Chapter 208 : The Dejected Black-Hearted Girl
"Oh? I think I heard the white-stocking little maid's voice. But... I'm probably overthinking it."
Elucia shook her head, thinking she was hallucinating.
Today she hadn't assigned Lonis any work, and there were other people on duty inside the ship. If Lonis could still encounter danger under these circumstances, that would be absolutely ridiculous.
So Elucia just said to Dean Cuibia:
"Dean, that's what happened in the Boundless Land. Although Tree Abyss is temporarily safe, we can also confirm that the Trickster Demon Lord is indeed executing some plan."
"Mm... I understand. Thank you for your efforts, Student Lonis."
"Ah?"
"Ah, sorry, Elucia..."
The blonde woman rubbed her forehead, showing a very apologetic expression: "Please forgive my poor memory. Once the body gets old, it's easy to have bugs."
"Dean Cuibia, please don't joke."
"Yes, let's talk business. Student Elucia, have you heard about the strange epidemic that appeared in the western territories recently?"
"Strange epidemic?"
"Yes, it should be called Black Scale Disease. This is a chronic illness. Initially, the infected don't differ from normal people, but later, the infected gradually turn black, and their skin ulcerates like burns."
"I haven't heard of it, but from the description, it's somewhat similar to the disease that appeared in the Snow Kingdom."
"Mm..."
"At that time, some people also contracted a strange disease. They developed red pox on their bodies, which then formed pustules. Although we wanted to find out the cause, it was too chaotic then."
When saying this, Elucia's eyes also showed frustration: "If possible, I will find out what this is all about."
"Yes, Student Elucia. This trip is also to investigate the truth of this disease. Once we're prepared, we can set out."
After this, although Elucia still had some other things to do,
she didn't know if it was because she thought of Lonis, or if she hallucinated some crying sounds.
The black-haired girl always felt somewhat uneasy, so she didn't go elsewhere and chose to return to the ship first.
......
"Lonis, where are you? Come out quickly, let me touch your tail."
Perhaps afraid of being bullied by her, normally when she returned, Lonis would always stupidly be the first to come out and greet her.
But today... Lonis was nowhere to be found.
"Senior Yan, have you seen Lonis?"
"Eh... I think I saw her walk through the living room earlier, but after that, I don't know where she went."
"!"
With a bad premonition, Elucia searched the bed, closets, kitchen, and refrigerator.
But still no trace of Lonis.
Not only that, Elucia could vaguely feel that Lonis seemed to be suffering... her mood was very dejected and desperate.
So...
"Damn, did she fall in a lake while playing outside? Or..."
Unwilling to think of the worst possibility, Elucia left the ship and searched outside.
......
......
"I haven't seen her either... has Lonis disappeared?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll search too!"
......
Although everyone searched for over an hour, Lonis had vanished like she'd evaporated from the human world.
Everyone's mood was somewhat heavy, because Lonis wasn't the type to run around everywhere. If she was going to do something special, she would definitely tell her companions in advance.
......
"Anyway, thank you everyone. Everyone should go rest first."
"Wuu wuu, Elucia, I didn't help..."
"It's fine. Senior Yicheng also has work to do today. When she returns, we'll search together."
......
When entering and leaving Academy Island, all ships had to undergo strict inspection.
Logically, Lonis shouldn't have any problems.
But...
Who told her to be the Terminal Hero and inheritor of Flame Abyss?
If Lonis's identity was exposed and someone targeted her with some meticulous plan, everything could become terrible.
Even if outsiders grasped Lonis's physical characteristics,
they could directly crush the silver-haired girl's entire body, leaving only her head, and she could still be taken away.
(No, it shouldn't be that bad yet. Elucia, you need to calm down.)
......
......
Although telling herself to be calm, Elucia's heart couldn't settle down at all.
The girl's mind involuntarily recalled past events, whether from the past at Clear Academy or the past in the Snow Kingdom.
No one around her had been able to survive.
Whether those diligent maids or those soldiers who took up weapons to fight.
They harbored dreams, they harbored hope, hoping she could turn everything around, hoping she could make everything happy.
But what she could ultimately offer them in return...
was nothing more than a sweet dream.
Sleeping deeply in the illusion of the Land of Ends.
The real Snow Kingdom had completely fallen into ruin. Although General Kuru had been executed, there were still many masterminds behind the scenes acting with impunity.
......
(Hah... thinking of such things again.)
From that day until today, 'Lonis' had repeated such nightmares countless times, so she learned to get used to it, learned to cast all this aside.
Past events were already past.
Her current body was new, so there was no need to be depressed by those old shadows. Wallowing in sadness was what the weak did... and she was Elucia, who had no need for sadness.
But, after not seeing Lonis, Elucia felt extremely empty inside.
Everything before her eyes seemed to fade of color, as if returning to some moment, becoming anxious and uneasy.
......
(Damn, you stupid maid, where did you go?)
Elucia clenched her fists resentfully, her eyes involuntarily becoming somewhat teary again.
(Hmph, if I find out you're like a few days ago, deliberately scaring me by playing disappearing, I'll definitely make you pay. I'll definitely tie you up and lock you in a cage so you can never escape again!!!!!!)
The black-haired girl clenched her fists viciously, but just then...
Senior Yicheng also finished her work and hurried back:
"Sorry, Miss Elucia. I heard from Suling that Student Lonis has disappeared?"
"Yes."
"Then, do you have anything related to Lonis? I should be able to determine her tracks by smelling her scent."
"Senior Yicheng, is your sense of smell that outstanding..."
"Not smell, but synesthesia."
"!"
"I can convert scents into colors and display Lonis's scent and tracks in my field of vision."
"Mm, I understand. She has a set of spare towels, smell those."
......
......
Just like that, Elucia and everyone followed Yicheng's footsteps forward.
......