Volume 1 Chapter 519

Chapter 519: The Unraveling of Fate

Lolth still underestimated her disciple.

First, Kanor’s disguise was more impressive than she had anticipated.

Had Lolth actively sought out Kanor or scrutinized the surroundings, she would undoubtedly have detected Kanor and Ann nearby.

However, Dorothy’s condition distracted her, preventing her from conducting a thorough search.

Yet, even under these circumstances… Kanor’s ability to remain undetected by Lolth, mere steps away, was indeed a feat to be proud of.

After all, even when utilizing only Elite Level power, Lolth’s detection skills are unparalleled.

Moreover…

Lolth underestimated the meticulousness of her eldest disciple.

Even if Dorothy had indeed found herself in an unavoidable predicament, as Lolth had suspected, Kanor would never have left the area with only a single layer of epic protection.

From Lolth’s perspective, Kanor had already performed admirably.

Her expectations for Kanor were merely those of a precocious genius girl.

But Kanor’s standards for herself were far higher.

After resolving matters concerning Yi and Qiong, she came here and remained with Ann, guarding her Sister Dorothy.

She stayed until she saw Lolth take Dorothy away.

Ann watched the two depart, then turned to Kanor.

"So, this is the grand scheme you’ve been working on for so long?"

Ann’s voice carried a hint of resignation.

"It’s not the entirety of it, but it certainly is a crucial part."

Kanor responded with a quiet smile, her lips curving gently.

"To incite a war, alter the trajectory of the South Sotua civil war, and even cause Dorothy to temporarily ‘forget,’ all just to… grant her a moment alone with Lolth…"

Ann sighed.

"Because this is what Sister Dorothy desires. Of course, phrasing it that way sounds a bit cunning, but in truth, it’s also what I desire," Kanor said softly, pulling out a piece of candy imbued with magical energy and popping it into her mouth, chewing like a carefree eight-year-old. "I don’t want Sister Dorothy to lose. I truly care for Sister Dorothy, and I also hold Master Lolth in high regard. I wish for Sister Dorothy… to at least have the opportunity to stand beside Master Lolth."

As Kanor spoke, Ann remained silent for a moment before shaking her head.

"I understand, but I don’t fully grasp it."

"Because Sister Ann, you are fortunate," Kanor said, her expression innocent as she chewed on the candy, "Do you know what ‘fate’ is?"

She posed an unexpectedly profound question.

"How could I possibly know, and your question is quite peculiar."

Ann looked puzzled.

Kanor pouted and shrugged.

"That’s the crux of the matter… Sister Ann, but I know what ‘fate’ is."

"Fate is a torrential current, coursing through the arid riverbeds carved by time, dimensions, and causality. These riverbeds are intricate, and their destinations are unknown, especially since each individual is akin to a fish, a droplet of water, or a grain of sand…"

"And I am a leaf floating on the surface of the water."

"I do not know where it will flow, but I can see the nearest river branches."

"My mother or a deity might see more, and some beings might even grasp the whole picture."

"But even if they see clearly, it is difficult to alter its course."

"They can only tweak minor details."

"I was supposed to see all of this in a few years, but Master Lolth hastened it… although I am grateful to Master Lolth, it is not entirely a good thing."

Kanor sighed.

"Helping Sister Dorothy may have begun as a desire to fulfill her wishes, but now, I just want to… compensate for the regrets in my heart and Master Lolth’s as much as possible."

"I wish for Master Lolth to have at least one disciple who can always stand by her side."

"And I hope I can assist Master Lolth as much as possible right now."

"Lalea, Lady of Light, Isabella, Tina… these sisters, and Master Lolth too, sometimes they are too slow—of course, it’s fine to leave things as they are, as they will all converge in the same place in their predestined fate, but I always wish to leave a little of my mark between them and Master Lolth."

After Kanor finished speaking, she paused for a moment, then shook her head with a smile.

"I’ve said too much, it’s still early for that."

"Let’s go, Sister Ann, we still need to take those mercenaries and your sister back to Hillenbrand Town for a look."

