The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　Perhaps those Sarkaz weren't there for the little girl, but she couldn't rest easy and had to see the little girl move away with her own eyes.

　"call……"

　Therese stopped abruptly and hid behind a large tree to look.

　The Sarkaz in black robes and white horns stopped in front of the house she had just left.

　A man who was in the lead was talking to the little girl who had her hands on her hips.

　"I already told you, I haven't seen him since that mysterious guy left. That old man keeps coming over and talking about him, it's so annoying."

　The little girl puffed out her cheeks, seemingly very angry.

　"I see. Have any people from out of town been here, young lady?"

　The white-haired, white-horned pardoner at the head of the group was not angry because of the little girl's tone; he continued to question her gently.

　What does "outsider" mean?

　"People I've never seen outside of this village."

　"Aren't you all examples of that?"

　He was teased by the young girl, but he just smiled.

　"Hmph. They're just outsiders, after all."

　Luna pinch

　He stroked his chin and began to think carefully.

　“Yes, think about it again, little girl. For example… a stranger who isn’t from Sarkaz and whom you’ve never met before.”

　"Hmm...it seems so..."

　Luna tapped her toes, frowning as she thought carefully.

　That jerk... asking that...

　The little girl was extremely anxious.

　Why are they all asking me this today? I should have moved out with Grandma yesterday.

　"It seems so."

　"Oh? What did he look like? Do you still remember?"

　The white-haired, white-horned pardoner stretched out his hand to the side, and then a servant brought him a bag.

　"Here's some reward, young lady. The more detailed your description, the more you'll be paid."

　He took out a shiny piece of red gold from the bag, money that Luna had never seen before in her life.

　"You're probably moving to Kazdel. Everything there costs money. Your elderly relatives can't work anymore, and you're so young. With this money, you won't have to worry about food and drink for a long time."

　"Uh……"

　Luna blinked, then clapped her hands as if she had made up her mind.

　"Since you're so sincere, then I'll tell you."

　"uh-huh."

　He even bent down, pretending to listen attentively.

　“Three days ago, a few mercenaries passed by. Those guys were really strong, and the knives they carried were taller than me.”

　"Any more?"

　“Five days ago, there was a thief in the village. That guy was as agile as a cheetah. I heard he could easily jump ten meters high.”

　"Wow, that's amazing. Are there any other people?"

　"Even earlier? I can't quite remember. Let me think about it."

　Luna counted on her little fingers one by one, then quickly muttered things like "Sarkaz bandits, a beautifully dressed older sister, a rambling master and servant, a hunched beggar," and so on.

　"Stop for a moment, little girl."

　"Huh? I haven't finished thinking about it yet."

　But the pardoner no longer cared about these trivial matters.

　You said a pair of strange, eccentric master and servant would pass by?

　"Yeah, that's a really impressive guy."

　"Oh? How do you know? I mean, how can you tell he's so capable?"

　"That guy doesn't wear clothes, how could he not be amazing?"

　"Hmm...so where did he go after that?"

　The little girl looked at him with a strange expression, as if he were just like that streaking pervert.

　"Ah, don't worry about it. That guy is a criminal we're looking for, and he's very dangerous."

　"Criminals?! They don't seem like criminals. Hmm, I saw them head west of the village. But you wouldn't actually be..."

　The little girl didn't say it explicitly, but many of the pardoners couldn't hold back anymore.

　"Hey, show some manners to Lord Quesatushta, you brat!"

　"Hmph. Who knows if you guys are just as perverted?"

　"Haha, of course we are not, little girl. Thank you for the information. Please accept this gold."

　The little girl didn't even glance at the bag of gold; instead, she turned away in disgust.

　"Ugh, I don't need that. You perverts would better get out of here!"

　"Hmm... alright. But the absolutioners always have to pay their debts. Little girl, you should take some, so we can feel at ease."

　"OK then."

　Luna reached her little hand into the bag and randomly took out two pieces of gold, each about the size of a finger joint.

　"You should leave now. The noise you're making here is keeping my grandma awake."

　"Alright, alright. Have a wonderful life, young lady."

　The pardoners did not force her to give all the gold. Seeing that she was starting to drive her away, they packed up their things and left in the west.

　"..."

　Luna huddled behind the door, breathing heavily.

　Although the leader of the pardoners was always smiling, he was incredibly terrifying. She didn't dare look into his eyes, fearing that he might reveal something.

　"I'm sorry... Your Majesty, the Primordial Celestial Lord..."

