One month later.
Thud.
Two gagged individuals were thrown onto the floor of Baron Aaron's office.
"I've brought the men to you. I only severed their hand and foot tendons. I used a bit of magic to stanch the bleeding, so they won't die."
"Hey, hey, my floor is expensive."
Looking at these two bloody fellows, Baron Aaron rubbed his temples.
"Where is my intelligence?"
"Hmph, I already have it. That Demon, Qual, is sealed in a place in the Central Lands. It was once the front line where the Demon Race fought against humans. Here is the map."
Aaron handed Nanoda a map.
"So efficient. Even if I sent someone to the Central Lands, it would take more than two months."
"Are you perhaps underestimating my intelligence network too much?"
"Then it's been a pleasure cooperating. Is there anything else?"
"No, go solve your own matters. I will handle the rest myself; I know what I'm doing."
"Aaron, don't die."
After speaking, she tossed a purple butterfly pendant to Aaron. Nanoda could faintly sense that something major was about to happen in the Gaderia Territory.
"If there is danger, crush it. It will take you and Yuna to a safe place. Once you arrive, tell Aura that I gave it to you."
"Don't worry, I will act according to my ability."
Nanoda turned and left.
"Lady Nanoda, will we be able to meet again?"
Waiting at the door, Yuna, the corners of her eyes red, gently tugged at the corner of Nanoda's clothes.
"We will. I will come back. You must properly cultivate your magic, alright? By the way, if Aaron messes around, remember to stop him for me."
"Mhm!"
Patting Yuna's head, Nanoda once again embarked on her journey; expanding her forces was now a matter of urgency that allowed for no delay.
Reluctantly watching Nanoda leave, Yuna pushed open the office door.
"Why didn't you tell her?"
Baron Aaron, who had just poured himself a glass of wine, shook his head.
"This is our war. The Empire has already tacitly approved the petty maneuvers of our old rival, Count Mannier. A territory war is not far off. If we really dragged her into this, we would truly substantiate the charge of colluding with the Demon Race, and the Empire would send troops to wipe us out."
"I want to help too! I am a Mage now!"
"This is a war between humans. It is not slaying Demons; it is killing people."
Baron Aaron's voice was low and deep. Yuna's father had already passed away in the battle against the Red Mirror Dragon. He did not wish for Yuna, who was still in the prime of her youth, to go to the battlefield, and he certainly did not wish for a white-haired elder to bury a black-haired youth.
"Even so... I am willing. I don't want Lady Nanoda to be unable to find this place when she returns."
Yuna revealed a determined look; to her, this place was also her home.
"Hahahaha, you really are a brave fellow, just like your father. Don't worry, our Gaderia family isn't made of vegetarians. Betting everything on this, we will win."
Baron Aaron's gaze gradually turned grim and ruthless.
Don't let the fact that Baron Aaron was now a bald, middle-aged man fool you; in the war against the Demon Race long ago, he had also called himself a Hero and followed his old man to slay quite a few Demons.
Spending some time, Nanoda returned to the stronghold of the Mutual Love New Demon Association.
She handed the recipes she brought from the Lord's Manor to Linie.
She also left a few instructions with Aura, who was currently using a whip to discipline Hafleet, before hurriedly heading south.
"Sigh, as expected, the ones with their heads chopped off are the most obedient. However, occasionally playing with one that has thoughts isn't bad either."
Aura had awakened some strange new attributes.
"Aba... Aba..."
Hafleet wore a look of dull stagnation.
Another month later. Traveling through the night, Nanoda bypassed the northern human alert line and arrived in the Central Lands.
Since she could completely conceal the mana that represented the Demon Race, she only needed to wear a cloak or a hat to easily blend into the crowd.
The journey was calm and tranquil. Following the guidance on the map, Nanoda arrived at a small village.
A breeze blew through the bountiful, full-bodied wheat; this golden ocean immediately rippled in waves.
The entire village radiated an atmosphere of harmony and peace.
At the village entrance, a child wearing a straw hat was playing with mud.
What surprised Nanoda was that she sensed a barrier enveloping the entire village. This made her increasingly certain that Qual was indeed sealed here.
The problem was, how was she to get in? Nanoda could determine that this should be a barrier designed to distinguish between humans and Demons.
"Let's give it a try. Worst case scenario, I'll just smash through it."
Nanoda recited silently in her heart that she was a human and walked toward the inside of the barrier.
Much like when Aura cast the Magic of Obedience on her back then, she felt a scan sweep over her soul.
Nanoda received no obstruction and easily passed through the barrier. It had to be said that this barrier was quite miraculous. Was it because of her human soul that it recognized her as an ally?
"Huh? Are you here to tour the village?"
The boy wearing the straw hat looked up. Nanoda was draped in black robes from head to toe, her face obscured. However, since she could pass through the barrier mentioned by the adults, she should be a human. It was just that her attire was really strange; what was she doing wrapped up so tightly? Winter hadn't arrived yet.
Seeing this child speak to her, Nanoda cleared her throat and spoke as gently as possible.
"I came here to find a friend."
It's a big sister with a nice voice. The straw-hat child revealed a smile.
"Hehe, what is his name? If I know him, I can take you to find him."
"It's fine. I already know where he is."
Nanoda could already sense the mana seeping out from the seal isolated by the barrier.
"Alright then."
The little boy nodded and continued playing with his mud.
Nanoda walked into the village. Along the way, quite a few villagers cast curious glances at this stranger dressed in odd clothes.
However, they didn't take it to heart. After all, the village's barrier was still operating, so they simply treated her as a traveler from a distant land.
She walked all the way to the end of the village, where there was a plain covered in green grass. However, because the weather had already entered autumn, much of the green grass had turned yellow.
A tall stone statue of a Demon stood erect there, looking for all the world like a humanoid monster. Nanoda recognized it at a glance: this was the sealed Sage of Corruption—Qual.
Wisps of mana radiated from within the stone statue, as if declaring his unwillingness to yield. The seal on the surface of the stone was also being worn away, bit by bit.
Even while sealed, this ancient genius of the Demon Race had not ceased his efforts.
"Who goes there?"
There were two young guards in front of the stone statue. They both held long spears in their hands, guarding the sealed Qual.
Nanoda was very satisfied. Qual was indeed a genius no weaker than the Seven Sages of Destruction. With petrification magic as the core, over a dozen seals had been cast upon him. Under such circumstances, Qual still had the spare capacity to resist.
Seeing a stranger intrude, the two guards raised their long spears in unison.
____
🔥New Story: Junji Ito: I Shall Smash Hellstar Remina🔥
✅ Get immediate access to 40 early chapters for all stories.
✅ Enjoy exclusive material and special announcements!
Help us unlock these community rewards:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters across ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan