Chapter 39: The Little Village Girl’s Adventure

That said, mixed blood is quite common in the Nobos Ironblood Empire; most villagers have various bloodlines mixed in, while pure-blood humans have largely moved to the stronger United Kingdom in the north.

It’s said that life and treatment there are much better than here, and Tilysha felt a bit envious when she overheard travelers mentioning it.

But there’s nothing to be done; after all, she’s a mixed-blood with a quarter magical beast bloodline. Though the differences compared to those so-called pure-blood humans are merely that she ages slower, lives longer, and has hair and eyes resembling the vibrant green of plant leaves, mixed blood is still mixed blood.

The United Kingdom would never accept her.

Moreover, Tilysha didn’t think she could brave the Wasteland alone as an unarmed girl. While the village isn’t absolutely safe, the outside world is even more dangerous.

So it was just idle thought.

Today, she heard that some important figures from the United Kingdom would pass nearby.

Village 27 is located close to the main road, so the travelers passing through often stop to stay in the village, sharing tales of their journeys, which eventually reach Tilysha’s ears.

Earlier, out of curiosity about the affluent humans from that rich country, she left her spring planting tasks and went to peek by the roadside for a while.

Amidst the local residents who had gathered to watch just like her, Tilysha saw the robust black-armored troops, composed entirely of humans, marching in a disciplined formation like a massive dragon.

Incredible, really incredible.

Previously, she thought the army of the Nobos Ironblood Empire was the most formidable in the world. Other countries feared her homeland’s military, but what she saw today shattered the little village girl’s perception.

The presence, discipline, and military equipment; even from afar, Tilysha felt a suffocating sense of pressure emanating from the soldiers whose faces were covered by iron helmets.

They are definitely stronger than the armies in the White City.

However, the genuinely important figures of the envoy group seemed to be inside the carriages, surrounded by the black-armored troops, so Tilysha couldn’t see their faces.

Could it be that pure-blood humans are this strong? Yet, the travelers and merchants who came from afar weren’t too different from her mixed-blood self, were they?

It was baffling.

After all, she didn’t understand why the United Kingdom insisted on distinguishing between pure-bloods and mixed-bloods.

As a village girl who couldn’t even read a few words, raised in her village, expected to get married, have children, and grow old here, Tilysha naturally couldn’t grasp such profound reasoning.

Her confusion deepened.

Well, having snuck out for so long, she had to hurry back to work; if her parents found out, she’d probably get a scolding.

The magnificent procession continued to move along the main road in front of Tilysha.

Just as she was about to turn back, one particularly exquisite and luxurious carriage suddenly had its curtain pulled back, and a black-haired girl poked her head out, seeming a bit bored as she gazed out.

The girl didn’t seem to care about this ordinary little village girl mingling in the crowd; she gave Tilysha a casual glance, but Tilysha couldn’t tear her gaze away from that face, her heart racing with an unprecedented intensity!

“Ah…”

The girl let out a somewhat foolish low murmur, drowned out by the sound of wheels rolling by, unheard by anyone.

How beautifully and nobly ethereal she is!

Her eyes were like clear, crystal blue water, pure and unmarred, her luscious black hair flowing down smoothly behind her, with a few strands playfully lifted by the breeze, exuding a natural and radiant beauty.

With not a touch of makeup, her skin was as soft and white as a newborn baby. No matter where she looked, her smile seemed to light up with delicate warmth, reminding Tilysha of the “Most Sacred and Pure” goddess honored by the temple cultists.

Though Tilysha had seen beautiful girls passing from other places, this girl was different. Along with her ultimate beauty, she emitted an endless warmth, much like the sun that bestows life and daylight upon the earth.

One couldn’t help but want to approach her, even knowing it was akin to a moth to a flame.

Tilysha suddenly began to doubt her previous judgment—that pure-blood humans were no different from mixed-bloods.

At least among the many creatures she’d seen in her twenty years of life, Tilysha had never encountered such a noble and stunning presence. Her instincts told her this girl must be a true important figure in the envoy group.

If she were human, even the concept of “human” itself seemed to transcend.

Just as Tilysha was entranced by the indescribable beauty of the black-haired girl, the procession passed slowly, the carriage carrying the noble figure gradually fading into the distance, leaving Tilysha with a sense of infinite regret.

From now on… she probably wouldn’t have another chance to see her again.

The other was a radiant sun suspended in the sky, unattainable; Tilysha was just an ordinary, unremarkable little village girl.

Feeling a deep sense of loss, Tilysha returned to the fields, and sure enough, she was caught by her parents and thoroughly berated, yet she, who was still thinking about that black-haired girl, didn’t quibble but quietly listened till the end.

Though they were relentless in their words, Tilysha’s parents genuinely cared for their only daughter. Seeing her expression off, they initially thought she was feeling unwell and, after several more admonitions, allowed her to go home for some rest.

Tilysha didn’t say much; she really needed time to calm her nerves from that fleeting glimpse of wonder.

Tomorrow, she would make up for today’s work.

As Tilysha walked alone towards the village, she began to feel a strange sensation—unlike her previous encounter with the noble girl—something akin to a sense of crisis.

She possessed a quarter of a Tree Spirit bloodline, and Tree Spirits were merely an umbrella term; in fact, they were a vast and diverse race, divided into many different categories.

Some specialized in combat, others provided support, and many excelled in production and various crafts.

According to Tilysha’s mother, the Tree Spirit bloodline they inherited used to belong to a special branch once responsible for communication with the divine and benevolent gods among the Tree Spirits, known as the Earth Priests.

Just as there are tales of magical talents among humans, there exists a concept similar to affinity among Earth Priests, though not elemental, it pertains to affinity with deity.

But for some reason, the god they served suddenly disappeared, and various branches associated with them, especially the Earth Priests, are close to extinction due to the loss of their heritage. Now it seems only Tilysha and her mother, these mixed-blood descendants, drift alone.

Tilysha was unclear how her affinity stood; after all, as just a quarter Tree Spirit, it likely wouldn’t be too high.

But she always possessed a weak yet remarkably accurate ability to avoid disasters, relying on intuition to steer clear of impending dangers.

This wasn’t some miraculous ability to predict the future from folklore; it was merely that before encountering danger, Tilysha would feel a peculiar heart-pounding sensation.

Now, it was surfacing again, and with Tilysha’s change in direction, it was amplifying.

“What could this be… Is it the village?”

Though feeling uneasy, Tilysha had no intention of turning back; Village 27 was her home, filled with dear friends and elders—she had to go warn them no matter what.

Running swiftly along the farm path, Tilysha pushed her speed to the limit.

Unlike the heiresses from wealthy families, her years of farm labor may have not equipped Tilysha with combat skills, but she had remarkably good physical fitness. Nobos people valued physical training.

Since she was heading to the fields today, she didn’t wear her precious coarse cloth long skirt, opting instead for loose, comfortable clothing suitable for movement.

Soon, Tilysha reached her destination.

   

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