I Was The Hero, But I Woke Up as a Phoenix Princess! – Chapter 143

Chapter 143 Chapter 61 Blazing Flames Burn in the Stained Land (4)
“Sin and conspiracies… Bard, you speak the truth. However, is it only my sin and conspiracies that shroud the entire world?”
The black-clothed attendant let out a laugh. He paid no heed to the pale and nervous bard, instead turning his gaze to the girl who had suddenly frowned and bowed again with great decorum.
“Miss Phoenix, your thoughts are not mistaken. This place, belonging solely to the downtrodden of Rubiel’s depths, is indeed a stained land where sin hides, making it a perfect sanctuary for the Bloodwind Blade, or even for meager me.”
“And beyond these filthy streets lies the prosperous city, common to all nobles… Miss Phoenix, are you familiar with such life of embroidered silks and golden goblets filled with jade wine?”
“And further out, lies the kingdom of His Majesty the King of the Sacred Sword. The King is a hero, guarding this world of Sacred Light with unparalleled glory and knights clad in silver-forged luxury… However, beneath the Sacred Light, is it truly the justice and truth they profess?”
Verafia remained silent for a moment before slowly raising her face.
“…What are you trying to say, to justify your evil deeds?”
“Miss Phoenix, I do not believe you would empathize with humans like us. However, you, who are so noble and beautiful, why did you venture into such a mire of conspiracy and betrayal? This is our problem, and we desire your answer… but I believe you may have sufficient reason to discuss it with us.”
“I have nothing to say to you, of powers that lurk in the darkness.”
Verafia suddenly raised her face and spoke, a hint of deep coldness appearing in her beautiful pupils, as brilliant as burning golden flames.
“Who can truly know the heart of a beautiful girl?”
The black-clothed attendant placed his hand on his sword, his smile carrying an air of grace.
“Of course, even if you wished to speak more, I fear I could not. Those self-proclaimed righteous Church Knights may already be approaching this humble self. Thus, beautiful Miss Phoenix, with your radiant flames, receive this next strike from me!”
As his voice fell, the black-clothed attendant raised his wrist, and the slender sword at his waist was drawn once more, attacking with extreme sharpness and terrifying might, as if tearing through space itself.
Verafia’s slender hand, gripping her staff, trembled uncontrollably, and the golden blazing flames she had gathered for a long time poured out with a roar!
Without any thunder or explosion, the pitch-black sword light swept across the ocean of golden flames like the silent night. In an instant, countless radiant golden flower-like flames withered and vanished, but even more dazzling and luxurious scorching golden blazing flames ignited throughout the entire space.
The blazing flames burned with black light in the empty expanse of time.
“This person…”
Verafia emerged from the flames, her beautiful, soft golden hair stirring slightly. She raised her face and gazed at the fireworks that had been annihilated and reignited countless times in a single moment, before falling from mid-air to the already destroyed and damaged ground.
In a very short time, flames reignited on the ground.
“Miss Verafia…”
Hiding behind the girl, the bard, looking terrified, let out a surprised cry.
Verafia glanced back at the bard who had been following her all along. She shook her small face forcefully, a look of annoyance on her delicate little face.
“I never expected that after all the effort this young lady took, I would encounter such a strange person! Letting that old woman with red hair go was one thing, but spewing so much cryptic nonsense at me… If only I could defeat him…”
The girl puffed out her cheeks, baring her little fangs as if acting fierce and biting down hard, then swung her pure white little fist, seeming enraged at the black-clothed attendant just now.
“Miss Verafia, according to what that person said, there is a great conspiracy against Rubiel City. What do you think…”
The bard seemed to hesitate, his eyes revealing concern.
Verafia’s lips curved into a slight smile. She had harbored strong suspicions from the beginning that the bard might be an informant for those lurking behind Rubiel City.
However, since the main culprit had appeared, she no longer needed to concern herself with the bard.
Of course, Verafia had no intention of killing the bard, so continuing to maintain her persona was naturally necessary.
The girl pouted her slender lips, then abruptly turned her face towards the distant open space. Her pure and flawless face was slightly graced by the glow of twilight and flames, but it was evident that she wore a dejected expression after being struck.
“Hmph, of course. This kind of dark and evil force clearly looks like nothing good. But he’s not wrong either. Anyway, the knights of Rubiel are coming, so let them deal with it. This young lady can’t be bothered.”
As her voice trailed off, Verafia raised her eyes and looked around.
Those who had been knocked unconscious or even killed by the aftershocks of the battle lay silent in the world engulfed by flames.
The tavern in the slums had been completely destroyed by the previous strike. Even from a considerable distance, Verafia could sense the panic and fear of the commoners from the scattered shouts, and the silver-armored knights who had already infiltrated the entire alleyway.
As the black-clothed attendant had said, here, in the land of poverty and crime behind Rubiel’s prosperity, they had sown poisonous fruit… and now, it was being burned by flames.
Verafia lowered her pupils slightly, looking at her bare white wrist tightly gripping the staff. Under the scorching golden gaze, a solemn expression appeared.
Although she had only exchanged two blows with that black-clothed attendant, it was clear that even with her full strength, she would absolutely not be his match.
However, as she had thought before, the black-clothed attendant had merely spoken with her, without making any offensive moves. Even his final sword strike did not carry much killing intent.
Was he not worried about her reporting him to the knights of Rubiel… or perhaps, he was not afraid of her doing so?
Verafia waved away with her jade-like palm, and the surrounding constantly burning flames were extinguished. The girl tilted her head slightly, her silk-like beautiful hair sliding down along her flawless tender face. She looked at the ruined scenery around her.
—The people in the slums, the flourishing Rubiel City, and the entire Peka Kingdom under the Sacred Light.
Verafia smiled coldly, her eyes burning with golden flames, a rippling light as sharp as autumn frost.
“However… he was not wrong, this matter has nothing to do with me.”
The expression on the girl’s face slightly settled. She sensed the Temple Knights approaching rapidly and thus raised her eyes slightly to look at the approaching figure, letting out a voice like silver bells, yet not without a question:
“Are you… Avic?”
“Miss Verafia, it’s you?”
The leading young knight could not help but show surprise upon seeing the girl’s face. Avic walked closer, holding the sword at his waist, and looked up forcefully at the girl before him.
“Can you tell me what just happened?”