Volume 1 Chapter 653
by post_apiChapter 653: The Moment to Test Janine Irene’s Acting Skills Has Arrived
Another ten minutes elapsed within the carriage.
Janine Irene, clutching the knight’s sword, was growing increasingly restless.
"Is your information reliable…"
"If there’s supposed to be a Demon Army reconnaissance unit nearby—why haven’t they emerged yet?"
Lolth observed the fidgeting Janine Irene and uttered two words.
"Patience."
Janine Irene pursed her lips, her unease lingering.
"But Lord Lolth, you’ve been absent from Hillenbrand Town and the Demon Army for some time. What if their arrangements have altered?"
Lolth gestured toward the Little Devil engrossed in cross-referencing account books.
"Allow me to introduce Doyle Candice—the Demon Army’s Chief Messenger, the Demon King’s confidant… Their reconnaissance units answer directly to the Demon King, unaffiliated with any legion."
"When the Demon King issues no commands, all royal battalions fall under this little creature’s authority."
"So if Doyle claims there’s a scouting party here, rest assured—there will be."
As Lolth concluded, Doyle snapped the ledger shut with evident pride.
"That would be me—the captain of the Oracles Knight Order. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"
Janine Irene blinked in astonishment.
"I… understand."
Her tension dissolved completely.
Yet through Lolth’s explanation, a startling realization dawned on Janine Irene—she was being coaxed by the Demon Army’s Chief Consultant and Chief Messenger to ambush their own scouts.
Indeed, under Lolth’s revised strategy, Janine Irene’s initial task remained unchanged: create a disturbance near the Holy Alliance’s frontline. With Doyle Candice present, the scheme simplified—they’d first intercept a Demon Army patrol.
As for the unfortunate scouts…
Doyle Candice would handle their compensation.
A peculiar form of occupational hazard, one might say.
Suddenly, faint rustling echoed from outside.
The trio within the carriage activated their Magic Perception simultaneously, swiftly confirming the source.
"Ah—the reconnaissance unit," Lolth declared, turning to Janine Irene with an inviting sweep of her hand. "After you."
"Go on, Janine Irene, go out and give them a proper thrashing—make it spectacular."
Doyle Candice nodded in agreement.
"Just keep them breathing while beating them senseless… Our scouts have grown complacent recently. They need a wake-up call."
Janine Irene stared at the two oddly enthusiastic Demon Army executives, lips parting as if to speak.
Ultimately, she swallowed her words and simply nodded.
"Very well… Lord Lolth, Her Holiness is in your care!"
Lolth waved dismissively.
"Do you think any harm could come to her while I’m seated right here?"
Janine Irene dipped her head, then leapt from the carriage clutching her knight’s sword.
Meanwhile, Lolth and Doyle Candice simultaneously lifted opposite corners of the carriage curtain, pressing their faces to the opening.
Though Magic Perception could reveal the events outside…
Nothing compared to the visceral thrill of watching combat unfold firsthand!
In the shadowed woods beyond the carriage, the armored Paladin swiftly closed in on the "Demon Army scouting team."
Standard reconnaissance units comprised subterranean-blind abyssal lizard demons,
These eyeless Abyss Lizard Demons possessed poor directional sense, typically requiring guidance from either an illusionist or Little Devil.
Such handlers coordinated movements, recorded intelligence, and relayed messages.
This particular unit’s leader happened to be a female Little Devil,
Hovering midair as her inked quill raced across parchment:
"Recent unusual activity from The Church of Light… Multiple knight orders and priests withdrawn from frontlines… Central forces appear depleted…"
"Golden Peacock faction experiencing internal strife—overall strategic outlook favorable. Must expedite this intelligence to Demon King Castle!"
Her scribbling continued as she flew, accompanied by shifting earth-mounds below—
Four Abyss Lizard Demons tunneling just beneath the surface.
The Little Devil ranked barely Elite Level upper tier, her charges including three Elite Level and one Transcendent Level demons.
This pitiful squad stood no chance against a legendary Paladin like Janine Irene.
Yet to create sufficient commotion for nearby Holy Alliance detection,
The Saint Knight followed Lolth’s instructions, suppressing her aura to appear severely weakened—
A mere shadow of her true power.
Feigning injury, she staggered from the treeline toward the scouts.
*Thud… Thud…*
The rhythmic impacts drew the scouting party’s attention.
"What’s that noise?"
The Little Devil scout glanced around as lizard heads breached the soil.
Soon they spotted the light-armored figure amidst distant foliage.
"A Church of Light Paladin… Alone?"
"What’s she doing here?"
The Little Devil’s brow furrowed briefly before she shrugged.
"Too troublesome. Let’s pretend we didn’t see her."
Having decided, she addressed her subterranean troops:
"Just a wandering magical beast. Carry on!"
From the carriage, Lolth chuckled at Doyle Candice.
"Your subordinate’s mastered the art of slacking!"
Doyle Candice shot her companion a withering glance.
"You’re hardly one to critique subordinates…"
But Janine Irene had no intention of mutual avoidance.
Even feigned ignorance wouldn’t deter the confrontation—
A specialty of the seasoned Paladin.
Fixing the demons with her most righteous glare, she bellowed:
"Abyssal Demons! Prepare to meet your end!"
Her declaration echoed through the woods as she drew steel, summoning a massive Holy Light aura visible for eighty miles—and charged.