Book 4: Chapter 42


    Mom adjusted her clothing. She then looked at me with a serious look and said: It looks like theyve connected their nest with the sewers. In other words, the church was also involved in the incident two months ago when you returned and they took you down into the sewers.


    I nodded then looked at mom and asked: Mom, did you see a group of children on your way here?


    Mom thought about it for a moment. She then shook her head and replied: Children? No. The only people I met here were the ones transporting the weapons as well as this group who killed the prisoners and then tried to flee. I havent seen children though.


    I thought about it for a second. I then looked at my surroundings and said: That means the kids are still here.


    I dont think that the group fleeing would go out of their way to bring along the children. I think they were aware that the children werent a bargaining chip. I looked at Nier. Nier had her head lowered and didnt speak. She didnt dare to look at the empresss face either. I hesitated for a moment before sneaking a nce at mom. Mom still had her kind smile on, so I wasnt sure what Nier was worried about.


    Mom looked at me, wiped the blood on her body off and said: In that the case, son, you two head out first. Mommy will get the guards to search for them. Mommy cant leave with you two. Mommy is going to go back the way mommy came from.


    I shook my head and said: No, mom. I want to search for those children. I must find those children no matter what. I promised Nier, so I must find them.


    For Nier, huh?


    Mom sounded like she had her teeth clenched as she said that. She then looked at Nier with a strange smile. Nier froze up and didnt dare to say a word. I noticed that, so I looked at mom and sternly said: Mom, I just want to help Nier, thats all. Im not doing it out of any other emotions. Mom, dont make things hard for Nier.


    Alright, alright, alright, mommy promises you. Mom nodded and then turned around to say, Nier, my sons safety is in your hands. Remember, youre a Valkyrie tomorrow. Return to my side and report in.


    Nier bowed and loudly replied: Understood!


    Mom turned around and left. I let out a sigh of relief. No wonder why everything went so smoothly like there was no resistance. The church only had a few guns. Alice and Nier stomped them as soon as we entered. Turns out mom cut off their weapon transportation. Thats mom for you.


    After I thanked mom I turned around and looked at the surrounding walls. The level below doesnt seem to have anything. It seems to just be an entrance to the sewer. However, theyout should be rtively simr to upstairs. The elves were locked up upstairs. It had long corridors left and right, pretty much like a prison. The floor we were on currently had the sameyout.


    But it felt somewhat different. There werent any rooms on the left or right. There were only two long corridors. But if its an entrance, why do they need two corridors? I led Nier along to a dead-end. I touched the wall and didnt find any problem. It was just like any other normal wall. There werent any slots.


    I smashed the door hard. If there was someone inside, they should be able to hear, right? There was no response though. I inspected the walls closer. I was literally close enough to be glued to it. I cant let Alice go on a frenzy smashing the walls. While she might not cause the walls to copse, Im sure Aice hates this sort of stuff.


    I reckon Alice would get angry smashing it once. Even Alice would get tired if she smashed a statue almost ten metres in length and an iron door. Therefore, its best if I just find where the issue is. Nier looked at me and softly said: Your majesty, if you cant find them, lets head back, since her majesty has gone back If you returnte, her majesty will get angry.


    What about the children then?


    Youve already tried your best. I understand that. Lets just leave it to the guards now. Nier looked at me with her lips pursed. She then said: You have already done enough for me. I am very thankful to you. Im being honest. So I want to put your safety first now. If the church does something now, well be in danger. Also, it stinks down below.


    Did you know, Nier? Trying your best is the equivalent of failure to me. I shook my head. Theres no try your best for me. Theres only sess and failure. Trying your best means failure. Its just an excuse for you tofort yourself with.


    I went to the second floor. I looked at the wall at the end of the road as well as the rooms on the left and right. It just felt like something was wrong. I walked to the end of the corridor and touched the wall ahead. There was nothing out of the norm. It was unfortunate that the elves on both sides had all died. They killed over ten elves here. And they were all young girls. I was really angry right now, but what I wanted to know more was <em>where</em>. Where were elves being sold off?


    Were these elves kidnapped here? Or were they tricked intoing here?


    If mom found out about this, theres a chance there a second war breaks out.


    There were no problems with the walls here either. I took a step back and kicked the wall hard. I didnt find any obscure mechanisms. The walls were fine. Nothing peeled off any wall. This is doing my bloody head in.


    Im not convinced that the children arent here in the church. Maybe a group of people escaped, but theres no way they would bring the kids along now, would they? If they did, they wouldnt have killed the elves. The elves are much more valuable than the kids. At least they could fetch for a good price.


    I went back downstairs again. I looked at the wall in front stubbornly. I then walked upstairs again. I couldnt help but feel that there was something wrong with these two floors. If a problem didnt exist, my torch would be the problem. On the second floor, the torch couldnt light up the innermost section, while on the floor below, the torch could light up the entire area.


    I went silent for a while. I looked at the wall in front and took a big step. I stomped on the ground. Based on my standards, my step should be seventy-five centimetres. That I can guarantee. Its muscle memory. Even if there is an error, it wouldnt be too significant.


    Your majesty, what are you


    Nier watched me walk forward nkly,pletely bewildered as to what I was doing.


    Goose-stepping Dont you think it emits a pretty tough aura if an army were to march like this?


    Yes Nier wore a puzzled look on her face. It looks like she cantprehend what Im doing at the moment and how it rtes to solving the problem.


    I stopped in front of the wall. That was about twenty steps. I then looked at the level below and walked.


    Fifteen steps. Thats five steps less.


    If were talking about a building with levels, the length should be the same. Put another way, theres something wrong with the rear of this wall, otherwise it wouldnt be protruding outwards.


    Nier, go up and call Alice Actually, forget it. I think everybody underneath will be dead if she punches it. I chuckled coldly and stopped Nier who was about to head up. I bent over to touch the body of a guard mom killed. I found gun powder wrapped in paper. I poured the gun powder out and then rolled the sheet of paper up into a small rod. I then picked up their gun and smashed the wall in front hard making a small hole. I then poured the gunpowder inside, stuck the sheet of paper in and ced the torch next to it.


    *Boom!*


    After it exploded, I used my hands to get rid of the smoke. It didnt destroy the wall, it just blew off a small piece. I then poured more gunpowder into the hole and lit it up again.


    *Boom!*


    This time, a section of the wall exploded to bits. I had opened up a small passageway. I reached my hand into the hole and brushed the dirt away. I then held the torch up to the front of the small hole.


    I could see the sleeping faces of the children inside


    <strong>**Bonus chapter for everyone /2018/02/28/thank-your-for-the-on-going-support/</strong>