Chapter 172 A First Glimpse into Prison, A Shadow Appears Among the Crowd...

"Finally, finally we can put the plan into action..."

Relieved, Nasita escaped the murderous dragon and quickly found the Traveler and Paimon with her short legs.

"Here you go! The device!"

The device provided by the Lord of the World Tree is baffling.

"These are...earphones? They're thin and green..."

“Yes, Paimon, this is a variant of the Void Terminal; you can call it the Cause-Seeking Display.”

Nasita eagerly placed the earphones in her empty hand.

"Please, traveler, as agreed, quickly help Maine put this on!"

One step slower, and my blades of grass would have been boiled by the raging water!

"Okay, leave it to us!"

The traveler gave an OK sign and, with Paimon in high spirits, sped off toward Mainkuhn, only to be stopped halfway by a large, powerful hand.

"Waaah!"

"Ms. Nasita, why bother the renowned traveler?"

Leosley's smile was forced and insincere.

“Apart from medical staff and defense representatives, even family members should not be allowed to approach the defendant’s dock. Just hand the device over to Hisewen and let her handle it.”

So, so that's why you were waiting outside the door...? Your plan has been thwarted again... QAQ

"Wow! What a fierce-looking big guy!"

Paimon was startled.

"Why can't we go in? The traveler and I won't hurt Mainkun!"

"Yes, it's a common and seemingly sincere promise. When I was a kid, I would also show weakness to my opponents in the boxing ring, and then look for an opportunity to kick them in their vital spots."

Mainkun was in a weakened state, and Leosley was unwilling to let dangerous individuals in.

"Unfortunately, Mainkuhn is now covered in fatal wounds."

"Ugh..."

Naxida helplessly held her forehead.

Is such a strong protective instinct stemming from tenderness and affection after a long separation?

"This device is special; it must be worn by the traveler himself..."

“Siegwen can also be a traveler, I’ll fire her right now.”

"...?"

As the Grass God stared in disbelief, an elegant female voice rang out from behind them, and Arecino gracefully approached.

"How pathetic, Mr. Leosley. It's only been a few days. When did you transform from a jailer hound into a lioness protecting her cubs?"

“Oh! Ms. Arecino.”

She started off with sarcasm, but the Duke wasn't annoyed; his attitude towards her was much gentler than towards the travelers.

“If you are willing to transfer the guardianship of Linni and the other two to me, I wouldn’t mind changing to a few more species.”

Since Mainkuen fled Fontaine, Leosley has been investigating the clues left in his house and has made some speculations about his past.

It was probably bought by the Fools, and Arecino happened to be the same age as him.

No matter how many times you ask, my answer will always be no.

Ignoring the curious blond boy, Arecino approached the grass god who was waving happily at her, and her mood was unexpectedly calm.

“Let them in, Mr. Leosley, because the conditions for using this device are indeed special.”

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."

Under her brother's cautious gaze, she picked up her own device, solemnly put it on her head, and held it in place with her hands.

“I am Peruvieri, the son of the moon and fire.”

She hesitated, her voice like a vow, echoing throughout the opera house.

"Willing to show the world any time between the ages of six and fifteen, whether day or night, whether in sorrow or joy, whether in poverty or wealth, whether in blood or tears or laughter."

"All, everything, everything, without regret."

Beep—

Almost the instant she finished speaking, the earphone-like device began to operate as if given permission, emitting light, taking off, and finally twisting into a circular halo that floated above the servant's head.

"!What's this?"

Leosley stared in astonishment at the black-and-white-haired woman, whose terrifying eyes, illuminated by the halo, somehow resembled those of an angel.

"Hehehe... Grass God."

But her laughter remained sharp and terrifying, concealing her gentleness perfectly.

"Go ahead and manipulate my past as you please; I've already granted you access."

“Thank you for your courage and dedication, Peruvieri.” Nasita solemnly patted her chest. “But you alone are not enough. Take all of these devices…”

"Do you understand now, Mr. Leosley?"

