Chapter 6: The Princess Enters Salna Village

Meanwhile, in the center of the Imperial Capital.

This was the location of the Eternal Sect’s headquarters, as well as the bedchambers of the Imperial Princess, Violet.

Still in her white robe, Syks walked in the moonlight, holding “Violet’s” hand.

In front of them, an armored figure in heavy plate, holding a greatsword, stood motionlessly before the cathedral doors.

Judging by appearance alone, this armored person was nearly identical to the one in the forest.

The only difference was the silver radiance engraved in the center of his armor—the symbol of the Eternal Sect.

Although she had sensed the other’s presence from a distance, Syks still feigned surprise, pulling “Violet” behind her.

“Oh? Relia? Are you here waiting for my return?”

The armored man, called Relia, ignored Syks.

He took a step forward, moving to Syks’s side.

From that angle, he could clearly see “Violet’s” expressionless face.

“Your Highness, I don’t recall you having a procession tonight.”

A muffled voice came from beneath the armor.

As Relia spoke, he reached out, wanting to pull “Violet” to his side.

But what he received was “Violet’s” rejection.

The expressionless girl hid further behind Syks, her blood-red eyes holding a coldness he had never seen before.

“No.”

Relia’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

Syks took the opportunity to walk past him, leading “Violet” into the cathedral.

The evening wind whimpered, carrying her light, triumphant chuckle:

“It seems you have failed to gain Her Highness’s trust, Mr. Relia.”

Relia, clad in heavy armor, watched “Violet’s” retreating back and remained silent for a long time.

A sigh escaped from under his full-face helmet.

A communication crystal was clutched in his palm.

As magic flowed into it, the crystal lit up:

“Elan, where are you? I have something important I need to discuss with you.”

The atmosphere in the forest grew increasingly tense.

Just as both sides were on the verge of making a move, the armored man abruptly released the hilt of his sword and instead took a communication crystal from his pack.

The crystal was flashing with a soft blue light; clearly, someone was communicating with him.

“What should we do, my kin? Should we strike first?”

Under the hood, Nastasia’s voice held a hint of eagerness.

This was Her first battle in front of Her follower; She had to make a good impression!

But Violet shook her head, rejecting the suggestion.

“No… we’ll retreat first.”

As she spoke, she cautiously watched the armored man’s movements, slowly backing away.

The other party naturally noticed her small movements but showed no intention of pursuing.

Instead, he slung the greatsword onto his back.

“Clang—!”

The armor and the greatsword collided, producing a crisp sound.

The armored man silently glanced at Violet, who, dressed in her black robe, might as well have had “I’m suspicious” written on her, and chose to leave first.

Between an important matter his teacher mentioned and a girl who was a suspected cultist, he could still tell which was more important.

Moreover, in his perception, the other party was just an ordinary person.

At most, her aura was a bit suspicious.

Even if she truly intended to cause trouble, she couldn’t make much of a splash.

With this in mind, the armored man strode forward, brushed past Violet, and disappeared into the shadows of the forest without a backward glance.

Seeing the crisis averted, Violet let out a long sigh of relief, her tense body relaxing.

“My kin, you seemed very afraid of him?”

Nastasia’s tentacle emerged from the hood, gently wiping away the cold sweat from her brow.

“Perhaps. If possible, I would have liked to become friends with him.”

However, there was one thing Violet didn’t say.

As long as she was still Violet, it was impossible for them to become friends.

The armored man was a highly popular NPC active in the mid-to-late game.

His real name and appearance were unknown; he was only known to other NPCs as the Apostate Knight.

It was said that he once held a position in the Eternal Sect, and a high one at that.

His strength ranked among the top ten in the entire game, capable of going head-to-head with weaker gods.

The reason he was called the “Apostate Knight” was because he had once attempted to assassinate the Imperial Princess Violet and the Pontiff Syks.

The reason for his actions was unknown.

Any player who tried to inquire about his past was, without exception, chopped down to the size of a four-foot Yordle.

Violet hadn’t not thought about changing the relationship between them, but she couldn’t even find the source of the conflict, so there was no way to change it.

But if she didn’t change anything, her fate would likely follow the game’s plot, perishing along with the Empire in the wheels of history.

At this thought, the heavily burdened Violet couldn’t help but touch Nastasia on her head.

The sensation from her fingertips steadied her heart.

At least, she was now holding onto a golden thigh.

Even if Nastasia was currently lacking in power, She was still a god!

She helps Her recruit followers, and She helps her get through the most difficult pioneering phase—a perfect transaction.

Nastasia, being petted on the head by Violet, went limp like a soft pile, purring comfortably like a kitten:

“Mmm, hehe, my kin~ that feels so good~♡!”

Violet silently retracted what she had just said.

If she didn’t know Nastasia inside and out, she would have really thought this was an imposter.

“My kin, my kin, I want to…”

By her ear, Nastasia’s suppressed-sounding voice spoke up.

Her tentacle tentatively wrapped around Violet’s fingertip, the entire Evil God like a kitten begging for affection, sneakily trying to burrow into her arms.

“No, endure it. You are an Evil God, after all.”

Violet’s expression remained unchanged.

She straightened the slightly askew Nastasia, making Her stay put on her head.

“Oh, okay, my kin…”

Nastasia dejectedly flopped back into place, but her large eyeball rolled around, surveying the surroundings.

Though it was said to be observing the surroundings, it was actually observing Violet more.

The other party always carried an alluring fragrance, a perfect bait for a god.

In other words, she was the perfect sacrifice, the perfect vessel for divine descent.

If she were in a righteous sect, she would definitely become a Saintess.

Nastasia might be silly, but She also understood that if She didn’t hold onto this person tightly, Her own follower might fall into the arms of other gods!

Thus, She once again restlessly propped herself up and moved closer to Violet’s ear:

“My kin, do you want to be my Saintess?”

Violet, who was raising her hand to part the grass, froze, her expression unreadable.

“Haven’t I already become your follower?”

“Oh! That’s different! Don’t you want to take a step further with me, my kin?”

Violet didn’t answer immediately.

She casually straightened a section of Nastasia’s tentacle and continued walking forward.

In the end, she still harbored suspicion towards Nastasia.

As a follower, there might still be a chance to apostatize, but if she became a Saintess, she would be completely bound to Nastasia, the kind that even hydraulic pliers couldn’t cut.

Until she fully understood Her true nature, Violet would not rashly sign away her life.

After climbing over a fallen giant tree, Nastasia, perched on Violet’s head, suddenly widened Her eyes in alarm.

“My kin, do you smell something burning?”

Violet fell silent.

Because she not only smelled the acrid scent of wood burning in a fierce fire, but she also heard the piercing screams of a magical beast.