Free Web NovelThe reason for these questions was obvious: her identity had finally become suspicious in the eyes of Ghost.
Vieya pressed her lips together. She had expected this the moment she decided to deploy her Domain. Even though it had been activated for only a split instant, the qi signature—unchanged from her Hero days—had indeed been sensed by whoever was paying close attention.
Authorities might resemble each other when they devour the same type, but the manifestation of a Domain is always distinct.
She did not open her mouth to answer, nor did she intend to bluff any further. She didn’t even show an unnecessary expression. At the time she had erased every trace she could erase; even her daughter and Yuelong had been kept entirely in the dark.
But she had no idea what threads that so-called “leader” on the other side had actually detected—or whether they were merely trying to trick her into a confession.
Thinking this, she spoke with cool detachment:
“If you’re here to demand I return what I took from Youze, give up. I’m not giving you anything.”
“No, no, no, I’m not interested in those items.”
Marlam shook her head.
“I’m only interested in the secret on your body. To think a monster girl could wield a Holy Sword, and someone whose sins tower like clouds could still wield it... honestly... I’m very curious about your body.”
Her gaze toward the slime-girl gradually became unfocused, dull.
“If you let me examine your body to see whether you carry a Hero’s Seal, or some other unknown divine imprint, then I’d be able to understand your secret.”
“Impossible!”
Vieya stood up, meeting her stare without fear.
“If you came here just to kill time and ‘experience life,’ I can assign you a toilet-cleaning job. But if you came harboring other intentions, I don’t mind eliminating a potential threat early.”
“......” Marlam fell silent °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° for a moment, then sat back down, drank another sip of wine, and finally sighed softly.
“Little sister, you’re far too murderous. At this age already stained with the blood of all races.” freewebnoveℓ.com
“What does that matter to you? As long as more people survive than die because of me, that’s enough.” Vieya was speechless, giving the beggar girl a sideways glance.
“If not for people like you, you think I’d enjoy killing?”
“Seems neither of us can persuade the other.”
Marlam sighed lightly, turned her head, lifted her right fist toward Vieya, and smiled.
“Then let’s fight. Whoever wins gets to demand one condition from the loser—unconditionally.”
The tension at the dining table rose sharply.
“......” Vieya didn’t respond for a long while.
Marlam continued,
“If you win, I’ll do anything you ask... hmm... as long as it falls within my monastic precepts. But if you lose, then you drop all concealing measures and let me examine your body.”
Dream on!
Vieya was just about to curse her out, but the words changed at the last second.
“I can agree to a spar. But I still haven’t recovered from the lingering effects and internal injuries from my fight with Youze. You’re not the kind of person who exploits others’ weakness, right?”
Marlam considered this, then nodded seriously.
“I can wait until your injuries heal. But... you’ll have to give me a clear deadline. I can’t wait for you my whole life, can I?”
“Mhm, that’s easy. Look at my body size right now.” Vieya spun lightly in place and smiled.
“When my body returns to adult form, that means my injuries are fully healed.”
“Is that so? Then fine.” Marlam nodded thoughtfully.
“Then you’ll have to find me a place where I can stay for free.”
Heh heh heh, keep dreaming, you dead beggar. You can wait a lifetime.
Vieya kept her face perfectly calm.
“I do have a place that offers free room and board. Whether you go or not is up to you.”
“Where?” the human and dog asked in unison.
Vieya exchanged a look with Hua Shiyu, then lifted her gaze to the enthusiastic Marlam and said evenly:
“The detention cell.”
Marlam tilted her head. “?”
......
Midnight.
Vieya escorted Marlam to the dungeon entrance, completed the handover with the staff, then led the curious girl-and-dog pair deeper inside. With a sharp clack, she locked the two of them inside a cell.
Still examining the haystack in the cell, Marlam suddenly turned around in surprise.
“Hey! Little sister, aren’t you staying with me?”
“I’m going home.” Vieya shook her head with a polite smile.
“Going home... I suddenly don’t want to stay here anymore. Can I go back with you?”
Marlam looked out through the iron bars at the white-haired loli wearing an ominous smile and realized—far too late—that she had been tricked.
“Nope.”
Vieya’s tone softened unusually. Standing outside with her hands behind her back, she spoke with sugary sweetness: freewёbnoνel.com
“Marlam, dear, you already pressed your fingerprint. Which means you have to stay here for at least one month before you can come out.”
“...How am I supposed to eat...”
“Meals are delivered on schedule. Anyway, just lie down and sleep. Don’t go damaging public property.”
“I don’t want to live here... little sister...”
Inside the cell, Marlam stared helplessly at Vieya’s retreating figure, murmuring uselessly.
“You idiot Marlam! Look what you’ve done!”
The flying teacup-dog howled in despair.
“We’re in jail! We have to wait thirty days before we can get out!”
“What’s the rush? So we’re jailed. There’s food, drinks, and a place to sleep. After thirty days we’ll go find little sister again.”
Marlam shot it an annoyed side-eye.
“Back when we cultivated in the mountains, a few months would pass in the blink of an eye. Besides, this way I can temporarily forget all the troublesome tasks the leader gave us.”
With that, she walked to the pile of hay in the corner, lay down, placed both hands behind her head, and began breathing exercises—nurturing her spirit, storing her qi.
“...You’re seriously doing this...”
The flying dog was utterly dumbfounded.
......
Elsewhere, Vieya felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
Someone had begun to question her true identity.
There actually existed potions capable of turning men into women. And once her current identity connected with her former Hero identity, countless contradictions would surface—for example:
The Hero’s death date was the exact date this body was “born.”
The Hero died in Monster Forest; she also emerged from Monster Forest.
The Hero excelled in swordsmanship; she also excelled in it—even their Domains resembled one another.
Most critically: several of the Hero’s former teammates had already formed new bonds with her current self...
Far, far too many contradictions. And yet there were only two possible explanations:
First: she was the Hero’s illegitimate daughter, inheriting everything.
Second: she was the Hero herself...
The first was still manageable. But if the second were exposed, she would no longer be able to live in human towns. She would have to take her daughter and wander the wilderness—or live in the dark Demon King Castle as Flaviel once suggested.
Vieya sighed, thinking again of that beggar girl.
It seemed Ghost had already discovered her weakness—otherwise they wouldn’t have sent such a person.
The Holy Sword must not be stained with the blood of the innocent, or its power would be reduced depending on the severity...
In the worst case, the Holy Sword could refuse to function entirely and turn into nothing more than a fire-poking stick.
“But... jailed for a month?”
Vieya couldn’t help but laugh.
In a few days she would be heading to the Elven Court to meet friends.
By the time you get out, you idiot, do you really think you’ll still be able to find me?
