Chapter 244: Beyond Imagination

Phield strolled along at a leisurely pace, while Alice looked around like a newborn, her face filled with wonder at everything in the Nightfall Domain.

A harmonious village, vegetables and wheat sprouts everywhere, and living, breathing people.

"What kind of place is this!"

Alice patted her cheeks, suspecting she was dreaming, and said firmly, "First possibility ruled out, this is not the Nightfall Domain."

"There’s nothing unbelievable about it."

Phield shook his head. When Alice had been unconscious, he had worried she might go berserk upon waking, but now that she was awake, he no longer felt concerned.

Of course, the most important reason was that while she had been unconscious, Rosalia had implanted a massive number of tiny blood threads into her body.

All of them were second-tier divine skills, Bone-Eroding Parasite.

Once activated by divine power, they would erupt simultaneously, instantly sending Alice to her death.

That was the real reason Phield had the confidence to face her.

"Do you have anything you want to ask me?"

"No. My mind is a mess."

Alice shook her head. She opened her mouth several times as if to speak, but ultimately said nothing, because she noticed the Greatsword of Gluttony behind Phield.

The demonic eye embedded in the grotesque sword was staring directly at her. Alice was certain that any dangerous movement on her part would trigger an immediate attack.

Damn it. What are these corrupted creatures trying to do? Help humans rebuild a city just to enjoy destroying it later?

Alice could not think of any explanation.

Noticing her slight trembling, Phield understood what was on her mind and said softly, "You don’t need to be afraid. This place wasn’t built by corrupted creatures. Well, Rosalia did help with the construction. To put it formally, under my leadership, all races have united to build the Nightfall Domain."

"What? You’re saying this isn’t a place where corrupted creatures raise humans like livestock?"

"Of course not."

Phield was taken aback. Her thinking was far too pessimistic, likely a result of her former lord’s insanity.

"If you don’t believe me, stay here for a few days. Time will prove everything." Phield shrugged, then cleared his throat awkwardly. "But you’ll need to earn your own living expenses. Also, you still owe us money."

Alice could hardly believe her ears. She opened her mouth and pointed at herself with her slender fingers. "But I’m a captive, aren’t I?"

"Not at all, Miss Alice. You are my guest."

Phield showed no concern for dignity, even forcing out a couple of tears. "I told you, the conflict between my brother and me was nothing more than quarrels. When he was killed by a monster, I couldn’t sleep all night. I was so devastated I nearly followed him in death."

"So when you were in danger, I saved you immediately."

Since Adrian was already dead, Phield could say whatever he wanted.

"This has nothing to do with Adrian. Forgive me for saying this, but your brother was a terrible bastard!"

Thinking of her former lord’s twisted behavior, Alice grew more and more furious, her chest rising rapidly with anger as she shouted.

"I know, I know. That’s why I wanted to teach him a lesson."

Phield wrapped an arm around Alice in an attempt to comfort her. Feeling her body stiffen, he quickly let go. "I won’t waste words. Time will prove everything. If possible, how about we sign a non-aggression pact? Assigning someone to watch over you all the time is too much of a waste of manpower."

What he called protection was really just precaution against her going berserk.

"Alright."

After a moment of thought, Alice released her divine power and formed a simple binding contract. As long as neither side was attacked, neither was allowed to harm the other or damage the territory.

With the non-aggression pact in place, it added another layer of security.

If a Divine Chosen violated it, they would be constrained by invisible rules.

With a snap of his fingers, Phield had a maid take her away to eat.

"This is the first step."

Phield snapped his fingers again, pleased.

Rosalia was completely baffled. "How did you manage to hug her? And if there hadn’t been those doll monsters, would you really have spared Adrian?"

"Of course not. I’m not stupid." Phield almost laughed. "Reasons only convince those who want to believe. If she truly didn’t believe me, even if I showed her proof, she still wouldn’t accept it. Everything I said was just to give her a reasonable way out."

After thinking for a while, Rosalia, though not understanding what proof meant, still grasped the point. "She has many things she cares about, especially her own life."

Phield smiled. "Who doesn’t value their life?"

"If you died, I’d definitely self-destruct with the enemy." Rosalia said bluntly. "What’s the point of living alone? It’s just sleeping all the time."

"Say something nicer, will you?"

Phield did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Repeat after me, break the death flag. After this battle, I’ll go home and get married."

"Huh? Why do I have to say that?"

"Just say it."

Only after Rosalia reluctantly repeated it three times did Phield let her off.

"Oh right. Speaking of Adrian, I almost forgot. We got a large number of combat manuals from him. It’s time to strengthen our individual combat power."

...

Rick Province, Fierce Stallion Domain. The weather was clear.

Baron Roxa of the Bull family was attending the wedding of his old friend’s son, along with his wife and child.

The bride had not yet arrived, but the guests had already gathered in Fierce Stallion Castle.

Flowers decorated the fortress, which normally exuded a grim and martial atmosphere, creating a strange yet warm contrast.

"Richard, my son, don’t look so serious all the time." Baron Bull wrapped an arm around his son’s shoulders. "This is your childhood friend’s wedding. Why that expression? Don’t tell me you’re worried about his married life."

"Pfft. That’s not something appropriate to say to your son. Our Richard doesn’t even have a girl he likes yet."

Baron Bull’s wife, Kaily, who was also a Divine Chosen, smiled as she held her husband’s arm.

"Locked in his room all day, of course he won’t meet anyone. At least attend some balls. I think the youngest daughter of Count Ross would be a good match. She’s beautiful and also a mage."

"That does sound good. If we can build ties, we might even gain the count’s favor."

The couple chatted enthusiastically, occasionally raising glasses with other guests.

Richard was the one who had made things difficult for Phield in the past.

Yet their son, Richard, still wore a cold expression.

Some gossiping noblewomen even suspected that Richard had taken a liking to the bride.

"Kaily, my dear, where do you think those damn Shadow World Sect members are hiding? I’ve been searching for months and haven’t found a single clue. The royal diviner clearly predicted that the rebels were hiding near the Bull territory."

"They might have fled to the northern province."