Thousand-Faced Dragon

Chapter 171 The Knight Lifted High

Fate is never short of chance and miracles; perhaps what it lacks is simply the eye to accurately observe that moment.

Looking out the window, Rean felt numb at first glance.

Princess Dania was not alone; she had a group of knights behind her, fully armed and mounted.

Among them were even several Radiant Guards; these people leaving the city together were clearly on official business.

Rushing over and picking her up? Uh, under the protection of a group of knights, rushing over and trying to forcibly hug the princess? You'd be a hornet's nest in an instant.

Rean realized that this malicious joke could actually kill him.

But if you don't keep your promise? Then you'll be breaking your vow.

Should I regret it? If I hadn't spoken up, perhaps I wouldn't be facing this crisis?

No, it won't. Everything has a price.

The snake is currently in a state of "non-existence," but the results of its fluctuations should adhere to the principle of balance.

If Rean benefits from this without paying a price, then this cause and effect will accumulate and eventually turn into misfortune. This is what the snake said afterward. He seemed to enjoy seeing Rean's troubled appearance and kept pressuring Rean to think more with various "truths".

Looking at the knights who seemed to be embarking on a long journey, Rean knew he had to make a decision. It might be difficult and potentially fatal, but it wasn't impossible!

"Ah, that's more like it."

After some thought, Rean had an idea.

At this point in time, why is this army heading out, and in the direction they came from?
He didn't rush to hug her; instead, he looked at himself in the "mirror," his face showing obvious joy, and quickly walked over.

"Your Highness!!"

An urgent expression appeared on the young man's face, and his usually calm and composed expression was now tinged with a rare joy.

"I thought I would never see you again." Saying words he would never normally utter, Rean approached the princess in full view of everyone.

"Wait a minute." This enthusiasm, however, made Dania look wary.

If you're some kind of shapeshifter or disguised assassin, you obviously haven't done your homework properly. How could Rean possibly show you any respect? He just scolded me a few days ago!
She glanced back at her guard, who touched his ring and shook his head.

"Uh, it's true?"

At that moment, Rean had already walked up to the princess.

“I have important news to report. If I’m not mistaken, you’re heading to defeat the ogre bandits on the road to the city of Mosodirka.”

This is actually quite easy to guess. Your team has several powerful warriors at the level of Grand Knights, and you haven't brought enough supplies, so it's obviously a short-range hunt.

Within this scope, there are not many targets worth attacking. Considering the treaty recently signed between the two cities, having "Her Highness the Princess personally lead the knights to defeat the bandits blocking the trade route" would be a politically friendly gesture.

The next moment, even more swords and arrows were pointed at Rean.

Knowing in advance the target of an advance, especially the whereabouts of the royal family, is not a good thing.

Rean, however, remained smiling.

“I suggest you don’t go for now. Among those bandit groups, there’s a lich with a minimum level of eight ring and a maximum level of nine ring! He cast an eighth-ring spell in front of me almost instantly.”

When Rean spoke, the knights immediately showed surprise and began to murmur amongst themselves.

"I guessed right, just as I expected." This scene made Rean breathe a sigh of relief. The other party was indeed not only going to fight bandits, but also had no time to do intelligence work.

It's only been a few days, and that bandit group has only been active for two or three days at most. In such a short time, the intercepted caravan, as expected, did not recognize that it was actually a lich!
They might have recognized it as a high-ring mage or magical item, but the difference between a fifth or sixth ring and a ninth ring is probably like that between a World War II jet and an aircraft carrier.

The former is a weapon of war from an outdated era, while the latter is a strategic weapon of national importance.

With this current lineup, there's not a complete lack of chance of defeating that bandit group, but encountering a ninth-ring spellcaster without preparation? Losing half of them would be considered lucky.

"I encountered it before and survived by sheer luck."

The Cavaliers stopped and exchanged opinions in hushed tones. If this was true, they might owe Rean a favor.

