Chapter 693: Seeing Through

Ariel felt that she had always been pretty steady in how she did things.

Up to now, at most she had just beaten up some gangs, broken into ancient ruins, made a huge scene in the Holy City, and wiped out several demonfolk tribes in the Abyss. It really wasn’t a big deal at all.

Of course, when she did things, she might often add a bit of a gambling element, but she also gambled with principles.

Only when she felt the success rate was higher than fifty percent would she make that kind of risky choice. So up to now, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) she had only lost two tiny little gambles.

"Even those two, one day I’ll get the score back!"

Ariel finally stopped crossing her arms over her chest, and instead put them behind her back in a way that felt more habitual.

Even though she was no longer deliberately emphasizing anything, that posture—waist straight, back straight—still made her curves astonishing.

She had already gotten sick of this Abyss sky that was forever gray and dim, so her gaze—like it had gone through countless struggles and separations in love, full of the vicissitudes of life—fell like this upon the end of the horizon.

"But this has nothing to do with taking risks, and it has nothing to do with whether I’m gambling or not. Right now there are dozens of brave and strong beautiful young ladies waiting for me to save them. How could I possibly just sit by and do nothing?"

Someone who gives up beautiful young ladies so casually has no right to fulfill the crystal palace they dream of!!

This time, she would act decisively. She absolutely would not make the same mistake she made with Liya.

Boiling a frog with warm water was a coward’s move. This time she was going to turn up the high heat and reduce it directly!

"I’m going to sneak into that whatever Gutongs Castle and save the beautiful young ladies!" Ariel said immediately.

"What?"

The group all froze when they heard that.

"Are you crazy? Those people have already been dragged into the demonfolk’s castle. That’s the demonfolk’s main base. Just you—"

Dolan’s brows knit tightly. He felt this person was just a little girl spouting crazy nonsense.

But what he didn’t expect was...

"I... I’ll go too!"

Roya, who looked much more mature and steady, thought for a moment—and then actually walked to Ariel’s side.

"Miss Ariel, I’ll go help too."

"Wha—"

Ariel hadn’t even said anything yet, but Termir was already crying out, almost unable to believe it as he looked at Roya.

"Big sis Roya, what did you say?"

"I said I’m going to help Miss Ariel!"

Roya took a deep breath and said it again with certainty.

Even though the time was short, she had indeed made a huge decision.

Going to the demonfolk’s main base to rescue people was certainly dangerous, but watching the hero—so fearless, so selfless, so throwing everything aside to save others—endless courage rose up in her heart as well.

Even if her strength might not be outstanding, as backup, as a healing-type mage, she would definitely be able to help the hero!

Roya stole a glance at Ariel, her cheeks turning even redder.

"Won’t you think it through seriously?" Burt’s expression was heavy. Even though his appearance was fierce and vicious, he looked like he was sincerely considering everyone’s safety. "I have a special channel. If you follow me, in just three days you can leave the Abyss territory and be completely safe."

"Y-yeah, Big sis Roya, why don’t we leave the Abyss together? Why do you have to follow this crazy woman who suddenly popped out—"

Termir stepped forward and tightly grabbed Roya’s hand, worried.

"Come with me. Ever since earlier you’ve been protecting this person, but she’s just a stranger..."

"She’s not a crazy woman! And she’s not a stranger either!"

Roya flung Termir’s hand away and said seriously, "None of you understand. Miss Ariel saved me just now, and now she wants to selflessly go save other people. She’s the real hero!"

"Huh? Big sis Roya, you..."

Termir, whose hand had been flung away, stood there blankly.

He looked at his hand. No matter what, he never would have thought that Big sis Roya—who had always been gentle to him, protecting him like a next-door big sister—would treat him so roughly.

She hadn’t even treated him like this when she caught him looking at little yellow books!

He had only left for a short while, so why did he suddenly have the illusion that Big sis Roya had already gone far away from him?

For a moment, even though the Abyss’s cold wind was still constantly whipping at him, Termir’s head oddly felt a trace of warmth.

"Is it because of you?"

Termir’s eyes turned red. He gritted his teeth and glared at Ariel.

"What did you do to Big sis Roya, that you made her, made her... Big sis Roya has never relied on me this much! How could you...!"

"Termir!"

Roya frowned and again stood in front of Ariel.

"Don’t mess around. Miss Ariel really is my lifesaving benefactor!"

"Big sis Roya, you..."

Seeing this, Termir’s body shook as if struck by lightning.

W-why?

Fine if she treated me badly, but why are you still protecting her like this?

Could it be that more than ten years as childhood friends can’t compare to not even half an hour of meeting?

It hurt.

It hurt too much.

Even though that person was also a woman, why did it still hurt so heart-tearingly?

Thinking of the shy, bashful look Big sis Roya had just now—something he had never seen before—Termir felt as if needles were stabbing his heart.

"Stop arguing. Set aside this small matter for now. We can talk about it later."

Burt looked at Ariel with even more worry.

"You have to think it through. In a dangerous place like the Abyss, there aren’t many chances to have a safe retreat route. As long as you leave with us, I think even a Demon General wouldn’t be able to catch up to us."

"So what? Do I look like someone who’s afraid of a Demon General?"

"Don’t be stubborn. Such a good opportunity—"

"Alright, alright, no matter how much you say, it’s useless. I’m not leaving."

Ariel lifted her chin slightly, showing three parts disdain, three parts carefree ease, and ninety-four parts faint, effortless cool.

Her every movement—elegant like a gentleman—made Roya’s heart flutter wildly again.

But suddenly, Ariel’s tone shifted.

"You two don’t have to be so warmhearted either. I know everyone’s opinions are very different. Some people want to ‘leave,’ some people want to stay. But no matter what, I don’t think we’ll be separating for now."

"What do you mean?" Burt frowned and asked. "I’m not going with a naive, stupid person like you to die."

"You really don’t look like the type who would go with me to die. But if I go die directly, you’d probably be happy, right?"

Ariel finally stopped deliberately striking a pose. Her arms hung naturally at her sides, fingers lightly tapping the edge of her clothes.

"But unfortunately, if I want to sneak into Gutongs Castle, I really do need two demonfolk guides or something. I wonder if you two would be willing to condescend and help a bit?"

"What the hell do you mean?" The ill-tempered Dolan shouted angrily. "You really are a lunatic! There aren’t any demonfolk here. I think you’re the demonfolk!"

"Still going to keep pretending?"

Ariel let out a soft sigh and gently raised a hand, covering one eye.

Her other pupil rapidly changed color, actually turning into a clear blood-red like demonfolk.

But that blood-red was also slightly different from demonfolk eyes—cleaner, like a translucent red gemstone.

"You’ve been pretending for so long. The demonfolk stench on you is stabbing my eyes so badly they hurt."

"The Delusion-Breaking Eye!!"

Burt and Dolan’s faces both changed drastically at the same time.

"You actually have something like that?"

"Ah, ah, I didn’t expect it either."

Ariel made a V with her fingers and crossed it in front of her eye, putting on an embarrassed look.

"But the spoils I got from wiping out a demonfolk tribe a couple days ago actually came in handy this fast. Isn’t that a coincidence?"