CA - Chapter 253
Chapter 253
The fact that Wolf Fang was no longer her Little Fur Ball made Erin a little sad, but this emotion only lasted for a short time. Seeing that they were about to be surrounded by monsters again, she subconsciously moved closer to Tang Qiu, poked her shoulder, and asked worriedly, “With so many monsters, can we get out of here?”
Moreover, it wasn't just the threat of monsters; the current Wolf Fang was no longer a companion to them.
Tang Qiu switched to a new staff, toying with it in her hand. She was observing the approaching swarm of monsters. Hearing Erin's words, she didn't turn her head, just smiled reassuringly. “Don't worry, Erin. You have to believe in the Pope's strength.”
“The Pope?” Erin looked at her in astonishment, stuttering a little from excitement. “Y-you became... the Pope?”
“When did that happen?” Erin took two steps back, sizing Tang Qiu up and down as if seeing her for the first time. She said with a look of annoyance, “So much actually happened while I was gone.”
“A lot did happen while you were gone. I'll tell you about it when we're safe.” Tang Qiu turned to Erin and made a hushing gesture, saying softly, “For now, be quiet.”
“Okay, okay.” Erin covered her mouth with her hand and obediently ran back behind Tang Qiu.
Although Wolf Fang didn't pay special attention to the interaction between the two, with her superior vision and hearing, she still saw and heard everything clearly.
Wolf Fang felt a bit upset, but her face showed no expression. She gave a look to Rona and the others, who were hiding not far away, signaling them to come over.
Rona and the others were too far away to know what had happened between Erin and Wolf Fang, but just by looking at the icy pressure around Wolf Fang, they could guess something was up. The group came up behind Wolf Fang, their heads lowered, not daring to look around.
“Take them to the temple.” Wolf Fang looked at the swarm of monsters that, after carving up the Dark Stones, had begun to turn their attention to them. Rona hadn't brought out many Dark Stones; they were just meant to attract the Moon Beast's attention.
The monsters were not friendly toward outsiders, especially an outsider who could use the light magic they feared. Even the Moon Beast, after flipping its body over to put pressure on its wound, began searching for the enemy that had injured it.
This situation was not suitable for opening the gate to the Statu Continent.
Although Wolf Fang had always thought about invading the Statu Continent, she was still somewhat different from the Blood Demon. She always kept the Dark God's command in mind: the monsters trapped in the Dark World could never be given a chance to leave in this lifetime.
Tang Qiu also knew that this situation was unsuitable for taking Erin back to the Statu Continent. If a monster were to accidentally slip through to the Statu Continent, it would be another disaster for a world that had just endured a great war.
“The temple is formed from the Dark God's divine power. The monsters don't dare to approach it. It will be safer to return to the Statu Continent from there.” Rona had been sent to relay the message. Although Erin's suspicious gaze made her a bit awkward, she braced herself and conveyed Wolf Fang's concern for Erin. “Boss just isn't good at expressing herself. She's actually very worried about your safety, Erin.”
Erin peeked out from behind Tang Qiu and questioned, “You call her Boss? You've known each other for a long time?”
Rona gave a dry cough, not knowing how best to answer. She decided to simply ignore Erin's question, turning to signal Tang Qiu and the others to follow her. “I'll lead the way. I swear, it will definitely be safer for you to follow me to the temple than to stay here.”
Tang Qiu glanced at the swarm of monsters that was about to surround them and agreed with Rona. She nodded at Rona, then waved her staff. A sky full of golden flames rained down, forcing the approaching monsters back.
Lucille had already withdrawn from the monster swarm when the flames appeared. Seeing Tang Qiu leading Erin behind Rona, she habitually flashed in front of Tang Qiu, shielding her.
Erin looked at Lucille, then at Tang Qiu, and sighed with a hint of envy.
The temple in the Dark World was somewhat similar to the Dark Temple behind the Witch City. Rona escorted Erin, Tang Qiu, and Lucille to the temple entrance and then left. As she was also considered a monster of the Dark World, she was forbidden from entering the temple.
After they entered the temple's grounds, the monsters that had been following closely stopped in their tracks. They seemed to fear this place, hesitating for a long time without daring to take another step, and could only wait outside, unwilling to give up.
Tang Qiu looked up, sizing up the temple before them. Staring at the two tightly shut doors, she said to Erin, “Let's go inside and take a look.”
Erin was turning her head, staring into the darkness as if searching for something. When she heard Tang Qiu, she hurriedly turned back, gave a cough to cover it up, and then nodded.
Tang Qiu glanced at Erin, noticing she was a bit distracted. She raised an eyebrow and said, “Worried about Wolf Fang? She's very strong. Those monsters can't hurt her.”
When they left, Wolf Fang had voluntarily stayed behind to hold off the frenzied Moon Beast for them.
Erin guiltily touched her hair. “I'm not worried about her.” Seeing that Lucille had already pushed the door open, she quickly gathered her cloak and ran toward it, saying as she went, “Let's hurry inside.”
Outside the temple, it was pitch black, but inside, it was brightly lit. The sudden, glaring light made Erin instinctively raise a hand to shield her eyes. She slowly lowered it once her eyes had adjusted. She was about to take a good look at the temple when she saw the familiar figures walking around in the center, and her eyes widened.
“Th-this…” Erin's face was filled with shock. “What in the world is going on?”
When she had first emerged from the Moon Beast's stomach, she had already seen the Dark Stones that looked exactly like her, thanks to Tang Qiu pointing them out. But at that time, she was very far from them and had only glanced from a distance.
