The Part-Time Hostage

"So, you're planning to use that lady as a shield?"

Nia turned the pages of the book in her hand and asked Li Lin curiously.

"This is the only way right now."

Li Lin shrugged.

"That old mage seems to be keeping a close eye on us, so let him keep an even closer watch. Besides, once we find Suoxiate, the rest of the problems will be solved."

"Suoxiate..."

Upon hearing this name, Nia's expression darkened once again.

"Li Lin, although I don't want to say it, but..."

"Believe me."

Li Lin interrupted Nia, looking at Nia calmly, seemingly without the slightest worry.

"Once you see her, you'll understand what I mean."

"..."

Nia stared at Li Lin, silent. In truth, she knew perfectly well that her actions were mostly driven by resentment. They had left their master because they trusted Suoxiate, but Suoxiate had betrayed their trust, failing to fulfill her duty in time. Although Nia understood that something must have happened, the regret and pain of not being able to protect her master in time were not so easily erased. Moreover, the thousand-year wait had intensified Nia's inner torment. If only she hadn't left then, if only she had stood her ground... She believed everyone among the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys shared this thought. Even Kalin, though outwardly carefree, might share Nia's unusual dislike for Suoxiate.

It wasn't just anger at the betrayal of their companions; it also stemmed from their own regret and pain. Their country, their master, they ultimately failed to protect with their own hands. Even if, at that moment, the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys had been able to gather around Li Lin and fight the enemy, even if they had been defeated and died, that would have been a fate they could absolutely accept. But, in the most critical moment, they were unable to help, a reality the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys could not accept.

"Perhaps, we are still children..."

Nia chuckled self-deprecatingly, stood up, and closed the book in her hands.

"Li Lin, I do understand that this is a reckless judgment. But... this is all the recklessness we have left."

I understand what you mean.

Li Lin reached out and stroked Nia's soft cheek. He could see the moisture welling up in Nia beautiful eyes. In a sense, the Magic Empire was their child. Li Lin had created Nia while building the Magic Empire with others, and Nia had accompanied him in completing its construction. Both Li Lin and Nia were filled with confidence and hope for this nation, and they devoted themselves to maintaining it, trying to guide the Magic Empire in a better direction. They only hoped to give the people of the empire a world that met their ideals.

However, this was destroyed by a barbaric invasion whose purpose was unknown.

The Magic Empire, established for hundreds of years, was ultimately destroyed by humanity itself.

At that time, Nia did not have the chance to protect the country with Li Lin.

"Li Lin, perhaps I should give up some things."

Leaning helplessly against Li Lin's chest, Nia closed her eyes and whispered.

"Those things that never truly belonged to me, perhaps it's time to return them to their rightful owners. I'm truly terrified..."

"Snap."

Before Nia could finish speaking, Li Lin shoved her away and then slapped her hard across the face.

"Li, Li Lin?"

Nia covered her cheek in surprise, staring at the man before her in disbelief. She had followed Li Lin for over a thousand years, but had never been hit by him before. This time, however, Li Lin was clearly showing no mercy; even Nia, who was a weapon, felt a faint pain in her cheek.

Nia.

Li Lin's voice turned cold.

"I don't recall ever training such fragile weapons. It's true, my diminished power is directly related to the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys. But so what? Since creating you, have I uttered a single complaint? Have I ever said I wanted to destroy you? Nia, you've been with me the longest; I originally thought you'd understand me best. By doing this, you're not only denying your own abilities but also my judgment. You believe that as long as the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys gathered, the Magic Empire won't perish?"

Li Lin suddenly waved his hand, pointing to the map on the wall that had been changed over a thousand years.

"You think that as long as you're by my side, we won't fail?! Yes, that's your idea, but you should also know very well that you haven't put it into practice! You want to escape? You think that as long as you give those things back to me, you won't have to worry about anything anymore?!"

"No... I..."

Nia clutched the book tightly to her chest, her face pale, but under Li Lin's roar, Nia seemed to regain her original composure.

"Our mission as the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys is to stay by your side and protect you until everything has perished."

"So, you intend to abandon this mission now? To relinquish your position as the leader of the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys? If so, I can immediately strip you of your power and turn you back into an ordinary magical weapon. Of course, I will consider having Angela take your place, after all, she is my familiar, and thus, half a weapon."

