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Join the ServerThe Junior Inquisitor, almost instinctively, summoned his Holy Shield. He was a Knight by profession.
Corrosive Flames erupted upon the Holy Shield. Though it blocked the initial attack, the shield immediately dimmed, corroded by the intense heat.
At that moment, Alice, with swift reflexes, hurled a second Corrosive Flame, striking down the Junior Inquisitor.
The carriage screeched to a halt beside Alice and Jeanne Decker, as Old Sheep called out to them, “Get in!”
Concurrently, the mute assistant inside the carriage opened the door, beckoning them forward.
Alice pulled Jeanne Decker by the hand, helping her into the carriage. Old Sheep immediately whipped the horses, urging the carriage forward, and roared at the three remaining enforcers, who were still utterly bewildered: “Move aside, unless you wish to die!”
The enforcers gasped in unison, quickly clearing the path.
Their commander had been defeated with such ease; even a fool could deduce that these attackers were all above the Seventh Order. Moreover, even Jeanne Decker, who had been fleeing, was of the Seventh Order. With their own meager strength, any attempt to intervene would be akin to a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
The carriage swiftly carried everyone away from Requiem Square. It came to a stop in a secluded, deserted area nearby, where the mute assistant handed Jeanne Decker a set of men’s clothing and a hat, signaling for her to change out of her prisoner’s uniform and conceal her long hair with the hat.
The assistant then opened the door and exited the carriage. Alice also rose, preparing to follow. “I’ll get down too, so you can change in peace.”
Jeanne Decker, seeing this, immediately recalled past encounters with the witch. She frowned and mumbled, “Why the sudden consideration now? It’s not like you haven’t seen me before!”
“Huh?” Alice turned to her, utterly taken aback.
‘What is she talking about? When did I ever take such advantage? Why don’t I know about it myself?!’
“If you’re getting down, hurry up!” Jeanne Decker averted her gaze, her face beginning to flush.
Her feelings towards this witch were now incredibly complex. She was grateful that the witch had rescued her three times, yet she hadn’t forgotten the ‘favors’ the witch had bestowed upon her.
Beyond that, she was also filled with intense curiosity about the witch’s true identity. She was quite certain now that this witch had to be someone she knew.
Alice disembarked from the carriage, still bewildered. Outside, Old Sheep and the assistant had already shed their Inquisitor attire. The mute assistant stood beside the horse, gently patting its back and softly whistling.
Jeanne Decker, now clad in men’s clothes, stepped down from the carriage. Old Sheep emerged from a nearby alleyway, carrying two boxes, which he handed to Jeanne Decker. “Take these. Cover your face. You’re my shop assistant now. Don’t worry, the boxes are mostly empty and very light. We’re heading to a truly safe hiding place.”
“What about the carriage…?” Jeanne Decker asked, taking the boxes.
At that moment, the horse suddenly neighed, and on its own, it began to trot steadily forward, pulling the carriage behind it.
“The carriage will go to the city gate on your south side by itself. Let the Inquisitors chase it at their leisure,” Old Sheep said nonchalantly. “If we abandon the carriage and walk, they’ll be less likely to suspect.”
“Is it really okay for the carriage to be driverless?” Alice glanced back at the departing carriage. “Did you train that horse?”
“No, but Abubano has already asked it to keep heading south,” Old Sheep calmly replied, casting a glance at his assistant.
Alice looked at the assistant, who nodded at her before picking up two boxes himself.
“Abubano’s class is Druid. Though he can’t speak, he’s a Linguist, able to communicate directly with animals,” Old Sheep explained to her.
Alice then realized that the young man whistling into the horse’s ear earlier was communicating with it. The members of the ‘Tea Party’ were indeed not just Redlands people who worshipped the ‘Abyssal Cult,’ but also followers of the Druid faith.
The Druid faith had not been officially designated as a heretical cult to be purged by the Holy Church of Salvation. However, in the distant past, when the Oak Kingdom, which followed Druidism, was conquered by the Empire, the religion had suffered a purge. Consequently, Druid priests were now quite rare.
“So, you two are my assistants, helping me move goods. You’ll come with me. Miss Liddell, you take another route, and we’ll meet back at the shop,” Old Sheep directed.
“All right,” Alice said, turning to head into the alley.
“Wait a moment!” Jeanne Decker suddenly called out to her.
“What is it?” Alice turned her head.
“You…” Jeanne Decker looked earnestly into her eyes. “You wouldn’t just run away like this, would you? Don’t forget, you promised me!”
“Why would I run away?” Alice suddenly found it a little amusing. “We’ll go to a safe place first. I won’t break my word.”
Jeanne Decker stared at her for a moment, then said, “I’ll trust you one more time. If you lie to me, I truly won’t forgive you this time!”
Alice blinked. Jeanne Decker still seemed to be holding a grudge about that past incident—which, in Alice’s opinion, was a bit of an overreaction.
Nevertheless, she simply nodded in response, preparing to part ways with the others.
****
At that moment, the sound of horse hooves echoed from the path ahead.
Everyone instinctively heightened their vigilance. This narrow path was flanked by walls on both sides, with one alley used by nearby shops to haphazardly store various items. Few people ever passed through here, which was precisely why they had chosen this spot to change their attire. They assumed it was more Inquisitors.
Old Sheep turned and gave a meaningful look to the others. Abubano and Jeanne Decker immediately picked up their boxes to shield their faces and followed Old Sheep forward. Alice, meanwhile, quickly ducked into the alley, hiding behind some boxes.
A knight, clad in full plate armor, galloped towards them. Upon seeing the few people walking by the roadside, he reined in his horse slightly, slowing down, and scrutinized them carefully.
He was clearly a fully armed Paladin, Old Sheep mused. It seemed the Inquisition had indeed called for reinforcements from the Paladin Order, but the speed of their arrival was surprisingly fast.
Old Sheep’s professional composure as an underground operative allowed him to maintain a placid expression as he offered a fawning smile to the knight, doffing his hat and bowing. He believed the Inquisition was currently focused on chasing the carriage throughout the city, and ordinary ‘passersby’ like them wouldn’t draw attention.
The knight, as expected, showed no reaction. Old Sheep currently appeared to be nothing more than a grocer taking a shortcut with his assistants to deliver goods.
However, as the knight on horseback passed Jeanne Decker, who walked at the very end, he suddenly spoke in a very soft, almost self-muttering tone: “Take care of yourself, child.”
Jeanne Decker, whose face was obscured by a wooden box, instantly widened her eyes and instinctively held her breath.
This voice—she could not be mistaken.
It belonged to the only person in this world she could truly call family: her adoptive father, Duke Alençon!
It took her considerable effort to calm her racing emotions. Then, with a voice barely audible, she replied, “Mm…”
Neither of them looked back, and so they drifted further and further apart.
You think this chapter was thrilling? Wait until you read You’re My Baby [Rebirth]! Click here to discover the next big twist!
Read : You’re My Baby [Rebirth]
