Chapter 822

Chapter 59: Sword Ghost (Part 1)

Deep into the night.

Under the moonlight as pure and white as jade, a refreshing cool breeze blew gently over the lush valley and stream.

Along the winding riverbank, several wild deer leaped past, quickly disappearing into the pine forest by the riverside. In the distance, the towering mountain ridges stretched endlessly in the darkness. Among the open spaces below the ridges, the burning lightning had already extinguished, leaving blackened corpses scattered about, their deaths gruesome. They lay beneath drifting ashes.

Soon, the knights on patrol hurried back. They stood in silence before the destroyed campsite, some filled with fear and vigilance, others kneeling beside the bodies, hands clasped together in prayer. Some managed to catch the fleeing horses, leading the still frightened beasts to the wagons, now reduced to black wooden frames. They looked down at the scattered gold coins, murmuring something like “Thank goodness.”

On the other side of the mountains, far away from here, the night was filled with the chirping of insects, like a hymn. The grass and trees rustled softly in the wind.

If one were to look even further, they would see small bonfires burning brightly on a high ground in the valley. Two small figures sat facing each other around the fire. One of them held a thick branch with meat chunks, flipping it patiently over the flames.

After a while, she noticed the meat starting to sizzle and drip oil. She took out some salt from a small bag beside her and sprinkled it evenly over the half-cooked meat. Then she waved her hand in front of her nose, inhaling the aroma that wafted in, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

This meat was freshly hunted deer from not long ago, and the salt was something the female swordsman had on her. The meat being roasted now was the fatter thigh part. Other good cuts had been wrapped in deer skin and left nearby, ready to be enjoyed slowly over the next few days.

It’s been so long since I’ve eaten fresh deer meat like this…

I thought, staring at the crackling flames, lost in thoughts of the delicious taste and texture of deer meat from my memories.

Deer were rare in the desolate eastern region. Most of them lived in the fertile Silgaya land. However, due to a flood two years ago, almost all the wild deer in the southern region were wiped out. Only in the northern areas could one occasionally find them.

As I roasted the deer leg, my heart filled with anticipation, I suddenly remembered something and glanced at the small female swordsman sitting opposite me. She was curled up, hugging her legs, no longer speaking, only staring blankly at the sword in her arms. After a moment, I asked her, “So, you weren’t chasing those refugee children to kill them, but rather to give them food or show them a way out?”

The female swordsman reacted after a couple of seconds, nodding silently. So, she just wanted to kill those knights?

She had a grudge against the Church.

But two years ago, she was firmly on Angel’s side. What happened after that?

“Tell me,” I prompted.

“So, in the pine forest, you said you were betrayed by the Church, just like me. How did that happen?” …

The female swordsman pondered for a moment, then remained silent.

I couldn’t help but furrow my brow. “What, don’t want to talk?”

Then I flipped the meat in my hand, bringing the other side closer to the flames, continuing to roast it patiently. I saw the female swordsman slowly shake her head. “It’s just that I’m not sure where to start.”

She turned the sword handle in her arms and hugged it tighter. “Last year, I spied on you and saw your dark power. When you killed the clown, I was there on orders.”

She paused, seeming hesitant, as if wanting to say more, but then didn’t.

The clock ticked as she carefully chose her words before speaking again. “I’m not very smart; there are many things I don’t understand. Back then, I just did what I was told. I received a salary, and if I performed well, there were additional rewards. That was enough for me. I only excelled at killing and fighting, so they called me the Sword Ghost. I am a Knight of the Pope, and also someone who specializes in eliminating Knights who defect from the Church.”

“Stop stop stop—”

I interrupted her somewhat impatiently. “I only asked why you were betrayed by the Church. I’m not interested in who you were before, so there’s no need to tell me all that.”

“Sorry.”

The female swordsman bowed her head and apologized. “I… I’m not good at talking with others.” She seemed afraid of me.

But it didn’t seem like I would kill her. This wasn’t someone who feared death, but she certainly appeared timid in front of me, unlike when we were fighting and killing. Back then, she was decisive and efficient, a complete cold-blooded killer. Now, she seemed like a different person.

I could sense her reluctance to speak, yet she was making an effort to organize her words, forcing herself to communicate with me. Was she feeling guilty because of what happened in the past? Or was it simply that she found it difficult to interact with people?

—

Regardless, her speech was disjointed and illogical. If it weren’t for what had just happened, I wouldn’t have known who she was. Perhaps I would have just seen her as a simple, shy country girl who was scared of strangers.

But she is a Knight of the Pope.

“If I’m correct, you’ve stopped working for the Church, right? Who led you to this point? Was it Angel?”

I continued asking her, though I might already know the answer. “Angel,” she murmured his name, a hint of hatred flashing in her eyes, unhidden. “No, he didn’t do it. It was Archbishop Ansheel. After you perished alongside that monster, he and several others in black robes set up an ambush to kill me and silence me.”

“I may not be smart, but I’m not stupid either. I could see that this was planned from the start. I usually just do my job for the money, but that time, they never intended to pay me.”

“Because they didn’t want to pay you, they decided to kill you and silence you? Ah, I understand now. It’s because you saw my power, right?”

“It’s not entirely that.”

“Then what else?” “The people of Deer Town.”

“Deer Town?” I was slightly stunned.

“Yes, those who survived were also killed.”

As she spoke, she paused, hesitating for a long time before finally seeming to make a decision. “I… I was involved, so I also participated. Killing those innocent people was my order… at that time.”

“Oh.”

In that moment, my heart seemed to contract sharply.

Vaguely, I remembered kneeling in the ruins amidst the burning flames, gazing at the corpses and weeping helplessly. This was truly unexpected, but now, looking back, it seemed to fit the scenario. She actually dared to admit this in front of me, voluntarily bringing it up.

“Why did you do such a thing?”

I stared at her expressionlessly, asking in a calm voice, my indifferent eyes revealing a faint trace of killing intent. “Was it because you were obedient? Or was it because there was a substantial reward? Do you like money?”

“I really needed money to treat my mother’s illness.”

“Is that your reason?”

The female swordsman fell silent. “Huuu—”

I looked at her and exhaled deeply. “It sounds like if I had killed you just now, it would have been for the greater good. I feel like killing you again now. Do you have any complaints?”

She held her sword, still lowering her head in silence. Did she think that staying silent would allow her to evade something?

“I’ll ask you one more time. Since you wanted money so badly, why didn’t you take the gold coins just now?” I began to sneer, but suddenly heard the female swordsman murmur.

“My mother is dead.”

That voice sounded very calm.

Just then, her lowered head was hidden in the dim light of the fire, and I couldn’t see her expression.