The Slaves

After that little interlude, the group continued on their way. Although little had changed, what had happened still left them uneasy. For the paladins, encountering something so terrible so soon after setting out was clearly not a good sign.

Perhaps this also meant their journey would be fraught with trouble.

Duncan seemed to have found himself a new job. After Angela sang that night, he apparently decided it was necessary to correct the little girl's beliefs, and took it upon himself to teach her the temple's doctrines. Li Lin paid no attention to this, since it was both unnecessary and boring. Besides, Angela was no less eloquent than a devil. Even if she was playing the part of a well-behaved child and could not use her usual biting tongue to argue back, if a challenge of this level could stump a vampire, they would no longer be known as experts at tempting others.

After all, that was a vampire's specialty.

Duncan, who knew nothing about any of this, naturally had no concerns. But after only their first exchange, the paladin suffered a defeat from which he never recovered.

Angela had said only four things in the entire exchange.

They were questions Angela had asked while Duncan was explaining the God of Justice's teachings to her during their midday rest.

"Uncle Duncan, do you mean the God of Justice is always with us?"

"Of course, child. He is always by your side. If you listen with your heart, you can feel his presence."

"Then he is always watching us?"

"That's right. The God of Justice is always watching over us and protecting us."

"Then why didn't he protect us when my mom and dad died?"

"..."

"Was it because my mom and dad didn't believe in him that he didn't protect us? But Uncle Knight, didn't you just say the God of Justice was fair and just, and full of love?"

"..."

A complete defeat.

What surprised Li Lin was that the resentment and dissatisfaction beneath Angela's tone when she asked those questions were genuine. Although her background was just a fabricated story, Angela seemed very sensitive about the matter, and the faint dissatisfaction in her voice left everyone speechless. Indeed, if the God of Justice was always watching over and protecting them, as the teachings claimed, there would not be so much suffering in the world. But that was clearly impossible, which showed that even divine power had its limits. Yet that, in turn, contradicted their teachings. Paladins had always taken it for granted that they should fight evil and protect those who suffered, treating it as their sacred duty. But they had never considered why those people suffered in the first place. After all, for the God of Justice's paladins, saving people from this painful world was their sacred duty.

"It is because of the sins humanity encounters that people suffer, and that is why they need us to save them."

But faced with a little girl who had lost both parents, one could hardly tell her to her face that it was also because of her parents' sins.

Angela's questions were sophistry, but combined with her circumstances and expression, they had shaken even the knights' devout faith.

"As I said, those idiots are all stubborn fools."

Nestled in Li Lin's arms, Angela's eyes were full of malice and excitement. Unable to answer Angela's questions, Duncan had gone off to pray-apparently, he intended to ask his god for an answer.

"On the one hand, they acknowledge that gods are omnipotent, but on the other, they see that gods aren't omnipotent. In the end, they can only choose an explanation that puts them at ease and bury their heads in the sand like ostriches."

It was the same everywhere. When people discovered that what they believed in was not enough to protect them and put them at ease, the day they abandoned it was not far off.

In fact, Li Lin spent most of his time idle. Traveling with paladins meant he did not have to worry about unexpected trouble. Moreover, when entering a village or town, the paladins could pass straight through without even being inspected. This was an advantage of theirs, and Li Lin naturally had no desire to waste time on such minor inconveniences. Although he could not cast magic in front of the paladins at present, secretly preparing a few spells was no problem.

The only slight drawback was that paladins usually chose to spend the night in temples, and the sacred aura inside them was undoubtedly torment for Angela. Fortunately, she always found a way to resist that unpleasant power.

The paladins, of course, had no idea that whenever they reached a city, someone would fall victim to Angela.

Today, however, Angela could clearly have her wish and avoid spending the night in a temple.

Because there was no temple here at all.

Li Lin and the others had now arrived in Dika, the commercial city closest to the Capital of the Magic Empire. It too had once been a city of the Magic Empire. But after a thousand years of wind and rain and constant changes of rulers, the city Li Lin remembered as beautiful and elegant had changed beyond recognition. It had become a commercial capital, its former tranquility replaced by bustling prosperity that gave it a new character.

"We can only find an inn for the night."

Sir Duncan was clearly very unhappy about this, but there was no other choice. Dika, once considered one of the Magic Empire's largest cities, had suffered severe damage in that war, and its people did not hate the gods. Nevertheless, they stubbornly maintained the thousand-year-old tradition forbidding temples from being built here. This was clearly not a good thing for believers in the gods. In fact, even within the God of Justice's temple, there had been much discussion about it, but no one could come up with a good solution. After all, the people here still respected the gods and had faith. They were neither unbelievers nor wicked blasphemers. It was simply their tradition.

"After we pass through here, we won't be able to resupply again."

He looked intently at the knights behind him, as well as Li Lin and the others.

"After that cursed war, everything outside the Capital of the Magic Empire was reduced to ruins. Only fearsome monsters and beasts roam there, and ghosts and undead are everywhere. We won't find another place to rest, so this is our last place to rest and resupply."

