https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-547-Lanchi-s-Favorability-Has-Decreased/12584831/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-549-Lanchi-Begins-the-Restoration-of-the-Divine-Statue/12584853/
Chapter 548: Sigrid Does Not Dream of Lanchi
Chapter 548: Sigrid Does Not Dream of Lanchi
In the Snow Bear Palace, on the seventh floor, lay the spacious and comfortable apartment suite of Lanchi and Sigrid. The wooden furniture in the living room exuded a fresh, natural aroma, while the bedroom boasted a soft bed covered with thick woolen bedding. Lanchi, upon entering and glancing around, felt that this beastman city-state wasn't too bad.
"As expected of the commercial city-state closest to the Pluant Empire," Lanchi remarked with admiration as he returned to the shared living room.
Sigrid had graciously offered him the larger bedroom, and his luggage had already been placed there, while she took the smaller one for herself.
"She was just warning you, meow. Your favorability points have decreased," Meow Boss emerged from the shadows and leaped onto Lanchi's shoulder.
The thick curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows shut out the cold, and when drawn open, they revealed the beautiful night view of the small stone city, with its twinkling lights reflecting the starry sky.
With Sigrid out shopping and no pressing tasks at hand, Lanchi stood by the window, leisurely gazing at the city-state.
"It's fine. It probably didn't deduct that much," Lanchi said with a smile.
The journey, which might have been dull, had become quite interesting due to Sigrid's presence.
"Really, meow?" Meow Boss fixed his gaze on Lanchi.
While favorability points might have taken a hit, their relationship seemed to have progressed a little further.
Meow Boss listened to the meaningless chatter between the two. He knew that Lanchi wasn't much of a talker, but when he traveled with someone he got along with, there always seemed to be endless topics to discuss.
Although Sigrid still maintained a cold and distant demeanor, Meow Boss felt that she and Lanchi had grown slightly closer.
At the very least, she wasn't as aloof as she had been before their departure.
The two, man and cat, stood by the window, continuing their conversation.
After more than ten minutes...
"May I come in?" a voice called out from the direction of the front door.
"Please do," Lanchi replied, turning around.
The door opened, and Sigrid entered, carrying bags filled with ingredients from the market, stepping into the living room.
"Hmm?" Her gaze fell on the small black cat perched on Lanchi's shoulder.
Sigrid recalled that they hadn't had a cat with them when they set out.
"Let me introduce you. This is my familiar, Little Black Meowball," Lanchi said, pointing at Meow Boss.
During the journey, it had been a hassle to carry the cat, and the weather was cold, so it had remained hidden in the shadows.
Now that they had gotten slightly closer, Lanchi thought it was time to introduce Meow Boss to Sigrid.
More importantly, Meow Boss was the one who would be cooking.
"Meow meow meow! Who do you think Little Black Meowball is? Don't give me random nicknames, meow!" Meow Boss scolded Lanchi.
Although Lanchi had called him Little Black Meowball before, he never expected this guy to actually like the name and make it his nickname.
"Then how about Pure Black Wholemeal Bread?" Lanchi suggested, thinking hard and turning to ask.
"Never mind, call me whatever you want," Meow Boss gave up and jumped down from Lanchi's shoulder, gracefully making his way towards the bags of ingredients that Sigrid had placed on the floor.
Sigrid stared at the talking cat, her eyes widening in surprise, but her expression remained unchanged.
It wasn't uncommon for wealthy noble young masters to be able to afford a familiar, and this cat didn't seem particularly strong, probably only at the third or fourth rank.
It didn't seem very smart either.
"... " Meow Boss glanced up at Sigrid.
There was something about this young lady that reminded him of Lanchi; he felt that she, too, enjoyed thinking impolite thoughts.
"It will be our chef for the rest of our journey. Just hand over the ingredients to it, and you can rest now. I'll call you when dinner is ready," Lanchi explained to Sigrid.
Sigrid nodded and retreated into her bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Soon, the little black cat was busy on the marble countertop, its small frame moving with exceptional agility and skill. It manipulated various kitchen utensils with telekinetic magic, creating a harmonious rhythm with the pots and pans.
Lanchi, lounging on the sofa in the living room, began to flip through the Blood Moon Era translation of the "Book of Creation" that he always carried with him.
No matter how much time passed, this book alone survived through the ages, spanning tens of thousands of years.
The interpretations of the "Book of Creation" in this era were far fewer than in the present day, and few people could even read the ancient divine language.
Of course, there were also some fascinating translations that didn't exist in the present.
While Lanchi couldn't learn the divine arts from the "Book of Creation," much of its content was written in the ancient divine language, including odes and epic poems. Reading the "Chapter of Rocks and Shelter" before repairing the statue of the deity in the small stone city tomorrow would help him gain a deeper understanding of that deity.
