Chapter 418 The Demon King Returns to His Hometown
The "Voyager" flew steadily for a whole day, but finally reached its limit.
Luo Yan's joke that "this airship is just an experiment" unfortunately came true.
At first it was just a groan coming from inside the airbag, but because no one paid attention, the sound soon became louder and louder, turning into the wheezing of an old man.
Finally, accompanied by a teeth-grinding "crunch" sound, the keel supporting the entire airbag broke under the action of structural stress!
"boom--!"
The entire airship suddenly tilted violently to one side, and the tables, chairs, books, and tea sets in the cabin instantly slid to the side. Just before they were about to smash into a ball, Luo Yan raised his hand slightly and calmly put them into the space ring.
The violent airflow poured into the cracked cabin, and the first person to be hit was Tafu, who was lying by the window looking at the scenery. The whole dragon was blown away.
"Ohhhh! I'm going to fall! I'm going to die! I knew this broken 'walnut' was unreliable!"
Her lips were blown up and down, and she rolled to the corner of the cabin with a terrified scream that pierced the sky. She used all four limbs to hold tightly to a seemingly solid supporting pillar, and the two little chicken wings and tail behind her were flailing around like she was suffering from epilepsy.
There is probably no dragon on this continent more disgraced than her.
In stark contrast to Tafu's panic, Sarah simply adjusted her center of gravity to stabilize her body the moment the airship tilted, and then moved silently to Luo Yan's side like a ghost.
She was not at all flustered, and her lively vertical pupils were as calm as ever.
It seemed that even if the world were to end in the next second, as long as the Demon King was still by her side, everything would still be able to turn around.
Even though she is a little afraid of heights.
Like Sarah, Luo Yan's expression could also be described as relaxed, and he didn't take the "plane crash" in front of him to heart at all.
He even had the mood to comment on Alberto's design.
"...It seems a simple wooden structure isn't enough. The strength and toughness are far from enough. An airship isn't a galleon, after all. Next time, we'll have to switch to a lighter and stronger aluminum alloy."
Thinking of this, Luo Yan stretched out his right hand holding the magic wand.
"Be quiet, Tuff. It's not time to write your last words yet."
With a casual word of comfort, a surge of magic power instantly gushed out from the tip of his wand and silently seeped into the crumbling cabin.
Countless invisible streams of transparent air converged from thin air, gradually compressing into a milky white solid. Like the outstretched hands of a giant, they precisely wrapped around sixteen fractures in the airship's keel structure!
"Atmospheric Grip!"
The creaking sound of collapse suddenly stopped, and the hull that was on the verge of disintegration was stabilized!
Tafu was stunned by the scene before her.
Although she had seen magic before, she obviously did not expect this guy's magic power to be so strong!
Compared to using magic to kill or destroy a behemoth, using magic to piece together a disintegrating behemoth is obviously more incredible!
Luo Yan did not stop the movement of his hands, and the wand in his hand was like a dexterous baton.
Under his methodical command, the violent air currents were like musical instruments in an ensemble, interweaving into a melody that changed from passionate to soothing at an altitude of a thousand meters.
The shaky airship tore through the broken clouds and made an emergency landing on a relatively flat snowfield below like a whale sinking to the bottom of the sea.
After experiencing a period of violent turbulence, the giant beast on the verge of disintegration finally landed safely on the border between Xuebang and the Kingdom of Rhodes.
The huge belly of the ship plowed a deep trench dozens of meters long in the thick snow before it finally stopped with a teeth-grinding creaking sound.
At the same time, the stove under the airbag was extinguished at the same time, eliminating the possibility of fire.
"Yes, I'm saved..."
Still in shock, Tafu collapsed onto the ground. Then her face changed again and she turned around and vomited violently.
Sarah glanced at her calmly, and seeing that the little girl was fine, she turned her gaze back to the Demon King, waiting for his orders.
"Master Demon, what should we do now?"
"I don't know. Let's go out and take a look first."
After retracting the magic power wrapped around the airship, Luo Yan looked at the vast uninhabited area outside the cabin and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Fortunately, they did not choose to go in a straight line on the way south, otherwise they would either crash into the steep Wanren Mountains or be forced to land in the dangerous dimensional desert.