As Kanor spoke, Ann, who was originally immersed in some melancholy, showed a look of shock.

"Wait, why does my sister have to go to Hillenbrand Town… we agreed there would be no such thing!"

Ann exclaimed.

"If I told you, you wouldn’t agree," Kanor laughed happily, "Oh dear, I said I wanted to leave a lot of marks… and you, Sister Ann, are no exception."

"But don’t worry, Sister Yi won’t stay too long; she is the Marshal of the Holy Alliance’s eastern front… She’s just here to take a look."

Ann looked at Kanor, her expression becoming a bit helpless again.

"You didn’t say my name just now, but you definitely included me and Sister in your plan, right!"

Kanor listened to Ann’s words, showing a surprised look.

"Oh my, Sister Ann is very clever today!"

"You little rascal, don’t look down on others! Just because you’re smart and can see fate doesn’t mean you can treat me like a fool."

Ann protested unhappily.

"I never thought of Sister Ann as a fool. I just think you are straightforward and cheerful without many schemes."

As Kanor said this, she shrugged and walked away in the opposite direction of Lolth.

Then, Ann looked at Kanor’s figure and fell into brief thought.

Although Kanor’s last words seemed to praise herself, something felt off.

She thought for a moment and decided to let it go.

I won’t argue with this eight-year-old girl!

The two hurriedly left the place, gradually moving away from Lolth and Dorothy.

At that moment, Lolth, gently holding Dorothy’s hand, cautiously approached the eastern boundary of Silver Citadel.

Although moving in this direction would likely keep them clear of large-scale battles outside Silver Citadel for the time being, they would still have to traverse a perilous battlefield.

That is… the encampment of three legions from the South Sotua United Kingdom stationed outside the city.

Lalea was issuing reckless and chaotic orders, while Gregory, soaring in the sky, was engaged in a fierce battle with the three legion commanders, the leaders of South Sotua’s legions. The extraordinary disturbances were terrifying, both on the ground and in the air.

Dorothy followed closely behind Lolth, treading carefully, her expression tinged with concern over the strange occurrences outside.

Lolth, sensing the chaos of the battlefield, skillfully avoided the areas of conflict as she moved forward with caution.

Despite the apparent danger, Lolth’s exceptional skills in disguise and perception allowed them to navigate through the battlefield’s crevices without any harm.

She even found the leisure to walk and address some of Dorothy’s questions.

For instance, she explained their relationship and the current situation.

"You are Dorothy, I am Lolth, and we… are likely teacher and student."

"Currently, there is a war where we are, so I need to take you to a safe place to rest."

"Your soul has encountered some trouble, but don’t worry, it should recover after some rest."

"I am actually quite strong, so those fighters are not a threat; I can handle them with just a flick of my finger."

"We do not belong to either side of the war; we are merely caught up in it… So there is no need to worry."

"Our destination is likely the Holy Empire… You recall that name, right? It is a renowned country on the continent."

To avoid distressing Dorothy, Lolth did not delve into details about her background, omitting references to the hero lineage and the Golden Peacock Kingdom, and glossing over matters concerning hell demons and her identity as an Abyssal Demon.

She spoke in a soft, soothing tone, as if narrating a story.

Dorothy walked slowly, listening intently, without posing any questions, seemingly placing her complete trust in Lolth.

Although she still couldn’t recall who Lolth was, she felt a sense of warmth and familiarity towards the girl before her.

Thus, she believed whatever Lolth told her.

Despite her memory loss and the terrifying battlefield surrounding them, she was not… afraid.

Lolth was not feigning composure; although Dorothy was fragile at the moment, she was carefully managing the situation.

It seemed that by moving slowly and cautiously through this battlefield, they would encounter no problems.

Until…

She sensed a powerful and familiar presence rapidly approaching.

Lolth became slightly wary.

"Is this… Holy Domain High Level? Or demi-god?"

The other’s presence was well concealed, making it momentarily difficult for her to discern.

The magic cube was temporarily being used to protect Dorothy, so Lolth couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious.

