I, Guinevere, am going to crush you, you curry stick, today!

"About half a day to a day. At the latest, I mean if a series of unexpected events happen and we all get caught up in a flurry of activity, this matter should be basically resolved by sunrise tomorrow."

Without reaching out to wipe it, the female magician merely wrinkled her nose slightly, as if she felt a little uncomfortable. Her shepherd's staff, almost as tall as herself, rested against her side. She raised her head and looked around from left to right.

Aside from her, almost everyone involved in the matter had gathered here, making the already small room seem even more cramped. It was a double room with a large bed and two chairs. Merlin casually grabbed one to sit on, while giving the other to Fisher. Dreem, as a subordinate and attendant, stood behind Fisher with his hands at his sides.

Kai leaned against the door, arms crossed, keeping an eye on the hallway outside. Gawain sat on one side of the bed, while Guinevere and Lily sat on the other, shoulder to shoulder. Gawain held Nimiao in his arms; the little girl had gone to bed a bit late the night before and was now dozing off with her chin resting on Guinevere's left shoulder.

She could have slept in bed, but Connie insisted on attending this "significant meeting," even though she probably didn't even know what the word "meeting" meant. But that didn't stop her from wanting to be excluded from the meeting.

Everyone understood the little girl's thoughts, so they didn't force her to go to sleep. Guinevere held the girl's small body in her arms, patting her back occasionally, and soothing her with a few words when she talked in her sleep.

Despite never having had a girlfriend yet, Guinevere is already getting used to the feeling of being a parent... Whenever she thinks about this, Guinevere's feelings are quite complicated and hard to describe.

However, it seems impossible for her to fall in love with a man. So, whether she dates a girl in this life—of course, "girl" here is just a general term, not necessarily a specific person... Although no one knows this thought, she still glanced at Lily beside her and added in her mind, trying to cover it up—she probably won't have any real children. In that case, although Nimiao's origins are a mystery and the future is uncertain, at least for this moment, this strange way of getting along is a kind of experience worth cherishing.

It will probably be a memory worth cherishing in the future.

Lost in thought, the girl snuggled against her for a moment and whispered something in her ear. Guinevere listened carefully and realized that the girl was saying "I'm so hungry," and couldn't help but smile.

What a little glutton!

After we finish discussing the important matters, I'll go to the kitchen and get Nimiao something to eat. Having made this decision, the girl turned her attention back to reality.

Just then, Merlin's gaze turned in their direction: "Well then, although I briefly went over it a few days ago, His Highness Fisher wasn't here last time, so I'll go over everyone's tasks again, just to confirm the process once more. Is that alright?"

P.S.: I've recovered! My diligence and power are constantly rising!

153 is about to start, my Musashi, Musashi—Musashi! (Excited) Finally, I'm getting to the important part. If I can write this part smoothly, I'll probably work my butt off. Remember to vote!

Chapter 117 The troops split into three...four routes?

As dusk approached, the once clear blue sky was gradually replaced by orange-red. The wind, which had been building up all afternoon, was now growing stronger, hitting people's faces and bodies with a slight stinging sensation.

Looking up at the sky, the clouds were piling up, and the whole world was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere. In the eyes of many people, this seemed to be the harbinger of another storm.

Fisher withdrew his gaze, simultaneously suppressing the turmoil of emotions surging within him, his expression remaining impassive.

He was still dressed like a fisherman, in dark trousers, his upper body bare, revealing a muscular physique covered in scars. His hands were empty, except for a dark gold ring on his right hand. He walked silently and strode out of town. A man and a woman followed leisurely behind him.

The man was Dreem, a trusted confidant whom Fisher had personally promoted. Fisher had always placed great expectations and trust in him, and Dreem had indeed demonstrated the ability to live up to that trust. This was why Fisher hadn't invited Merlin and the others to his castle, but instead secretly came to Plymouth alone. The castle was too crowded and noisy; news could easily leak out, and unexpected situations could easily arise.

The other person was a middle-aged woman nicknamed "Blood Raven".

