Chapter 277: Partners? And the Outside World

Next.

Ansu and Freya stepped forward, facing everyone, and recounted the intelligence they had gathered from the caves.

They detailed the types of undead creatures, their individual characteristics, and the methods that could be used to counter them.

Ansu also announced his plan to provide modified alchemical firearms to arm the existing Staya militia.

Each proposal was clear and concise, setting the pace for the meeting.

During the meeting, people from Gronn's faction raised questions about Ansu several times, but Leo always helped smooth things over.

He always stepped in at the right moment, saying, “I trust Morris,” or “His thoughts are my thoughts.”

After the meeting, as the crowd dispersed, Ansu thanked Leo.

“Thank you for your help just now.”

Leo shook his head, a hearty smile on his face. “Don’t thank me, we’re partners!”

Ansu looked at his sincere smile, a slight emotion stirring in his heart.

Indeed, this fellow was truly a person with a righteous heart.

After all, if he wasn’t truly righteous, how could he become the vessel for the high priest to absorb faith?

To earn people’s genuine reverence and love, mere pretense would be insufficient.

Ansu’s smile deepened. He stepped closer and lowered his voice.

“You must also be careful for your safety, Leo.”

He privately cautioned him.

“In the coming war, the enemy will likely see you as a thorn in their side.”

“You want to decapitate them, and they, of course, want to decapitate you. You must be careful. If you die, the Stayans, and all resistance forces in the entire Talin region, will quickly falter.”

Leo, however, said, “I’m not afraid.”

Ansu shook his head, his expression full of disapproval.

“Don’t underestimate the high priest’s methods. That evil and despicable person might use all sorts of black magic that you won’t be able to guard against… Leo, you must be a thousand times more careful when facing such an enemy.”

Leo was slightly taken aback. “Then…?”

“From now on, I will protect you.” Ansu looked at him, his gaze sincere and firm. “Wherever you go, I will be by your side, ensuring your personal safety.”

Leo was stunned for a moment, then nodded heavily. “Alright, then I’ll trouble you.”

“No trouble at all.” Ansu shook his head, adding with a smile, “After all…”

“We are partners.”

...

Outside, in Elvin Village.

Celia stood in the village square, gazing towards the distant snow mountains.

There, incessant mana fluctuations pulsed like a heartbeat, and even the sky rippled faintly, visible to the naked eye.

From anticipation, to disappointment.

Her gaze grew increasingly somber.

So many days had passed… Ansu still hadn’t emerged.

Her continuous attacks on this mysterious magic domain remained ineffective.

The village was bustling.

Members of the Echoes of Truth cult moved to and fro, compiling and recording various intelligence.

The elders’ daily tasks were simple and mechanical: measuring the boundaries of this domain, referred to as the “divine realm,” searching for any potentially unstable weak points, and then organizing personnel for continuous magical bombardment, attempting to forcibly tear open an aperture.

Professor Duncan, Danielle, Valger, and others had also arrived.

A large room in the village had been converted into a temporary command post. On the left side of a blackboard, important intelligence recently sent by Ansu was written; the right side was densely covered with rune structures—Professor Duncan’s overnight design for an improved magic armor, based on the intelligence.

Ansu’s message was clear: no matter when this domain opened, they had to be prepared to fight the undead army.

In preparation for war, everything was steadily progressing.

It would be even better if Ansu were here to direct operations.

Celia gripped the communicator in her hand, her gaze fixed on the few brief lines of text on the screen.

The device Professor Duncan designed transmitted very limited information each time.

Just a few words, cold characters; it was impossible to discern his expression or mood when he wrote them.

She had no idea how many times she had read Ansu’s last few messages, as if one more reading might reveal something new...

Is he alright?

The situation inside must be very dangerous, very bad…

Will he miss me? Will he be lonely?

…No.

He has Freya by his side now, so he shouldn’t be lonely.

At the thought of Freya accompanying Ansu, Celia lowered her eyes, an exceptionally somber emotion flashing within them.

If only I had known…

I shouldn’t have let him come to the Northern lands.

Those Stayans, those foolish demihumans, what good is there in allying with them?

Then Ansu wouldn’t have fallen into such danger—a grave danger that even she… found difficult to resolve.

She had overestimated herself.

Believing she could control everything with her own strength, believing she could arrive in time even if something unexpected happened.

What was she so confident about?

Facing this damned ‘divine realm,’ she was utterly helpless! She could do nothing!!

When Ansu returns this time…

Celia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She tried to calm the almost paranoid and morbidly dangerous thoughts in her heart.

...

“Cel… uh, Cult Leader.”

A clear, pleasant, yet slightly hesitant girlish voice came from behind her.

Celia turned and saw Vera standing not far away.

Upon hearing the news of her brother’s predicament, she had rushed here immediately. Even though Celia had repeatedly, irritably, tried to keep her at school, Vera had stubbornly come.

“You don’t need to call me Cult Leader like them,” Celia sighed softly. “Just call me by my name. What is it?”

“Alright, Celia.” Vera nodded, taking a few steps closer, and whispered, “My brother… still no new news?”

Celia shook her head.

“Your brother hasn’t sent any new messages. Also, the boundary… still can’t be opened.”

Vera pursed her lips, worry and sadness almost overflowing from her small face.

She lowered her head, as if asking Celia, and also herself.

“Brother will be alright, won’t he…?”

Celia was silent for a moment.

She actually didn’t want to answer the question, as she was irritable and anxious; every second of waiting eroded her patience, and she had no mind to comfort anyone right now.

But she looked at the listless Vera.

Those once lively, deep blue eyes were now clouded with a thin mist, having lost their former sparkle.

After a moment, she reached out and gently ruffled Vera’s hair.

The gesture was a bit clumsy, yet unexpectedly gentle.

“Don’t worry,” Celia’s voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable certainty. “As long as I’m here, your brother will be fine.”

Vera looked up, staring at her blankly.

It was truly the first time she had seen Celia act so gently towards her.

Vera’s lips moved slightly, wanting to say something, but she was interrupted by a rush of footsteps.

Elder Barnes hurried over, reporting in a low voice:

“Cult Leader! I’ve found it! I’ve uncovered the high priest Gulzan’s background!”

...