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Chapter 678: Lanchi Encounters the Red-Haired Youth Once More (Part 2)
Chapter 678: Lanchi Encounters the Red-Haired Youth Once More (Part 2)
But Nigel was vigilant, always keeping an eye on the battlefield and the innocent bystanders.
Whenever danger drew near to them, he would timely deflect the attacks with the back of his sword and swiftly move them to safety.
Clearly, in this capture operation, Nigel, as the executioner, had ample experience in dealing with berserk cursed beings.
Before long, he had lured the berserk demon onto the wide road of Illusion Boulevard.
Here, he no longer had to worry about endangering any demon citizens.
He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, slightly lowered his body, and transformed into a black thunderbolt, rushing toward the berserk cursed demon.
Just as Nigel was about to precisely strike the berserk demon with the back of his sword...
He suddenly seemed to sense something and shifted his sword to his side, and a new shadow appeared on the battlefield.
The sudden intruder violently kicked Nigel in the chest.
The terrifying force sent Nigel flying into a building, causing an explosion of dust and debris.
As the smoke gradually cleared...
Nigel struggled to his feet from the rubble.
He tightly gripped the hilt of his sword.
Although he had successfully blocked the attack, the force still made his arm tremble.
"What's the matter, Nigel? Why don't you just kill him?"
A figure stood in the same spot, casually pressing the berserk demon to the ground with one hand while the other prepared to pierce the demon's skull.
"Don't kill him!"
Nigel rushed forward and deflected the strike with his sword, but he didn't cut the demon.
The male demon had casually hopped back, easily dodging Nigel's attack.
"Nigel, you're so hypocritical. You didn't hesitate to kill your master Perlman's daughter, and now you want to atone by showing mercy to a berserk cursed demon?"
His deep red eyes sparkled with mockery, his black satin coat fluttering as his long black hair fell loosely around him.
"Astros, I'm carrying out my official duties. Don't interfere!"
Nigel's veins popped on his forehead as he glared at the male demon, barely containing his anger.
The male demon with pale, exquisite features, a hidden wild beauty, was none other than the demon lord of Pallia's 7th District, Astros.
"Oh? In my territory, my authority supersedes yours. Unless your master, Lady Tiffany, comes here, I might give her some face."
Demon Lord Astros' tone was particularly disdainful.
"..."
Nigel knew that the other party was looking for trouble, so he didn't bother to respond, his gaze turning sharp as he monitored Demon Lord Astros' movements while keeping an eye on the berserk cursed demon, who had stood up again.
Just when they were about to subdue the berserk demon, this troublemaking demon lord had shown up, giving Nigel a headache.
The night was as dark as ink.
Amidst the blacksmith's forge-like smoke, flames, and deafening noises...
The battle at the end of Illusion Boulevard quickly escalated into an unprecedented melee.
The berserk cursed demon's eyes burned with blood-red light, no longer concealing the bottomless madness within. It let out ear-piercing shrieks, as if trying to pierce their souls, and lunged at Nigel with unimaginable speed.
In response, Nigel remained exceptionally calm, skillfully holding his black longsword in front of him.
When the berserk demon attacked, he blocked, deflected, and slashed, his sword dancing in a seamless motion.
Demon Lord Astros also utilized his almost instinctual combat skills and understanding of his kin, each palm strike aimed at the berserk demon precise and filled with deadly beauty.
But Nigel deflected every strike.
"Hahaha, Nigel, I didn't hit you. You chose to block the attack for him."
Demon Lord Astros laughed continuously.
"..."
Nigel didn't respond to Astros' provocation.
Facing the berserk cursed demon, his mind was filled with conflicting emotions.
He understood the threat the demon posed and firmly believed in finding a non-lethal solution.
Just as Demon Lord Astros was about to plunge his hand into the berserk cursed demon's skull, Nigel once again stood between them, taking the deadly strike with his sword.
This relentless blocking put Nigel in a double bind.
Behind him was an insane, violent, and uncontrolled Cursed Berserker.
