Three days after starting again from Bracada, I finally saw the shadow of the bipedal wyvern again. Asa shouted and waved.

The bipedal wyvern hovered above his head for a few moments before the orc above decided to fly down to see the human who dared to greet him below. Asa and the orc scout talked for a while, and finally got back to Orfu in the bipedal wyvern.

Going to the town hall to find Cedros, Asa threw him the peace agreement from His Majesty the Emperor, sighed and said, "I don't even know why anyone can do something that can be done and say, 'It's all about me.'" Prepare me a large group of followers, and finally push them away, or you will have to walk slowly with them in the wasteland, which will really cause me trouble. ”

Cedros opened the agreement with a smile and looked at it and said: "Actually, this kind of important matter should have been signed by your emperor in person, but it was just a child, and even the decision to sign the agreement was not discussed by those ministers, and there was no need for him to go through this cutscene." Therefore I asked the messenger who sent him to say that he would not have to travel far away to come with his own people, but that he should send a messenger. This can be regarded as an opportunity specially reserved for you, and Bishop Ronis will naturally be sent to you to take on such a major task that can easily make a lot of political capital. ”

Asa scoffed, this was probably a dream opportunity for the others. Perhaps Bishop Ronis wanted to give himself a big thank-you gift, but unfortunately he was not interested at all.

Cedros carefully signed the agreement and let out a long sigh of satisfaction. This last step was finally completed, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to be missing, and he sighed: "Okay, from now on it will be an era of peace." A new page in history will unfold, and the era of peaceful coexistence between orcs and humans, the era of development, will begin today....."

Asa suddenly remembered a question and asked, "In the past, the orcs of the Wild Highlands all ate people?" ”

"yes. Don't people eat chickens, pigs, and cows when they're hungry?" Edlos's tone was still flat, as if this behavior was as righteous as eating vegetables and turnips. "But almost all of the orcs now are rescued by me from when they were cubs, and let them grow up and live with humans, completely losing their original customs and culture, and they are essentially no different from humans. As you can see, Ofot has a good mix of humans and orcs here. ”

"I mean.... Can the hatred between humans and orcs be resolved so easily? those whose relatives have been killed by orcs, such as the soldiers you killed the other day, and the general....."

Cedros smiled faintly and said, "I believe that the trade benefits that Oufu will bring to various countries in the future, as well as the gifts given to those ministers, will be enough to make people forget these old things." The golden coins in front of you are definitely much more valuable than the blood in your memory. They will help us solve these problems as well. In fact, even if I don't kill them, do you think they will end well when they go back? The Imperial Court has already made a peace treaty with me, and understands the common interests of our long-term cooperation, and will definitely kill all these people who may be unfavorable to everyone by violating military orders. ”

“.... That's five thousand lives..."Asa thought for a moment and smiled bitterly. At that time, the tragic situation of the charred corpses in that place, and the screams of 5,000 people who were about to die, almost made him sleep peacefully every night during this time.

Cedros said lightly: "As a superior person, he thinks about the overall interests of the country. What is 5,000 people? As long as necessary, 50,000 people will not be killed. He looked at Asa with blazing eyes. "If you achieve great things, you can't be informal, you can't choose means, and you can't take your feelings into account. It seems that your woman's kindness is still too heavy, and you will have to practice how to remove it slowly in the future. ”

Asa still smiled wryly and waved his hand. "Forget it, I'm going on a trip after I'm done here. I couldn't do any of these big things, and I never thought of doing them. ”

"Travel?" Cedros looked at him with strange eyes, as if he had heard the word for the first time. "Do you still want to travel?"

"yes. Asa nodded.

Cedros's vision was still so strange. "I didn't know what Ronis was going to do, but when I saw that you sent the peace agreement, I knew that he was ready to make you a hero admired by everyone and achieve great things. Why do you even want to travel?"

A hero admired by thousands of people, he has achieved a great cause. The hat was not only extraordinarily large but also sparkling with gold, and it seemed that only people with a problem with their heads would not be interested in it.

However, it is true that Asa is not interested in this hat, not because he has a problem with his head, but because he is not appetizing. "I had known that I would have rejected his kindness. I'm really not interested in any of that. ”

Hero. This title is indeed very beautiful. But Asa had already experienced the political games, means, scheming, assassination, and hypocrisy behind this much-anticipated word when he was with Rodhart. The gentle smile of the Duke of Mrak was so amiable, and he had spoken to him so sincerely, but the sword that came from his back in the dark night was so deadly. To be honest, even now he can't raise any hostility towards the duke, but he feels completely bored with the royal capital.

