Chapter 29: The Silly Elder Sister (1)

His words were impassioned, but the group of guards looked at him with odd expressions on their faces.

"It's admirable that you have the spirit, but you've just been summoned and have no skills, no Fighting Energy, no Magic Power. Are you planning to fight demons with your head? How is that any different from seeking death?"

Only Lena Maritiss, despite having such a delicate and gentle name, had a personality even more masculine than most men. Fired up by his speech, she clenched her fist and pounded her chest three times with a thump, thump, thump.

The metallic gauntlets clashed with the breastplate, letting out a crisp sound.

Her figure was incredibly voluptuous, a pity that because of the breastplate, one couldn't appreciate the DuangDuangDuang spectacle.

"Mr. Brave, your character is so noble, your heart so expansive, your soul so kind. I, Lena Maritiss, am deeply moved. I swear on my honor as a knight that I am willing to follow you and join you in eradicating demons..."

"Let's depart right now. I know of a demon hotspot, with at least seventy thousand demons stationed there. I'll take you..."

Seventy thousand demons?

Qin Chu was at a loss for words. Don't be serious.

He did want to eradicate some demons, to absorb their Strength and enhance his own, but that didn't mean he was willing to go on a suicide mission, alright?

Maritiss was simply too moved. To have summoned a brave Hero who cared so much about the Sky Dome Continent and was willing to expend effort for its sake was indeed the greatest fortune of the Sky Dome Continent.

Her head was basically all muscle. Just a few words had sent her blood boiling, ready to drag the Hero along to wipe out demons, and even go straight to the demons' lair to kill the Eternal Monarch, bringing peace to the Sky Dome Continent.

That pair of fervent eyes made Qin Chu feel somewhat cold.

Fortunately, although Maritiss might not have much brains, the guards by her side were all sensible people.

Seeing this, they quickly rushed forward, grabbing their squad leader from both sides. What a joke, if no one stopped her, the squad leader Maritiss would really dare to do it and the highly talented Hero, barely summoned to the Sky Dome Continent, might die before even beginning his quest.

And they would definitely be implicated. It would be a stroke of luck if they could die swiftly and cleanly.

"Captain, let it be..."

"Stay calm, don't act rashly. Although Mr. Brave possesses two Super Order Powers and his future is boundless, right now he's just arrived in the Sky Dome Continent. Taking Mr. Brave now to eradicate those seventy thousand demons outside the city—how is that different from looking for death?"

The subordinates kept advising.

Maritiss glowered, "I swear on the honor of a knight, I will definitely protect Mr. Brave."

"Please, big sis, we know you're tough, but can you really fight seventy thousand demons alone? Even if they're just the lowest-level slimes, you can't handle them swarming over you."

The look on the subordinates' faces was full of exasperation.

No sooner had these words left their mouths than Maritiss seemed to have just realized this point. For a moment, her expression stiffened as she pondered carefully. Seventy thousand demons—actually, the pressure did seem a bit overwhelming...

The flames that had been blazing on her forehead were suddenly doused with a bucket of ice water.

She blushed!

"Uh, well... Mr. Brave, it seems we need to reconsider this matter," said Maritiss, a bit embarrassed, fully aware that she had just boasted extravagantly about joining the Hero in a demon extermination only to find herself interrupting it abruptly—a truly shameful feeling.

Maritiss was even more worried that her flip-flopping might dampen the Hero's enthusiasm.

"How about Mr. Brave first learns some of the powers of the Sky Dome Continent?" Maritiss tentatively suggested, "I could teach you the Blast Flame Fighting Spirit that I've been practicing..."

The subordinates by her side rubbed their foreheads again, somewhat helplessly.

It wasn't that they were being malicious, but her explosive temper and her careless personality always brought disaster to herself and her companions.

"Big sis, the person who will be teaching Mr. Brave magic and Fighting Energy has already been determined—it's the ten members of the Hero Team. They possess higher-level Fighting Energy and Magic Secret Manuals, so there's no need for Blast Flame Fighting Spirit..."

"If you rashly pass on your skills to Mr. Brave, that would be overstepping and could even disrupt their original plans. If this is investigated, you might not be able to bear the consequences."

Blast Flame Fighting Spirit is just an Intermediate Fighting Energy Cultivation Method, and compared to the secret manuals possessed by members of the Hero Team, the gap is huge.

Maritiss was well aware of this, but she still felt irked.

"Tch, a bunch of stick-in-the-muds. Who knows when the Hero Team's members will arrive at the Imperial City. Are we supposed to just let Mr. Brave idle away all this time?"

From Maritiss's perspective, this was simply disregarding human life.

Every day countless lives were lost to demon attacks, but those important people didn't care at all about the lives of the commoners.

"Pah, whatever Hero Team that is, a bunch of selfish fools, that's all. They're just worried about others growing too close to the Hero, affecting their own position."

