Chapter 147: Realization
Let us temporarily shift our gaze from Mo Tan, who was hurrying with Wen Qiu, and Yu Cheng, who was daily troubled by one of her talents, to another place…
Game Time PM 13:05
【Your mental connection has been detected. Personal information is being synchronized…】
【Connection complete. Character information is being read.】
【Welcome back, chaotic evil Gawen. Innocent World will now load. Good night.】
…
Phantom Town, on the edge of the Konda Prince Territory, Shavin Empire, Southeast Continent of Innocent World.
The girl named Bai Fujin, or rather, Gawen, appeared in a small wooden house.
The environment here was quite ordinary; although spacious and clean, both the architectural style and the furnishings were very simple. From any angle, it was just a common large house, incomparable to any of the residences Gawen owned in reality.
But she didn't care about any of that. In fact, quite the opposite, Gawen really liked this place she called home in the game.
At least in this place, she could relax without any pressure, temporarily forget the intrigues of reality, ignore the suffocating pressures, and not have to think about how to prove or utilize her worth and talent…
This world was pleasant.
After learning about Innocent World through various channels, Gawen came to the above conclusion.
“It’s a mental simulation device, yet it doesn’t affect rest quality or mental state. It always feels a bit incredible,” the Dark Elf girl, dressed in a simple cloth outfit, skillfully cleaned the room, a peaceful smile gracing her pretty face, which was identical to her real one: “I never even dreamed of such a ‘luxurious’ vacation before~”
In some ways, that was indeed true…
Spending a leisurely time here every day, occasionally running errands for Old Man York, helping Aunt Daisi with laundry, looking after someone’s children, or minding a stall for some boss, could indeed be considered a luxury for Gawen.
It was nice to enjoy a normal life here, in between struggling with the harsh realities.
With this thought, Gawen hummed a tune and swayed her head as she wiped the cabinet, feeling relaxed and at ease.
What she told A Qing earlier was true: aside from having the 【chaotic evil】 alignment, which was rare among players, Gawen was just an ordinary casual player.
Her talents, basic attributes, and various abilities were all very ordinary.
She had never even left this quiet and peaceful small town, nor had she painstakingly studied how to make her character stronger. She simply remained here as an amnesiac wandering Dark Elf, enjoying each uneventful day.
Every day was a chance to embody the value of ‘Gawen,’ not Bai Fujin.
Knock knock knock~
A knock on the door sounded from outside. Gawen quickly put down the half-washed rag, tidied her clothes slightly, then stood up and smiled: “The door isn’t locked, Aunt Daisi.”
“You girl, how many times have I told you to call me Sister Daisi!”
A short, plump, kind-faced human woman pushed the door open and entered, feigning anger at the girl in front of her: “Do I look that old?”
Gawen pursed her lips and smiled: “I know I was wrong, Sister Daisi~”
Daisi rolled her eyes dramatically, then shoved a small basket full of bread into Gawen’s arms, huffing: “Take it. Your Uncle Hans baked too much, and the kids can’t eat all of it, so I brought some over. It’s not specifically for you, you know!”
To be honest, if Aunt Daisi were twenty years younger, this textbook tsundere act would be quite cute.
“Thank you, Sister Daisi.” Gawen didn’t decline, politely thanked her, and placed the small basket of bread on the wooden table behind her, then softly asked: “Has the priest from the Huiye Sect not arrived yet?”
Daisi’s expression darkened, and she shook her head with a bitter smile: “No, apparently because of what happened in Banse City a while ago, many clergy from nearby churches were conscripted there. We don’t know when they’ll be back.”
“In that case, little Wendy’s leg…” Gawen sighed worriedly, pondered for a moment, then whispered: “How about I go to the city to the north and ask? It’s not good to keep delaying it.”
Daisi chuckled and waved her hand: “No, no need. The child was careless and broke her own leg. It’s good for her to suffer a few more days and learn her lesson. You, girl, are so muddled and don’t know anything. I wouldn’t feel safe with you traveling alone. Just stay put. After a while, I’ll have Hans find some people to build you a house next to mine.”
