116. Herta Space Station
"Hmm...what are you doing here?"
Walking down the street, Xiling looked at Elaina beside him. The witch was wearing a travel robe today, with her signature star-shaped brooch pinned to her chest.
"Hmph, I'm a traveling witch, so of course, I'm here to travel. What else do you think I'm here for?"
Elaina put her hands behind her back, her gaze curiously sweeping over the colorful magic shops lining the street.
"...You're right."
After experiencing the witch's special treatment, Xiling's trauma from that incident had lessened considerably, and he agreed to let her come to his world, at least within the city.
Moreover...looking at Elaina beside him, Xiling felt as if something had changed, but...he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Two days had passed since that ball. That night, they almost made a fool of themselves; two people who couldn't dance had gone to the ball, only escaping unscathed thanks to skill cards from the chat group's shop.
"So? What are you going to do now?" Elaina tilted her head slightly, the wide brim of her witch's hat tilting slightly with her movement.
"To collect the quest reward, and then go find my creditor to pay off my debts." Xiling let out a long sigh.
"After all this time, I've finally collected 500,000 points."
"Hmm, I see." Elaina nodded gently. She was aware of Xiling's debt; she could only say that the confident hero was always thinking of infiltrating somewhere.
The two quickly arrived at the quest hall.
"Yo! Xiling you back!" Vera looked up from her ledger, immediately flashing a bright smile, and waved vigorously at Xiling.
"Yeah, I'm back." Xiling slapped the crumpled quest slip on the counter.
"Here, the quest is complete. Transfer the money."
"Oh my, thank you for your hard work! I heard about this quest; it was amazing, Xiling." Vera winked at Xiling.
Standing to the side, Elaina's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Of course, don't you know who I am?" Xiling puffed out his chest proudly.
"Yes, yes, you are the esteemed Swordholder," Vera said respectfully, while rapidly manipulating the magic panel on the counter.
A moment later, Vera looked up again, her smile even brighter:
"Because you exceeded expectations in this mission, you not only received 700,000 points, but you will also receive a special magical item!"
After explaining Xiling's reward, Vera transferred the points to Xiling's registered account and closed the panel.
"Please wait patiently for that magical item; I'll notify you later."
Vera clasped her hands together, her eyes curving into crescents, "Also—" she suddenly clapped her hands, "Congratulations on successfully paying off your debt! Should I prepare a big cake for you to celebrate you finally getting rid of your debt?"
"A big cake, my foot! Who's going to eat that?" Xiling immediately gave her the middle finger.
Vera immediately covered her face with her hands, peeking out tearful eyes through her fingers:
"I only meant well, Xiling, how could you say that to me..."
"Oh, then I'll use a more tactful word," Xiling rolled his eyes, "Are you going to kill me, friend?"
"How could I~" Vera lowered her hands, her face showing no sign of sadness.
"How could I bear to kill you?"
"Tch, never mind you, I have things to do." After receiving his payment, Xiling still had to locate his creditors to settle his debts.
"Let's go, Elaina."
The gray-haired witch, who had been silent all along, finally nodded, a faint smile on her face. The two had only taken a few steps when Vera's voice came from behind again:
"Don't forget to come and try my new creation tomorrow! I've improved the recipe this time!"
Xiling waved without turning his head.
Stepping out of the mission hall, the light from the Eternal Furnace bathed the two of them. Elaina suddenly spoke, seemingly curious, "You and that lovely lady seem to get along very well. She even bakes cakes for you."
Xiling shrugged.
"Just a tragic fate."
"Oh? A tragic fate." Elaina raised an eyebrow.
"Tell me about it."
"Hmm, let me think where to begin... well... maybe it starts from the first bite of food I ate from her." As he said this, Xiling shook his head, as if he had thought of something amusing.
"Vera carries some kind of curse, something she picked up a few years ago. It's not a serious curse, though; she just can't taste food, can't distinguish different seasonings, and can even cook a dish that knocks someone out with just one bite. But her extraordinary profession is that of a chef. Once, I ate her food and couldn't help but complain a bit, and that's how this ill-fated relationship began."
Elena pondered, "And then?"
"Then she set her sights on me." Xiling sighed.