She had no name, or rather, she had abandoned her name for some reason. This was not uncommon for people who lived on the edge of death. Instead, she was given the ominous nickname "Blood Raven"—in Cornwall, this term referred not only to crows, but also to scavengers that chased after blood and corpses, whose feathers were always stained with blood. Sometimes it was also used to refer to mercenaries and adventurers who made a living by killing.

Blood Raven had been in Plymouth for nearly three years, yet almost no one knew where she was from or where she came from. It was as if everything about her past had vanished into some desolate wilderness along with her unknown real name. All people knew was that three years ago, in the winter, Dreem suddenly disappeared for almost half a month. When he reappeared, he carried a plain-looking woman, severely injured and on the verge of death, on his back.

It was a snowy day, and the neighbors watched as the cheerful innkeeper trudged through the thick snow on the long street, carrying a woman who was barely alive on his back, with several crows above him, their feathers stained red with blood. He summoned the best doctor in town and spent a fortune to save the woman he had brought back, and she naturally settled down in Plymouth.

I stayed there for three years.

People subtly inquired about her relationship with Dreem, filled with curiosity—although it was already common knowledge, neither of them ever dared to break the ice. Three years had passed, and no one had received a definitive answer. But whether it was confirmed or not was actually unimportant. It was merely a topic of conversation to pass the time.

……

The three left the town and continued their journey, their paths gradually leading towards the vast lake where the Water Beast had once slumbered. Dreem, having overheard Merlin's arrangements, understood the situation and followed behind Fisher, occasionally glancing thoughtfully at the Blood Raven beside him with a strange look. The middle-aged woman still carried her aged axe, her face expressionless and her gaze cold. From the moment Fisher asked her to accompany him at the inn until now, she had remained silent, not uttering a single word.

"Your Highness."

After a moment, Dreem finally couldn't hold back any longer and called out. Fisher, who was ahead, didn't turn around, but simply slowed his pace and asked, "What's wrong?" His tone seemed colder than usual.

Sensing this, the innkeeper couldn't help but frown slightly, but that was all; he didn't show any further emotion: "I apologize for being so bold... but are you really going to do as Merlin says?"

“If it could save Elaine and her father,” Fisher replied.

Blood Raven, who was walking on the other side, turned his head and glanced over. The three of them were now close to the lakeside. Dreem pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, I only hope that everything goes smoothly and that no more complications arise."

"hope so."

"My two subordinates will also do their best to protect you and prevent any accidents from happening."

In the blink of an eye, the mountain path came to an end, and a vast expanse of lake opened up before them. The calm, waveless surface of the lake reflected the orange-red sky above and the dark clouds gathering in the distance. Fisher stopped by the water's edge.

The lake water suddenly rippled for a moment. After it calmed down, a figure wearing dark blue armor and holding a pure white trident suddenly appeared in the original cloud shadows and sky light.

"Then..."

He gazed at the reflection that seemed so much like himself, then slowly raised his right hand, clenching his fist. A dark light flashed across the ring. Drem stood a few steps away, his gaze lowered to his feet, having silently grasped his bandaged left arm. Behind him, Blood Raven's eyes grew even colder, and a hand silently reached out, grasping the great axe behind him—

The atmosphere seemed peaceful on the surface, but undercurrents were brewing beneath.

Fisher suddenly sighed, a hint of helplessness and melancholy flashing in his eyes. He spoke as if to himself, or perhaps as if answering what Dreem had just said.

"…Thank you for your help."

……

"If this world is a ship, then the Tower of Radiance is the 'anchor' used to secure it and prevent it from being capsized by the wind and waves. Therefore, to utilize the power of the Tower of Radiance, we must first solve two problems."

"First, how can we borrow this power? Second, how can we maintain the stability of the 'hull' throughout the entire process?" The sunlight streaming in seemed to add a touch of languor to the female magician's tone: "And that's why I asked the princess to come and request the Trident of Poseidon. Because the complete Trident of Poseidon is an indispensable key to unlocking the Tower of Radiance."