Watching Duncan, Li Lin quickly noticed another issue.

From the way he spoke, he was clearly very familiar with exploration of the Capital of Magic, but the others seemed never to have undertaken such an expedition. An experienced captain was naturally a good thing, but why use these novices instead of experienced team members?

At this thought, Li Lin frowned slightly. Then he whispered a few words to Angela and patted her on the head.

Just then, Duncan finished assigning their tasks. Several paladins went to buy supplies, while the two priests were responsible for finding a place to stay. The rest were free to go. Just as Mina and Fina were preparing to leave, Li Lin appeared before them.

"I'm very sorry to disturb you both."

He gave them an apologetic smile, but Mina immediately turned cold and looked away. Fina glanced at her sister in surprise, then turned her attention back to Li Lin.

"Mr. Li Lin, what can we do for you?"

"Well."

Li Lin flexed his fingers without realizing it.

"As you both know, I specialize in studying the Magic Empire's culture. Although this city has changed over the past thousand years, it was once a city of the Magic Empire. I'd like to look around and investigate whether I can find any clues about the Magic Empire, and also prepare for the dangerous journey we're about to undertake. But I'm a little worried because Angela is in poor health and clearly can't come with me. So I'd like to ask you both to look after her."

"Of course, Mr. Li Lin."

Taking Angela's soft, slightly cool little hand, Fina could not help recalling their close contact the other day, and her face reddened slightly. Li Lin said nothing more, however. He bowed slightly in farewell, then turned and left.

Having spent so long in the company of paladins, Li Lin felt somewhat stifled. Besides, as a mage, he and the paladins were never really of the same kind. Li Lin favored a free and unrestricted life, not one governed by strict rules. During the Magic Empire's era, several gods had appointed their paladins as guardians for mages to express their gratitude, but Li Lin had politely declined them all.

Now, strolling alone through the city, Li Lin felt exceptionally at ease.

Although few buildings from the Magic Empire's era remained, it was much better than other places, where not a trace could be seen. At least some traces remained here.

But this was not Li Lin's objective. He had not slipped away simply out of nostalgia. As Li Lin recalled, there should be a tunnel in this city leading directly to the Capital of the Magic Empire. Finding that tunnel was his current goal.

"I hope they're still where they used to be."

Looking at the varied buildings before him, Li Lin could do nothing but pray. Some of the roads and squares he remembered had become spacious buildings, while some of the once-spacious buildings had become straight roads. Li Lin could no longer even rely on his memory. He could only use the general direction to search for a secret passage that might no longer exist.

Just as Li Lin turned a street corner and prepared to explore farther on the other side, a commotion caught his attention. He gave it a casual glance, then immediately froze. Anger quickly filled the mage's body and mind, and without the slightest hesitation, he walked toward the source of the commotion.

A group of elves were being driven toward him from the other side. Dressed in ragged clothing, they were tied together like livestock. The burly men shouting at them swung their whips, striking the elves hard. But even under such treatment, the elves did not lower their proud heads. Their innate nature compelled them to retain their self-respect, but this was also what caused them to suffer.

"Hurry up, you slaves!"

A merchant so fat his neck was almost invisible trudged along in front, his thin legs barely able to support his heavy body. But when Li Lin blocked his way, the merchant had to stop and tilt his head back to look up at the tall, slender young man—and he did not like that.

"Hey, what do you want, boy?"

He labored to catch his breath and glanced at the elves behind him.

"I'm in a hurry to deliver my goods."

"How much?"

Li Lin said nothing else, merely asking the question in a low voice. The fat merchant was taken aback.

"You want to buy these elves?"

He frowned.

"That wouldn't be proper, customer. I went to a lot of trouble to capture these elves, and I intend to take them west to sell. I've even booked a good cargo ship for them!"

Li Lin said nothing more. He opened his hands, and three red gems glowed warmly in the center of his palm.

The fat merchant shuddered. He had never seen gems of such purity. But after only an instant, his surprise was replaced by the temptation of immense wealth. His little eyes darted about and narrowed slightly. Clearly, this customer was very eager for sex—or rather, very lustful-to want to buy so many elves at once... and he was so rich, too... That was rare. And judging by his appearance, he seemed very eager to have them...

"That won't do, customer."

The fat merchant waved a hand.

"Many customers in the west are waiting for this shipment, and they're all longtime customers. I..."

Li Lin said nothing. He held out his hand, and this time, there were two more diamonds between his fingers.

"...Well, it's not that I can't consider it, but I think you may not know that many of my customers are prominent people..."

The fat merchant did not finish, because Li Lin had placed a hand on his shoulder. An icy chill swept through the merchant's body, making him tremble. And now, there was an emerald in Li Lin's hand as well. He said nothing, but the meaning in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Of course, I think they'll be satisfied with this compensation..."

The merchant shivered, then accepted the gems and forced a warm smile. After all, no amount of money could buy back his life.

"Where would you like me to deliver them?"