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Join the ServerUltimately, before Eve departed, she still glanced at the quest board. Indeed, a Grade S quest was posted there, and the target for elimination was indeed the Demon Lord.
However, the quest didn’t specify who the Demon Lord was, nor did it include an image. It seemed they were searching for an enemy whose appearance was entirely unknown.
Eve tutted softly, then took the Demon Lord Lu’s soft, warm hand and swaggered out of the Adventurer’s Guild.
On the roadside, she casually found a passing young woman and inquired about the quickest route to the nearest commercial district.
This kind stranger was not only happy to provide directions but also offered to guide them personally.
Eve suspected it was due to the nun’s habit she was currently wearing. Many people had been casting glances her way ever since she put it on.
Before she had changed into the nun’s habit, even when she carried a coffin and wore a mask, appearing quite peculiar, few people had paid her any particular attention.
‘It seems holy professions are still quite popular.’
After politely declining the kind stranger’s offer to lead the way, Eve continued towards the commercial district with Fionn Cassius.
Along the path, to prevent the atmosphere between them from becoming too silent, Eve proactively started a conversation. “Fionn, I actually had a question I wanted to ask you back at the Adventurer’s Guild.”
“Oh? What question, Luosha?”
“Well, you mentioned before that you’d stabbed a crow with a pitchfork. I’m a little curious, what was your life like before you came to Xielan?”
Eve was subtly probing, for she found Fionn’s past identity quite elusive.
Her previous assumption that Fionn was a noble young lady now seemed unlikely.
Normally, a young lady of noble birth would likely spend her time on refined pursuits such as tea ceremonies, elegant arts, and classical accomplishments like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Eve found it hard to imagine such a young lady, dressed in a princess gown, excitedly chasing crows with a pitchfork in a field at night.
Unless that young lady was Anna.
Fionn, with utmost sincerity, divulged all her past experiences.
She recounted how she was an abandoned orphan, found by an old priest, and then helped clean the church. When she had time, she would chop firewood, herd cattle, and do farm work for the villagers, living a simple and peaceful life in a small village.
Later, the old priest who raised her passed away, and a major upheaval in the village forced her to leave. She went alone to the desolate Xigelili Grasslands, spending her days sitting in the grass, numbly watching the sun and moon rise and set.
Finally, she spoke of her arrival in Xielan and her meeting with Eve.
Fionn recounted every detail, omitting nothing except for her identity as the Demon Lord Lu.
However, even if Fionn hadn’t revealed it, Eve already knew her true identity.
When Fionn described the first half of her life, she was clearly sharing it with Eve in a lighthearted mood. It was evident that those times were the best and happiest for her.
It was only when she spoke of her experiences after the old priest’s death that her mood became somber.
Evidently, it was during that period that she discovered her identity as the Demon Lord Lu.
Eve gained some clarity. It was precisely because Fionn had such a memorable and happy childhood, and because everyone she encountered treated her with kindness, that the Demon Lord Lu had managed to retain such a pure heart, full of goodwill towards the world, even now.
She should have lived a carefree, ordinary, and happy life, just like any other girl in the world.
Alas, fate had other plans.
Eve felt a pang of sympathy for the silver-haired girl before her. She reached out and gently stroked Fionn’s head.
She then looked up and softly hummed a song she had once heard:
“May you be treated gently by this world,
May you suffer no more pain in the rest of your life.
All the warmth, all the care,
You deserve the best love.
May you be treated gently by this world,
May everything become wonderful.
The romance of the four seasons, the swaying sea of people,
I will always be here.”
Eve smiled as she turned back to the stunned silver-haired girl behind her. “This is a song from my hometown. I’ll give it to you as a blessing, Fionn.”
The song’s lyrics were simple and common, its melody soothing and cheerful. As Eve sang it softly, Fionn felt, after a long time, that gentle haven where she could lean on someone, where she could vent all her emotions.
Fionn pursed her lips, and a glint of crystal tears sparkled in her red eyes.
She didn’t let her tears fall, merely nodded emphatically. “…Mm! Thank you! Thank you for your blessing, Roly!
I want to learn this song too! I want to give it to you as a blessing too, Roly!”
“Alright, of course, no problem. I’ll teach you later.”
“That’s wonderful! Thank you, Roly!”
The atmosphere between the two young women warmed once more, and they laughed as they entered a women’s clothing store.
It wasn’t until Eve regained her senses that she suddenly realized, ‘Wait, how did I just naturally walk into a women’s clothing store?’
‘Never mind… since I’m already here.’
‘I’ll just consider it buying clothes for Fionn.’
With this thought, Eve turned to the silver-haired girl beside her and said, “Fionn, you don’t seem to have any luggage… How about this, you go pick out a few clothes you like.”
Fionn initially wanted to refuse.
She didn’t actually need to change clothes; the outfit she was currently wearing had been automatically created by the magic within her after she became the Demon Lord Lu, and it would never get dirty.
‘Wouldn’t buying new clothes just be a waste of money?’
But Eve seemed to know her concerns and added, “Because as adventurers, we’ll often be active outdoors, and our clothes can easily get dirty. So, it’s good to have several sets of clothes for changing and washing.”
“As for the money, don’t worry. It won’t be added to your loan. Consider the clothes bought here as my gift to you.”
“If you don’t go pick them out, Fionn, then I’ll do it for you.”
Upon hearing this, Fionn knew that the clothes were definitely going to be bought.
Thus, she could only nod, standing rooted to the spot and gazing around the entire shop.
She looked for a long time but didn’t move from Eve’s side.
This was because Fionn had never been to a clothing store. Her previous clothes and dresses had all been given to her by the old priest, old clothes that Kamil had outgrown.
Consequently, now standing in a shop filled with splendid garments, she felt somewhat at a loss.
Finally, she could only turn her pleading gaze towards Eve.
Unfortunately, Eve wasn’t in a much better position.
It was true that Eve had bought women’s clothing before, but that was online. The courier delivered them discreetly to her door. She had never been to a physical store. She wasn’t some social butterfly!
So, Eve had intended for Fionn to choose for herself, while she would act as a mobile, human wallet, simply paying the bill.
But at this moment, Fionn had unexpectedly kicked the choice back to her, which Eve had not anticipated at all.
However, her previous words had already been spoken.
With Anna and Yulim Wilivia absent, she was the only one who could handle the situation.
Facing rows upon rows of dazzling little dresses, Eve swallowed with difficulty, feeling as though she was about to confront the abyss itself!
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