He pushed open the hatch and walked out.
The cold wind howled, but it was not as cold as a few months ago. This vast snowfield is gradually welcoming its spring.
Looking at the familiar mountain outlines in the distance and the peaks that looked like eagles spreading their wings, Luo Yan couldn't help but reveal a playful smile on his face.
What a coincidence.
Half a year ago, he participated in the winter recruitment assessment hosted by Professor Hector here. Now, after going around in circles, he returned here again.
What a coincidence.
Wrapped in a thick cotton jacket, Taff stumbled out of the wreckage of the airship, her tail tucked under her robe, and said palely.
"I swear, I'm never going to ride this thing again!"
Looking at his embarrassed look, Luo Yan smiled and teased him.
"Don't always complain about the environment. If you had learned to fly earlier, wouldn't you be so panicked?"
Tuff cursed.
"Are you %￥@#?! I'm not even a year old, how the hell am I supposed to be flying?!"
Huh?
It seems so.
Ignoring the complaint, Luo Yan looked at Sarah who followed Tafu out of the cabin and gave instructions.
"Sarah, pack your bags, we're ready to go. The other side of the mountain should be Eagle Rock Territory, we need to find a carriage there."
Sarah's expression was a little subtle, and she coughed lightly and said.
"Master Demon, our luggage has been blown away..."
Just now, the Demon King was busy steering the ship and didn't pay attention to other things.
Fortunately, the valuables were all in the storage ring, and what was thrown away were only some valuable or worthless clothes and miscellaneous items.
To the Demon King, nothing that can be bought with money is worth mentioning.
Luo Yan smiled and said casually.
"Really? Then forget about them. We can buy them when we get to Eagle Rock Territory."
"Hey! Are you listening to me?" Tafu, who was ignored, protested and took small steps to catch up with the two of them. However, she fell into a snow pit as soon as she took one step.
The biting cold made her shiver, but fortunately a warm air current wrapped around her, dragged her out of the snow and placed her in Sarah's arms.
"Isn't there another one? Don't forget this little thing."
“%￥#@!”
Tafu's curse was very harsh.
Unfortunately, it was in Zeta language, and only she could understand it.
…
The border checkpoint between the Kingdom of Rhodes and the Kingdom of Xuebang was as deserted as ever, especially after the "enrollment season" was over, even the symbolic guards were withdrawn.
Although the two countries often quarreled, it was just a show. The King of Rhodes Kingdom didn't even consider the Academy State as a country, and as for the Great Sage of the Academy State...
In the past, Luo Yan thought that Dosulfuk simply looked down on secular royal power, but now it seems that the guy probably didn't even regard the Rhodes people as human beings at all.
Arrogance is equal to the contempt of those below the tower. The sunny and warm smile has nothing to do with decency, simply because the bugs are not worth his frown.
Luo Yan and his three companions crossed the nominal border in a low-key manner without any inspection and entered the traveler camp again.
However, the scene before them surprised them.
The temporary camp that once looked desolate and dilapidated in the wind and snow now looks brand new!
The streets were cleaned and lined with newly built shops and tents with a variety of signs hanging on them.
Adventurers, merchants, and travelers of all kinds jostle each other, and the spacious streets are bustling with people, creating an extremely prosperous scene.
Good job.
Spring has also arrived in Eagle Rock Territory?
"Wow, it seems to be a lot more lively here." Tafu looked around curiously, her depressed mood swept away, and her curious eyes searched the street.
No need to ask——
Luo Yan could guess with his toes what this arrogant and suppressed little devil was looking for, but unfortunately, it was still too young as its scales had not yet fully grown.
The women wearing thick sheepskin coats and heavy makeup disappeared, replaced by nuns in black robes.
With compassionate smiles on their faces and hands clasped together, they whispered prayers for the passing travelers, forming a sharp contrast with the noisy and impetuous environment around them.
Occasionally, a passing adventurer or mercenary would stop beside them, smiling either wildly or shyly, and making the sign of the cross on their chest.
"By the grace of Saint Sith...I want to repent."
The nun responded with a smile and made the sign of the cross on her chest, as if it were a secret signal.
"Come in, poor child."
"Are there any candles?"
"Yes, but there is an additional charge."