Gawen nodded gently: “Then thank you, Sister Daisi, but living here isn’t bad either~”
“It’s not suitable, not suitable at all.” Daisi shook her head like a rattle-drum, saying earnestly: “Since you plan to live in the town long-term, it’s best to have your own home. Besides, living here means you have to send money to that person’s landlord in the capital every month, and all the pocket money you earn helping us with chores won’t be saved at all.”
Gawen shrugged and smiled: “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you.”
“A muddle-headed girl like you can’t have no money in her hands,” the aunt continued to nag: “And staying here means you have to clean all day, how tiring!”
“Yes, yes, I know, Sister Daisi.” Gawen reached out and put her hand on Daisi’s shoulder, smilingly assuring her: “Everything as you arrange!”
Daisi glanced at the other’s soft, boneless hand, and suddenly sighed: “Ah, if only my child had been born ten years earlier… Tsk tsk, what a pity.”
Gawen blinked, then covered her mouth and chuckled: “Yes, what a pity.”
Aunt Daisi gave her a glare, and just as she was about to say something, she was suddenly interrupted by an urgent knock on the door…
“Is anyone home?” The person outside asked cautiously; by the sound of it, it seemed to be an older man.
“Who is it?!” Daisi was startled, then used her characteristic loud voice to shout: “Who’s knocking on a young girl’s door so carelessly?!”
“A young girl?”
The person outside seemed a bit confused. Then, he was heard muttering something softly, and two seconds later, a round purple orb appeared in the large wooden house, spinning around twice.
“What is that?!” Aunt Daisi cautiously took two steps back, not forgetting to pull Gawen with her.
Then the door opened, and a human man, who looked to be around fifty and was dressed in a mage’s robe, appeared before the two women.
“This is an Arcane Eye,” the man’s face was a bit tired, but he still pointed at the purple orb in front of them and explained to the two women: “A basic arcane spell, mainly used for reconnaissance and scouting. It has no offensive power.”
Gawen nodded with interest, thinking the game’s spell effects were well-made, but had no other thoughts besides that.
But Daisi was extremely nervous, trembling as she asked the other party: “You… who are you?”
“Who am I?” The other repeated softly, then smiled: “It’s not impossible to tell you, but before that…”
He casually drew two triangular elemental symbols in front of him, then lightly snapped his fingers at Daisi and Gawen.
“Greater Detect.”
A hazy white light swept over the two of them.
“Evil Monitor…”
A hazy golden light spread from the other party.
“Hostility Repulsion…”
A diamond-shaped pale pink elemental symbol dissipated into thin air, passing through the two of them as a curtain of light.
Nothing happened.
“My apologies.” The man, who found nothing unusual, nodded with satisfaction, then smiled apologetically at the two: “Sorry, my name is Luther King, a High-Ranking Arcane Mage.”
Daisi was immediately startled, then quickly pulled Gawen to bow to the other party: “Hello, your… honorable Mage Sir.”
Although she didn’t know exactly how powerful a High-Ranking Mage was, she knew it must be very powerful!
【The NPCs in this game… their intelligence is too high…】
Gawen, for the nth time, marveled inwardly.
Luther nodded, then turned his head towards the door and said softly: “It’s safe here, Your Highness. You may come in.”
Aunt Daisi was completely stunned…
Your Highness? What Highness!?
The next second, a man in a golden-red robe walked in from outside. His face was pale, his demeanor listless, and he looked much more haggard than Luther beside him, but he still carried a certain innate noble aura. Just standing there made Daisi, who had been a commoner all her life, feel immense pressure.
“Hello…” Konda Bohe casually glanced at the two women in front of him, saying absently: “I am Konda Bohe, the Prince of the Empire. I plan to rest here for two days. By the way, this house is under the name of one of my stewards.”
