Chapter 81

It was the tenth day after arriving in the Mithril City that Xiaoman met Yolutina for the second time.

Now that she knew what kind of status the seemingly youthful and slender Yorutina held in the city of spellcasters, she could better understand why she was so busy.

"I'm so sorry that I only found time now. How was your time?" The one of the pedestals of Mithril City greeted him cordially.

"Very good." Xiaoman could only answer.

Just as she was invited, no one gave her any responsibilities or threats after arriving in Mithril City. They just treated her as a young foreign compatriot. Xiaoman had no choice but to make the best of her situation and travel around, occasionally taking on some odd jobs to earn money for her journey.

Of course she had never been short of money, so it was just a habit.

"Then would you consider staying here?" Yorutina smiled softly. When she asked this question, the quiet sadness in her eyes and eyebrows faded a lot.

"No...thank you."

Yorutina saw that this child - although he was about to lower his head to look at her, he was of course still just a child in front of the half-blood nymph - was naturally taciturn and not good at diplomatic speech, so she did not feel neglected or angry because of his disrespectful attitude.

This is a small terrace on the second floor of a restaurant. The restaurant sells dishes made from low-level spellcasting materials and is very popular among spellcasters. However, Yorutina claimed that she chose it only because the drinks tasted good.

At her invitation, Xiaoman also tried the drink: it was light green and slightly thick, garnished with tiny plants similar to aloe but very soft. It tasted almost not sweet, but a very refreshing coolness mixed with a slight grassy fragrance. Only after swallowing it did you slowly taste the warm sourness that was close to that of wood sour grass.

"Don't mind it, her taste is just that special." The third person involved in the conversation said to Xiaoman.

Her Royal Highness the Princess from the Holy City had bright scales at the corners of her eyes, but her temperament was not cold at all. She leaned back in the seat, relaxed as if she was born to control the wind.

She is not Yorutina's disciple, but she should be familiar with the latter.

"No, it tastes good too." Xiaoman put down the crystal-carved teacup and replied.

Spellcasters are very rare in the outside world, and unlike the Golden Bloods who are particularly generous in their appetites, they appear to be extremely noble and out of touch with the world.

So after coming across the "Mythril" that almost everyone knows, Xiaoman realized that most spellcasters do have a sweet taste, as if they had to do so in order to counter the extremely attention-consuming process of research and spell construction.

This made Xiaoman, who was brought into the magic door by Lazarus, feel very cordial.

Of course, Yorutina's preference is also consistent with her appearance. From the inside out, she completely conforms to people's imagination of a fairy who is far away from the greasy, sweet and realistic style.

“It may be offensive for me to say this, but you are a lot like your teacher.”

Yoltina also put down her empty teacup and spoke in a soft and ethereal voice.

Xiaoman was not surprised that she knew her teacher. Moreover, ten days ago, when Yolutina arranged for the apprentices to entertain Xiaoman, she mentioned Lazarus.

The group of apprentices, whose ages ranged from 40 to over, showed no resentment or fear about this matter, but they treated Xiaoman more friendly from then on.

"Of course we know that gentleman. He is very strong." An older apprentice saw Xiaoman's surprise and took the initiative to speak.

"I really want to be his disciple. Would you mind introducing me to him?" Another Eagle apprentice, who was handsome, tall, and had a low voice, so his gender could not be identified at all, asked Xiaoman.

"The ceremony held earlier today was developed by him! Just being able to experience the aftermath personally makes me feel happy..." The apprentice, whose entire body, including his skin, seemed to be stained unevenly with dark green due to some accident, said with his arms around his chest, his expression full of longing.

"...Aren't you afraid of the teacher?" Xiaoman was surprised when she saw these apprentices surrounding her and preparing to entertain her.

"Why should you be afraid? He doesn't mistreat his apprentices." An apprentice who looked like a middle-aged man in terms of build and walking posture but had a childish face said, looking Xiaoman up and down, "Aren't you living very well under him? Or are you the only one who survived among hundreds of people? Then we have to think about it."

