Chapter 14: Ashes Route_2

Even more professional assassins, specifically those who woripped the god of assassination, had not arrived yet. The assassins present were more like scouts, searching for Letixia.

Killing them wouldn't yield much experience.

Shortly after.

The church.

"Nun's clothes suit you quite well." Xi Mu looked at Letixia, who had changed into nun's clothes, then turned and crouched down.

With the assistance of a nun, Letixia leaned onto his back, and after he had lifted her up, he glanced at the nun.

"Later, thirty thousand Gold Coins will be delivered, provided you're still alive." Having said that, he carried Letixia away.

Later in the game, various demons and ghosts would emerge. It was difficult for ordinary people to survive; it was quite normal to unluckily become an undead monster.

Normally, this world had about two more months of stability, a period given to players to adapt and improve themselves.

After the God of Plague died, the style of this world would become strange.

In order to speedrun the game, one couldn't simply wait for the plot to develop naturally, the plot needed to be actively advanced.

...

…

Lionheart Castle.

This was an essential city to pass through on a visit to meet the God of Plague, with very comprehensive standards and facilities.

Of course, being developed wasn't the hallmark of Lionheart Castle.

Duels, duels between life and death, that was the real hallmark of Lionheart Castle, where the victorious stake their lives and gain fame, and the defeated find release.

An extremely developed dueling industry, that was the most famous aspect of Lionheart Castle. Anyone, even the lowest of civilians, could enjoy dueling, either as a spectator or as a duelist.

"Can you still hold on?" Xi Mu, carrying Letixia, crossed the majestic city gate and entered Lionheart Castle.

"Yes, no problem." Letixia responded softly, her eyes involuntarily surveying the developed Lionheart Castle.

Though she was a princess and lived in the palace, it didn't mean she was accustomed to grandeur; she was quite astonished by everything in Lionheart Castle.

After all, in this world, anyone who had a small city and an army could declare themselves king.

In essence, any city lord could be called a king; for the people, a king was not a rare phenomenon.

This also led to some kings having less knowledge than ordinary scholars in big cities.

"Actually, this is also my first time leaving the Iris Flower Kingdom." Letixia whispered into Xi Mu's ear.

"The closer you get to the temple, the more you feel the vastness of this world. Giants, using mountains as their steps; huge dragons, as large as castles, joyfully flying in the sky; and elves that disappear as soon as you turn your head."

"Soon you'll meet the deities." Xi Mu remarked, then he heard a suppressed giggle from the young woman beside him.

"It's still more than two months away, and I might not even be able to see the deities."

"Don't you believe I can protect you?" Xi Mu asked with a smile, then heard Letixia's playful response.

"Of course I believe, but don't you ever get tired of always protecting someone like me?"

"No." Xi Mu replied, "Until you are completely safe and reclaim your throne, I will always protect you."

Letixia paused briefly, then said softly, "How should I repay you then?"

Find more NPCs for me to kill.

Xi Mu wanted to say this, but considering she couldn't accept it and might think him mad, he chose to remain silent.

After all, when the Iris Flower Kingdom storyline opened, there would be plenty of opportunities for him to kill indiscriminately; no need to deliberately have Letixia attract monsters.

Looking at the knight who was protecting her, remaining silent, Letixia slightly shrank her body, not quite sure of her feelings at that moment.

What was this man really thinking?

"In the duel arena of Lionheart Castle, there is a priest who is very adept at healing," Xi Mu suddenly said, "I spent some time in the duel arena before."

"You were a dueler?" Letixia's eyes flickered with surprise. In her view, duelers were a group of people seeking freedom or who disrespected their own lives.

Normal people would never wish to become duelers.

"Yes, fought a few battles," Xi Mu casually replied, taking Letixia to the duel arena.

If he wanted to advance the plot early, then he had to make a name for himself in the duel arena, just like drawing attention from a witch, drawing the attention of the gods.

This way, he could trigger the plot early.

...

…

"Unfortunately, the money isn't enough," the priest said, leaning back in his chair while pinching a bank card, handing it to the knight in silver armor before him.

"The money in your card is too little," he said, looking toward Letixia who sat elegantly on the sofa, smiling.

"If you want your little lover completely restored to normal, it'll be ten thousand Gold Coins, guaranteed no scars, or you could seek a third-rate doctor. Their treatment will leave scars and some side effects are inevitable."

"It's okay," Letixia gently shook her head, her emerald eyes revealing resolute determination, "Scars and some side effects are just memory tags for me, allowing me to always remember my experiences with Sir Ahtal."

"Ahtal, ah... it's you!" The priest seemed to remember something, "A dueler with twenty battles, twenty victories."

He pinched his chin, smiling.

"Then the solution is obvious, isn't it?"

"No, there's nothing obvious about the solution," Letixia anxiously stood up, moving closer to Xi Mu despite the pain.

"It's fine, to me it's not really anything!"

"Oh dear, what an enviable love," the priest clapped cheerfully, tempting Xi Mu, "Just win a few more times, and not only the medical fees, you'll even be able to afford your future wedding home."

Xi Mu pretended to think it over, looking at Letixia who was obviously very reluctant to have him participate in another duel.

He turned his head, nodding to the priest.

"Alright, I'll participate in the duel."

"Participating in a duel for a princess you're sworn to protect, truly touching," the priest wiped away a non-existent tear, "Seems like the boss is going to cry tears of joy while making a fortune."

"Hmph," Xi Mu scoffed, lifting Letixia around the waist and turning to speak to the priest, "Tomorrow or even tonight is fine."

With that, he left the room.

Seeing this, the priest smiled kindly, marveling that youth was wonderful, daring to risk life for love.

In fact, he didn't believe Ahtal couldn't come up with ten thousand Gold Coins; if the man truly wanted to, finding a wealthy woman to sell his body to would easily gather the sum.

But insisting on coming to the duel arena for treatment and earning the fees through dueling clearly meant he was exploiting the young lady's feelings.

And he was merely slightly cooperating with Ahtal.

By now, that young lady must be so moved, to the extent of being deceived yet helping to count the money.

Meanwhile.

Along the corridors of the duel arena.

"Lord Ahtal, please do not do this for me!" Letixia, her eyes earnest, pleaded with the knight steadily moving forward while holding her.

"If it's money earned from your duels, I absolutely refuse to use it for the treatment; please respect your own life!"

...

Xi Mu remained silent, continuing to walk forward while holding the naïve princess. In fact, he was already planning to participate in the duels, and he possessed more than ten thousand Gold Coins.

However, to boost his favorable impression and subsequently access the hidden Sword of Light and the plot line related to the Mysterious Gate within Letixia's family, including the harshest and most cruel Ashen ending route —

The entire world would burn at the hands of the player, turning into lifeless ashes, where gods and witches alike would die.

And players who pursue the Ashen ending would gain the most powerful strength."