harleyscars Page 20
Page 20
"It's nothing, I was just thinking about some happy things."
Lak nodded knowingly.
"After all, we're both happy about the same thing..."
Chapter 26 The Person Watched by the Goddess
"Well……"
The blinding sunlight shone on her face, and Mino's brows twitched as she gradually came to her senses.
"What's wrong with me..." Mino blinked, her memory was a little blurry, and it took her a long time to gradually recall everything that happened yesterday.
"Yes, after a long and arduous struggle, I finally succumbed to the enemy's relentless and cruel torture..." Mino recalled everything from her memories and sighed to the heavens:
"I tried my best. I tried my best."
A figure suddenly wriggling beside the bed caught my attention.
Mino turned her head slightly and found long, smooth hair, fragrant with roses, scattered by the bedside. Kletina was lying on her side, her head turned to the side, revealing a somewhat alluring sleeping face.
The pale pink dress hugged her beautiful figure, and her fair skin, exposed beneath, shimmered beautifully in the sunlight...
Kleidina frowned slightly, as if she were having a nightmare.
This means... someone stayed by her bedside all night? Mino thought for a moment, then leaned close to Kletina's ear.
With her lips moving rapidly up and down, Mino began to mutter quickly using the technique of high-speed divine speech:
"From now on, give the brave Mino an egg with every meal..."
"From now on, give the brave Mino an egg with every meal..."
"From now on, give the brave Mino an egg with every meal..."
"No? Gomen..." Altotai, who had been watching from the sidelines for a long time, finally couldn't help but shout out:
"I gave you a chance to back down, and you played it so poorly! Hypnotic scenarios should make you a disgrace!"
Mino lowered her head.
A blush had crept onto Kletina's sleeping face.
"Stop pretending, I knew you were faking being asleep a long time ago," Mino chuckled.
Kletina stopped giggling, opened her eyes with a frown, sniffed, and quickly looked a little sad as she said:
"Nonsense! I was worried about your health and stayed by your bedside all night, and you're saying I was pretending to be asleep... Even a demon could be hurt by you, Hero..."
Mino nodded and looked Kletina up and down:
"So, while you were keeping watch by my bedside all night, you also managed to take a shower, change your clothes, and put on makeup to make your sleeping face look even more adorable? And you still haven't wiped the grease from breakfast off your lips..."
Kleidina paused for a moment, then her face flushed crimson like a steam engine. She quickly turned away and wiped the grease from her lips.
"As expected of Mino, her observation skills are so sharp even when she has just woken up."
She sighed softly, abandoning the plan that had only come up on a whim when she came to the bedside.
Mino scratched his head, then proudly tilted it back: "It's nothing, actually it was all secretly told to me in my mind by Altottai..."
"..."
Kleidina looked at the holy sword in the corner and for the first time had the idea of letting it sleep again.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Of course, it's a follow-up to yesterday's interrogation—this time, I still need you to provide some information about Prince Ota..."
Kleidina smiled brightly: "The Hero Awakening Ceremony is about to begin, and I don't want it to go too smoothly. If Prince Ota falls at this critical juncture... I believe it will give many people an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."
So, the selection process for the next hero is about to begin?
A few thoughts flashed through Mino's mind.
The existence of heroes has been gradually revealed by the human camp through thousands of years of battles with the demon race.
The closest concept to the idea of a hero among many hypotheses is "the one who receives the gaze of a goddess"—
Fighting against the demons requires more than just sufficient combat power; only those who can withstand the goddess's blessing and sign a pact with the sacred artifact can unleash their full power against the demons.
Although Mino still possessed the blessing and the Holy Sword, the goddess's gaze could not linger on the demon territory, so he was no longer considered a true hero (as the goddess was watching him).
The Hero Awakening Ceremony is a ritual that uses a magic circle to select the person who best matches the characteristics from among a group of qualified hero candidates, and then communicates with the goddess's gaze.
It's just a preliminary step in selecting a hero, is it really necessary to use information in such a roundabout way...? Mino looked at Kletina, who seemed exceptionally confident:
"Hero, believe me, the most despicable force is among you humans. There are many who do not want the hero to appear. Given the right opportunity... even without our intervention, some will cause some disruption."
Mino's heart sank as she realized once again how cunning and troublesome the demons were.
To be able to understand human nature to such an extent is almost like self-control of one's own kind. Kleidina... truly the most troublesome great demon below the Demon King.
"Heh, Kletina, what kind of person do you take me for..."
At that moment, Mino's eyes ignited with the fire of enlightenment, and his back straightened.
"I am the strongest hero in human history, the source of fear for the demon race, the holy and noble Holy Sword Warrior, Mino Rek!"
