Chapter 14: The Divine Punishment Army
Luo Yuxi standing at the door, Luo Yuxi lying on the bed, and Alice holding Luo Yuxi’s ankle – the three were frozen in a strange tableau. The air was thick with tension, and Luo Yuxi could feel the temperature in the room plummeting.
“Who is she…”
Three simple words from Ling Shuang’s mouth, yet spoken with a chilling calmness that made it hard for Luo Yuxi to breathe. Alice looked at Ling Shuang with disdain, even provocatively stroking the stocking-clad foot in her hand, making Luo Yuxi gasp.
“Eep!”
“!!!”
After the involuntary sound escaped her lips, Luo Yuxi quickly covered her mouth, afraid to further provoke Ling Shuang. Ling Shuang looked at Alice, who was shamelessly taking advantage of Luo Yuxi, with the eyes of someone looking at a corpse. Meanwhile, the townspeople noticed snowflakes falling from the sky.
“Huh, wasn’t it sunny just now? Why is it suddenly snowing…?”
Ling Shuang glared at the hand caressing Luo Yuxi’s foot, already imagining tearing Alice to pieces. Luo Yuxi didn’t know what was going on in Ling Shuang’s mind, but seeing the icy mist emanating from her…
“Not good, she’s about to lose control! Even though this is a border town, there are still high-ranking members of the Church stationed here!”
Luo Yuxi knew that if she stayed on the bed, she would be turned into an ice sculpture along with the “other woman.” She forcefully pulled her foot free from Alice’s grasp, her stocking-clad feet landing on the frost-covered floor. Just as Ling Shuang was about to explode, Luo Yuxi hugged her, burying her face in Ling Shuang’s ample bosom, somehow snapping her back to reality.
“Hey, wait! If you release your power again, you’ll be discovered!!”
“Mmm!!! Mmm!!!”
Ling Shuang, whose face had been terrifyingly cold just moments before, hadn’t expected the sudden attack. Hugged tightly by Luo Yuxi and subjected to a face full of… cleavage, she could only smell Luo Yuxi’s peach-like scent, intoxicating, alluring, and corrupting.
“Damn, that powerful energy fluctuation must have been detected. I know you’re eager, but calm down first, or we won’t be able to— Huh? Ling Shuang? Why did you faint?”
“Pea… Peach…”
Ling Shuang uttered a single word before collapsing peacefully, completely lost in the peach-scented ocean. Alice watched Ling Shuang fall into Luo Yuxi’s arms and slowly got off the bed.
“Oh my, your sister had such intense killing intent just now, I was so scared~”
“I’m not in the mood for your jokes!”
Luo Yuxi couldn’t care less about anything else. Although she had reported Ling Shuang in the game’s plot, that was five years later. If the Church discovered Ling Shuang’s awakening now, forget about escaping, they wouldn’t even be able to leave this border town.
“Sister Yuxi…”
Ling Shuang slowly opened her eyes, calmly wiping the nosebleed caused by her excitement. Luo Yuxi hadn’t expected her hug to be so effective. Seeing Ling Shuang’s slightly dazed expression, she couldn’t help but worry.
“Ling Shuang, we need to leave here quickly, before the Church’s pursuers arrive!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of orderly footsteps came from outside the church. Luo Yuxi rushed to the main hall and saw a blonde girl in armor sitting on one of the chairs. An invisible pressure emanated from her.
“13th Division of the Divine Punishment Army, Knight-Captain Isaiah…”
The blonde girl spoke calmly. Two knights behind her saluted. Luo Yuxi looked at their ornate armor and felt the invisible pressure, gulping nervously.
“Is… Isaiah… who?”
Luo Yuxi looked at the girl. Even in full armor, her heroic aura couldn’t be concealed. Her golden eyelashes and long hair made her look like a Valkyrie descended from a painting. But even though she was beautiful, Luo Yuxi racked her brain and couldn’t remember who she was. Even after completing the game, she had no recollection of this character.
“Ling Shuang awakens five years later, so the one who captured her should have been the Commander of the 4th Division of the Church’s Royal Guard…”
Luo Yuxi then remembered the difference between the Divine Punishment Army and the Royal Guard. The Divine Punishment Army was the Church’s main fighting force, responsible for external wars. It was the largest army, and its Commander-in-Chief was a Second Order powerhouse.
“Since it’s not five years later yet, the Divine Punishment Army is still stationed here…?”
Luo Yuxi muttered to herself. Isaiah, sitting at the side, felt awkward. She had announced her name and title, even adopting what she thought was an intimidating posture, waiting for a fearful response. Yet, after several minutes, the little nun in front of her hadn’t even acknowledged her.
“Ahem… we detected a witch’s magic fluctuation nearby…”
Seeing Luo Yuxi still lost in thought, Isaiah, who had wanted to intimidate her, had to speak first. Luo Yuxi, hearing the question, frantically thought of a way to get out of this.
“Um, well… your detectors must be broken. There’s no witch here~”
Isaiah looked at the slightly panicked Luo Yuxi. Her battle instincts told her something was wrong. She slowly stood up. Luo Yuxi then realized how tall she was, probably over 1.8 meters. Despite looking like a beautiful girl, she exuded an overwhelming presence.
“Heh, that terrifying magical power was clearly a witch’s unique magic. What else do you have to say for yourself?!”
“Yes, harboring a witch is a serious crime~”
Isaiah, standing tall, wanted to intimidate Luo Yuxi into confessing. But a discordant voice suddenly interrupted. Luo Yuxi turned nervously and saw Alice leaning lazily against the door of the main hall.
“Who are you? We’re discussing a serious matter concerning a witch. How dare you eavesdrop on our conversation!”
“Second daughter of the Lawrence family. So what are you suspecting me of…?”
Alice calmly stated her identity. Isaiah, who had been so imposing just moments before, faltered upon hearing the name “Lawrence.” The Lawrence family was the largest merchant family, controlling 20% of the nation’s finances. Even the Pope had to give them face.
“If you’re the second daughter of the Lawrence family, then you surely have no connection to the witch…”
“That’s right. It seems I have no business here then. I’ll be going now, bye~”
Alice glanced at Isaiah with narrowed eyes. Even though she was just the second daughter of a merchant family, Isaiah felt like she was being stared at by a predator. As Alice opened her black umbrella and slowly left the church, the feeling gradually faded, and Isaiah dismissed it as an illusion.
“So, I’m going to thoroughly search this church now!”
Isaiah, no longer suspicious of Alice, thought a rich young lady like her probably just came to the church to pray. Besides, the Lawrence family wasn’t someone a mere Knight-Captain could afford to offend. But the little nun in front of her was a different story.
“From now on, please cooperate with our—”
“Heh, how dare a mere Knight-Captain act so arrogantly…”
“????”
Ling Shuang, now back to her usual self, looked at Isaiah with disdain. Luo Yuxi’s expression was a picture of shock. She had been hoping Ling Shuang would slip away while she talked to Isaiah, but she had actually come out and directly confronted the Knight-Captain.
“You think you can search our church based on your words alone? Then bring your Commander~”
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