Chapter 67: Why Do We Need to Know Each Other?

On the last night before the envoy group was set to depart from the Island of Spris, Miss Vilyric finally saw Hilda again.

It was Hilda who had come to the embassy lodging to find them, likely with the main purpose of discussing and confirming their upcoming itinerary with Philena, the representative of the United Kingdom.

Since they had pretty much explored everything over the past three days, Vilyric and the others happened to be at the embassy and hadn’t gone out, so as soon as Philena got the news, she sent someone to inform them.

When Vilyric saw Hilda, this gentle and noble white-winged person was still dressed in a formal royal gown, sitting gracefully at the table with Philena, smiling and having a conversation while a map depicting the entirety of the Kingdom of Azure lay spread out before them.

Most matters had already been agreed upon earlier, so Hilda was just there for a final confirmation to show the etiquette and respect between the two nations and didn’t spend too much time.

Vilyric, along with her close companions, including Leila and Renée, who had specially come with her, as well as Edwina, who was coincidentally with them, sat nearby for just a brief moment before the conversation ended.

Hilda rolled up the map on the table, handed it to a black-winged person behind her, and smiled as she turned her gaze towards the priestess who had just arrived.

“Good evening, Miss Vilyric. I heard you specifically looked for me these past few days. Is there something urgent?”

Huh? Clearly aware of everything, and yet she still has to ask? Is it hard to resist a little teasing?

Could it be that this lady has a black belly?

Although she rolled her eyes secretly, the priestess, skilled in managing her expressions, didn’t show a hint of unusualness.

“Urgent… not exactly, but can I ask where you went these days?”

“Oh? Have we become close enough for a check-up?”

With a ladylike chuckle, Hilda had the finesse to change the subject just as Vilyric was about to frown.

“Thank you for your concern, Miss Vilyric. I simply had some unexpected matters at home that needed handling, so I left without notice. Please forgive me for any oversight.”

“Unexpected matters?”

“Indeed, it was just some minor things really. It’s already taken care of now and won’t affect your travels.”

Hilda glanced at the curious winged sister who had temporarily tucked her wings away while following behind Vilyric, took a deep breath, and soon wore a gentle smile again.

“As for the journey ahead, the Winged City has dispatched a dedicated person and escort team, and Hilda also bears the responsibilities of guarding and managing Spris City, so I’m afraid I cannot accompany you.”

“If Miss Vilyric has anything to convey, you can speak directly to that leader of the escort team. My colleague is a trustworthy individual.”

The white-winged person stood up, bidding her farewell to everyone.

“Well then, it’s getting late, so Hilda won’t linger any longer. I wish all of you a successful visit.”

After nodding to Philena, who was the envoy group leader, Hilda turned and quickly left with the group of winged guards and subordinates.

“…”

Once Hilda had walked far away, Philena waved away the surrounding members of the envoy and onlookers, and only when the room was left with her, Vilyric, and a few others, did she gaze toward the direction the winged people had departed, speaking solemnly.

“Miss Vilyric, did you feel something?”

“Mm.”

The black-haired girl nodded thoughtfully.

“What was her main purpose for coming this time?”

“The route and itinerary were already determined matters, so there wasn’t much to discuss. The only change was that the leader accompanying us has changed from her to a white-winged person named Sigrid Kurk. This Sigrid should also be one of the ‘Four Wings,’ a legendary expert.”

“I see…”

There was indeed something amiss.

What Hilda said about having responsibilities to guard Spris City and not being able to accompany them was simply an excuse.

Perhaps there was some truth to it, but more importantly, she was injured, and her condition was quite severe; she couldn’t withstand the travel to Sky Island, so she had to switch the accompanying personnel at the last minute.

Although she managed to cover up her physical state in some way, it was impossible for an average person not to see the problem, but it was somewhat foolish to expect to deceive a level 110 priestess.

Hilda was here out of duty and had to complete the handover with the United Kingdom envoy group despite her injuries.

In fact, because her condition was quite dire, she really needed to hurry back for rest and treatment, to the point where she couldn’t discuss the matters of Renée and Leila, whom she had previously been concerned about.

In the three days since Hilda left Spris City, something significant must have happened; otherwise, how could she, possessing legendary strength, suddenly sustain such heavy injuries?

Unfortunately, judging by the other party’s attitude, it was clear she did not want too many people to know she was severely injured, and the earlier situation was not suitable for clarifying this matter.

In that case, so be it.

Whatever had happened was, after all, an internal issue of the winged people. Since the other side was deliberately concealing it, Vilyric didn’t plan to act like a busybody trying to get to the bottom of things.

If it were something truly significant, it would eventually be impossible to keep it hidden.

The next day.

Just as Vilyric had anticipated, until the envoy group took off from Spris City, Hilda, one of the Wing Emperor’s Four Wings, a legendary white-winged person, had not appeared again.

Instead, a white-winged girl who seemed to be notably younger, roughly around seventeen or eighteen in human years, took her place.

She wore a chic armor, her short white hair tied into a neat side ponytail, possessing a smooth contour that endeared her to the priestess, wielding a spear, her gaze sharp and alert, exuding a heroic demeanor.

This was Sigrid Kurk, who was said to be the youngest among the Wing Emperor’s Four Wings and had only recently risen to this level, not much older than Leila and Renée.

Though both girls had a somewhat handsome style, there was a distinct difference between her and Philena. One was aloof and difficult to approach, while Sigrid seemed to possess a mix of sweetness and fierceness, giving off a vibe of tentative invitation.

If we were to liken them in the priestess’s words, one would be the unobtrusive, stoic hawk, and the other the playful little wildcat, baring claws but still too immature to truly resist contact.

Of course, this couldn’t be heard by either of them.

It was rumored that Sigrid had just completed a mission assigned to her and intended to pass through the Island of Spris on her way back to Sky City, coincidentally accepting Hilda’s escort and hospitality tasks.

Interestingly, this legendary white-winged girl was also known to Philena.

She was the one who, during the pursuit of the escaped Abyss Beast in the Nobos Ironblood Empire, had coincidentally encountered the envoy and warned Philena to be cautious.

However, since Vilyric’s group had dealt with the monster beforehand, they ultimately returned empty-handed.

Vilyric didn’t hide the fact that they had killed that monster, so Sigrid also knew it, and upon their first meeting, the little girl stared at the priestess and the others for quite a while, not knowing what exactly she was observing.

However, in the end, she didn’t express much more, simply verbally thanking Vilyric and her group’s good deed, exchanged a few polite remarks, and then left swiftly to handle her own matters.

This caused the priestess to sense something odd.

It felt as if the other party was somewhat guarded against her?

Clearly, this was their first meeting.

   

---