“Money is not an issue!!!”
The two of them walked into the tent together, talking and laughing, as if they were really praying for the gospel of the Holy Lord.
Taffy was bewildered.
"What are they doing?"
She could understand every word they said, but she had no idea how they put it together.
besides--
Are they really discussing the benevolent and loving Saint Sis that she is familiar with???
"Children, stop asking about adults' affairs." Luo Yan did not answer her question. He just smiled playfully and threw out a perfunctory remark.
As the devil of hell, he had never seen anything so turbulent as this. Only a little kid like Tafu would be so surprised, as if it was his first day in this world.
The only thing that surprised him was what had happened in the past six months that caused the people's thinking here to decline so quickly.
In his impression, the Rhodes people should be very pious, even to the point of stubbornness, and therefore they are often teased by the Imperials as dwarves among humans.
Taking the shocked Tafu away from the place of trouble, Luo Yan walked into a hotel that looked relatively clean.
"Boss, two cups of beer and one cup of hot barley tea."
After handing the luggage to the maid in the store, Luo Yan sat down at the bar, knocked on the table skillfully, and pushed five silver coins over.
"Another serving of your signature roasted pig's trotter, and two servings of beef and bean stew with bread."
"Okay! Please wait a moment, sir!" The bartender took the silver coin quickly, the smile on his face became a little warmer, and he hurried to the kitchen to greet people.
Soon, drinks and food were served.
When the roasted pig's trotter with golden brown skin and sizzling oil was placed on the table, Tafu's eyes lit up instantly.
She cheered, not caring about her noble Zeta image, and grabbed it with her claws, consuming it with relish, her mouth full of oil.
The waiter next to them was stunned. It was obviously the first time he saw the "lizard cub" sitting at the table to eat.
Even goblins... aren't this barbaric?!
However, considering that there was a school next door, and the magicians' familiars and pets were always strange and varied, he didn't say much.
He didn't even realize that the guy in front of him with his tail swinging was not a lizard man at all, but a noble dragon.
Sarah held the cup of warm ale and sipped it.
The spicy wine slid down her throat, bringing a hint of warmth to her cold body and making her fair cheeks flush with a barely perceptible blush.
Luo Yan smiled at his two satisfied companions, then turned to the bartender and started chatting casually.
"Business is good, man. I remember the last time I passed by here was during Xuebang's winter recruitment. Back then, this street wasn't as busy as it is now."
Although the bartender did not know the gentleman in front of him, he recognized the silver coins in the hand of this generous gentleman, so he was happy to chat with him.
"Of course! Eagle Rock Territory is different now than it used to be. Not only do young men and women on their way to the Academy exam pass by here, but adventurers from Dragon Vision City are also heading here. They are the ones who are truly wealthy and willing to spend money... By the grace of Saint Sith, our business has never been so prosperous!"
"It seems that your lord governs well." Luo Yan said with a smile and tasted the beer.
"Lord? Haha, are you talking about Sir Richter? That gentleman... is really a very smart fellow." The bartender's eyes were a little ambiguous.
This sentence sounds like a compliment, but there is always a hint of irony.
Luo Yan couldn't help but feel curious, so he asked another question.
"Oh? How specifically is it manifested?"
For the sake of a silver coin, the bartender's hesitation disappeared and he started talking without hesitation.
"In all aspects! That gentleman was good at messing up everything he set his sights on. For example, when he tried to control the undead, they became a plague. He wanted to feed his tenant farmers, but they all had to starve along with the stray dogs at his door. Of course...occasionally, his misguided mind would do something virtuous. For example, he despised the girls in the camp for being immoral and worried that they would pollute the eyes of His Royal Highness, so he took his soldiers and abducted them all to the dungeon to teach them a lesson."
"That does sound like a good thing."
"A good thing? If he had taken responsibility, it would have been a great thing! But he obviously hadn't figured out how to deal with the aftermath, and in the end, nothing was done. His men saw that the master had lost interest, so they let the girls go again."
"Keeping her locked up all the time is definitely not a solution. We have to keep her alive." Luo Yan wanted to say that this was a good thing, but seeing how Tafu was trying to hold back her laughter, he decided it would be better not to let her choke.
