Chapter 33: Sanctuary Realm and Odd City

Is there really something like this?

Rod raised his eyebrows and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

'It feels like there's an interesting story behind this.'

Curiosity instantly bubbled up within him.

"We won't head into the forest today. Let's take a look at the territory of this so-called legendary count instead."

Since the plan was to eventually take over the entire Forest of Tranquility, it would be wise to wait until noon. After all, their opponent was a Sanctuary-level existence, not a mere small fry like Yulia, who was in the Legendary Realm. This was not an opponent to be underestimated.

The Sanctuary Realm was a step above the Legendary Realm. To enter the Legendary Realm, one must grasp the power of laws—something far stronger than ordinary magic.

The Sanctuary Realm, however, went beyond that. It wasn't just about understanding laws but beginning to touch the very rules of the universe. Only a handful of geniuses at the top of various races and professions ever stepped into this realm.

They were synonymous with absolute power and unmatched talent.

To reach the Sanctuary Realm was to stand at the pinnacle of mortal achievement, with the qualifications to glimpse the power of gods.

As for demigods, they were no longer truly mortal. They wielded the power of universal rules, and while they might lack a fully formed divine persona, divine fire, or an exalted divine kingdom, their power was essentially on par with that of gods, albeit weaker.

A mage who reached the Sanctuary Realm would be called a Dharma Saint, and a swordsman would be known as a Sword Saint.

In the entire Northern Kingdoms, the number of those who had reached the Saint Realm didn't exceed ten.

Of course, those in the Sanctuary Realm also had lifespans far longer than most magical creatures, even rivaling the immortal species. If you counted the powerful individuals who had disappeared or gone into hiding, the real number of such beings might be even higher.

Facing an existence of this level required great caution—one misstep, and even someone as powerful as Rhodes could end up in an unfortunate situation.

"Please register before entering the city. There's an entry fee!"

The carriage was stopped by soldiers at the city gate. Yulia, who was sitting outside the carriage, casually extended her hand. A burst of violent flame shot out, sending the two soldiers stumbling backward.

"A mage, forgive us!"

The soldiers, shocked by the display of power, quickly moved aside.

"Well, that was a bit arrogant," Rod remarked, clicking his tongue as he glanced at Yulia with surprise.

Over the past few days, he had been treating Yulia like a free tool, almost forgetting that she was a genuine Archmage in the Legendary Realm.

"Isn't this how things should be?" Yulia gave him a strange look.

The status of a Legendary Mage was far above most nobility. Wherever they went, their treatment was at least equivalent to that of dukes or even higher-ranking nobles.

It was only because they were in a remote, out-of-the-way territory that no one recognized her. If anyone had dared stop her carriage in the imperial capital, she could have incinerated the guards on the spot without consequence.

"The atmosphere here feels off," Rod commented.

As the carriage rolled into the city, everything around them seemed shrouded in a dark gray hue. The ground, the walls, even the rooftops—all of it seemed bathed in shadows.

Darkness and gloom seemed to be the primary themes of the castle.

The pedestrians hurried about their business, and soldiers patrolled the streets with a sense of urgency. Inside the blacksmith's shop, bright fires illuminated the dim surroundings. The entire place had the unsettling calm that comes before a storm.

"Looks like they're preparing for war."

But who could the Kingdom of Francis possibly be preparing to fight?

The nobility of the Shinra Empire couldn't just start wars among themselves—it would invite sanctions from the Empire.

If it wasn't a conflict between nobles, then there was only one possibility.

Count Francis was planning to wage war against the Forest of Tranquility.

"That fool!" Yuliya, who had been explaining basic magic principles to Britney, snorted in disdain.

Her eyes gleamed with an unspoken mockery.

"Does this Earl Francis have a death wish? He's just a small earl, yet he thinks he can wage war against the Forest of Tranquility?"

With a population of at most tens of thousands, even if the county's military was fully mobilized, it would amount to no more than a few thousand soldiers. That was nothing. Even a single Legendary Mage could annihilate this entire castle, let alone a Saint.

For instance, if Yulia had enough time to cast a spell, a single fire-based forbidden spell could erase this castle from existence.

Rod nodded, his thoughts aligning with Yulia's. A Saint might not have a glaring weakness, but if Count Francis was truly preparing to fight the Forest of Tranquility, he must have found some method to counter the powerful sacred beast residing there.

"Let's find a place to stay first."

The carriage wound through the city and eventually stopped in front of a well-kept inn. Rhodes booked three rooms.

Since Euphemia's demonic energy hadn't been fully purified yet, he naturally shared a room with her. Though it would drain his energy, she was his maid, and as her master, he had a responsibility to help her.

Fleur and Anne shared a room, while Yuliya and Britney took the last.

"Master, thank you for your hard work!"

Once inside the room, Euphemia sat on the bed, waiting for Rod to help her purify the lingering demonic energy.

"Well, I am your master, after all," Rod sighed as he stepped forward and began the purification process.

With the power of the sun coursing through him, he condensed pure sunlight into a form of holy water, infusing it into Euphemia's body. As the cleansing power spread through her, Euphemia's body arched, trembling as she let out weak, pain-filled groans.

Wisps of demonic energy leaked out of her, dissipating into the air.

"A few more rounds, and we should be done," Rhodes said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Euphemia's body had gradually grown accustomed to the purification ritual, making it increasingly difficult to expel the remaining demonic energy. Thankfully, his power of the sun was more than sufficient—otherwise, this would have been impossible to handle.

Suddenly, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

"Who could be here at this hour?" Rod frowned, slipping on a coat as he opened the door.

Standing outside was a girl, her expression utterly blank.

"Fleur? What are you doing here?"

Rod was surprised. Why was she sneaking over in the middle of the night?

"I just couldn't sleep, Master. I missed you." Fleur lowered her head, twirling her fingers shyly as she spoke.

Then, she shot him a flirtatious glance, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Rod frowned. There was something undeniably seductive about her expression—an allure that was impossible to miss.

Given Fleur's usual stoic demeanor, this sudden change was a dead giveaway: this wasn't Fleur. It was her second personality.

"Why did you come out?" Rod asked warily.

"Hehe, Master, you ask such silly questions. After being trapped in that dark place for so long, don't I deserve to come out for some fresh air?" Fleur bit her finger playfully and blinked up at him.

"Don't you want to engage in a little master-servant fun with your dear little slave?"

The horns on Fleur's head grew rapidly, and her petite frame transformed, becoming voluptuous and seductive in an instant.

"This outfit feels a bit tight," she complained, tugging at the long dress as her body swelled.

Her eyes, now filled with a misty allure, gazed at Rod hungrily.

"Master, look, I've got demonic energy too."

"What are you going to do about it?"

Rod's eyebrows shot up, his heart skipping a beat. With a resigned sigh, he muttered to himself.

"Looks like I'll have to work overtime to exorcise demons… again."

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