Chapter 311 ·Little Brother, let Me Teach You a Lesson!

Little ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Brother, let Me Teach You a Lesson!

Ailera suddenly noticed something due to her brief pause, and inexplicably, he felt a sense of familiarity with the girl before him.

"Hey, it's one thing to cut in line, but can't you stop wasting everyone and Miss Candice's precious time?"

"Yeah, seriously, that's just rude."

Some discordant voices came from the back of the line. Hearing this, Aurela frowned slightly. Noticing this, tirus immediately turned around, the badge of a third-class noble clearly visible.

"What? Do you have a problem?"

At these words, the guards all stepped forward, and a line of noble guards appeared in unison. The complaints immediately fell silent.

Now that there were no more voices of obstruction, Aurela directly asked Candice the question in his heart.

"Judging from your reaction, miss Candice, could it be that we've met somewhere before?"

Straight to the point.

After just a moment's panic, Serea quickly regained her composure.

"You're joking. Anyone would be a little surprised if someone showed up with such a grand entourage."

Serea subtly referred to the noble guards.

"Oh? Should I take that as a compliment?"

"You could say that."

"Then I thank Miss Candice for your praise."

With that, Aurela revealed his second-class noble badge. Although it was a bit beneath a member of the royal family to wear a second-class badge, it was to maintain a low profile.

Still, a second-class noble was someone everyone on the scene looked up to.

"Let's not beat around the bush. I truly admire Miss Candice's talent, so may I have the honor of inviting you to dinner?"

Aurela gave a gentlemanly bow as he asked.

While Aurela thought he was making a 'friendly overture,' Serea instead assumed he had discovered something, so she urgently needed to slip away.

"Sorry, I'm afraid I don't have time tonight."

Serea rejected him, but Tirus immediately shouted out by habit.

"How dare you! Do you know who's standing before you—"

"Enough!"

Seeing his guard about to 'spill the beans,' Aurela quickly stopped him. Realizing he had almost said too much, tirus quickly stepped back.

Aurela then looked back at Candice.

"Miss Candice, do you really wish to refuse?"

A sharp gleam flashed in Aurela's gradually narrowing eyes.

Serea didn't answer. She also understood that staying would risk exposure, so...

She had to leave!

But she needed an opportunity.

While the situation was at a stalemate, five adventurers gathered together, looking at Aurela as he gave Candice a hard time. They all clenched their fists. Though these adventurers from the Holy Dragon Empire usually avoided nobles, sometimes there were exceptions...

"Boss, those noble bastards are giving Miss Candice a hard time. What should we do?"

One underling approached a one-eyed man, who was looking at his pocket watch, inside of which was a photo of his daughter lost to the chaos of war. This pain had accompanied him through twelve years of adventuring, but today he found solace—all because of Candice's song "Cherry Blossoms, cherry Blossoms, I Long to See You"...

"Tch, that guy is so arrogant, and even blocked us from getting an autograph. I really want to beat him up."

The one-eyed man said nothing, but another Thief beside him fumed, and, responding to this, the one-eyed man clenched the frame in his hand.

"Fine, let's beat him up!"

"Really?!"

The Thief was instantly interested, and the one-eyed man cracked his knuckles, ready for action.

"Don't forget, miss Candice was the one who pulled us out of the abyss. Now's the time to repay that favor. Brothers, let's go!"

With a wave from their boss, the four other adventurers gathered eagerly.

From their conversation, it was clear these were among the 'addicts' that Candice had once saved with her song. Since then, they'd become her fervent fans—or, to be more precise...

Obsessed fans!

Skillfully donning their masks, they slipped into the crowd, ready to act when hidden.

Thud!

A small stone struck Tirus on the head. He clutched the sore spot and looked around.

"Who? Which bastard hit me?!"

He looked toward the crowd, but with so many people, there was no way to spot the attacker.

"What happened?"

Aurela turned to look.

"Uh... nothing."

Tirus mumbled as he stepped closer to investigate, but suddenly, a masked adventurer yanked him into the crowd. Chaos broke out, and Tirus's agonized screams came from within.

"Who are you... stop! Not the face!"

Aurela, noticing something was wrong, shouted.

"Who dares to attack a noble?"

Guards rushed forward to find Tirus, but at that moment, several people in the crowd shouted deliberately.

"Miss Candice has run off!"

With that, the crowd in the rear exploded into an uproar.

"Holy crap, what's going on up front? I haven't gotten my autograph yet!"

"Who cares—let's push ahead and get the signature!"

Within moments, the crowd pushed wildly forward. Even Aurela's guards couldn't hold them back.

Dispersed by the crowd, the guards were helpless while Aurela yelled,

"Stop! Step back immediately!"

But since it was a rare chance to see Candice in person, the fans surged forward desperately just for a word or a glimpse.

Seizing the opportunity, Serea rushed backstage with the others. Seeing Miss Candice really trying to escape, Aurela wanted to give chase, but he soon found himself surrounded and immobilized by the pressing crowd.

At the same time, several figures sneaked up to Aurela...

"Get out of my way! I'm a noble, you common rabble—ooo!"

A sack was thrown over his head mid-sentence, and the guards panicked as they saw Aurela being kidnapped but couldn't break through the mass.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

In an instant, Aurela had disappeared. The guards were stunned, and quickly used their strength to break out.

Meanwhile, candice and the others ran to the backstage area. Little Black skillfully used his bone tail to hook everyone up and, with a few twists and turns through the alley, they found a hiding spot in the darkness.

Hearing the commotion fade away, Serea let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew, that was close."

"Yes, but thanks to them, those pesky nobles didn't follow us,"

Tethys said, noticing Serea's grim expression.