“Konda… Prince Konda?” Daisi’s eyes widened, and she asked in a trembling voice, utterly shocked: “Your… Your Highness, why are you here?”
Konda sighed: “It’s a long story, so I won’t tell it.”
…
Luther and Konda had departed from the capital, Teron, last night and hadn’t slept once before arriving here. This wasn’t a big problem for the former, who was a God of Law apprentice, but it was truly difficult for the pampered Prince. The long journey coupled with lack of sleep nearly took half his life, but there was nothing that could be done…
They were being watched!
Konda, who had rushed to the Osiris Mage Tower, had just informed Luther of the grim news of the God of Law’s death when the latter, who had partial access to the Mage Tower, suddenly noticed several Tsar's Sword Knights nearby!
Those fully armed knights seemed to be merely strolling around, but they never left the Mage Tower’s perimeter, only departing in batches towards the barracks several hours later.
During this time, Konda had also informed Luther about Fara’s ‘treason’ and Marshal Galahad’s attitude. Luther, in turn, swore that his teacher had not left the Osiris Mage Tower a single step in the half-month before the incident in Banse City, because he was conducting an important magic experiment at the time!
Luther had no reason to lie…
And the incident itself was too peculiar!
After a brief discussion, the two came to the same conclusion: there was a ninety percent chance that the Empire’s God of Law, Faraosis, had not committed treason…
If that were the case, then Marshal Galahad and Duke Garros, two individuals Konda completely trusted, must absolutely be problematic!
Konda had already sought out Galahad earlier, then had an audience with the Emperor, and now had come to the Osiris Mage Tower to find Luther…
If there was truly something amiss behind all this, then the other party would absolutely not sit idly by while he made these moves.
In fact, there was indeed no sitting idly by; those Tsar's Sword Knights appeared near the Osiris Mage Tower almost immediately after Konda’s arrival.
He had been targeted.
Konda and Luther both simultaneously sensed that faint, lurking killing intent…
After the knights left, Konda accepted a short-range communication crystal from Luther and cautiously walked towards his mansion, only to see several members of the Tsar's Sword Knights again at his doorstep.
He had a premonition, as if a pair of cold eyes were staring fixedly at him from above.
So Konda did not return but immediately took out the communication crystal to contact Luther. Shortly after, the two met at Teron’s North Gate and, relying on Luther’s more advanced magical prowess, secretly left the capital, rushing non-stop to Konda Territory, Konda Bohe’s own domain!
Whether it was neuroticism or overreaction, he had to return to his core territory alive, then, as a Prince, publicly question the ‘treason of Faraosis’!
This Prince, who usually seemed to only know how to eat, drink, and play, was far less simple than he appeared.
Just as he had told William before, he was merely ‘doing what he should do.’
He also had the right of succession to the throne, but he believed himself insufficient to bear the responsibilities of the Empire. The Prince’s duty was to make others believe he was particularly incompetent, useless, and lost in trivial pursuits…
Anyway, the Empire already had the excellent William Burke, the powerful God of Law, the powerful Marshal, and other excellent and loyal nobles like Duke Garros. It didn’t lack an excellent Prince. In fact, the Empire needed a Konda Bohe who only knew how to muddle through life, who seemed utterly useless from every angle.
Because he inherited the royal bloodline, even if he were equally ‘excellent,’ he had to be less ‘excellent.’ This was the correct way.
As for whether he would become a stain on the Empire’s history, leaving a less-than-favorable reputation, Konda didn’t care.
This was his realization as a member of the Shavin royal family…
But!
The situation was different now!
Banse City suffered a terrible calamity, its people devastated…
The fallen God of Law was accused of treason…
The three-dynasty Marshal who insisted his decades-long close friend was guilty…
The silent Imperial Brother…
…
【For this country, even if I really am just a good-for-nothing, at this moment, I can only pull myself together…】
Konda chuckled self-deprecatingly, ignoring Daisi and Gawen’s curious gazes, and, heavy-hearted, leaned back in the chair and fell asleep…
Chapter 144: End