The bartender grinned and agreed with him.
"Yeah, if you kill them, you still have to find a place to bury them. Besides, who would kill for such a trivial matter? They have their own families too. Maybe some drunkard and his hungry children are still relying on them to send money back home. He waved his hand and chopped off their heads, and the survivors had to go to Longshi City to mourn. He is a fool, but his servants are not stupid. They just want to survive, and at most they want money. Only he is willing to do such a thing as killing people."
"But what does this have to do with your booming business?"
“It’s a big deal!”
There was a barely perceptible hint of sneer in the bartender's words.
"Didn't I say that? He's good at messing up everything he wants to do, and as luck would have it... this time he messed it up just right."
He lowered his voice and the smile on his face became mysterious.
"After the soldiers' training, the girls' business not only didn't decline, but it became even more prosperous under the pretext of 'Nun's Confession'! 'Confession' only costs 390 copper coins, while 'Catholic Explanation' is a bit more expensive, but 10 silver coins is enough. Most people wouldn't spend that much, but for those mercenaries who live a life of luxury, it's just a few meals! And once they're willing to spend even that much, they won't be stingy on anything else!"
Now Lord Dragon God finally understood, and the pig's trotter in his mouth fell into the plate, looking shocked.
The former ally has fallen into such a state!
This is...what a blasphemy!
Of course, she was not feeling sorry for her former allies, but was rather surprised that in this world of worst-case scenarios, she wasn't the most abstract.
Luo Yan didn't think there was anything strange about it. He just took a sip of beer and spoke out Tafu's inner thoughts in a casual tone.
"This is too blasphemous... The church won't do anything about it?"
The bartender's smile became even more naked.
"Church? This place? Haha... sir, you're kidding! When have the priests from the Holy City ever been here? As for the lord's own priests, it's easy to bribe these money-minded guys. Who knows, they might even come here to pray often."
"It sounds a bit unbelievable. The priests I know are all pretty good." Luo Yan smiled noncommittally and couldn't help but think of the Pope whom he had met several times in the Holy City.
To be fair, the old man is very noble, even a little naive. At least he has not seen his worldly side for the time being.
In comparison, Mr. Colligao, the Pope of Hell, made him feel a little tricky.
"Hey, don't disbelieve me! I'll tell you in secret, this deal is actually backed by the lord's newly appointed captain of the guard, Lord Carbin. Without his approval, who would dare to do such a big deal?" The bartender's voice was full of envy, but he didn't know whether he envied the lord or Lord Carbin.
Those were all unattainable existences for him. In front of these "big shots", he was like an ant.
"Everyone envies Ms. Lina, saying she's the richest person within a ten-mile radius, and she's a woman, too. But no one knows she's just a glove of Lord Carbin. No one knows exactly how much gold Lord Carbin has, but I estimate he could buy several mansions in the Holy City. Even Sir Richter might not be able to do that!"
Looking at the bartender who was talking enthusiastically about the stories going on in the castle, Luo Yan took a sip of beer with interest and asked softly.
"So do you like your current life?"
This question instantly wiped away the philistine enthusiasm from the bartender's face.
He was silent for a long time, and his enthusiasm finally turned into a long sigh.
"I have no idea."
He picked up an empty wine glass and wiped it repeatedly, trying to keep himself busy, but he could not hide his anxiety in the busyness.
"I will make money here, and I will be buried here, but I will never let my children stay here. If they have the talent, they can go to Xuebang to become magicians. If they really don't have the talent, going to Longshi City is also good. I heard that the Duke there is quite kind... Of course, the New World is also possible, but I don't want them to be too far away from home. It will be too difficult for them to come back."
Luo Yan did not comment on his thoughts, but just spoke in a calm tone.
"People who are forced to leave their hometowns will not be happy. I have seen many young men who have no way out. When faced with a choice, they are like rats backed into a corner. One step back is hell, one step forward is the abyss. In the end, they can only go down this path until the end."
Even go astray.
"Perhaps."
The bartender's expression was a little downcast, and he forced a smile. He looked at the tired face reflected in the glass, and his voice became a little hoarse.
"Honestly, sir, I love my hometown and I want my children to live here for generations, but I don't think this is a solution."