The chapter he was most familiar with was the "Chapter of Storms and Freedom," which was related to the [Original Stone Tablet-Wind].
The ancient ruins were somewhat related to the [Chapter of Seals and Imprisonment], which Lanchi had also interpreted to some extent. After all, he now possessed the [Original Stone Tablet-Seal], although as a fourth-rank, he was not yet capable of soul-binding.
With a cup of now-cold tea by his side, Lanchi flipped through the book, unaware of how much time had passed. Occasionally, he would lift his head to glance at the view outside the window before resuming his reading.
Until a mouthwatering aroma wafted in from the kitchen.
The exquisite dinner prepared by the little black cat was ready.
"Meow, meow, meow, dinner's served," Meow Boss called out, gently pawing at Sigrid's bedroom door and meowing to rouse Lanchi from his book-induced trance.
Sigrid opened her door, still wearing her beret even in the hotel. Drawn by the enticing aroma, her gaze fell upon the dining table.
Upon it was a spread more lavish than she had anticipated.
The main course was a chicken stewed in white wine, its creamy sauce infused with the fragrance of cream and wine. The chicken was tender and juicy, accompanied by soft mashed potatoes lightly mixed with a silky sauce. The pan-seared beef steak was a sight to behold, glistening with a mouthwatering sheen, enhanced by a red wine reduction, truffle slices, and pepper sauce. A vegetable salad provided a refreshing contrast, with fresh lettuce paired with crispy duck skin, mango, and carrot strips, all tossed in a tangy salad dressing.
Meow Boss had crafted these dishes with care, making good use of the winter ingredients Lanchi had requested.
Seated at the table, Sigrid stared at the dinner spread, remaining uncharacteristically still.
"Why aren't you eating?" Lanchi asked as he pulled out a chair and sat down across from her.
"I was waiting for you," Sigrid replied.
"Don't be so formal," Lanchi said with a smile, gesturing for her to help herself.
Sigrid nodded and began to eat without further hesitation, picking up her cutlery and spearing a piece of beef. The moment she took a bite, she was conquered by the tenderness of the meat and the richness of the sauce, causing her to chew faster.
Despite her less-than-graceful table manners, she only took a modest portion from the communal dishes, seemingly content with just half a serving. Before long, she had finished her meal and was sitting idly in her chair.
"Meow..." Meow Boss stood up on his chair, peering over the table's edge. He had prepared enough food for two people, not expecting Sigrid to still be hungry.
Upon reflection, it made sense for someone her age who was engaged in manual labor to have a hearty appetite. Her frugal lifestyle also suggested that she rarely had the opportunity to indulge in such delicacies.
"I ate a rather filling breakfast before we left, so I can't finish all of this. Would you mind helping us finish some of the food?" Lanchi asked, turning to Sigrid.
He ate slowly, still leisurely cutting his steak.
Sigrid glanced at Lanchi and nodded.
She could tell that her employer was subtly encouraging her to eat more.
However, she wasn't one to refuse such a well-meaning gesture.
"Thank you," she said, and continued with her meal.
Within a few minutes, the food on the table had been devoured, leaving Sigrid expressionlessly leaning back in her chair, letting out a small belch.
Perhaps it was a bit impolite, but she had noticed that regardless of her behavior or words, as long as it didn't affect their work, her employer would always respond with gentle tolerance.
And he certainly wasn't as demanding or difficult as the secretary had made him out to be—a powerful and arrogant noble who required strict adherence to etiquette and decorum in his presence.
"My appetite should be better tomorrow, so let's buy more ingredients," Lanchi said, taking out a notepad from his pocket and adjusting the quantities on the shopping list.
Watching the young woman eat brought him a sense of satisfaction.
It was good for her to eat well and grow strong.
He needn't worry about her gaining weight or developing health issues; the diligent Sigrid would undoubtedly become an exceptional young woman with her industrious nature.
"Tomorrow, if you haven't finished repairing the statue, I'll do my best to protect you from getting beaten up," Sigrid suddenly said.
To be honest, she hadn't heard of this artist or craftsman named Lochi in the Pluant Empire, nor had she seen any of his works.
Most likely, Mr. Lochi McCassy's noble status and extensive connections had earned him the prestigious title of Royal Craftsman, allowing him to occasionally present gifts to the royalty.
In reality, if he were truly exceptional, the royalty would have already made his creations famous throughout the Pluant Empire.
According to Sigrid's understanding of the beastmen, only a master craftsman of the highest caliber would be qualified to touch their sacred ancient relic, the statue. Moreover, the outcome of the restoration could be objectively assessed using identification magic, as the statue itself possessed the effects of a magical artifact, leaving no room for deception.
If they could barely get the beastmen to accept the repair work tomorrow, it would be considered a success.