In front of him was the cruel Astros, the Demon Lord, whose every strike was precise and deadly.
Nigel was like the eye of a storm, having to withstand the fierce onslaught from both sides.
One wrong step, and he would lose everything.
...
On the other side of Illusion Boulevard, under a street lamp, Lanchi stood quietly, watching the unfolding events.
"I want to help Mr. Nigel." Lanchi frowned slightly, speaking to Talia in his mind.
"Go ahead." Talia agreed.
She felt that she and Lanchi owed Nigel a favor.
Lanchi shifted his gaze from the battlefield to Christina beside him.
His primary goal was to help Nigel subdue the berserk cursed being and then let Nigel bring the berserker safely back to Pallia's 1st District for investigation.
Lanchi bent down and picked up a small black cat from the ground.
"Don't wander off. Wait for me to come back, and hold this cat. If you encounter any danger, it will protect you." He handed Cat Boss to Christina and said.
"Oh, okay." Christina took the little black cat in a daze, not even realizing when the butler had summoned a near fifth-rank elemental beast.
Next, Lanchi allowed Tata to possess part of his body.
...
At the far end of Illusion Boulevard, where a three-way melee seemed to be taking place.
Just as the confrontation between Nigel and Astros was about to reach its climax.
They noticed a figure approaching from the distance.
He wore a neat butler's uniform and walked with a calm and unhurried pace, as if he hadn't noticed the raging battlefield and was merely out for a stroll.
As he drew closer to the center of the battle, even amidst the bursting flames and chaotic movements, he effortlessly found spaces to advance, slightly dodging the aftermath of the clashes.
The more he did this, the more he appeared like a gentleman who had wandered into the wrong place.
Both the executioner, Nigel, and the Demon Lord, Astros, were puzzled by the intentions of this intruder with brown hair and green eyes.
"Nigel, I finally found an opportunity to return the favor. Let's continue our battle to the death from last time." Lanchi had almost reached the center of the battlefield, staring at Nigel as he said, and then he, too, stepped into the fray.
"Nigel, you sure have a lot of enemies!" Demon Lord Astros burst into laughter upon hearing this.
This brown-haired, green-eyed butler was undoubtedly one of Nigel's enemies.
And he didn't seem to be lying! It was easy to tell from the emotions in his voice and the calmness of his magical fluctuations.
Just as Demon Lord Astros was laughing.
Lanchi elbowed him hard in the back.
Demon Lord Astros didn't even have time to be surprised by the human's swift action. He felt a piercing, heart-wrenching pain, as if he had been cursed, and his whole body became immobile. Before he could react, Nigel seized the opportunity and struck him on the chin with the hilt of his sword, hard enough to make his head spin.
Finally, as Astros staggered, he had no chance to dodge, and Nigel repeatedly slammed the back of his sword onto Astros' head, burying it into the ground until the Demon Lord temporarily passed out.
"..."
Far away, Christina and Cat Boss watched with their eyes wide.
This was too despicable.
This guy obviously wanted to help Nigel.
But it seemed like he wasn't lying, and Demon Lord Astros had misunderstood him.
It was hard to imagine what Astros would do when he woke up. Would he ban this brown-haired, green-eyed human from entering the 7th District in the future?
"Phew, you've been a great help." With Astros out of the way, Nigel quickly joined forces with the butler to subdue the berserk cursed being.
Just like Astros, Nigel struck the berserker with the hilt of his sword several times, knocking him out completely, and then took out another chain magic conductor from his pocket to restrain him.
"You're a blunt weapon user?" Lanchi asked in surprise.
"This sword isn't sharpened; it's just heavy." Nigel sheathed his black sword and retrieved the other chain, securing the bound berserker and the semi-conscious red-haired girl from afar.
He didn't know why he was listening to this stranger.
Although the man's intentions were unclear, he had been helping him since he arrived, so Nigel didn't want to trouble him further.
"Nigel, it's me." Lanchi whispered, changing his voice.
"...?"
Nigel suddenly realized something and grabbed Lanchi's arm.
His other hand gripped the chain tightly, bringing the bound berserk demon and the half-dead red-haired girl to the top of a tall building.
"Lanchi Wilford?" Nigel looked at the brown-haired, green-eyed youth before him, unsure.
"Yes." Lanchi nodded and walked to the edge of the rooftop, keeping an eye on Christina's location in the distance.
Even with Cat Boss, he was still worried that an enemy with ill intentions might approach her in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, Talia, using Lanchi's body, reached out to the berserk cursed being lying on the ground.
"Submit to me." She mouthed silently.
The next second, the hideous, deformed demon on the ground gradually calmed down, transforming into a muscular demon.
"Thanks." Nigel witnessed the forbidden curse being dispelled for the second time and still found it incredible.
Besides Miss Tata, Lanchi could also cast the curse-breaking spell.
But Nigel didn't ask further.
"I'll go back and report to the Senate first. Please take care of this human for me." Nigel handed over the other chain to Lanchi. He now had to deliver the healed high-rank cursed being to the Senate as soon as possible and had no time to take this human to the hospital for treatment.
"Of course, no problem." Lanchi took the chain and glanced at the figure, slightly surprised.
If not for her clothes being stained red with blood, he wouldn't have noticed that her hair was originally red.
Taking a closer look at her attire and features, he immediately recalled the violent red-haired youth he had faced at the Saint Silvervine Arena the night before.
"Do you know her?"
Noticing Lanchi's gaze, Nigel asked.
"We've met once before. Rest assured, I'll take care of her."
Lanchi assured him.
"Then I'll be on my way."
Nigel bid farewell.
"Okay, don't wander off."
Lanchi reminded him.
He gestured for Nigel to keep each other in sight during their return journey, to minimize the risk of an enemy sneaking up on them.
They immediately returned to Illusion Boulevard and found Christina waiting for them, before starting their journey back to the city of Pallia in the 6th district.
...
Meanwhile, in another part of the Bosean Demon Realm, under the deep shadows of night, the dimly lit streetlights barely illuminated the dilapidated buildings and dense shadows.
The streetlights were sparsely arranged, and most of them had gone out, leaving only a few emitting a dim and flickering light.
As the wind blew, the window shutters creaked softly, emitting a mournful sound.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, a figure emerged from the darkness.
His figure was blurred in the dim streetlight, and his face was hidden under the deep brim of his hat, revealing only his cold chin and mouth.
Shadows stretched long under his feet, twisting and turning as if they had a life of their own, writhing on the ground as he moved.
These shadows danced in the unstable light, sometimes resembling reaching tendrils, and sometimes like pools of black liquid spreading on the ground.
"Loki McCassy..."
"Just who are you..."
The words escaped from his lips.
The first time he planned to make a move was when he intended to kidnap the young lady.
However, a gaze immediately descended from the sky, focusing on the young lady.
Thus, he had no choice but to hold back.
The second opportunity came when he wanted to finish off Nigel in the Bosean Demon Realm.
But Nigel and Loki didn't completely part ways, and he was unsure if he could take them both out in one move.
If he made a move now and even one of them escaped back to the 6th district, it would be a disaster.
However, he had at least gained some information.
The person who helped Nigel dispel the curse was this butler, Loki McCassy, who worked for the Baptiste Earl's household.
"Hehehe, the feast is about to begin..."
Accompanied by an indiscernible laugh, he disappeared into the darkness at the end of the street.
...
On the other side of Pallia, in the late hours of the night.
Nitrate General Hospital, officially known as the Pallia Nitrate Medical Supply Center, was located in the 3rd district of the Bosean Kingdom's capital, Pallia. It was the largest hospital in Pallia, boasting a rich royal background and modern medical achievements.
The hospital was initially established by Nicholas Fouquet, the Minister of Finance under King Rani XIV of Bose, with the goal of providing a facility for impoverished and sick women. The name 'Nitrate' originated from the site's original purpose as a factory producing fire-attribute magic stones.
