Chapter: 55. Not Necessarily (4K)
I transformed into Shaya right in front of you; isn’t that straightforward enough?!
Timani stared blankly at the unexpected scene.
It immediately overturned her previous conclusions.
“Got it…! You, calling yourself Shaya, were just pretending to be the Demon Princess and causing a ruckus! Say! What exactly do you intend to…! Huh?!”
“The Demon Princess and Shaya are actually the same person, you silly lizard!”
Clang!
Those who are slow-witted need a good knock on the head; without a heavy punch, they’ll never get smarter.
After Xue Fei punched Timani on the forehead, her head was buzzing, but fortunately, she figured out the situation.
Now, even her eyes had become clear and bright!
…………………………
“What did I say, Xiya? If a person is foolish, they need to be hit; look at her now, isn’t she much smarter?”
“I don’t see her getting any smarter… And Xue Fei, don’t wave your fist in front of me. I may not be very smart, but at least I’m not acting foolishly now.”
“That’s true; we’ll hit when the time comes. I’ve realized that this method really works.”
Miss Shaya lowered her little fist and, following Xiya, turned her gaze to Timani, who was suddenly deep in thought.
Indeed, Timani had figured out that Shaya and the Demon Princess were the same person.
But just knowing this didn’t mean she understood the whole situation.
Her scarlet vertical pupils reflected Shaya’s carefree expression, and Timani’s wariness was heightened; she wasn’t at ease for a moment.
“Why are you telling me all this…? In the end… why are you helping me? Telling me this has no benefit for you, right…? Clearly, you’re a Demon Princess, yet you disguise yourself as a little human girl living in Aulus Kingdom. Your calmness indicates that this is an undisclosed secret, doesn’t it…?”
“Wow, it seems my punch really worked; you’ve genuinely come to understand.”
“I just fainted from hunger…! Cough, if you have something to say, say it quickly. If you don’t, I’ll be leaving. I appreciate your help, but I’m sorry; I never asked for your assistance. So, you don’t need to think you’ll gain any benefits from me.”
Wow… what a nasty-tempered fire lizard.
Like most high-level races, their innate power brings them a sense of pride, never being bound by worldly concerns, with a character that is assertive and decisive.
But they aren’t like Timani, filled with caution and unease about the world.
After all, the world had abandoned her first.
Only then did she turn cold toward it.
Seeing Timani quietly take the fish from her plate and eat it quickly, she turned her face stern and prepared to leave…
Xiya stood up a step ahead and pressed her palm down, signaling Timani to wait a moment.
“Miss Timani, please don’t be so resistant. We have no intention of gaining anything from you; helping you is just flowing with the current. Think about it—if you were in my place and saw someone you’ve met a few times collapse from magic exhaustion, wouldn’t you offer whatever help you can? I think that’s a normal thing to do.”
“Heh… A hero is indeed a hero. I admire your sense of justice and beliefs, but that has nothing to do with me. Just because you would save someone doesn’t mean I have to. You’re a hero; you think saving others is natural. But many times, even if you save someone… when they wake up, they might repay your kindness with malice, just like I… didn’t I just attack you ‘benefactors’ with magic just now?”
Timani chuckled coldly, her scarlet dress flowing like flames.
Her sharp gaze then shifted to Shaya, who was innocently propping her face with her hand.
“For instance, this wicked witch would never choose to save anyone; people are all different…”
“But the one saving you is not me, it’s the witch Xue Fei you call ‘wicked’?” Xiya added.
“What…!”
Timani suddenly stood up, attempting to shatter the other’s “lie” with her incredulous attitude.
But this was destined to be futile.
Because the expressions of the hero and the witch were entirely calm, as if what they said was simply a fact.
No… not as if.
Timani had a premonition that what they said was indeed a fact.
Her increasingly chaotic thoughts, combined with the harsh reality of her defeat in the gladiatorial arena tonight, made her more and more irritable.
She sat down slowly but heavily, impatiently tugging at her red hair, gripping it tightly, with a look of twisted expression.
“Witch… what do you want to do? I remember I told you… I would be leaving Aulus Kingdom in a few days and wouldn’t cause you any trouble.”
“You’ve already caused trouble; that house was burned down by you just now.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose…! I’m sorry…”
“Aren’t you going to apologize properly? Mhm, very good.”
“……”
Xue Fei noticed a detail.
She merely praised her a little, and Timani’s small expression immediately turned excited and happy like a child, but this expression didn’t last for more than a few microseconds before her characteristic cold face returned.
Such a big reaction—does it mean no one usually praises you?
