I want to be a faded person for life

Chapter 21 The Journey Continues

True.

If Xiangzi had gotten the information about the lamp earlier, he might have arrived at the Round Table Hall earlier.

There was no need to fight a life-and-death battle with the Limb-Removing Greg, and there was no need to swallow the Source Stone.

However, the risk of becoming a magician's ball has now been resolved, and Miss Oblivionis, the origin magician who was originally worried about taking over this body, actually has no malicious intentions.

And given Xiangzi's mentality at the time - even if he could meet Deng in advance, I'm afraid that after learning the whole truth of the matter, the situation would develop in the same way as it does now.

If she hadn't experienced all this, she would probably still be trapped in the vicious circle of [self-esteem] and [right and wrong], unable to escape, sinking in the vortex until she forgot her most important mission.

Judging from the results, she not only did not lose anything, but gained more.

and so.

Xiangzi shook his head and said from the bottom of his heart:

"You don't need to apologize to me... On the contrary, I should be thanking Mr. Roger for his assistance."

Roger was a little surprised, but he could hardly move his body and could only move his eyes slightly.

"So that's what you think. Now I can rest assured."

The other person's voice was filled with fatigue, as if he would soon fall asleep.

"I'm awake less and less. Maybe the next time I fall asleep I won't wake up. It's a blessing to be forgiven before that happens."

"Come to think of it, I don't know your name yet."

Xiangzi was stunned for a moment.

The last time we met, I put all my energy into conquering Stonewell and finding the whereabouts of the lamp, and I even forgot to tell him my name.

This is really rude behavior.

"My name is Toyokawa Shoko, you can just call me Shoko."

"So it's Ms. Xiangzi... First, I must congratulate you on defeating Limb-Attached Greg and obtaining the Great Rune. This will achieve both our goals."

"From the first time we met, I felt you were no ordinary person... In today's borderlands, it's truly rare to find a Faded One who can still see the blessings and guidance and act accordingly."

A dim light of blessing flashed in Roger's eyes, and two items appeared in his hands.

"I want to give them to you as a gift."

Roger held an exquisite rapier in his hand.

It has a pure gold grip, and a round red gem is inlaid in the center of the flower branch-shaped guard. Golden lines extend from the guard to the middle of the sword body.

The other item was a pair of white silk gloves Roger had worn before. The lace part on the back of the hand was inlaid with two blue-green pyroxenes the size of eggs in gold.

"Please don't refuse."

"Look at me like this... I can't move freely, let alone fight, so these items are useless to me."

"The rapier is endowed with spiritual ash, allowing it to summon four radiant swords in battle. Wearing these gloves can amplify all magical techniques, just like your Kalia Greatsword."

"I thought they could be of some help to you, just as if I were still active in the journey."

The weapons were well maintained and it was obvious that their owner took great care of them.

Xiangzi accepted the rapier and gloves. It was really a valuable gift. Compared to the hound's fang, which often required both hands to use, Roger's rapier was more in line with her fighting style.

"...What on earth has happened to you to become like this?"

Recalling the scene at that time, Roger's eyes flashed with fear. Even though a long time had passed, it was still a nightmare for him.

"A face and a strangely deformed body... on the bottom floor of Stonewell."

It's Stonewell again...

First came the warnings from Melina and Kale, then the hasty escape of Fan Lei in white mask... the down-and-out knight who mysteriously appeared in Storm Hill, and the attention of another demigod of the Mongwen Dynasty.

This city, which has lost its owner, is now once again at the center of the storm.

Xiangzi suddenly thought of someone.

At this point in time, there should be no one who knows Stonewell's secrets better than him.

Thinking of this, Xiangzi immediately rang the soul-calling bell.

A few seconds later, Gotok's spirit appeared in the Round Table Hall with a look of disgust on its face.

"Gortok, what happened in Stonewell?"

"Those huge pits corroding the city walls, and the people your father was wary of...why did he send all the knights out of the city and recruit exiled soldiers and displaced knights?"

"Ahaha—it seems this is the Hall of the Round Table, where heroes gather. I never thought someone like me would end up in such a place."

An undisguised malice suddenly appeared on Gotok's pale face.

"You just want to know something about that face."

Xiangzi raised her eyebrows. Just as she thought, the other party did know something.

But Gotok suddenly sneered.

"But why should I answer you?"

"Don't think you can make me surrender with that bell... I was willing to lead the way in Stonewell because I, too, hate Greg, and I wanted to see what would happen if he mobilized so many troops. It was the same reason I showed up at Hyde Fortress last time."

"The most you can do is drive me into battle or block a few arrows for you. Why would I tell such a secret to my enemy?"

This is trouble.

Gotok has turned into ashes, and nothing can threaten him now.

As for threatening to do something with the other person's ashes - regardless of whether Gotok cared about the insult, Xiangzi really couldn't do such a despicable thing.

"Let me talk to this Mr. Gotok."

Suddenly, someone who was unexpected to Xiangzi appeared, Little Red Riding Hood Roderica.

Roderica had been listening to the conversation at the door of the corridor. After all, neither Xiangzi nor Roger had any intention of avoiding them.

"I've always been good at communicating with spirits... Mr. Xiu Gu said I have the talent to become a spirit trainer, and I've been working hard in that direction lately."

