Looking at the dead alpha wolf, Li Qiuchen felt a wave of inexplicable unease.
He did not feel the slightest bit of regret or pity.
He had seen too many crimes committed by magical beasts on the Seal Demon Path; they did not deserve a single shred of mercy.
He was simply uneasy about the world after the fall of the Demon King.
‘The world doesn’t seem to be as completely safe as I imagined,’ he thought.
Demon King City was the root of the spread of magic corruption.
They had eliminated the Seventh Deadly Sin Demon King who occupied the city and subsequently destroyed the stronghold.
The magic corruption in the world was gradually thinning and dissipating, yet the remaining magical beasts did not seem to have been completely wiped out.
Instead, were they colluding with certain humans who had ulterior motives?
Aescher, that man who pursued power, was skilled in magic and had been infected by magic corruption.
‘Was he forced into it by a magical beast, or was it voluntary?’
Li Qiuchen leaned toward the latter.
He could even speculate that Aescher had not been infected for long.
He still possessed his reason and was not completely controlled by the corruption; he was even able to impersonate a sanctuary priest and speak eloquently in front of the town residents.
Then there was that illusion mage crouching in the corner.
That person seemed completely untouched by magic corruption.
He had crouched in a patch of grass in the wilderness with extreme composure—so much so that even after using [Perception] several times before, Li Qiuchen had not discovered him.
Fortunately, while guiding Aili to activate the Rain Spike Technique, he had used [Perception] to check the area around the alpha wolf just as the mage was accumulating mana.
His habitual vigilance had saved him once again.
He could not believe that anyone would actually choose to cooperate with magical beasts.
One had to remember that during the period when the Demon King Army ran rampant, even Necromancers and Shadow Assassins had joined the resistance.
Any individual or organization that surrendered to the Demon King’s forces was certain to face utter destruction.
But now…
When survival was no longer at stake, humanity itself became a different kind of crisis.
“Is that mage still around?”
Kaili asked, holding two daggers as she warily approached Li Qiuchen’s side.
“He’s cautious. He likely left as soon as he realized he was discovered,” Li Qiuchen replied.
The characteristic of an illusion mage was infiltration.
They had to weave themselves into an opponent’s mind unknowingly.
Once the target developed resistance and took precautions, the mage had no choice but to act with extreme care.
Kaili was still somewhat uneasy.
She raised her hand to retrieve the shattered Knight’s Longsword from the ground.
A Restoration Magic spell constructed of pure fire elements melted and reforged the blade, quickly restoring it to a like-new state.
With a flick of her hand, she sent out a blade of qi, severing the alpha wolf’s skull and skeletal frame.
Stepping forward quickly, she extracted a Magic Beast Crystal Core from the shattered bones.
She then turned back to support Li Qiuchen, looking around warily as if guarding against the mage hiding in the shadows, and led the group back toward the inn.
Li Qiuchen sat inside the inn, calming his overloaded body.
Kemel, who had lost one arm, and the three injured Orc youths were all lying flat on the floor after being bandaged.
Li Qiuchen comforted them, saying that all their injuries would be healed once they reached the city.
Jocelyn first gathered the wolf carcasses and burned them, then began digging a pit.
Fortunately, she was wearing the Destruction Armor, so these tasks were effortless for her.
Kairui took the remaining Orc youths and Naili to move the bodies belonging to the merchant caravan out of the basement.
Before burial, Wright sketched each of their faces to make it easier for their relatives to find them in the future.
Finally, they left markers at the gravesite.
Kaili placed the Magic Beast Crystal Core into Li Qiuchen’s hand.
Before he could speak, she preempted him by saying,
“This is yours by right. No one will have an objection, nor are they allowed to. You saved everyone.”
Li Qiuchen opened his mouth, blinked, and said with a smile,
“I just wanted to ask, what grade is this core? How much is it worth now?”
Kaili turned her head away, her face slightly flushing.
“It should be Grade 3. It’s worth about 15 Gold Tacks.”
Li Qiuchen gave a wry smile.
A monster equivalent to a human mage’s level had actually made him feel like he was at the end of his strength.
It made sense.
Compared to that Grade 5 Mankor, this injured magic wolf was indeed not on the same level.
It was a pity that the Lionheart King’s flames had been too fierce, incinerating the Mankor’s core along with it.
“If you need it, I can buy it from you for sixteen—no, 18 Gold Tacks.”
Kaili’s eyes flickered as she looked at the core in his hand.
“Do you truly need it, or do you just want me to make more money?”
Li Qiuchen asked while pointing a finger toward the sky.
“Don’t lie. The Goddess of War is everywhere.”
Kaili closed her eyes, and after a slight hesitation, she nodded.
“I want to help you.”
“So kind? I’ll consider it then.”
Li Qiuchen rubbed his chin, seemingly deep in thought.
Kaili stood up, no longer wishing to stay with the youth.
It wasn’t that she disliked him; she was simply worried that staying too long would give rise to strange feelings.
She picked up her longsword to patrol the perimeter.
She remained wary of that illusion mage.
Aili came down from the second floor and walked straight to Li Qiuchen.
“You… how do you know the Rain Spike Technique?”
Li Qiuchen hadn’t given the young lady any orders, so she had gone up to the second floor alone to check the roof.