Thanks to this, she finally quieted down temporarily and didn’t overthink things anymore.
After all, Timani subconsciously felt…
The Demon Princess might not be as bad as rumored.
Even when she was drunk in the tavern before, she hadn’t instinctively caused destruction; instead, she had used magic to restore the tavern to its original state.
When she saw herself was hungry, she shared some duck legs and fish with herself.
When she found herself out of money, she had quietly transferred coins into her own pocket.
Such a judgment could be somewhat hasty.
But Timani didn’t have more information; if she excluded the interference of external rumors, she didn’t see this little girl, Shaya, as a bad person.
Thus, Timani weakly drooped her head, becoming less resistant.
“Sigh… so, what do you want to say… don’t think about using me or anything… anyway… I have no utilization value.”
“Don’t think things are so bad; not all fish are the kind that doesn’t bite hooks.”
Xue Fei exchanged glances with Xiya, both feeling that they could communicate with her now.
But from Xiya’s confusion, it was clear she didn’t know what to talk about.
Alright.
Looks like I still have to do it myself.
“I used [High-Level Teleportation] to bring you here; as Xiya said, I have no ill intentions. If you collapse in the gladiatorial arena and no one cares for you, your face as a high-level race would be completely swept away. Being a fire dragon but fainting in a human’s arena means you know what it implies, right?”
“I… of course I understand… at least… I express my gratitude for that.”
She certainly knew this.
Timani’s situation was already difficult; if added to what Xue Fei mentioned, it would likely tarnish the reputation of high-level races and anger her kin…
At that time, Timani might not just be exiled; she could even face retribution from her clan.
Seeing Timani’s expression grow more remorseful and pained, Xue Fei didn’t pause and continued to push the topic forward.
“Additionally, I’m not just helping you for the sake of justice; whether you fall to the ground without help is none of my concern. I brought you over mainly to get an answer to a question from you.”
“Is that so… I understand.”
“Now you don’t feel like I’m trying to use you?”
“I said, I have no utilization value.”
After hearing the witch’s remarks, Timani felt more at ease.
—not just helping me out of fairness, but also needing some information from me.
Timani had observed much good and evil over the years, and she became increasingly convinced that those with both good and evil were the most genuine.
The Demon Princess didn’t hide anything; if she simply claimed she had no motives, that would instead make Timani uneasy.
“What do you want to know…?”
“Well… I won’t say what I want to ask first; the main point is, will you answer?”
“I’ll try. If it’s something I can say, I’ll definitely answer. Although I didn’t ask you to save me, I’m sitting here safe and sound now, so you indeed have a debt of gratitude in my fire dragon clan. Therefore, if it’s something I can say, I will definitely say it.”
“Very good, very good, be more honest; that’s right.”
Wow, look at that; the moment I praised her, her eyes sparkled with little stars.
Xiya was also gazing at Xue Fei’s profile, captivated.
On one hand, it was because Xue Fei was cute, which made her a little dazed; on the other hand, she was curious about what Xue Fei wanted to know from Timani.
Amidst their attention, Xue Fei snapped her fingers.
Transforming back from Miss Shaya to Xue Fei with her dazzling silver hair, she asked.
“It’s nothing important; I just want to inquire if there is any description of the term ‘Dragon God’ within your fire dragon clan? Or in other words… does your kin have a belief in the existence of a ‘Dragon God’?”
“Are you referring to Lord Dragon God Sanoleid?”
“Uh… I think that might indeed be the name? Is he still alive? Has your fire dragon clan seen him these past years? Uh… what’s with that look? How rude.”
“It’s just… mainly I thought you seemed quite smart just now? Why are you suddenly asking such a stupid question?”
“People can be stupid these days too.”
Because Timani thought this question was very strange!
Dragon God Sanoleid was a figure recorded in the mythic epics worshipped by the fire dragon people, said to be the ancestor of all dragons and the source of the proud dragon’s powerful strength, the reason why the dragon clan stands at the pinnacle of the world.
While that does sound very grand…
But it’s just text recorded on yellowing paper!
And the Demon Princess actually asked whether he’s still alive and whether the fire dragon clan has seen him…
No matter how you think about it, those questions are too peculiar, right?
Seeing this fool almost ridicule herself, Xue Fei frowned and continued to inquire.
“What’s with the laughing? If you don’t have it, fine. Setting aside that Lord Sanoleid or whatever, about the term ‘Dragon God’, don’t you have any other expressions about it?”
“Are you prying into the secrets of the fire dragon clan…?”