Although he knew that the traveler in front of him was neither a priest nor a nun, he still couldn't help but confide his inner distress to him.
It's like confession.
"Sometimes I miss the old days... Although business only opened in winter and most of the time was quiet, at least our lives weren't messed up."
The bartender spoke a lot unconsciously, and only after he finished speaking did he suddenly realize that the guest in front of him had an unusual manner of speaking and demeanor.
Thinking of the simple yet spotless clothes and the extraordinary attendant beside him, he suddenly became alert.
"Sir," he asked tentatively, a hint of nervousness in his voice, "You seem to be well-spoken... could you be someone sent by the Lord?"
Luo Yan smiled upon hearing this, his smile gentle and harmless: "How could that be? I'm just an ordinary traveler."
He paused, drank the last sip of beer in the cup, looked at the uneasy bartender and added another sentence.
"Besides, would the lord's guests condescend to stay in an inn like this? Give me a double room, the kind with two beds."
The bartender breathed a sigh of relief, and seemed to really believe it this time.
However, Tafu, who was sitting on the side watching the fun, was not happy. She dropped the pig's trotter in her mouth, raised her head, pointed at herself, and asked silently with her eyes.
'What about me?'
Luo Yan smiled and answered with his eyes.
'The pigs sleep on the ground.'
“%￥#@!”
Ignoring Tafu who was cursing in dragon language, Luo Yan left another silver coin on the bar as a tip, and went upstairs to rest leisurely with the dragon and cat who were well fed and well-drinking.
Even though they quarreled, he would never really let Taf sleep on the floor. Usually, either Sarah would hold her in her arms, or he would use this guy as his pillow.
Meat lizards are cold-blooded animals and prefer warm places, which is one of the reasons why she likes "hairless monkeys".
This kind of liking is a bit similar to people's liking for cats and dogs, except that because she is so small, she is in the position of having her belly rubbed.
Night falls quickly.
The hotel at night is not as "simple" as it is during the day.
The occasional creaking sound of beds shaking violently next door and upstairs, as well as the suppressed breathing between men and women, made the atmosphere in the room a little awkward.
Of course Luo Yan understood immediately.
No wonder the boss who works part-time as a bartender doesn't want the children to stay here. He can imagine what those little kids will become if they are influenced by the environment.
To become a magician, one must be a genius picked out of millions.
I'm afraid that most of the little ghosts would despise their poor and honest old man, Lao Deng, and regard mercenaries and nuns as their idols in life.
Sarah's face, which was always as cold as ice, rarely showed a blush.
She seemed unsure of where to stay. She would walk to the window, meticulously checking the street outside like a loyal sentry, then walk to her single bed and repeatedly adjust the already perfectly smooth bedding.
Tafu seemed extremely excited. She approached Luo Yan in a sly manner and gently poked Luo Yan's arm with the end of her tail as he leaned against the head of the bed and read quietly.
"Hello……"
She lowered her voice, her golden pupils flashing with malicious intent, "I'm just a simple and harmless little lizard. You can just pretend I don't exist."
Yo?
Are you admitting now that you are a lizard?
Luo Yan, who was reading quietly, didn't even raise his eyelids, but just said lightly: "Sarah, help me cook a midnight snack."
"Yes, sir!"
Sarah, who was worried about having nothing to do, suddenly seemed to understand the meaning of her existence and looked at Taf with bright eyes.
Stared at by the stinky cat's eyes, Tafu's face changed instantly. She hurriedly covered her tail and shrank back in fear.
“Wait, wait a minute—!”
Before she could finish her words, Sarah appeared behind her like a ghost and grabbed the tender little tail.
The howling of the little female dragon could be heard from the hotel room.
Hearing this powerful shout, even the nun and mercenary who were doing their work next door were stunned, and the bed stopped shaking.
"The brother next door is quite capable..."
"Then why don't you stand up?"
Feeling the tenderness and whispers around his shoulders, the man sitting on the bed touched his nose embarrassedly and smiled awkwardly.
"Hey, wait, let's chat for a while. The medicine hasn't taken effect yet..."
“…”
Spring is here, and it is the season when all things come back to life.
However, the night in the northern wilderness is still as long as winter, and no one knows when the dawn will come...
(End of this chapter)
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