Chapter 284 Chapter Two Hundred Eighty-Two: Slipping Away
The fun is great.
The extraordinary material of the Demon King that could provoke a war worthy of being recorded in history has simply disappeared.
King Richard I of England still felt a faint pain in his left arm; the Demon King Kima’s attack was very particular, targeting the more vulnerable limbs, taking advantage of his injury to launch a series of terrifying offensives that almost made him think he was about to meet the lake goddess.
Almost, just a little.
Because of this, King Richard I held a great respect for George, who was able to slay the Demon King Kima with a single sword.
King Richard I’s square jaw moved as he said, “I will witness it with my own eyes.”
Saying that, disregarding his injuries, he rode his griffin to the scene of the incident.
The corpse of Demon King Kima lay on the ground, untouched by anyone; its limbs twisted, looking quite eerie. On the corpse’s face, the broken lips seemed to slightly curl upwards, scoffing at something.
King Richard I couldn’t help but recall the earlier experience of being ambushed by Demon King Kima, almost dying; the fear that surfaced in his heart was quickly suppressed.
He understood that this was a psychological consequence left over from the attack by Demon King Kima, injecting his body with a poison called cowardice, much like a venomous snake.
King Richard I easily suppressed this fear and said, “It’s his corpse; he can provoke the poison of fear within me.”
The Holy Grail Maiden accompanying him said, “Your Majesty, but there is not a trace of extraordinary material in this corpse.”
“Did someone steal it?” King Richard I asked. “Just like the Mother of All Beasts, I wonder what kind of secret method she used to quickly gather the Demon King’s extraordinary material.”
“No, Your Majesty,” the Holy Grail Maiden replied. “According to our research, there are no signs that the Demon King’s extraordinary material was siphoned off by any secret method from the corpse.”
“To put it simply.”
“Since George was discovered, there have been people watching the Mother of All Beasts and the Demon King’s corpse.” The Holy Grail Maiden said, “According to our conjectures and divinations, at that time, there was already no extraordinary material left in the Demon King’s corpse; even if the siphoning method was very quick, it would still be impossible.”
“I mean, get to the conclusion directly.”
The Holy Grail Maiden said, “There are several conjectures.”
“It could be the conspiracy of the Lord of Deception among the Four Dark Gods; he excels in fraud and transformation. If he personally acted, no one in the world could uncover his lies.”
“Are you suggesting that the Demon King Kima, who injured me, was merely an illusion created by the Lord of Deception?” King Richard I’s voice grew heavier.
“It’s possible.”
King Richard I suppressed his impatience and said, “Continue.”
“It’s also possible that the one who injured you was a puppet.”
“Alright.” King Richard I said, “I will go directly to ask George.”
“Someone witnessed George fighting alongside the Demon King Kima, surrounding and killing the Mother of All Beasts.” The Holy Grail Maiden said, “Furthermore, someone saw with their own eyes that the Succubus Kima was about to be dragged into the belly of the Mother of All Beasts and should have been dead by now. The knights now suspect the relationship between George and the Demon King.”
“I knew that succubus was problematic.” King Richard I couldn’t help but grip his still faintly aching left arm, “Find that succubus immediately; I have many questions to ask her.”
“Yes.”
“I’m slipping away.”
In the distance, Kima was flying wildly while holding a cat.
Unlike George, she was not in the mood to prove herself to others.
Rationally speaking, she wouldn’t be in life-threatening danger; as long as she kept her mouth shut about the core secrets, she would be fine.
Moreover, with George around, he could prove that she backstabbed the Mother of All Beasts and was on the “just” side. Even if there were many unspeakable secrets involved, others couldn’t do anything to her.
But come on.
Such troublesome and laborious matters were only for fools not to escape.
As for leaving George behind, Kima felt absolutely no guilt.
King Richard I would undoubtedly be very angry and blame George. The knights, who already held grievances against George, would certainly use this as an excuse to attack him.
But how to put it?
For the youth, opening a harem does come with a cost.
For me, a beauty like no other, skilled in cooking and fighting, well-versed in techniques and postures, and open-minded, helping you here and there—wasn’t it all to push you out when needed to take the blame?
Isn’t the tail just a joke?
At worst, I can find George another young wife to make amends.
Sigh, look at this. A woman as broad-minded as me is hard to find.