"Do you think I would sit idly by and watch you extend your dark hand, turning the kingdom's interior into a quagmire, stripping away its hard armor to expose its most vulnerable and sensitive heartland, and letting humanity utterly sink under your brutal conquest?!"
Kleidina: "...It's not as vulgar as you say."
"My lord, you should just drop the words 'holy and noble' and stick to being your dirty joke hero..."
"Mino, do you mean... you're going to back out?"
Kletina's lips curled into a dangerous smile as she stared at Mino. The increasingly intense rose scent slithered through Mino's skin like a snake in the night, its sticky texture seemingly adhering to her skin.
This time, it wasn't a seductive scent. During Mino's battle with the Rose Shadow Demon Klettina, this scent would bring the most troublesome neurotoxins over time, which were difficult to resist even with protective powers.
Mino raised his head and smiled disdainfully.
"Kreitina, although I am a hero, do you think I keep my word to everyone?"
"Since your plan could potentially threaten the kingdom's internal affairs, how could I face the nation, the most popular political party, the 'Mino Alliance,' and the people who idolize me if I were to provide further intelligence?!"
"For this, even if I have to be a treacherous and despicable person, I will accept it!"
Mino’s firm tone silenced Altotai, who had been secretly thinking, “You’re so popular.”
Kleidina's expression gradually turned serious. She had almost forgotten that the hero before her was the most formidable and unyielding opponent in the human camp...
[Ding—The second phase of the interrogation mission has restarted]
[Second Stage of Torture Mission: The torture by the demon Fim has effectively alleviated your pain. Now that you are cured, you confess in a refreshed state... Facing Kletina's interrogation, please reveal at least one piece of important information about Prince Ota.]
[Reward: One chance for "healing", and an item belonging to the demon "Kreitina"]
“But I confess.”
Mino confessed, feeling refreshed and alert.
Chapter 27 The Border Demons Abandon Their Duties
"It's okay if you don't want to, I will... eh?"
Kleidina felt as if she were hallucinating and paused for a moment.
"What did you say?"
Mino's posture at that moment was so resolute that the two words didn't seem like they would come out of his mouth at all.
Altotai jolted to his feet, shocked, and exclaimed, "The angle you used was truly unpredictable! My lord!"
"I'll tell you, I'll confess." Mino clenched his fist, as if making a firm decision.
He knew that even if he didn't reveal the information, the demons would find other ways to cause trouble for the kingdom.
Since that's the case, it would be better to spread a false message and render the demons' evil plan futile!
Now, it's my turn to protect you, my dearest friend!!!
Kletina was surprised by Mino's initiative and a sense of doubt arose in her heart. Could it be that... Mino planned to deceive her with false information and completely ruin the demon race's plan?
However, looking into Mino's pure eyes, she quickly dismissed the idea.
If it weren't for the fact that the great battle with the hero has left the Demon King's castle lacking in combat power, they wouldn't have used Mino's intelligence in such an important plan. After all, Mino, who has only provided intelligence a few times, has not yet gained sufficient trust.
To be honest, they are out of options at this stage.
If they simply gritted their teeth and endured until the day of the awakening ceremony, it would cause them even more trouble... Mino shouldn't have been unaware of this.
Therefore, there is only one conclusion: this is yet another challenge issued by Mino, and he believes that the Hero Awakening Ritual will be successfully completed no matter what!
Kleidina was slightly shocked.
While they were still making small plans for Prince Ota, had the brave Mino already set his sights on the entire human camp?!
Could it be... that she really was wrong?
As doubts began to linger in her mind, Kleidina was only slightly confused before quickly regaining her resolve. As the First Scribe of the Demon King's Castle, she absolutely could not afford to be outdone by the hero.
"Since that's the case, then I'd like to see what kind of intelligence you can provide that can strike at Ota. Tell me, what else is on par with Prince Ota's heart?"
Kleidina asked with a half-smile.
Mino hesitated for a moment.
Unfortunately, the puppet had already taken a hit for Ota last time. In order to confuse the demons, he had to reveal half-truths and half-falsehoods so that his expression wouldn't show anything unusual.
Is there any more information like this? Mino was lost in thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up.
Yes, yes! There really are!
It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon...
As usual, Mino went to Prince Ota's study, pushed open the door, and found a slightly large book in front of Ota, whose head was drooping and who was dozing off.
Mino slowly stepped forward and softly called out twice, "Your Highness Ota, Your Highness Ota?"
"Ah!" Ota suddenly woke up from his desk and then hurriedly tried to tidy up the table.
But soon, the large book blocking my view crashed down, and a small notebook, which seemed to be tucked inside, slid off the edge of the desk.