And doing such a thing as a big career he never thought about even when he was a child. What's more, the Duke and the few lessons that Cedros had taught him also made him extremely disgusted with such things as 'big things'.

"Refusal?" Cedlos' expression became even stranger. It's as if it's not just the first time I've heard this word, it's like hearing a joke that makes people laugh and cry. "Can you still refuse? Don't you know that you have to take the position of this hero, you have to do something big?"

Whether you want to be a hero or not, you have to do great things. It's like a joke that makes people laugh, but there is not the slightest trace of a joke on the face of the person who speaks.

Asa could feel that something was wrong behind the joke. He expressed his attitude very solemnly and clearly, saying: "In my dictionary, in addition to eating, drinking, sleeping, and urinating, the words 'must' are from, come, all, no, and have. ”

Cedros looked at Asa and nodded thoughtfully. "So he hasn't told you yet..."

Looking at the smiling expression on the old man's face, Asa felt a little hairy for some reason.

"I can't say what's going on, so you better go back and ask him. Cedros waved his hand, as if unwilling to say anything more.

After dealing with the affairs of Oufu at a rapid pace, Asa returned to the royal capital and returned to the Academy of Magic.

Every building in the academy is so tall and magnificent, expressing the nobility and sacredness just right, and the most conspicuous thing is the cathedral in the center of the academy that is tens of meters high, whether it is the scale or the magnificence it exudes, anyone seems insignificant in front of him.

Asa stood in front of the door and looked up at the cathedral, the sacred tall structure seemed more uncomfortable than ever. It even took him courage to step through the door that looked like a monster's mouth.

Bishop Ronis was surprised by Asa's sudden appearance, and was about to discuss with His Majesty the Emperor a grand ceremony of commendation for the priest who had returned from his meritorious service.

After listening to Asa's words, Bishop Ronis smiled and asked, "Don't you want to be a hero? ”

Asa shook his head resolutely: "Ying is not a hero, others respect or not, what does it matter to me? I don't have much meat on my body, and I still have three meals a day." ”

Bishop Ronis smiled and nodded. Say, "But I want you to be able to do this.....

Again, Asa emphasized: "I'm sorry, Your Excellency. I'm coming back now to tell you that I'm not going to do these inexplicable things. ”

"You have to do it. Bishop Ronis's voice was soft, but the words were significant. "You don't have a choice. Whether you love it or not, what you have on your shoulders is the task given to you by the times, and it is the peace of the entire continent. ”

"Of course I have a choice, and it's my freedom to do what I want. Asa replied with great reason. And it's a good reason.

Asa took out the letter of appointment and the token and threw them on the table, he had always respected the old man who had saved him several times, but now he was a little disgusted. "I don't know what the times are, and I've never taken any of his assignments, I just know that I don't like to do them. I never felt like I had to do anything. Alright, I'll give you back the position of priest now. ”

The Bishop looked at the only one who dared to speak to him in such a tone, and his soft eyes seemed to be just looking at a wayward child. In a strange tone of helplessness, he said, "You have to do this." Even I don't have a choice, how can you still have it. Did you know that the elves have actually sent me a notice that you are wanted? The messenger has told me all that happened. Will you still be able to travel?"

Asa snorted coldly. "I know they're looking for me, and I'm not afraid. I have my own way of dealing with it. ”

"Did you know that I should actually help them arrest you in the name of the Church, and even discuss with His Majesty the Emperor to send the Holy Knights to hunt you down?" Bishop Ronis's tone remained flat.

Asa's mouth was wide open and he couldn't close it no matter what.

"As soon as I open my mouth, you will be wanted by almost all countries on the entire continent. And for me, that's exactly what I should, you know?"

“...... I don't know. Asa shook his head mechanically.

"Indeed, from the point of view of the state, the strange peoples of the elves are insignificant, and the myths that circulate among their races are even more nonsense. After all, it is the military, the economy, and politics that maintain the country, and history is written by these very real concepts, so politicians don't care about anything bright or dark, and even many people in the church don't care about it. The Bishop's hand stretched out, and a withered finger nodded lightly at himself. "They don't believe it, but I do. ”

"You..... What to believe....." Asa asked cautiously.

Bishop Ronis replied lightly: "I believe that the Sunwell and the leaves of the World Tree are indeed symbols of the power of light, and that only light is the power against darkness." ”

Asa suddenly remembered a story that he almost had forgotten, that he hated, that he just thought was.

Bishop Ronis looked at Asa and sighed, "The elves must have told you their story, right?"

