Chapter 343 (2/2)

“Master, why didn’t you go with them?”

She had separated from the crowd with a group of people and rushed towards the west. Apart from Kraft and her family bodyguards, the majority of the others did not possess any fighting strength. They were all her retainers and servants from the tower.

“I left some important documents and magic stones inside the experimental lab in the Concealing Forest. Since we need to reestablish order, these things are essential to the witches. I want to bring them over to the other side of the mountains.”

“The Devils have caught up to us!”

“Hammer, Stone, you go obstruct them!” Kraft commanded.

“Yes!”

She gritted her teeth, proceeding forward with her head lowered. These mortals would only be able to slow down the Devils; they were simply unable to defeat these adversaries. Once they went, they would have no further chance to live. However, she had no choice but to abandon them as she needed to reach her destination as soon as possible.

For some reason, overlapping black and white spots appeared in the sky… And then her vision blurred.

. . .

Kraft panted as he followed behind her. Even someone as robust as him would feel very weary after trudging through snowy ground for three days.

She glanced behind her. The procession of thirty or so people had now dwindled to a mere six people. Some people had fled en-route, and some seriously injured people had taken the initiative to break away from the group. If the Devils were to chase up to them again…

“Rest assured, Master, you still have me.” Kraft appeared to have seen through her thoughts as he comforted her, “I will stall them as best I can.”

“Why?”

He was a little stunned.

“Why are you so persistent until the end? If you escaped now, maybe you would be able to survive.” She asked in bewilderment, “We are witches and have always been aloof and distant, while you are just an ordinary person. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t be thinking of accompanying me to death.”

“But you have never mistreated us. Although I don’t have any magic, I still have principles—protecting you is my duty.”

As an uproar sounded behind them, everyone understood that their final moments had arrived.

“Master, go quickly. You mustn’t look back.”

The black and white spots were increasing.

. . .

She staggered into the basement, and organised the data and magic stones that were on the table.

Kraft’s words gave rise to some confusion for her.

Since a long time ago, one belief was spread throughout the Holy City: witches were people chosen by the gods, and the people unable to condense magic were both uneducated and powerless, only cultivating their soil. But from this captain of the Imperial Bodyguards, she could see valour and tenacity, nothing like the powerlessness people spoke of throughout the population. In fact, they had qualities that witches were unable to achieve. Cooperation between both sides was much better than unilateral command—at least this was the case within her stone tower.

That being the case, how did the people from over 400 years ago suffer such a crushing defeat?

Suddenly, the bellows of the Devils resounded from outside the door.

Damnit, they arrived faster than expected.

Her vision was blurry and countless spots fluttered before her eyes, practically filling her entire field of view… But she couldn’t die here, she had to bring her research results out— past the mountain and across the river, over to the desolate lands to rebuild their social order!

She groped around for a magic stone of reverberation and imbued her magic into it, causing it to produce constant cries for help.

There was a loud noise and the wooden door split apart; the Devils had already broken in.

Hoping that someone might hear her cries for help, she circulated all of the magic power in her body and converted it into cold frost which was then discharged. A Mad Demon raised its spear, its arms rapidly swelling up. In the next moment, the spearhead flew at her with a cold ray of light.

She couldn’t help but close her eyes as the black and white spots covered everything and her vision turned pitch-black. All the sounds faded as well. Her body no longer felt cold, as though she was wrapped in soft velvet. It seemed like she wasn’t in a gloomy basement, but instead lying in a warm meadow. Even the feeling of impalement did not come for a long, long time.

Did I die?

After some time, a fine slit appeared within the darkness which subsequently grew brighter and brighter. She attempted to open her eyes slowly, and a hazy grey ceiling projected itself in her eyes little by little.

She heard someone say, “Your Highness, she has awoken.”