Chapter 340

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Chapter 340: Face Your Sins!

“Don’t cry, child.”

A tall elderly man stepped in from outside, and Christine instinctively took a few steps back.

At first, she was in disbelief, but that quickly transformed into overwhelming excitement. However, her emotions gradually settled.

Christine stood frozen, gazing at the towering knight before her. There was no doubt in her mind: this elderly man was her grandfather. His presence was unmistakable… yet, there was something off. Why was he clad in full white armor?

It struck her as odd, unless he had just come from battle—or perhaps he was about to go into one.

But, just back in the city, who would Grandpa be fighting?

The old man entered the room, his eyes scanning the space. His tone carried an edge of surprise as he spoke:

“Christine, your living space is unexpectedly small. You don’t even have a servant… your lifestyle seems too carefree. It looks a bit… disorganized.”

Christine smiled awkwardly. While her home still appeared a little messy, it was her own doing to clean up.

She thought of the chaos that had just unfolded in her home a few minutes ago, unsure of how to explain it.

Even though she was in her twenties now, when her parents used to say, “Your room is messy,” she still felt like a child.

The old man reached out, gently placing his hand on his granddaughter’s head, his voice soft and affectionate. “As a Knight of the Divine Blade, of high rank, you could have a better life in the city of Annottales.”

Christine sniffled.

Gradually, she came to terms with the reality of her grandfather’s return.

She shook her head, offering a small smile. “I haven’t decided yet. That kind of life just seems to revolve around bigger houses and more things… It looks happy, but it means dealing with a lot of people. And honestly, that makes me feel restless.”

Can’t find peace, huh?

The old man remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly, as if coming to a realization:

“So, this is how it is… Your thoughts now align with mine.”

He nodded, confirming something in his own mind, and then continued, “For most people, the happiness they gain after spending half their lives is fleeting. Yet, they toil away, sometimes their whole lives, making that fleeting joy feel eternal… The truth is, finding peace is what truly matters.”

“The happiness we should pursue isn’t fake. It’s the true peace of mind.”

Christine paused for a moment, tilting her head with a smile. “You don’t sound like yourself, Grandpa…”

The old man sighed, his voice tinged with regret. “After all these years… I’ve changed a bit.”

Christine reminisced, her eyes distant. “I remember when I was little—just five or six—you pushed me to train and fight against monsters and cultists… It was tough, but sometimes, I’m grateful for it. If it weren’t for your insistence, I wouldn’t have become so strong at such a young age.”

She could still vividly recall the kind of man her grandfather had been back then.

Elia, the former captain of the Knights of the Divine Blade—“Phantom” Elia.

Not only did he possess strange and powerful supernatural abilities, but he was also a strict and sometimes terrifying instructor.

Throughout his nearly century-long career, he had vanquished cults and trained countless knights. As the esteemed guardian of Annottales, he was a renowned figure, his name evoking both reverence and fear. Even the Dark Night Saints held a certain awe for him. In the hearts of the people, Captain Elia had always been dignified, meticulous, and unyielding—quick to punish those who defied him, even publicly executing those who dared to rebel.

In Christine’s childhood memories, her grandfather wasn’t the benevolent old man who sat and chatted with her.

No, he was the knight commander—dignified, decisive, and brave.

The changes in him now were monumental.

The old man, Elia, fell silent for a moment, his voice full of remorse when he finally spoke: “Christine, I must apologize for my actions in the past… to you and your parents.”

Christine’s heart went still.

Her parents had also been members of the Knights of the Divine Blade. They had endured their fair share of harsh treatment from Elia, but that had also brought them fame and respect.

Then, after a perilous mission, they had disappeared, and their whereabouts remained unknown to this day.

Christine shook her head. “If it weren’t for your guidance, maybe in some other timeline, I wouldn’t have been strong enough to survive… but you taught me how to face challenges.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” Elia replied, shaking his head gently and letting out a quiet sigh.

He stood up, preparing to leave.

“I will return, Christine. There are things I must do, and I need to be gone for a while… but we will meet again one day.”

Christine blinked in surprise, then hesitated. “Grandfather… why do you always wear this armor? Is something wrong with your health…?”

She had noticed it too—the moment he appeared, Elia hadn’t once considered removing his helmet.

Normal people didn’t wear full-body armor for daily activities. There had to be a reason.