“Meow, gurrr.” The Liansi Cat in her arms licked Kima’s hand and weakly uttered a sound of “hungry.”
This battle had dragged on since morning, and the Liansi Cat, forgotten by Kima, hadn’t eaten anything. When Kima found her, she was pouting her round backside, with a palm-sized burn mark on it.
Kima said, “Hang in there, little Li. We’re being chased.”
After saying that, Kima became dramatic.
She suddenly recalled certain fantastical works she had seen in her past life on Earth, where various demons, witches, and magical beings had names scarier than the other, yet were actually kinder than George, that idiot.
But they were persecuted by a decaying, reactionary church due to the prejudice of the world, where their good intentions were viewed as malicious.
Kima placed herself among them, blinked, and tears began to fall:
“There’s no choice; what can I do? I’m a demon. Even if I do my utmost to turn the tide and personally kill the Mother of All Beasts without taking a single grain, humans still consider me a villain, believing I have some conspiracy to burn me at the stake.”
“I’d like to seek help from George, but how can I bear to? He, too, is a pitiful person, being the son of the Mother of All Beasts; he can hardly protect himself.”
“There’s no choice; I can only run. Let the world smear my achievements since, for the knights, a demon achieving great feats is an offense to their values and a mockery of them.”
The Liansi Cat let out a sorrowful meow, a tear rolling down its feline eye as it leaned forward and rubbed against Kima’s soft chest.
She thought: My master is so pitiful; even when running for her life, she still thinks of me. Indeed, I am her most important cat.
Kima lowered her head, using the Liansi Cat’s fur to wipe her tears, choked up, and said, “Okay, we should be safe now. Sleep well until I summon you.”
“Meow meow.”
Kima slowly descended; under the night sky, she opened an entrance to the Dream Palace and leaped into the dreamscape, instantly returning to the wealthy Malin City, far away from this harsh land filled with death and blood.
…
…
“That’s wonderful! So wonderful.”
The witch hunter Arkanis jumped out of bed, ruffling his messy black hair. “That annoying vampire demon didn’t drag me today; she might have already died.”
What great news! That astronomical rescue fee wouldn’t need to be paid; he should celebrate a little.
The witch hunter Arkanis glanced at the witch hunter’s leather high hat on the table, tucked it away, changed into a different set of clothes, and prepared to go out in search of a chicken.
He remembered that a coachman had recommended a place to him after taking gold coins a few days ago.
What were you waiting for? Hurry up and go.
Arkanis opened the door and saw the petite Veilin standing behind it; she was becoming increasingly beautiful, her skin as white as snow, dressed appropriately in a gown, her features exquisite yet very quiet.
If not for Arkanis’ habit of observing her nostrils and noticing that they were slightly flaring with breath, he might have thought she was a delicate doll.
“Arkanis?” Veilin said, clutching the hem of her skirt and slightly bending, “You seem very happy after sleeping all day today?”
“Isn’t it? One of my old friends is dying; no, she’s definitely dead. That’s what I think.”
“Today just happens to be a festival in the Aivi region.” Veilin’s green eyes shone with a peculiar light. “It’s dangerous at night; will you take me to have a look?”
Arkanis suddenly realized that Veilin was dressed neatly today, her collar adorned with an emerald gemstone. “Veilin, you look much prettier today.”
Veilin tilted her head slightly, smiling beautifully, “Really?”
“But no matter how you put on makeup, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re still a little kid,” Arkanis said. “Hurry back to your room and get some good sleep; at night, vampires love to eat white, tender little kids like you.”
“Where are you going?”
“Of course, I’m going out to play.”
“Where to play?”
“Not telling you; it’s better for little kids not to know.” Arkanis pushed Veilin back into her room, abruptly closed the door, and said, “There’s milk on the table; drink it and go to sleep. Don’t stay up late again.”
After saying that, Arkanis rushed down the stairs like the wind, running out of the inn; to anyone unaware, they would think he was a thief.
He completely failed to notice that a blood-eyed figure peeked out of a window on the second floor, watching Arkanis leave. Soon after, a white bat flew out from behind the window.
Twenty minutes later.
Under the guidance of the old coachman, Arkanis arrived at a residential area with red tiles, triangular roofs, and clean streets, where only a few ruffians were fighting.
The carriage stopped.
“Old coachman,” Arkanis said, “You didn’t take me to the wrong place, did you? This looks like a place for decent people.”