The faces of the subordinates turned green while the face of the deputy darkened severely, and he said harshly, "Maritiss, shut up and remember your role. There are some things you are not allowed to say!"

Maritiss's neck shrank a little, and she glanced timidly at the deputy without making another sound.

Though she was the squad leader and the deputy was just a subordinate following her orders, when the deputy was genuinely angry, he was indeed frightening.

The words of the aide-de-camp, of course, were clear to Maritiss; she understood that her status didn't allow her to frivolously discuss high-level arrangements, but she just couldn't help herself.

There was no helping it, that's just the kind of straightforward person she was.

As for Maritiss, Qin Chu actually didn't find her unlikable. On the contrary, he quite appreciated her, as such pure-hearted women were rare on the Sky Dome Continent.

On the Sky Dome Road, anyone who had harmed him, Qin Chu engraved into his memory.

And the very few who genuinely wished him well, Qin Chu would never forget.

Maritiss was one of those few. In the first week, before Qin Chu had grown stronger, Maritiss, just like now, alternated with Nicholas in guarding him.

Because she lost a younger brother to the talons of a demon, Maritiss harbored a deep hatred for both the demons and the inactive high-level officials.

Yet, she was also diligent and devoted to her duties, valuing Qin Chu's life even more than her own.

When Qin Chu was wracked with guilt and self-reproach after witnessing a group of people being torn apart by demons and being powerless to save them, it was Maritiss who bravely, like a somewhat naïve big sister, held Qin Chu in her arms comforting him, "Right now, you can't save those people, but in the future, you'll be able to save many more."

This roused Qin Chu's despondent spirit.

When Qin Chu was seen as a threat by the high-level demons and faced an assassination attempt by numerous skilled opponents, it was Maritiss who risked her life, fending off the assassins' attacks for Qin Chu, even when battle armor shattered and she was covered in wounds, yet she never took a step back.

Not until every assassin was slain did Maritiss, still supporting her body with her great sword, collapse only after reinforcements arrived.

She ultimately died in Qin Chu's arms.

Before her death, Maritiss's greatest regret was not being able to see the peaceful coming of the Sky Dome Continent, and that the family's Blast Battle Energy had not been passed down, becoming lost with her generation.

Maritiss's time with Qin Chu wasn't long, only a brief half-year, but she was someone Qin Chu would never forget.

This world was not devoid of warmth; it's just that those faint glimmers of warmth, compared to the vast ice and snow, were far too scarce…

Qin Chu had already planned to eliminate the original members of the Hero Team; there would be vacancies, and perhaps, Maritiss could fill one.

Silently watching Maritiss, the corners of Qin Chu's mouth curled into a slight smile.

That smile, as seen by the aide-de-camp, sent a chill down his spine. He quickly grabbed Maritiss by the neck, making her bow in apology, "Mr. Brave, Maritiss was merely speaking out of turn, there was absolutely no disrespect intended towards the Hero Team, please…"

The nervous looks of the guards made Qin Chu laugh out loud, "Don't be nervous, I'll pretend I didn't hear what was just said…"

The people around him breathed a little easier.

If others knew they had been speaking ill of the Hero Team's members behind their backs, the consequences would be unthinkable.

After a pause, Qin Chu continued, "It might indeed be a bit difficult for me to annihilate the demons outside the city with my current strength, but clearing the rats within the city should be no problem."

The guards immediately thought of the time when the Hero had been targeted for assassination at a banquet. Did the Hero's words mean that there were many more of these demon assassins disguised as humans? And Mr. Brave could locate these creatures?

Qin Chu smiled but didn't elaborate. After Angelica prepared the food, he quickly filled his stomach and then sat cross-legged, closing his eyes.

"Shaye, please, wake me in two hours…"

He was incredibly tired; since his rebirth, he had scarcely had a moment's rest.

Although the people around him didn't know exactly what Mr. Brave was doing, no one dared to disturb him; they only silently formed a circle around him.

As time ticked by, the Hero remained motionless, seemingly asleep.

But of course, Mr. Brave wasn't asleep; he was surely using his mysterious Super Order Power to sense the demons lurking within the city.

Two hours later, with Shaye's scream in his ear, Qin Chu's body convulsed, and he abruptly opened his eyes.

Barely standing a bit, his legs shook, almost causing him to collapse.

Barely able to stand firm, luckily Angelica and Maritiss quickly supported Qin Chu by his arms, thus avoiding a fall.

Indeed, sitting cross-legged while sleeping was terrible; his legs were numb.

"Huff…" Qin Chu gasped for air, trying to overcome the discomfort of numb legs, "I've sensed a group of demons hiding within the city; let's eliminate them now…"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes reddened.

Look, what a good Hero he is.

Look at his pale complexion, his trembling legs, his rapid breathing; these are clearly signs of physical exhaustion.

And yet, he was still wholly focused on eradicating the demons.

Truly, he was magnificent!