“Of course, just saying that will definitely leave you confused, so let me explain in more detail.” She reached out and grasped her shepherd’s staff, then tapped the curved end with her fingers, making a few hollow tapping sounds. “Everyone here should know that the world has a surface and an inner side—wait, Sir Gawain, didn’t your mother mention this to you? You can ask someone else later—getting back to the point, the so-called surface of the world refers to the real world we live in, while the inner side of the world is far more than one, with various names and distinctions, such as Avalon, Dirnano, and… the Sea of ​​Illusions.”

"It's a very simple principle. Since it's a planetary anchor, it naturally doesn't just exist on the surface. To be precise, a part of the Radiant Tower does exist in the real world, but it's just a reflection—visible, but untouchable. That's why thirty years ago, countless people tried so hard to activate the Radiant Tower, only to end up with nothing; no one benefited..."

As if he had thought of something, Merlin suddenly glanced at Nemia, who was still dozing off in Guinevere's arms, and a strange smile appeared on his lips. He continued, "But we should also thank them for their wasted efforts, so that we don't have to take another detour now."

"You mean... we must go to the inner part of the world to borrow the power of the Tower of Light?" Guinevere asked.

“Exactly.” Merlin sat cross-legged in his chair, nodded, and snapped his fingers. “So we need to split into three groups… or maybe four. To lift the dragon curse from Your Highness, you need to personally go to the Sea of ​​Illusions again—although theoretically going to Avalon would be the same, I personally don’t recommend it. First, it’s quite far, and second, the current leader of Avalon is not easy to get along with, so it’s better to avoid trouble. Besides, you’ve already promised Princess Elaine, so you absolutely have to go.”

“Although not everyone can go to the inner side, since you have already been there once, it will always be easier to go again. Your Highness Fisher, I hope you can use the power of the Poseidon's Trident again. That ‘Poseidon’ should know the specific method, and I believe he will be happy to assist you.”

"As for Kay, Ser Gawain, and Lily—" Merlin smiled, "I have other important business to attend to, and I need the three of you to help me. Don't worry, it's nothing dangerous, you shouldn't die... right?"

P.S.: I'm not feeling well for some reason today. I'm not satisfied with any of the chapters I've written. I hesitated for a long time between taking a break and forcing myself to write one, but in the end, I chose the latter... Please bear with it for now~

Chapter 118 The Druid's Secret Arts

"...Yes, that's it. Relax. Try to imagine that there is a vast, boundless ocean nearby, and you are floating on the surface of the sea, like an empty piece of wood with nothing inside..."

In a room on the third floor of the hotel, at the edge of the corridor, a gentle breeze blew. In the quiet atmosphere, the female magician's voice was like soothing a child to sleep. Her languid tone seemed to possess a strange magic, drawing listeners in unconsciously.

Inside the room were only Merlin, Nemia, and Guinevere. A girl with long blonde hair sat on the bed, eyes closed, hands resting obediently on her knees, only her eyelashes trembling slightly with her gradually calming breathing. Nemia leaned against the half-open door, absently biting her nails, making soft clicking sounds, while tilting her head to look at Merlin, her crimson eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Despite being present the whole time and no one deliberately avoiding her when they were talking, Nimiao still didn't quite understand what everyone was busy with. But that didn't stop her from being a well-behaved and cute little girl, so that she could ask the others for food with a clear conscience after the important matters were finished.

Her mind was racing with calculations, and the girl narrowed her eyes like a cat, a sly and smug smile creeping across her face. But... suddenly she felt a pang of frustration; she was so hungry.

Nimiao's eyes flickered a few times, and she suddenly bit down hard on her finger. After a moment of sharp pain, a sweet taste filled her mouth. The constant thirst she felt was temporarily relieved by this action, and she breathed a small sigh of relief.

Hunger is unpleasant, but being disliked is even worse. So, although a voice inside her kept telling her how to get enough to eat, Nimiao hadn't taken any action yet.

If things could stay this way...

The girl was lost in thought, while Merlin continued speaking: "Whether human or fantasy species, theoretically, only by shedding the physical body that binds them and entering the 'inner world' in a pure soul form... but this often amounts to death. Or, some methods can be used to temporarily separate the soul from the body, which, although it will have some impact on the person involved, is always much better than death... The Pearl of the Illusionary Sea is one of them."

