x

A well-known military theorist once said, "The plan is always better than the reality, and the reality is always worse than the plan."

When Danica Viren dragged her exhausted body and saw the lights at the Fukamori intersection, it was already two o'clock in the morning on the 24th. When people reach their limits, so do horses. As soon as the "Indefatigable Horseshoe" was removed, their mounts were all disarmed and fell to the ground—eight hours of full drive would have accumulated excessive fatigue on the poor animals. They handed over their horses to the innkeeper and staggered into the dimly lit hall of the inn.

"These second-rate inferior horses can't run so much, and they are simply not worthy of our horseshoe. It's a pity for my good breed ......."

In a trance, Danika heard the bearded middle-aged man walking with her at the end of the line complaining in a low voice. She could understand his frustration: a man who woke up from a coma and found himself tied to a horse and jolting with his horse should be furious, even more furious if he woke up and fell off his horse, and not too strange if he was still being driven by others to drive for hours at night without even complaining.

Of course, understanding is understanding, hearing this kind of words that seem to be punns, the girl still pouted slightly. It's true that their horses aren't very good, but she thinks the criticism seems to be a sign that their team is "second-rate". Of course, her own handling skills are really not very good, and she may have dragged down the team's progress......

The green-haired woman, who was still very energetic at the front, stopped abruptly, turned around, strode close to the middle-aged gentleman, stopped him, and bowed respectfully. Seeing her coming, the gentleman with a majestic appearance involuntarily took a step back.

"Your Excellency, with all due respect, I would like to remind you that you need to be mindful of what you have said. Complaints with discontent can spread through the ranks and cause a lot of trouble, so please don't say such implied puns. I have been ordered to protect your credentials first, and your safety second, and all this security rests on these brave adventurers. ”

The gentleman shrank back timidly, and his words sounded slightly incoherent: "Ah, I, I understand, I will never dare to ...... again Uh, I'll be careful. But we have indeed wasted so much time, will it be dangerous, little Lily, no...... Ms. Maggie?"

"There won't be much danger, there is no more than a 20% chance that a mysterious black knight pursuit party will reach the gates of this town tonight. Don't worry, Your Excellency. ”

"Oh...... I—I see. After agreeing, the bearded gentleman hurriedly walked into the lobby of the hotel with his head bowed, not daring to look back again. He seemed to be very afraid of the woman, very afraid.

After intimidating him, Lily Maggie turned to Danika with a charming gentle smile, "I apologize to you for his remarks, young Miss Magician. He didn't mean to, just a little irritable. Can I ask your forgiveness?"

Danika's brow furrowed, and she responded with a smile: "Ah, it's okay, I didn't pay attention to what he said......"

Secretly, she was a little surprised. The woman with a charming smile in front of her could see and hear in all directions like this? Even such a small thing, she could notice it. What kind of meticulous thought was underneath those charming deep cyan eyes......? The charming deep cyan eyes......

She suddenly felt that the noble lady in front of her was so honest, attentive, considerate, so trustworthy, just as trustworthy as the rest of her companions...... No, maybe it's as trustworthy as Soleyton.

Thinking of the boy's name, she felt a slight pain in her heart. That night, she abandoned him and fled—thus, lost him forever. She searched the barracks, prisoner of war camps, and makeshift hospitals throughout Lenny, but could not find him.

"Actually, it's not the first time I've killed someone today. I've killed my most important friend a long time ago. So, I shouldn't be shaking anymore and there's no reason to be scared anymore......"

Danica's thoughts raced, and she didn't notice that the team had gone upstairs and into the room.

*** ***

Lily: Maggie activates a magical item with a skilful movement, enveloping the anti-detection magic and turning this ordinary inn double room into a "secret room". The remaining six people found a place to sit either by the bed or in a chair, leaving the most central position for her.

"Brave and loyal adventurers, now I can tell you who we really are and what we are for. The person next to me is His Excellency Chase Brighton, Special Envoy for Negotiations of the Kengler Government, First Secretary of State and Chairman of the Judicial Council. And I'm an agent of the Military Council for his security, Lily Maggie. ”

The cowardly-looking man glanced cautiously at the woman beside him and nodded, "Uh...... I'm Chase Brighton, and I'm tasked with going to Lenny to negotiate with the Provisional Government there. ”

After hearing the true identity of this imposing-looking but cowardly man, two people bounced up from their chairs.

"Kengele?!negotiating envoy?!It turned out to be you, wasn't she?"

Reve's mouth was wide open, staring at the man in front of her, who had been inconspicuous and trembling. On closer inspection, this Chase Brighton is quite reliable in appearance, and probably possesses the "charm of a statesman", but after a series of crises and rushes, his charm and momentum have been lost. She had always thought that this man was just the butler or attendant of the piercing woman......

"You actually let a high-ranking official of the First Secretary of State and Chairman of the Judicial Council serve as a special envoy?!"

