Fantasy Library.

Chapter 369 Giving Everything

A while later, Kaoru Sayamiya left Shichio Shrine with Touma Hoshikasu to return and continue overseeing matters in Nikko City.

Aize and his two companions did not linger there. They left the front hall and headed towards the headquarters.

Throughout the journey, Yuri Mariya remained in a state of wanting to say something but not daring to.

Seeing the girl's conflicted expression, Liliana immediately understood what she was thinking.

"My king."

After thinking it over, Liliana spoke up for Yuri Mariya and said what she wanted to say.

"You should go and deal with that ape god, right?"

Although Liliana Kranichal was a maid, she was someone who dared to speak to the king; otherwise, she wouldn't have received such praise from Vauban, who thought she was different from her obedient grandfather.

She knew how terrifying the Godslayer was, and she knew she couldn't go against him. So, in the end, Liliana still chose to take action to seize Yuri Mariya, but she was also trying her best to minimize the impact.

Now that a rebellious god has appeared in this country, even though she is not from this country, she decided to speak up for Yuri Mariya out of consideration for the innocent people.

This prompted Yuri Mariya to cast a grateful glance at Liliana.

"What?" Aize seemed oblivious to the interaction between the two beautiful girls behind him, and said without turning his head, "You really want me to go?"

“That’s natural,” Liliana said matter-of-factly. “Given the current situation, only by eliminating that Monkey God can Radiant City be restored to its original state.”

Although the residents of Nikko City have turned into monkeys, it is not impossible for them to return to human form.

Once the source is eliminated and the subsequent influence of the curse is removed, perhaps a way can be found to restore these people to human form.

"The Monkey God has not yet been born. If the King makes a move now, he should be able to defeat him easily."

Yuri Mariya carefully observed Aize's expression, and seeing that he did not show any displeasure, she boldly offered her opinion.

To this, Aize simply said one thing.

"Do you have a feeling that I can easily take it down?"

One sentence left Yuri Mariya speechless.

"It should be the opposite, right?" Aize looked at the preoccupied priestess, smiled, and said, "With your intuition, you should have already vaguely sensed when you brought this up that I wouldn't be able to take down that monkey if I acted now, right?"

Yuri Mariya remained silent, which was tantamount to her acquiescence.

She did have a feeling that if Aize made a move at this time, he definitely wouldn't be able to defeat Sun Wukong.

Although, according to common sense, as long as Aize makes a move, he can easily sever the divine status of Sun Wukong, who has been turned into a stone monkey and is unable to move, and kill him with a single stroke of the golden sword, gods and god-killers are beings that transcend common sense and cannot be judged by common sense.

According to common sense, weak humans have no chance of killing gods. However, through various miracles, factors, and coincidences, humans may succeed in killing gods and become god-killers.

After becoming god-slayers, these people became even more outrageous.

Even excluding Azer, there are six godkillers in the world today, each possessing multiple powers and having killed multiple gods.

If the first god-slaying was successful only after a series of miraculous coincidences, then why were they able to succeed in the subsequent god-slaying attempts?

Logically speaking, a god-slayer who has just successfully killed a god only has one power and is still far from being a true god. So why are they still able to successfully kill gods one after another?
The reason is simple: the god-slayer is a warrior, a king, a monster, and also a human being—an existence beyond common sense.

They always manage to find opportunities to win even when they are at a disadvantage, relying on their animalistic instincts.

They always manage to become even more formidable and ferocious after being injured; this ability is etched deep into their souls.

Overcoming the strong with the weak, turning the tide in desperate situations, and snatching victory from defeat... Such situations might be difficult for humans and other beings to achieve, but god-slayers can accomplish them as easily as eating a meal, creating one incredible victory after another.

Therefore, they are the true kings.

Therefore, they are the true hegemons.

Therefore, they are the true demons.

The term "god-slaying beast" says it all, illustrating just how chaotic and abnormal a being like a god-slayer truly is.

Conversely, the same applies to deities.

They are also extraordinary beings, transcendent and great things.

Even if they are not as irrational as the Godslayers, they are gods, which means they are destined to be able to do many incredible things.

If the Earth Mother Goddess, who controls the cycle of life and death, can even bring the dead back to life, who can guarantee that other gods don't have some special properties?

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, has mastered seventy-two transformations, enabling him to escape three calamities and five tribulations. He possesses an indestructible body, and even when thrown into a furnace to be burned by divine fire, he can turn misfortune into blessing, gaining the ability to see through fire. Aize doesn't think that if he goes over and strikes him with his sword now, he will die instantly.

This was one of the reasons why Aize turned around and left at that time.

He would wait until Sun Wukong was at his peak before engaging in battle with him.

This was both to satisfy his own fighting desire to challenge the Monkey King and to gain his power.

Only by challenging and defeating a god in perfect condition can a god-slayer gain new powers. If Azer had killed Sun Wukong when he had just broken free from the curse of the stable boy and was not yet in perfect condition, he would not have been able to activate the Ring of Usurpation and seize His power.

Even if he had attacked at that time, Sun Wukong would definitely have had a way to escape temporarily, change his position, and come back to cause trouble after he had fully recovered.

Rather than doing that, it would be better to wait until He is born, so that at least we can keep track of His movements.

"Let's put the matter of Sun Wukong aside for now." Aize looked at Wanli Gu Yuli, who was bowing her head and remaining silent, and tapped her on the head, saying, "If you're really worried, then try to see if you can trigger your spiritual vision and see His exact birth time."

