Chapter 20: The Waiting Game

Six days had passed since Aldoran’s departure, yet Qing Yu still awaited her return.

Instead, Alice and her companions, gravely wounded, returned first, accompanied by a girl with wolf ears.

They arrived in the early hours of the fifth day.

Upon their return to the tribe, everyone was ragged and covered in wounds, save for the wolf-eared girl.

It was clear they had endured a brutal battle.

The wolf-eared girl introduced herself as Kills, Aldoran’s personal guard.

After escorting all the Harpies back and offering Qing Yu a few brief instructions, she departed with Thrud to search for Aldoran.

Now, as the sixth day drew to a close with dusk settling, Aldoran and her companions remained unseen.

‘Could she have found me too troublesome and simply left on her own?’

Sitting on a rock, gazing at the sunset, Qing Yu’s thoughts began to wander.

‘Or perhaps something has happened to Aldoran? Could she be in mortal danger?’

‘Bah, what foolish thoughts! Aldoran is a God Lord, after all; she couldn’t be that weak, could she?’

‘But what if people in this world are genuinely weak? Yet, that explosion and earthquake from the other day…’

Qing Yu instinctively slapped himself.

‘Stop overthinking this; just wait a little longer.’

Aldoran had always treated Qing Yu kindly, never once speaking a harsh word to him.

For this reason, Qing Yu felt his wild speculations were truly unfair.

“Ah, Aldoran, why aren’t you back yet?” Qing Yu cried out, collapsing onto the ground.

‘If Aldoran truly left, what would become of me, a stranger in a strange land—’

Qing Yu slapped himself once more.

“Hey, kid.”

The sudden voice startled Qing Yu, causing him to spring up from the ground with a swift pike jump.

“It’s me, Liliya, not a bad person.”

“Oh, oh, hello.”

Gazing at Liliya, who was practically mummified in bandages, Qing Yu shifted his body to the side.

“Um, would you like to sit?”

“Thanks,” Liliya replied, settling herself unceremoniously onto the grass beside Qing Yu.

“The rock’s too hard; the grass is softer.”

“Oh, oh.”

An awkward silence followed, with Qing Yu still staring into the distance, unsure what to do or why Liliya had sought him out; all he knew was that he needed to wait.

“Hey, kid, that person truly is incredible,” Liliya broke the silence, turning to face Qing Yu and speaking with earnestness.

“To find the white horse’s dwelling so easily… I misjudged you all.”

“Ah, I see.”

Qing Yu merely nodded, at a loss for words.

“Um, how old are you?” Qing Yu suddenly blurted out, feeling that if he didn’t ask something, the atmosphere would grow even more awkward.

“Seventeen.”

“I, I’m fifteen, and I’m already married,” Qing Yu nodded, intent on forcing some conversation, lest waiting for Aldoran alone become utterly tedious.

“I’m not,” Liliya said, casting a sidelong glance at Qing Yu.

“I know you’re that person’s wife.”

“Ah, yes, that’s right,” Qing Yu nodded.

“I am indeed her wife.”

“I’m sorry…” For some reason, Liliya suddenly spoke, her voice dropping to a near whisper.

The vibrant Liliya of a few days prior now seemed utterly listless.

“I shouldn’t have said that.

She truly was helping us…”

“Ah, no, no, don’t say that, don’t say that.

Aldoran is very strong; she’ll be fine,” Qing Yu quickly waved his hands.

“She’s definitely going to be alright.”

He knew Liliya must believe Aldoran had perished in the battle.

Alice had informed Qing Yu that the explosion and earthquake were both caused by Aldoran’s battle with the white horse.

Given such terrifying destructive power, Qing Yu found it difficult to believe Aldoran could have survived, yet he had no choice but to hold onto that belief.

As a God Lord, Aldoran surely wouldn’t perish so easily in an explosion.

Moreover, Qing Yu desperately needed Aldoran’s protection in this unfamiliar world.

