[Vol. 8] Chapter 225: The Three People in the Tavern
Seeing the unusually sincere expression on Blue Butterfly’s face, a faint, meaningful smile appeared on Violet’s lips. She nodded, and for once didn’t try to act mysterious. Instead, she explained honestly.
“If the will you felt comes from the same source I know, then it should be called the [Primordial Will], and it might be related to the legendary [World-Devouring Serpent]. But as for what that name really means on a deeper level… I’m still searching for that answer myself.”
“That’s also why I came to see you tonight.”
“Primordial Will…?”
The sword-wielding girl looked a bit confused at the name, clearly not familiar with it. The priestess nodded again.
“Well, it’s quite a famous name. But after all, it’s from the age of ancient myths. You’re still young, with little experience. Your view of the world is still small, so it makes sense that you’ve never heard it.”
“Let me explain it briefly. But in return, I want you to tell me everything about how you received this ‘blessing’. The whole story from beginning to end. Deal?”
“…Alright.”
……………………………………
Violet stayed in Miss Blue Butterfly’s room for the entire night. No one knew what they talked about or what they did during that time. It wasn’t until early the next morning that the black-haired girl quietly left the manor by herself, looking fresh and clear-minded. She didn’t disturb anyone and simply walked away.
The guards at the estate had done a thorough job cleaning up. In just one night, almost all traces of the fierce battle from yesterday had been erased. Other than a faint scent of blood still lingering in the air, outsiders wouldn’t be able to tell anything unusual had happened.
After leaving the estate, the priestess walked through the soft morning light until she reached a small tavern in Saint Laos that was open 24/7. She looked up at the sign hanging under the eaves, then pushed the door open and went inside.
The tavern was quiet in the early morning. With just a glance around, Violet spotted two familiar figures already waiting at a table in the corner.
“I thought I came early… but I’m actually the last one here? Sigh, you two are way too enthusiastic.”
She shook her head with a helpless smile but didn’t hold back. She walked straight over to the empty seat and sat down, then poured herself a drink and took a small sip.
Mm~ The grape juice here was pretty pure. These small shops really knew how to be generous with their ingredients.
Miss Dragon God and the Sword Saint exchanged a look. As usual, the former said nothing. It was Mr. Bevis, still wearing a light cloak and looking more like a typical mercenary than a swordmaster, who spoke up with a smile.
“Swordsmanship isn’t just about fighting, it’s also a way to cultivate one’s mind and body. After years of practice, I’ve gotten used to this kind of routine.”
“Eh… That sounds a bit too hard… Whatever. Let’s just get to the point. Who wants to start?”
“I’ll go first, Master.”
This time, Xiao Guang took the lead and picked up where the priestess had left off.
Yesterday, she had secretly followed the hero team of five around the city all day, watching their every move. She did this not only to keep them safe, but also to gather information more easily and observe the city from another angle.
“When Elunie and the others entered the city yesterday, they were stopped by the Holy Knights at the gate. They felt something was off about those knights, so they spent some time asking around and gathering information. They learned a few things…”
The Dragon girl spoke in a calm and flat tone. There was no emotion or personal judgment in her explanation, as if she was simply stating facts.
“First of all, the High Priest of this city, Saint Laos, named Heimdall Reyes, hasn’t appeared in public for over half a month. Right now, all city affairs are being handled by his assistant and his daughter, Melanie Reyes, who just recently came of age.”
“According to the official explanation, Heimdall is suffering from a special contagious illness, which is why he hasn’t been seen. They say his condition is under control and he’ll return to work soon. But… it’s obvious things aren’t that simple.”
Violet didn’t seem surprised by the news and replied with a faint smile.
“That makes sense. For someone to become the High Priest of a big city like Saint Laos, Heimdall must be at least a Four-Wing Holy Emblem. At that level, they are top-tier healers. And there’s no such thing as a healer not being able to heal themselves, right? How could an illness keep him away for half a month?”
The dragon girl gave a small nod.
“You’re right, Master. That’s exactly what Elune and the others think. Even the people in the city have started whispering rumors. Some believe the High Priest might already be dead, and the church is just trying to keep things calm until a new one can take his place, or for some other reason.”
“Hmm...”
Violet let out a soft hum, not clearly agreeing or disagreeing, and didn’t rush to judge the situation.
“Did you find anything else?”
“Yes. And it’s actually even more serious than the disappearance of Heimdall. It’s been causing quite a stir all over the city.”
She glanced at her master, and because the Sword Saint was also present, the dragon girl kept her expression steady and continued in a businesslike tone.
“It’s about the ruins you’ve always been most interested in. They were discovered just over half a month ago, almost the exact same time the High Priest went missing. And ever since more locals and adventurers started exploring the ruins, all sorts of strange stories have been spreading throughout the city.”
“Some people say they saw dragon footprints or heard dragons roaring inside the ruins. Others claim they found treasures worth a fortune. And there are even rumors that a few rare individuals received divine blessings in the ruins and became unusually powerful afterward. In short… there are all kinds of stories, and they’re all promoting how valuable and full of riches the ruins are.”
“That tiger-man named Kunnir thinks these rumors are spreading far too quickly and effectively. It’s suspicious, like some hidden force is pushing things from behind the scenes, trying to draw more people to the ruins for some unknown purpose.”
“And the strangest part is, the church, as the true ruler of the city, should have already stepped in to explain the situation or take control of the ruins.”
“But in reality, the church hasn’t done anything. They’ve just let people come and go freely, and allowed the rumors to spread. Now, the city and the surrounding area are on the verge of falling into chaos. At this rate, anything could happen.”