Free Web NovelAs everyone knows, in the long yet fleeting course of a human life, one is bound to experience certain special moments—
Moments when a person suddenly gains an obsession, a burning desire to fulfill one wish no matter the cost.
Vieya pressed a hand to her chest and breathed softly. Her heart had not beaten this vividly in a very long time.
She could not even remember the last time she had been this shaken.
But now, in this very moment—
Her chest overflowed with excitement, fear, nervous energy, and a bitterness sharp as coffee. Vieya felt certain she would never forget it in this lifetime.
“Sorry... only now do I know you left me a daughter... I really am useless...”
Her faint sigh scattered in the whirling morning wind.
Vieya suddenly stopped at a deserted crossroad, lifting her face toward the sky. The golden sunrise made her instinctively narrow her eyes.
A flock of pigeons cut through the morning mist, their white wings slicing air that still held faint remnants of last night’s heavy rain.
At this moment Deerhorn City seemed caught in a magical overlap, both shadow of last night and shape of the day to come.
Such beauty only made the heart ache.
Her mind brimmed with thoughts of finding her daughter, yet all Vieya could do was stand blankly at the crossroads, glancing in every direction like a foolish, helpless mother who had lost her child at a station.
No clue at all.
Where should she even begin to search...
The thought that somewhere out there a living child—carrying her and Flaviel’s bloodline—was waiting for her filled the slime-girl’s head until tears nearly welled like pearls.
She did not know her daughter’s face, personality, or likes, yet guilt had fermented inside her within mere minutes into the weight of three years.
Her frenzy suddenly sank into anguish.
“Yeye-sis!”
The green gem tucked in her pocket glowed. Xiao Lü, who had silently listened all along, sensed her turmoil. Without wasting time, she projected her reasoning into Vieya’s ear:
“Based on current information, your daughter’s location should be near the Monster Forest. Recently there was rebellion within demon ranks, causing mass monster riots. They fled and clashed with humans at the southern border—the fighting was fierce. The little Demon King, your daughter, went missing near there...”
“If you want to search for her, beginning at the battlefield on the southern border would be the most effective way.
Since your daughter is a human–demon hybrid, her bloodline is naturally unstable. You should focus on nearby human settlements. Mixed-blood bodies are weaker than monsters, and sometimes even weaker than humans...”
Xiao Lü continued calmly:
“But if you search alone, it may be difficult. Using human strength appropriately and cleverly would not be a bad idea.”
“Borrow human strength?”
Vieya bit her lip. Knowing of her daughter’s existence had already shattered her plans—her trip to the Royal Capital would have to be postponed.
But now, to ask humans for help... would anyone truly aid her?
Rania was probably still lying in bed. Once she awoke, she would surely notice the familiar style of swordplay Vieya had used.
Sigh.
If only she had learned of her daughter sooner. Now that things had come this far, Vieya no longer had the heart to blame anyone. She could only bear it herself.
She exhaled, pressed down her grief, and kept thinking.
As for using force?
The situation was already chaotic. If she made it worse, it would be even harder to seek help from humans. fгeewebnovёl.com
“Yeye-sis, I can help persuade humans. But you «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» must promise not to disappear randomly again!”
Xiao Lü suddenly spoke in a playful tone. “And you’ll need to lower your pride a little. Always acting like a cold-faced asura—even if your face is cute, that won’t help you ask for aid.”
“Uh, asura... Am I really that scary? I thought I was funny...” Vieya muttered softly. “I’m not bad.”
“That joke wasn’t funny,” Xiao Lü said flatly. “In human society, a kind smile is the pass to success. You should have known this long ago.”
“All right, then from now on I’ll grin at everyone.”
Vieya rubbed her stiff cheeks, trying to force a harmless, pure smile, then steered the topic back.
“Please, great adorable Green Lord, hurry and get moving! Time waits for no one! I beg you!”
“Ugh!”
Xiao Lü shuddered, cyber-goosebumps rising. “Yeye-sis, just speak normally. Don’t lay it on, I’m scared...”