Asa couldn't help but grin. It's the story of that again, but if it comes out of the mouth of the noble bishop, I'm afraid no one will dare to take it as anymore.

"The evil thing in their mouths is actually a sacred relic of the Necromantic Guild, a divine sword called the Dark Star. Bishop Ronis's voice wafted through the room, with a sense of historical profundity. "Five hundred years ago, Archibald, the most powerful magician of all time, entered the never-before-inhabited Valley of Deya and discovered the Dark Star, a symbol of darkness and death. Impressed by the power of the Dark Star, he founded the Necromantic Guild, an organization of mages that worship darkness and death. Even the magician who claimed to be the closest to God had no way to pull the Dark Star up. But in the end, he left behind his last words: whoever can pull this sword will become the king of the dead, cleansing the world with death and darkness. However, he also vaguely mentioned two other artifacts of light and life, the Sun Well and the Leaf of the World Tree, which the elves guarded. This corroborates with the ancient legends of the elves, and the result is obvious. Indeed, as the elves say, the only way to fight against darkness is to use the power of light and life. ”

"Blah blah blah .... If that's the case, then hasn't the church done anything for so many years?" Asa suddenly remembered something was wrong. The Church of Light's influence on the mainland is by no means comparable to that of any other country. Not only the empire, but the vast majority of countries on the continent also believe in the god of light. And the church has always regarded itself as a bright and righteous person, and there is no reason to ignore such a huge shadow as the Necromantic Guild.

For the first time, the light in Bishop Ronis's eyes was full of depression and annoyance, and he didn't explain anything, but smiled wryly and said, "You'll know the reason for this later..." "If you let the people of the Necromantic Guild know about the two powers you are carrying, they will definitely not let you go. Therefore, our safest and safest way is actually to detain you in an absolutely safe and absolutely confidential place, and slowly find a way to take out the power in your body. However..... "majesty, deep appearance, and noble status cannot hide the tenderness in the eyes of the current bishop." "When I heard that you were willing to use the leaves of the World Tree to save others, I knew that your heart was definitely bright. So I changed my doctrine, I don't passively capture you to protect you, but I want you to become a hero of light, and eventually destroy the root of evil. ”

After hearing these words, Asa only felt that his head was at least dozens of times larger than usual, and hundreds of times heavier, and he was dizzy.

I don't know how much effort it took to sort out my thoughts a little and try to express myself: "..... That's just because I caused all her injuries. I saved her just to make myself better.... I don't know what bullshit is bright ....."

"That's true justice. The tenderness in the Bishop's eyes was undiminished, and once again he fully affirmed his great sentiments. "There is no such thing as pure and immaculate morality and justice that transcends all evil. Isn't it true that all we eat in order to live for ourselves are other lives? But in this inextricable original sin, we maintain that little bit of kindness, compassion, and love in our hearts, which is the only light that really exists in people's hearts. ”

Asa only felt his head explode. In the face of such an old man who seems to be patiently guiding himself, but it is indeed difficult to communicate, his head cannot be small, he cannot be heavy, and he cannot be dizzy.

In the end, the hell of the Sun Well and the leaves of the World Tree were really that important, and even whether there was any light or darkness at all, these Asa didn't care. What he cared about was that it was as if this hero had to do it.

Older people are usually very stubborn, and it is a thousand times harder to convince the bishop who believes in these legends to give up these beliefs than to make himself really believe in those false nonsense. And as long as Bishop Ronis really believed that way, he had to think that way.

It's not so much a hero's path as a job of being exempted from being a container of close custody and protection.

The Church's high status in the Empire was almost entirely the work of Bishop Ronis. More than 30 years ago, the continent east of this wild highland, with the Ernfast Empire as the center, several countries have been in war for many years, and the people are struggling to survive. It was Bishop Ronis who led the power of the Church, which was not huge in the Eastern Continent at that time, to mediate and participate in the war by various means, which not only ended the war, but also raised the status of the Church in the empire to an unprecedented height. Therefore, his prestige and transcendence in the Holy See are by no means comparable to those of other bishops. It is said that if he hadn't insisted on staying here to preside over the Academy of Magic, he would have been sitting in the current pope. To arrest a person in his capacity, not only the Empire and other countries that believe in the Church of Light, but even other pagan countries will go all out to arrest this wanted criminal because of diplomatic pressure. The whole continent has no place for him.

Looking into Bishop Ronis's eyes, Asa understood one thing best. At least for now, there is no way to refuse.

