Translator: Yang_Wenli
Inside the Hearthstone Tavern.
“Why are all these scripts tragedies?!”
Ciri was holding a movie script Joshua finished writing and wiping away her tears. This courageous mage lady who had gone so far as to wrestle against a brown bear empty-handed did not cry like so when she read the scripts for ‘Beauty and the Demon’ and ‘Léon: The Demon.’
“This... is only a coincidence. Mn, that’s right, it’s a coincidence.”
The new script Joshua wrote was one about the affection between a pet and its owner.
But, the script he wrote was merely the initial rough draft. He only listed the rough details of the story line but that was already enough to cause this emotion-rich female mage to shed tears.
“Besides, it will take a while before the filming for this script begins.”
Joshua was planning to only start filming his next movie after ‘Léon: The Demon’ finished screening all over Farucci.
Joshua was able to reach Gallolei through the magic network to learn the latest news on the popularization of ‘Léon: The Demon.’
Right now, apart from waiting for the dark elf Thousand Faces to return to Norland so that he could establish the first news broadcast station in Norland, Joshua needed to work on the creation of the first expansion to Hearthstone, ‘Goblins vs Gnomes.’
Joshua took a glance at the announcement post for ‘Goblins vs Gnomes’ on the Mage Forum. Only seventeen cards and the voice acting remains. Soon, the expansion ‘Goblins vs Gnomes’ will arrive at the Hearthstone Tavern.
Joshua and Ciri’s conversation only lasted for a short moment before they’re interrupted by a bat that flew in from the window.
The moment Ciri saw that bat, she placed down the script and picked up her staff. Pure-white colored Runes of Order appeared on the tip of her staff.
This mage lady felt danger from that bat...
Scarlet mist enveloped the bat. The moment the mist dissipated, the bat transformed into the sentinel Pest.
“Your Highness.”
Pest stood up slowly and bowed to Joshua. But, her scarlet eyes were fixed onto Ciri.
Even though she was able to show absolute respect toward Joshua, a Chaos Demon, Pest was not fond of the human mages, especially one who was showing hostility toward her.
The vampires were skilled in mental attacks. Merely by using their eyes, they could make the weak humans lose their fighting strength.
“Miss Sentinel, what might have brought you to me this late at night? I believe my older sister is still waiting for your replies.”
Joshua stepped forward and extended his hand to block Ciri. At the same time, he faced his eyes directly at Pest.
The eyes of this sentinel behind her mask were like two expensive rubies. But, their temptation was fatal.
Joshua has never once loosen his guard around this sentinel, not even when she has been frequently appearing in the Hearthstone Tavern.
“I’ve come right with bad news for you, my sire. The Holy Church is planning an assassination. Their target is you,” said Pest.
“Planning an assassination?”
Before Joshua could receive Pest’s reply, the frost elf Tylene pushed open the door to his study. She was holding a platter on her hand. There were several delicious-looking food items on the platter.
“Mister Joshua, your dinner... I... am I disturbing you all?”
Tylene noticed Pest standing before Joshua. As the elves possessed keener awareness than humans, she immediately sensed the intense reeking of blood emitted by Pest.
“No, you can come on in and listen too,” said Joshua.
“Oh...okay.”
Tylene placed the dinner on the desk and walked over to Ciri.
“Your Highness Joshua, the assassins dispatched by the Holy Church are no ordinary assassins. Are you certain they will still remain loyal to you after learning about the assassins?”
Pest glanced at Tylene and Ciri... She has always been skeptical of the female mage and frost elf’s loyalty.
After all, the prejudice the humans and elves had toward demons was simply too deep-rooted. Because of that, Pest also held deep prejudice toward the members of those two races.
“I’m not certain about that either. Regardless, just tell me about it,” said Joshua.
The Holy Church had dispatched two inquisition leaders and twelve inquisitors to assassinate you. The time is roughly a week from now. Furthermore, allow me to remind you, there has once been a human kingdom called the White Creek Duchy. The ruler of that kingdom viewed the Holy Church as being evil. He burned down their chapels and executed their missionaries. But, in the end, his head ended up being hung above the city walls. It was said that was all done by the Heresy Tribunal’s inquisitors.
Pest wanted to let Joshua realize how dangerous and frightening the Heresy Tribunal’s inquisitors were.
“I know about that.”
Joshua was a reader of the ‘Diary of an Inquisitor.’ That diary had detailedly narrated in a first person point of view that shocking assassination. That assassination was done by only twelve inquisitors and three inquisition leaders.
From a certain point of view, the current treatment Joshua was receiving from the Holy Church was akin to a country’s king.
“That’s why, I urge you to return to the Demon Realm with me. The frail defense of this tavern is simply unable to protect you!”
Pest once again voiced her request. But, Joshua turned around to look at Tylene and Ciri.
“So as you have heard. Although I do not know if her intelligence is true or not, it is certain that I’m wanted by the Holy Church... The two of you should still remember the price of associating with the demons, no?”
Joshua placed very few restrictions on Tylene and Ciri. There existed only a single contract upheld by Norland’s Chamber of Commerce. During a time of life and death like now, that contract would not hold any use at all.
Even though Tylene and Ciri were artists employed under Joshua, they were not his warriors and there was no reason for them to die with him... but...
“Mister Joshua...”
Tylene was the first to speak. She carried the heavy responsibility of reviving her race. She held no desire to become involved in the dispute between the demons and the Holy Church. But, from the moment she signed the contract with Joshua, she was destined to stand in Joshua’s faction and participate in a conflict invisible to ordinary people.
“The Holy Tree Enluci is willing to protect you. It has chosen to stand with you. As such, I am also not planning to leave.”
The Holy Tree Enluci was the World Tree within Tylene’s body. It had gained its own consciousness. As such, it was only natural that it gave itself a name.
“Compared to the assassination, I am not concerned about when you’ll be paying me next month’s salary.”
Ciri was more realistic than Tylene. She was not at all concerned about the conflict between the Holy Church and the demons.
“It’ll likely be in the middle third of the month. Ciri, do you have something that you want to purchase? Hmm... seems like we’ve strayed from the topic.”
Joshua once again turned his vision back to Pest standing behind him.
“Your Highness Joshua, with your current force, it will be very dangerous for you to face the inquisitor’s raid. I can safeguard you back to the demon realm.”
Pest truly regretted not properly learning how to persuade others. Even though Joshua was considering how to handle the upcoming inquisitors, he was showing no intention to return to the demon realm!
“An inquisitor army? Fourteen inquisitors... that’s quite a few. But, it’ll make things lively.”
“Lively?”
Pest was truly unable to understand why Joshua would use that term.
“While I’m not certain whether the information you’ve provided is real or not, you’re very lucky. Six days from now, the new expansion for Hearthstone, ‘Goblins vs Gnomes’ will be officially released,” said Joshua.