"Unfortunately, I don't have anything like that on hand right now. Fortunately, Elaine once used the power of that pearl to bring you into the 'inner' side of the Illusionary Sea. Therefore, the 'boundary' between the surface and the interior will be slightly weaker for a short time. Taking advantage of this opportunity, it won't be difficult to smuggle one or two people in..."

"However, there's something I need to warn you beforehand. With my abilities, I can only take you to the Illusionary Sea at most. As for exactly where that is, and what will happen afterward, I have no idea, nor any way to intervene. If you die there for some reason, this body in the real world will remain in a coma until it weakens and dies..."

Merlin paused for a moment, then took two steps back, looked at Guinevere whose breathing had completely calmed down, and smiled: "Actually, there's no need to say all this. Anyway, the die is cast, so I wish you all the best. Alright, let me help you one last time. This is a secret technique from the Druidic lineage that I learned with great difficulty from my teacher—Spirit Summoning, Separation from the Body!"

The voice just fell.

Nimiao stared in disbelief as the female magician—whom she had previously perceived as elegant and mysterious—snatched her long wooden staff, gripped it with both hands, and suddenly swung it down with a force powerful enough to shatter a shield.

Her imposing presence made it seem as if she were wielding not a cane, but an incredibly heavy two-handed sword.

A dull thud.

It landed squarely on Guinevere's head.

For a moment, Nimiao even thought the girl's head would explode from the impact. Her face turned pale, and she stopped breathing in fright. But all she heard was an unusually muffled thud. The blonde girl was still sitting perfectly fine on the bed. There was no bleeding, and not even a bruise could be seen where she had been hit.

If Merlin hadn't maintained his slashing stance, and if the deafening sound of a great bell still echoed in her ears, Nimue would have almost doubted that what she had just seen was merely her imagination.

"Alright, what are you still looking at?" The female magician turned around, handed the wooden staff to her left hand, and ruffled the little girl's hair twice with her other hand. Nemia swayed, somewhat displeased, and moved aside. Merlin looked at her and chuckled softly.

"Is Dad... alright?"

"She is already in the Sea of ​​Illusions. If you are worried, pray to the god you believe in. But with Gawain around, at least this physical body should be safe. As for the soul body... we can only trust Princess."

As she spoke, she took the little girl's hand, pushed open the door, and went out: "We should get going too."

“I want to… stay and keep Dad company…” Nimiao bit her lip and said softly.

"I'm sorry. I originally wanted you to stay, but after thinking it over, I realized I still hope you can come with me somewhere. After all..." The door opened and closed again, creaking as it closed, once more concealing the person and things behind it. The female magician, holding Nemia's hand, turned to look at the sky outside the window.

Merlin's gaze lingered on the dark clouds that had gathered in the northwest, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"...I'm the type who eats the food I don't like first, and then slowly enjoys the other things."

……

"...Okay, now everyone on the street has been evacuated. And then, there are still so many places to go... Honestly, I thought that with that certificate signed by Fisher, persuading them to leave the town should be a simple task..." Watching the family of three leave the town, Kai shrugged, looking full of regret.

"But most people here are illiterate, let alone able to recognize that it is a certificate issued by the lord."

After Lily finished speaking, she shook her head. She was still dressed in her usual snow-white light armor, with a long sword at her waist and her hair tied in a ponytail. She looked spirited and dashing, but there was a hint of worry between her brows.

"I really envy Sir Gawain. The two of us have been running around all over Plymouth, while he's just sitting here at the inn's door as a doorman... Such obvious difference in treatment, could it be that he and Merlin have that kind of relationship..."

"Sir Kay!"

"Okay, okay, she's your teacher, I won't talk nonsense." After being glared at by Lily, Kai spread his hands and grinned. After a few seconds, he deliberately added, "I can think about it in my heart, right?"

"you……"

Lily glared at him again, but remembering her current status, she simply turned her head away angrily, which surprised Kai, who was about to tease her a bit more. After a moment, the young man touched his nose and brought up the serious matter again.

"It seems like we don't have enough time. And after this is done, we still need to go to that place to wait for someone, as Merlin instructed. So let's split up and act from here."

"it is good."

After that, the two discussed the specific arrangements, and at the next intersection, they parted ways and headed in different directions...