Let's give it a try. So many people are willing to do big things and become heroes, maybe it's really a good thing. Knowing that there was no way back, Asa had no choice but to think so. He finally lowered his head weakly and helplessly, sighed sadly, and said like a student accepting the next big pile of vacation homework, "I understand." ”

Bishop Ronis sighed and smiled, very happily. As if happy and satisfied.

"But I have one more question. Asa suddenly looked up at Bishop Ronis and asked. "Why don't you return me to the elves while I'm half-dead in Orfu, and bring me back to the Forest of Words, and keep it as a container, how simple would it be?" I don't think it's for the Duke's sake. Why would you waste a World Tree leaf that was so important to you?"

A strange and complicated expression appeared on the bishop's face, which lingered on his face for a few moments before slowly disappearing into his majestic and deep appearance. He didn't answer directly, the two fires in his eyes kept shining, and the words were in a trance because they involved many things in his memory. "I didn't believe in fate before, but I saw it in you, and it was part of fate that I saved you...... Maybe there really is something in the dark that is already predestined. So I used to feel lost..... I am very afraid that there will be things that will become a reality, and I wonder if my efforts for so many years will be in vain, and if what I will do in the future will be in vain...... But after talking to you last time, I have finally made up my mind that no matter what the outcome is, I will do my best to do what I have to do, and I must lead you to the path of light, to justice..... There was a man who, like you, was very good, kind, innocent, and who had been dragged into these whirlpools by involuntarily, only to fall into darkness...... "The fire in his eyes burned so hotly that it was not something like a sense of responsibility that could arouse it, but a natural expression of pure personal emotion." This kind of strong emotion actually appeared in a person like him who should go beyond emotion, and it is even more extraordinary. He looked at Assa, as if he wanted to illuminate the young man in front of him with his own eyes and feelings, and said very hard: "I saved you because of fate, and also because I want to rebel against fate." ”

Asa didn't understand much, but he vaguely felt that it was better to really not understand.

It was already dusk when I came out of the magic academy. The streets of the royal capital were preparing the stage for the coming nightlife, and the carriages carrying aristocratic women began to run to and fro, and cheap prostitutes from taverns and some of the not-so-cheap prostitutes from the buildings also appeared in the streets shouting.

Bishop Ronis has already begun a series of tedious preparations, consulting with several high priests, sending notices to the court, etc., these things Asa does not want to interfere in, he does not know how to interfere at all, he only needs to go back now and wait for tomorrow's solemn ceremony, waiting to walk step by step to the Avenue of Fame prepared for him by Bishop Ronis.

Asa walked down the street with a wooden head. I'm going to be a hero, a hero, a hero...... Asa was completely unable to fuse himself and this strange title in his mind and concept. It was as if he was suddenly about to transform into a strange animal that he had never seen before, and he could not get used to facing this strange identity, nor did he know what to do.

"I'm XXX. Asa felt so irritated that he suddenly yelled. What bullshit bright, what a fucking hero, Lao Tzu doesn't want to care about this. But now you can't even run away?

Passers-by looked at this neuropathy with curiosity,

"Why does this familiar little brother look so sad? Do you want me to accompany you?" a fair, slender hand squeezed Asa's arm very presumptuously.

Asa turned to see a somewhat familiar face. It was the prostitute who had come on stage at the jousting tournament to bet and perform for Rodhart, and she still wore her shoulders and half of her breasts on the outside of her clothes, wearing makeup that was superfluous to her already well-behaved face.

Since he was a child, Asa has often mingled with miners and prostitutes in taverns. Now, in the oppression of what is saving the world, what is the great task, seeing such a foreign acquaintance, a sense of intimacy arises spontaneously.

A strange thought popped into his head. At first, even he thought it was a bit absurd, but the thought immediately gave him a malicious pleasure as if he was urinating on a sacred idol, similar to blasphemy and revenge. Asa grabbed the delicate hand and asked viciously, "Are you free?"

"It depends on how you say it, generally speaking, there is as much money as there is. As for the discount, we'll talk about it later. "Miss Whore's words were very direct.

Asa pulled out a gold coin and shook it in his hand. "How much space can this have?" was given to him by Bishop Ronis just now, so that he could get his appearance in order to match his immediate honorable status.

The sparkle in the eyes of the prostitute was no less than that of the gold coin, and she replied with a fluttering brow: "Many, very empty. ”

"Good. Asa shouted viciously again. He kind of wished that Bishop Ronis would know what he was doing.

Asa will never forget this day, it was so strange. First of all, he was forced to become a hero, ready to take a great path of light. Then he immediately did something even stranger, going to a prostitute.