Over the centuries, the hospital gradually evolved into a large medical complex. Today, it not only serves as a medical service provider for Pallia but also stands as one of the most important centers for medical research and education in all of the Southern Continent.
Night cast its shadow over the upper floors of the Nitrate Hospital.
In a single-bed room facing the glittering city, the moonlight seeped through the gaps in the curtains, casting a silvery stream of light into every corner of the room.
The room was simply decorated, with the lights dimmed to their lowest setting, leaving only a bedside lamp emitting a soft golden glow, enveloping the space in a layer of warm yellow.
On the pristine white bed lay a red-haired young woman.
She was wrapped in fresh bandages, with dried blood still visible in some places, a testament to her recent brush with death.
As time passed, the red-haired young woman gradually regained some consciousness.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she struggled to turn her head, her gaze wandering around the room as if trying to recognize this quiet space.
The young woman's eyes finally rested on the calm night view outside the window, where the silhouette of Pallia's skyline was outlined against the distant horizon, and a half-moon hung high in the sky, casting its silver light upon the sleeping city.
As she tried to move her body, she felt the numbness from the bandages wrapped around her, as if this body didn't belong to her.
"Where am I..."
The red-haired young woman slowly sat up in bed, her bandages becoming soaked with fresh blood once more.
She noticed that she wasn't alone in the room and immediately became alert.
Standing on one side of the room was a man with brown hair and gentle green eyes, dressed in a dark butler's uniform, who seemed polite and courteous.
By the bedside stood a young blonde woman, exuding both aristocratic elegance and a hint of worry.
The red-haired young woman felt that she vaguely recognized these two people but couldn't quite place them.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?"
The young woman's voice was laced with obvious caution and coldness.
"Do you remember who you are?"
Christina spoke first, her eyes falling on the bandages on the young woman's forehead, now stained with fresh blood, a concerned look on her face.
Logically, Inoanne, who had faced them in the Saint Silvervine Arena the night before, should have recognized them.
According to the doctor's diagnosis, Miss Inoanne had suffered numerous fatal injuries and had survived only due to her exceptional physical condition. However, her head trauma could lead to issues such as bodily coordination problems, drastic changes in personality, and memory loss.
Christina's question caused the red-haired young woman to pause.
"Who am I..."
She murmured, reaching up to touch her face, her eyes clouded with confusion as she gazed into the mirror.
She remained still for a long moment, unable to come up with an answer.
"Inoanne Hornenso."
Lanchi handed her identification documents to the young woman, introducing himself.
"Then who are you?"
Inoanne took the small bag of belongings, which included her wallet and documents, and looked up at the two of them.
She checked the contents and confirmed that they indeed belonged to her.
"My name is Loki McCassy, and this is Christina Baptiste. There's no need to be on guard against us. We're the ones who brought you to the hospital, and you can ask the doctors and police if you don't believe me."
Lanchi explained, reassuring her.
"Hmm..."
Inoanne covered her head with her hand, seemingly unfazed by the blood that was now seeping through the gauze.
Her mind was in turmoil, desperately searching for fragments of her memory, but all she could grasp was chaos and fear, as if she were enveloped in a thick fog with no sense of direction.
The only thing that was deeply etched in her heart was the feeling that her life was in danger.
The memory of being relentlessly pursued lingered strongly in her mind!
However, she didn't believe that these two people in front of her were the ones chasing her.
"Can you remember anything? If there's anything you need help with, we'll be glad to assist."
Lanchi had been genuinely concerned about Inoanne ever since he first encountered her the day before, and he asked with sincerity.
He always suspected that there was something amiss with Inoanne's mental state.
And in her current state, it didn't seem like a bad thing.
"......"
Inoanne hesitated and shook her head.
She was penniless, without family or friends, and all she had was a lone identification card. On top of that, she was still being hunted down.
"What should I do now?"
After a long pause, Inoanne looked up at them and asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.
At this moment, the red-haired girl felt as if she were standing at a crossroads, her memory shrouded in a fog of confusion, making it difficult to distinguish truth from deception.