"Se... Candice, what's wrong?"

"I'm afraid we're in a bit of trouble!"

Serea explained that Aurela's sudden appearance was definitely directed at her, so she had to prepare.

"Everyone, be sure not to show yourselves in front of that guy for now. Suspend all performances. I'll ask Avril for help with the rest."

"Understood."

"Alright, let's go somewhere safe first."

With that, they headed straight for the Xiyun Merchant Guild headquarters. Unbeknownst to them, a figure lurked in the dark, silently watching Serea and her group from the moment they appeared.

After updating Avril, she promised to keep an eye on Aurela and handle the situation. Serea then led everyone in flying back to the Darkmoon clan's camp.

Meanwhile...

...

In a dark alley next to the opera house, five people threw the tightly bound sack onto the ground. Inside, Aurela was still struggling, but this was a tool made specifically for capturing magic beasts—there was no way he'd break free. He could only shout,

"Who are you?! What do you want?!"

"What do we want? Little brother, it's time for a lesson—hit him!"

With that, bats and bricks started smashing the sack. Aurela's wails rang out from inside.

"Ahhh! Stop! I'll give you anything you want... money, I have money! Stop! Help!!!"

But no one paid any attention to his cries.

These adventurers who roamed the world lived by the rule, "As long as you don't kill, it's no big deal."

So they beat him until hurried footsteps sounded in the distance.

"Over here!"

A Thief on lookout shouted.

"Guys, people are coming! Stop!"

"Let's go, go, go!"

All of them immediately stopped and fled into the distance. As they left, the Thief dumped a bottle of chili water and some foul-smelling beast repellent onto the sack.

"What the hell—ahhh!"

Aurela's screams drew the hurried guards.

"Your Highness!!!"

Several guards drew near, endured the stench, and tore the sack open. Aurela scrambled out.

"Water, water!"

Several guards rushed to pour water on him. Aurela stumbled and collapsed to the ground.

"Your Highness, are you all right?"

"Idiots! What are you waiting for? After them!"

"Yes, yes, go!"

With that, the guards chased after the attackers, but the assailants had vanished. The rest helped Aurela up.

"Ah! Careful, my... it's broken!"

Moaning all the way, Aurela was carried to the medical house for treatment.

But would someone like him—the proud prince—just swallow this humiliation?

More than a hundred guards were dispatched. The Trading Post's guards cooperated in the search, combing the whole area inside and out, but turned up nothing. As this was the border of Otto Kingdom, with many adventurers from other nations, a major showdown was out of the question.

That very night, avril came to offer her condolences. Considering that she was the only granddaughter of the retired Sword Saint from the Holy Dragon Empire and now controlled the international trading giant Xiyun Merchant Guild, courtesy had to be shown.

So, the beating—was in vain...

When word spread, it became the latest joke at the Trading Post.

"I heard some big noble tried to cause trouble for 'Goddess Candice' and got beaten to a pulp—haha, absolutely tragic!"

It was clear that Candice's fame was about to explode again.

That, however, is a story for another time. As for the mastermind behind this whole mess—Serea—she had already ridden Bone Yan and flown toward the jungle, followed by a shadowy figure.

... Over an hour later...

Riding on Bone Yan toward the Darkmoon clan camp, Serea finally felt a bit relieved.

As for Aurela's investigation, she wasn't afraid of him in theory, but with her identity on the verge of exposure, she couldn't help feeling a bit nervous.

"Serea, Aurela... is he after you?"

"He is."

"Is it serious? Should I take care of him?"

Lilith asked. Serea shook her head.

"It's just a bit of trouble. Right now, ailera has her own issues; as for Aurela, I don't need to worry. I only feared that exposing myself at the Trading Post would bring trouble there."

Hearing this, lilith and the others looked a bit less anxious.

Just as Serea was considering how to deal with Aurela going forward, a shadow flashed across the ground.

"Who's there!"

Serea shouted, everyone instantly grew alert, and Lilith and Celia activated Holy Light. They saw a woman, cloaked in a black robe and wearing a mask.

Seeing this woman, both Serea and Lilith sensed a familiar feeling. It was...

"So you're all safe. That's a relief."

The woman's voice came, and at the same time, Serea tried to use Appraise, but the woman sensed it first. In a flash, her body turned into an afterimage and disappeared. The Appraise failed since the target could not be tracked.

Serea was shocked—judging by speed alone...

She was, extremely strong!

"Master, this is dangerous. This person is at least as powerful as Alysta or Gandalf, maybe even stronger!"

Dogsius warned. Serea urgently scanned the surroundings and entered Blood Frenzy mode.

Bloodsense!

She sensed the person—right behind her!

Serea tried to turn, but a pair of hands covered her face first.

"Little girl, you've gotten bold since we last met—even daring to peek at your own mother."

"Mother?"

Serea turned her head. The woman's hands squeezed her cheeks, making a goofy face. At the same time, lilith recognized the woman and cried out,

"Mother, why are you here?"

Upon hearing her called Serea's mom and by Lilith as "Mother", Vina and the others froze in mid-attack.

With the truth out, the woman no longer hid herself. She removed her mask, revealing an absolutely gorgeous face. She was Catherine Otto, the Blood Crimson Tempest Gale—Lilith and Ina's biological mother!

Still squeezing Serea's cheeks, catherine turned to Lilith.

"What else? Of course I followed to check on you girls. But..."

As she spoke, catherine glanced at Serea, tilting her head. Serea became nervous—had she been found out?

She didn't have time to think before Catherine said very seriously,

"Even though your faces are the same, Serea's has a nicer feel to it."

So this is how you distinguish your 'twin daughters,' huh...

(To be continued....)

RelatedRelatedRelated