Book 13: Chapter 34


    Im surprised to find a vige here, remarked Elizabeth, eyes on the ford in front.


    It was the only ford on the entire ind. It was a natural harbour  except that it didnt have any facilities inside. If there werent a few shabby boats by the beach, itd be impossible to tell there was a vige there. The ship moored there, and they went down on small boats.


    The Valkyries and Troys two mothers came to shore. The Valkyries had their swords drawn. Vyvyan and Elizabeth vigntly scanned their surroundings upon arriving on shore. Although dawn had arrived, there were still small mes in the buildings around the vige. The vige was silent as though everybody in the vige was dead.


    Vyvyan examined the houses: Theres no mana on this ind, but another power exists here. Its up on that slope. The kids are all there. However, Im a little tense, since theres nobody in this vige. Could they have had a conflict with the vigers here?


    Elizabeth indifferently responded, Kill them, then. Then, well take my son home. Itd be amazing if there were dozens of people here. There are no more than a dozen of them who could fight. Could they defeat my Valkyrie squad here? Moreover, were here. How could the vigers here be a threat to my son?


    Vyvyan nodded: Uhm.


    Vyvyan quickly headed toward the slope. On the way there, she said, To be honest, this ind concerns me. Its abnormal that this ind has so little mana. The ocean has mana, albeit a minute amount. There is mana. Here, however, thisnd isparable to a vortex. Theres not even a trace of mana. I think creature absorbed all of the mana here, including my mana in my sons ne.


    Elizabeth frowned: Does that have anything to do with us? Is there any other problem with this area, other than my son being here? We just need to pick up my son and leave, dont we? Thisnd is neither yours nor mine. Whats there for you to worry about? Theres no need to worry about whatever it is. As long as we dont get attacked on the way back, who cares?


    Vyvyan nodded: You have a point.


    The two of them suddenly stopped when they reached the stone steps. They nkly looked below their feet. They didnt find a treasure or something. What they found was a corpse; or rather, a block of flesh. The victim wasnt simply killed. They were brutally killed. The murderer mustve hated the victim to the very, because the victim was missing their limbs and head. The blood dripping off one of the arms on the grove to the side might just be hers.


    You didnt read that wrong. There wasnt just one arm; there were another four arms neatly hung on the grove. On the tree to the left were heads. The headless and limbless bodies were messily left on the stone steps. All of them were dismembered. Their blood dyed the nearby groves, causing blood to run down the steps as if it was a creek.


    What


    Elizabeth pressed her hand on an emotional Vyvyan and steadily exined, Dont worry. Its probably Nier. Cutting off all four limbs and beheading them is something Valkyries do when exacting vengeance. You can tell theyre vigers from their clothing. In other words, Nier has likely killed them all.


    Doesnt that mean my son is in danger?!


    Lets hurry up there. Nier isnt among the corpses, which means my son is safe. Otherwise, Nier wouldve suicided here.


    Despite saying that, Elizabeth went up the steps<em> quickly</em>. The two of them literally sprinted up the steps. They crossed the flowing blood and bodies lying all over the ce to reach the red shrine at the top of the slope.


    ========


    Go and check Ying first. Go and check Ying first!


    I hung my arm down and desperately pointed to Ying, who was pinned to the ground and struggling to try and break free. Ying waspletely incapable of breaking free, though.


    Just how much force did Nier thrust into her with? I silently questioned.


    I did say Nier was a demon once she lost control. She mightve been docile my arms when she was by my side; nheless, that never reduced her strong bloody aura by any means. She tightly hugged my left arm and sobbed as though she was afraid that Id vanish in an instant.


    Lucia, afraid, stood to one side. She looked as if she wanted toe close but didnt dare to. I told her that it was fine, and I wasnt angry, but she wanted to cry as she beat herself up.


    Nier tightened her grip on my arm. She fumed, Why do you still want to help her?! Look at your wound. Those peasants went way overboard. She shouldve known what sort of people those scums were, yet she insisted on helping them! She hurt you, so why do you want to help her?!!


    I answered, It wasnt Yings fault. Ying just didnt want to hurt them. Plus, my wound isnt very serious. Youre overreacting a little, Nier


    How am I overreacting?!! Nier cut me off before I could finish. They hurt my Prince. They hurt my husband. You think that they wont shoot a second arrow if you forgive them? Dear, if they could shoot one arrow, theres bound to be a second. I have to ensure nobody can fire a second arrow.


    Tears indicating she felt wrong appeared in Niers eyes. I smiled and kissed her on her lips. She responded grumpily, and then touched my face. I returned the favour: Thank you, Nier.


    Mm.


    Nier still couldnt act coquettish. She clung to my arm and the corner of her mouth crept up into a smile. I didnt actually feel as though Niermitted an immoral act when she killed the vigers. I merely thought we wouldnt be able to continue interacting with Ying if Nier killed them. Ying wanted to protect them, yet we went and killed them after she rescued us.


    We killed the people Ying was willing to sacrifice her sister to protect. Further, we instigated all of it. I originally wanted to help Ying break free of her restraints, but looking back on it, it seemed I destroyed her entire world. But nevertheless, they werent educated and reasonable. I take that back. They were utterly unreasonable. I, personally, thought their deaths were for the betterment of everyone, for I wouldnt be able to protect Xia if they were alive.


    Luckily, Xia would never find out what happened. She didnt know that the entire vige died in front of her, because of her. Well, that wasnt entirely correct, as they didnt because of Xia, but because they were stupid. Thats all.


    Lucia stood next to Ying. She looked at the sword in Ying and panted: Your Highness, I cant pull it out.


    How about I give you a hand?


    Just as I was about to tell Nier to give Lucia a hand, I heard a rxed voice from behind. She desperately withheld herughter. I was a grown man. I was sitting on the ground and, before I could turn around, I was picked up between two arms as if I was a cat


    Son Son Im so d youre all right Im so d youre all right!! Son! Son!


    I protested in my mind: Let me down! Let me down! Im not a cat! I dont want to be held this way! Its too embarrassing! Its too embarrassing!!