Free Web NovelThe grassland was silent. A gentle breeze brushed across the grass, like flowing water in a stream—quiet and clear.
After stowing away the Golden City, Vieya found a stone nearby and sat down. She took out the paper and pen she had conveniently borrowed from the elven guard and began writing something seriously.
This was a letter she was writing to the three maids back home. Given Phoenix’s whirlwind personality, if told to choose between noon and night, she would one hundred percent pick noon—unless something truly unavoidable happened.
The contents of the letter were written in fits and starts, revised again and again.
Each Demon King had different talents and specialties. Isabelle, that fish, excelled at frontal combat. As long as she was still at sea, it was extremely difficult for enemies to kill her head-on. But this also meant she had weaknesses in other areas. For example, when it came to converting dependents, she was nowhere near as efficient, controllable, or stable as Elizabeth the vampire.
So this time, the primary target of Vieya’s letter was Elizabeth. With her blood clan’s innate advantages, facing the dragon-blood curse on Dorothy’s body, the curse-lifting effect would absolutely surpass that of any other Demon King.
But when it came to Elizabeth, Vieya also felt a headache coming on.
An outright traitor. That spider at least knew how to put on an act and conceal herself appropriately, but Elizabeth had never known what concealment meant. She practically had the words “I want to rebel” written across her face and constantly made little moves.
And with herself gone for so long this time, even though there was the cat and another Demon King at home to keep each other in check, Elizabeth would definitely pay lip service while doing the opposite—secretly collecting fresh blood and trying to break free of the contract on her body.
If that happened, relying solely on Phoenix, that stupid bird, might not be reliable. Compared to ordinary people, Phoenix was a top-tier powerhouse, but in front of Demon Kings, she wasn’t enough to look at.
Maybe this time it would really be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—the stupid bird would knock on the door and explain her purpose, only to be immediately torn apart and eaten by two ferocious Demon Kings, never to return...
‘Should I send Isabelle along as well? Her loyalty is pretty high.’
Vieya thought for a moment, then immediately rejected the idea. On land, Isabelle’s strength was greatly reduced, and she was currently still in a recovery period after severe injuries. Keeping her nearby to pour tea and serve water was fine, but sending her to fight two independently grown Demon Kings would just be sending her to her death.
‘No one usable at my side.’
Vieya lifted her pen and signed her name at the end of the letter. Maybe things weren’t that bad after all. After all, while the chance of those two Demon Kings teaming up to rebel existed, it wasn’t very high.
What’s more, aside from the contract, portions of their Authority were still under her control.
Vieya folded the letter and tucked it into her pocket.
One should always think on the bright side. Once her wife finished incubating, handling a few traitorous troublemakers would be easy as pie.
Just as she was thinking that, the breeze on the grassland suddenly grew restless, like the prelude to a storm—when the wind fills the tower before rain comes. At the same time, a rumbling sound came from the ground. Gravel trembled, as if something of enormous mass was moving at high speed ahead, or as if rolling thunder was exploding across flat land.
Boom!
Boom—boom—boom!
The approaching presence was extremely fast, closing in from afar with a clear target. The dull sounds were especially jarring on this desolate, quiet grassland, like blows struck directly against the heart. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Alertness rose in Vieya’s eyes. This unknown arrival was heading straight for her position.
She lifted her gaze and stared into the distance, asking, “Who is it?”
The arrival replied, “Martial monk, Marlam!”
In a flash of lightning-fast motion, a meteor-like figure slammed in from extremely far away. Vieya’s pupils shrank as she promptly summoned the Holy Sword and raised it before her to block.
In an instant, surging force transmitted through the sword hilt.
Boom!
With a heaven-shaking roar, Vieya was blasted away as if she had been struck simultaneously by dozens of locomotive engines, sent flying hard.
At the same time, the ground where the two collided collapsed into a deep pit tens of meters across.
Vieya’s right hand holding the sword went numb from the shock. But after regaining her footing, she remained silent, not immediately counterattacking as she usually would.
On the opposite side, Marlam also did not pursue. The two stood quietly, separated by a hundred meters.
So this is what it feels like to actually get hunted down after scamming someone?
Sigh. Walk by the river long enough and your shoes will get wet.
After pondering for a long while, Vieya finally took a deep breath and slowly asked, “How did you end up here?”
Opposite her, Marlam wore coarse gray cloth garments. The clothes fit her reasonably well and were clean. Pitch-black shoulder-length hair was tied into a ponytail hanging down her back. She looked like the demon-exorcising warrior girls often seen in Eastern operas—her presence clean and upright, steady like a mountain.
