Chapter: 59. The Truth (5K)
Gods are shameless, but those who know how to adapt to the situation are true talents.
Xue Fei does not want to be a gentleman, but having studied Sun Tzu’s Art of War in her previous life, she knows the importance of not provoking a lunatic.
This time, Xue Fei simply sat cross-legged in the snow.
Her feet were a bit cold from the frost, but wearing long socks and tall boots kept her warm, so it wasn’t a big issue.
“Is that all? Keep going?”
“Are you still asking…?!”
At this moment, every word Xue Fei explained made her want to raise her little fist and hammer the head of the person opposite.
After all, Aimeres was sitting like a duck with her small hands propped up on the snow, tilting her head to listen to the story; this ancient being acting like a child was truly infuriating!
She wanted to hit her but wouldn’t actually do it.
The reason is still that saying.
Remember, don’t provoke a lunatic.
It was entirely impossible for Xue Fei to have such a harmonious conversation with the behind-the-scenes god of the Church State.
However, due to both sides having such strange temperaments, the scene of the two opposing little girls, each representing their own factions, conversing in the snow, surprisingly didn’t feel that out of place.
“…Ah? You’re asking this again? How would I know why your powers have no effect on me? That Salno Yalin doesn’t exist, and it simply doesn’t exist—I’m just pretending not to know on the surface, but I’ve already mentioned it to Princess Belis in secret, asking her to investigate the situation.”
“Belis…? Oh, Princess Belis Halder, she’s your sister, right? Did she really believe you so easily? My [Creation] should have ensured that she wouldn’t have any doubt about Salno’s existence.”
“Of course, if my sister doesn’t believe me, who will? Believe you? Forget it!”
“You can talk, but don’t curse.”
“Fine.”
You, this god, really underestimate Belis.
Sometimes, even Xue Fei herself has this luxurious worry; Belis’s level of trust in Xue Fei is outrageous.
Let’s put it this way, if Xue Fei told her that the big fish was actually not a big fish but a giraffe, then from now on, the Demon Race’s records about big fish would probably be altered by Princess Belis to “swimming giraffe,” abbreviated as “water deer.”
Belis has unconditional trust in Xue Fei.
It has nothing to do with Belis’s own common sense judgments.
Since the Queen Sister said that Salno Yalin does not exist and there’s a problem, then even if he stood right there talking, in Belis’s eyes, he would be as nonexistent as air.
Xue Fei waved her hand impatiently, trying to simplify the whole matter as much as possible.
“When we were returning home from Aulus Kingdom, we passed through the border city Lide Qidu, and our carriage was stopped by the guards. Only after Belis revealed her identity were we allowed through. At that time, I felt that the garrison of this city, the soldiers of the Third Legion, seemed rather slack and lazy. The entire town gave me a strange feeling.”
“Oh…? Is this a matter worth doubting? There’s no war, and with snow and wind at the border, military idleness is quite normal.”
“Are you stupid? What I mean is, knowing that a princess is present, the commander of the Third Legion did not come out to greet us, and even the lord of Lide Qidu didn’t show up; it was as if they were all dead.”
“Maybe they really are dead. I know your character—you’re afraid of trouble and move quickly, so you naturally won’t encounter such things.”
“Being afraid of trouble is one thing, but as the carriage went far, I quietly went back alone to check again, and indeed, no one came out to greet us.”
“……”
Aimeres’s expression finally showed a pained and helpless emotion.
As a god, she felt a bit speechless.
Who exactly is the lunatic here…
The carriage left, and you want to return to check the situation?
Looking at this silver-haired bundle of fluff, seemingly carefree, but actually harboring such heavy suspicions?
Xue Fei propped her elbow on her knee, changed to a more casual sitting posture, and didn’t mind that she was revealing her hand to the enemy’s mastermind.
“The result of Belis’s investigation revealed that the lord of Lide Qidu was assassinated a month ago for unknown reasons, and the Third Legion has yet to report this incident.”
“Indeed, Murolov Yalin is a cold-blooded guy; I granted him power, and it seems he is keen on using that power to kill.”
“He has gone nearly mad, eager to eliminate dissent as soon as he gains strength… Uh, don’t interrupt. Why are you interrupting again? Are you still listening?”
“I am. I’ve found that I seem to enjoy listening to you talk.”
“Ugh… Then it’s really a loss for me to talk to you.”
In short.
After that, Xue Fei explained to Xiya and the others about the anomalies regarding Salno Yalin and clarified that the First Legion has never had a chief of staff.
Ailer’s trip to Lide Qidu was not accidental; it was Xue Fei’s suggestion to find out the reason.
“I originally planned to arrange for Salno to mobilize the First Legion of the Demon King’s City to appear together with the Third Legion at the Northern Border. If even the Demon King’s personal guard went to the Northern Region, the high-level races would certainly not sit still,” Aimeres said with a hint of regret but without any real regret in her tone. “Unfortunately, the Demon King and the Queen did not trust him.”
“[True Mirror Still Water].”