The only thing she could rely on was her own intuition, which told her that the safest option was to stay close to these two people, at least for the time being.
The sense of insecurity brought on by her loss of memory was overwhelming, making her nervous and suspicious of everyone around her.
"Then how about this, you can come work as a maid at the Baptiste household, and Loki will teach you how to do the chores. After that, you can find another job and support yourself."
Christina suggested with a friendly smile.
Ever since Loki the butler defeated Inoanne in the arena, she had felt a bit sorry for the red-haired girl.
And now, seeing her in such a pitiful state, she felt even more empathetic towards her.
"......"
Inoanne nodded slowly, considering the offer.
She felt that the blonde-haired girl before her didn't seem like a bad person.
Her face was still deathly pale, a stark contrast to her vibrant red hair.
"Here, have something to eat."
Christina offered a bag of Ghost Bread, a transparent wheat bread unique to the Bosean Demon Realm, which she had bought during their stroll through the night market.
Inoanne hesitantly reached out, then quickly took the bag and tore open the packaging, popping the bread into her mouth. It had been days since she had eaten a proper meal.
After finishing the bread, the hospital room fell silent once more.
For nearly a minute, Inoanne remained silent, then finally nodded her head in agreement to Christina's proposal.
"Alright then, let's go."
Inoanne got off the bed, but as she took a step, she wobbled and had to hold onto the bedpost to steady herself.
The bandages on her body were once again stained red, perhaps from her wounds reopening.
"You don't have to rush into working right away. I can give you an advance on your wages."
Christina supported Inoanne gently, a concerned look on her face.
Inoanne looked up at her, her expression guarded.
She didn't feel that she owed them anything, but she did sense that staying close to these two people would be safer than being alone in the hospital.
At this moment, what she craved most was a sense of security, and everything around her felt unfamiliar and uncertain.
The only connection she had was a vague impression of these two people, and they didn't seem to harbor any ill intentions towards her.
"I don't feel any pain."
Inoanne said this with a hint of indifference in her voice.
The one thing she was certain of was the absence of physical pain, even when she had been beaten to near-death, she only felt a strange numbness and stiffness in her body.
Suddenly, Inoanne sensed a gaze upon her.
"......Why are you looking at me like that? Not feeling any pain isn't necessarily a good thing, you know."
Inoanne met the butler's emerald eyes, which seemed to hold a hint of pity, and she felt a twinge of discomfort.
"Pain is an important protective signal for your body. If you can't feel pain, you might end up hurting yourself or others without even realizing it."
Lanchi explained, his voice soft and gentle.
"Well, I don't feel pain, so it's fine."
Inoanne shrugged, unconcerned about the potential consequences.
She didn't see the lack of pain as a negative thing; in fact, it had probably saved her from a lot of suffering from her injuries.
"Is that so."
Lanchi smiled faintly, not pressing the issue further.
Some matters could be discussed at a later time; for now, taking care of her well-being was the top priority.
"So, from now on, I'll be your employer."
Christina said this with a sense of relief, happy to have found a solution for Inoanne.
In her opinion, Inoanne in her current state was much less intimidating than when they had first met.
And she felt that her decision to hire Inoanne was much better than her brother's decision to hire Loki, who exuded an aura of a dark deity.
"I might be clumsy at first, so please don't scold me."
Inoanne spoke softly, her voice laced with uncertainty.
She felt that she might not be good at domestic chores and had never worn a maid's uniform before.
There was also a strange resistance within her, as if donning that uniform would mean losing a part of herself forever.
However, the prospect of being chased and homeless was far worse.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you everything you need to know, and we'll take good care of you from now on."
Lanchi reassured her with a warm smile.
For some reason, his workload seemed to be increasing by the day.
Nevertheless, having Inoanne under their care was a good thing, especially with the recent escalation of incidents involving the cursed demon tribe. Even the Flower City of Pallia might not be entirely safe, and it would be beneficial to have another capable fighter in the Baptiste household, in addition to Loki.
(End of Chapter)
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