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Chapter 43: The Human Heart is Hard to Measure

After enduring over ten minutes of one-sided torment, Leila finally drained all the energy from the monster bug without using any powerful attacks.

As predicted by Miss Vilyric, once its energy was completely exhausted, the bug did not recover. In fact, even before Leila could continue her assault, it became like a machine that had run out of power, its eight compound eyes instantly losing their glow and ceasing to move.

Is it dead?

The sudden change surprised even Priestess Miss, who had vaguely anticipated this outcome. She had previously pondered what would happen to this creature once it consumed its energy; perhaps it would just become extremely weak, or might undergo some other transformation.

But to think it simply died like this.

Even the hard carapace and menacing spikes on the monstrosity’s body visibly softened, losing their intimidation factor.

“Does not devouring… lead to death?”

Without any means to absorb active resources through other pathways, as Renée had said, the very purpose of this creature’s existence was to kill and devour.

Well, regardless of what this is, the information obtained today is still very important.

Leila casually set the bug’s limp body ablaze, and after confirming with her pet that no similar energies could be detected, Vilyric decided to return to the envoy group.

As for the villagers who had been consumed and subsequent matters, Vilyric couldn’t care less and was too indifferent to address them.

Once word got out, designated personnel would come to handle it.

After all, the village wasn’t wiped out; most of the able-bodied young people were likely working in the fields and had fortunately escaped.

Priestess Miss turned her gaze to Tilysha, who was staring at the burning remains of the bug.

“Miss Tilysha, are you very sad?”

The little village girl wiped her face, facing away from Vilyric, then turned back with slightly red eyes and forced a smile.

“Well, a bit… But since the culprit has been punished by you and your companions, those in heaven should be able to rest in peace, right? Thank you, Miss Vilyric.”

“Not at all, I’m truly sorry this happened. We should be leaving now, so, if there’s nothing else, let’s part ways here…”

However, for some reason, the black-haired girl suddenly paused in her speech, her expression undergoing subtle yet noticeable changes, but she quickly masked it and changed the subject.

“Ahem… Miss Tilysha, this may be a bit presumptuous, but, do you know where your parents are now?”

“Ah? Mom and Dad?”

The seemingly troubled little village girl momentarily froze at the question, then quickly realized that Miss Vilyric likely thought her family was…

Tilysha hurriedly waved her hands.

“Um, you don’t have to call me Miss; just Tilysha is fine. My parents are okay! They should still be sowing seeds in the fields right now… If anything, that’s a stroke of luck amid misfortune.”

“Is that so…”

Somewhat perplexing was that the black-haired girl stood there silent for quite a long time lost in thought, before finally continuing to speak to a slightly uneasy Tilysha.

“I remember you mentioned before that you were of mixed blood. May I ask what kind of bloodline that is?”

“Mixed… blood?!”

The little village girl nervously stared at Vilyric for several seconds, seeing no hint of disdain or disgust on her face, before she relaxed and rubbed her hands together in all honesty.

“Well… it’s not really a secret…”

So, Tilysha opened up about her situation to the noble girl she felt a strong affinity for, including what her mother had told her about the Earth Priestess’s past.

The black-haired girl nodded, seemingly unfazed.

“I see… Well Tilysha, I don’t like beating around the bush. I’ll only ask this next question once, so please think carefully before you answer.”

The Priestess Miss smiled and stretched out her delicate, smooth white hand.

“Would you be interested in traveling with me for a while?”

Seeing the shock, confusion, and bewilderment on the girl’s face, Vilyric knew this proposal might be a bit abrupt.

Her original intention wasn’t to get too closely involved with this little girl.

Mainly because of Xi Fu Lin—by the way, Vilyric had chosen this nickname for Xi Fu to distinguish her from the fragments that generated self-awareness and the Earth Mother Goddess.

Xi Fu Lin had just conveyed through mental communication that this Tilysha seemed to possess a very rare and precious bloodline. Though thin, it was likely deeply connected to her own essence.

Considering the potential connections between the Earth Mother Goddess Xi Fu, the God of Sky Minerva, and the possibly suddenly active Abyss, having such a special bloodline accompany her on the journey to the Kingdom of Azure could prove invaluable at a critical moment.

Moreover, with Tilysha along, after a little teaching, she would complete the four-member lineup for games like Dou Di Zhu with Xiao Guang, sparing Vilyric from enduring the suffering of facing easy opponents.

Thus, the Priestess Miss had made this sudden invitation.

It was a tremendous honor.

From the surprise revealed on the faces of those three other exceptionally beautiful girls behind Vilyric, Tilysha could tell.

Miss Vilyric probably didn’t allow others to join her journey lightly.

There was only one chance. The earlier statement meant Tilysha simply needed to respond with either “yes” or “no.” Any extra doubts or hesitations would also be viewed as a refusal.

Her heart pounded intensely.

Tilysha had never felt her heartbeat resonate with such high frequency before; it almost felt like it could leap from her chest, and her breathing unconsciously became rapid.

She understood the gulf and disparity between herself and the four individuals before her; this was an almost divine grace.

As long as she grasped their hand here, her life could undergo a leap-like transformation.

If her parents were here, they would surely urge her to agree quickly.

Most importantly, the thought of being able to remain beside the noble figure whom Tilysha admired so much filled her with such excitement that she felt she might faint.

I want to agree, I really want to agree! I want to agree I want to agree I want to agree I want to agree I want to agree!!!

But…

At that very moment.

Tilysha couldn’t stop desiring to break free from her little village girl identity and step into the vast, magnificent world painted in epic tales by travelers, to create her own story.

But… White City 27 Village would always be her home.

Parents might smile and send their children off to faraway places for a better future, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t secretly miss them and shed tears, especially when calamity shattered their homes and friends.

Logic and emotion, even instincts were all pushing Tilysha to agree, yet a greater, stronger force restrained them.

The girl struggled to swallow, forcefully holding back her internal impulse and guilt, slightly turning her head away.

“Um, I’m sorry, I really can’t just leave. Such a big thing happened in the village, many of my parents’ friends died; they must be very sad. I… I need to…”

“…Is that so? What a shame.”

Vilyric hadn’t thought this girl, who clearly had a fondness for them, would choose to refuse. However, Tilysha’s reasoning was sound; the Priestess Miss did not dislike dutiful children and never planned to force anyone to do anything.

Since that’s the case, let it be.

Nodding to Xiao Guang and the others nearby, the black-haired girl turned and waved goodbye to Tilysha.

“Then, farewell.”

“Tilysha, as we part, let me give you some advice; significant events are happening to the south. This calamity today might just be the beginning.”

“If you wish to survive, head to the north—whether to the Kingdom of Kwei or the farther Holy Empire, leaving home is far better than perishing here, don’t you think?”

With the flutter of white feathers, magnificent and divine wings suddenly appeared behind the girls, as several floated slowly into the sky amid Tilysha’s bewilderment.

As if recalling something, Vilyric tossed out two items that gracefully descended into Tilysha’s hands with the help of light.

“This Wasteland is unsafe. If you decide to leave, use this to hire some trustworthy adventurers. Of course, feel free to spend it however you like. As for the other item… Keep it safe; it might be useful.”

A strong wind rushed toward her, and before Tilysha could react, in the blink of an eye, the sacred and noble figures vanished into the horizon.

“Ah! Vily…”

Her raised hand froze in the air.

A wave of intense loss crashed over Tilysha like a tide.

She stood dazed on the desolate land of the village for quite some time, finally reacting, her gaze drifting to the two items tightly clutched in her other hand.

A small pouch containing about a dozen coins, and a thumb-sized… teal seed.