Chapter 77: The Valkyrie’s Killing Intent
The next morning, Qin Chu opened his eyes, their color instantly shifting to a silvery white. Despite a night of cultivation, his Battle Qi hadn’t progressed. The surge of power he had gained from his encounter with Ekaterina seemed to have been compressed, its potency reduced after its transformation. He remained stuck at the initial stage of the second layer.
He could sense the sprout, its roots entwined with his Battle Origin and Demon Core, a parasite residing within him. He couldn’t expel it, but at least it hadn’t caused any problems… yet.
Its roots drew energy from his core, but it wasn’t a parasitic drain. It was a process of refinement. The roots absorbed the energy, filtering out impurities, channeling the purified essence back into his core, the waste expelled from his body.
His Battle Qi and magical power, though reduced in quantity, were now purer, more potent. He needed to test this newfound refinement, but he lacked a suitable… test subject.
The silver strand, presumably a Goddess’s hair, remained inert, coiled around his wrist.
He had inadvertently stumbled into a conflict between Gods. This was… troublesome.
The Goddess imprisoned within the Void, the monstrous entities guarding her prison… they were all powerful deities. This wasn’t a battle he, a mere Hero, should be involved in. Had they overestimated his significance?
His first encounter with those scrolls, in Loseweisse’s chamber… he had been drawn into this conflict against his will…
Damn that Loseweisse, setting such a dangerous trap in her own home, ensnaring him when he had simply wanted to retrieve his belongings.
…
A night of cultivation had left him hungry. He stretched, his muscles protesting, then stood up, leaving Ekaterina and Angelica to their slumber.
Nikles, ever vigilant, stood guard outside his door.
“Hero-sama, you’re awake…” Nikles bowed, envy filling his eyes. The Hero had spent another night with the Crimson Valkyrie. He, on the other hand, had been stuck outside, exposed to the night’s chill.
The Hero’s stamina was impressive. After such… exertion… he was still up so early.
“Are you heading out?”
“I’m hungry.”
Nikles followed him, hesitation evident on his face. After a moment of consideration, he glanced around, lowering his voice.
“Hero-sama, what happened between you and the Valkyrie… well, that’s your business. But… please… don’t… pursue… the Holy Maiden.”
Eh?
Was his interest in Loseweisse that obvious?
But Nikles’s definition of “pursue” was probably different from his.
Still, his warning piqued Qin Chu’s curiosity. He raised an eyebrow. “Do you have feelings for the Holy Maiden?”
Nikles’s face flushed crimson. He waved his hands frantically. “No, no, Hero-sama, please don’t joke about such things…”
He glanced around nervously, as if afraid of being overheard. Seeing that they were alone, he sighed in relief. “It’s not me… it’s the Grand Prince.”
The Grand Prince?
Qin Chu blinked, drawing a blank.
After a moment, he remembered. “Ah, you mean Wadsworth’s son, the one who fell into a cesspit as a child?”
Nikles paled. How did the Hero know about that incident? He had only been here for a few days. His gossip network was impressive.
“Shh, shh, Hero-sama, please don’t say such things…” Nikles hissed, his voice laced with panic.
“Just… please… stay away from the Holy Maiden. The Grand Prince is… obsessed… with her…”
Every time Loseweisse visited, the Grand Prince’s men would appear shortly after, inquiring about their conversation, their interactions, the duration of their meeting…
Nikles didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire between the Hero and the royal family. He had to warn Qin Chu.
“The Grand Prince is the Emperor’s most favored son. He’s already reached level seventy, a remarkable achievement for someone his age. He’s second only to Lady Natia, one of the Thirteen Sages. He’s the heir apparent…” Nikles spoke cautiously, his words bordering on insubordination, but he had to warn the Hero.
The Grand Prince… Qin Chu’s eyes narrowed, a smile touching his lips.
Nikles felt a shiver run down his spine. The Hero’s smile… it was unsettling. But when he looked again, Qin Chu’s expression was neutral, his demeanor calm and composed.
He remembered.
Lance Aberchian, Wadsworth’s eldest son.
In his previous life, Loseweisse had sought his help, claiming she was being stalked. The stalker had turned out to be the Grand Prince.
Out of respect for Wadsworth, Qin Chu had simply slapped Lance and sent him back to his father for… discipline.
Loseweisse had also been the one who had told him about Lance’s… unfortunate… incident with the cesspit.
He had almost forgotten about him.
He remembered seeing him on the execution platform, his laughter the loudest, his glee the most unrestrained.
Qin Chu touched his chin thoughtfully. “If I recall correctly, this… cesspit enthusiast… ahem, this esteemed Grand Prince, is betrothed to a daughter of the Masefield family, correct?”
It was an ancient tradition in the Auville Empire.
The heir apparent’s marriage was always arranged in advance. It was a matter of paramount importance. After all, an Emperor’s primary duty wasn’t to rule, but to produce heirs, to ensure the continuation of the royal bloodline.
The Auville Empire was… liberal… in its marital customs. Nobles, besides their official wives, often had numerous concubines. If nobles enjoyed such freedom, the royal family was even more unrestrained. Each Emperor had a vast harem. Wadsworth himself had 366 wives… It was said that one of his ancestors had broken all records, boasting a harem of 1001 wives.
But the crucial point was that the Emperor’s first wife, the one who bore his first son, the heir apparent, was always a daughter of the Masefield family. This ensured the legitimacy of the succession.
