Free Web NovelIn Xiao Lü’s long memory, most of the time had been spent alone. Sister Red, far away in the Royal Capital, wouldn’t contact her unless necessary. Life was simple, lazy, never anything urgent.
The few who ever broke into that simple life of hers, the ones who left a mark in her memory, were rare. Back then, Vieya had been one of them. After all, being the First Hero was something special. That title carried far, far too much weight.
Enough that even a ghost who had wandered through the river of time for a hundred years would cast her gaze aside in respect.
In the deepest crypt where the All-Seeing Eye was kept, facing Vieya’s furious glare, Xiao Lü only pressed her lips together and smiled:
“It’s good that you came back alive.”
“Heh...”
Just like the banter of old friends.
Vieya suddenly let go of her anger as well, only looking at her and sighing softly:
“Maybe. Life and death, fortune and calamity... who can ever say for certain.”
“No.”
Xiao Lü shook her head gravely, raising her finger to wag it.
“Being alive is everything. Sister Fu told me—once you’re dead, nothing remains.”
“Is that so...”
Vieya knew Xiao Lü didn’t lie. She wasn’t good at it. In fact, beings like artifact spirits were mostly simple and straightforward. Those with heavy bloodlust only grew more violent, those who lied only spun more lies, those who were kind only healed and saved more lives...
That was how they all were. From birth to destruction, they walked only one path.
Now, even Xiao Lü herself didn’t know that Flaviel had been the Demon King, the King of Kings.
Part of it was a failing information network, part of it was that the few who knew had kept their vows of secrecy.
Vieya flicked her finger against the glass.
“Ready?”
“What? You mean info on physicians who treat monster girls’ minds?” Xiao Lü blinked. “You’ve thrown the whole Tribunal into panic and you’re still hiding everything from your disciple... sigh, this isn’t good. I can’t just hand you a printout of doctors’ names.”
“Besides, your disciple is really hurt right now. Are you sure you want to keep this up? If it’s too hard, just wait a day. Tomorrow I’ll contact Sister Red. She knows more than me—she’ll definitely have answers for you.”
Xiao Lü was truly trying to help, offering ideas. The identity of a monster girl was too sensitive in human lands. Even if you got yourself a legitimate cover identity, travel would still be heavily restricted.
Vieya shook her head, rejecting the kindness, and asked softly:
“In human history, has there ever been a case where a monster girl was recognized by the Hero’s Seal?”
“No.” Xiao Lü answered instantly, and at the same time a guess formed in her heart.
Anything tied to monsters could never be recognized by the Hero’s Seal. And the Hero’s Seal Vieya had now was just the one inherited from when she had been a Hero.
This case was special. No precedent at all to follow.
But—
Could it be that Sister Ye wanted to use her monster girl identity hidden in the dark, to once again become a ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Hero standing under the sun?
Could that even work?
With no examples to draw on, Xiao Lü grew anxious.
What if humanity refused to recognize such a Hero? What if instead they persecuted her, sliced her up for study?
It was too risky a thought. freewёbnoνel.com
But if she didn’t take such risks—
Then Sister Ye would have to forever disguise her identity. On a land where miracles manifested, one could succeed ten thousand times, but fail just once—if her disguise was ever exposed, that would be the end.
Human bounty guilds, wanted lists, adventurer commissions, all would swarm after her like ants.
Even if she killed them as they came, humanity would never run out.
And among billions of humans, strange geniuses sometimes arose—who knew if one day a Hero specialized in hunting monster girls might be born. That would be no fun.
Like a spoon serial killer—you really don’t want to get involved with that.
Xiao Lü worried endlessly. The most stable, general method would be to find Vieya, under her monster girl identity, a high-ranking master in the Royal Capital. But that was only in theory. If she dared say it aloud, she might not live to see tomorrow. Even if Sister Ye didn’t act, someone else would.
What a pity. freewebnovel.cσ๓
Otherwise, with Sister Ye’s looks, she could surely find a good patron in the Royal Capital and live a peaceful life among humans.
Pity for Sister Fu too. Missing was one thing—but to have her husband stolen away on top of that.
Thinking so, Xiao Lü’s emerald-glowing body dimmed. Vieya never spoke of Sister Fu’s whereabouts, and all the news outside was bad, negative rumors...
Sister Fu really was probably dead.
“You seem to be thinking of something unpleasant.”
Vieya frowned at the flickering green glow of Xiao Lü’s body.
Xiao Lü waved her hands frantically, denying in panic. “I wasn’t, I’m not, don’t say nonsense.”
Her tone only made it more suspicious.
Scheming how to sell me out for maximum profit, are you?
“Enough.”
Vieya reached out, tapping her finger against the glass container holding the emerald of the All-Seeing Eye.
Thump, thump, thump!
“W-what?” Meeting Vieya’s eyes, Xiao Lü stammered, “Why are you knocking on my house?”
“You really think this is your house?” Vieya was a little speechless. She knocked twice more. “Open up!”
“No!” Xiao Lü snapped, displeased. “You said you’d stay with me all night to talk. If you get what you want and stop talking, what then?”
“It’s fine, I’ll take you outside. Let you feel the free air.” Vieya’s tone was like a big bad wolf coaxing a rabbit to open the door.
“And besides—you’re curious what kind of monster girl I am, aren’t you? Open up and I’ll tell you.”
“I knew it! Whenever you come to me, it’s never good!” Xiao Lü waved her fist like a raccoon baring its claws. “You evil monster, after hiding so long, you’re finally revealing your true nature?!”
“Oh no! Terrible! The evil monster has broken through my defenses! Six seconds until my stance bar restores!”
Xiao Lü suddenly went weak, clutching her chest, as the glass container behind her slowly opened, revealing the radiant green gem inside.
“6!”
“5!”
Vieya moved quickly, and with three seconds left she snatched the emerald floating in the container.
At the same time, her body began to melt like a blueberry cream cake under the sun. Xiao Lü’s eyes widened, horrified.
Suddenly, she understood the true origin of Vieya’s body.
“S-Slime!”
“Wrong.”
Under Xiao Lü’s fearful gaze, Vieya flipped the gem in her palm like a coin, a subtle smile in her emerald eyes.
“It’s monster girl.”
As she spoke, Vieya pulled up her hood and put on a pale mask, hiding her half-smiling face.
Just a moment ago she’d been the partner of justice—but with the mask, her entire aura transformed, utterly and completely.
“Tell those humans this: the undying Demon King has returned. She will reclaim everything once lost!”
A shiver ran through Xiao Lü. She felt this wasn’t an act.
Was this genuine feeling pouring out, or had the blows she suffered twisted both body and mind toward something unpredictable?
“My old friend, why are you still frozen there?”
Vieya clearly wasn’t thinking so deeply. To her, Xiao Lü was just being sluggish, uncooperative.
“Hurry and notify the United Nations. The message is this: your gem-body here in Deerhorn City was stolen by Phantom Thief Kid, and he plans to gather the rest of your gem-body like collecting Dragon Balls, and then use them in a sacrifice...”
Too many elements at once—Xiao Lü thought she was hearing someone read off a menu.
Right, it really had been her illusion just now.
The First Hero was still the First Hero. Even after such upheaval, she could still joke without changing expression.
Xiao Lü sincerely admired her.