"The teacher probably only taught me." Xiaoman clarified for the teacher.

The petite female rabbit apprentice, who was wearing the only robe of a mid-level status, had already been holding Xiaoman's arm affectionately and walking together. There was no trace of the arrogance she had shown to other companions just now, which was probably mixed with some personal preferences.

She looked up at Xiaoman with a moving gaze and said happily and sweetly, "Let me stay with you tonight so that I can learn from you. Okay?"

"..." Xiaoman hesitated for a moment, and seeing that the collar of her robe revealed neat noble casual clothes, he chose to trust the noble character of the spellcasters as much as possible, and understood her request for advice as a simple request for advice on spellcasting, and nodded in agreement with her suggestion.

With a roommate who is out in the open, Mithril City can feel relieved. And choosing her is easier to accept than choosing others, Xiaoman thought.

She already has the ability to fight, but still doesn't like to argue. Before the other party clearly shows hostility, Xiaoman still wants to keep the atmosphere within a stable range.

It just so happens that spellcasters often have this excellent quality of not provoking others unless necessary, just like Lazarus can always calmly deal with his friend who not only has a stern look but also a "slightly" eccentric personality.

Because they are the part of the beast that must be particularly calm and accustomed to thinking first, they are described as having a steady, graceful, clear and even flow of secret silver in their blood.

Therefore, Xiaoman's life in the Mithril City can be said to be going smoothly. After all, spellcasters do not need the survival instinct of civilians to use fierceness and roughness as a protective color to intuitively express that they are not easy to mess with.

As for the various hidden messages that sometimes appear beneath the peaceful attitude, Xiaoman doesn't care.

She knew very well that she had received a certain degree of recognition from the top management because of such a teacher, which guaranteed that she would not be bullied at will. So as long as she did not intend to completely integrate into this place and gain any benefits, she at least had the qualifications to be herself.

"...I'm honored." Xiaoman responded to Yolutina's obvious praise neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Even their micro-expressions are similar." Yorutina looked at her and said. Her gentle eyes made the brown-gold color slightly exposed under her long eyelashes no longer stand out.

"In fact, the reason why we invited you here is also related to your teacher."

Xiaoman waited quietly for her next words.

"Even though Lazarus Smilelaged had crossed the boundary between life and death set by the Father of Starlight and became a rebel, Mithril had never denied that he was a compatriot, and had always expressed his bias in front of the Temple and the Holy City."

"So for hundreds of years, there has never been a real conflict between him and the Holy Church. There is only a bounty order and the constant threat of eradication. This is just a show to prevent others from imitating him."

Her Royal Highness the Princess spoke on behalf of Yorutina, looking at Xiaoman and speaking slowly.

Even if she had not joined the ranks of spellcasters, she must have been a politician with good appearance. At this moment, she was not proud of her age or status at all. Facing a disabled person who would bully and exclude even ordinary people, her eyes and tone were sincere.

But Xiaoman chose to only trust half of it, and regarded the rest as a way of seeking credit. After all, except for the teacher, the other nobles were still synonymous with cunning and taxation, and she did not have the right to trust them completely.

"We have a mission for you now. Whether you succeed or not, Mithril City can use this to convince the Holy Temple to cancel the bounty order."

...The climax is coming, Xiaoman thought silently. She tried her best to pretend to listen attentively, but she still did not let her guard down.

Even though this is really tempting...even though I really want to do something for the teacher, they haven't mentioned the price yet, and the conditions they offer are not good enough to be like bait.

"The ceremony ten days ago was called the 'Eye of Kalyse's Prophecy', and it was your teacher who restored it. What we use it to predict is not only the future, but also the past - what happened to our father that made the beastmen become abandoned and caused us to lose the Sirens and the sea."

The princess, who was of royal status, lowered her voice, with genuine worry in her eyes.

"For this ceremony, Mithril paid a wise man." Yolutina patted the back of her hand gently and took over the conversation calmly.