The servant took the device but didn't leave immediately; he just looked at the Duke with a half-smile.

"To save your brother, even an intelligence agent like me, hidden in the shadows, is willing to be frank... Heh heh... It's like exposing a snake to the sunlight or throwing a crow into the water—it's unsettling."

"...this thing."

After a moment of silence, Leosley picked up the cause-finding display from the traveler's hand and examined it. "It can only be activated with the user's consent."

"Yes."

Nasida explained, pinching her fingers together.

“The images of the World Tree are very difficult to control. Even I can’t force them to appear. Many individuals have to volunteer to act as the medium for them to be displayed… Moreover, showing them without permission is a serious violation of privacy. I can’t do that…”

Leosley: "But Mainkuhn is in a coma and is unconscious. His lack of resistance is voluntary."

"Yes, but that's not enough. You must enter your name and identity in words, as well as your consent to the range of images that can be accessed."

"I can't lose?"

"No, the ley lines will become chaotic and incorrectly release your past. This step can only be performed by someone who is completely unaffected by the ley lines, such as the Traveler."

"Understood."

Leosley placed the device in the traveler's hands, stepped aside, and touched his shoulder in a gesture of respect.

"Please."

Paimon was surprised. "Huh? I thought you would stop me again? How should I put it, after all, it involves your brother's privacy?"

“You are meticulous, thorough, fair and empathetic. Although I do not know the specific plan, you have maintained the basic moral standards that people should have in times of urgency. This is enough for me to entrust Mainkun to you.”

Mainkuhn, my brother.

Standing with Peruvieri at the door, Leo watched as the traveler rushed anxiously toward the pale-faced youth and tightly placed the device on his head.

"I am Mainkuen, the son of a cat and a human. Though my soul is false, my actions are true. Do not ignore my voice..."

What exactly have you been doing in places where I can't see you?

"The Wrathful King, the Wise King, the Wandering God, the One Who Repairs the Earth..."

"Traveler! Try reciting it a few more times. It might be due to a problem with the World Tree's connection, possibly caused by a difference in life forms..."

What exactly did you do to make these people go to such lengths to save you?

Peruvieri watched for a while, then greeted him rather sullenly, "I'm going back to the stands to distribute the devices. You can stay here and keep watch, Duke."

Ever since she put on the halo, she hasn't been in a good mood.

“Wait, Ms. Arecino.”

Leosley called out to her.

"Things have come to this point, you should tell me now." He forced a smile. "What was your past like?"

"Want a warning? Okay, then my answer is only four words."

"It's unbearable to look back on."

She came quietly and left quietly, without a sound, like a spider crawling across a carpet.

Only a soft, trembling fear remained.

"hiss……"

Behind him, the traveler was still pressing Mainkuhn's head down, his voice solemn.

"I voluntarily reveal my past to the world, fragments of which are open to the World Tree's Lord's review, the scope of which is—"

"From my first crime until now!"

Beep—

The illusory images of plants lingered in Nasita's eyes. The god raised his finger and released light and shadow onto the judgment platform. The high and mighty Dragon King had already stepped down from his seat and taken his place at the head of the audience.

As he sat down, he saw the noise dissipate, the image gradually become clearer, and a flash of white light reveal...

“…Mainkuhn?”

On the simple wooden bed, the gray-and-white tiger-striped toddler opened his golden vertical pupils, his eyes round and peering out, looking at Navelette across nearly twenty years.

"Meow".

So small... no, that's not right.

"So cute!!!"

Gasps of surprise rose and fell from the audience.

"Ah, I miss him like this..."

Leosley blushed and inexplicably felt his heart beat faster.

"How come I never noticed how cute he was when he was little? I guess I'm getting old and my mindset has changed."

Peruvieri sat indifferently in the audience, handing the camera to a blonde sister who had secretly reached out to her.

"Heh, these guys are blinded by beauty."

