Chapter 58: Lifting the Curse - Wiestan's Loyalty
The only mage Esther could contact was Pearl. Given how strained their relationship had become, it was really inappropriate for Esther to ask for help. But he had no other choice. This was the downside of not having power; when you need to ask for help, you have to humble yourself and ask.
Matsuue watched Ister walk out the door, her feelings a mix of emotions. Her small eyes glanced at Vestan. She knew how much an alchemist would benefit the country's future development, but she also knew that it wouldn't be easy for the king to find someone to help him. She couldn't bear to see the king lowering his stance. If only the players were stronger.
"Don't overthink it," said Roasted Sweet Potato, "That day will come sooner or later." It's always others who ask for Easter's help, never the other way around.
"The time and effort required to achieve this is not a small amount," said Matsushita Yuki.
"It'll be soon," Ru Bu Kao Di Gua said. "We'll soon be in a period of rapid development."
Judging from Ister's actions, the coming period will no longer be small-scale. Whether it's city construction or the hunting of monsters, both the nation and the players will enter a period of rapid development.
"I hope everything goes well." Matsushita Yuki felt that the king was a bit strange. He was incredibly lucky, always managing to escape danger, but he was also incredibly unlucky, as he seemed to encounter all sorts of misfortunes.
East walked in, his expression unreadable. "The person will be here soon. Now, tell me what else you can offer?"
Vestan's heart settled down, and he sighed inwardly, "I must say it, Felix is truly remarkable. No matter how much he has fallen from grace, his uniqueness cannot be concealed."
“Your Majesty King Felix, if you do not mind, I may offer you my loyalty.” Vestan bowed his head, indicating his submission.
Easter had some guesses about what Vestan could offer, but even when Vestan actually said it, Easter was still surprised. "Are you sure?"
Offering loyalty is not something that can be said lightly. If one truly wants to offer loyalty to someone, there is a set procedure to follow. After completing this procedure, if that person intends to betray, they will suffer a backlash. This backlash is very much like a curse, which people call the "curse of the betrayer." This curse can prevent a person from making any progress in their strength and will make their luck extremely bad. Almost all those who dare to betray have died under the "curse of the betrayer," without exception.
Even if you don't follow the proper procedures and just talk about it, there's a chance you'll be cursed by the "traitor," which is why no one dares to make such promises recklessly.
“Your Majesty, you should have been aware of my situation when I disagreed with your help in contacting the dwarves. Under these circumstances, it is my honor to offer my loyalty to you if you still do not mind.” Vestan was not very confident about his decision, less than 30%. Right or wrong, this was not a matter to be determined in a short time, but Vestan did not have much time to weigh the pros and cons. This was a high-stakes gamble; if he won, he would reap immeasurable rewards; if he lost, he would die without a burial place.
In any case, without Easter's rescue, he would have certainly died. Whether he won or lost, he would still profit from the outcome of the bet.
“Okay.” There was no reason for East to refuse. The advantages and disadvantages of gaining Vestan’s loyalty were obvious. For the Kingdom of Felix at this time, the advantages were immediate, while the disadvantages would only come with time. East believed that his players would develop quickly, and then there would be no need to worry about many things anymore.
With the deal settled, Easter and the players simply had to wait for Pearl's arrival.
During this time, Easter tells the players about his deal with Wistan.
"That's not bad." Matsushita Yuki said indifferently. The result was good, but she didn't like the process. Their king shouldn't have acted this way.
"I remember there was iron ore in the 'Little Abyss'?" said Ru Bu Kao Di Gua. "This dwarf's arrival is quite coincidental." The coincidence was too much, and it all seemed to be a conspiracy.
"We actually have ways to smelt iron ore without them." But Ruokao Sweet Potato still harbored a lingering doubt.
“The problem is that we don’t know the forging methods of this world,” said Rainbow Butterfly helplessly. “I know a little about ordinary forging and blacksmithing, but it’s not suitable for everyone.” Neither magic wands nor swords used by swordsmen can be forged using ordinary methods.
"Let's take it one step at a time," said Suibianla. "Didn't they say he could teach us forging knowledge? Let's learn it as soon as possible, and we won't be afraid of him playing any tricks."
"I'm afraid it won't be easy to learn," said Matsushita Yuki. "If the professor is genuine, it'll be fine, but if this dwarf has something he's hiding, then the situation is hard to say."
“We are ultimately different.” Butterfly said this while looking at East.
After listening to the players' discussion, Easter realized that he had been too careless. "Hmm, exceptionally talented, learns everything very quickly."
Cai Die held her breath. Was this what he wanted to say?
Pearl sneaked in, and as soon as she entered the room, she sensed that the atmosphere was a bit strange.
"What's wrong?" Pearl asked, wrapped in a thick black robe and wearing a mask that covered his entire face.