The other man who jumped up and opened his mouth wide was Shuran Dimatel, who was surprised by the identity of the envoy. Jett and Nitton, who sat next to the knight, were a little surprised, but not as out of shape as he was.

Hearing his surprise, Reeve immediately turned her head curiously: "First Secretary of State, Chairman of the Judicial Council, are these two official positions of his, very big?"

Xiu Lan frowned: "Of course it's big. If you want to use an analogy, it is equivalent to the office of Prime Minister and Supreme Justice...... One of the highest-ranking statesmen in the Julok Republic, second only to the Speaker of Parliament. ”

Reeve was stunned for a moment, and still seemed to be a little unable to react: "In other words, he is a very important figure in the Julok Republic?"

Jett Niton interjected and explained, "Or, to put it another way, you've heard of Nikolai Machiavelli, the second secretary of state at Julocke? This Mr. Brighton is his immediate superior. ”

"Oh!" Hearing this explanation, Rev Namlock suddenly realized, and looked at the man in front of him again.

At this time, Chase Brighton, who had been listening to their discussions, was already full of anger in his eyes, but it was difficult to come out of it due to the occasion.

Lily, Maggie ignored the attitude of the second nobleman of the Julok Republic, and went on with her subject, as if she were sure not to offend him.

"And our group is being hunted by unknown forces, and we have lost a lot of manpower - as you have already witnessed. We can't believe the armies of the Centrals and the Phaetes, because they could all be behind them. Our presence has been of great help to you, and I thank you on behalf of the Government of the Julok Republic. Our goal for the next stage is to reach Lenny by the 26th and lobby before the resumption of parliament on the 27th. ”

Hearing this date, the priestess breathed a sigh of relief: "On the 27th, then you don't have to rush like tonight." We can find a big town to enjoy the Advent Eve feast, and I suggest adding this to the agenda. ”

Lily smiled slightly, as if she had expected Reev to make this request: "This is already written into the itinerary. If all goes well, in the afternoon we can buy live firebirds at the Ban Du Town Market, 65 kilometres to the south. Do you have any other questions?"

This time it was Danika who raised her hand: "Uh...... I have a question that doesn't quite matter, Miss Maggie, may I ask?"

"As long as it's about the mission, please speak. ”

"That...... How will the room be allocated tonight?"

Hearing this, Lily and Maggie were stunned for a moment—it was indeed a question that she had not expected.

"I think, two rooms for men, two rooms for women...... You're in a room with Miss Namlock, are you okay?"

Danika bit her lip and plucked up her courage to say, "Well, can I ask for that room?"

Hearing this request, the green-haired woman closed her eyes and thought for a moment. "I won't have much of a problem here. So, Miss Namlock, how about one of us?"

Before she could finish her sentence, Rev Namlock jumped up from her chair and threw herself on the bed, her hands clasping Denika's shoulders tightly and looking at the brown-haired girl with pleading eyes.

"Denika, can you think about it again?" she whispered close to Denica's ear, "I don't want to live with that nasty, cold woman." ”

Danika shrank back: "But, I don't sleep well, I still snore, grind my teeth, talk in my sleep......"

Hearing these unheard of things, the female pastor from a wealthy merchant family frowned and struggled fiercely in her heart.

"Uh...... That's all there is to it. Be careful when you sleep alone at night, have you ever learned this magic?"

"Thanks, I can fix it. Danica apologously avoided the preschooleress's concerned gaze. She doesn't snore, she doesn't grind her teeth, she just doesn't want others to hear what she might say in her sleep.

*** ***

The paladin stood in front of the window of the inn and looked out. Through the thin white cotton shirt, the numerous scars on his arms and chest muscles were faintly visible. It had been a habit for many years that Xiulan would not wear armor as he did now before going to bed, after all, he was engaged in a profession that could put his life in danger at any time.

"It's three o'clock, aren't you sleeping?" said Jett, who was already lying in bed, and Nitton yawned, "If I didn't pay attention to my health when I was young, I will regret it at my age." ”

Xiu Lan couldn't help but laugh. "Uncle, you're only forty years old, right? I don't know if I'll live to that age...... I'm just thinking about today's mission. ”

Jett's tone froze: "Are you worried because it's a mission from Kengler?"

"A little worried. This escort mission is dangerous, but there is also a chance to ...... I'm thinking about what is best to do. In short, the identity of the pursuer must be determined first. ”

"If it's from the Empire, it's a big problem. The infiltrators of the Arbitration Guild possess a rather dangerous probing spell, and they may not be safe here. But if it's not ......"

Jett picked up his words: "Then it will be very dangerous in Lenny, too. ”

"Anyway, let's get through these two days. Xiulan stood up, "I'll go find Pike and ask him to make a defense plan." This work can be very important, and you can't afford to be lazy. ”

"Then I'll go to sleep first......" the middle-aged pastor yawned and rolled over. Xiulan quietly blew out the oil lamp and walked out the door.

As soon as he went out, he noticed a faintly shiny wire on the floor.