P.S.: I originally wanted to write 4,000 words, but the various silly things in version 2.3 were just too captivating. I wasted a lot of time browsing the group chat, and my mind was filled with that magical Red Hare, so in the end I only managed to write this much. I'll try to write more tomorrow~

Chapter 119 The Shadow of the Evil Dragon

A blood-red full moon, a gloomy ancient castle clinging to it with countless human-faced vines, and dragon-bird monsters swirling and emitting piercing cries... This was the third time Guinevere had witnessed these absurd and bizarre sights.

However, it was different from the previous two times. The first time, she was watching the "interaction" between Elaine and the Fisherman King and his daughter from a god-like perspective. The second time, she was led directly into the castle by Elaine herself. But this time, as she struggled to regain her senses from the intense dizziness, she found herself surrounded by a thick, ghastly red color. The sky was dark and the earth was gloomy. As far as the eye could see, the entire space seemed devoid of any life, leaving only an atmosphere of despair that was difficult to describe in words.

I don't know how Merlin sent me here... I remember he said that only pure souls can enter the inner world, so I should be in the state of soul leaving my body while my body is still in the real world.

But... can the soul also get a headache?

She clutched her head, feeling a splitting headache, as if she'd been hit on the head with a blunt object. Waves of dizziness and seeing stars washed over her; she felt indescribably uncomfortable. She couldn't remember what had happened, ultimately attributing it to a side effect of "out-of-body experience." Only when the excruciating pain and dizziness subsided slightly did she breathe a sigh of relief and begin to think about serious matters.

“This is…outside the castle. First, I need to figure out a way to get into that sealed room…but I remember Elaine used a ring to open the seal, and now I don’t know where to find it. I can only take it one step at a time.” With a slight frown, whether it was because this space repelled her as an “outsider,” or simply because the oppressive atmosphere around her made her feel uneasy, Guinevere looked up and took in the ancient castle before her. The doors were tightly shut, and the windows seemed to offer no openings.

"Hey, Merlin, if you're going to help, just go all the way and send me straight in... If others heard me say that, they might think I'm being too greedy and demanding."

Without realizing it, she had also picked up the female magician's catchphrase, "Ah!" The girl sighed with a wry smile. Due to the relatively tight schedule, Merlin only explained the general process and coordination when everyone gathered; the specifics of who would do what and when were given to them in private.

As for the reason for doing this, Guinevere could roughly guess. It was probably because there were traitors among these people, and Merlin had discovered them but deliberately didn't expose them, hoping to achieve some other goal. Since Merlin hadn't mentioned this to her directly, it meant that at least on Li Huanhai's side, she shouldn't have to worry about being betrayed or anything like that, and could focus on completing her mission.

Because of this, the girl only knew a general idea of ​​the actions of the other parties, and therefore did not know when or how the Radiant Tower would appear. At this moment, she was somewhat worried and anxious, afraid that if she messed up, she would drag the others down.

She understood a principle: action speaks louder than words. She searched for any possible openings around the castle while recalling what she had seen and heard during her two previous visits. Given Merlin's style, the fact that he had asked her to do this meant that she had a good chance of success.

Perhaps not 100%.

But what in this world can be guaranteed to be 100% successful?

It's nothing more than that.

I will do my best, hoping to have no regrets.

"Oh, I've got it..." As these thoughts raced through her mind, her gaze swept across the windows. At one moment, she saw a dragon bird flying past a window on the top floor. The strong wind created by its wings made the seemingly closed window sway slightly.

A fleeting moment.

But that was enough for Guinevere to quickly finalize her next action plan.

Climbing to the top floor from the outside of the castle is a bit difficult, but worth trying... Back in the day, I used to climb on roofs and remove tiles quite often, and today I can do it again—opening and closing my hands several times, just about to move forward.

Suddenly.

The flock of dragon birds hovering and flying in the sky seemed to be avoiding something terrifying. With a loud bang, they scattered and fled in all directions. Although they fled in different directions, they all avoided Guinevere's side. The girl was stunned at first and had no time to react. The next moment, a strangely familiar pressure suddenly rose from the deepest part of her heart.