　She had intended to deceive them, but the other party was simply too astute. Despite her best efforts to conceal it, they still noticed something was amiss at a glance. She shouldn't have used the master-servant term; perhaps a different form of address would have worked.

　But they've been discovered. If they don't speak up, she and her grandmother will surely be killed... or even eaten.

　She still remembers the Qilin Overlord's evaluation of that pardoner—"They are all man-eating demons."

　However, she didn't specify a exact direction, which would give those people enough time to search... Besides, His Majesty the Primordial Celestial Venerable is so powerful, even if they encountered him, there shouldn't be any problems, right?

　"Dong dong dong."

　"who!"

　The sudden knocking startled Luna, making her jump up from the floor.

　“It’s me, Therese. Little girl.”

　"Ugh?"

　She opened the door, revealing a crack, and saw the person outside, but she was still not reassured.

　"What are you doing back here again?!"

　Could it be that they saw what she just did and think she betrayed her sister Theresa, so they came to punish her?

　“Wake up your grandmother and leave immediately. I will lure those Sarkaz away.”

　Therese witnessed most of the process. The little girl was very clever, but her cleverness was ultimately no match for the strength of others.

　Therese gripped her sword tighter, feeling she could help the little girl again.

　"Ugh?"

　"Let's set off today. Don't delay any longer; those guys are no good."

　After saying that, Therese suddenly shouted a few curses, then turned and left, cursing all the while.

　She deliberately went to all this trouble to try and sever ties with the young girl.

　Therefore, she even went to several nearby houses to borrow water to drink.

　"I hope you arrive in Kazdel safely."

　Therese silently offered her blessings, then gripped her sword tightly, keeping her eyes and ears open, constantly on guard against any possible attack.

　It seems her performance was just for herself, and nothing happened even after she had walked two or three miles away.

　Is everything alright?

　Therese thought to herself. Then she stopped in her tracks.

　Draw your sword!

　"Qiang——!"

　A masked pardoner had silently appeared behind them without them noticing.

　"really!"

　Therese gripped her sword tightly, ready to fight with all her might.

　Chapter Thirty-One: Deep Sisterly Affection

　"Calm down, calm down, friend. We have no hostility, and we shouldn't become enemies."

　That being said, it was Therese who was the one who fell into a slump.

　The opponent was simply too powerful... His swordsmanship was superb, and his stamina was abundant... To put it bluntly, even this servant, Therese, was no match for him. Surrounded, she had no way to escape from the white-haired, white-horned man's sword.

　But the opponent, who had the upper hand, spoke first, urging her to stop.

　"...Why did you attack me!"

　Therese stopped fighting and immediately distanced herself from the other party. Then, while keeping a wary eye on the pardoner she was fighting, she preemptively accused him of his actions.

　"Hehe. Don't worry, we just found that you look a lot like the person we're looking for, and we mistook you for that person. Our actions just now were out of necessity, so please accept my apology."

　"Really? What makes you think he looks a lot like me?"

　The white-haired, white-horned pardoner stepped forward and gestured for the sword-wielding attendant to step back.

　"I meant hair color. Your pinkish-white hair is very rare. And one of the people we're looking for happens to have hair like yours."

　"Just because of that? What kind of coincidence is there on this land? Do you even believe that yourself?"

　"That's why. But I'm sure now, you're not him, friend."

　"Ha. I've never seen that before..."

　“We are tracking down a villain who massacred the village of Sarkaz.”

　The other person's next sentence silenced Therese.

　“He not only wantonly slaughtered the Sarkaz, but also killed my family. Our family.”

　After he finished speaking, the servants' eyes revealed a sadness and anger that even their masks could not hide.

　"I want revenge for my poor family. What about you, my friend?"

　"...That's quite a coincidence. My village was also destroyed by someone of unknown origin. Perhaps it was a group of people."

　Therese kept her eyes fixed on the other person, not letting her guard down.

　Maybe it was them who did it. Her sister was the survivor, saved by some so-called Celestial Venerable. Their people died at that person's hands, which is why they're hunting him down.

　"No need to be so wary, my friend. My name, Quesatushta, is guaranteed and trusted throughout Kazdel. Or rather, my position is the Demon King's advisor; a valiant warrior like you should recognize this Demon King's emblem. Now, can you trust us?"

　The other party produced an emblem she had never seen before, but she could tell that its workmanship was extremely exquisite and valuable, which seemed to prove that what he said was true.