Reason and Sleep

"Judgment 4? Is there another sword called Judgment 3?"

Upon hearing the name that didn't sound like a weapon, Cass asked half-jokingly,

Unexpectedly, Nizemar nodded and replied, "Yes, and there's not just Judgment 4 and Judgment 3. There are a total of 12 Judgment weapons, from Judgment 1 to Judgment 12. Holding them is a symbol of a Judge's status, and your ancestor, Blake Saba, was the holder of Judgment 4."

Logically speaking, Cass should feel honored.

However, he really didn't feel anything for his ancestor from more than a thousand years ago. Even if that person was really a hero whose skills had reached the Divine Realm like this woman said, it didn't affect Cass's being wanted throughout the city.

Therefore, he directly asked, "So is there anything special about that sword called Judgment 4?"

As Nizemar bandaged him, she said, "Do you remember how many Lunar Monsters you killed?"

Upon hearing her suddenly ask this question out of the blue, Cass replied, "It's written all over the wanted posters on the streets and alleys. A total of 28."

However, she only shook her head and said, "Unfortunately, the real answer is zero."

Cass asked in confusion, "Why? I'm very sure that I killed every Lunar Monster in the hosts' bodies."

At this moment, Nizemar was holding Cass's waist with her cold hand before tying the bandages around his back. After doing this, she said calmly,

"But they ultimately turned into black salt crystals and dissipated, right? This means that they were only banished back to the Moon Realm. Their essence won't be affected at all. In the future, as long as there's a chance, they can cross through the World Shell countless times to enter Currere. Therefore, you haven't really killed any Lunar Monsters."

Nizemar's words swayed Cass's heart. For so many days, his obsession with revenge had been driving him forward. But if the truth was as she said, and he was facing a group of monsters that he could never truly kill, wouldn't his persistence be meaningless?

However, Cass quickly calmed down. He took a few deep breaths and asked, "So what does what you're saying have to do with the sword named Judgment 4?"

Nizemar happened to finish tying the bandage at this moment. She picked up a handkerchief that was folded at the side and wiped the blood and sweat on her hand before saying calmly,

"Mortal weapons and magic can't really kill Lunar Monsters, but Judgment weapons are one of the few weapons that can completely kill them."

With that said, she put down her handkerchief and got up to leave.

Cass stopped her.

"Wait, you haven't told me who summoned those Lunar Monsters."

Nizemar looked down at him and asked, "I can tell you, but have you considered accepting that answer?"

Cass nodded slowly. "Tell me who it is."

Nizemar's lips moved as she said a name he couldn't believe.

Simon Walde, the Guardian of the Blackwater Province and the current Duke of Thorns.

This name stunned Cass for a long time.

He had thought that it might be a noble, archmage, or someone of high status in Thorn City.

However, he never expected that the man who ruled the entire Blackwater Province would be the tyrant who had ruled Thorn City with an iron fist for more than 20 years.

Perhaps I should have known… Cass thought.

In the beginning, their mercenary group was hired by Duke Simon's faction to investigate the strange sounds the miners heard in the Silverstream Mine. Then, his teammates encountered those monsters and were sacrificed.

If he hadn't met Liz by chance, he would probably have died inside.

Then, with Liz's help, he infiltrated the Silverstream Mine again and found the parasitized miner, hoping to find out the truth. However, he was attacked by the other party, and had no choice but to kill him. Less than a day later, he was wanted by the entire city.

Previously, he only suspected that a higher-up had been parasitized by that monster, but after understanding the form of the Lunar Monster, everything made sense.

After a long time, Cass asked, "Why did he summon those Lunar Monsters?"

Nizemar replied, "We're also investigating the exact reason. The most likely guess is that Duke Simon might want to summon a Void Sovereign to Currere to achieve his goals."

"What's a Void Sovereign?" Cass asked.

"The pinnacle of Lunar Monsters; they require an entire Lunar Domain to explain their concepts. Just a whisper from Them can incite the suspicion and betrayal of the crowd. Just a roar can stir up war and storms. Just a thought can determine the fate of mortals."

Cass felt like he was listening to a myth.

"Can the duke succeed?"

"Very likely."

"What happens if he succeeds?"

"What happens depends on which Void Sovereign he summons, but the final outcome should be suffering."