“If you can say it, then say it. If you don’t want to say it, then it’s fine.”
“Well, it’s not that I can’t say it… it’s not a secret. The Dragon God… that term I do know, and we still use it now.”
“Oh? Do elaborate.”
As their conversation reached here, Xiya finally understood Xue Fei’s intentions.
She was remembering the words of Aimeres, who claimed to be the “Human God,” that she encountered tonight.
Aimeres said that all the gods had fallen and were now missing, still posing a catastrophic threat to this world.
While Xue Fei appeared indifferent on the surface, she had been pondering, probing for clues to at least verify whether Aimeres’s statement was true.
However, Timani’s response after a brief reflection… regarding the “useful information,” was somewhat disappointing.
“The term ‘Dragon God’ within the fire dragon clan is a title. Our clan leader is referred to as the ‘Dragon God.’”
“Is that just what you call it yourselves?”
“No, other dragon kinds call it that too. Because the fire dragon clan is the most powerful existence among all dragon kinds, the ice dragon clan, dark dragon clan, and flying dragon clan also respectfully call our clan leader the ‘Dragon God’ and offer tributes in currency to the fires of the dragon domain every year.”
“Has your clan leader changed before?”
“Well, of course… Isn’t your demon clan all about survival of the fittest? Our fire dragon clan is stronger, and that’s the rule. Whoever is strong challenges the leader and engages in a life-and-death duel. The one who wins becomes the new clan leader, the ‘Dragon God.’”
“Oh, what useless information.”
“What did you say…!”
When Timani spoke about her clan’s rules, there was a clear hint of pride and belonging in her eyes.
At this moment, Xue Fei pouring cold water on her was predictably infuriating.
Ignoring her protest, Xue Fei pondered for a moment.
The information Timani gave seemed useless.
But actually, there was one thing that felt very strange.
——The title ‘Dragon God’ still exists today.
Isn’t that strange? A faith deity of a race has now become a nickname for the clan leader.
For instance, the king of Aulus is called king, and the pope of Corea is called pope.
They would never be referred to as “Human God.”
Of course, it might also be due to local customs being different, so it wouldn’t be a conclusion to draw right now.
Looks like an on-site investigation is necessary…
“I’ve answered your questions!” Timani sat down angrily, her expression suddenly very conflicted, “You’ve asked me for so long; can I ask you a question now?”
“No.”
“You can’t refuse! Who exactly is that Xila?! Why can she defeat me without using all her strength? I even activated domain magic! This is my first time successfully activating a domain! Isn’t that cheating? She must have cheated, right? I can’t understand! Hero, where did this kind of expert come from among you humans?!”
Look at how furious you are; you perfectly illustrate what it means not to be able to lose.
Timani truly cannot afford to lose.
Losing this match means that for a long time to come, she won’t have the chance to return to the Fiery Domain of the Fire Dragons.
“Xue Fei, should we tell her about Xila’s identity?”
“We can talk about it, but not right now. Xiya, she hasn’t told us her true identity either.”
Xue Fei’s sudden comment left Timani momentarily stunned.
Xiya frowned at the remark and asked back, “Identity? Isn’t she from the fire dragon clan…?”
“Conversations should be equal,” Xue Fei opened her hands and shook her head helplessly. “Now I’ve revealed Shaya’s identity and the reason for saving her, but we’re about to talk about Xila’s identity. Yet, you, fire lizard, have said nothing about your own matter. I feel like I’ve treated you to several meals; isn’t that fair?”
“Don’t pry into someone else’s private affairs…” Timani instinctively covered her ears obscured by her hair, her voice suddenly very cold.
Xue Fei fluttered her left eye and waved her hand, pretending to be nonchalant as she casually said, “If you don’t want to say it, then don’t~ Who are you trying to scare? If you don’t want to, then you can leave, go continue to wander, and in the end, as a proud fire dragon, starve to death on some street. After all, you’re so foolish that you can’t even find a way to earn money. Some people, obviously, others might help her, but she’s ungrateful. If she’s ungrateful, then we don’t need to force ourselves to help. Alright, Xiya, it’s time for us to tidy up and have our second late-night snack!”
“Pfft…”
At those words, Xiya couldn’t help but chuckle.
I said Xue Fei… your provocation method is too obvious.
But.
That’s precisely Xue Fei’s character.
Timani’s understanding of human nature is still not profound enough.
She thinks human nature is complex—any help must involve some ulterior motive besides generosity.
But in reality, sometimes, if someone wants to help you…
—it doesn’t necessarily mean they want anything in return.
