I want to be a faded person for life

Xiangzi's eyes lit up.

"So, can you modify your armor?"

Most of the knights in the border area are tall, and it is difficult for Xiangzi to get armor that he can wear unless it is specially customized.

"Yes, yes..."

Burke spoke with some embarrassment.

"But I wasn't welcome in the cave, and when I was kicked out, all my important tools were taken away... So, I'm embarrassed that I can only give you this as a thank you."

He felt in his pocket and took out a few dried mushrooms, which were common non-toxic fungi in Nimgfu. They had no taste but could be used to fill the stomach.

"It's okay, just consider it an advance payment. I'll take this commission and help you get the tools back."

Xiangzi took the mushrooms and wrapped them up neatly in a cloth.

The girl smiled. Receiving a commission and getting paid was the right way to proceed in the stories she had heard.

Chapter 2 Carnivores

"Is that what Xiaoxiang said... Then why did you leave so suddenly? We finally met."

Gao Songdeng did not leave the round table hall. After receiving the news from Xiangzi, his originally dull expression became lively again.

"Sure enough, you are scared by me..."

Deng's eyes dimmed, and she placed her hand on her chest, where the source pyroxene that replaced her heart was pulsating rapidly.

As expected, my existence is abnormal... Xiaoxiang, who originally agreed to become a human together, would probably not be able to accept my current self.

so.....

Roderica recalled Toyokawa Shoko's expression.

"I think... that's not the case. Miss Xiangzi probably has her own things to deal with."

"Is it like this again?"

Deng recalled the reason Xiangzi told him that night why he quit Crychic.

Back on Earth, I am truly powerless to solve such a problem.

Even if Xiangzi had chosen to confess at that time, I'm sure no one could have provided any effective help.

But...it's different now.

"Just leave it to me... no matter if it's dangerous or painful, just let me do it."

The little animal's expression became a little dangerous, and she stretched out her hands to hold her slightly hot cheeks.

"I won't let you escape next time. I will always protect Xiaoxiang, forever and ever..."

"I think...Servis should have a solution. I wonder where he's been lately."

Mentioning a strange name, Deng continued to ask.

"Rodlika, where was the last time you saw Xiaoxiang?"

Little Red Riding Hood trembled, and she thought it would be better not to reveal the whereabouts of the Faded One.

-

Xiangzi shivered for no reason on horseback.

"That's strange... I've become less sensitive to temperature changes lately. Is it because of the sea breeze?"

Xiangzi canceled the call to Torret, and Burke led the way to the coast west of Nimgfu.

The scenery here becomes particularly open, and seabirds fly up and down on the gray-blue sea.

In the distance are islands and tall golden trees, while nearby are rugged reefs and dead trees that have turned black due to being soaked by the sea tide.

"right here."

Burke pointed to a cave on the coast. Near the entrance, several demihumans were wandering around holding crude wooden shields and sticks.

"Those guys in the cave are dangerous... I'll just sneak in and get the tools. Don't get close, or you'll get attacked."

Xiangzi held the lower handle with his index finger—a habit he probably learned from Se Lian.

If the people living in the cave were Burke's companions, she really shouldn't rush in.

The demihuman at the entrance of the cave did not launch an attack, but instead made way for him. After Burke entered, he slowly followed and blocked the exit.

Xiangzi decided to move closer and continue observing. The behavior of the subhumans at the entrance of the cave made her feel that things might not be that simple.

Sure enough, not long after Burke entered the coastal cave, sharp roars and several wails of the demihumans were heard from the cave entrance.

Xiangzi immediately drew his sword and followed.

"Woo...Woo..."

Burke, wearing a bowler hat, fell at the entrance of the cave, gasping in pain, while the demihumans armed with weapons and covered in animal skins retreated cautiously into the darkness.

Sure enough...they and Burke don't feel like companions at all, or even the same species.

"That's a relic my mother left me... It's too much."

Noticing the bright light from the torch at the cave entrance, Burke turned around with difficulty.

"...How did you get in here?"

"Run away quickly! It's too dangerous here. They are simply a group of wild beasts... Don't end up like me."

Xiangzi glanced at the subhumans approaching him in the darkness.

"Burke, there's something I forgot to tell you—actually, I'm pretty good."

"Rather than worrying about my safety, there is something more important that I must ask you right now."

Burke looked weakly at the illusory figure in the hole. The majestic girl in the firelight reminded him of the young king depicted in a childhood scroll.

"What...question?"

"Do you need me to show mercy to the guys in the cave?"

Infected by the other party's strong self-confidence, the demi-human's eyes were filled with hope and longing.

"No need—please, have it your way."

"That's it."

The small creatures in the darkness rushed over from all directions, and before he knew it, they had surrounded Xiangzi.

