Chapter 480: D177. Homeward Bound
After the conversation at the Healer Association ended, several days had passed.
D7=d7(4)=4
During these days, the Hero spent a leisurely time at the Count Mansion.
Under her grandfather’s encouragement, she flipped through books, chatted and drank tea with the Fourteenth Princess, and often went to help at the Healer Association. This tranquil time made her feel as though she had returned to the days before she became a Hero.
However, compared to the leisurely life of the two young ladies, the Border Count and the Cruising Bishop had been extremely busy recently.
“The Count uncle told me that in the last few years, including the Sergeant and a few children who were just born, all those who participated in the assault on the Black Gate have been checked, and the results show everything is safe,” said the Fourteenth Princess, elegantly lifting her teacup and speaking softly.
“And among the followers of the Masochist, no similar abilities have been found either.”
Although the Innocents are aware of the effect of “Death’s Guilt,” they haven’t fully inherited the memories of the Masochist, and those many secrets should remain forever submerged at the bottom of the Sea of Spirit, sealed by the Commandments.
So, to search for hidden risks, the adults have been busy rushing about these few days.
The Hero wasn’t surprised by this outcome; she “huffed” and blew on the hot floral tea, and before her lips could touch the cup, she felt with her Perception that the steaming water was still scalding hot.
Before the Hero could frown, the Gleaming Scale Serpent, who was attending her, slightly raised the corner of her eye, and a cool breeze cunningly wrapped around the Hero’s fingers, cooling the tea to a suitable temperature.
The Hero drank up her flower tea, which had several sugar cubes added to it, and wiped the corner of her mouth with satisfaction.
“It seems that there shouldn’t be too much to worry about over in the Capital. It looks like only Leader Level Black Gate individuals might possess this ability, and it seems to come with many risks,” she replied.
The Fourteenth Princess nodded in agreement with her judgment: “Yes, after all, in recent years, there have been very few ‘Key’ level Apprentices sanctioned, and most of those who killed them are well-known, powerful individuals with certain status, and it’s relatively easy to investigate them afterward.”
The Princess set down her teacup, showing a trace of fatigue between her brows. Being a member of the Royal Family, she had far more complexities to consider and worry about than ordinary people.
“Princess sister, I believe that the people of the Capital and His Majesty the King won’t be easily outwitted by the Black Gate.”
The Hero was not worried at all; after pouring herself a fresh cup of tea, she was excitedly dropping sugar cubes into it.
One cube, two cubes, three cubes, four cubes… Stirring it around…
“With so many powerful Professionals there, as well as the academic halls, there are countless people smarter than me. Moreover, the Count knows about this matter, so it must be all right,” she said with confidence.
Upon hearing this, the Fourteenth Princess was momentarily stunned, and then couldn’t help showing a smile.
“You’re right, I’m often told that I think too much due to a strong sense of responsibility… It’s indeed time for me to change this habit.”
The Hero took a sip of the sweet flower tea and said with a smile, “I think having a sense of responsibility is a merit for someone from the Royal Family, but not everything has to be resolved by oneself, the Count uncle also said to me before…”
The sound of the girls’ laughter echoed in the vast and quiet garden, marking the last peaceful time they would spend at the Count Mansion.
The next morning.
Several bird carriages that looked expensive were all set in front of the Count Mansion, with attendants shuttling back and forth making final preparations, while coachmen checked the condition of the Chocobos, forming a small convoy in its sheer number.
Last night, the Church’s convoy for escorting the Innocents had already left the city and headed towards the Church Court’s main headquarters in the Holy City.
The Church is currently in a delicate balance, and their information is a key focus of the Black Gate’s surveillance; therefore, their movements need to be as secretive as possible.
“It’s about to become deserted here as well.”
The last time it was this lively was when the daughter came back to celebrate her birthday for me, the Count thought wistfully as he looked at the hero in front of him.
Grandfather, the village chief grandma, and others each thanked the Count for his care over this period and boarded their carriages. The rest of the staff took their positions, leaving only the hero standing in front of the Count.
The first time he saw this friend of his daughter, she was just an ordinary girl, unremarked and unnoticed. Now, although her appearance had hardly changed, the incredible growth she had experienced and the achievements she had made had made her a household name in the Border as the hero.
“Next time I will bring your daughter back with me, so please also take good care of yourself, Count, and don’t always work too late.”
After earnestly thanking the Count for his care, the hero couldn’t help but admonish him.
She had spent a very pleasant time in the Border, and the days at the Count Mansion were filled with comfort and warmth. Although the Count was only her friend’s father, in the heart of the hero, this place was much more comforting than the home with her own real father.
After eradicating the Goblins, settling in the Border City might not be bad either.
In response to the hero’s admonition, the Count showed no resistance but gave a gentle smile and reached out to gently ruffle the hero’s hair.
“Hehe, I will. But you also have to be more careful, and not let strange powers attach to you again.”
“That wasn’t my wish to begin with…”
The hero spoke helplessly but with a slight smile on her lips.
“Alright, it’s about time to set off, and please take care of this little guy as well.”