When she had released the Rain Spike Technique, she had tried to spread the rain mist as thinly as possible to ensure both the front and back doors were covered.
However, some of the rain spikes had still hit the roof, punching through the second-floor ceiling and leaving dents in the floor, destroying quite a few things.
She hadn’t even noticed it herself at the time, even feeling smugly satisfied that her magic had improved.
Compared to her, Li Qiuchen seemed more like Master Lumin’s student.
The Rain Spike Technique he controlled had pierced every wolf carcass without even scratching her cousin.
That wasn’t just guidance; that was casting a spell using her Source of Mana.
A circular mist of rain—that was a realm she couldn’t even dream of.
But her teacher had told her that including herself, only three people knew the Rain Spike Technique.
Li Qiuchen arched an eyebrow.
“I learned it from an Archmage.”
“The Philosopher Mage, Ellen?”
Aili asked, somewhat in disbelief.
As far as she knew, Master Lumin had researched this magic together with Ellen.
“I’m not sure, but he was also from the Northlands and was older than me.”
Li Qiuchen followed her lead, giving a half-truthful answer without directly confirming the name.
Compared to the lies he had told Kaili before, this lie added a bit of detail: a mage from the Northlands.
‘I should note this detail, lest I slip up in the future.’
Aili sat down cross-legged, looking quite excited.
Her face was flushed as she tried to say something, but then she turned a bit sad and muttered to herself,
“But your Source of Mana is already shattered.”
“Are you a Gem Warlock?”
Aili asked again.
“Perhaps. I don’t really understand these things myself. The mage who taught me magic did indeed wear a gemstone,” Li Qiuchen said with a shake of his head.
Aili nodded.
She pulled out the copper mirror Li Qiuchen had dropped and looked at him with a hint of regret.
“The Magic Array on this copper mirror was destroyed by you. I’ve re-engraved it, and it’s already filled with mana.”
As she finished speaking, she handed the copper mirror to Li Qiuchen.
Li Qiuchen took it and said sincerely,
“Thank you.”
The corners of Aili’s mouth curled up slightly, like a child who had received praise.
Feeling the sudden surge of joy in her heart, she quickly suppressed it, pulling her lips back down and waving her hand.
“It’s nothing.”
She stood up and, avoiding Li Qiuchen’s gaze, skipped away to find Kaili, who was still patrolling the area.
The Orcs’ bodies had also been moved outside.
Li Qiuchen asked Ruby what she wanted to do.
“Do we need to find their relatives?”
“Chief, all the people of our tribe are already here.”
Ruby’s bright, large eyes held a trace of sorrow as she spoke softly.
“So, let’s just bury them all.”
The Orcs’ bodies were placed into the same pit.
The little Orcs gathered in front of the massive grave; even the three injured Orcs supported one another as they came to the edge of the pit.
Out on the wilderness, the ground that had just endured a great battle was covered in scorch marks and mud.
Ruby, the sheep-kin girl, straightened her dress made of a coarse linen and cotton blend and began to sing a funeral song.
“Papa, Papa died tonight! He said: Cut off my head; Let this head stay with my wife! This head has suffered endless pain, may it protect you as you find another man! To give you a warm new home.”
The Orc’s lyrics were crude, but the emotions were direct and passionate.
The seven little Orcs joined the sheep girl in chorus, their clear, bright voices echoing across the wilderness for a long time.
“He said: Bring me my weapon; Give the bow and knife to my cubs! This weapon killed countless beasts, may it protect you as you grow up safe! As big as my own body.”
Wright turned away while Jocelyn began to fill in the soil.
Some of the little Orcs sobbed quietly, yet they continued to sing loudly:
“He said: Alright, I’m leaving! This damn, boring mortal world! If it wasn’t to protect this home; How could I have endured the suffering here? Don’t cry anymore! I’m going to find my Papa. I’ll be with him on the Plains of Souls; Continuing the hunt… la la la….”
***
Taya Culture Tip:
Light and Shadow Magicians’ Alliance — (Established during the Lotta Empire period, following the Magic Association)
• Characteristics: Mysterious, radical, taboo. A semi-underground secret organization with secretive movements. Early members were radical elites who defected from the Magic Association.
• Style: Obsessed with exploring the “boundaries” and “essence” of magic. They treat all magic equally and conduct extensive research into areas considered taboo, such as necromancy, deep illusions, blood magic, and even space-time magic. They believe that light and shadow are two sides of the same coin; if taboo powers can be controlled, they can be utilized.
• Influence: No one knows exactly how vast their power is. Many unsolved mysteries on the Continent seem to have their shadows behind them. They do not pursue public fame but are dedicated to “guiding” the direction of magical civilization, often achieving their goals through infiltration, trade, or coercion.
• Perception:
Official: Regarded as “heretics” and “unstable elements” by the two major associations and the various orthodox temples. It is generally believed that they will stop at nothing for knowledge and are a potential major threat.
Common Folk: Due to their mystery and widespread notoriety, their name has become a specific identity used by many swindlers, to the point that commoners even refer to the organization as the Light and Shadow Trickster League.
Controversy: During the period when the Demon King Army ran rampant, countless mages from the Light and Shadow Magicians’ Alliance sacrificed their lives to protect the people. There were even Archmages from the alliance who ventured alone into the battlefield, dealing heavy blows to the Demon King Army and becoming legends.