“Hmm?”
“LOL, you simply can’t do it. Your power hasn’t even deceived my Mother Queen.”
The Demon Queen Herlith possesses eyes similar to Xue Fei’s.
Xue Fei is capable of seeing through lies, while Herlith can see through good and evil.
When discussing the suppression of the rebels in the great hall of the Demon Race, Herlith had already seen through Salno’s inner malice through the [True Mirror Still Water].
But she didn’t make it clear.
After all, among the multitude of noble demons in the hall, if they knew that there was an existence that could influence their perception, it would surely cause panic.
Even Herlith herself had not completely understood what was happening.
—But she still decided to leave this matter entirely to Xue Fei.
This child can cause trouble, but she has substantial capability, and leaving it for her to create chaos gives Herlith no worries.
Thus, it came to pass that Xue Fei was entrusted with the command of the expeditionary army in the Demon King’s Great Hall.
Aimeres, listening now, felt increasingly amused.
“Haha… I see, on the surface, it looks like letting Salno avoid suspicion, making others feel that the royal family is promoting its own people to firmly establish power, but in reality… she has already seen through Salno’s anomalies. [True Mirror Still Water]… Tiyer has indeed left numerous troublesome things for the Demon Race. Then, if that’s the case… Ailer’s trip to the border city was also a ruse, right?”
“Hey, don’t say that; you’re quite clever.”
Isn’t that so?
Initially, Xue Fei arranged for Ailer to scout the border city, but Livra stopped this matter.
She felt that since the enemy was sitting still in the border city, the assassination of the lord seemed more like a bait; they were definitely waiting for something, and there had to be an ambush.
Even if they were to go, they would need to use a fake clone or something like that because they didn’t know what the enemy’s trump card was that made them so audacious.
About Ailer going to the border city being just a clone, this matter was only known to Xue Fei and Livra.
After all, before understanding the whole picture, the fewer people who know the truth, the better.
Later, that descending [Heavenly Dome], Xue Fei arranged for Livra to act alongside Xiya and the others to ensure that this sole informed individual would urge Xiya and the Fire Lizard, those two idiots, to break the sealing completely.
It wasn’t that she was deliberately hiding it from Xiya and Timani; mainly, the two of them were too simple-minded, and time was of the essence—explaining would take a long time.
Livra would probably have them call out to see if their aunt’s clone was still around, right?
Since it was just Ailer’s clone that was sealed by the [Heavenly Dome], then from the very beginning, the fact that “the Eldest Princess was sealed by the rebels” never existed.
“I made my aunt’s clone leave laughter before dissipating to make you think she was truly trapped.”
“What’s the goal?”
“Of course—delaying time.”
“……”
Xue Fei let out a relaxed chuckle.
It seems some things in her heart have finally settled.
She looked toward the far end of the sky.
On that side is the north of the Northern Region, the residence of the high-level races.
“Ailer Aunt is more suited to traveling the world; she cannot be trapped. Her main body has long arrived at the negotiation table of the high-level races, and by now, they have probably reached an agreement, right?”
The smile of the Demon Race’s First Princess was gradually hard to conceal.
It was as if the true mastermind was actually her.
“The clone can feedback the information seen to the main body. You left so much defamatory information about the high-level races inside the sealing barrier, trying to divert blame; Aunt Ailer can present everything her clone saw at the negotiation table through [Mapping]. My mighty lord, what do you think… those high-level races, upon realizing someone wants to frame them, treating them as fools, hee hee… what kind of expressions would they have?”
“Such nonsense. This could completely be a self-directed play by you demons.”
“Originally, it was this way, but now it isn’t anymore.”
As the words fell.
Aimeres’s mind flashed with an immense amount of information.
Among them, the most contradictory point was evident.
“You are well aware that the barrier did not seal the real Ailer… so why arrange for Xiya and the others to break the barrier?”
“Know-it-all,” Xue Fei’s gaze grew even colder as she looked down at the small god sitting on the ground, “If you don’t break the barrier and don’t let everything proceed according to your plan, will you, this god hiding behind the scenes, reveal yourself?”
Xue Fei slowly raised her palm.
In her palm appeared the second Demon Sealing Crystal.
Aimeres saw the magic contained within this crystal and immediately understood everything.
She didn’t hesitate to praise her.
The tiny god clapped enthusiastically as if Xue Fei had invited her to a splendid feast.
“Hahaha, very good, you actually thought to seal the [Heavenly Dome] within it? Indeed, this way, we Church State would have to stand in opposition to the high-level races!”
“Thanks to Murolov’s last-ditch effort, he used [Heavenly Dome] once again. At that time, I was worried he would forget to use this trump card, which could have delayed the opportunity.”
The [Heavenly Dome] was not Aimeres’s power.
Xue Fei, who often indulged in studying various countries’ magical literature, could tell at a glance that this magic was based on the magical attainments of the Corea Church State.
She speculated that this was probably the Pope’s magic, augmented by Aimeres’s magical power.