"And the future that the ritual shows us is one of imminent destruction. It just so happens that the monster that caused the Father and the world He created to collapse... is collecting the defectives."

Xiaoman looked at those beautiful lips and felt a slight shiver in her heart.

As she expected, the princess then went on to give the details:

"You have already shown your strength, so we have a plan - please wait for him to appear again, pretend to be taken away by him, and find an opportunity to hurt him. Leave the rest to us."

"As a reward for your efforts in saving the world, Mithril will vindicate Lord Lazarus and the Incomplete Ones, and the Holy Temple has no reason to object."

"I can make this promise to you now on behalf of the royal family."

This is real thought, real intention, real commitment.

This is how we conclude about Xiaoman's talent.

She lowered her head and pondered. Yorutina kindly did not force her to answer immediately. She just casually sculpted the fresh water droplets on the flower arrangement. The princess, who felt pressured, stood up to order another cup of tea.

The information these people hold obviously does not include the part that Awakening told me...so they will naturally come to the conclusion that that person is the cause of everything, thinking that it is his existence that caused the Star God to become like this.

I know that this is not the truth, but since Chen Xing has not informed these forces, there is no need for me to speak out.

But their offer was good.

Very good. I want to get this reward for my teacher and my mother.

Then let's say based on what I learned from Sumei, the teacher, and Ellyretna...

"I can agree with that."

Xiaoman raised her head with obvious temptation and confusion, but these emotions did not look unpleasant on her face.

"As long as the city and the royal family are really willing to fulfill their promise, so that teachers will no longer be seen by the enemy and no longer have to live in such a remote place... I have no problem doing it."

She began with the measured tone of a young person who has not experienced much of the world, and spoke slowly.

"Of course. We appreciate it very much."

Yorutina put down the water droplet that was only the size of a fingernail but had a lifelike shape of a fishtail and a human body, and said with a smile.

What Xiaoman saw before her eyes was the face with familiar features, surprised and then choosing to say goodbye temporarily when suddenly hurt. It was as if she had seen her throw away the only trust she had given him, but she was not angry about it.

She lowered her eyes like Yorutina and drank the tea that no longer tasted sweet.

"Smart people are good. They will automatically assist." The adjutant said with emotion while broadcasting the entire negotiation process.

"How bad! You actually used me as a bargaining chip to plot against the child. We agreed to be old friends, Ms. Li Luti..." Yuan Qian leaned back ungracefully with his shell awakened, and closed his eyes in the warm sunlight.

[It proves that you are a good teacher, and you have won the unconditional filial piety of the children. Look, they even agreed to chop me up to clear your name. You have won big, Mr. Actor!] Someone is still adding fuel to the fire.

What's the point of winning? It will only make Yuan Qian feel more guilty.

He shrank sideways silently, pressing Chen Xing's thick long hair to cover his ears and face.

[Don't shut yourself up yet, the roles after number 5 are guaranteed, but don't you have any thoughts about number 4 and number 6?]

"No... enough remaining, I'll take a break first." Although Yuan Qian said this, he still paid extra attention to Amara who was moving freely. After confirming that this Templar Sword was also running around normally today to maintain the peaceful life of the people, and that his sharpness was not stained with blood, he closed his eyes again.

[This makes me look like I'm trying to steal the spotlight.] It was useless to talk, so the adjutant had to activate his Nirvana and personally stand beside the recliner, bending over and poking.

"They are all supporting roles, what's there to fight for..." Yuan Qian replied in a muffled voice.

As long as he acted like he didn't care about anything, those people in the family who enjoyed looking for trouble and fighting overtly and secretly were helpless against him. Especially when it came to a villain as unpleasant as Mr. Adjutant, they were completely helpless and had to let him be.

Of course, with Yuanqian's understanding, he knew that his teammates were vindictive and there would be plenty of time to settle scores later.

But what does this have to do with who I am now? he thought evasively.