Chapter 118
“Here’s yours, take it safe, or you’ll be in trouble later.” Ark handed a metal tag to Lady: “Then sit in the back seat like Lori, wearing a robe, and act normal, but don’t show your face.”
At the same time, he threw over a bandage, which he used to wrap his face so that no one would recognize him.
Those puppets were also troublesome, but fortunately, they had alchemical arrays that allowed them to be stored in a small piece of paper, about the size of a coin, covered with magic circles.
However, this method of storage is very unsafe. Generally speaking, things involving space are very unsafe, so it's best not to trust it.
If it weren't for the need to enter Kadumi, we really shouldn't have resorted to this drastic measure.
Lady puffed out her cheeks in slight displeasure, then sat down and put her arm around Lori. They looked like sisters.
The wooden sign had a signature printed on it: Eight Colors Glass, the signature was messy and disordered.
Although Benny was very unhappy, it was the name of the Defender of Honor, which came from an angel. Therefore, only this kind of signature could have the relevant benefits.
Therefore, I can only use scribbled words as a way to vent my feelings.
This handwritten temporary security certificate differs from normal identification because it serves as a guarantee. Anyone can sign such a document, meaning someone is acting as a guarantor for someone else. This document signifies that the holder of this wooden plaque guarantees the identity of the person possessing it; even if the person holding it is a demon, others will find it difficult to target them.
There were still twelve kilometers to go before entering the city, and Yak was currently struggling with the necessary permits. Entering such a large city was troublesome; not only would the goods be inspected, but everyone would be checked.
Karl's situation was also quite serious; according to the documents, he was now dead. Fortunately, once he moved to a different city, it would be difficult to encounter anyone who had seen him before. So he disguised himself as an ordinary knight, wearing a tattered tin can. He claimed to have obtained this in the Chaotic Realm, and that he had been attacked by monsters, lost everything, and was then rescued by Ark.
He meant that he would first be taken to the church to obtain a new identity, a knight. Not a priest, just an ordinary knight. This wasn't difficult; he could easily say that his place of registration was a city destroyed in the Blood Sun. They couldn't trace his origins.
The rest of the people were easier to deal with. Although the two cats were monsters without proper documentation, the coffin was peculiar; once inside, it couldn't sense anything inside. It also couldn't be opened normally. There was really no other way, so Ark decided to openly admit that he had found it outside and therefore needed to send it to the church for temporary storage.
However, I won't leave them there for long. Once they've settled down, I'll figure out a way to bring the two little guys out.
All the rest had security certificates. Ark took out his security certificate from his pocket, sighed helplessly, and put it back in his pocket.
The word "safety" sounds really daunting. It's a defined word, and whether a person is safe or not is never about how others perceive them.
However, the goods were also strange. Yak scratched his head, looking at the list with a troubled expression. Anyone could see that these were wagons that had just come from Nidra, and a large one at that. It wouldn't be surprising if such a wagon were thoroughly inspected for two days.
Especially the witchcraft medicines, which will likely be thoroughly investigated one by one. Although they are all black flowers, these anti-corrosion drugs must be clearly distinguished to prevent inferior products from causing other consequences.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache. Yak understood that if some inferior products were mixed in with this stuff, it could lead to fatal consequences. But if he had to stay in the church's guesthouse for the next couple of days because of that, such restrictions on his movements were extremely unpleasant.
He heard the clanging of metal and looked into the distance, watching the massive metal door rise as gears moved. The tall stone walls were scarred, and from afar, he could see collapsed rocks everywhere.
Large cities must be surrounded by large city walls because their area is so enormous that even with a large army, they still need city walls for protection.
However, it is different from the walls of Nidra, after all, walls made of pure metal are really rare.
The city walls here are covered with a large number of divine inscriptions. This is a city under the control of the church, although not directly under its jurisdiction. You can see it everywhere. There is a large church here, and there are many, many clergy.
Sixteen chains landed one after another in front of the opened gate, each chain several meters apart. Each chain was filled with holy magic, and even with such a sparse distribution, it was as sturdy as a city wall.
"Welcome to Kadumi." A voice came from ahead, and a guy in a white robe slowly walked out. Then Ark and the others put their hands together in prayer.
Behind him followed a giant puppet.
“High Priest, that’s rare,” Ark said casually.
The High Priest is one of the higher-ranking clergy, below whom is the Priestess. Unlike the Cleric, the High Priest focuses more on the application of holy magic, primarily for damage. The Cleric focuses on healing and self-strengthening. The difference between the two is significant, but High Priests are far fewer in number than Clerics.
Perhaps it's just because there are few priests.
That roughly three-meter-tall stone giant was likely the creature's means of compensating for its lack of close-combat ability; its entire body was tightly bound by chains and wore a collar. This indicates that the thing is far more agile than it appears, and its controller can use it to destroy enemies as if it were controlling itself.
"Hello." Yak got out of the car, holding the forms and notebooks he needed in his hands, with his security certificate on top of them: "Please take a look."
"Thank you for your cooperation." The high priest smiled and took the stack of items from its hand. Merchants often come here, and the rules for entering the city are already well-known in the community, so everyone is prepared.
The high priest took a short knife from his pocket, which immediately burst into flames and formed a tall, slender figure before him. It bowed to Ark and then walked toward the carriage.
This thing will bring people into the city, and all the carriages will have to be stopped for inspection. The people will have their identities verified at the church before they can be released. And the carriages will be sent to the church after the inspection is completed.
The high priest looked at the document in his hand and immediately felt relieved. This guy was extremely knowledgeable about the rules; attached to it were all the necessary documents, including a detailed list of personnel and further information, so he could complete the registration.