"That won't do."

Nia took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and shook her head with a smile.

"Indeed, Miss Angela possesses immense power. However, as the leader of the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, I will not so easily relinquish my position."

"If Angela becomes the leader of the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, those below her will be in for a rough time."

Li Lin shrugged, the seriousness on his face gone.

"However, slapping a woman in the face is still a bit too much, Li Lin. Although I am grateful to you, I am a weapon, but I also have a woman's self-respect."

As she spoke, Nia slowly walked to the bookshelf and placed the book she was holding back on it.

"As punishment, I won't tell you what I know so easily this time, at least not until your plan is completely true."

You should have realized your mistake, right?

"Of course, but a woman's pride can be unreasonable."

Facing Li Lin, whose expression had slightly changed, Nia chuckled. She had completely regained her original state. Although she hadn't yet broken free from her inner demons, Li Lin's words had given Nia immense encouragement. Indeed, if they truly regretted it, they now had one more chance to make amends. This was the second chance brought by Li Lin, an indispensable destiny for them to prove their worth and meaning of existence once again.

"Besides, I'm not an unromantic woman; I wouldn't disturb your date with someone else, Li Lin, okay?"

As Nia spoke, a colorful portal appeared out of thin air. Nia then smiled and walked into it, disappearing into the void.

"This is really troublesome."

Watching Nia's figure disappear, Li Lin sighed deeply.

"Although I had long suspected that they wouldn't let go of their grudges so easily, but... the reason I created the Weapon Spirit as women wasn't to give them such complex thought processes."

Just then, the door opened.

The woman walked slowly into the library, looking around with a mixture of curiosity and a sense of wonder.

In fact, she already felt something was off when she woke up. She felt that something was different from usual. Although she was diligently practicing and researching magic as usual, she couldn't relax at all. So, she decided to go to the library to try to unwind. However, the female mage never expected to meet a stranger there.

"Who are you?"

The female mage stared at Li Lin in surprise and involuntarily took a step back. She instinctively wanted to reprimand the guards, but the gaze Li Lin cast at her instantly suppressed the scream that was about to escape her lips.

Hello, nice to meet you.

Li Lin bowed slightly to the female mage as a sign of respect. A flash of magical light appeared on the back of his hand, and a few bright blue lights shone in the female mage's eyes.

"My Li Lin, and I am a scholar and a Buddhist monk."

Ah... I've heard of your name.

The female mage was slightly taken aback. Just now, the spell Li Lin had cast on her the night before had begun to take effect. In her eyes, the man before her was intelligent, handsome, and talented. He was also very easy to like. So she composed herself and returned Li Lin's greeting.

"I am Rolandis Fali, a mid-level court mage. May I ask... have we met somewhere before?"

Although she was unconscious, a mage's mental strength was far greater than that of an ordinary person. Although Rolandis herself didn't realize this, her body still remembered some scenes from the previous night. Rolandis stared at Li Lin, feeling that he looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't recall where she had seen him before.

"This is our first meeting."

Li Lin answered without changing his expression, and then he stood up.

"Miss Rolandis, is there something important I need at the library? If I'm in your way, then I'll take my leave."

"Oh, please don't worry about it."

Seeing Li Lin about to leave, Rolandis hurriedly stopped him. She didn't know why she cared so much about the man in front of her. Although Rolandis was intelligent and had become an intermediate mage at a young age, the gap between an intermediate mage and Arcane Mage was insurmountable. She had no idea that Li Lin had already cast a spell on her, and even thinking calmly was difficult for her at this moment.

"I... I'm just feeling a bit down, so I'm thinking of finding somewhere to calm down..."

"I see..."

Li Lin pondered for a moment, then turned to Rolandis and gave her a gentle smile.

"Then, if it's alright, Miss Rolandis, would you like to come with me somewhere? It will surely make you feel very safe there."

"Why?"

Rolandis was taken aback by Li Lin's sudden invitation. After all, he was just a man she had recently met, and such an abrupt invitation was extremely impolite. Rolandis instinctively wanted to refuse, but deep down, another voice was urging her to make the exact opposite decision.

"Then please lead the way."

In the end, Rolandis gave an answer that even she couldn't believe.