This new ability had already appeared in Amelia’s mind. How to use it, what effects it could produce—Amelia knew it all with absolute clarity.
Although using an ability for the first time might feel awkward and might not be executed perfectly, at this moment, all of Amelia’s past combat experience told her that now was the opportunity to display this new ability.
So, she charged forward. As Dempsey’s sword slash missed, too late for a follow-up attack, she reappeared at his side. She swung her silver, gleaming bow, slashing it towards Dempsey.
The silvery-white bow appeared at Dempsey’s side. The bowstring lightly sliced across Dempsey’s neck—sharp as a razor’s edge—cleanly severing his windpipe on the spot.
Amelia, having completed this swift motion in a single fluid movement, appeared behind Dempsey and came to a stop.
Dempsey stood there stiffly, blood continuously gushing from his throat. Intense pain radiated from that point through his entire body, sapping him of all strength.
Why… did it end like this?
Why did a battle that seemed so certain to be won end with such an absurd conclusion?
Why?
In Dempsey’s mind, many scenes from his life flashed before him, finally coalescing into Amelia’s image.
In the end, he had still underestimated this person.
“Thud!”
Unable to think any further, Dempsey fell straight forward, bidding farewell to his life.
Amelia turned back around and looked at Dempsey’s corpse.
Then she pulled her gaze back, looking at the silver longbow in her hand, and the bowstring now tinged with a trace of blood.
‘To think that upon becoming a Mid-Rank Apostle, I’d gain an ability like this. Could it be I have a heart for melee combat?’
Amelia’s expression was a bit strange.
When a person rises in Rank, the ability they receive from the God as feedback is generally the one most suited to their personal habits.
But was this new ability really more suitable for her?
This new ability was called Bow Kata—a technique for using a bow in close-quarters combat.
It sounded a bit odd. After all, a bow, no matter who you ask, is first and foremost considered a ranged weapon. Yet Bow Kata was for melee.
‘Well, it’s fine. As long as I’m a Mid-Rank Apostle.’
Though the ability she gained was unexpected, it was at least quite useful, especially when combined with the Wind God’s Dance Step. It could be quite effective. Amelia wasn’t about to complain.
Just then, she heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“Eileen, you’re back.”
Amelia turned around. It was indeed Eileen walking towards her.
“Your Majesty, I’ve killed all the soldiers who tried to flee.”
“Good. With you handling it, that shouldn’t have been a problem. But… did you come back earlier than this?”
Amelia had a good understanding of Eileen’s abilities and felt she should have returned sooner. It was a question she hadn’t had time to consider during the urgent battle, but now, upon reflection, she felt a little puzzled.
A look of apology appeared on Eileen’s face. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I did return earlier. But seeing that Your Majesty had the potential to break through, I chose not to intervene, hoping to use that Mid-Rank Apostle to help you achieve the breakthrough.”
“So that’s what it was.” Amelia smiled. “Come now, Eileen, you don’t need to look so apologetic. You were thinking of my best interests, weren’t you? And I did indeed break through to Mid-Rank Apostle. That proves your decision was absolutely correct.”
Seeing that Amelia didn’t blame her, Eileen couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
【To think Amelia is already a Mid-Rank Apostle. As expected of the Divine Bloodline.】
【The Bow Kata ability really makes me laugh. So, archers do have to go into melee, right?】
【Archers being melee fighters… isn’t that common sense? (dog head)】
【At this rate, Amelia’s Rank is about to catch up to Eileen’s.】
【Don’t underestimate Eileen! She’s the type who powers up later. I bet Amelia’s Rank will never catch up to Eileen’s; she’ll always be beneath her.】
【I have to ask, earlier commenter, was that “always beneath her” a double entendre?】
The mood in the Bullet Comments was relaxed.
Amelia glanced over a few lines. She had grown accustomed to the audience’s antics and didn’t pay them much mind.
Next, Amelia first used Corpse-Dissolving Fluid to dispose of Dempsey’s body. His corpse bore traces of her ability, which could lead to unwanted connections. As for the other corpses, they didn’t require the same attention.
After dealing with Dempsey’s body, Amelia turned her gaze to the captured people. She instructed Eileen, “Eileen, let’s release them. And check what needs to be done for them to wake up.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Eileen immediately stepped forward, cutting the ropes that bound them while checking each person’s physical condition.
Once all the ropes were cut, Eileen had also assessed their states.
She returned to Amelia’s side and reported, “Your Majesty, these people were merely affected by a kind of Alchemy Potion that induces unconsciousness. They will wake naturally after sleeping for a while longer.”
“Is that so? Then let’s go. We don’t need to bother with them. They’ll leave on their own when they wake.” Amelia made her decision, then added, “But there are still Akti Kingdom soldiers in other corners of this City Lord’s Mansion. Before we leave, let’s make one more thorough sweep through the mansion.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.” Eileen had no objections.
The two of them left the building.
They began searching through the City Lord’s Mansion. And indeed, they found some Akti Kingdom soldiers stationed at other positions. Their fates were without any suspense; all were easily dealt with by Amelia and Eileen.
By the time they were certain no stragglers remained in the mansion, a fair amount of time had passed, and the night had grown much deeper.
Amelia and Eileen finally left the City Lord’s Mansion.
At this hour, no one else in Rhine City knew what had transpired there. No one was aware of the dramatic upheaval that had occurred within the mansion in just a few short hours.
And the two people responsible for the upheaval had already departed, stepping into the vast darkness of the night.
Because it was so late, Amelia and Eileen didn’t immediately leave Rhine City. They entered their Carriage, intending to rest for the night and depart the next morning.
Before arriving at Rhine City, when no towns were available, Amelia had slept in the Carriage. She was used to it now. After removing her dress and lying down inside, she subconsciously scooted a little closer to Eileen beside her.
