Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The Third Wish
Ten days after leaving the Holy City, System 05 had gradually gotten used to Federer's presence. Although he was overly eager, he was very reliable and rarely made any mistakes.
As dusk approached, Federer asked if he wanted to stop. System 05 got out of the carriage, holding a map, and said, "Brite Village is just ahead. We'll go into the village to rest tonight."
He spoke so close to Federer that Federer's cheeks visibly turned red, and he stared at him unblinkingly. System 05 wordlessly retreated into the carriage and said, "Hurry up. We need to reach Bright Village before dark."
Federer cracked his whip, and the sound of horse hooves quickened. System 05 looked out. It was mostly rolling hills. The trees, half green and half yellow, stretched their branches in a chaotic pattern. Jagged rocks and strangely shaped stones littered the forest. They crossed a cliff and a valley. The road wound toward the fields. Strangely, even during planting season, the fields were barren. He saw the flickering glow of a fire in the distance. As the sky darkened, the villagers had already lit torches. From a distance, the entire village seemed as if it were about to be swallowed by darkness.
As they approached Bright Village, Federer slowed the carriage. Several young men, holding torches and bare-chested, approached. The leader had a wary look in his eyes, but a respectful tone. "Sir, where are you from?"
Federer's full suit of steel armor betrayed his distinguished status, and his silver sword gleamed brilliantly in the night. He lowered his head and pulled open the car curtain. System 05 emerged, holding up an investigation warrant. "I'm from the Bureau of Investigation," he said. "I'd like to rest here for the night."
The young man was startled, showing an expression of surprise, and his movements became more respectful. He asked the people behind him to quickly call the village chief, then opened the fence and let the carriage into the village.
The village was quite large, with neatly-built houses, and houses lined up on both sides. Every household had torches lit. The villagers hid behind windows or doors to peek at the two, and once their eyes met, they quickly closed the windows.
There was an intense fear in the eyes of each of them.
Soon, an old man wearing a hat came over with the help of others, and a large group of people surrounded him.
"Investigator, I am the village chief here." The old man took off his hat, saluted System 05, and said excitedly, "You are finally here!"
It seems there's some misunderstanding here. System 05 said, "I just happened to be passing by here."
The village chief opened his eyes wide and said tremblingly, "Aren't you here to help us? I've sent three reports to the Holy City, but no investigators have come. I thought..."
"I'm not aware of these matters," System 05 said. "My mission isn't here."
The village chief stammered a few words, then reluctantly swallowed the rest of his words. He said, "...It is truly an honor for us to have you rest here. Please follow me."
System 05 looked around. Everyone here looked nervous, as if something was spying on them all the time.
The village chief led the two men to his home, the largest house in the village, with two guest rooms for travelers to rest. He said to the young man who had been supporting him, "Son, go and set up the carriage for the adults. Remember to use the freshest horse hay."
The young man had short brown hair and was tall, somewhat like the village chief. He responded, took a torch from someone else, and went with Federer to get the horses.
To welcome the investigators, the village chief prepared a feast. While the ingredients were simple, with some meat, the barley beer was bitter and sour, so even Federer didn't drink much.
After a simple dinner, it was completely dark. The village chief ordered everyone to light torches, and suddenly the entire house was almost as bright as day. The village chief said to System 05, "Investigator, lighting torches is a last resort. If you hear any strange noises at night, please do not come out to investigate. It will be safer to hide in the house."
He looked at System 05 with a tentative look, hoping that the investigator would take the initiative to ask, but System 05 remained unmoved. He did not want to cause any trouble, so the village chief could only regretfully send him to the room to rest.
The guest room was not big, and the small bed was only big enough for one person to lie down. System 05 read the book for a while. It said that the Avengers hid in the darkness and could not hide in the light. They would also affect the spiritual world. Those who were devoured by the Avengers would also become Avengers.
System 05 sought information on the Worm Mother. In previous battles between the Holy City and the Avengers, the Worm Mother had provided some assistance, no wonder Weber chose to summon her. However, there was little information about the Worm Mother; all that was known was that it was incredibly powerful, almost indescribable.
As the night deepened, System 05 prepared to sleep. The village chief had warned him not to extinguish the candle even when sleeping. Shortly after he lay down, he heard a sound outside. It sounded like the night wind blowing through the forest, then turned into an irregular clattering sound, as if a group of monsters were walking in the forest.
