Chapter 147: [Epilogue]—Fallen to the Root
On the road.
Without any further delay, Grace, fearing she would miss the Sharp Assault squad’s return, prepared to leave.
But Bai, with nothing else to do, offered to accompany her.
Grace, of course, didn’t refuse. She led Bai and Ara to a nearby shop.
After a brief, whispered conversation with the shopkeeper, he produced a key, and led them to the back, where a brand new device-car was parked.
“Do you know the shopkeeper?” Bai asked, surprised, as they got into the car.
“No,” Grace replied, inserting the key into the control panel. “But he knows me. All the legitimate shops in this city are mine.”
“Legitimate” meaning not a street stall like Karina’s, though in truth, many of the street stalls were also funded by her.
Ara, in the car, looked around with wide, curious eyes, but she didn’t touch anything.
Bai, having experienced Lilia’s carriage before, was less impressed.
Grace fiddled with the controls, and the device-car began to move, heading west.
West, towards Saint Noyes.
After their resurrection, Qin Su and the others had requested to return to Saint Noyes, and the Empire had granted their request.
Although the city had been abandoned for a long time after its fall, it had been reclaimed after the Abyss had sealed itself off, and was now garrisoned by a small Knight unit.
They had also cleared the overgrown weeds and erected cenotaphs for the fallen.
Of course, with the Sharp Assault squad’s return, those cenotaphs had been removed.
But although Qin Su had wanted to revisit the past, Bai had not.
To her, Saint Noyes was still a place of sorrow, of painful memories, of Sister Neily’s final embrace.
Although she now knew Neily had died centuries ago, her consciousness sustained only by a lingering obsession, the pain was still there…
Grace chattered on, recounting exaggerated tales of the Sharp Assault squad, and of her own heroic deeds, almost transforming herself into the legendary “Captain Xu Bai.”
Bai simply smiled, offering a few noncommittal grunts.
After the Battle of Vikarn Port, the Empire had honored the Sharp Assault squad as heroes, burying their commander’s “remains” in Heroes’ Rest, a place reserved for Legendary Knights.
So, throughout the nation, especially among the Knights, the Sharp Assault squad was revered.
Grace, having served in the Crown Guard, had also been influenced.
Of course, this was all well and good, if the Sharp Assault squad had truly died.
But now they were back… and the Empire was in an awkward position. A dead hero was always more glorious than a living one, especially with a story as tragic as Saint Noyes.
But it didn’t matter. The propaganda had already been spread. So, the high command had decided to appoint the members of the original Sharp Assault squad to important positions in their respective fields.
Qin Su was now the commander of the new Sharp Assault Knight unit, Lockner the Royal Knight Commander, Rayne a general, and Victoria had been transferred to the device research and development department. Although she didn’t have a high position yet, with her talent, it was only a matter of time.
Bai had learned all of this from Grace.
And she was content, knowing her former comrades had found a good place for themselves.
“But,” Grace sighed, her voice low, “it’s a shame the most amazing one, Captain Xu Bai, didn’t make it. If he were still alive…”
“His being alive wouldn’t have changed anything,” Bai said calmly.
“How can you say that!” Grace frowned, offended. “Little Sister Bai, you don’t understand. Captain Xu Bai—”
“We’re here,” Bai interrupted, saving Grace from a long-winded speech.
“Oh,” Grace said, looking around, and slowly brought the device-car to a stop. “Little Sister Bai, Captain Xu Bai was amazing. You see—”
“The Sharp Assault squad is here,” Bai interrupted again, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
She had only been speaking her mind. She hadn’t expected such a strong reaction.
Although, she didn’t really care. Grace was, after all, praising her… and it was getting a bit embarrassing.
Ara looked at Bai’s flushed face and had an urge to give her a little nibble.
But there were people around, and she was shy. She would just have to wait until they were home.
No, she would give her several nibbles!
Grace looked up to see several figures approaching from the west gate, a Knight unit following behind them, and she almost jumped out of her seat.
The surrounding crowd also erupted in cheers, their excitement matching her own.
“This is… quite a reception,” Bai murmured.
Even in their past victories, they had never been greeted with such a grand spectacle.
“I’m starting to think you have something against the Sharp Assault squad, Little Sister Bai!” Grace said, her hands on her hips, pouting. “Did they attack your tribe or something? Hmph!”
She had instinctively assumed Bai was a beastkin. The image of the little pink fox had been too strong.
“Not at all,” Bai shrugged. “I just… know them.”
“You know them?” Grace’s eyes widened. “Wait, do they know you?”
“…I think so,” Bai said, blinking.
“Pfft…” Grace, thinking Bai was joking, was disappointed.
“I’m serious,” Bai said, looking at the approaching squad, then at Grace. “Don’t be sad. Look, they’re coming over.”
“Huh?”
Grace looked up to see the Sharp Assault squad changing course, heading towards her device-car.
“Huh? Huh? Huh?”
