Chapter 20: Unpleasant Conversation
George exclaimed with enthusiasm, “Once we succeed, future generations will no longer have to worry about the eternal chosen ones donning the Demon Lord’s crown. Huh, Jima, what’s wrong with you?”
“I was momentarily stunned.” At least I could make a wish with the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown, Jima laughed and continued, “That would definitely be a monumental achievement to enter the history books, but I hope that it is you who accomplishes it, and not some newly emerged hero.”
George said, “If we all unite, our chances of success are the highest.”
“Yes, that’s the theory, but I disagree; if it’s the end of the world, then let it be.” Jima said, “So what do you think? Should I consider the greater good and obediently hand over the artifact that can locate the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown?”
“I believe that only I can achieve a legacy that will be remembered for ages.” George’s pride never let Jima down, “Hero Beowulf is certainly a determined person, capable of wielding the holy sword, but I don’t think he can surpass me.”
“Just as I thought, only a great hero is worthy to be my partner.” Jima said, “Eve Frostleaf is now quite alone; she should agree to accompany you on the expedition, though Jenna may need to persuade her. However, I think the biggest challenge is the attitude of the Holy Hall.”
George shook his head, saying, “Only four of us, that’s not enough. I plan to report to the Holy Hall; if they understand, they should dispatch the current hero to assist us, which would increase our success rate.”
Jima confirmed again that George’s workplace emotional intelligence, if scored, would likely hover around thirty points.
Jima said, “The decision-makers at the Holy Hall will surely be furious.”
George said, “Personal emotions need to compromise for the greater good.”
“What if they want you to compromise?”
“I am the best candidate.”
Jima couldn’t help but say, “So you mean, you are the greater good?”
George said, “You can understand it that way too. I will demonstrate to the Holy Hall that your artifact can locate the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown. Do you have the confidence to prove that?”
“Of course.” Jima reached into her chest and pulled out a compass that had been dampened with sweat.
George said, “Could you please place your belongings in a more appropriate place in the future?”
“It’s not easy for me to grow such a good chest that can hold things.” Jima was unyielding, “I’ve long wanted to store items in my chest and pull them out again. Besides, it’s visually pleasing; what’s wrong with that?”
George didn’t say much; he was already accustomed to Jima’s bold teasing actions, which she never repented of.
Jima tightened her grip on the wish compass, saying, “Only when I hold it tightly can it point to the location of the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown.”
After saying that, Jima visualized the fragment of the Demon Lord’s crown in her mind. It was golden, triangular in shape, and felt hot to the touch, capable of igniting desire within people. To wear it, no crowning body was needed.
As long as it was in the hands of its owner, when picked up and placed upon the head, it would float automatically, generating a circle of black, translucent crowning body, and it would float at the position of the central crown teeth, declaring that person’s status and strength to everyone.
But the wish compass did not move.
Jima knew that she still lacked something, a yearning for it.
Jima recalled her previous life, leading fifty demon knights to challenge the Demon Lord alone, the excitement she felt when pulling the fragment of the Demon Lord’s crown from the corpse.
She remembered the feeling after completing the synchronization ceremony, syncing her soul with the fragment of the Demon Lord’s crown and using it to fulfill her wishes, the power that poured into her body.
The sense of fulfillment when a wish was realized was simply indescribable; it felt like the entire world was yielding to her will.
How she longed to obtain it again, to use it to fulfill her own wishes; even if she couldn’t advance, receiving the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown would make her more powerful than diamonds.
Driven by intense desire.
On her white palm, the golden, engraved compass began to spin; the silver pointer started whirling, circling faster and faster, then slowing down, its oscillation diminishing.
George focused on the pointer, and after a minute, the pointer was still swaying, but only by ten degrees.
“It’s too far; it can only point to a general direction.”
Jima felt exhausted; she felt as if her desires had been drained away, entering a sage mode, becoming lazy, bending at the waist, and letting her hand droop.
Should she sleep? Eat something delicious? Or go for some tofu with big breasts and long legs? Ah~~ so boring.
Jima found all of this rather dull.
George asked, “Is it aftereffect?”
“Yes.”
“It looks serious.” George scrutinized Jima, “It seems like it has drained all your vitality.”
“The side effects aren’t that bad; I can still fight, just bored, so bored.” Jima said, “Its side effect is to absorb your desires.”
“That has a significant side effect for you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you are a creature of desire.”
“Oh.” Jima said, “Is it verified? It can find the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown; you know I’m not lying.”
Jima wanted to wrap this up quickly.
“Yes.” George said, “I wanted to ask how you obtained the wish compass?”
Jima was too lazy to lie and chose silence: “…….”
George said, “Actually, I can guess; you must have gotten it from the Demon Lord’s treasury, right? Or maybe from the bank in Shalin City? I noticed something was off with you a while ago.”
Jima felt threatened and said, “With such power in front of me, how could I not be tempted?”
“What do you want from this expedition?”
Jima began to feel that the side effects of the wish compass were starting to fade, evidenced by a rekindling desire for power within her.
Others obeying her, bowing and scraping to fulfill her needs; what a beautiful scene that would be.
“The fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown; it can fulfill my wish,” Jima’s tone rose slightly, but then she felt it was too purposeful and added a nugget of truth: “To heal my soul wound.” And perhaps gain strength to subdue your wives in bed…
“Jenna told me that your soul wound must stem from a dark experience.”
“I’ve said, let’s talk about it after our wedding night.” Jima began to find George’s face annoying.
“I just think that if you tell me, I can better help you heal your soul wound.”
Are you sure you won’t chop me to death?
“No, no.” Jima said, “I think there’s nothing more to discuss, George. Let me remind you, when I use the wish compass to locate the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown, all the diviners focusing on those fragments will be able to sense it.”
“I think the Holy Hall knows the Eternal Chosen One is searching for the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown because they sensed him divining it a few days ago.”
“So, for the sake of the world, you should now turn around, face White City, and then run with all your might, conveying my demands and your demands to the Holy Hall, and then build a small team as quickly as possible to rush northeast, to seize the fragments of the Demon Lord’s crown in this competition.”
George sighed; he increasingly felt that the fog surrounding Jima grew denser, and a certain horrifying suspicion became harder to ignore in his heart — Jima couldn’t be Kima, right?
Without thinking too much, as he lifted his foot to run, Jima called out, “Wait, the Holy Hall won’t take my wish compass in the name of righteousness, will they?”
“They won’t.”
“You guarantee?”
George said, “Only you can use it. Morally and in terms of interests, they won’t.”
“Alright then, the Silver Pegasus is over there; you can ride it to go faster.” Jima waved her hand and said, “Goodbye, George.”