The Count released his hand and gestured to the side. Then, out of the shadow, the black cat suddenly leaped out and nimbly jumped onto the Chocobo’s head.
It sat steadily on top of the stationary Chocobo, the emerald green cat eyes urgingly gazing at the hero below.
“Then I’m off!”
“Ah, have a safe trip.”
The hero jumped onto the carriage, sitting next to the Fourteenth Princess, and the Chocobo ran smoothly and quickly.
Both of them opened the carriage window, stuck their heads out, and watched as the figure of the Count gradually disappeared.
The caravan moved smoothly, first leaving the estate and then taking the main road to the city gates. Along the way, the Guards saluted one by one, and the citizens spontaneously saw off the departing caravan.
As the city gates opened and among the saluting soldiers, the Chocobo gave a loud cry, picked up speed, and soon vanished towards the distant horizon.
And as the outline of the Border City slowly faded away, the hero also withdrew her gaze and looked ahead.
This was a journey home,
and a journey into the unknown.
→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←
End of the Border chapter.
[Hero’s Luck (Safe Return +6, determining the presence of events)]
D10+6=d10(1)+6=7
→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←
Within the brackets, a sizable chocobo cart caravan was racing on.
1. A straight forest path♛
2. A deserted wilderness
3. An empty village
4. A dim tunnel
5. 1
6. 2
7. 3
8. 4
9. A bustling street
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
D10=d10(5)=5
[What happened? (Hero’s Luck 1)]
1. Sect Follower Assault
2. Assault by malicious magic creatures
3. Affected by Magic Cloud Undercurrent♛
4. Goblins, too many to handle!
5. 1
6. 2
7. 3
8. 4
9. A small Arcane Surge eruption
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
D10=d10(3)=3
It has been some time since the Hero and the Fourteenth Princess, along with their party, set out from the Border City amid a send-off from many people.
In the past few days, they had left the scope of the border, and now the hometown village where the grandfather’s house is located was less than two days away. The spirit of many in the troop had relaxed.
The caravan’s progression was relatively slow. At the same time, the massive scale of the caravan made it an easier target for magic creature packs or even powerful magic creatures.
After officially leaving the border, the probability of encounters with Assaults dropped precipitously. Even if there were magic creatures foolish enough to attack, they were no match for the several individuals in the caravan.
The territory encompassed by the border is vast. While the Border Count is only a Count, his dominion is among the largest of the nobles. But apart from Border City, which he personally oversees, other border cities paled in comparison to the large cities inland and could hardly be called cities.
Most other areas were just scattered mountainous villages or barren uninhabited regions.
Although Border City is located closest to the border line and rivals the prosperity of the major cities inland, the reality is that the closer one gets to the inland and the farther from Border City, the greater the possibility of encountering magic creature Assaults.
After all, the Count, no matter how capable, can’t just rely on one city to radiate control over the entire border. In earlier years, there were even hidden villages entirely slaughtered by magic creatures, with the border guards being oblivious and arriving too late.
The larger the territory, the harder it is to govern. Therefore, Arcane Surges are more likely to occur, but the response is not always prompt. It is only when a wound is discovered that the pain might be transmitted to the brain.
This is a dilemma that the Count, and indeed the entire Kingdom, is facing yet unable to solve.
However, this large-scale issue is not something the Hero, or even the Fourteenth Princess, needs or is qualified to worry about.
But now, they all have to face the bitter consequences brought on by this sluggish response.
“Damn it, even here it’s affected by the Magic Cloud Undercurrent! Quickly abandon anything we don’t need. We must escape the area at top speed!”
The Demon Hunter yelled out, tinged with panic. He was not a Spellcaster capable of creating a defensive position, and although he could protect the Princess in a Catastrophe, he definitely could not protect so many people in the caravan.
The experienced leader of the caravan didn’t even wait to hear him out before he had already begun to give orders quickly.
As the person responsible for the Royal Family’s caravan, he had a precise understanding of what could be discarded and what must be kept. He had organized items into categories during loading and now calmly directed the bird carriages carrying important individuals to the forefront, ensuring that even if they couldn’t escape, those two chocobo carts would be the last to be devoured.
But even he, as orderly as he was in giving commands, had cold sweat covering his forehead by now.
The Fourteenth Princess poked her head out of the carriage window looking back at the landscape in shock and anxiety. Even though she had known about the Magic Cloud Undercurrent from reports, she could hardly imagine the terrifying sight before her eyes.
That capricious and turbulent Sea of Spirit wasn’t just affecting the airways as simply as that. Much like how a typhoon at sea can cause a tsunami, the turbulent undercurrent high in the skies also had a vast impact on the ground!
“No, this is clearly more severe than what was reported! And this place is half the Kingdom away from the Western Realm, this disaster—uh!”
The oncoming Raging Wind howled, forcing the words of the Fourteenth Princess back into her throat.
1. Successfully escaped
2. But nearly all the luggage was lost
3. Someone got injured
4. Winged Ones, Go!
5. 1
6. 2
7. 3
8. 4
9. The Hero died!♛
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
D10=d10(9)=9
→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←
The Journey Home begins.