Nikles, surprised by the Hero’s knowledge of the Empire’s customs, blinked his brown eyes.
“That’s correct,” he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But our Grand Prince… well… he has no interest in the Masefield women. He’s infatuated with the Holy Maiden. He’s of marrying age, but he’s been delaying, even refusing, any marriage proposals…”
He leaned closer, his voice barely audible. “It’s said that he’s vowed to marry only the Holy Maiden. He even defied the Emperor, threatening to renounce his claim to the throne.”
“And his personality… it’s… extreme…”
This was his way of warning Qin Chu to stay away from Loseweisse. The Grand Prince was powerful, influential, and possessive. The Hero, though destined for greatness, was still weak. Any… incident… like the one with Ekaterina, would enrage the Grand Prince.
And a man driven by jealousy was capable of anything, even assassinating the Hero.
Qin Chu, after a moment of consideration, understood. Nikles wasn’t concerned about the Hero’s safety, or the fate of the Heavenly Continent. He was worried about himself.
He was the Hero’s guard. If the Grand Prince attacked, what was he supposed to do? Defy the Grand Prince? He would be crushed.
Side with the Grand Prince?
If he failed to protect the Hero, Wadsworth would punish him. And the Grand Prince wouldn’t tolerate a witness, someone who knew his secrets.
He was caught between a rock and a hard place.
He couldn’t reason with the Grand Prince, nor could he inform Wadsworth. He could only warn the Hero, who seemed… approachable… He had even given him 3000 Mana… Of course, he, Nikles, didn’t care about the money. He was concerned about the Heavenly Continent. The Hero couldn’t be allowed to die.
Qin Chu, his expression thoughtful, remembered the numerous assassination attempts he had endured in his previous life. Almost half of them had been orchestrated by humans… The Empire had claimed that other kingdoms, fearing the Empire’s growing strength, were targeting the Hero.
Now, he suspected that the Grand Prince had been behind those attempts.
He was in love with Loseweisse. No wonder he had been so hostile, his laughter so gleeful during the execution.
Perhaps it was time to… deal with… this lovesick prince. But to fall for Loseweisse… he had terrible taste. That woman was rotten to her core.
Qin Chu, his thoughts churning, continued walking, Nikles by his side. He didn’t enjoy the atmosphere of the noble district, but he had to admit, it offered certain… luxuries… that the slums lacked. Exquisite pastries, delicious breakfasts…
As they approached a bakery, a figure, moving with a hurried grace, appeared before them.
Her slender form was clad in a white Holy Maiden robe, its simple design emphasizing her purity. Her face, pale and delicate, was flushed with a healthy pink, her features tempting, like a ripe fruit begging to be tasted.
It was Loseweisse.
But something was wrong. Her usually calm demeanor was replaced by a frantic energy, her golden eyes filled with anxiety. She moved with an uncharacteristic haste, her footsteps quick and loud, her usual grace abandoned.
She was heading towards the Hero’s residence.
“Ah, Holy Maiden Loseweisse,” Qin Chu called out, a smile touching his lips.
A flicker of annoyance crossed her eyes. She had no time for distractions. But she quickly schooled her features, forcing a smile. It was the Hero, after all. It wasn’t time to reveal her true intentions.
Qin Chu, observing her subtle shift in expression, was impressed.
Her ability to control her emotions, to maintain a facade of composure, was remarkable.
“Hero-sama,” she said, her voice sweet, her smile charming. She curtsied, her gloved fingers delicately lifting her skirt. “Where are you headed?”
“Just getting some breakfast. I’m famished. Is something wrong? You seem… distressed…” He smiled, his tone casual. “Would you care to join me? My treat.”
Loseweisse’s frustration intensified. She had no time for this. And besides, eat breakfast with him? Disgusting. She might get pregnant…
Her words, however, contradicted her thoughts. “It’s nothing, just a minor matter. I’m here to see Ekaterina. Thank you for your kind offer, but I’ve already eaten…”
She placed her hand on her flat stomach. “As a Holy Maiden, I have to… watch my figure… You understand. I must be going. Enjoy your breakfast, Hero-sama.”
Enjoy?
Oh, he would.
He watched her leave, his smile widening. He knew why she was looking for Ekaterina.
The show was about to begin.
His smile made Nikles shudder. The Hero was interested in the Holy Maiden. Damn it! His warning had fallen on deaf ears.
…
Ekaterina stretched, her muscles protesting as she woke up, her body stiff from sleeping on the cold floor.
A blanket, draped over her, slipped from her naked form.
She clutched the blanket, memories of the previous night’s passion flooding her mind, a soft smile curving her lips. He had covered her. He was so kind.
Many things were now forgotten, many memories distorted.
Only the pleasure, the overwhelming sense of fulfillment, remained.
Despite the warmth that filled her, she felt an emptiness, an ache in her heart. It was his absence, she realized. Only his presence could fill the void within her.
She stood up, intending to find him, but then she paused, assessing her appearance. She needed to… freshen up…
She couldn’t appear before him like this, her hair tangled, her body… sticky…
She was about to head upstairs to wash and change when her face hardened, her gaze snapping towards the doorway.
Loseweisse stood there, her expression unreadable.
A wave of murderous rage surged through Ekaterina, her crimson eyes blazing with hatred. Loseweisse… the woman who wanted to kill her beloved…
She had to die!
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