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Chapter 125: The Cost

The chaos from the Ailanthus left everyone stunned, and just as suddenly as it began, it was over.

The death of the Crimson Blood Dragon, Baragas, significantly weakened the Ailanthus bloodline within the kingdom, greatly reducing their threat. Dragons are social creatures, and with their leader dead and no one to command them, they quickly fell apart under the lords’ counterattacks.

Ironblood Ridge, fortified with elite troops, was the first city to repel the Ailanthus and restore order.

However, this morning, the arrival of a letter shattered the tranquility of Ironblood Ridge.

Roy, worried about Alice’s safety, had specially penned a letter requesting that the capital send a griffin to deliver it back quickly, just to let her know he was safe.

Of course, he didn’t mention anything about the dragon incident and tried to downplay the situation as much as possible.

Yet, this letter still plunged his little maid, who cared for him deeply, into profound panic.

Her master was injured.

The moment Anya said this, Alice froze in place, her heart nearly stopping and her mind a jumbled mess.

Fortunately, as Anya read the letter, the frown on her face gradually relaxed, helping Alice regain her bearings.

“Luckily, the young master is out of life-threatening danger and is currently recuperating in the capital.”

“With people in the capital taking care of him, there shouldn’t be too much to worry about,” Anya reassured Alice, noticing her pale face.

But Alice caught on to Roy’s wording too sensitively and worriedly replied, “The need for rest indicates that his injuries aren’t completely healed.”

“How badly was he hurt to…”

Seeing the girl’s gaze drifting off, lost in thought, Anya insightfully suggested, “If you’re this worried, why not go to the capital and see for yourself?”

“Eh? But…” Alice looked out at the ruins, hesitating.

If it were possible, she would indeed want to set off immediately to find Roy.

The Ailanthus had been driven back, but the damaged city was in dire need of rebuilding, and the garrison couldn’t leave to maintain order.

Moreover, she was there to train with the knight brigade, and leaving at this time would not only be considered fleeing but also abandoning her post.

For obedient Alice, it was instinctual not to want to break the rules.

Anya let out a helpless sigh.

This girl is great in every way, just too stubborn.

Usually, it’s the boys who can be a bit dense; why is it reversed with Alice?

“Having one more person around doesn’t cause any issues. You don’t need to worry. Besides…” Anya looked out the window and spoke meaningfully, “Your master is injured and truly needs someone to care for him right now.”

“Just think about it, your master is lying all alone in a sickbed in the capital, how lonely he must be without anyone to chat with.”

The moment those words fell, Alice’s mind conjured a tragic scene of Roy, all bandaged up, lying in bed alone, starving and uncared for.

She conveniently ignored the presence of Coco and Vanilla.

Her master needs her!

With that thought, Alice could no longer sit still. She immediately packed her belongings and prepared to head to the capital.

Now that the Ailanthus had been dispersed, the defeated dragons lurked in the forests, posing a serious threat to transportation all over.

Even as an Extraordinary Being, traveling alone would still be somewhat dangerous.

Not to mention Alice, even Anya was surprised that once it became known she was setting off, so many Adventurers voluntarily came to escort her.

And among them were seasoned pros led by the Great Axe Grey.

A group of heavily armed, muscular, fierce-looking adventurers stood together, providing more than enough sense of security.

Let alone escorting a maid; this lineup could easily protect a noble lady too.

“Don’t worry, Alice! With us here, those beasts won’t touch a single hair on your head!”

“But I don’t have any money, I can’t pay the commission fee,” Alice said, feeling a bit troubled.

“You’re thinking too much of it!”

“Exactly! Miss Alice has saved us so many times; how could we even think of taking your money?”

“And we also want to meet your young master…” Gah!

A lad who let that slip got elbowed into silence.

Indeed, it wasn’t just to escort Alice; they wanted to personally witness the young man Alice referred to as ‘master’.

Throughout these days of battle, Alice, as a guardian angel, had won the love and respect of soldiers and adventurers alike. While those who had met Roy said he had a great reputation, they still weren’t completely at ease.

It’s just that typical neighborly uncle mentality.

Without seeing with their own eyes the character of the boy Alice called ‘master’, they couldn’t really relax!

Normally, Alice didn’t like being in debt to others, but with her eagerness to see Roy as soon as possible, she ultimately nodded in agreement.

Just as Anya had said, her injured master must be suffering alone in the capital, and he truly needed her now.

She couldn’t delay any longer; she had to hurry and care for her master!

Thus, with a bunch of adventurers accompanying her, Alice hurriedly set off on her journey to the capital.

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The days of recuperation were even more comfortable than Roy had anticipated.

Although that day, he laughed heartily while spitting blood, nearly choked to death, which sent Charlotte into a crying fit, thankfully, Lisa arrived just in time to provide emergency care.

Everything was simpler once they returned to the capital.

Roy, having lost too much blood, fainted; when he woke up, his body was already covered in ointment, bandaged up, and lying comfortably in a luxurious bed.

With the Fire Dragon dead, the threat was gone. With Queen Leysa in charge, the palace quickly returned to normal and ordered the eradication of the remnants of the Cult of the Evil Dragon hidden within the capital.

Actually, when the fire dragon called out to all dragons, the members of the Cult of the Evil Dragon, acting as followers, couldn’t contain their restless bloodline and burned and killed alongside the Ailanthus due to instinct.

Although they were making a racket at the time, once the fire dragon died and the bloodline’s power was lost, there was no way for them to hide again, and they quickly became like mice crossing the street, hunted by everyone. The brave Lionheart people captured them easily.

It is said that the city guard barely lifted a finger; many followers of the Cult of the Evil Dragon were even delivered to the authorities by the spontaneously acting citizens.

In short, the capital emerged from the shadow of the dragon clan in just a few days.

Unfortunately, Roy’s recovery wasn’t as smooth.

The more powerful the force, the higher the cost, and Roy certainly experienced this firsthand.

The power of the Dragon-slaying Sword, Balmongke, was overwhelming, truly a genuine Extraordinary Artifact; with just one strike, it drained all of Roy’s Extraordinary Power and caused devastating damage to his veins and muscles.

If it weren’t for his Steel-like Body, he might have been finished right then and there.

Even after receiving professional treatment, Roy was now in a semi-paralyzed state, moving caused excruciating pain, and he could only lie in bed to recuperate.

To top it off, the doctor was astonished to remark, “To withstand the power of seven legendary dragon levels and only suffer this much damage is simply a miracle!” Roy was left speechless, nearly passing out from sheer disbelief.

According to the doctor, those who bear divine power either go mad or die, and encountering someone like him, conscious and still breathing, was indeed a rarity.

However, recalling the Cultist Bruwen, whose scales and twisted features resulted from dragon blood, along with the knights turned into Ailanthus Monsters due to dragon power, Roy could somewhat understand their feelings.

But Roy understood that his survival was not due to some miraculous fate but because of his authentic bloodline power.

 

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