Soon, she finally recognized to whom this familiar presence belonged.

The last time she had encountered it was not in reality.

But it was in Qiong’s memory.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of South Sotua, Chancellor Duke Osmeda!

"Damn it, how did he get here so fast! Are the internal affairs of South Sotua that leisurely?"

Lolth cursed under her breath, sensing that Osmeda was merely ten minutes away from reaching the battlefield.

Those who have ascended to the Holy Domain move with incredible speed!

Even without the use of space magic or being merely a Fighter by profession, traveling at full speed from the kingdom’s center to its border is astonishingly swift!

His arrival would render the entire battle situation uncontrollable!

Lolth couldn’t be certain whether he would unleash a devastating technique that might harm Dorothy, nor was she sure if he had the means to detect her presence.

After all, he was a renowned powerhouse within the Holy Domain, possibly even verging on the realm of a demi-god.

Although she had just battled two gods… this was an entirely different matter.

Moreover, Lolth’s combat style was unique; while she held her ground against gods, she couldn’t afford to be complacent when facing demi-gods.

Engaging in combat with a Holy Domain High Level would make it difficult to also protect Dorothy.

Noticing the slight change in Lolth’s expression, Dorothy subtly tightened her grip on Lolth’s hand.

"It’s alright, Lolth… Teacher."

She spoke softly, as if her memory had never faltered, gently addressing Lolth.

"I trust you."

Hearing Dorothy’s words, Lolth began to calm down.

"Yes, there’s no need to be nervous just yet."

Lolth nodded and continued forward.

Simultaneously, she started formulating a strategy in her mind.

However, before she could devise a plan…

She suddenly sensed that Osmeda’s presence… had stopped!

Another, more familiar presence had intercepted Osmeda.

"Wait… Qiong?"

Lolth was momentarily stunned.

She lifted her gaze towards the distance.

To the east of South Sotua lay a desolate field.

In the distance, one could even witness the sudden eruption of shadowy power.

A dark shadow burst forth on the horizon, its force nearly reaching that of the Holy Domain, startling both Gregory and the legionnaire leader of South Sotua, who were engaged in combat in the skies.

"This is… the presence of Qiong and the Chancellor!"

Anyone of some standing recognized these two presences, their expressions shifting slightly.

In South Sotua, these were nearly the two most famous figures, second only to the king himself.

The idol of all mercenaries, Qiong.

And the most powerful minister of the United Kingdom of South Sotua, Chancellor Duke Osmeda!

The clash between these two was nothing short of a dreamlike crossover event.

Gregory and the legionnaire leader even ceased their combat.

For they had come to realize that their own victory or defeat was no longer of any consequence.

Though Qiong appeared to be merely at the Legend High Level,

her ability to strike at Chancellor Duke… made it clear to all that this young girl was not seeking her own demise!

Lolth, too, was taken aback.

"Qiong… what is happening?"

Having once glimpsed into her innermost thoughts, Lolth found the situation even more perplexing.

For this young girl, who was evidently petrified of the old man,

how could she still muster the courage to act so boldly?

She glanced at Dorothy, who was also silently observing her.

"Is this someone Teacher Lolth knows?"

Dorothy whispered.

"Well, I suppose you could say she’s a new acquaintance."

"If Teacher Lolth wishes to assist, please don’t let me hold you back."

Dorothy spoke, but Lolth shook her head.

"I don’t believe she is the type to recklessly throw her life away, but I would like to stay and observe for a moment, if that’s alright?"

Lolth inquired.

The distance between them was just enough to be considered safe.

"Of course, you may."

Dorothy nodded and replied softly.

And in the distance, just as Lolth had anticipated…

After a single strike, Osmeda’s presence did not wane.

"You dare return, and you dare strike at me!"

The old chancellor’s commanding voice resounded across the barren plains, heralding his arrival to all.

And in response to him…

An even mightier force emerged.

The aura of Qiong Thorn suddenly escalated to the Holy Domain!

And her voice rang out as well.

Concise and unequivocal.

"Die!"