Chapter 117: Her Majesty’s command
Getting to Vehren via the elevator, Lea found herself in a warehouse. Truly, the marvel of Lacrosa.
She doesn't know much about the northernmost nations like Sydelraa, Aipotu, or Halvarto.
She only knows a little bit about Aipotu through Dawn, the main base for the Cult of Technology. It is as advanced as Ryteline.
Sydelraa was very different from the marble of Renlou and the copper pipes of Ryteline. Although Vehren wasn't a big city, it is a major checkpoint between the three Northern nations, right on the trade route, and it has a wood and thatch style architecture to it.
"You, go out and find the person on this poster.", she handed the poster to the Twilight Gaunt, intending to use it to assassinate the heretic.
Meanwhile, she transformed her Cursed Constructs into heavy clothes, covering herself from head to toe. Fitting the Northern fur clothes of the north. Seeing people bustling in different accents and, more importantly, languages.
And just now, Lea realized belatedly, she could understand and speak every language fluently, although her Northern Renlou accent still remains.
More than that, she could read the signs and understand the words.
The very basic perk of a demigod is knowledge comprehension. But that revelation didn't last long; she made her way to a tavern.
As usual, the bustling and noisy tavern made Lea frown slightly. She much prefers the quiet atmosphere of a café or her own room. But there is no place like that here.
She only ordered a beer and some side dish, sitting in a corner of the tavern with five other people looking as suspicious as her, brooding and minding their own business.
Lea didn't have much of a hobby since that day. Reading the 'Count of Monte Cristo' was one, but she didn't manage to...
There was something in front of her. A smooth white orb with a lens was staring at her, bobbing up and down.
What have I gotten myself into this time...?
Lea sighed.
Then an unexpected, heavy, and gravely voice came from the drone, "[Her Majesty sent you a message.]"
Then an envelope materialized on the table, white and bearing the blue seal of the Compass Rose. Lea looked around, the rowdy bunch ignored her and just continued with their booze, as if they couldn't register the floating sphere in front of her.
Opening the letter, she began to read it... Except for the first part, the opening was in a language she couldn't comprehend
'Heus, Lea.
Haec est vera Principissa Cretacea, Charlotte Silvi. Haec scribo Latine, lingua mortua e Terra, modo ut te vexem. Fortasse putes hoc esse quoddam codicem secretum, sed non, hoc est ut te incommode sentias ad meam voluptatem.'
Lea felt deeply uncomfortable about this part. Was this some kind of secret code?
At least the next part was readable. And it seems, honestly, very important.
'You don't need to worry about your friends, though the monochrome library was attacked and burned down by Sinclair, we can still do the Zoom meetings. If you receive this, then you must've met my dearest Knight.'
Lea looked at the floating sphere, then she continued reading.
'He will follow you around if you decide to return to me; if not, then just tell him you refused.
Now, for some important matters, could you ragebait the Church of the Blood God for me? Do something that makes them look bad so they must reclaim their honor, or something like that. As long as they march toward the North Pole, anything is fine.'
She could only sigh at this outrageous demand.
"Could I not do this, please?", she pleaded with the sphere.
He replied, "[It is within your right to decide, Lady Darkwill. Though Her Majesty will reward you with something you might like.]"
"And that is...?"
"[A ship of your own, and a series of book of your chosing.]"
"Books?", she tilted her head.
"[Literature from Earth, you can browse for as long as you like.]", the sphere replied.
Then the sphere vanished quietly...
A ship for her as long as she makes the Church of the Blood God angry and somehow headed North like the Church of Sacrifice... it honestly sounds terrible.
But for Lea, this is a shortcut conveniently handed to her out of nowhere.
She ate the snack; it was just some stir-fried pieces of meat, dry but also flavorful. It goes great with beer. Then she headed outside, it was fairly cold in the 13th month, even penetrating her fake clothes.
Lea wanted to find an inn; she needed to plan more if she wanted to pissed off the Church of the Blood God.
Using the Contract, she observed the Twilight Gaunt... it was already right behind the heretic, standing in the darkness as Kael was packing to leave. The two were in a cramped house.
But unexpectedly, he threw a dagger at the demon, but missed it. Staring straight at the demon with his crimson eyes, he turned back to continue packing.
"Must've been the wind.", he muttered.
Seeing that, Lea sighed in relief.
"Go finish him off.", she commanded.
The Twilight Gaunt followed her command, walking toward the man. Yet another unexpected thing happened.
Kael swung his knife around, barely missing the Twilight Gaunt by a few millimeters.
"Who are you?! Where are you?!", he shouted, not knowing that the culprit was standing right in front of him.
Clicking her tongue, Lea slipped into her shadow and dashed toward Kael's location.
It was a shabby inn on the outskirts of the city. Barely anyone would stay here.
There wasn't even anyone at the front desk when Lea entered.
So, she did what she did best.
Her cursed Constructs spread out, covering the entire place in black thorns and tendrils. To escape her is impossible now—
Boom!!
Kael crashed right through the floor, coming face-to-face with him.
"..."
"..."
Immediately, she drew Hastur from her shadow and slashed him in half before he could even react. Then she sliced off his head in the same motion, kicking away his body as well.
Having witnessed her fair share of Carnage Pathstriders, as long as you give them the chance to go into their rhythm, it will be hard to fight. So swift action is necessary.
However, he was fighting a demigod. Malediction, Cloak, and Silence made her intent non-existent. To him, at the moment, Lea was some sort of emptiness devoid of emotions.
Grabbing the head, Lea used Dream Eater on the remaining consciousness...
Kael was previously a devotee of the Blood God, training diligently every day to become a warrior priest.
But one news made him disillusioned toward the church. The defeat of Zankur's army of a hundred thousand strong by the hands of a single person, killed while having their back turned.
Fragments of his experiments with poison, in this winter nation, where not many things use poison, he managed to create anti-Carnage poison.
Glimpses of him throwing flasks at other followers, watching with glee as their bodies melt in front if him...
It was horrific.
Shaking her head, Lea dropped Kael's head into her shadow. Then she headed upstairs to collect his belongings... Nothing out of the ordinary, just clothes, some ingredients to make poison, daggers, and syringes.
"Now then...", she closed her eyes, sinking into deep thoughts.
"How can I rile up the Church of the Blood God?"
=0=0=
"Is it alright to leave them alone?", the Shepherd asked.
Inside the silver city, Kahelzar was having tea with Charlotte.
"Spite is a great motivator, just teaching them what to do.", the Chalk Princess shrugged, "Besides, I did what I wanted in this world for over two thousand years."
"Right, you are just Contracted. Not a full-on Herald.", Kahelzar nodded, drinking her tea. But scowled at the taste, then put three sugar cubes into it.
"Quite the childish taste.", Charlotte chuckled, putting half a sugar cube into her cup.
The other person shook her head, "I have a sweet tooth, a spiritual being tastes much fainter than flesh or metal."
Then Kahelzar asked, "How is the progress with the 42nd?"
"That child has the left arm, a few ribs, a few other pieces. Overall, only about thirty percent.", Charlotte replied.
"And I have the skull and the mummified heart...", the Shepherd smiled.
Charlotte nodded, standing up from her seat.
"When the twenty lights ignite, the Absolute shall be reborn. And the one who they witness first shall be blessed by the Final Voidborn."
Kahelzar clapped her hands, "Wow, you like to talk a lot. But is what you said true?"
"No idea. But I just love hearing myself~"
Charlotte is, was and will, always be a narcissist.