Yuri Mariya rubbed her throbbing forehead and nodded heavily.

"I will work hard."

Upon hearing this, Liliana, who was standing nearby, also spoke up.

“My king, if necessary, my power can also be put to use.”

As a witch, Liliana is far more skilled in magic than Erica, and the various witch spells she has mastered can be used in many situations.

Liliana's greatest strengths lie in alchemy, communicating with the consciousness of plants and animals, and manipulating water, earth, and sky through magic.

For example, the art of flight—that's a magic that only witches can use.

There's also the Spell Investigation, used to investigate nearby magical or supernatural occurrences—the witches' most prized investigative spell. Combined with her spiritual vision, if Liliana were to act as a scout, there's generally very little she wouldn't be able to detect.

That's why Liliana was able to find Yuri Mariya's location so quickly after arriving in the country, and wait for her to come to her.

"You?" Aize turned to Liliana, and said suspiciously, "I hired you to be a maid, not a knight. Even so, you're still willing to help?"

“…Innocent people are suffering. This reason alone is enough to make any qualified knight take action.” Liliana looked at Aize with great seriousness and said, “Besides, when facing a god who does not obey, humanity should unite. Otherwise, how can we face the gods?”

"Really?" Aize, seeing that Liliana's eyes were serious, remarked, "In that respect, you and Erica are quite similar."

“Me? And her?” Liliana immediately objected, “How are we alike?”

“That’s all I’m saying.” Aize was amused by Liliana’s resistant attitude and said, “Back in Sardinia, although she had her own purposes, she was also willing to give everything for the innocent people.”

Liliana was speechless.

After a while, she finally said something.

"Even she is still a knight."

Clearly, Liliana never doubted this, even though she hated Erika.

at this time--

"I never expected to hear you agree with what I said. It's really rare, Lily."

A voice that shouldn't have been there suddenly appeared.

"what?"

Liliana's expression changed instantly.

"Ugh?"

Yuri Mariya stood there, stunned.

"Ok?"

Aize couldn't help but show a stunned expression, and suddenly turned his head to look at the steps of the Seven Heroes Shrine.

There, with a series of light yet powerful footsteps, a figure that left a deep impression on Aize and Liliana in many ways slowly walked up from the bottom of the steps and came into everyone's view.

She was an exceptionally beautiful girl.

She was an overconfident girl.

She was an overly elegant and glamorous young woman.

She was also a girl who was too imposing, too unruly, and too composed.

A girl dressed in red and black, with long, flowing golden hair that reached her waist, exuding a powerful presence, and wearing a bold and fearless smile, suddenly appeared here.

"Sure enough, even in regions where I, Erica Brantley, have never set foot, wherever people have heard of my name and know where I am, there will be people discussing me, talking about me, and mentioning me countless times."

The Grand Knight of the Copper Black Cross, another prodigy in the Milanese magic world who is on par with Liliana, spoke with great confidence.

"Even you, who consider yourself my rival, are no exception. So, you're finally willing to acknowledge my greatness, aren't you, Lily?"

Erica's radiant smile and elegant, confident demeanor instantly made her the center of attention.

"Don't call me Lily! We're not that close!"

Liliana looked at Erica with the same malice and annoyance she felt towards some dangerous creature.

Why are you here?

Erica remained calm in the face of Liliana's questioning.

"It's rare to meet in a foreign land like this, can't you say something more meaningful?" Erica said with a smile as she walked over. "Or are you afraid that I'll see you like this, afraid that I'll overshadow you, Lily?"

Erica's words reminded Liliana that she was still wearing a maid outfit.

Looking at Erica's outfit, she wore a black sleeveless top with a red cardigan over it, denim pants, and a shawl embroidered with a bronze-black cross. Even if Liliana was unwilling to admit it, she had to say that this woman was truly gorgeous and beautiful, so elegant that she didn't seem like she should be in such an ancient shrine.

Compared to herself, anyone who sees the two of them now would think that Erica is a noble young lady, while she is just a cold-faced servant.

Thinking of this, Liliana felt terrible. Her body instantly surged with magical energy, and with a wave of her hand, her attire immediately changed.

Wearing a blue-black striped shawl and a blue-black battle suit that subtly contrasted with Erica's red and black outfit, Liliana summoned this attire and transformed back into the dashing fairy knight.

Looking at Liliana and Erica with a smile on her face, Yuri Mariya felt from the bottom of her heart that the two were like a pair of partners with a very good relationship. They were equally beautiful and equally heroic, just one elegant and the other aloof.

Unfortunately, this seemingly perfect pair actually had a terrible relationship.

"Why did you change it?" Erica asked with a hint of malice. "That outfit suited you very well, Lily."

"Shut up, you vixen," Liliana said, extremely displeased. "You still haven't told me why you're here?"

“Life is a stage, and I am the most prominent protagonist on that stage. It’s only natural for me to appear wherever I am, right?” Erica was as confident and proud as ever, but she quickly added, “Besides, even if I were to report, it wouldn’t be to you.”

As she spoke, Erica turned to Aize, her expression becoming respectful.

"It's been a long time, Your Majesty."

The elegant and beautiful young woman knelt on one knee before Aize, bowed her head, and placed her right hand on her left chest, offering Aize the most sincere greeting with the respect due to a subject.

“Your knight, Erica Brantelli, is back.”

That's right.

The girl didn't come here; she returned here.

Because wherever her king is, that is where she belongs.

And here is her king.

So, she's back.

(End of this chapter)