The Dream War raged on without end, making it impossible for Li Qiuchen to sleep.
Every time he dozed off, he was blasted awake by explosions, the pain making him bare his teeth and grimace.
The next morning, he went to work with dark circles under his eyes and a swollen face, looking like a lost soul.
In contrast, Jocelyn was much more energetic—she ate a piece of bread with a glass of beer for breakfast, then went to the back kitchen to learn how to cook.
Li Qiuchen hadn’t even finished sweeping the floor.
He dragged his battered body, struggling just to maintain the state of being alive.
And in his dream space, the war seemed endless.
A Royal Magician, who had been carried out of the grand hall unconscious from injury, suddenly opened his eyes on the stretcher, sprang up, and cast several Healing Spells on himself, becoming lively again and rejoining the Arena.
While the President was away handling affairs in the Pointed Tower, the Vice President of the Pointed Hat, burning with anger, turned to the Princess and advised, “Your Highness, should we petition His Majesty to launch an attack directly on the Saint Palace or the Moonshadow Forest?”
“The Magic Association can support you…”
Belinda looked at his beard, charred black by a Flame Burst Spell, and shook her head.
“You’re being irrational now. Take them and leave.”
“Your Highness, we are fighting for you!” the Vice President shouted.
“I understand. That’s why I will grant rewards. As for your mission, it’s already complete. You are my support. You’ve proven that external forces cannot break the balance among the three of us.”
The fire still burned in Belinda’s eyes, shining like light breaking the darkness before dawn.
“The ownership of that thing must ultimately depend on the strength of each of the three of us.”
The Vice President seemed to understand.
Before leaving, he couldn’t help but ask Belinda in a low voice, “Your Highness…is that thing the Zhesi Gem?”
Belinda’s voice was filled with undeniable authority, her chin raised slightly, tracing a graceful and proud arc.
“It’s something a hundred times stronger than the Zhesi Gem. You must never leak any information about it.”
“Understood!”
The Vice President’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
What was it? Was it Allen’s lifelong wisdom?
Or a method for mass-producing Zhesi Gems?
Either way, if it fell into the hands of the Taya Empire, it meant a strengthening of national power.
And if the Taya Empire obtained it, the Magic Association would surely gain a share, since no one within the Empire understood the mysteries of magic better than them.
At that time, the Magic Association would rise another level, surpassing the Gnome Association and the Light and Shadow Trickster League.
My god! The Princess actually had a chance to obtain such a thing.
The Vice President’s heart surged with emotion.
He had to help her get it, no matter the cost.
He must obtain it!
Belinda closed the Magic Array to the Royal Magicians.
With the Royal Magicians withdrawing from the battlefield, Reina summoned the most trusted member of the Order of the White-Robed Bishops for a conversation.
Before leaving the battlefield, the White-Robed Archbishop cast several curses on Talaide, his white robes torn by lightning.
He complained bitterly to Reina,
“Talaide dared to insult the great Goddess with such language. He can’t even be considered a living being—perhaps he died in the Demon Sealing Battle all those years ago…now he’s just a worm disguised as an Elf!”
Another White-Robed Bishop quickly proposed,
“Holy Maiden’s Eminence, I suggest that we, the Order of the White-Robed Bishops, jointly petition the High Pontiff for you to personally lead a Divine Retribution against Talaide and the Magic Association!”
“This continent has forsaken its faith for too long. We must display our power and remind the people who sustains the world’s order.”
Reina swept her gaze calmly over the three of them, her ice-blue eyes as deep and tranquil as an ancient well.
“I can sense that anger is consuming your hearts, obscuring the Goddess’s blessings upon you. Let all matters end here.”
“Your Eminence, isn’t that thing what you desire?”
A bishop asked, somewhat puzzled.
“Regarding the ownership of that item, should we report to the High Pontiff…”
“The Holy See already knows. That item…”
A ripple passed through Reina’s tranquil eyes.
“It shall belong to the Saint Palace. This is the Goddess’s decree and the will of the Holy See. There is no room for debate.”
“Glory shall belong to the Saint Palace.”
The bishops all knelt in unison.
With the withdrawal of the Time Temple, the vast dream space was left to the Elven Clan.
Hestia ran joyfully around the dream space, shouting excitedly.
“Why did they leave before deciding the victor?”
Someone wondered.