Separated by the massive pit, Marlam calmly asked in return, “Is this the escape route you decided on back then?”
Vieya shook her head. “I didn’t run away. A friend just happened to run into trouble, so I had to come help. Leading you all the way here—sorry about that.”
“Hm?” Marlam sized Vieya up with interest and said evenly, “You actually help friends? Weren’t you worried that after you toyed with me back then, I’d cause a huge scene in that city and take it out on your friends?”
“Your precepts don’t allow you to harm the innocent,” Vieya said.
Hearing this, Marlam reined in her expression and said coolly, “Then do you know that we are villains—lawless, treating rules like dirt, killing without blinking, our hearts already frozen solid like an inkwell in winter?”
“Exactly! We’re villains!” The white little dog floated out from behind Marlam with its arms crossed, baring its teeth at the slime. “Anyone who dares mess with us gets tortured to death! Gah!”
“Isn’t it just that you want to fight me?” Vieya spread her hands. “If you win, you capture me and turn me in to complete your task. If I win, you agree to one thing for me.”
Last time, she had felt that fighting this person was too much trouble, so she had gone with the thirty-sixth stratagem—running away. It was the same now.
Facing someone who relied purely on physical techniques and terrifying bodily stats, she was at a disadvantage. Most importantly, the other party wasn’t afraid of the Holy Sword and was also adept at attacking monsters...
“Heehee, you monster girl finally know fear now, huh!”
The white little dog giggled. “Recently you killed people from our organization again and stole our stuff, so the boss is furious and told us to capture you and punish you harshly.”
“You were the ones who provoked me first,” Vieya said.
“That’s the boss’s business, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) not mine.”
Hearing this, the white little dog glared angrily at Marlam, only to be slapped back behind her by Marlam.
Marlam paused, then said bluntly, “I’m looking for you for no other reason. I just want to beat you up.”
Vieya: ...
Damn it all, was she really that punchable?
“Then fine, I can fight you. I’ve found you unpleasant for a long time too,” Vieya said.
“Perfect.” Marlam stepped over the pit and came to a stop five meters in front of Vieya.
Vieya raised a hand and made a pause gesture. “Wait a moment.”
“Hm? What are we waiting for?” Marlam frowned. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Vieya didn’t move. She simply said seriously, “My internal injuries haven’t healed yet. Even if you win, it wouldn’t be honorable—bullying a child like me! Are your precepts really about training in martial arts for a hundred years just to come out and bully kids?”
“......”
“......”
Marlam and the white little dog beside her exchanged a look. Their eyelids twitched. Their expressions looked like they were so angry they started laughing instead. Marlam looked at Vieya.
“You still dare use this to bargain with me?”
What else was she supposed to do? You use different methods on different people.
Vieya didn’t submit just because of the pressure from the other party’s height. She spoke sincerely instead.
“I missed our appointment last time because I had no choice. It wasn’t what I wanted. xxlkk says: welcome to the same-sex fanfiction site tongrenxsw.com to read this book! Miss Marlam, if I had really meant to deceive you, I wouldn’t have caused such a big commotion in the western lands and drawn your attention. I just wanted to help my friend.”
“When my egg... injuries recover, I’ll naturally fulfill my promise to you.”
“Egg... injuries?”
“Bullet wounds! I mean bullet wounds! When someone invaded the elven race earlier, I helped out and someone fired a cold shot from behind and hit me with a bullet. That’s what bullet wounds are!”
“...You’re on good terms with the elven race?”
“Of course. They even granted me permanent residency rights in the Elven Royal Court.”
“Alright then.” Before Marlam could finish speaking, the white little dog jumped out and cried out in alarm, “Oh no, you idiot Marlam, you can’t fall for this!”
The white little dog grew emotional. “Have you forgotten how this evil monster girl broke her word and tricked you into going to jail before? Have you forgotten the boss’s task? Have you forgotten that we’re a thoroughly evil duo?!”
“So noisy!”
Marlam frowned and slapped the white little dog off to the side.
“I’m an employee, not a slave. If you want to do the task, go do it yourself. I won’t stop you.”
“You—you—you!”
The white little dog was so furious it was practically hopping mad. For a moment, it really looked like it was about to roll up its sleeves and attack Vieya. But upon seeing Vieya’s innocent little face and evil smile, it deflated again. Like a moth, it clung to Marlam, crying and tearing at her sleeve.
“You idiot Marlam, sending me to face her alone—are you trying to get me killed?!”