The moment her skin touched Eileen’s, Amelia’s body relaxed.
It was currently winter. The cold air permeated everywhere. Naturally, Amelia felt the cold, too. In such conditions, only by staying close to Eileen could they keep each other warm.
“Your Majesty, are you cold?” Eileen sensed Amelia’s body drawing near and asked.
“It is indeed a bit cold.”
“Then allow me to warm you, Your Majesty.”
As she spoke, Eileen turned onto her side and pulled Amelia tightly into her embrace, shielding her from the harsh cold.
Amelia subconsciously curled up her petite frame, nestling closer into Eileen’s arms.
Staying in Eileen’s embrace… it was so warm and comfortable.
With that thought in mind, Amelia closed her eyes.
It was always easy to fall asleep in a comfortable environment, and Amelia was no exception. Almost as soon as she closed her eyes, she sank into a dream.
In the dream, there was her… and Eileen.
It was a beautiful dream.
==========
The next morning, Amelia and Eileen rose early.
After washing up and eating breakfast, they leisurely departed from Rhine City.
As they left, news of what had happened at the City Lord’s Mansion finally spread throughout Rhine City.
That was because all the people who had been captured and brought there had woken up at dawn. Upon waking, their first instinct was naturally to leave the mansion and return to their families, bringing news of the events inside.
They didn’t know exactly what had transpired—only that they’d been seized by the Akti Kingdom’s men and knocked unconscious. When they awoke, all they saw were severed ropes and the numerous corpses of Akti Kingdom soldiers.
Though no one had witnessed the process, the scene presented made it clear to everyone that they had been rescued. They simply didn’t know who their rescuers were.
When the news spread and everyone learned that the Akti Kingdom was the culprit behind the mass disappearances in Rhine City, the entire city was thrown into an uproar. Turmoil erupted everywhere.
Furthermore, although Amelia had saved the people inside the City Lord’s Mansion, more people had been captured before that and already sent off to the mines. Those people were not among the ones who had returned this time.
Many people whose family members were missing saw that others’ missing relatives had come back, while theirs had not. They naturally couldn’t ignore this, and unrest throughout Rhine City was inevitable.
The Akti Kingdom personnel remaining in other parts of Rhine City were destined to have severe headaches over this.
This was a matter Amelia could not further interfere in.
The Carriage traveled out of Rhine City and continued on a southeastern course, looking rather lonely along the way.
In the current Domain of Chaos, nowhere was truly safe. No one lingered long in the wilderness. The vast majority of people chose to enter towns and cities whenever possible; only there did they feel at ease.
After the Carriage had traveled for a while, Amelia lifted a flap to look outside. The ground was bare; in winter, one might occasionally see a few withered weeds weakly clinging to the earth.
The forests lining both sides of the road were also bare. Their tree trunks were black and stiff, swaying gently in the wind.
Amelia had already restored her original appearance. Her light golden, slightly wavy hair was blown by the wind and stuck to her face.
She raised a hand, brushed it across her fair cheek, and smoothed the tousled strands behind her ear. Then, as if sensing something, she lifted her head and looked up at the sky.
A pristine snowflake drifted down from the sky, falling before her eyes.
She instinctively reached out a hand to catch this falling snowflake. It landed in her palm, quickly melting away, leaving only a faint trace of moisture.
“It’s snowing.”
Amelia murmured.
She tilted her head up. More snowflakes were fluttering down from all across the sky.
This was the first time she had seen snow in this world. Although it wasn’t the first snowfall since her arrival—the previous one had fallen in the middle of the night while she slept—this was the first time she was witnessing it with her own eyes.
“Eileen, it’ll be cold outside in the snow. Let’s rest for a bit,” Amelia said to Eileen, who was driving the Carriage.
“Your Majesty need not worry about me. As a High-Rank Apostle, my physical constitution is very strong. Snow like this won’t affect me.”
“Are you really not cold? I’m still a little worried.”
“I’m wearing the Thermal Top and tights Your Majesty asked me to wear. There’s no problem.”
“Really?”
Amelia looked at Eileen’s delicate profile.
Even with the Thermal Top and tights, everything above the neck was still exposed.
As she thought this, Amelia saw Eileen exhale a breath of white steam, starkly visible in the cold air.
Seeing this, Amelia simply sat down next to Eileen. “In that case, I’ll keep you company, Eileen.”
“Your Majesty should go back inside the Carriage,” Eileen said hurriedly.
“No need. I want to see the scenery outside, too, especially this snowfall.” Amelia shook her head, smiling.
“Your Majesty…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be cold, either.”
Amelia offered a light smile.
Seeing that Amelia was set on it, Eileen didn’t press further.
She continued driving the Carriage along the road.
As they traveled, Amelia chatted with Eileen about various things. As they talked, their bodies naturally drew closer, practically pressing together.
Under such circumstances, the snow began to fall harder and harder.
A few hours later, their Carriage arrived beside a patch of woods. By now, the snow was coming down even heavier, black branches dotted with specks of white.
Arriving there, Eileen stopped the Carriage. She glanced at the horse pulling it, then turned to Amelia. “Your Majesty, our horse seems a bit tired. Let’s stop and let it rest.”
Amelia also looked at the horse. “Doesn’t it normally walk all day without tiring?”
“It seems it didn’t sleep last night,” Eileen said helplessly. “When we went to the City Lord’s Mansion last night, we left the Carriage outside a tavern. It was apparently disturbed by the noise from the tavern. Later, after we returned, it still didn’t sleep. So, what seems like tiredness now is more accurately drowsiness.”
“Then let’s find a place and let it sleep for a while.”
“Understood.”
