Chapter 58
“What’s wrong? Why the long face?” Lian Qi asked me on the way back to the academy.
“It’s nothing, just… got a little something on my mind.”
“Calculating how many calories you just ate?”
“…What are you talking about.”
I cleared my throat solemnly and stopped thinking about the Demon King.
“You said something really wicked just now. That ‘Sorry. As for me, I can indeed do whatever I want’ stuff? I feel like I became your accomplice…”
“I said that to slap that rich-second-generation’s face. Who told him to say that being rich means you can do whatever you want?”
“And now the Queen has been kept in the dark by you. I feel a little guilty towards her afterward.”
“It really is part of the plan to defeat the Demon King.”
I shot her a glare. “Only a ghost would believe you.”
I’m not the same person I was when I first met Lian Qi. Back then, I really couldn’t figure her out.
“I have to understand my opponent first, don’t I? The school she stayed at, the restaurant she ate at… Me, I’m currently investigating her past.”
“…You clearly only found out That person used to eat at this restaurant often after Sylviel said it.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“I…”
I fell silent. According to what Lian Qi said, one must first understand their opponent. In that case, is it really necessary to investigate That person’s past?
“Watch out!”
“Eh?”
I had just been spacing out. Lian Qi suddenly grabbed my hand. I saw a door appear out of thin air right in front of us!?
Just a perfectly ordinary house door painted white.
Lian Qi warily pulled me back. She must think this door is very suspicious. But I know whose inherent magic this is. Before I had time to explain, Sword Saint Sister Liwei burst out of the door in a flurry and grabbed my hand—
“I found you! No time to explain, come with me, quick!”
“E-e-eh???”
I was caught off guard and flustered. I have no idea what’s going on!
Liwei yanked on me but couldn’t pull me, because Lian Qi was holding onto my other hand and wouldn’t let go.
“Wait! Who are you?” Lian Qi pulled us apart and pulled me behind her protectively.
Sister Liwei froze for a second, then gave an awkward laugh. “Ah… You wouldn’t happen to be the transmigrator from another dimension, would you?”
“You know my identity?”
“It’s okay, Lian Qi. Don’t be nervous. She’s actually my friend,” I quickly explained, tugging on the corner of Lian Qi’s clothes.
It’s no wonder Lian Qi is wary. She just popped up out of nowhere and looked like she was trying to abduct me.
“Friend?”
“Mhm… Let me introduce you. This is Sword Saint Liwei. My birthday present, the Dragon’s Tooth dagger, was a gift from her.”
“That’s right! I pulled it from a dragon’s mouth with my own two hands,”1 Sister Liwei said proudly, puffing out her chest.
“Sword Saint!?”
This young lady with the white cape, a sword at her waist, and light brown hair actually obtained the title of “Sword Saint” at such a young age. It’s no wonder Lian Qi is surprised, right?
Wait— When Lian Qi gets back, is she going to question me again about how I know such an incredible person? Actually, Sister Liwei and I met through Sister Mouyue. They’re adventurers in the same party. As for why I—the Saintess of the Church of Holy Light—would have dealings with adventurers… it’s a long story.
Then, I introduced Lian Qi to Sister Liwei— “She’s the transmigrator from another dimension. Her name is Lian Qi.”
“Hoh~ You really can’t judge a book by its cover. I thought the transmigrator from the prophecy would be a bit… stronger-looking.”
“Wh-what was that?”
Donk—!
A staff reached out from the door and bonked Liwei on the head.
“What you said was too rude.” The petite, shoulder-length blue-haired magician wearing a pointed wizard’s hat, Nono, walked out of the door.
That’s right. This door appearing from thin air is her teleportation magic.
I quickly introduced her to Lian Qi: “This is the Great Magician Nono. She was in the same year as Qifeng at the Magic Academy!”
“Qifeng? Yes, I know her. She was the ‘school flower’ of our year.”
Nono walked straight up to Lian Qi and looked up at her.
“You are the Child of Prophecy? As the Demon King’s fated enemy, you… aren’t you afraid?”
“Eh? Afraid? Why?” Lian Qi was a bit baffled by Nono’s question.
“You’re right. Of course you wouldn’t be afraid. Because you haven’t personally experienced the Demon King’s terror.”
I gave a helpless, bitter smile. Nono personally experienced the collapse of the Magic Academy Tower and the Demon King’s massacre of the school and all the teachers. It’s left a shadow in her heart.
“If I were afraid, I’d just hide in my villa and not come out,” Lian Qi muttered. She then asked, “Are you here for Fei’er? You grabbed her hand just now, where were you trying to take her?”
“Ah! It’s like this, oh Transmigrator. Can you lend us your maid for a little while?” Sister Liwei said with a laugh, grabbing my hand again to pull me away…! She seems to be in a huge hurry?
I heard Nono whisper in my ear, “Everyone’s already in position and just waiting for you.”
Ah…
It suddenly dawned on me. I understood what they needed me for.
Lian Qi’s brow furrowed— “What? Fei’er still has to watch me compete in the tournament tomorrow.”
“Just for a little while! We promise to return her to you safe and sound tonight. That’s all, ‘kay, bye-bye~~”
“You’re going with them, aren’t you?” Lian Qi’s expression darkened.
“I… I… Because I commissioned them to catch a unicorn before, so…”
I was trying to say that since they’re asking for my help this time, it’s hard for me to refuse. Lian Qi isn’t angry, is she?
“Um, um… Please, whatever you do, don’t tell Sister Aijieliya about this! Help me keep it a secret, I’m begging you…!” I pleaded with Lian Qi, but I don’t know if she even heard me.
The next instant, I disappeared through the portal…
I’ll have to explain everything properly to Lian Qi when I get back…
On the other side of the portal was a young woman’s boudoir. I knew I was now inside Nono’s inherent magic, “The Sanctuary Far From the Demon King.” Within this little pocket dimension, she can create portals to other places.
“What monster are you all preparing to subjugate this time?” I asked weakly.
“It’s like this: the permafrost south of Falanlun suddenly thawed. That place has now turned into a swamp, and a powerful Dragonoid that was sealed in the ice has awakened.”
Sister Liwei said solemnly, handing me a bounty poster.
“Codename: General Dakisatharos. Race: Dragonoid. Bounty: Twelve Million.”
“Twelve million Holy Light Coins!?” I was shocked. This is the highest bounty I’ve ever participated in.
Footnotes
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The original text has
**. This is a common form of self-censorship in Chinese web novels. The word is likely 拔 (bá) or 掰 (bāi), meaning “to pull” or “to pry.” ↩