The fire outside kept flickering, as if it would go out in the next second.
Boom boom boom.
There was a knock on the door, and System 05 got up to open it. Federer was standing outside. He had taken off his armor and was wearing a white lining. He was carrying a broadsword and a shield on his back. The muscle lines in his arms and thighs were even more obvious.
System 05 looked at him and asked what was going on.
"There are strange noises outside," Federer said confidently. "I'm scared and don't dare stay in the house alone."
"As a Paladin, you shouldn't be afraid."
Federer said, "I was sent to the church because I was timid. I heard that when I was a child, I often cried at night and could only sleep peacefully in the church."
System 05, unable to bear it any longer, was about to close the door when Federer reached in with one foot, gripped the doorframe, and continued, "The Paladin selection is extremely cruel. I didn't think I could hold on until I met you..."
Before he could finish, a scream suddenly erupted from the distance. The sound was so shrill that even just hearing it evoked a sense of impending death. System 05 and Federer exchanged a glance and walked to the window together. The flames outside swirled violently, and their shadows shifted constantly, like a frantic dance.
Some of the torches outside went out, and the room suddenly became dim. System 05 used a light spell, and the greatsword behind Federer also emitted a faint light.
It seems that the situation in this village is really bad. After the scream, the whole village fell into a deeper silence than before. No one came out to inquire about the situation, and even the faint chirping of insects disappeared completely.
"Sir, don't you plan to investigate?" Federer asked.
"Our goal is to abandon the castle." The Avengers have awakened and are constantly accumulating strength. The longer the time drags on, the more dangerous the Holy City will be.
Federer turned to look at him, his expression very complicated and difficult to describe, his dark gray eyes darker than the daytime, with firelight dancing in them.
"You can stay and help them if you want."
Federer was stunned for a moment and said, "No, of course I will be with you."
"Okay, there's no sound outside now, you can go back to sleep." System 05 pointed to the door.
Federer looked at him in disbelief. He had never imagined he could be so ruthless. The corridor was now completely dark, and the monster was hiding in the darkness, choosing its prey. Federer simply sat down and said, "It's too quiet. I'm scared too."
System 05 sneered, sat down beside him, spent 10 points, used a Concentration Card on himself, and continued reading.
The night passed like this, and at dawn, the entire village woke up again, and the sound of people began to rise. System 05 turned around and saw Federer lying on the small bed, feeling wronged, sleeping soundly.
He walked to the bedside, bent down and looked at Federer carefully. Federer's story was true, but he was indeed sent by the city lord to monitor him.
Paladin? He hadn't seen Federer's strength yet. System 05 extended his hand, and Federer suddenly opened his eyes and looked at him through his palm.
System 05 paused slightly, then calmly withdrew his hand and said, "It's time to get up."
Federer was stunned for a moment, then turned over and sat up, covering his face and said shyly, "Sir, what did you want to do just now? Shouldn't I have woken up?"
He is so hopeless when it comes to love. I have no idea what he is thinking.
After the two of them packed up, Federer put on his armor and went to the hall together. The village chief was away, so System 05 met the chief's son, who said that the village chief had gone to a certain household early in the morning and then led the two of them there.
It was an ordinary farmer's household. At this moment, some people were gathered outside from a distance. Their expressions were more frightened than before, mixed with some numbness. No one knew when it would be their turn.
At this time, the village chief was standing outside and did not enter the house, but a strong smell of blood came from the house.
"Last night, his torch went out, and he wanted to go over and light it, but it was just a moment..." The man next to him hunched his shoulders and looked around cautiously. As he spoke, his voice gradually became quieter: "Village Chief, what should we do?"
The village chief sighed deeply and said to the person beside him, "Let's set it on fire! This is the seventh one, and it's getting closer and closer... Investigator, did you hear it last night too? Alas, you're leaving today, aren't you?"
System 05 walked over and saw a large, black-gray footprint at the door.
"Investigator, please don't get close to it," the village chief said. "Just set it on fire."
System 05 asked: "Why set it on fire?"
The village chief shook his head. "We only learned this later. Those killed by the Avengers will become Avengers themselves, unless their bodies are completely burned."
System 05 raised an eyebrow: "Avengers?"
The village chief didn't dare to point, but only indicated with his peripheral vision: "Yes, that is the Avenger's footprint."
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