But the high priest's expression froze for a moment, and his eyes, which had been closed due to his advanced age, slowly opened.
Because the two people at the bottom only have blank spaces and a simple label.
"Wait a minute." He looked up at Ark in front of him with a hint of displeasure.
The guy didn't leave; he seemed to be waiting for him to speak, probably knowing that getting in wouldn't be as easy as he'd imagined.
"Explain yourself." Seeing that the man had no intention of resisting, the high priest's expression softened slightly.
Without a proper explanation, he shouldn't have let them go. It would be irresponsible to everyone, and if he really let two dangerous guys into the city, it would be his fault.
The high priest did not want to make such a basic mistake.
“No comment. As you can see, this is someone protected by saints,” Ark said calmly, his face expressionless. That kind of expression was incredibly effective at lying.
The most troublesome ones are those two. They've gotten too cocky, daring to travel the world with two demons. They're really bold enough not to be afraid of being beaten to death by the church.
In short, he just needs to follow the procedures. Only here is a firm stance necessary.
“Eight-Colored Glass?” The High Priest wasn’t surprised, but looked at Ark and hesitated for a moment before saying, “So your name is Ark, right?”
"You know me?" Ark was surprised, but thankfully his expression didn't change.
“I did see Her Excellency the Saint yesterday, the Defender of Honor, Eight-Colored Glass. She specifically sought me out and told me that among the people who had recently arrived was someone she was protecting.” The High Priest said slowly, “But, only one. I asked her, and she said she was protecting a girl who looked to be about fourteen years old; she was a demon.”
As he said this, Yak felt a slight headache coming on, but forced a smile as he looked at him.
This was awkward. He knew that girl could watch him through the sun wheel, so he understood that he had been under surveillance all along, and that he had no ill intentions towards her. But what she meant by that was that he hadn't made it clear to her that he had arrived a month early and recently brought an extra demon with him?
"Can I go in first?" Yak took a deep breath to calm himself down. "I'll go talk to her."
“It’s alright, but your carriage and your friends will have to stay at the church for now. I have no interest in your goods, but I’m worried you might pose a danger,” the high priest said, nodding to Ark to indicate that everything was fine.
Yak quickly returned to the carriage and explained what had just happened to his friend.
No one showed any emotion other than being dumbfounded, because facial expressions were really hard to contort.
One particularly significant point is that the Saints' Defenders arrived in this city.
Denos's expression showed anticipation. He had always known that Ark had a fiancée, and that she was the legendary person who had inherited the power of an angel. However, he had never had the chance to meet her. It seemed that this trip back would also allow him to resolve one of his concerns.
But for others, it was hard to say whether the news was good or bad. When Lady heard that Ark's girlfriend had arrived, her hands, which were bandaging her face, stiffened.
As for Ark himself, his facial expression wasn't exactly pleasant either.
That couldn't be considered expressionless, because the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Although I don't know why she came all this way, I can guess it's not good news. A lot has happened recently, and even people without special abilities can sense that something is wrong, let alone someone with such high combat power.
He inquired about the losses from the bloodbath, which were, to put it mildly, devastating. Countless people died; more than half of the smaller cities were wiped out. Even the larger cities suffered varying degrees of damage.
That kind of thing can shake public morale, although the church isn't afraid of riots. They are the pinnacle of violent organizations, so naturally they aren't afraid of others using violence. In their areas of expertise, they are invincible.
However, this will naturally bring some trouble. After all, there are mercenaries and sorcerers among humanity who are quite powerful. There are also alchemists and wizards, whose lives are at stake. If these people unite and rebel, while forcefully suppressing them wouldn't be difficult—at worst, a saint could be sent to take a look and deal with a few disobedient individuals—if that were actually done, the Church's standing in the people's eyes would plummet.
All the churches are in trouble now; these guys should be spreading love all over the world to stabilize public sentiment. She should be incredibly busy right now. So what could she possibly want from me at a time like this?
Yak walked into the city, his head throbbing with increasing worry.
But I quickly came to terms with it. The more I thought about things I couldn't understand, the more my head ached, so it was better not to think about them at all. I'll just let things take their natural course and do my best when the time comes.
Come to think of it, maybe I should just treat it as a normal encounter with that guy, since it's been such a long, long time since we last saw each other. So long that it feels a bit like strangers. That girl probably hasn't changed much in appearance, but she's not young anymore, and she's been through a lot. I wonder if she's still as stubborn as she was back then.
Yak wondered what kind of person she was. She was a little girl who hadn't fully developed due to malnutrition, with a slightly timid face, but when she got fierce, she was like a wild wolf. This wolf was fierce enough when it was young, and now that it had transformed into a demon, it was naturally a monster that the whole world would have to bow down to.
At that time, I was desperate, truly desperate. I used my last bit of money to buy goods and wagons, and even worked for a while to earn money to buy more. I even saved money on food, relying on monsters to replenish my energy with magic when I was starving.
But in the end, he found himself all alone. All his friends were dead.
However, relying solely on oneself without using one's abilities, one will find it difficult to move an inch in this world.
He only mentioned it casually when he saw Benny, but he still remembers what he said.
"You seem pretty capable. Interested in coming with me?"
As I was thinking this, a familiar voice came from behind me.
Ark turned sharply, looking at the girl in the distance, her white dress swaying in the wind, her short golden hair cascading over her shoulders. The noise seemed to be blocked out—the chatter of pedestrians on the street, the rumble of carriages. Only that guy's words were clear, along with the sound of her breathing, like the tide.
"It looks really good," Ark smiled and greeted her.
Yes, I used to laugh a lot back then.
When exactly did I start to become expressionless? Perhaps it was because of her departure.
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