X
Xiluo’er, of course, had no idea about the situation in the Southern Kingdoms. While it was true that the Southern Kingdoms were the main stomping ground for the Chaos Cult, her identity as an escapee was entirely fabricated!
This was precisely why Serol’s abrupt question made Xiluo’er wonder if she was being suspected.
If she truly had to describe the current state of the Southern Kingdoms, Xiluo’er could only offer something like, ‘It’s a mid-game map, the monsters are quite strong, so you’ll need to level up before going. Oh, and the map is pretty convoluted.’
Helpless, Xiluo’er opened her mouth to address Serol’s question, yet found herself at a loss for how to continue her elaborate fabrication.
Seeing Xiluo’er’s prolonged silence, Serol let out a soft sigh.
“The situation isn’t good, is it?”
“Uh… yes, that’s right.”
Unsure of Serol’s intentions, Xiluo’er could only nod obediently, echoing Serol’s words.
“Is that so? Then you must have had a truly difficult time, Xiluo’er.”
As if offering comfort, Serol smiled gently at Xiluo’er.
“Xiluo’er, how is life in Kana City? Is it better than in the Southern Kingdoms?”
Xiluo’er nodded. Even if her identity was fabricated, the answer to this question was undeniable: a life free from war was naturally superior to one plagued by it.
“Is that so? That’s good to hear.”
“What a pity, though. War, it seems, has never truly vanished.”
Serol’s tone was filled with emotion, making Xiluo’er pause. She wondered if Serol’s questions weren’t meant to test her after all.
“Many years ago, when I led the Knights to Kana, life here was far from this good.”
“If I had to describe it, everyone was busy. Some were busy preparing for battle, others were busy preparing to flee.”
“Children Xiluo’er’s age were mostly running. It didn’t really matter where they ran to; the important thing was that if they didn’t run, they might die.”
“But this is the Kingdom of Versati. Why would the citizens of Versati need to flee?”
Serol shook her head, closing her eyes.
In that moment, Xiluo’er perceived a sense of gravitas emanating from the usually amiable knight.
Observing the nostalgic glint in Serol’s eyes, Xiluo’er finally understood. Serol wasn’t speaking of these things out of suspicion, but because the identity Xiluo’er had concocted had stirred her own memories.
The legendary knight had single-handedly turned the tide of war, driving the rebels from the capital all the way to the border.
Though Xiluo’er had heard these tales from many others, hearing them directly from Serol’s lips felt profoundly different.
“Oh, by the way, Xiluo’er, that day in the forest, you weren’t too frightened, were you?”
Seeing Xiluo’er shake her head, Serol let out a soft, “Mm.”
“Indeed, Xiluo’er is a truly resilient child.”
“My apologies. I wasn’t able to protect you properly that day.”
“From my time in the war, I’ve carried a lingering ailment. For all these years, minor issues like that have never truly disappeared.”
“That day, it was only a fifth-rank carrion wolf, sigh.”
Xiluo’er finally understood why Serol had made a mistake during her confrontation with the carrion wolf that day.
Serol seemed deeply concerned about failing to protect Xiluo’er in the forest, offering an apologetic smile.
“But without you, Lord Serol, Sister Eve might not have arrived in time either.”
“Haha, you’re quite good at comforting people, child.”
“Well… perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. A fifth-rank carrion wolf constantly lurking in the forest outside the city was always a hidden danger. It’s better that it’s been dealt with early.”
Serol didn’t chat with Xiluo’er for long, as she soon began to cough again, and Rona sternly insisted she lie down and rest.
Before Xiluo’er left the ward, Serol, lying in bed, spoke to her one last time: “You were planning to explore the forest with Eve that day, weren’t you? It’s a shame that happened.”
“Once I return to the Lord’s Mansion and finish dealing with the autumn encirclement, you and your Sister Eve can go and have a good time.”
“Mm,” Xiluo’er nodded. “Thank you, Lord Serol.”
As she finally turned to leave, Xiluo’er thought she heard Serol sigh softly. She glanced back surreptitiously to see Serol, half-reclining in the hospital bed, tilting her head to gaze out the window.
****
“Freya, tell me, is it possible Rona isn’t a cultist at all?”
Sitting in the pitch-black void, Xiluo’er rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Before Freya could respond, Xiluo’er quickly added, “Alright, you don’t need to answer. I can just think about it myself.”
Freya merely pursed her lips, uncharacteristically refraining from admonishing Xiluo’er for this ‘disrespectful’ behavior towards a deity.
Regardless, Rona had indeed shown no suspicious signs that day. However, what truly unsettled Xiluo’er was the knight’s oath Rona had murmured.
“Hey, even though I don’t know for certain, I should remind you that the perspective you gain through the ‘protagonist’ in the game isn’t necessarily 100% accurate.”
“And, you have indeed met cultists recently,” Freya’s face contorted with a hint of disgust. “I can feel that detestable aura has appeared around you again lately.”
Xiluo’er’s eyes lit up, and she leaned closer.
“Then, can you pinpoint exactly who is carrying this aura?”
“No,” Freya shrugged. “I can only sense the aura appearing around you, but I can’t accurately pinpoint who is emitting it.”
The brightness in Xiluo’er’s eyes faded. She had met so many people in the past two days; on the day of Kana City’s autumn encirclement, everyone standing around her was from the Lord’s Mansion. Freya’s statement was as good as useless.
“Forget it, I’ll figure out a way to investigate myself.” Xiluo’er patted her backside and stood up from the ground. “Alright, I’m going to get up now.”
“Oh, then good luck. Go early, come back early…”
Freya remained slumped in her spot. After a perfunctory wave, she fell silent.
She often wondered what this incredibly lazy deity did inside her body all day… Surely they didn’t just lie there for an entire day?
A sensation of falling enveloped Xiluo’er’s entire body. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a pitch-black room.
She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was just past one in the morning. It seemed Freya was quite punctual.
Indeed, her recent visits to Freya’s realm primarily served as an ‘alarm clock.’
Ever since she discovered that leaving Freya’s dream realm forcibly ‘woke’ her up, Xiluo’er had conceived this ingenious use: having Freya wake her up. By informing Freya of her desired wake-up time, she no longer had to patiently wait in bed until the dead of night for her clandestine activities.
This wake-up service had proven quite practical. At the very least, it showed that Freya wasn’t entirely useless; she could, at least, function as an alarm clock. From now on, Xiluo’er could proudly declare that her golden finger allowed her to control her wake-up time at will, complete with an internal alarm clock. How cool was that?
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, The Fake Yandere Was Forcefully Loved By The Real Yandere is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : The Fake Yandere Was Forcefully Loved By The Real Yandere
