Chapter 125: News from the Bewildering Forest
That night, Bai didn’t leave the Clock Tower Cathedral. Her current identity was too sensitive, and she couldn’t join the Legendary Knights on their patrols.
Queen Shaya also remained in the cathedral, her eyes half-closed, leaning back in her chair, seemingly asleep, or perhaps… watching Bai.
And their presence, an unforeseen variable, had provided cover for Sasha and Ice Lily, who were hiding nearby.
The Demonic Rune detector, near the cathedral, was overwhelmed by Bai’s and Shaya’s powerful demonic auras, rendering it useless.
Bai hadn’t yet learned to suppress her aura, and no one dared to ask Shaya to conceal hers.
As dawn broke, an unexpected visitor arrived at the cathedral.
Or rather, its owner.
—Archbishop Alonso.
As he pushed open the doors to the second-floor hall, two pairs of scarlet eyes turned to him, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
He had often snuck off to the front lines, most frequently to the defense line near the Bewildering Forest, and had encountered the Vampires who were attacking the elves. He was familiar with them.
He instantly recognized the two young women as Vampires, and high-ranking ones at that, their bloodlines pure.
He was terrified.
Although Bai had never met him before, she recognized him instantly, the rough, burly man in the ill-fitting priest’s robes.
“Commander Bai, of the Crown Guard,” she said, her scarlet eyes unsettling him. “Greetings, Your Excellency.”
“…So it’s you,” Alonso said, relieved, though he had only just returned to the capital, he had heard of Bai.
But seeing her in person, a pure-blooded Vampire, he was stunned.
“How did she become a Knight Commander…?” he wondered. She looked like a demon, yet the Legendary Knights had entrusted her with such an important position.
Of course, if she had looked like this from the beginning, only Leticia would have approved.
But the situation had spiraled out of control, and they had been forced to accept her.
“And this is…?” Alonso asked, his gaze shifting to the other young woman, who looked much older than Bai.
Bai appeared to be eight or nine, while this other woman looked at least fifteen.
“Your sister?” he asked, scratching his head, his composure returning.
The crimson-haired Bai and Shaya did look somewhat alike.
…Or rather, after acquiring a demonic bloodline, Bai’s appearance would always bear some resemblance to the source.
“…Something like that,” Bai said, looking away, embarrassed.
Shaya’s lips curved into a faint smile. She hadn’t intended to acknowledge this human, but his comment pleased her.
She opened her eyes slightly, her gaze falling on Alonso.
And he froze, a primal fear, honed by years of battle, seizing him.
Her scarlet eyes, so similar to Bai’s, held a different power.
Majesty, indifference, evil, chaos…
He had only felt this once before, when Queen Shaya herself had appeared on the battlefield in the Bewildering Forest.
“Q-Queen Shaya?” his knees buckled, and he almost collapsed.
He wanted to cry. “Why didn’t anyone tell me Queen Shaya was in the capital?!”
He had seen her at her most terrifying, and he knew her power. And he was no match for a Legendary Knight.
He was in a slightly better position now, but still…
In fact, some of the elves who had faced her had simply… given up, allowing the demonic corruption to consume them, a twisted form of mercy.
“Have we met?” Shaya asked, her eyes narrowed. “A scent of pointy-ears… just returned from the Bewildering Forest, have you?”
“Y-yes…” Alonso was sweating profusely, trapped in the doorway, unsure whether to enter or flee.
Thankfully, Bai, seeing his predicament, intervened.
“Your Excellency, if you have something to discuss, please come in.”
Her words made it seem as if she were the host, and he the guest.
But he was grateful for the lifeline. “…Miss Bai, you can just call me Alonso, or even Alon… you know my position is mostly… ceremonial.”
And her constant “Your Excellency” was making him nervous.
Especially with Queen Shaya sitting right there…
“Although a ceremonial position, it still carries a certain responsibility,” Bai said. She had learned a lot about the Empire’s inner workings recently. “If you prefer, then, Sir Alonso.”
Alonso wiped the sweat from his brow, cautiously entering the hall and sitting down at the far end of the table, as far away from Shaya as possible.
Shaya, her interest waning, leaned back, feigning sleep.
“Sir Alonso, is there something you need to discuss?” Bai asked.
Although this was technically his territory, the situation was unusual. And for him to brave Shaya’s presence, it must be important.
Alonso, realizing it was time to get down to business, composed himself. “About the Bewildering Forest… they’ve sealed off their entire sacred land, cutting off all contact with the outside world.”
