Chapter 71: Ally of Justice

"Enemies? No—no, they’re not!"

Just as despair took hold of her heart, Sherry saw the gray fog being driven back. Ecstasy surged through her, impossible to suppress, joy spilling openly into her eyes.

As the mist was dispersed, a cavalry unit clad in black hooded cloaks burst out of the gray fog.

Before they even made contact, the knights raised their crossbows. The sharp crack of triggers rang out, and the surrounding corrupted corpses collapsed in swathes.

Phield lowered his emptied crossbow, then lifted his long spear and thrust forward, skewering two corrupted corpses in succession. The cavalry charged in as well, swiftly cutting down the corrupted creatures around them.

"Please—help us!"

Seeing that the newcomers were dressed like nobles, the joy in Sherry’s eyes could no longer be contained. She waved desperately toward Phield.

"I am Sherry Gassina of the Imperial Investigation Corps! Our mounts are exhausted!"

Phield hadn’t even spoken yet.

Sherry hurled an object toward him.

"Take this! We need horses! I’ll give even greater rewards!"

Phield opened his palm—and nearly had his eyes blinded by the dazzling light.

It wasn’t a flashbang.

It was a divine artifact.

The artifact’s main body was a conical frame woven from golden threads, resembling the Millennium Puzzle from Yu-Gi-Oh—except that inside the hollow frame rested a beautiful ruby.

"What the—this generous?"

Phield sucked in a sharp breath. He hadn’t even stated his terms, and she had already thrown a divine artifact at him without hesitation.

"This woman is terrifying... Is she really that rich? As expected of an old noble house."

Without hesitation, Phield accepted it. He pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the artifact.

As the ruby absorbed the blood, a pleasant surge of power spread through him. His mind cleared instantly, as if boundless wisdom were flooding in. That was followed by a vast, majestic presence that filled him with awe.

Once bound, the divine artifact felt as though he had gained an extra pair of hands.

On the Lord Panel, under Divine Gift, a new item appeared.

Divine Gift: The Eye That Pierces the Veil (Tier I Divine Artifact)

Source: Goddess of Wisdom

Effect: Allows the wearer to see through illusions (illusions created by divine power of Tier I or below).

Active: Activate the artifact to gain farther and clearer vision.

Special: Only usable by Wisdom-type Divine Chosen.

"...Binoculars?"

Phield’s mouth twitched. Once he taught craftsmen how to make glass, wouldn’t binoculars be mass-produced?

Still, he quickly dismissed the complaint. At least for now, this artifact would be extremely useful. Even if it became obsolete later, he could always sell it—for tens of thousands of gold coins, at minimum.

Looking up at Sherry’s hopeful expression, Phield flashed a bright, sunny smile and casually improvised:

"Greetings, Lady Sherry. I am Phield, Baron of Nightfall Domain. You may call me by my title—Ally of Justice."

"Pfft—"

Ally of Justice...

She had thrown him her divine artifact, and he hadn’t hesitated for even a second before taking it!

Sherry was so furious she nearly spat blood. If she hadn’t been forced into a corner, she would never have traded such a precious divine artifact for horses. But after enduring relentless corpse-tide attacks, and now losing their mounts, she no longer had the courage to continue on foot.

Endless waves of corpses. Companions dying one after another.

Ashina had said Sherry wouldn’t die—that was Ashina’s judgment.

But Sherry didn’t believe it at all. Her sanity was already on the verge of collapse.

"Baron Phield, please grant us your aid."

The chief knight beside her dropped to one knee as well.

"My lord, for the sake of our fellow citizens of the Empire, please help us. May the Goddess of War illuminate your future."

Phield had half-expected the knight to rely on his third-tier strength and try to seize horses by force. He had even arranged for Rosalia to pretend to be a wild corrupted creature, ready to intervene at any moment.

"Of course. We have spare mounts," Phield said decisively, handing over three reserve warhorses. His tone remained courteous.

"After all, nobles should help one another."

"Thank you for your generosity."

Both of them showed exhausted smiles. A month and a half of reconnaissance had utterly broken them.

Seeing Sherry sway unsteadily, Phield considered stepping forward to offer a polite supporting hand. But the moment he got close, a horrific stench hit him—rotting viscera mixed with the smell of salted fish left to ferment for forty-nine days.

Phield nearly died on the spot.

Gods above—worse than a widow’s underwear unwashed for three years!

"Let’s move. We’ll shake off the corrupted corpses."

Phield’s face darkened, but he forced himself not to retch. He gently pulled the reins, and his horse immediately turned. Glancing at the minimap, he urged,

"Follow me. I’ll get you out."

"What about Valtteri?" Sherry looked anxiously toward the distant melee and shouted,

"Stop fighting—retreat! We’ve received help from another noble!"

"Understood! You go first—I’ll catch up!"

The distant reply rang out, suddenly full of energy.

Valtteri rallied her strength, smashing corrupted creatures apart as she matched the speed of Phield’s cavalry.

"As expected—her Divine Chosen still has fighting power."

Phield cast a deep look toward the distance, at the two wild corrupted Divine Chosen marked on the map, and silently swore to himself:

Just wait. Once I’ve developed a bit more, I’ll capture you both, discipline you properly, and add you to my maid corps.

Rosalia and Ashina fought separately within the gray fog. Phield needed them hidden—but not idle.

He wasn’t arrogant enough to think fifteen cavalry alone could save everyone.

Sword auras slashed through the air. Drakewolf’s dragonfire scorched everything in its path. The two of them fought like mad, blocking the surging corpse tide.

Humm—

A streak of purple light flashed past, carrying a bone-chilling tearing sound as it shot straight toward Rosalia.

Ashina’s wolf ears twitched. She instantly drew her bow, charging it to full draw. A silver streak shot out like a meteor.

Like a blade shattering glass, the purple light wheel was blown apart by Ashina’s arrow.

"Watch out for sneak attacks."

"I didn’t expect you to help—thanks," Rosalia said belatedly, hefting her greatsword as she scanned her surroundings.

"So, who exactly is trying to ambush me?"

"You. Corrupted. Human aura. Strange."

A brown-haired woman with stiff, twitching limbs slowly emerged from the corpse tide. She looked like an oversized, exquisitely crafted porcelain doll—her posture twisted and unnatural, yet possessing a strange beauty.

Her chest was pale and exposed, a single beauty mark on the left side adding an alluring touch rather than detracting from it. A red ribbon was tied around her slender waist, and her white skirt fluttered in the wind—short and slit, revealing a flawless figure.

Ever since Rosalia had signed a contract with Phield, the corrupted corpses no longer treated her as one of their own. They attacked her without hesitation.

Rosalia was already used to it. She greeted the newcomer openly:

"Hello there. I’m a noble. And you—where did you come from, little sweet treat?"

"Violet. Corrupted. Vampire hybrid. Tier I Divine Chosen."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Hello. I want to kill you."