“Of course it’s because they couldn’t beat us! The great Holy Tree protects us—we are invincible!”
Hestia cheered.
Talaide closed his eyes in pain and held his forehead.
They had all walked the path of Demon Sealing as Elves, and by rights, the final Demon King’s strength should have surpassed even the First Sin Demon King, so why did his niece seem completely untested?
“Hehe, since Master used my power, I can control this place for now, so I can get close to Master and hehe… Even if it’s just a dream, it’s good to review and reminisce. Ah, it’s so embarrassing.”
Hestia squatted in a corner, muttering to herself, her face burning like a boiled red apple, the pointed ears unique to Elves flushed as if about to bleed.
She turned her head, a bit puzzled.
“Huh? Second Uncle, Fourth Uncle, Fifth Uncle, Little Aunt, what are you still doing here?”
Talaide gritted his teeth.
Remembering she was his niece, he suppressed his anger and kindly reminded her.
“It was you who called us over.”
“Oh, right. Okay, problem solved. Let’s all go back, it’s almost mealtime.”
Hestia belatedly suggested to the others.
Fourth Aunt Linna Shadowsong, more perceptive than the rest, asked,
“What about the ownership of that thing you mentioned? You seem to be…”
“Husband? Ah, that’s too soon! Even if…but…ah, Little Aunt, you’re so annoying!”
Hestia stomped in embarrassment, covering her face in denial.
“No! I didn’t!”
Seeing everyone’s shocked expressions, Hestia calmed herself and declared,
“Ahem, for the glory of the Golden Sacred Tree, and the lasting peace of the Shadowsong Tribe, Master…ahem, Master and Master’s belongings shall belong to me!”
Everyone felt something was off, then saw Hestia’s expression shift from righteous determination to a sly, foxlike delight.
“Everyone, let’s disperse quickly.”
She didn’t wait for their opinions, simply limited the Dream Magic Array’s permissions to herself, ejecting everyone else from the dream.
Hestia squatted in the center of the dream, pondering how to convey her love to her respected Master.
Of course, those two other despicable losers would certainly try to sabotage the dream, so she had to be fully prepared.
After all, Master always took a long, long time…just thinking about it made her excited.
***
Meanwhile, outside, Li Qiuchen was still absentmindedly sweeping the floor.
He finally finished, yawned, and opened the door to welcome guests—only to find the doorway packed with people staring at him eagerly.
“You all went to the mine last night?”
“You caught a Vampire?”
“Are you stupid? I said it was someone Contaminated by Dark Energy.”
“Same thing, same thing. Look at Naili Cousin, how haggard he is.”
“His face is swollen.”
“His eyes are black, too.”
“Child, you’re a hero.”
“Where’s Lady Kaili?”
The crowd fired questions all at once.
It was obvious that, in their eyes, the Demon Hunter Kaili was the real protagonist of last night’s story.
Kaili had already finished washing up and came downstairs, her golden hair loose behind her, dressed in a gray, form-fitting robe that showed off her curves.
A longsword and Demon Hunter crossbow hung at her waist, along with Holy Water and Holy Candle.
The crowd quickly surrounded her, pressing for details.
They encircled Kaili in layers, eagerly asking about the terrifying events in the mine the previous night.
“Demon Hunter Miss, what did the monster look like? Did it have a green face and fangs?”
“Was it afraid of silver? Did Holy Water work?”
“You really subdued it? Amazing!”
Kaili maintained a professional seriousness as she answered each question, her face showing fatigue and a faint, hard-to-detect pride.
Being surrounded like this felt even better than being praised by an Instructor in the Temple of the God of War.
Her eyes involuntarily drifted to Li Qiuchen, who was staring off into space.
Last night in her room, she’d tried many times, but there was no way she could cross three steps instantly and bring a Kitchen Boning Knife in front of her like Li Qiuchen had.
The experience of near-death left a deep impression.
And, of course, the person who rescued her was unforgettable.
How did he do it? In the face of death, he threw himself in front of her, as if the Goddess of War had answered his self-sacrificing strike, miraculously blocking the deadly bone claw.
There was only one explanation—love’s power.
Kaili found it incredible.
They’d only just met yesterday.
She had traveled across the Three Grand Duchies, with countless Noble Scions and elites of the Magic Academy pursuing her, but they all seemed to lack the courage they so often proclaimed.