"Is there a way to stop him?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"We need an outstanding swordsman and a sword that can completely kill a Lunar Monster. This is also the reason why we're looking for you."

"Me?"

Cass pointed at his nose and said in amusement, "Why? Just because I can pull out that sword?"

"The sword is very important, but what's more important is the person wielding the sword. You're one of the few people in this city who still has the spirit to resist."

"If it can be done with spirit alone, I'm afraid there won't be so many tragedies in this world."

"That's because you're facing the difficulties of Currere. Against existences at the Moon Realm, your will is truly the most important weapon. Rest well. We'll come to you soon."

With that said, Nizemar turned around and left. When she reached the door, Cass, who suddenly thought of something pressing, stopped her again.

This time, he sat up from the bed and shouted, "Wait, can you bring me out of the city now? There's a small wooden hut in the middle of the Black Pine Forest. My friend is still…"

Nizemar didn't reply or stop. Instead, she struck the large vase at the door before leaving, closed the door, and left.

Just as Cass was about to get off the bed and chase after her, Liz flew out of the vase with an unhappy expression.

Cass gaped at her.

"You…"

Watching Liz fly to his bed with a gloomy expression, Cass didn't seem to know how to say anything other than "you."

"Take her first. I'll knock them all down here before returning."

Liz imitated Cass's line from the tunnel in an exaggerated tone. Then, she spread her arms with a dark expression and slapped Cass's cheeks with both hands.

"Liar!"

Cass looked away guiltily.

His life was essentially lent to him by Liz, but he had been taking risks.

Although he didn't know how much Life Scale Powder Liz had consumed to maintain his life force when he was severely injured, the faerie's face was a little paler than before.

"How did you get here? Didn't you agree to wait for me at that wooden hut?"

Cass changed the topic.

Unexpectedly, these words completely stirred the little faerie's emotions. She rubbed Cass's face with both hands and said,

"How dare you mention my cabin? After I brought the girl through the Faerie Mist, a few monsters somewhat like dreams and mist quickly followed me. I protected the unconscious girl while dealing with them and was almost eaten. Furthermore, the garden that I had painstakingly built was destroyed by them!"

"What happened then?"

Cass didn't push her away as usual and continued asking. His voice also sounded comical because the other party kept tugging at his cheek.

"Later? Later on, if not for the big sister with the crossbow rushing over, that girl and I would have died there!"

Big sister?

Upon hearing this word, Cass's expression turned strange.

Wasn't this faerie in front of him 200 years old?

An intense pain suddenly came from his cheek. Liz yanked his face.

"Don't start thinking of impolite things. She looks older than me, so I have to call her big sister!"

But I haven't said anything…

Cass thought helplessly, but at the realization that whatever he said would only serve to make her angrier, he ultimately chose to shut up and let her yank his face.

After the other party calmed down a little, Cass asked curiously, "So why did you hide in that vase just now?"

"I just wanted to see your reaction. I wanted to see how long it would take you to remember that your master might still be waiting for you alone in that wooden hut."

"That's it?" Cass asked in disbelief.

"Why? Isn't this reason enough?"

Liz sat cross-legged in midair, looking furious.

"In the end, you only thought of me when that big sister was about to leave. Why? Have you forgotten who your master is because of the blond beauty? What should I say? If I hadn't been saved, wouldn't you be collecting my corpse by the time you recall?"

"There won't be any collecting of corpses. If you die, I will die immediately—we are connected in life,"

Cass said without thinking.

Liz gritted her teeth and flew up to punch Cass in the chest, causing him to cough repeatedly—he was still wounded.

Cass coughed for a while before asking as though he had thought of something,

"By the way, where's the Arcana University student we saved?"

Liz, who had an arrogant expression, suddenly became embarrassed.

"Uh… About that…"

"What's wrong? Is she still alive?"

Liz immediately nodded, but she still looked embarrassed.

"She's still alive, but…"

"What is it?" Cass asked suspiciously.

"Wasn't I worried that she wouldn't let go of her thoughts and cause the Teleportation to fail when I used Faerie Mist? Therefore, I let her sleep first."

Cass nodded. This was something she often did before he got used to the Teleportation of Faerie Mist.

"And for some reason… she doesn't seem to be waking up now…"