Going to negotiate with the high-level races, the Demon Race originally had no evidence; even if Ailer Aunt explicitly said the Corea Church State wanted to stir trouble, there was still a dangerous figure behind the Church State, warning the high-level races not to be fooled.
—Even so, given the high-level races’ prejudice against the Demon Race, they would just consider this a self-directed play by the Demon Race, trying to frame the Church State to improve their own situation.
But now, with this material evidence, it completely changed the game.
“Don’t always think the Demon Race has to be the one being plotted against; no one has a better temper than the other.”
Xue Fei’s wings shaking off snow became increasingly desolate, as if to warn Aimeres and the Church State behind her.
“You keep thinking that after a hundred or a thousand years, you can entice the high-level races to balance against the Demon Race, watching from the sidelines, but this balance… only needs a little weight to tilt in a different direction.”
The Demon Race is not so easily crushed; a thousand years of oppression has not stopped the prosperity of the Demon Race.
But what about your Church State?
If this balance ever tilts away from you even once, it will be a catastrophic disaster.
For both the aloof Pope of the Church State and the innocent populace, it signifies the same destruction.
If this is your god’s doing…
Then you can continue.
Xue Fei stored this crystal away.
Under her silver bangs, the deep purple eyes harbored dim lights, accompanied by a smirk, her little tiger teeth were as agile as a cat’s, but the pressure they brought was akin to the sharp teeth of a fearsome creature.
Aimeres was also slowly standing up.
She now looked at Xue Fei in front of her.
Though both were smiling, their smiles had already changed from when they first met.
“I see… Xue Fei Halder, this is your true face?”
“Yes.” Xue Fei placed a finger on Aimeres’s forehead, her “smile” unchanged, “I truly cherish my everyday life. Every day spent with Xiya and Belis is my whole life. If anyone tries to destroy this peace from my side…”
Her fingertip pressed harder, seemingly ready to extinguish Aimeres’s breath at any moment.
But gods, how could they need breathing the air of mortals?
“Ha… so you mean, even if you dislike killing, you might still slaughter life?”
“You can try; if that day truly comes… the blame will be on you.” Xue Fei asserted, “And it will not be on me.”
The wind couldn’t lift Xue Fei’s silver hair.
Noon’s light could not illuminate her dark dress.
In the fleeting glance downward at the god, the heavy killing intent was filled with vigilance and warning.
There are no dark stars in the daytime; it’s just too bright that they are always unseen.
If there were any mythological imagery, it would surely record this scene in the annals of history.
Uncertain how long the standoff lasted, or perhaps it was only a few seconds.
“With light comes shadow; that is an ironclad rule that even I cannot escape.”
Aimeres returned a haughty sneer.
Facing Xue Fei’s gaze, golden particles of light began to manifest.
“Heh heh… no matter how many years pass, the Demon Race will always be selfish and arrogant, you… are actually quite selfish.”
“Likewise, you’re not any better.”
“Clearly possessing power on par with the gods, only for a few mortals you think you love, is it really worth it?”
“To ask such a strange question probably means no one loves you.”
“……”
From beginning to end, the human gods remained emotionless as in the legends.
But who knows which remark offended the divine might, with chaos surging in the sea of stars.
Soon, it returned to calm.
Aimeres slowly lowered her arms covered in golden robes.
The softened smile remained childlike, innocent, carefree, and danced lightly.
She tilted her head and smiled, her cascading golden hair tilted.
It is unclear whether she was satisfied with today’s meeting.
“I understand, I can accept your advice; before retrieving the stars, I also do not wish to be enemies with a selfish demon like you.”
“You’d better truly not want to.”
“Hmm, I really am not trusted, am I…”
The faint disappointment was well concealed.
Aimeres’s figure flickered between brilliance and obscurity, gradually transformed into ascending golden particles of light, speeding away into nothingness.
“I can’t maintain it for long… By the way, let me share some good news with you, Xue Fei.”
“You? Good news? Get real, you always come out to just give me…”
“Five miles north from here is an arctic ice lake, rich in fish resources, which was covered by snow and wind in ancient times; you can…”
“North?! Northwest or northeast! Or straight north?! Hey…?!”
Before Aimeres finished speaking, she completely transformed into golden light and vanished.
Tsk.
This unfortunate thing, when you want to chase her away, she won’t leave; when you want to hear her finish telling you where the big fish is, she disappears.
Forget it~
Xue Fei put her hands into her pockets, feeling around for coins.
The sound of coins clinking was very pleasant.
—But Xue Fei’s mood was very hard to calm down.
Hmm…
Maybe she should look for the big fish later.
With her eight wings folded down, transforming into six wings, she employed super acceleration to lift off from the ground.
Following the vague path of the vast snowy plains.
Xue Fei flew very fast.
The cry of a lost lone bird on the icy plains sought its flock, and Xue Fei brushed past without stopping.
…What a miserable feeling.
Sometimes… wanting to actively seek a hug from Xiya and Belis, what is going on…!