Yet this man, who now looked haggard and lost simply because they hadn’t chatted properly last night, was clearly sleep-deprived.
He had his quirks, even a bit greedy, but was unusually brave and trustworthy.
Realizing her gaze lingered on him too long, Kaili quickly looked away.
“By the way, where’s the Lawkeeper? Maybe he has some records on the monster’s identity.”
“Lawkeeper?”
A man leaning on the counter scratched his head.
“Baron Horn summoned him to the Castle before dawn, probably to investigate the monster’s origin.”
“Lord Horn seems to be taking this matter seriously, too. Once the Priest arrives, we can join the Patrol Squad and the Baron’s Personal Guard to clean up those things.”
Drunkard Hyde raised his mug happily.
“As for where the monster came from, it doesn’t matter…”
Wright, sitting at the next table, picked up the conversation, his tone carrying the confidence of someone well-traveled.
“If you ask me, it’s probably just some unlucky peddler or vagrant passing through town who stumbled in. It’s not like this sort of thing hasn’t happened before.”
“I disagree.”
Kaili shook her head, her brows knitting as she showed reasoning beyond ordinary townsfolk.
“A sane person wouldn’t willingly go deep into a sealed mine.”
She continued, almost talking to herself.
“And someone Contaminated by Dark Energy, acting on instinct alone, couldn’t possibly distinguish between locals and strangers.”
Her analysis was so logical that the surrounding chatter instantly quieted.
Wright’s smile remained as he nodded in agreement.
“Yes. You’re right too, but it really is strange.”
Li Qiuchen seemed to recall something.
He opened his bleary eyes and glanced over.
Uncle Wright was truly skilled at stirring things up, his harmless and diligent face made it impossible for anyone to suspect him.
So tired.
Li Qiuchen placed his wooden cup of wine on the table.
He didn’t even bother to smile anymore.
He just wanted to find a place to collapse and pretend to faint—though likely Tide would drag him back up.
But as long as he could sleep for a while, it was enough.
What worried him was not knowing whether the battle in the dream had ended.
Of course, it was possible those three women had set a trap—starting the fight to deprive him of sleep until he revealed his intentions, so one of them could take him away.
Noticing Li Qiuchen looking over, Kaili abruptly stood up.
“Qiuchen, I have something I want to talk to you about.”
Li Qiuchen dazedly followed Kaili to the storeroom beside the kitchen, desperate for sleep.
“Li Qiuchen, thank you so much for saving me last night. I’m sorry we couldn’t talk properly.”
Kaili looked at him with utmost seriousness.
But Li Qiuchen just stared at the floor, dazed, his mind repeating: collapse, collapse, try again.
He began to tremble slightly.
It wasn’t that he’d never stayed up all night or fought desperately before.
But to go through a battle, be unable to rest, and then force his exhausted body into hard labor—it was just too much.
He had strong willpower, but his body screamed for rest.
“Thank you for your courage. You saved me, but my life has already…been given to someone else. Please don’t misunderstand. I just hope we can get along peacefully.”
Kaili looked at the trembling, lost Li Qiuchen, wondering if her words were too harsh.
This poor northern youth, he looked like he might cry.
He’d risked his life in the mine, yet now, just hearing a few words from her, he was falling apart.
She could hardly bear to go on.
Such love was too heavy.
But, as someone from the Temple of the God of War, she knew she had to speak clearly.
“I thank you, and I’m willing to make it up to you, but for other matters, I hope you can give up on unrealistic hopes…”
Thud!
Li Qiuchen collapsed onto the floor.
This time, he wasn’t blasted awake.
Instead, he fell into peaceful sleep, a blissful smile on his face.
Kaili, shocked, covered her mouth to stifle a scream.
She knelt down, touched his nose—his breathing was steady and calm.
He really fainted!
Was it because she rejected his feelings?
Did he choose to faint rather than hear her say no?
She had traveled the southern Three Grand Duchies, and now couldn’t help but recall a ballad sung countless times.
My dear girl, wherever you are is my homeland.
If I can’t love you, I’d rather die.
Her body trembled, as if something had struck her heartstrings.
She fled the storeroom.
“I’m really sorry!”
Jocelyn walked over in confusion.
She looked at Li Qiuchen, lying on the ground in deep sleep, and nudged him twice before pondering.
“Should I wake you up or not?”