Chapter 49: The Knight’s Oath

“Are you alright, Xiluo’er?”

Noticing the girl beside her had stumbled, Rona turned back with a worried expression, helping Xiluo’er to her feet.

“Oh, I’m fine. I must have tripped over a root in the forest.”

Xiluo’er extended her left hand, allowing Rona to pull her upright.

“Xiluo’er, your right hand looks strange. Are you hurt?”

“Ah, I’m perfectly fine, Sister Rona.”

Xiluo’er’s right hand quickly fluttered before Rona, then she swiftly drew it back.

The Corpsefire Grass powder had been applied, and all preparations were complete. Now, only the final step remained.

While deflecting Rona’s incessant chatter, Xiluo’er used her other hand to retrieve the bottle containing the Firefang Tree sap.

All that was left was to wait for the demonic beasts to arrive.

Xiluo’er’s method was, in essence, simple and crude, yet not without its risks.

First, she had to create an environment where she and Rona were alone. Then, the Firefang Tree sap would attract a large horde of demonic beasts.

At that point, the Corpsefire Grass powder would drive some of the beasts into a frenzy, overwhelming Rona.

Under such dire circumstances, surely no one would prioritize hiding their true abilities over self-preservation?

Xiluo’er was certain that Rona possessed some hidden, cult-related techniques that could significantly boost her power.

After all, at least in the game, the monster Rona transformed into during the final boss battle served as irrefutable proof.

That monster’s strength was undeniably superior to Rona’s normal state.

When the onslaught of demonic beasts became too much for Rona to bear, she would be forced to unleash those hidden powers to save herself.

By applying intense pressure and forcing her opponent to reveal their true nature—this was Xiluo’er’s plan.

As soon as Rona exposed her secrets in front of her, Xiluo’er would have the evidence of Rona’s problematic identity.

Of course, Xiluo’er had considered the possibility of Rona attempting to silence her, especially since they were currently alone.

However, if she couldn’t win, she could always flee. Xiluo’er was confident in her escape abilities as an assassin.

Though risky, with the ‘window paper’ between them already torn, Xiluo’er had no choice but to resort to such desperate measures.

Yet, she had to admit, Rona’s acting was remarkably good.

Xiluo’er secretly glanced at the side profile of Rona, who was holding her small hand. Even in their solitude, Rona showed no signs of abnormality.

If anything, Xiluo’er arrived at the same conclusion as when they first entered the forest—Rona seemed a little distracted today.

After only a few more steps, Rona abruptly halted again, her expression turning grim.

Xiluo’er wasn’t surprised. She had already spread all the Firefang Tree sap along their path; it was only natural for the demonic beasts to arrive so quickly.

“Xiluo’er, get behind me!”

Her knight’s sword was drawn, and Rona’s hands, gripping the hilt, trembled slightly.

The sheer number of demonic beasts blocking their path was overwhelming.

Moreover, unlike before, it was just her and Xiluo’er. Without Eve, confronting so many beasts alone would be incredibly difficult.

But…

She turned to look at Xiluo’er behind her, whose small face clearly showed fear.

“Listen closely, Xiluo’er. Stay right with me.”

“Don’t be afraid. I promise I’ll get you out of here.”

“O-okay, Sister Rona…”

In reality, Xiluo’er, standing behind Rona, was meticulously observing her every move.

As the two sides remained in a standoff, Xiluo’er first noticed Rona mumbling to herself.

Listening carefully, Xiluo’er realized Rona was indeed talking to herself.

‘Calm down, Rona, calm down. There’s still a solution.’

‘There are many carrion wolves among the horde. These demonic beasts aren’t very aggressive; they prefer to eat corpses or decaying flesh…’

‘I can… I can attack other demonic beasts first. Their corpses will distract some of the carrion wolves, and then perhaps I can find a way to break through…’

It seemed Rona was simply trying to calm herself down.

However, before she could finish, Rona fell silent.

The large number of carrion wolves before them seemed incredibly agitated. As if provoked, their eyes blazed with aggression, and drool dripped from their gaping maws.

Rona immediately sensed something was terribly wrong.

“Xiluo’er, be careful!”

With a loud shout, Rona’s horizontally sweeping sword clashed against three pouncing carrion wolves.

Xiluo’er stayed close behind Rona, scrutinizing her actions.

Yet, as the battle raged on, Rona showed no sign of unleashing any hidden trump cards, even as she sustained injuries.

‘Come on, Sister, if you can’t hold on, then don’t! Just use whatever you’ve got and end this sooner!’

Rona merely stared intently at the menacing beast horde, her gaze warily sweeping across the demonic creatures.

Xiluo’er had to admit, Rona was far more resilient than she had anticipated. According to her original plan, Rona should have collapsed by now.

Yet, relying solely on her knight’s sword and the Kross family’s swordsmanship, Rona had managed to endure until this moment.

‘But, she shouldn’t be able to last much longer, right?’

Xiluo’er glanced around. More and more demonic beasts were being drawn in by the Firefang Tree sap.

Among them, the carrion wolves, stimulated by the Corpsefire Grass, constituted the majority.

Just as Xiluo’er was eagerly anticipating Rona’s ‘burst of power’ against the demonic beasts, Rona indeed made a new move.

She began to murmur again.

‘Perhaps it’s a forbidden spell’s incantation!’

Xiluo’er quickly perked up her ears to listen, but what Rona was saying… seemed quite different from a forbidden spell.

“I pledge, in the face of mighty foes, to be fearless and brave, resolute and loyal…”

Muttering, Rona gripped her sword even tighter.

“To be upright and honest, never yielding, to protect the weak, and never defy heavenly principles…”

‘What is this?’

Xiluo’er was momentarily stunned, a flash of insight suddenly striking her mind.

‘This is the Knight’s Oath? I saw it in the game’s text when I played before.’

Xiluo’er finally recognized what Rona was reciting. But why would she be chanting this now?

‘Is she just trying to motivate herself? But as a cultist, would Rona really use the Knight’s Oath to steel her resolve at a time like this?’

Xiluo’er looked at the armored back shielding her, unyielding, not retreating a single step. Her emotions became complicated.

She didn’t understand why Rona was fighting so desperately. After all, Xiluo’er herself was a potential threat to her. Even if Rona merely feared exposing her cultist identity, it shouldn’t be worth risking her life for!

At this thought, a possibility suddenly flashed through Xiluo’er’s mind.

‘Could it be… could Rona not be a cultist after all?’

‘But, how… how could that be? The game’s storyline explicitly stated it! Even if I caused the greatest butterfly effect to influence the plot, it shouldn’t directly change a person’s entire identity, should it?’