The old coachman, having received a gold coin, said, “With a face like yours, I can’t believe you don’t know; you must be from out of town.”
“Correct.”
“Second floor, left turn, second room, knock on the door, and you’ll be fine.”
“If you lied to me…”
“What would I lie to you for? If I did, my head would be separated from my body immediately.”
Just after his words fell, the shadow of the old coachman slightly shivered.
Arkanis jumped off the carriage, saying, “Alright, with your oath, I can rest assured.”
After saying that, Arkanis hopped up the stairs, and sure enough, he found a red door. He straightened his back, knocked gently, coughed, and asked, “Is anyone there? Witch—”
He immediately shut his mouth, narrowly avoiding a slip due to his profession.
The red door opened halfway, revealing a woman with chestnut-colored hair, about twenty-eight years old. She looked like a housewife, her hair neatly tied back, her white blouse fairly full, revealing half of her cleavage, and an apron tied around her waist.
At first glance, she seemed just like an attractive housewife, absolutely not like a fallen woman.
Arkanis was taken aback and took a step back.
“Sir, can I help you?”
Arkanis felt a bit awkward, took out a bag of prepared gold coins, and stammered, “This, I…”
The chestnut-haired woman smiled, reaching for the gold coins, saying, “That’s right, this is the place.”
Arkanis asked, “Are you available today?”
The chestnut-haired woman naturally took the bag of gold coins, saying, “Darling, coming home so late, hurry inside; I’ve cooked dinner for you.”
“Uh? Me?”
The chestnut-haired woman handed him a bowl of warm soup, saying, “Drink some soup first to warm yourself up.”
“Home?” Arkanis suddenly understood, a smile spreading across his face as he stepped over the threshold, “Right, right.”
The red door closed, and the chestnut-haired woman undid Arkanis’s cloak, taking a closer look and saying, “You’ve lost a button; I’ll sew it back for you later. It doesn’t fit well; I’ll help you alter it as well.”
Holding the soup, Arkanis said, “Sounds good.”
He watched as the chestnut-haired woman went to pull up the blue curtains, with the sound of the old coachman’s departing wheels outside.
The chestnut-haired woman hung up Arkanis’s cloak, bent down, and changed his shoes for him.
Arkanis took a sip of the soup, which tasted quite good, then looked down at the chestnut-haired woman and asked, “What’s your name?”
The chestnut-haired woman looked up in surprise, her voice filled with a hint of melancholy, saying, “I’m Dunana. If you forget me again, I’ll be unhappy.”
“Alright, Dunana.”
Arkanis looked up, taking in this “home,” the candlelight illuminating the old furniture, the air filled with the scent of food and smoke, suddenly making him reminisce about a vaguely remembered time of coming home for a meal during his childhood.
Back then, there was no plague, no famine. There was no need to rise daily and go out to steal, to perform, to pick locks, and turn in all the loot to the gang.
He could play freely in the streets without a worry, knowing he had a home behind him, where he could always fill his belly when hungry.
What a wonderful yet fleeting time, so fleeting that Arkanis nearly forgot it.
The chestnut-haired woman gently tugged at his arm, pulling Arkanis back from his memories.
“Would you like to eat first?” she said, pointing to the kitchen, “or would you like to…”
At that moment, the chestnut-haired woman’s fingers pointed toward the bedroom.
Arkanis smiled, “I want both, but let’s eat first.”
“Delicious.”
“Hahaha, indeed! I encountered a pack of bloodthirsty beasts outside, but thankfully your husband fought bravely, along with a little help from Sigma.”
The next morning.
Arkanis walked out of the bedroom, and the chestnut-haired woman handed him the cloaked garment she had mended.
She instructed, “When you go out to handle matters, take care of your health, and don’t engage in life-threatening work again. You don’t need to worry too much about the household, just finish your business quickly and come home early.”
Arkanis donned the cloak, descended the stairs, feeling cheerful as he ran quickly. When he reached the corner, he suddenly turned around and saw the chestnut-haired woman by the window, watching him leave.
Arkanis smiled at her, turned back, blinked, and left with quick steps.
Behind the chestnut-haired woman stood a girl with red eyes and silver hair, having been outside for nearly an entire night. She gritted her teeth, her fangs extending from her red lips, glaring with a look of resentment at the