"Every time I came to hand in a mission, she would find some excuse to make me try her new creation."
"Sounds like some kind of obsessive revenge," Elena said softly.
Xiling shook his head.
"No, Vera actually..." Xiling paused, seemingly searching for the right words, "She's just too lonely. That curse prevents her from enjoying food like a normal person, but she loves cooking more than anyone else. My comments were probably the first real feedback on her cooking in a while."
The two turned a quiet street corner, and Xiling continued, "Every time I commented, she would write it down in a little notebook. Over time, her cooking actually... became somewhat edible."
Elaina listened quietly, her gaze fixed on the distance.
"So you became her...taste tester?"
Xiling smiled.
"Indeed."
Elaina looked at the smile on Xiling's face beside her and sighed inwardly, "Why are you so gentle..."
Xiling led Elaina to a magnificent building. A towering spire pierced the clouds, and three slowly rotating magical runes floated atop it. This was the Magic Society of Karso City.
"Please inform Vice President Kahn that I've come to pay my debt." Xiling displayed his Swordholder badge at the front desk.
The staff member smiled.
"The vice president has been waiting for you. Just go straight to his office."
"He's been waiting for me to pay him back, huh?" Xiling thought to himself, then smiled and nodded.
"Thank you."
Turning to face Elaina, Xiling's smile softened.
"I'm going inside to say a few words. You can go back first, or you can stay here."
"Alright, I'll go back then." Elaina nodded, then, under everyone's watchful eyes, turned and used the chat group's teleportation system to return to her own world.
After watching Elaina leave, Xiling skillfully navigated the maze-like corridors. Portraits of past great mages hung on the walls, their eyes slowly following passersby. Finally, he stopped before a simple oak door, upon which hung only a small bronze plaque:
"Kahn Mia - Vice President."
Before Xiling could even knock, a calm male voice came from inside:
"Come in."
Pushing open the door, a strong smell of ink and parchment wafted out. Inside the spacious office, a black-haired man wearing silver-rimmed glasses was hunched over his desk, signing various documents.
This man was Kahn Mia, the vice president of the Magic Society branch in Karso City, the same man who had apprehended Xiling when he tried to infiltrate this building.
"Vice President, I've come to pay my debt." Xiling casually closed the door, the metal lock clicking crisply.
Kahn didn't even look up, his voice as calm as discussing the weather:
"That's not debt, that's atonement. Don't do these petty things next time, understand?"
Xiling gave an embarrassed but polite smile:
"Next time, next time, definitely."
Kahn looked up, his calm eyes fixed on Xiling.
Xiling immediately changed his tune.
"There won't be a next time."
Kahn then lowered his head again to review the documents.
"You did a great job this time. I reckon you'll be promoted once the magical item is approved."
"There's such a good thing!" Xiling exclaimed happily. Who wouldn't like a promotion?
"Discovering the ancient god's corpse is no small matter. Your achievement will be recorded in the Magic Society."
Xiling nodded, then suddenly changed the subject:
"Vice President, may I ask a question?"
As if knowing what Xiling wanted to ask, Kahn looked up from the documents.
Looking directly into Kahn's eyes, Xiling calmly asked, "Have you found that guy?"
Xiling was referring to the person who sealed the ancient god's corpse at Moonshadow Lake.
Kahn was silent for a moment before speaking.
"He's escaped."
"Leon Leorosa, the eldest son of the Leorosa family. By the time I went to capture him, he had already left Karso City, and his whereabouts were unknown."
"The Magic Society has already deployed twelve trackers," Kahn removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "It's only a matter of time before he's caught."
"I see." Xiling nodded to indicate that he understood, but then he said something else.
"If I find him, can I just kill him?"
Kahn raised an eyebrow.
"He might have reached Tier Zero."
Tier Zero is the limit of the Magic Society's assessment of an individual's strength. Those who reach this level have transcended the conventional rating system; their soul radiance can materialize and even gain the recognition of the world's laws.
"I think I can give it a try," Xiling said with a smile.
Kahn stared for a few seconds before lowering his head again.
"You are the swordholder; there's no need to be polite to wanted criminals. Your sword belongs to the Magic Society."