"I can rest assured that."

The sword swung in the girl's hand in a perfect circle, and the four monkey-like demi-humans and the wooden shields in their hands were split into eight neat pieces.

"If you've only died once, you shouldn't turn into a zombie. After you're resurrected, reflect on your actions."

Xiangzi rang the soul-calling bell.

The figures of the three wolf spirits gradually emerged.

"Doloris, Mortis, and Amoris, stay here and protect Burke for me."

The wolf spirits whose names were called responded one by one and then surrounded the demihuman tailor.

"I'll be back soon."

The firelight spread behind the young knight like a noble cloak.

According to Burke's later recollections:

That was the first time he thought of calling the Faded One "My King", although it was a long time before he could actually put this idea into practice.

-

For Xiangzi, the last experience of entering the cave was not a pleasant one.

Whether it was the dim environment in the cave, the fork in the road that was difficult to observe with the naked eye, or the two cunning beast ghost warriors deep in the cave - they all left a deep impression on her.

However, since she had experience, she was much more cautious when entering a similar environment.

Leaving the wolf spirit at the entrance of the cave was both to protect Burke and to avoid being cut off.

The reflection from the ground can also determine where there is water and where the road surface is drier.

Demihumans or beast-onks have a strong odor on their bodies, and in a dark environment, hearing and smell may be more reliable than eyes - this is the experience of swordsmen.

She also came up with a code name for Pumpkinhead, Delirious, fearless and crazy... maybe it's appropriate.

Xiangzi stopped, shook his head and laughed.

"What...I made so many preparations on purpose."

More than twice the size of his peers, with a wolf-like head and wearing numerous bone ornaments, the subhuman leader bared his fangs in front of the fire.

"Give me back Burke's mother's belongings... Uh, it seems like that's not making sense?"

Unlike Burke, the other party just made meaningless roars and was unable to communicate effectively.

Xiangzi thought again of the important doll that was left behind in another world.

Another demihuman leader emerged from the corner of the cave, with foul-smelling saliva dripping from his mouth.

"That's a precious treasure—it seems you can't understand it either. Then come here and let us speak with our swords."

Xiangzi threw down the torch and hooked his left hand provocatively.

Chapter 3: Soaked in My Blood

Facing the first subhuman leader that pounced on him, Xiangzi simply turned his body sideways and raised his fist with mitten gloves. Before the opponent's attack came, he punched the opponent's dog-like jaw hard.

The demihuman leader, far larger than the girl, flew away at a speed even faster than when he came, as if struck by a cannonball.

After obtaining the fragments of Greg's magic ring and using runes to enhance her physical abilities, her strength increased significantly again.

"One."

Although it cannot be compared with that huge demigod, it is already far beyond common sense.

"And then the second one."

Without even looking, Xiangzi withdrew his left hand and placed it on the end of the hilt, twisting his body and sweeping the sword backwards in a semicircle.

The second demihuman leader had already circled behind her, but before it could launch an attack, the sword light passed over the part above its nose.

Its huge body suddenly froze in place, its head above the nose fell smoothly, and the rest of its body twitched a few times before collapsing.

All it took was one sword—killing the so-called leader wasn't much different from dealing with other demihumans.

After quickly and smoothly taking out the two enemies, Xiangzi frowned and looked at his weapon.

The blade of the King's Alliance's straight sword was shaking rapidly, and it took seven or eight seconds for it to slowly calm down.

She had originally intended to behead the enemy with that sword strike, but the blade of the straight sword could not withstand the huge force and swayed up and down, causing the originally precise strike to deviate slightly.

It's okay to deal with such an enemy, but if you are fighting a strong enemy, such a mistake can sometimes be fatal.

“It feels so light…”

No wonder knights prefer heavy weapons, just like Eric is good at using heavy iron spears and broadswords, and Greg uses two battle axes, one long and one short.

This standard straight sword that had accompanied her through most of Stonewell was about to reach the end of its life.

Xiangzi scratched his head.

This is troublesome. I can't use the sword skills of [Kalia Greatsword] with a dagger.

"Forget it... I'll ask Curry later."

Xiangzi fumbled around on the body of the subhuman leader for a while and found a sewing needle that was clearly out of style.

Burke was a tailor, so the relic of his mother that he mentioned was probably this thing.

Xiangzi packed the sewing needle with him and then checked the cave.

"Huh? So we haven't reached the bottom yet?"

She originally thought that this coastal cave was not very deep, but behind the two demihuman leaders there was a tunnel leading deeper.

Xiangzi calculated the time he entered the cave, and this place should be still far away from the maximum distance for the soul-summoning bell to take effect.

"Go in and take a look first. If you go beyond the limit, turn back."

She relit the torch and entered the passage, which required a slight stoop.