They looked at Rean with more respect, having already known of his abilities, and now he had escaped from a lich of the eighth rank or higher.

"The truth."

The princess's female guard looked at her ring and nodded affirmatively.

Instantly, the knights were in an uproar. The lich was real? How could they encounter a top-tier monster just by going out to fight a monster?

All eyes turned to Princess Dania, who was leading the group, awaiting her decision.
"Sir Rean, thank you for your timely notification. I will remember this merit and reward you for your consistent loyalty." Her Highness, you are quite reliable in public.

She realized that a campaign against them was clearly not going to work, and she was grateful for Rean's timely warning.

"As a reward, may I hug you?!" Rean's words instantly froze the scene.

You, a knight appointed by the princess, dare to attempt to take liberties with Her Highness in public?!

So, spears and arrows were once again aimed at Rean, and this time they were drawn.

Rean, however, seemed not to hear or see anything. With a sincere expression, he continued:

"In my desperate encounter with the lich, I made a wish to a great being: if I escape alive, I will embrace the beautiful lady I met upon returning to the city!" Yes, forcing it won't work, I'll just do it honestly.

I helped you, so at least you shouldn't break your oath by helping me.

The knights will be a crisis that hinders me from completing my mission, but in keeping with the spirit of chivalry, they are also full of anticipation and hope for a romantic story.

They may be in crisis one moment, but if used properly, they can become an asset.

The bowstring was lowered, and more eyes turned toward them, filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Rean's eyes gleamed with a faint yellow light. He saw their expectations and desires; they longed to see the embrace of the beauty after the warrior's return. He even felt that he could use it and guide it.

The knights' expectant eyes were focused on the princess; an unseen subconscious consensus had formed.

Perhaps the next moment someone will shout "Let him hug me!"

At that time, the princess, who had cultivated a friendly and approachable image, was put on the spot.

"lie!"

The red warning light on the guard's ring caused the scene to freeze instantly.

The subconscious that had been being pulled apart instantly shattered, and Rean's abilities became ineffective.

Rean was stunned, and he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

And the bowstrings, each feeling deceived, are taut, waiting for a command.

"Uh... The person I wished to hug wasn't a beautiful lady, but the very first person I saw!!"

"The truth."

Instantly, the situation became even more delicate.

The tense atmosphere relaxed again, with various teasing glances sweeping back and forth.

After repeatedly bringing the atmosphere closer and then letting it break down, the tension has subsided, and the "subconscious" has gradually relaxed.

Many eyes and attention were drawn to the princess, and this time, Rean felt he could easily influence "them".

In fact, the difficulty is less than half of what it was before.

So he tried to gently pull it with an invisible touch.

"Heh, come on." Dania sighed. What was going on?

Unbeknownst to her, she was also being pulled by her subconscious external stimuli, and her original hesitation and vigilance were shattered.

"Excuse me," Rean put down his weapon, slowly walked over, and gently embraced the princess.

It's very light, very soft, and very high!

In the next instant, Rean lifted Dania high into the air with both arms wrapped around her.

In full view of everyone, Rean lifted the princess above his head! And spun her around!

The princess, who had been lifted up, looked down in utter bewilderment.

"Is it high? Is it high?" Then, Rean put the princess down and ran away.

"Your Highness, I'm sorry! My vow was to pick you up and lift you high in the air." The man ran away in a flash, followed by bursts of laughter.

The princess behind her probably really wanted to kill him.

I'm afraid the story of the princess and her knight who lifted her up will soon spread throughout the city.

This somewhat comical, romantic, and absurd story has completely bound Rean and Dania together. The previous rumors of their conflict have vanished.

Fate was twisted once again, and the gleeful snake flicked its tongue, waiting to see more amusement.

He failed, but he was even happier.

"As expected of me, I can even make a route with a success rate of less than 3%. How should I make the next story more interesting?"

(End of this chapter)