Chapter 211
“I thought you meant yesterday that you wanted to come along too.” Karl raised an eyebrow as he looked at Denos, who was still in his pajamas.
“I honestly feel like I can’t be of any help. I’m useless even among humans.” Denos hesitated for a moment before saying, “Although following you would certainly greatly increase the survival rate, I still think I need to think about it.”
“Now you have time to think. I didn’t think things through when I said I was leaving yesterday. We don’t have a carriage that can get us there. The swordsmith said it would take her two days to make it even if she didn’t sleep. This is her first time making something like this, so she needs time to learn.”
It was already noon the next day, but Karl had not left.
Even for him, venturing into the Spirit Forest from outside, where monsters abound, might not guarantee his survival.
This is assuming there's a horse-drawn carriage. To set off without even a means of transportation would be far too presumptuous.
"Why do I have to go?" Denos asked Karl. "You know I can't be of much help."
“Of all the humans I can think of, only you can be of great help,” Karl said. “You are the best sorcerer I have ever met.”
“I think you’ve met my father, and actually, I’m not the only sorcerer in the group. I remember there was a guy who wanted to rebuild the school, and he was very skilled.” Denos said helplessly, “Even my wife has Black Lightning because of her bloodline, but I have nothing.”
Carl looked silently at the somewhat tired man, unsure of what to say.
“I remember you were very sad when you were left behind,” Karl said softly. “Back then, you often told me about your past. You have indeed been to many, many places, and as a human being, your experience is so rich that I envy you.”
“I can’t take that risk, Karl. I’ve settled down.” Denos said, “Even someone as capable as my father has settled down, right here in this city. He’s peaceful and happy. In a time when the average lifespan is only in the forties, he’s lived to a very old age. When I met him, he was so old that I didn’t even know what to call him.”
As Denos said this, he rubbed his temples.
"I'm starting to regret not getting some back." He rubbed his nose desperately, as if he wanted to crush it.
Then he stopped and looked at Karl. His eyes were bloodshot.
“I’ve been thinking lately that maybe my dad hasn’t told me a lot of things,” Denos said. “He kept a diary, which was given to me by someone. It’s still on my bedside table, there are six of them… I was going to say that I read them carefully, but actually, when I found them, they were burned down to just the bark. Because he used very good materials for the covers, so all that was left were the covers.”
"So you're a little scared?" Carl asked.
“Yes, I’m a little scared. If I’m planning to go, I might go after the carriage is ready. If I don’t go by then, then don’t come back. I don’t want to make up excuses anymore.” Denos smiled. “If this matter is no longer being discussed, you can sit here all afternoon.”
Karl smiled helplessly.
After the blue dragon transformed and landed there, the number of patrolmen was cut in half. Because nothing had happened all day yesterday.
It's like suddenly waking up from a nightmare.
It's like suddenly having a dream.
After that brief discussion, the place suddenly became as calm as if nothing had ever happened.
Qing never woke up; he closed his eyes and never opened them again.
It seems to be dead, but it doesn't want to be. It stands there like a strange mountain.
I heard they've started experimenting with farming outside, and if it works out, they'll try planting some fast-growing crops here first.
The prerequisite for farming is to clear the ruins, which is not an easy task, but everyone involved enjoys it.
This is unprecedented. From the beginning of history to today, no one has ever heard of a safe zone being able to expand.
Once this size is expanded, then at least for the people of this city, everyone will be able to eat and drink their fill, and everyone will be able to wear high-quality clothes.
They could even sell their goods to obtain other resources for further development.
This morning, a man excitedly came to Karl carrying a large book. He said that in just ten years, all the previous losses here would be made up for.
And ten years from now, it will double in development every ten years. A hundred years from now, it will become a city of unprecedented prosperity, hailed as paradise by outsiders.
A paradise within hell. That sounds wonderful. In this day and age, when even gods are dead, to hear people talking about things related to heaven is something I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Karl didn't stay any longer; there were still many places where a high-ranking priest would need to help. But it wasn't about fighting monsters; it was simply about helping with small tasks like clearing away collapsed buildings and leveling the ground.
It's truly surreal. Just a short while ago, my job was helping to clear out the monsters approaching the city. Those monsters were incredibly difficult to deal with. If the monster tide hadn't ended up like this, it would have been a huge disaster for everyone.
The dragon that caused that monster tide is now gone, and its hide has become an excellent material for armor. There are even rumors that she plans to use the dragon hide to make a carriage.
If it was indeed wrapped in dragon skin, then the sturdiness of the carriage must have been comparable to that of a fortress.
The extra dragon blood is also a good thing. Although I have not studied alchemy, those who know the principles of alchemy must know the importance of this kind of thing.
Even Denos received a token that he could use to exchange for a full set of armor made from dragon materials, covering him from head to toe.
That girl was in a good mood because she got some good materials; almost everyone she was close to got one too. Because there were so many pieces of equipment needing to be forged at the same time, even she was a little stressed.
They were also recruiting help over there; she had salvaged her forging tools from the ruins beneath the airship. She had opened a simple new workshop, hiring extensively and inviting everyone to help.
In short, things are slowly getting better.
To go out and die in this situation? Forget it, how much of a brain am I missing to agree to such a suggestion?