According to Little Red Riding Hood, the psychic can soothe the spirits and communicate with them, and can even use special means to allow the souls to continue to grow and gain more powerful powers.

Roderica looked much better than the last time they met. Her face had more color, and her originally thin cheeks had become slightly fuller.

It seems that, as Little Red Riding Hood once said, she has found her own value and what only she can do.

"Also... I have something I want to apologize to Miss Xiangzi. It was me who informed Master Deng of your whereabouts... I was too cowardly to insist on keeping your clues secret."

Xiangzi shook his head.

"It's okay, Roderica. You've been very brave...it's me who's been running away."

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

Roderica smiled.

"I am very honored."

22. Animals’ Food Protection Instinct

"Servais."

The man who was busy with something was startled and only felt relieved when he saw the person behind him.

"Ah...it's you again, rudely barging into someone else's private room and starting rummaging through everything."

This is a peculiar basement. There are no torches or candlesticks, only the starlight contained in pyroxene as natural lighting.

Witches, warriors, knights, and magicians—more than a dozen figures of different genders, ages, and clothing lay against the wall.

If you look closely, you will find that these people have faint breaths but are not real living people. They are all overly realistic puppets.

The girl who appeared in this top-secret area was the one who had a temperament similar to that of a small animal. Servais didn't know why she had become like this.

With its hollow eyes and insect limbs wriggling on its back, it's hard to call it a cute little animal...

It turns out that puppets are the eternal and unchanging aesthetic, while living people will change.

He somewhat regretted his original misjudgment.

The man called Servais wore an oversized wide hat with star tracks painted on the inside, a blue-black robe, and a silver mask on his face that only revealed his two eyes.

"You want to replace your body again... I remember you replaced it not long ago? Even I can't gather so many suitable materials at once."

There were some damages on the girl's body, but it shouldn't be to the extent that it needs to be replaced. With her skills, she should be able to repair it herself.

In other words, Takamatsu Deng's purpose of coming here should be different from before... This is really strange, what could she be doing coming to such a place?

"I'm currently working for the Moon Princess, Lani. If you have any troublesome issues, please don't come to me—I probably don't have the energy to deal with them right now."

Although it sounds like a bad attitude, people who are familiar with Servais will know that his willingness to make such an explanation is a sign of his patience.

It was unlike Servais to yield like that to an unreasonable intruder.

This is because the girl in front of him is truly a rare and powerful person. She became an origin wizard in less than a year, and at the same time mastered pyroxene magic, gravity magic and several long-lost night magics.

Even in the academy's most glorious period, such a person would be considered a top genius.

Even he, a magic professor who served the royal family of Kalia, had to admit that the other party had surpassed him in a very short time.

"It's not for a spare body. That kind of thing... I can already make it myself."

It’s another big excitement.

Servais didn't remember how long it took him to learn how to make a backup body, but it was definitely more than a year or two.

"I'm really curious about how you did it. It shouldn't be a normal production method, right?"

The girl's expression, like a wax figure, remained unchanged, which made Servais feel a little creepy. He suddenly didn't want to know anymore and quickly changed the subject.

"So, what exactly are you looking for me for?"

Deng did not hide anything and directly stated his purpose.

"Potion—I need a potion you made."

"Oh, that's surprising."

Servais stopped what he was doing and let the armored knight puppet half-kneel back on the ground.

"You should have said before that you weren't interested in puppetry. Why do you suddenly want my potion now?"

The girl slowly raised the corners of her mouth and smiled.

So that face can move—Servais couldn't help but think so.

"Because I want to be with Xiaoxiang forever. Just one lifetime isn't enough... I will protect her wholeheartedly throughout countless lifetimes."

"But Xiaoxiang runs away whenever she sees me... This is really frustrating. I need a way to make her behave."

Deng held his face, which was slightly red. It was really embarrassing to say such words in front of anyone other than Xiaoxiang, but this was the only way to convince Servais to give him the potion.

The magic professor became happy as if he had met a fellow magician.

"I was right about you. You possess the same collector's qualities as I do."

"But I'm very curious about what kind of person would make you become like this. Can you tell me about it?"

"no!"

Deng decisively rejected Servais' request.

There was a rustling sound in the shadows approaching the Magic Professor, who immediately raised his hands to indicate that he would not resist.

"...Calm down. It's okay if you don't say anything."

Although he didn't move his feet, Deng had already arrived in front of Servais, staring at him with his eyes that had turned purple-black.

Although its body was still petite, the shadows cast by the light on its feet and the wall had swelled to a gigantic size, like a spider baring its fangs and claws before hunting.

The rapidly expanding shadows occupied most of the space in the secret room, and even the starlight that illuminated the place began to dance uneasily - at some point the original blue-green fluorescence had turned into purple-black.

"Xiao Xiang belongs to me alone. Even if it's Servais, if I hear you say that again... I'll kill you immediately, okay?"

Servais kept his hands raised in a harmless position, offering no resistance at all. Being pushed to this distance, he had no chance of winning—even on his home turf.

"Understand—I totally understand. Never again."

The light slowly returned to its original position, and the rustling sounds in the darkness also quieted down.