"Have you forgotten even the premise of 'from the first crime until now'?"

"I haven't forgotten, but he's so small, his height probably doesn't even reach my waist."

Gan Yu blushed and carefully used her master's fan to cover her face.

"What crime could he have committed? Whether they are half-demon or half-immortal, they should all be equally weak and helpless when they are young."

"It's probably just a small thing like stealing pencils and erasers. Who hasn't done that when they were a kid?" People in the audience began to frequently try to excuse him.

"Let's keep watching."

The Emperor lowered his eyes in sorrow and pity.

Little Mei rolled around in the blanket twice, opened her mouth, and revealed a mouthful of tiny teeth.

"elder brother!"

He called out in a clear and crisp voice.

Leosley: "!"

He could clearly feel his heart pounding and pumping blood in response to the call, as if commanding his body to move and hurry over.

But how can the human body outrun time? What calls to him is merely the memory within the earth's veins. At this moment, the only real presences are the whispers in the audience and his dying brother.

"What's wrong with those teeth? They're a bit deformed."

"Actually, her eyes are a bit strange too; her pupils contract and shrink..."

"...Hey, hey! You bunch of guys!"

Funina, who had been listening silently, suddenly stumbled and tried to defend him.

"Can't you have any aesthetic sense? What's wrong with sharp teeth? What's wrong with vertical pupils? I like them all. Vilette's eyes are vertical too!"

The subordinates immediately changed their tone.

"Oh my god! Lady Funina is right, I'll go back and sharpen my teeth!"

...They're hopeless.

"Brother! Brother! Brother!"

"If you can't get anyone to come, just keep calling. You're no different from any other kid in that respect..."

"elder brother?"

Confused, I rolled around on the bed, until I reached the edge.

"Watch out, you'll fall!" Before the person in the real world could warn them, the kitten twisted its waist and flipped itself up, blanket and all! In the air, *thud*, the blanket was kicked away, and the kitten fell from it, landing on all fours.

audience:?

"Brother, brother, brother—"

With a loud cry, Mainkuen raised its large tail and began to crawl all over the place.

"Where are you hiding? Brother, brother—"

audience:? ? ?

Elhesen turned around sharply, "Who is this?"

Seno: "Your wise king."

"your."

"your."

Everyone's focus was different. Paimon grabbed the Traveler's hair and screamed, "It's a squirrel! The Traveler! It's a squirrel! Such a big tail!"

"Good... lively, so you've always been like this since you were little." This is Xiao.

“Impossible! My Mr. En can’t possibly be this energetic!” That’s Linnie.

Leosley's gaze glazed over as he listened to a series of calls from his brothers.

ah.

I think I know why I didn't find him cute back then.

"Shut up, you little monster!"

A heavy thud struck the door, but it didn't open. Instead, a small window opened in the upper part, and a beautiful young girl threw him some dry bread through it.

"Wow!"

Xiaomei nimbly dodged the attack, then hopped and skipped to pick up the bread and throw it back to the girl.

"Throw it again! Mika! Throw it again!"

"I wasn't playing with you! This is your breakfast!"

"Ah, but I don't like this. It's too hard, I can't chew it."

"Eat it or not, it's up to you. Do you think I picked up a big idiot like you and would cook extra for you? You'd better starve to death!"

"Mijia!"

Disapproving voices came from outside the door, but they were still too young.

"He's still a child, don't take it out on him."

"What does it matter? He's not going to come out and beat me up."

"He'll be released someday."

The sun moved a little higher, letting in more light, and the images of my memory became clearer.

"Mainkuhn, stop it. He was just called to work by his father. He'll keep you company when he gets back tonight."

One bed, two pillows, two blankets.

Outside the door, the sounds of laughter and chatter from young boys and girls filled the air.

"..."

Little Mei shook her tail hard in Kuhn's hand and rolled around on the ground a few times.

The room was quiet for a while, then the sound of chewing and gnawing could be heard.

"Brother, I'll be very good today too."