https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-554-Sigurei-s-Admiration-for-Lanchi/12584861/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-556-Lanchi-and-Sigurei-s-Unending-Farewell/12584863/
Chapter 555: Lanchi has Always Enjoyed Granting Wishes
Chapter 555: Lanchi has Always Enjoyed Granting Wishes
In the dark of midnight, thick clouds obscured the moonlight, and the stars in the night sky twinkled faintly.
The hooves of the hell deer pulling the sled echoed clearly across the silent snowfield, as if beating a dark, rhythmic drum.
"Today is probably my eleventh birthday."
Sigrid looked up at the moon, her amethyst eyes reflecting the moon's radiance, as if something had occurred to her.
Aside from when she was very young and her parents were still alive, she hadn't celebrated her birthday properly, and later, she had even forgotten about it herself.
It was definitely past midnight now, perhaps even three or four in the morning.
It was undoubtedly a new day.
"Hmm?"
Lanchi blinked in surprise.
Birthdays were a pretty big deal for kids, so they couldn't be ignored.
But now that the two of them had left the city, there was no way to buy Sigrid a cake or presents to celebrate.
"Do you have any wishes?"
Lanchi leaned forward slightly and asked.
Since they couldn't celebrate her birthday right away, he might as well ask about her desires.
After all, the essence of a celebration was to bring joy to the person.
Sigrid leaned back in the sled's chair, her expression unchanged.
She thought for a long time.
She realized that she didn't really have any specific desires.
Finally...
"I wish there would never be anyone like me in this world again,"
she said softly, a puff of white mist escaping her lips.
"I hope everyone can live in a time of prosperity."
"May they be content and at ease, free to do as they please."
The softness of her tone reflected her understanding that this was a dream destined to never come true in reality.
"..."
Lanchi rested his chin on his hand, thoughtfully considering Sigrid's words.
For a moment, he didn't know how to respond to her.
Because he wasn't actually from this era.
And as history.
The fate of every person he encountered in this era.
Was already predetermined.
"Right, Rocky,"
Sigrid spoke up, interrupting Lanchi's train of thought.
"I'll only take you to the Demon Realm, and nothing else concerns me."
"Mm-hmm."
Lanchi lifted his gaze in acknowledgment.
They had agreed on this matter before their departure, and now their journey was finally nearing its end.
"What happens afterward and whether you can return is also none of my concern."
Sigrid continued.
"Mm-hmm."
Lanchi hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Although having a companion on the road had made him genuinely happy, these seven days had passed in a flash.
But journeys always had a beginning and an end, and everyone had their own path to follow.
Lanchi would never force anyone to stay by his side.
"However, I'm feeling pretty good right now."
Sigrid said calmly.
The needleleaf trees rustled in the night wind, their shadows swaying.
Occasionally, the sound of a startled animal broke the silence of the forest, perhaps a nocturnal creature in search of prey or disturbed by some unknown fear.
The conversation between the young man and the girl on the sled was carried away and devoured by the night wind.
Suddenly.
Before she could finish her sentence, Sigrid's eyes narrowed in concentration, and she yanked hard on the reins.
The hell deer let out an uneasy growl, its breath forming clouds of mist in the frigid air.
Unconcerned about the unruly deer, Sigrid grabbed Lanchi's wrist from the back of the sled and jumped off with him in tow.
Their silhouettes arced through the air before landing heavily in the snow.
Their fall stirred up a flurry of snowflakes, like fluff in a gale, countless white fragments spinning and dancing in the air, filling the sky with snow mist.
The heavy snowfall and the pounding of her heart made her ears and brain throb with a buzzing sound.
Sigrid tried time and again to steady herself but was continually challenged by the slippery snow. Finally, several meters away, she found her footing and stood firmly on the thick layer of snow.
Soon, snowflakes covered their bodies, like freshly completed paintings on a winter canvas.
Sigrid held tightly onto Lanchi's wrist, steadying him and pulling him behind her, her breath coming in short gasps.
Snowflakes landed on her eyelashes, and her amethyst eyes sparkled with determination and ferocity.
