled the details of the battle just now. In the end, that monster had simply fled in a panic instead of continuing its struggle with Hati.

The monster’s appearance really didn’t look like it had evolved from any specific creature.

‘Could it be a hybrid?’

For now, it was best to handle the girl’s belongings first.

“If she wanted us to give her things to someone else, does that mean her home isn’t too far from here?”

“It might be in the settlement up ahead.” Hati nodded. She stepped forward and picked up the girl’s body. “Let’s keep going. Perhaps we can find the person she wanted to entrust these things to.”

“Wait.”

Lin Shu stepped forward, untied the cord of her cloak, and took it off. She draped the cloak over the girl and straightened it slightly to cover the two gruesome wounds.

‘At least her family shouldn’t have to see this horrific sight with their own eyes.’

Hati freed one hand to help Lin Shu wrap the cloak a bit tighter, her eyes darkening.

The two walked along the road for a while before finding flowers scattered across the path ahead, mixed with some strange materials.

Lin Shu recognized those flowers. She had seen them in that book when she first encountered magic; they were materials used for casting low-level spells.

‘Perhaps that girl was attacked by the monster while gathering materials, but her magic couldn’t provide her with the means to defeat it…’

“Why do Humans live in such a dangerous border zone? Their means of self-protection are clearly limited,” Lin Shu couldn’t help but wonder.

Hati explained, “The border zone is dangerous, but it’s rich in unharvested materials, so people risk settling here. How does that saying go? Live off the mountains if you’re near them. Our monster hunting group occasionally takes missions in these border zones, too.”

After walking a bit further, the silhouette of a settlement gradually appeared before them. A small village nestled in a river valley surrounded by mountains and fields.

As they reached the outskirts of the village, Lin Shu and Hati met a man carrying a basket. He was holding a pile of firewood, seemingly returning to the village after gathering wood outside. He had a typical Human appearance with brownish hair. 

He was a Human.

“A—Asha?!”

The man’s face turned pale when he saw the body in Hati’s arms. He dropped the firewood and came stumbling over. “What happened to her?”

Hati said regretfully, “I’m sorry. We found her on the road after she was attacked by a monster, but by the time we arrived, it was too late.”

“No, oh God…” The man shook his head in disbelief.

“Are you a member of her family?”

“No, no, but everyone in the village knows her. Asha was such a kindhearted girl…”

Amidst his grief, he looked up and asked about Lin Shu and Hati’s identities. “Who are you?”

“We are from the Holy Church of the Sacred Race. We’ve just returned from a mission in the Demonic Race’s territory.”

“The Holy Church?” The man’s expression immediately softened, and his tone even carried a hint of respect. “My deepest apologies. Please follow me; I will take you to see the Village Chief.”

Lin Shu was somewhat surprised. She leaned in and whispered into Hati’s ear, “He doesn’t doubt our identity? He just believes us like that?”

This was a remote border zone; logically, they should be exceptionally wary of outsiders.

“This is a Human settlement; they’re under the protection of the Sacred Race,” Hati explained as she gestured for Lin Shu to look at the stone tablet on the village’s outskirts. “The Holy Church comes regularly to perform blessing rituals. Ordinary monsters can’t get near the village. If we were members of the Demonic Race with ill intentions, our heads would probably feel like they were exploding just by coming close.”

“I see,” Lin Shu remarked. 

No wonder Humans chose to rely on the Sacred Race; the Sacred Race even provided them with security services.

Lin Shu followed them into the village. Seeing the villagers, all of whom were Humans, she let out a silent sigh of relief as an indescribable emotion welled up in her heart. After being in this world for so long and living among the Demonic Race, she had finally stepped into a territory belonging to Humans. 

They were beings just like her.

After waiting outside a wooden house for a while, several villagers approached. The Village Chief in the center was a white-haired elder with a weathered face but high spirits. They led Lin Shu and Hati into a small room and sat down.

The Village Chief gave a brief introduction and exchanged some pleasantries before asking about what had happened. Hati and Lin Shu recounted the detailed experience of encountering the monster on the road and trying to save Asha.

Upon hearing this, the Village Chief and the other two villagers fell into silence, their faces filled with grief.

“Asha… at the end, she asked us to give this to someone named ‘Ani.’ Could you please help us pass it on?” Lin Shu took out the badge and placed it on the table.

The Village Chief was silent for a moment before finally shaking his head.

“Ani is her younger sister,” the Village Chief explained. “She is her only relative. I’ve considered it, and we cannot tell her the news of her older sister’s death directly.”

The Village Chief looked up and requested earnestly, “Please, both of you, keep this a secret for the time being as well.”

“Why?” Hati was puzzled. “If her sister is away for a long time and doesn’t come back, how do you plan to explain it to her?”

A villager beside him sighed. “We’ll say that Asha had to return to the Spirit Tower unexpectedly. Her studies there are demanding, and she won’t be back for a long time. Ani is still young, and her personality is sensitive and timid. If she suddenly learns that her sister passed away, we’re afraid she won’t be able to handle it. The village will take good care of Ani first. After some time, we’ll see which suitable family is willing to adopt her. At least for now, it’s really not the time to tell her the truth.”

Lin Shu thought for a moment and felt that this white lie was also a gentle form of protection.

“I understand.” Lin Shu nodded. “You are more familiar with her, and we are just outsiders passing through. It’s best if you decide on this matter.”

The Village Chief expressed his gratitude sincerely and added, “We will secretly bury Asha’s remains in the small woods to the west of the village tonight. That’s also where her parents rest. If you’re willing, you’re welcome to join us.”

***

Night fell.

To help out, Lin Shu followed Hati and several villagers. The small woods were located on a hillside to the west of the village. Carrying lanterns, they walked along the winding path.

After laying the body to rest, the villagers silently filled in the soil. Finally, a villager gently placed a small white flower in front of the mound.

“Chief, could we borrow your small hall?” After the ceremony, Hati asked. “I need to contact the Holy Church to have someone come meet us.”

“Of course.”

“We might need to stay for a few days until the Holy Church’s support arrives, so we’ll be bothering you for a bit…”

While Hati was discussing with the Village Chief, Lin Shu was drawn to a faint red dot in the distance on the hillside. The red dot emitted a dim glow, and its movement was erratic.

The red dot flashed by, causing Lin Shu’s heart to tighten. That silhouette was clearly a bat.

‘Huh? A bat from the Blood Clan?!’

She quickly turned her head and looked at Hati.

At that moment, Hati was conversing with the Village Chief and hadn’t noticed the abnormality on her side.

‘Did Hati not notice, or was it truly just an ordinary bat?’ After all, they were near the wilderness.

When Lin Shu looked back again to confirm, the red dot had already vanished.