"Thanks, Vice President. Well, my atonement is now complete. I'll be going now." With that, Xiling waved to Kahn and turned to leave the office.
After Xiling left, Kahn looked up, staring at the closed door.
Xiling was a very peculiar person in his eyes. His strength, identity, origins, and relatives were all unknown to him. When he discovered him, Xiling was attempting to steal data. At first, he thought Xiling was a spy sent from somewhere. When he appeared before Xiling, Xiling tried to escape briefly but was quickly caught. After being caught, Xiling didn't resist but looked helpless.
When he inexplicably asked Xiling why he didn't resist, this was Xiling's answer at the time?
"Getting caught sneaking around is embarrassing enough; resisting law enforcement who came would be impolite. Of course, that doesn't mean I'll obediently wait to die in a cage."
The other person's words were straightforward, which piqued his interest. After several days of investigation, he made a decision no one expected: he decided to make this person the Swordholder.
As it turned out, everything he did was absolutely right.
Kahn smiled, then continued organizing the documents he needed to work on.
—
Just after Xiling left the Magic Society, a message from Dan Heng popped up in the chat group.
[I'm not Him]: Xiling, could you please help me?
Xiling replied immediately without hesitation.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: If you call me, I'll definitely come. What is it?
[I'm not Him]: I'm currently at a space station, and it seems there's been a problem.
Upon seeing this, Xiling immediately understood what was happening; the plot was about to unfold.
Space travel was something Xiling had never experienced before.
No words are needed.
Chat Group Transmigration System activated!
—
Herta Space Station echoed with piercing alarms.
"Help! Help!"
A group of researchers in lab coats ran desperately, their faces contorted with fear. Behind them, several antimatter legion soldiers pursued them leisurely, as if enjoying a cat-and-mouse game.
"Damn it! This is Lady Herta's space station!" a bespectacled researcher shouted as he ran, his voice trembling with terror.
"Where's the security system?"
No one could answer his question. Even more terrifying, as they rounded a corner, three more antimatter legion soldiers appeared ahead, their energy blades gleaming with a dangerous purple light.
"It's over…" someone whispered desperately from the crowd.
They were surrounded, completely encircled. The antimatter legion soldiers raised their weapons. Just at this critical moment—
"They're here, they're here."
A reassuring voice came from above. People instinctively looked up, but saw nothing.
A silver-white sword flashed, and soldiers fell one after another. Amidst the fallen enemies, a white-haired man slowly sheathed his sword.
"How are you? You should be alright, right? I'm not too late, am I?" Xiling turned around, offering a reassuring smile to the still-shaken crowd.
"It's alright now."
The people stared at the figure ahead of them. Fear had faded, replaced by a sense of security, causing their previously steady legs to buckle and collapse to the ground.
Saved! That was the thought in everyone's mind.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the end of the corridor.
"Xiling!"
Dan Heng strode in, spear in hand, followed by a girl with short pink hair. The girl's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the fallen antimatter legion soldiers.
"Wow! You handled all of this by yourself?" She jogged over, curiously looking at Xiling.
"I'm March 7th, are you Dan Heng's friend?"
March 7th, as she watched the person who had suddenly appeared beside Dan Heng and then vanished after nodding to him, she had initially wondered what was going on. It turned out the person had come to rescue someone.
"My name is Xiling, nice to meet you." Xiling smiled at March 7th and then added, "I have other things to attend to, so I'll leave this to you."
With that, Xiling disappeared like a white shooting star, heading in the opposite direction.
Just then, Dan Heng received several more requests.
Soon, several people in the chat group appeared at the space station.
Among them was Kevin, who was carrying what appeared to be the Judgment of Shamash in the form of the Cleaver of Shamash created by Xiling. He also held a small notebook, also supposedly provided by Xiling, and was constantly reciting what was written on it.
"Why can birds fly?"
"You don't need to answer now. Someday, you'll understand."
Welt, who on the train sneezed, was somewhat puzzled.
"What's wrong? Why do I feel a chill down my spine?"
...
T/N [Translator Notes]:
Sorry for the late chapter. I've been swamped with work lately since I just changed jobs. Please note that some chapters may experience a delayed or late update.
Thanks for your support.