Do you have a problem with necromancers?

Chapter 6 I Will Always Be Watching You

Upon hearing the question posed by Raine, the lizard beggar's vertical pupils slowly contracted.

“The old beggar doesn’t know what you’re talking about,” he said slowly. “However, there are indeed rumors of missing villagers in the southern villages of Turbulent Stream, Fish Leap, and Shallow Beach.”

"Specific time?"

“Yesterday,” the lizardman beggar said, “they all went fishing downstream of the Sacred River yesterday and didn’t return last night. The village organized a search party to go downstream today, but there’s still no news.”

Are there any other clues?

"No, it was probably swallowed by a anaconda. After all, this rainforest has never been safe."

Renn tossed him another gold coin.

They've disappeared.

Ordinary disappearances wouldn't attract the attention of the rats in the city, but they had clearly sensed that something was amiss.

Unfortunately, their premonition was correct.

If the White Walkers' scouting party has already reached the lower reaches of the River Saints, it means they are moving faster than I originally expected.

The main force of the White Walkers will arrive in Dragon Valley within three days at the latest.

There isn't much time left to act.

Raine silently calculated the answer, then suddenly felt a premonition and looked into the distance.

At the end of the street, Ellina led the distraught Dia back this way.

“Your Excellency the Wizard,” Dia said softly, “the shamans do not believe in the White Walkers.”

“Oh,” Raine said absentmindedly.

If you were a shaman stationed at the lowest level of the Scale Temple, and someone suddenly came up to you and said, "The end of the world is coming," would you believe that he was a ghost?

"Can you help me?" Dia asked.

“No,” Renn said.

Dia: ………………

She looked to Ellina for help, who responded with a helpless, bitter smile.

Raine went into the inn and ordered a plate of honey-glazed smoked chicken with mulberry sauce, a plate of charcoal-grilled pork and bacon, and a large pot of hot goat milk.

Ellina sat down beside him, asked the waiter for a knife and fork, and began to eat elegantly without asking Renn's permission.

Dia sat on the other side of Rein and secretly swallowed.

"Eat up." Ellina pushed the sliced ​​roasted pork in front of her and said calmly, "He rescued you from Swamp Town, he wouldn't let you starve to death here."

Dia looked at Raine again, and seeing that he didn't stop her, she began to eat in small bites.

After eating and drinking her fill, Dia stared blankly at the empty plates on the table, when she suddenly heard Renn say:

"It's not difficult to make Dragon Valley believe that the White Walkers have arrived; it's also very simple to get Dragon Valley to deal with the White Walkers."

“Your Excellency Wizard, please speak!” Dia exclaimed excitedly.

“No rush,” Ryan asked. “What are you prepared to offer in exchange for the answer?”

"Huh?" Dia was dumbfounded, her face clearly saying, "Does this need to be changed?"

She looked to Ellina for help, who said softly:
"Knowledge is the most valuable asset."

“Alright.” Dia quickly made up her mind. “Your Excellency Wizard, I am willing to exchange for your answer, but I don’t know what I can offer in return.”

“Hmm.” Renn wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You don’t look like you have any money. I happen to need a servant to do my bidding.”

"Serve me for two months in exchange for the answer you want. Think it over carefully."

“No need to think about it, I agree.” Dia replied without hesitation, “I’m willing to do anything to save them.”

Ellina raised her gaze, quietly looking at Dia, a strange glint in her eyes. "Willing to do anything?" Renn let out an undisguised sneer. "Do you know how heavy a promise that is? Don't make promises you can't keep. You should focus on serving others first."

“I’ve already agreed to your conditions, now it’s your turn to give me an answer,” Dia said stubbornly.

“The reason they don’t believe you is simple: people can’t imagine things they haven’t seen.” Raine slowly picked his teeth. “If you catch a White Walker and put it in front of the citizens of Dragonvale, everyone will want to know what this monster is.”

"Oh yeah! How come I didn't think of that!" Dia finally realized.

Damn it! If I were smarter, I wouldn't have to be a maid.

"But where are we going to get White Walkers?" she pressed. "Your answer is incomplete. Please explain more clearly."

“There have been recent disappearances of villagers downstream of the River of the Saints,” Raine replied. “It’s most likely that the vanguard of the White Walkers has already reached the southern part of Dragon Valley’s territory.”

Daiya's face immediately turned pale, and she became nervous and uneasy, wringing her hands together.

The White Walkers have arrived? Is it too late for me?

“Ellina,” Renn ordered, “go and bring one back. Alive.”

Ellina did not refuse, but instead reminded her:

"And the answer to the other question?"

"What?" Dia asked, puzzled.

“He asked two questions, but only gave you one answer,” Ellina said.

Daiya frowned and thought for a while, then hesitantly asked:
"So, even if the people of Dragon Valley believe the White Walkers have arrived, it doesn't mean they'll prepare for war?"

“It’s obvious,” Raine said with a sneer. “War mobilization requires conscripting militia, and everyone has to provide their own weapons and rations. Given the low efficiency of civilians, it would take at least one to two months to complete, and the White Walkers won’t give Dragon Valley that much time.”

"If I were a nobleman or shaman in Dragon Valley, once I truly understood what the Others were, and knowing that it was too late to mobilize for war, I would choose to flee Dragon Valley to save my life, rather than foolishly waiting to organize a defense until the city fell and everyone perished."

"But!" Dia quickly argued, "What about the common people?"

Both of them stared at her speechlessly, making Dia feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

What else can they do? From the perspective of nobles and shamans, their own lives are of course the most important thing. As for commoners, what do they care?

She finally realized that her idea of ​​"preparing Dragon Valley City for war" had overestimated the integrity of certain groups.

“If that’s the case,” Dia quickly changed her approach, “then let all the commoners know that the White Walkers are coming and that Dragonvale is powerless to resist. That way, everyone will choose to abandon the city and flee! Everyone can survive!”

“A very clever idea,” Ryan commented, “but most people won’t listen to you.”

"Only nobles and shamans possess the knowledge to assess the battlefield situation. Commoners, limited by their own knowledge and experience, are simply unable to judge whether their own side can defeat the White Walkers. For many commoners, their entire lives are spent relying on the noble lords of their own territories for information; whatever the lords say is taken as gospel."

Dia fell silent again.

After a brief explanation from Raine, she finally realized that Dragon Valley City was like a ship about to sink.

If you inform the passengers, no one will believe you; but if you tell the captain and crew, they will rush to board the life rafts and leave, without caring about the passengers' lives.

“Your Excellency Wizard,” Dia suddenly spoke, “I want to seek another answer.”

"How can we best protect the civilians of Dragon Valley City?"

"The answer to this question comes at a price," Renn pondered, then suddenly laughed, "Add another year to your service period."

Dia frowned and subconsciously looked at Ellina again.

Ellina did not answer, but her mind was filled with thoughts.

Although Raine claimed he wanted to find a woman to serve her, Ellina wasn't naive enough to actually believe he needed a maid; it was probably to keep Dia by her side.

Dia is just an ordinary human girl. Is she worth your scheming, you inherently evil necromancer?
It's alright. No matter what schemes or tricks you have, I will use this body you created, and these eyes, to watch over you forever...

……forever.

(End of this chapter)