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Chapter 293: Please Teach Me, Your Excellency

With the artifact supported by its master, an explosion of light far brighter and more vigorous than before erupted instantly.

“Boom!!!!”

A magical storm swept through the hall, spinning violently.

In just seconds, among the puppets that could only barely resist and were unable to retaliate, nearly a third had their chest gems explode, collapsing weakly to the ground.

“Zzzt… zzzzz…”

Under an onslaught far exceeding their limits, terrifying and clear cracks quickly appeared on the white shield. Although the puppets had infused energy to their utmost limits, the absolute difference in intensity could not be compensated for in this way.

Once the protective barrier surrounding them shattered completely, the outcome against the terrifying magical force could be easily predicted.

Miss Vilyric didn’t hold back, nor did she intend to ease up in the critical moment or expend more effort to precisely control her lethality.

This was real combat; setting aside positions and right or wrong, showing mercy to the enemy was cruelty to oneself.

However, just as the puppets were about to be swallowed by the magical storm…

A flash of light cut through the air violently.

“Zheng!”

The storm of surging magic was instantaneously sliced in half, resembling a divine hand tracing a long line in the air.

Although the energy contained within the blade light was also exhausted in the overwhelming magical power, the area attack skill inherent to the Demon God jewel, 【Magic Storm】, finally began to come to an end after consecutive confrontations, leaving behind a white shield that was almost on the verge of collapse.

“Oh… the main character finally decides to show up?”

“…”

A figure stood before the puppets, holding a sword.

Dressed in plain cloth, with gray hair that swayed slightly in the aftermath of the magical winds, he appeared to be a handsome young man in his early twenties.

He bore no external traits of a special race, looking merely like a pure human.

Yet, a human couldn’t possibly cut through a skill activated by an artifact, even if the latter’s master intended to restrain themselves.

At least, in Miss Vilyric’s perception, no one could do such a thing.

So, he wasn’t human.

As if discovering something interesting, or perhaps confirming a suspicion in her heart, the white fox girl’s light laughter emerged from beneath her mask.

“Min Chen, you’re really here.”

“…You know me?”

The young man, holding a long knife unlike most weapons in this world, which was thin and flat with a single-edged blade, was momentarily stunned by the white fox girl’s proactive inquiry before showing a hint of realization.

“I see, it was Miss Vilyric who provided information about me.”

“I heard that you once helped that magical beast slave trapped in Demon Town alongside Miss Xī. Now, you appear together with Miss Vilyric; it seems you have quite a special relationship with her.”

The plain-clothed young man… or should I say Min Chen, temporarily sheathed his long knife, slightly courteous, and waved his hand behind him.

Those puppets, originally willing to face death and reluctant to retreat even a step, suddenly began to move rapidly as if receiving a command.

However, this wasn’t to cooperate with Min Chen to launch an attack but to retract their firearms, cease the operation of those oddly shaped weapons, and retreat with their energy-depleted companions into the distant gates.

In less than half a minute, the originally well-organized hundreds of puppets had completely vanished, leaving only the white fox girl and the plain-clothed young man silently facing each other in the empty hall.

No attempt was made to stop Min Chen; it wasn’t until the puppets had completed their withdrawal that Vilyric spoke again.

“Didn’t expect you to care for them; when did you start associating with this crowd?”

Her casual tone, like that of friendly chatter, caused Min Chen to falter slightly in his well-prepared momentum, as if a punch held back for too long had suddenly hit empty air. His lips twitched a few times before he finally blurted out a somewhat helpless question.

“Miss Xī, have we perhaps crossed paths somewhere before? Or just how much did Miss Vilyric inform you about me?”

“…Surely not everything, right?”

Seeing the plain-clothed young man’s expression change slightly, the white fox girl’s voice took on a teasing tone.

“Hoho ~ You seem quite nervous? What’s wrong? Did you do something shady in the past?”

“How could that be… I, Min Chen, act with integrity…”

“…Ha ~”

Having instinctively retorted a couple of times, he seemed to realize the conversation’s direction was entirely under the other person’s control. He took a deep breath, shrugged off that odd feeling, and forcibly changed the subject.

“Miss Xī, could you please leave this place?”

The white fox girl shrugged her shoulders noncommittally.

“What’s the reason?”

Min Chen nodded seriously.

“This place concerns an important friend’s long-cherished wish in my life and another friend’s life. When they needed help the most, I failed to extend a hand, leading to the current situation…”

“I’m not sure why you are here, Miss Xī, but if it’s for that girl named Ella Light, once I erase her memories of things she shouldn’t know, I’ll send her home… Even if you weren’t here, I intended to do so.”

Seeing that the white fox girl responded with silence, seemingly just listening quietly, Min Chen paused, his expression sincere.

“I understand what you are doing, Miss Xī. You are a noble and kind being. Even disregarding the relationship with Miss Vilyric, I wouldn’t want to conflict with someone like you. Please, don’t make this difficult for me.”

Suddenly, the white fox girl smiled.

“Oh… so that Light Element Spirit was killed by you, huh?”

Hearing this, the plain-clothed young man’s expression stiffened slightly, and he could only forcefully explain.

“I had no intention of killing it, but its will to protect that Light Tribe girl was too strong, ultimately exhausting its energy and dissipating. For that… I deeply apologize.”

“Hmm, I see…”

There was no hint of anger in the white fox girl’s tone; she simply shifted the topic again.

“Are those two people that important to you?”

Min Chen nearly hesitated before nodding.

“Indeed. Since Miss Xī is aware of my situation, you should understand that I have let down and owe a lot to many people, with these two being the most significant among them.”

“Because of my past immaturity and stubbornness, things have developed to this point. If I had been there three hundred years ago, I surely would have stopped him from doing this.”

“But in fact, I did nothing at all and was even unaware of their situation. So… even if I now understand this was a mistake and the source of disaster for countless beings, I still want to selfishly help him fulfill his last wish in life.”

“I once thought sacrificing the few for the many was the right thing, but later, a god enlightened me.”

“I, Min Chen, am a being of flesh and blood, with emotions, not just a selfless sage who maintains order. If I can’t even protect my family and friends, what right do I have to uphold this world?”

“I will bear everything and make up for the void they left behind, whether it’s you, Miss Xī, or some god who may come from outside… Min Chen will stand against it with just one person and one sword.”

Hmm, he sure knows how to put on a show.

However… despite that, the white fox girl could tell Min Chen was not joking.

It seems that after being enlightened by Xi Fu Lin back then, this guy has reflected on a lot.

But…

“I can understand your reasoning for action because I have my own principles. Sometimes, I can be willful for that reason too…”

“But Min Chen, that’s your reason, not my reason. There are friends of mine in the Holy Nation. Quite frankly, do you think I would step back for two complete strangers, leaving them in a potentially explosive crisis?”

“…Is that so…”

The gray-cloaked young man nodded, seeming unsurprised by the girl’s response. He took a deep breath and placed his hand back on the hilt of his knife.

His gaze turned determined and sharp.

“Then let your strength persuade me, noble hero of the Holy Nation… Miss Xī.”

“Half-Demon Min Chen, please teach me.”