Denos shook his head, not wanting to offer any opinion on the suggestion.
He sipped his tea and looked around his home.
This is his home, and he has finally accepted that.
At first, I hoped to find a coffin to lie in, but now I've gotten used to resting in bed.
You don't need to feel heartbroken knowing that someone else has a fiancée, nor do you need to worry about whether you'll survive tomorrow.
He no longer wanted to be a hero.
He was silent for a moment, then rubbed his temples.
The guy Denos was trying to convince was actually himself.
For some inexplicable reason, deep down, he still wanted to go to Lingsen.
Perhaps it's because Ark eventually went to Lingsen.
Or perhaps it was because her father went to Lingsen to find her mother.
Or perhaps for a simpler reason, he wanted to go to Lingsen to see his mother.
Thinking about it carefully, each one is possible, and each one is impossible.
Or perhaps there's an even simpler reason.
I'm just someone who can't sit still, that's all.
"Does your head hurt?" Nina appeared next to him at some point, then lay down on the sofa with her legs on top of his, holding a large book spread out on her lap.
"A little." Denos smiled at the cute girl and ruffled her hair.
“Now that your rest time has doubled, I think you can consider taking on the task of tidying up the house.” Nina said, “Since you’re not planning to go out, you should tidy up properly. There are some cracks in the walls caused by the earthquake a couple of days ago. If you can, please help repair them.”
"Okay, okay, but you're pressing down on me so I can't get up," Denos said helplessly, reminding Nina to watch her behavior.
She didn't say much, but turned around and sat down properly, then casually turned the page.
It was an exaggeratedly thick book; every book about sorcerers was this size.
It's extremely difficult for sorcerers to rest at home. The spells they use are entirely based on memory. Without frequent review, they certainly won't memorize them all.
Besides learning new things, it's even more important not to forget what you've learned before. So when a sorcerer feels they've learned enough, they'll try to write a book like this from beginning to end.
This book will contain everything I've learned. I'll flip through it whenever I have free time, repeating it over and over until I memorize it.
Denos doesn't have this habit. Nina has mentioned it to him several times, but he says he often engages in real combat, and frankly, he doesn't know many spells. If his knowledge were less than the book Nina is holding, it would be rather embarrassing.
He got up, found some tools at the edge, and began cleaning.
Now the home feels much more presentable; we recently bought a lot of things to enhance it. As a place to live, it's already comforting enough and gives one a sense of happiness.
That's how it is, that's how it makes you feel the beauty of being alive.
Denos leaned against the wall, covered his head, and squatted in the corner.
It's already so perfect, so why do I want to go out again?
A shadow appeared in his mind again.
That was Ark, and he couldn't remember what kind of guy he was at all.
All I remember is that it was an acrylic painting, a blurry abstract painting, under the sun, with a cold wind blowing, a guy in a carriage wearing a somewhat worn evening suit.
Who is that guy? What does he look like?
He couldn't remember, he couldn't recall. But he always felt he needed to know, that guy permeated every corner of his memory.
"I'm so glad you're in so much pain because of me." He looked up at the helpless Nina.
"How could that be? Would I be in pain because of you, my dear?" Denos realized that he was acting a bit out of line. This was the attic, and he hadn't even noticed that this guy had come here.
“If you want to go but are worried about not coming back alive, I’ll go with you.” Nina shrugged. “You’ve never asked me if I wanted to go with you. If you don’t ask, I can’t very well insist on going. You know, sometimes boys have to be more proactive than girls.”
Denos stared at her blankly, hesitating for a very long time.
"You'll die."
"Um."
Aren't you afraid?
Are you scared?
"I'm not afraid."
At this point, both of them fell silent.
“At worst, we’ll just die together.” Nina sat down next to him and leaned on his shoulder. “Honestly, I don’t know what I’m living for. But I know I’m learning sorcery because I want to go out into the world and make it better.”
“Really? I didn’t know why I was living before. But now I feel that I have to take responsibility.” Denos said softly, “Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. I have a selfish reason too,” Nina said. “I also want to visit the Spirit Forest. To my shame, although it’s not far from here, I’ve never been there. Thinking back, I had a small wish when I first started learning magic. I wanted to visit the Spirit Forest because it’s said to be a place like a fairyland. Have you ever been there?”
“I haven’t been to every place in the world. I’ve been traveling around those few cities with Ark. Although there are occasional accidents, I’m not very interested in Lingsen.”
"Aren't you interested in the beautiful women among the elves there?"
“One of the elf variants caused my father to remain in that state for the rest of his life, stubbornly clinging to his delusions even at the very end. I don’t think it’s very good. It’s said that my mother always lived in the Spirit Forest. So much time has passed, I have almost no memory of her.” Denos said softly, “My only memory of her is my father’s description.”
"At least as a love story, it's not bad. A human falls in love with a beautiful woman who never ages, then they separate for various reasons, and in the human's last few days, he still thinks about finding her. I think it's quite good," she said softly.
"That's because it has nothing to do with you. If you were involved in even the slightest aspect, I doubt you would think that way. Both of them are bastards, a bastard dad and a bastard mom. I'm already very satisfied with myself for not becoming a bastard."
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