Shadow Warriors

"I have no choice; this is the only way to get to the Imperial Capital."

Frieren turned her head away helplessly.

Suddenly, the figure of Fern resting in Dugu Qing's arms came into view.

Frieren beamed, quickly ran to the sword, jumped onto it, and comfortably lay back, as if all the day's fatigue had vanished.

The small Clear Radiance Sword was occupied by one man and two women.

Flanked by Frieren and Dugu Qing, Fern had no more worries. She nestled shyly in Dugu Qing's arms, her lips slightly upturned as if she had eaten honey.

Dugu Qing smiled calmly and flew away on his sword.

"That's going too far!"

Stark looked at the three of them, his face burning, and he shyly covered his face.

Is this something a little boy like him should be watching?

Frieren and Fern are really something, in broad daylight, they don't even know how to be reserved...

The flying sword was incredibly fast, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Fearing being abandoned, Stark took off running after him.

Half a day later, the group traversed the muddy forest and arrived at a clearing.

A cluster of low, uneven wooden houses came into view.

Dugu Qing put down Frieren and Fern, then used a magic spell to clean their clothes, washing away the mud from everyone's bodies.

After everyone had cleaned themselves up, they walked heavily toward the village.

The villagers, upon seeing the four people, burst into laughter.

"That's rare! Since the main road was built around here, I've hardly seen anyone walking the mountain paths!"

Fern, Stark a helpless sigh, looked at Frieren.

Frieren closed her eyes and muttered like an old woman.

"Hmm, I'm not entirely clear on what's been happening lately..."

The young villager added, "But the main road should have been completed thirty years ago."

Stark hung his head. "Frieren is really like an old lady; the things she remembers are all from decades ago..."

Dugu Qing gracefully stepped forward and asked to stay the night.

The villagers brought four people to the village chief's house and told him that Dugu Qing wanted to stay the night.

The elderly village chief, wearing a navy blue trench coat and with a shaved head, glanced at Dugu Qing and readily agreed to rent out the empty houses in the village, handing over the keys.

Thank you.

Dugu Qing took the key and walked towards the empty house in the distance.

Frieren followed beside Dugu Qing, a hint of eager anticipation on her face.

"Right now, all I want is to take a hot shower and then get a good rest all day."

Stark recalled the scene of Frieren and Fern lying on the sword, and was utterly speechless.

"Please, you've been lying on swords the whole way!"

"Standing for so long is tiring!"

Looking at the white-haired Frieren, the village chief suddenly seemed to remember something, and the kind smile on his face gradually disappeared.

The group arrived at the empty house and each found a room to stay in.

Dugu Qing used Cleansing Magic to cleanse the cobwebs and dust from the hall.

A knock came at the door, and the village chief came in carrying a food box, placing several farm-style dishes on the table.

"Thank you, Village Chief."

Dugu Qing took out the rent payment and handed it to the village chief.

The village chief readily accepted the money and turned to leave.

Frieren and Fern bathed and changed, then stepped out of their room again in their robes to enjoy a warm meal.

A short while later, everyone finished eating and dispersed, returning to their rooms.

Dugu Qing sat on the bed, closed his eyes, Meditation, refining his magical power.

Suddenly, a series of steady and powerful footsteps came from the courtyard outside the gate.

Dugu Qing got off the bed to greet the visitor. Upon seeing that it was the village chief, he slightly stepped aside.

"Mr. Village Chief, are you here to collect the dishes? Please come in."

The village chief shook his head confidently, and suddenly an astonishing killing intent erupted from his aged body, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, its momentum overwhelming as it pounced on Dugu Qing.

"Sir, calm down. Perhaps you didn't pay enough rent?"

Dugu Qing reached out and placed her slender hand on the old village chief's shoulder.

The old village chief struggled violently with all his might, but his body remained motionless.

"Hey! I'm getting old!"

He looked at Dugu Qing, never expecting that the handsome young man would possess such terrifying strength, and his expression immediately turned into a bitter face.

Hearing the sound, Frieren came out wearing slippers.

What happened?

Dugu Qing shrugged, looking innocent. "The old village chief probably thinks the rent isn't enough!"

When the old village chief heard Dugu Qing say that he was being treated like a shrewd businessman, he couldn't help but retort and reveal his identity.

"I didn't come for the rent. I am the Empire's sharpest sword, the Shadow Warriors. Don't underestimate me!"

Upon hearing the name of the Shadow Warriors, Frieren seemed to understand something.

"Shadow Warriors? I've heard of them. They're said to be an assassin organization composed of powerful warriors, extremely hostile to mages, and constantly at odds with the Continental Magic Association. Why are you attacking us?"

The old man gave a cold snort, clearly disdainful of Frieren's question.

"Within the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor's word is law, his will is absolute, and he has control over all matters. You sorcerers, however, rely on magic to oppress your superiors and resist the Empire's rule. As the Empire's sharpest blade, it is our duty to eliminate the Empire's enemies!"

Upon hearing this, Dugu Qing immediately increased the force in his hands.

The old man was pale, but he endured the pain without uttering a sound.

Frieren wasn't interested in politics, but the old man's words really angered her.

What do you mean by saying His Majesty the Emperor has control over everything?!

Just because he is called the Emperor, does that mean that everything in the world, from the moment of its creation, must submit to him?

What kind of twisted logic is this?

"The inferior over the superior? Ridiculous! Who says the emperor is superior? Who says the commoners are inferior? Humans are born equal, yet the emperor tries to control everything and make everyone kneel at his feet. He's the real villain!"

Dugu Qing rolled her eyes, completely disregarding every word the old man said.

The old man, having lived among the Shadow Warriors for decades and deeply ingrained with the hierarchical system, had never heard any criticism of it. Upon hearing what Dugu Qing said, he trembled.

"It's heartbreaking to think that the empire where Teacher Flamme lived has become like this a thousand years later!"

Frieren thought of the magical country where Flamme served, which not only distorted the truth and altered her image, but also established an agency specifically targeting magicians, betraying her master and ancestors.

I couldn't help but clench my fists, feeling sorry for the teacher.

"The waters of this empire seem quite deep! Dugu Qing, perhaps we should take a detour!"

Fern stepped forward with the Grimoire and offered his suggestion.

Frieren was deeply troubled and unable to make a decision for the time being.

Dugu Qing looked at the old village chief, and the thought that there might still be many people in the empire who held the idea of eliminating magicians filled him with righteous indignation!

Magic is humanity's hope!

It led humanity out of darkness, defeated the Seven Sages of Destruction, destroyed the Demon King, and suppressed the Demons.

Now they're being treated as enemies!

How can this be allowed?!

We must take strong measures to stop the spread of this ideology.