In the worst-case scenario, if the statue were damaged, the high lord of Little Stone City, while unlikely to take action himself, might not be able to prevent his people from taking matters into their own hands, potentially resulting in a mob beating for Lanchi and Sigrid.
Just thinking about such a terrible situation gave Sigrid a headache.
If it weren't for the fact that this employer treated her quite well, she wouldn't want to get involved in this mess for any amount of money.
"Oh? Thank you."
Lanchi smiled and looked up as he replied.
The contract only stipulated that Sigrid had to ensure his safety in the event of an accident.
If it were a non-accident caused by the employer himself, she was not obligated to help him.
"Of course, if you want me to lend a hand, it won't be for free."
Sigrid waved her hand and walked towards her bedroom.
Although she had excellent physical stamina, now that she had some rare downtime, she intended to make the most of it and catch up on sleep.
She wouldn't have much rest in the coming days, as most of the time would be spent traveling at a high intensity through harsh weather conditions.
Without changing her clothes, she lay down directly on the bed.
...
In the present-day Northern Continent, the Protoss Empire.
As the first ray of light from the horizon shone upon Helrom, the city began to stir from its nocturnal tranquility.
Skyscrapers shimmered in the dawn, and the outlines of ancient churches and other-dimensional floating roads appeared even more surreal in the misty haze.
The sky transformed from deep blue to a soft orange hue, and golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating every corner of the city.
In a private mansion atop a skyscraper in the heart of Helrom, sunlight gently streamed through half-open blinds, softly awakening the bedroom's occupant.
The bedroom's modern decor featured simplistic artwork that complemented the room's neutral color palette. The large bed was neatly made, with black and green accent pillows casually tossed to one side.
As the sunlight caressed Sigrid's cheeks, she slowly opened her eyes, rousing from her slumber.
"Hmm."
She yawned, sat up, and shifted her body to let her feet dangle off the bed, gently touching the carpet below.
For some reason, she had been feeling extremely sleepy lately, and if it weren't for Gloria, her direct subordinate, waking her up, she would have slept for a long time.
Indeed, she had been quite busy lately.
The alliance between their Protoss Empire and the neighboring Kingdom of Aethertelan was of utmost importance, and once this pact was sealed, the entire southern front would be solid, regardless of any threats from the north. After that, she could also look forward to a short holiday in the Southern Continent.
In the Kingdom of Aethertelan, the Church of the Goddess of Fate had held an extremely high position since ancient times, and they were also one of the negotiators in this alliance, making this a rare occasion in history where the Church of the Goddess of Fate and a single branch of the Church of Resurrection could come to a peaceful agreement.
"I actually dreamt of the Saint."
Sigrid chuckled and shook her head.
In her dream, she had become a little girl, and she had once again ventured into the snowfield with the Saint.
It was a time of great chaos and fear, and that little girl had not known a moment's peace. Even survival had been a struggle for her, and Sigrid didn't know why she was having such a nightmare.
Even now that she was awake, she felt as if she had broken out in a cold sweat, her heart beating to a discordant rhythm as if the aftereffects of that fear still lingered.
Unfortunately, in her dream, she had lacked her present-day memories, and her attitude towards the Saint had been cold.
She sat on the bed for a while, reflecting on the dream.
"Damn, I was a little kid in the dream, and I couldn't beat him."
Sigrid muttered to herself in dismay.
She still remembered the Saint's annoying demeanor as he tricked her into promising not to speak out of turn during the repair ceremony, and then he had even tried to charm her.
"Never mind, dream affinity doesn't count."
With a few more days of hard work, she would be able to take a break and enjoy a brief holiday in the Southern Continent.
Sigrid had heard from the little black cat that everyone in the Wilford family except Lanchi believed in the Goddess of Fate, so she thought that if she were to pay them a visit, it might be a good idea to bring some gifts from the Church of the Goddess of Fate in the Northern Continent. So, she inquired with the Church, and they gladly provided her with gifts as a symbol of peace and friendship.
She also asked for an additional charm for blessing marriages, and to her surprise, the Church of the Goddess of Fate had granted her request.
Sigrid looked at the small piece of jewelry on her wrist, which glowed softly, and a slight smile appeared on her face.
Perhaps it was because the sunlight was so comfortable that Sigrid couldn't help but stretch lazily, wiping away the faint tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes.
As everyone knows, dreams are rarely continuous, and she probably wouldn't have the same nightmare again tonight.
But even if it were a nightmare, he would surely save her.
PS: Today is a two-in-one chapter. Also, I won't go into detail about each beastman city-state because there are seven of them, and it's a seven-day journey, with six beastman city-states and the final destination being the Demon World, which is easy to remember. In reality, only two of the beastman city-states will have significant appearances, and the others will be glossed over.
PS2: Promoting a friend's book, "The Unpopular Usage Method of the Fate Goddess."
(End of Chapter)
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