https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-553-As-Long-As-Lanchi-Doesn-t-Have-An-Episode-Everything-Will-Be-Fine/12584860/
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Chapter 554: Sigurei's Admiration for Lanchi
Chapter 554: Sigurei's Admiration for Lanchi
In the depths of the Land of Eternal Night lay the City of Xiaoye.
Within the city, Lanchi had just finished helping Sigurei compose a letter.
Now, as they stepped out of the hotel, they prepared to send the letter from Xiaoye, continuing their journey.
As the pair exited the hotel lobby, the brief daylight in the sky had faded, leaving only boundless darkness to envelop the city once more.
The street lamps emitted a soft yellow glow, reflecting on the damp sidewalks and creating a dance of light and shadow in the snowy landscape.
A chilly wind brought a slight chill, ruffling the slightly disheveled hair beneath Sigurei's beret as she tightly clutched the freshly written letter in her hand.
This was the most satisfying letter she had ever written.
"So, learning to write isn't so bad after all," she mused, glancing up at Lanchi, a novel thought occurring to her.
"Yeah," Lanchi replied with a smile, acknowledging her comment.
"I wonder how expensive it would be to have someone like you teach me things normally," Sigurei added.
"Well, it's always free for you," Lanchi said, looking directly into Sigurei's eyes with certainty. "At your age, it's part of compulsory education, and it's my responsibility to answer your questions and help you develop a correct outlook on life, values, and so on."
"If only there was no war, I wouldn't have to rush around like this. I could go to church and teach children to read and paint; that would be a good life," Lanchi continued, his tone reflective.
"..."
Sigurei remained silent for a long while after hearing his words, her gaze averted from Lanchi.
They strolled through the streets of Xiaoye, passing brightly lit shops and benches bathed in the soft yellow light of the street lamps, occasionally catching snippets of low music from taverns along the way.
"If only there were more people like you in the Pollant Empire," Sigurei said, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"Meow," came a soft reply from Cat Boss, nestled comfortably in Lanchi's arms, craning his neck to glance up at him.
Cat Boss reflected on how Lanchi's talents had not been needed in the peaceful and prosperous Southern Continent but had found their purpose amid the turmoil of the Northern Continent.
He wondered if, in a broken world like the Shadow World, people like Lanchi were truly the most needed...
"Rest assured, I will make sure there are more people like me in the Pollant Empire," Lanchi said with a natural smile, his response tinged with assurance.
"I hope so," Sigurei replied, her tone earnest.
Cat Boss: "..."
The cat turned his head, looking back and forth between Lanchi and Sigurei.
If an idealist had spoken those words, it would have been a normal attempt to placate a child.
But when the vessel of a dark god spoke thus, Cat Boss found it hard to decipher the true meaning behind the statement.
As they chatted, they soon arrived at the place in the city from where they could send the letter—a stone building that bore the marks of history.
Lanchi waited for a while as Sigurei went to the counter to fill out the mailing form.
Then, the two of them headed toward the Xiaoye post station.
Once they retrieved the Snowfield Dark Stag and their carriage, they would embark on the final leg of their journey through the Land of Eternal Night.
...
Midnight in the snowfields of the Land of Eternal Night—a place known to people as the Burial Ground of Wind and Snow.
In ancient legends, it was said that those who aspired to become kings must traverse a path fraught with howling winds and snowy thorns.
It was a trial, a test of one's mettle.
"The path to the throne is riddled with thorns and blizzards. To tame it, one must be entangled by vines and buried by the snow," Lanchi recited, sharing a martial poem he had heard somewhere in the mortal world.
"I've never heard of that," Sigurei remarked, feeling once again how little she knew.
"Well, maybe you'll hear about it much later," Lanchi replied, after a moment's thought. He recalled that the poem was about an ancient hero from that era in the mortal world, and perhaps, in this era of the Shadow World, the hero had not yet risen to fame.
Many hours, perhaps over a dozen, had passed since they departed from Xiaoye City. Time seemed to stretch endlessly in the stillness of the night.
Lanchi and Sigurei could not discern how much longer it would take to reach the borders of the Demon Realm. Under the retreating moonlight, even seconds felt slow and protracted.
Hundreds of kilometers beyond Xiaoye City, the snowfields were engulfed by the darkness, with snowflakes dancing in the air like invisible hands scattering icy crystals. Each flake carried a bone-chilling cold as it swirled in the wind, eventually settling into the snow-covered ground, creating a world of muted grays.
The sturdy and agile Shadow Deer pulled the sled, their antlers shimmering with a faint glow under the moonlight, resembling falling stars in the night sky.
"We should be close," Sigurei said, gazing into the distance while tightly holding the reins.
According to their plan, they expected to catch sight of the Demon Realm at daybreak.
In the darkness of the night, the sled, pulled by the Shadow Deer, left a faint trail across the snowy landscape.
In the front row of the sled sat Sigurei, her small stature belying her strength as she skillfully navigated the terrain. Her face, flushed from the cold wind, focused intently as she steered the sled, breaking through the wind and snow, and creating waves of white in its wake with the rhythm of the deer.
"I think it will take at least another two or three hours before we see the dawn," Lanchi said, his eyes alternating between the distant snowfields and the map in his hand, illuminated by the faint moonlight.
His gaze shifted between the far-off horizon and the young woman driving the sled in front of him, conversing to keep her alert.
Despite the tediousness of the journey, he remained awake and vigilant.
This was an area unfamiliar to Sigurei, and even though she could find her way, they were too far from the Beastman City-States to seek the protection of the Beastlord. With the proximity to the Demon Realm's borders, dangers could lurk at any moment, making it imperative to maintain absolute caution.
"After we reach our destination, you should turn back to Xiaoye City as soon as possible," Lanchi added. "I've asked the Beastlords along the way to look after you, and you can stay at our previous accommodations without having to worry about expenses."
The journey from Xiaoye City to the borders of the Demon Realm spanned over a dozen hours through the night.
On her return trip, Sigurei might be driving the sled for over twenty hours continuously. Despite her robust physique and strong will, she would need a well-deserved rest.
"..." Sigurei remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his suggestion.
Her breath mixed with the night wind, creating a unique cacophony alongside the rhythmic strides of the deer.
"You're truly amazing, Roche," Sigurei suddenly said, her voice carrying a hint of admiration.
"What makes you say that?" Lanchi asked, intrigued.
"It's not just your talent that impresses me," Sigurei clarified, her eyes fixed on the path ahead as she addressed the man sitting behind her.
Over the past few days, she had come to understand him better.
Roche McCutcheon had left behind the comforts of Hershire and embarked on this snowy journey to restore the Beastmen's temples, offering his skills and knowledge to the Pollant Empire in their time of need.
Sigurei witnessed firsthand how this Master Craftsman gradually improved the Beastlords' perception of humans.
Even after his departure, the Beastlords would likely treat humans passing through their city-states with kindness and sincerity for a long time to come.
Perhaps his actions would only bring about a minuscule change to the war situation in the Pollant Empire or the battle against the Blood Race, but if no one took action, nothing would ever change.
A heavy downpour was comprised of countless raindrops gathering together.
In other words, relying solely on talent was insufficient—changing people's hearts required courage.
In the midst of the snowy wasteland, the two of them were isolated from the world, yet their proximity within the sled brought an unexpected sense of closeness.
The sled continued its journey through the silent, silver landscape, accompanied by the dancing snowflakes and the whispering wind, making their final approach towards the distant Demon Realm.
(End of Chapter)
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