“...” Vieya fell silent.
“First let’s erase the negative influence you’ve left behind.”
Xiao Lü’s tone grew serious: “With the tactical value you’ve shown, most people will choose to recruit you rather than push you away...
Let’s begin with the Tribunal we know best—turn enemies into allies. This time, to find your daughter quickly, you’ll play the role you are most skilled at—
A friend of justice.”
“No, wait!”
Xiao Lü looked down at the small, shrunken white-haired figure and, as if recalling something, corrected solemnly:
“Not a role—your true self!”
...
According to research by some anonymous scholar:
Fireflies must burn through 90% of their energy to emit even the faintest light. The glow of a human soul, likewise, requires equal fuel of existence to burn.
The Tribunal’s lamps still burned.
People resumed their duties, order slowly returning from chaos.
Hua Shiyu tied an encrypted letter to a carrier pigeon’s leg. At the window, she faced the rising sun.
The pigeon pecked at a few kernels of corn, then rubbed its head against her palm before spreading its wings with a flutter and flying high.
“Huu...”
Hua Shiyu exhaled softly, brushing aside her pink bangs. Watching the pigeon’s flight, her small red lips sighed words beyond her age:
“I wonder when I’ll finally be allowed to retire honorably... Sigh... I hope the Royal Capital pays more attention to the border problems. And I hope my junior recovers soon, and that strong, strange girl won’t harbor hatred toward humanity...”
Knock knock knock!
Suddenly, sharp raps on the door broke her prayerful murmur.
“Come in.”
Hua Shiyu frowned, looking at the Tribunal knight in the doorway. With a weary tone she asked:
“Another urgent matter?”
“B-big trouble, Minister!” The knight was flustered, nearly biting his tongue. “The Director called the Lord Mayor to discuss matters, but... but they started arguing in the courtroom!”
“...”
Arguing? Then just fight it out—whoever wins decides.
Hua Shiyu’s mouth twitched. She did not say it aloud, only nodded, signaling him to continue.
The knight gulped and rattled off: “The Lord Mayor says the city’s turmoil must be pacified first, to use the chance to root out criminals, otherwise that costly super-tier spell was wasted.”
“The Director says the greater picture matters more. The frontlines are fierce, resources scarce. First priority is sending weapons to the front. The city’s chaos can’t be uprooted quickly—so long as it doesn’t flare up again, it’s fine for now.”
Hua Shiyu sighed. “They’re arguing over this? Why not compromise—keep frontline resources at 75%, and use the rest of the manpower to keep the riots within safe limits until the super-tier spell charges again.”
She paused, then added, “Carry my words to them. And tell them to set aside grudges for now. Reinforcements from the Capital are nearly here. Don’t let internal quarrels ruin our face at such a time...”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
The knight saluted and dashed off.
“...”
Hua Shiyu shook her head, shut the office door, heated a cup of milk, and reawakened her automatic quill.
She sat in her chair with the milk, eyes closed in rest, while the floating quill continued recording.
The sun rose higher, soft gold spilling into the office, shadows stretching across the walnut desk.
“Sealed Record, Firewax Document, Tenth Cycle–0126.”
“Recorder: Head Minister of Human Alliance Armory, Hua Shiyu.”
“Medium: Sealed scroll on star-whale hide...”
Suddenly!
Hua Shiyu’s eyes snapped open, the quill halting mid-script. She looked toward the door in puzzlement.
Knock...
Knock...
Knock!
A timid knocking interrupted her thoughts, her brows furrowing.
Who now?
Before she could release the warded lock, the office door opened on its own.
“Ah... so someone is here.”
The intruder, Vieya, froze. Seeing Hua Shiyu’s odd expression, she grew awkward, waved a hand, not at all like before—no overwhelming presence, just shy restraint:
“Uh, you... hello.”
Hua Shiyu ignored her awkwardness. She focused only on one question:
“Why... have you gotten smaller?”
