Chapter 121: Heading Toward the Little Ones’ Ancient Village...
The morning dew had begun to settle over Whitemist.
A thin layer of mist covered the small buildings the Little Ones had constructed around the old church.
Smoke from several clay ovens slowly drifted toward Mireveil’s ever-gray sky as dozens of tiny blue creatures ran back and forth carrying tools, stones, and small branches.
Nox stepped out of the church accompanied by all of his companions.
The Little Ones immediately surrounded him.
"AUDE!"
"AUDE!"
"AUDE!"
The Demon Lord smiled.
It still felt strange to him that those tiny creatures greeted him so enthusiastically every time he stepped outside.
Claws yawned near the entrance.
The enormous bear remained lying on the ground, though he lazily raised one paw to greet Nox.
"Alright."
Nox crossed his arms.
"Today I’m heading to the Little Ones’ ancient village."
He pointed at the chubby Little One, who immediately jumped excitedly.
"Yuri, Audrey, and I are going. A few Little Ones will guide us."
Then he looked at everyone else.
"I want the rest of you to stay behind and protect Whitemist."
Misty immediately raised her hand.
"Objection."
Nox lifted an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
The dancer smiled.
"Last time I had to stay here."
She pointed at herself.
"This time I want to explore the territory."
She spun gracefully in place.
"Besides, I still haven’t seen much of the swamp."
Nox looked at her for a few seconds.
Then he smiled.
"Alright."
Misty raised both arms.
"Yes!"
"But everyone else stays."
He looked at Dawn, Tessa, and Catherine.
"Please."
Dawn was the first to respond.
"I don’t mind."
She closed the book she had been holding.
"I think I’ve found a way to communicate better with the Little Ones."
Nox tilted his head.
"Really?"
The princess nodded.
"There was a rather old book in the library on the second floor."
She smiled.
"I think I can help them build much more complex structures."
The Little Ones immediately gathered around her.
"AUDE!"
"AUDE!"
Dawn let out a soft laugh.
"I think they want to give it a try too."
At that moment, a small yellow sphere floated out from Catherine’s chest.
Felix.
The little spirit cat materialized in front of everyone.
"I’ve got a plan too!"
Nox looked at him.
"What is it?"
Felix grinned.
"The youngest Little Ones spent the whole night begging us to play with them."
He pointed toward a group of tiny creatures.
"So Catherine and I are going to keep them entertained."
Catherine smiled shyly.
"If you’re okay with it..."
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"...I don’t want to do anything that would bother you."
Nox shook his head with a smile.
"Don’t worry."
He looked at both of them.
"As long as you stay here... have fun however you want."
Felix spun happily through the air.
"Perfect!"
Tessa crossed her arms.
"Don’t worry about Whitemist."
She looked calmly at Nox.
"Go help the Little Ones."
Then she pointed toward the church.
"We’ll take care of everything here."
The Demon Lord nodded.
"Then it’s settled."
◇◆◇
A short while later...
Nox, Audrey, Misty, Yuri, and Claws left Whitemist.
Three Little Ones ran ahead of the group.
The chubby Little One led the way while the other two constantly argued over which route was better.
The forest gradually swallowed them once more.
The light faded beneath the swamp’s towering trees, the air became damp again, and mud squished beneath their feet.
Claws walked forward with complete ease.
Nox strode beside him.
Misty couldn’t stop looking around in fascination.
"This place still amazes me."
Audrey smiled.
"That’s because you haven’t even seen half of the swamp yet."
"I hope so."
The dancer replied.
"I want to see all of it."
◇◆◇
After walking for quite some time...
Audrey noticed something.
She discreetly glanced toward Yuri.
The green-haired girl was still walking, but much more slowly than everyone else.
Every now and then, she grimaced slightly, as though her legs were bothering her.
The huntress quietly moved closer to Nox.
She spoke in a low voice.
"Hey."
"What?"
"Do you know what’s wrong with that girl?"
Nox blinked.
"Who?"
Audrey subtly nodded toward Yuri.
"It doesn’t look like a simple cramp."
The Demon Lord suddenly felt awkward.
He scratched the back of his neck.
"Honestly..."
He cleared his throat.
"...I have no idea."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
At that exact moment...
Misty appeared beside them.
Smiling in a dangerously amused way.
"How strange."
Nox already knew this wasn’t going to end well.
"What is?"
The dancer raised an eyebrow.
"That you don’t know."
"Don’t know what?"
"After all..."
Her smile widened even further.
"...she slept in your room last night."
Audrey slowly turned her head.
She looked at Nox with unmistakable displeasure.
The demon scratched the back of his neck again.
"I have nothing to say."
Misty had to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
Audrey narrowed her eyes.
"No..."
she said slowly.
"...something definitely happened here."
"Nothing happened."
Nox replied.
"Of course."
Misty answered.
"Absolutely nothing."
The dancer was already laughing openly.
Nox decided arguing would be completely pointless.
◇◆◇
Audrey eventually let out a sigh.
Then she walked over until she was beside Yuri.
She studied her for a few seconds.
"Hey, kid."
The swamp girl looked up.
"What?"
"If it’s that hard for you to walk..."
She pointed toward Claws.
"...why don’t you ride on his back?"
The enormous bear turned his head.
He didn’t seem to mind the idea at all.
"He can carry you."
Yuri looked at the bear.
Then back at Audrey.
Finally, she slowly shook her head.
"No need."
She smiled.
"I can manage."
Audrey let out a quiet laugh.
"Suit yourself."
She didn’t insist and simply kept walking.
Nox watched the exchange from the corner of his eye.
’This woman is far too stubborn.’
Yuri took a deep breath.
Even though every step still hurt a little...
She continued walking without saying a single word.
Ahead of them, the chubby Little One raised both arms.
"AUDE!"
The other two Little Ones also began pointing forward.
The forest seemed to grow denser with every step.
Audrey smiled.
"Looks like we’re almost there."
Nox looked ahead.
He lightly gripped his coat.
Then continued walking.
The Little Ones’ ancient village was waiting for them.