Lanchi looked at the small figure in front of him, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
But under her steadfast gaze, all his questions seemed insignificant.
Looking ahead, everything seemed frozen on this dark and snowy plain.
In the distance, dark clouds gathered in the horizon, slowly obscuring the stars.
These clouds, like a giant black hand, were quietly reaching for the snowy field.
"You're quite perceptive, little one."
A mysterious figure emerged from the depths of the blizzard, his silhouette tall and slender, cloaked in a long, dark cape that billowed gently in the wind. His face was shrouded in shadow, except for a pair of crimson eyes that shone brightly in the night.
His refined features, illuminated by the dancing snowflakes and moonlight, appeared pale and noble, as if he didn't belong in this world.
Behind him, a sharp fissure had formed on the Perpetual Night Plain, unnoticed until now.
Two hell deer lay on the ground, their massive bodies breaking the silence as they were engulfed by the snow, blood staining the pure white in a slowly expanding crimson bloom.
In the distance, the oppressive aura of magic made even Lanchi feel a sense of discomfort.
He could feel Sigrid's cold hand trembling in his.
Sigrid had mentioned that she wasn't afraid of anything at the sixth rank.
And as for the bloodline ancestors of the Marquis rank and above, they were constantly monitored by the Demon Realm. If any of them headed north, it would definitely attract the attention of the Demon Tribe beforehand.
So, for Sigrid to be instinctively on guard like this, it was obvious that the opponent was the strongest bloodline existence below the ancestors—a seventh-rank Count of the bloodline.
Indeed, some bloodline had successfully infiltrated the Perpetual Night Land from the east and west sides.
"I've been following you for a while, and I thought I wouldn't get a chance, but surprisingly, you're heading towards the Demon Realm."
With the appearance of Count Grigori, the entire snowfield seemed to be enveloped in a heavy atmosphere, the air growing thick, and even the falling snowflakes seemed suppressed.
He took a few steps, each one in rhythm as if he were stepping to an invisible beat, filling Sigrid with an indescribable sense of dread.
The intangible, swirling magic around him seemed to see through every movement and thought, making it impossible to escape his prediction, no matter how subtle the action or idea.
Perhaps sensing Sigrid's fierce intent, like a beast ready to pounce, Count Grigori suddenly laughed and raised his hands.
"Don't be afraid, look, I've been here for a while and haven't shown any intention of hurting you."
Count Grigori had no further aggressive intentions and stopped in his tracks, maintaining a distance.
There was a mix of mockery and sincerity in his eyes as he smiled.
In truth, it made no difference to him whether his targets fought back or tried to escape.
His authority, [Blood Shadow Chase], allowed him to map out a large area in any environment, accurately capturing even the tiniest movements and auras. No matter how stealthy the quarry, they couldn't escape his perception.
This was why he had been sent as a vanguard to the Perpetual Night Land.
Whether it was avoiding strong Demon Tribe members or Beast Great Lords, or capturing weaker enemies, he was the perfect choice.
According to the report from Sebastian, the branch director of the Prosperous World Chamber of Commerce who had been lurking in the shadows, this craftsman from the Pollant Empire had gained a significant amount of trust from the Great Beast Lord. Furthermore, the distance between each city-state wasn't that far, and there were Beast Great Lords on both sides.
If they were intercepted along the way and the operation took too long, there was a high chance of alerting the Beast Great Lords and incurring their wrath.
In a direct confrontation, as a Count specialized in reconnaissance, he didn't want to face those thick-skinned and ferocious Beast Great Lords.
As luck would have it, this craftsman from the Empire hadn't chosen to turn back at Night City but had continued toward the Demon Realm.
Count Grigori observed the two thin human silhouettes with interest.
Even at this distance, Count Grigori could be sure that no matter what happened, the Beast Great Lords wouldn't sense a thing. And according to the "North-South Treaty," the demons on the border of the Demon Realm couldn't interfere with the vampires even if they noticed something amiss.
With the bloodline and the Demon Tribe about to enter into peace talks, the Fourth and Tenth Ancestors would soon be officially visiting the Demon Realm, so the demons certainly wouldn't dare offend a vampire count like him.
(End of Chapter)
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