“But, that terrifying explosion…” Liliya murmured, her head bowed, seemingly consumed by self-reproach.

“I’m sorry, I…”

“No, no, it’s not like that, it’s not like that.

It’s not your fault,” Qing Yu could only offer comfort in return.

“You did nothing wrong.”

“I’m sorry…” Liliya still appeared deeply remorseful, though Qing Yu couldn’t fathom the precise reason for her self-blame—perhaps her earlier harsh words?

Well, it didn’t matter.

While waiting, Qing Yu now found himself in the unexpected role of a psychological counselor, tasked with comforting Liliya.

‘I should be the one suffering the most right now!’

“Um, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s not your fault.

You have to believe in Aldoran; she’ll definitely be alive.

Don’t worry, don’t worry,” Qing Yu racked his brain, trying to figure out how to reassure Liliya.

“And don’t dwell on what was said before; that’s all in the past.”

“Thank you…”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry, Aldoran will definitely be fine.

After all, she’s Odin…”

“What?”

Qing Yu hastily clapped a hand over his mouth, but it was too late; Liliya had heard his words with perfect clarity.

“What Odin?”

“O-Odin’s friend,” Qing Yu stammered, swallowing hard as he met her clear eyes, forcing the rest of his words back down.

“Yes, Odin’s friend.”

Aldoran had previously cautioned Qing Yu against revealing her identity carelessly, yet Qing Yu couldn’t help but feel that if Aldoran were to display her status as Odin, their journey would undoubtedly be far more comfortable.

Nevertheless, he had promised Aldoran not to disclose her identity without permission.

“Odin’s friend?” Liliya looked at Qing Yu, her eyes radiating clear confusion.

“But what does that have to do with whether she’s alive?”

‘Exactly, it was you, Aldoran, who went to kill the horse; what does that have to do with Odin?’

“Th-that’s obvious,” Qing Yu stammered, cold sweat already breaking out across his body under the interrogation of Liliya’s gaze.

His mind raced, seeking the optimal solution to all these questions.

“Think about it, someone who can be a friend to Lord Odin certainly isn’t an insignificant figure, right?”

Liliya nodded, appearing pensive.

“Right?

Since Lord Odin holds the esteemed position of a God Lord, her friends wouldn’t be weak either, would they?” Qing Yu wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaling a long breath.

It seemed Liliya was convinced.

With destruction of that magnitude, it was hard not to believe.

A sudden thought struck Qing Yu: what scale of destruction could the strongest individuals in this world achieve?

“So that means, Aldoran— ”

“Exactly!

She’ll definitely be back, so please don’t blame yourself,” Qing Yu said, giving Liliya a thumbs-up and a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry, Aldoran will certainly return.”

‘Why do I feel like *she’s* Aldoran’s wife now?’

“If that’s truly the case, then it’s a blessing,” Liliya said, feeling a slight sense of relief.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” Qing Yu continued to console Liliya.

“I’m sorry,” Liliya confessed.

“My animosity towards outsiders was far too great.

Aldoran truly wanted to help us, and I did witness her battle with the white horse…”

As Liliya spoke, she gazed at the distant dense forest, just as Qing Yu was doing.

“Speaking of which, did you hear anything?” A moment later, Qing Yu turned his head to ask Liliya.

A ‘clip-clop, clip-clop’ of hooves echoed through the dense forest, gradually drawing closer to Qing Yu and Liliya.

“I hear it,” Liliya said, rising to her feet and peering into the distance.

“Clip-clop, clip-clop.”

The hoofbeats drew steadily nearer, and Qing Yu also stood, searching the horizon.

“Clip-clop, clip-clop.”

“Clip-clop, clip-clop.”

Through the swirling dust, just before the last vestiges of twilight faded, Qing Yu caught sight of Thrud galloping on horseback, and slumped against Thrud’s back, appearing utterly exhausted, was Aldoran…