Pearl's arrival broke the silence in the room.
Once Esther saw Pearl's expression, he knew that Pearl had no intention of revealing his identity. "It's nothing, thank you for your help."
Pearl didn't mind and looked at the person Esther wanted him to save. It turned out to be a dwarf, which was not surprising. Dwarfs were famous for their forging skills, and what Esther and his group desperately needed right now was weapons.
"How is it? Can it be saved?" Easter went to Pearl's side.
“No problem,” Pearl replied. “The curse on him is quite interesting.”
"Hmm?" East asked, puzzled.
“It seems to be a curse cast by his own kind,” Pearl said.
Easter looked toward Vestan, who hadn't said any of this to him.
“There are dark mages among humans, and there are also among dwarves,” Vestan said. “Dark mages are not limited to humans.”
What Vestain said was clear to Ister, but if it was a dwarf dark mage, the situation might be worse than he imagined.
“King, this dwarf is not behaving properly. I can help you catch a more obedient one.” Pearl didn’t want to really ruin her relationship with Easter. She had finally seized an opportunity, so of course she wanted to make a good impression.
“That dark sorcerer is dead. This is the curse he cast on me when he died.” Vestan could sense Pearl’s power and believed that Pearl could keep her word, so he hurriedly said.
Pearl observed more closely and was about 80% certain that Vestan was telling the truth. That would be incredible. Vestan was just a great mage, while the black mage who cast the curse was already a Grand Magister. Crossing a major level was not something that could be done easily.
Pearl had to take this seriously. "Your Majesty, this dwarf doesn't look like an ordinary person at all. Are you sure you want me to save him?"
East pondered in silence, the image of Vestan's proud, resentful, and fiery gaze flashing through his mind. "Save him."
Pearl chuckled softly, “Your Majesty, your courage is admirable.”
East didn't reply; he didn't want to ruin a talented person with a single thought.
Vestan was completely relieved. He already felt grateful to Easter, and this incident only deepened his gratitude.
Pearl first used magic to seal the space before beginning to chant the spell to lift the curse. Obscure and difficult-to-understand magic incantations flowed from his mouth, and many blue light spots gathered, gradually forming a magic circle around Vestan.
A look of surprise flashed across Vestan's eyes. Pearl was wrapped up very tightly, but his disguise was not very thorough. Judging from this magical fluctuation, Vestan had some guesses about Pearl's race. This guess made Vestan even more determined to follow Ister.
Since Pearl has already helped lift the curse, she won't hesitate to cast a few healing spells.
Vestan was enveloped in blue light, and when the light dissipated, anyone with eyes could see the vitality emanating from him.
"It's amazing," Suibianla murmured, "When will we be that powerful?"
“I don’t know when we’ll be that strong. I only know that if you’re holed up in your room researching herbs every day, you’ll never become that strong in your lifetime,” said Cai Die.
Suibian stepped forward to help Vestan remove the bandages from his body. He was reluctant to accept Cai Die's suggestion, saying that the medicinal plants in this world were much more interesting than fighting monsters.
“Thank you very much,” Easter said. “I can’t offer much in return, but this cookbook is just a small token of my appreciation.”
Pearl wanted to refuse. He was just helping someone lift a curse. If Arip and the others found out that he was being paid, where would he put his face?
The problem was that the reward offered by Easter was too tempting, and he couldn't resist it at all. "Thank you very much. If there are any good opportunities like this in the future, you can come to me again. I don't need much, just a few recipes."
Easter nodded. "Yes."
Pearl grabbed the recipe and left in a hurry. It wasn't that he was in a rush to have someone cook for him; he had come in his spare time because there were still matters in the merfolk that required his attention.
Easter turned to Vistula, "I hope you won't go back on your word."
“No,” Wiestan said. “I need to take care of myself so that I don’t look too out of place.”
"I don't have any suitable clothes for you here," Easter said. He had been so preoccupied with Vestan's life that he hadn't considered what Vestan was wearing.
“Do you have suitable fabric?” Vestain asked. “I can make the clothes quickly.”
"Wait a moment." East opened the door and bumped into Liang Jingjing, who was carrying clothes. "This is...?" East was a little incredulous.
“Little King, is it surprising?” Sparkling said. “I have a great interest in the other races of this world, but I don’t know if it’s appropriate. But it doesn’t matter, I can fix it quickly.”
“What a coincidence.” After a long pause, East managed to utter only these four words.
Liang Jingjing brought over the clothes, but after comparing them, they weren't quite right. While Vestan went to take a shower, Liang Jingjing threaded a needle, cut the fabric, and quickly altered them.
Vestan put on clean clothes, tidied his beard, and knelt before East. "From this day forward, I, Vestan Mosoni, will offer my loyalty to East Felix and never betray him."
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