It wasn't as shocking as seeing them walking right in front of her now.
There were quite a few Dark Stones in the temple. They were just walking back and forth, doing nothing else. Tang Qiu stood at the entrance, watching them thoughtfully. She pointed in one direction, signaling for Erin to look. “Does that Dark Stone look a bit like you as a child?”
At first, she thought all the Dark Stones looked the same, but after observing them, she noticed that some had distinctly more youthful features and smaller figures.
Like a younger Erin.
Erin followed the direction Tang Qiu was pointing and said in surprise and doubt, “I think so.”
This felt even stranger.
Tang Qiu nodded, pulling her gaze away from the Dark Stones. She speculated, “These Dark Stones must have taken on this form under Wolf Fang's influence.”
“It seems Wolf Fang has had Little Fur Ball's memories for a long time.”
Erin was a bit bewildered. “Then why would she turn all the Dark Stones into my likeness?”
Tang Qiu looked at her confused expression and said with a teasing smile, “Maybe she likes you.”
Wolf Fang's presence was approaching the temple. Tang Qiu glanced back. “She's here. You can ask her yourself.”
After speaking, she smiled at Erin. “Lucille and I will be nearby, so don't worry. After you're done talking with her, we'll head back to the Statu Continent. I have something to tell you.”
Erin froze for a moment and reached out to stop Tang Qiu and Lucille, but the two had already vanished. Just then, Wolf Fang emerged from the darkness. Erin looked up and their eyes met.
Maybe she likes you… Tang Qiu's teasing words seemed to echo in Erin's ears. Her face slowly grew hot, and she uncomfortably averted her gaze from Wolf Fang's, clearing her throat. “You can just stand right there.”
This is Wolf Fang, not Little Fur Ball… Erin repeated this sentence to herself several times in her mind, finally suppressing the bit of shyness in her heart. If someone said Little Fur Ball liked her, she would believe it. But Wolf Fang, the Dark God's general… Erin found it incredible. How could someone like that possibly like a weak and ordinary little witch like her?
Wolf Fang stood still, staring intently at Erin at first. Then, her gaze flickered when she saw the walking Dark Stones behind her. Her fingers, hanging at her side, twitched, and a black mist suddenly appeared in the temple, completely obscuring the walking Dark Stones.
The movement behind her caught Erin's attention. She turned to look and asked hesitantly, “Um… what's the deal with the Dark Stones?”
Wolf Fang lowered her eyes, her thoughts racing, but she couldn't find a reasonable explanation on such short notice, so she could only remain silent.
Erin waited for a moment. When she didn't get an answer, she mustered her courage and said softly, “Grace said it's because you like me…”
Before she could finish, Wolf Fang cut her off. Wolf Fang turned her head away and denied it, “…I don't like you.”
The moment she said it, her heart tightened. She pressed her lips together and habitually began to regret it. The evidence that she might like Erin was right there in the temple. Although the Dark Stones were hidden by the black mist, their footsteps still echoed clearly in Wolf Fang's ears. To her, the sound seemed to be mocking her for not meaning what she said.
“No, I…” Wolf Fang turned her head back, wanting to explain, but when she looked up, she saw Erin looking relieved. Her words caught in her throat, and her expression darkened.
“I knew you couldn't possibly like me.” Erin looked down, fiddling with the knot of her cloak, then touched her own face. She turned her head to look at the black mist and came up with an explanation for Wolf Fang on her own. “These Dark Stones probably ended up like this because of some mistake.”
“By the way, can Little Fur Ball come back?”
Wolf Fang looked at Erin's expectant gaze, remained silent for a long moment, and then said in a low voice, “No.”
“I see.” Erin lowered her eyes, a little sad. “That's a shame.”
Now she was certain. The person in front of her really had nothing to do with Little Fur Ball.
Although Little Fur Ball wasn't sentient and did nothing but eat or sleep when it was with her, Erin genuinely loved the pet.
Seeing Wolf Fang reminded her of Little Fur Ball, and Erin felt a tightness in her chest, a very uncomfortable feeling.
She didn't want to stay here anymore.
“Grace said you want to invade the Statu Continent, so I won't help you break the seal.” Erin glanced in the direction of Tang Qiu and Lucille and silently started walking toward them. “I won't, even if I die. So don't come looking for me.”
Without giving Wolf Fang time to respond, Erin quickly ran toward Tang Qiu. Seeing her run over, Tang Qiu took a couple of steps forward to meet her. Noticing Erin's low spirits, she asked, “What's wrong?” As she spoke, she looked up toward the temple entrance, but Wolf Fang was no longer in sight.
“Nothing.” Erin raised her hand and rubbed her face. The coldness of her fingers sobered her up a bit. She blinked and asked with a smile, “You said you had something to tell me just now. What was it?”
Tang Qiu looked into Erin's eyes and sighed silently. She reached out and gently stroked Erin's head, then said in a low voice, “Glanna and Vera are dead.”
Erin's expression froze. “…Vera?”
Tang Qiu nodded. “The witches of the Garcia Family summoned the Blood Demon through a blood sacrifice. Vera was among them.”
“I had people search for their bodies. Do you want to see them?”
Erin frantically lowered her head and covered her eyes with her hand. Her voice was strained. “I… I want to see Vera.”
She could do without seeing Glanna, but she wanted to see Vera.
She was angry that Vera had betrayed her, but she had never imagined she would lose her friend.
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