"Don't step on it. Pike: Tap's voice came from somewhere in the shadows, "It's not alright. ”

Xiu Lan squatted down a little surprised, looked at the wire and asked, "Why are you so diligent today?

The man in the shadows froze for a moment and replied, "I lost today." ”

"Is it because today's results have been surpassed by others, and you want to use this kind of thing to show your true strength?" Xiu Lan suddenly remembered the resume of this silent young man, and she couldn't laugh a little, "There is no need for this." Except for you, no one here will use the number of kills to determine the quality of ability. ”

In response to the knight's response, there was a soft snort that seemed to contain an emotion called "disdain". Hearing this response, Xiu Lan suddenly felt a nameless fire.

"Well, maybe I don't understand your values...... But Danika certainly doesn't think the same way you do. Her flaming arrows were far more powerful than any mage I knew, and I don't know what kind of skill it was—but it was definitely not a skill developed to kill faster and more accurately. I don't care what you think, but I want to ask you not to judge her by your value system! ”

After a long time of hearing these words, Pike Tap replied in a still calm tone, "So your value system is different from mine?"

The tone of the sentence sounds like a statement, but it is undoubtedly a rhetorical question. As if she had been hit head-on by a sledgehammer, Xiulan took a step back and almost stepped on the wire. The unpleasant conversation between the two was interrupted, and they quietly returned to their rooms, never to mention it again.

But both Jett and Danika had already heard the conversation.

*** ***

The genius maiden magician bit down the edge of the pillow and buried her head in the pillow - but it didn't stop the bits and pieces of words that drifted into her ears through the cracks in the door and the gaps in the cotton. Danika didn't bother to listen carefully to what they had to say, she just needed to know that it was related to her.

That was enough to make her heart flutter.

She knew she was already a murderer. - Perhaps, a good one, at least that's what her companions say. She did what an adventurer should do, and she was praised by her peers......

But why didn't she feel a glimmer of joy?

Because, these actions remind her of her past? or do they remind her of ...... Her father, who doesn't have human feelings, doesn't seem right. Perhaps, as they say, "value system"? ...... her value system different from that of other adventurers?

Perhaps, but she has already set foot on this path, and it is impossible to go back. There is no longer the same life as before. It's like those flaming arrows, you can't get them back when you shoot them......

Danika turned irritably, facing the ceiling. The conversation outside had faded away, leaving only the silence of the night. She casually fired an arrow of fire at the wall, leaving only a small burn mark.

It's like those magical techniques, as long as a person has ever realized a stronger technique, he will never want to go back to the past.

She thought back to the afternoon. In the alternation of competitiveness and self-esteem...... Her will and convictions were concentrated. Then...... She had a strong desire that she could defeat even one of her enemies.

That mood. The feeling of wanting to be strong, wanting to win, wanting to be strong. Concentrate on your fingertips and use it to activate this magic. The state she had reached by accident.

"It's just mine...... arro (flaming arrow)!"

She's Danika Vilen, or Danica López.

Although she didn't want to admit it, she did inherit the genius of Clad López.

The new, fast flame arrow touched the ceiling and turned into a large, unfamiliar black spot. For a moment she felt a little out of strength, and her hands fell limply on the pillow. The Sandman brushed her eyelids and whispered in her ear, telling her to forget about her worries and rest in peace.

"Maybe this is the so-called 'super magic' technique recorded in the classics......"

In the last moments before falling asleep, she thought so.

*** ***

The night was fine—perhaps a little wrong to say that the night lasted until six in the morning. Lily and Maggie, who still had bloodshot eyes, woke up the adventurers one by one and forcibly rallied the team despite their protests. No one noticed that neither the detection magic nor the wire trap had any effect in front of her.

"Guys, there are some changes to the plans, I'm afraid we don't have the Advent dinner. We're going to get to Lenny tonight. ”

The sleepy-eyed people didn't react for a moment. But when they reacted, everyone's eyes widened in the room.

The first to reflexively stand up was the "Your Excellency First Secretary of State". But he just stood up and sat back down.

"Reeve, what's going on?!Did you offend her by sharing a room with her last night?" Denica, who was also bloodshot and overwhelmed, grabbed Reeve and asked quietly. After 18 years in a welfare home with a strict schedule, it was the first time that Danica had slept so little.

"I don't know! I was so tired last night that I fell asleep early, and I don't remember anything!" Reif's tone was also disgruntled, "If I knew, I would have quarreled with her last night." ”

Xiu Lan looked calm and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Because they suddenly decided to resume on Advent Day. Lily—Maggie's tone was calm, but she couldn't hide her worried look, "We must get ahead of them." The new horses were waiting downstairs, the dry rations were ready, and we set off. ”

"However, today is the first day of the New Year's holiday!" Leiv said, emphasizing the word "New Year's holiday".

"So what?" said Lily, in an irrefutable tone, "and we'll go at once. If you are dissatisfied, you can leave as soon as you arrive at Lenny. ”

Before people had time to wail, they had to hit the road. It was the first day of the New Year's holiday.