“This is the price I’ve paid over the years to break the curse,” Elia answered quietly, shaking his head once more, choosing not to explain further.

As he walked toward the door, he added, his voice calm, “Christine, I’m glad you didn’t follow the path I once took.”

“That wasn’t the right path.”

A few hours later, on a street in Annottales, thick black mist began to rise.

From within it, three female figures emerged.

Mu Ling, Maryse, and Aurora.

At this moment, both Mu Ling and Maryse had taken on new forms, while Aurora remained unchanged.

“One golden knight, one black knight… why am I the only one who’s different?” Maryse complained.

She was draped in shimmering silver liquid, even more enchanting than before. But the texture of the Moon’s Robe left her perplexed.

“So adorable…” Mu Ling remarked, staring at Maryse in her new Moon Dance gown. She paused for a moment before commenting with an appreciative tone.

“Indeed, Grandpa is quite adorable.”

Maryse twitched her lips, feeling awkward at the compliment. Before she could even protest, Aurora scooped her up in a tight embrace.

“Hahaha, so you all have ‘new clothes’ too! I thought it was just me… but looks like I’m the only one who hasn’t been ‘changing clothes.’ Is this part of the Savior’s plan?”

“Stop it, you meanie! Let me go!” Maryse squirmed, like an insecure kitten, kicking her legs fruitlessly, but Aurora held her firmly.

“Hmm, your clothes are cool, like a flowing layer of water,” Aurora observed, noticing the unique texture of the Moonlight Robe.

“Oh, so it’s actually liquid. The hand can just slip right through and touch your skin!” Aurora’s voice was full of curiosity.

Maryse was fuming but couldn’t break free.

“Silly dog, let go!” she yelled, clearly irked.

She wanted to bite, but quickly reconsidered—better not find out if her armguard or her teeth were stronger. It was revolting!

Mu Ling, intrigued, asked, “Is what you’re saying true? I’ve never seen clothing like this before.”

“Yes, it’s true,” Aurora replied, handing Maryse over to Mu Ling as if passing a cat.

Mu Ling held Maryse gently, feeling the icy cold liquid texture. But after a moment, she carefully set Maryse down.

“You don’t want to be treated like that, right? Sorry… we were just teasing you.”

“Humph!” Maryse huffed, crossing her arms and lowering her head, refusing to answer. She kicked at the feet of the two knights, but her attempts were useless against their iron boots.

“Don’t make a fuss,” Mu Ling said softly, trying to calm the situation. “Our enemies today might be very strong.”

“What do you mean? Am I causing trouble?” Maryse’s voice was filled with confusion, but suddenly, all three women realized they could no longer move freely.

Familiar circumstances.

“Um, indeed, it’s happening again…” Maryse sighed, feeling utterly helpless.

Even though she didn’t like the outfit, she had no choice but to accept it without protest.

And if she were to express her dissatisfaction, both of them would probably think she was just being difficult.

Okay, fine, I admit it, I was being difficult.

Suddenly, Maryse’s attention was caught by a black shadow in front of Mu Ling, which began to twist and rise. From within it, another shadow split off.

Then, the two shadows suddenly transformed into two more Mu Lings.

“I can’t believe it! There are more filthy bodies!” Maryse exclaimed in shock.

On a street cloaked in white mist, over a dozen followers of Dead Silence had gathered.

Most of their rituals required chanting, but here, the air was eerily silent.

Each disciple stood in quiet reverence.

They were preparing a complicated ritual, spreading strange blue blood across the ground to form a special magic circle.

At the center of the circle stood an elder, one of the nine high priests under the rule of Silence.

He remained silent, doing nothing—yet the enchantment written in blue blood around him stirred to life, twisting and blurring intermittently.

A powerful force was gathering.

This was the Ritual of Tranquility, designed to absorb the life force of all beings on the street and power the ritual’s completion at a critical moment.

After all, this city was home to incredibly powerful monsters.

Both the saints and the Knights of the Divine Blade posed significant threats.

And, of course, there was the Tower of Babel.

Without protective measures, Dead Silence would never succeed in completing the ritual.

The high priest overseeing the ceremony remained still as the blue patterns spread across the circle.

Suddenly, he lifted his head and stared toward the top of the building behind the white mist. There, a black-armored, white-haired lady knight stood.

Her wine-red eyes gleamed, a deep blend of blood and fine spirits.

“Face your sins!!”