DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Chapter The Lord Ruler: Epilogue
We worked all the way until midnight, preparing more potions when we got too low, and even working with four other potion makers. Two alchemists, the gnome man and a young woman in her twenties. Harmony ended up questioning her a lot, curious to how she ended up in such a trade. In fairness, she gave the same treatment to Lindia as well.
Everyone’s achievements were either explained to me by the system or praised by a townsperson. Lucas and Iris helped many with physical injuries either caused by the chaos of other people or objects that got blasted by the storm. Hell, Lucas actually created cots and stretchers, Iris assisting him. Townspeople with the strength carried the injured to safer locations.
Chenzu and some of the disciples ended up employing Beakwing to help out. There was simply no time to get people all the way to the camp, so everyone settled with just moving them out of harm’s way.
Harmony, holy shit, had defeated a hellspawn on her own. And not just any, but Silvus. Or at least whatever inhabited his body. She utilized almost everything we’d taught her, enabling her to keep control of the fight. She knew that once control was lost, especially with no backup, she could very well be slain.
Milia and Nuwa worked on overdrive with Cheetara and sometimes Wolverine. The group had also taken down some hellspawn.
The final results were nothing short of miraculous. Someone did get very close to dying, but I caught up to the older man just in time. From there, I cured his family too.
[Receiving final results…]
[Peace Spawner’s Culling. People poisoned: 0. People dead: 0. People cured: 32,000. Hellspawn left: 0.]
[You have sent a clear message to the Peace Spawner. This town can no longer be culled and will remain unaffected by the Peace Spawner’s influence.]
Notifications blasted into my mind’s eye.
[Divine achievement has been noted by someone of higher power!]
[Wow, incredible! You have managed to cure an entire large town of miasma without a single death. Excluding Silvus. Silvus is no longer a person.]
[You clan has received +75% crafting fame. +50% combat fame. When hope seemed lost, your clan persevered, overcoming the unexpected challenge. +100,000 spirit coins. +100 contribution points to all apprentices. +5 heavenly spirit coins. +1 merit.]
[Clan: Potion’s Will. Rank: C. Clan Standing: Hidden. Sects: Off. War: None. This is a peaceful clan… for now. Peace bonus: 22%. Crafting fame: 77%. Combat fame: 50%.]
[Your clan is now considered the saviors of Fire Stone. Relations: S.]
[Total number of spirit coins: 305,100. Heavenly spirit coins: 15. Merits: 5.]
[Your heavenly attunement increased to rank B.]
[Congratulations. A new shop rank-up quest is now available. Conquer it and your shop’s rank will increase from D to C.]
[Immense energies in the encounter have pushed your advancement to the 11th realm of the Saint. You should thank Yukihara. You will have to work hard to get to the peak of the Saint and then break through. Not many can break past this. Even the Lord Ruler has only recently accomplished such a difficult feat.]
[Rare trial unlocked. Spell book advancement. Yes, it is now possible. Simply perform the advancement ritual to advance Yukihara from D to C. You will unlock a new offensive spell.]
[Heroic Grade! You received a SS-ranked chest.]
[System notice. Do not imagine the despair of this town had you not been an Inspired potion maker…]
The notifications were a lot to take in, but the relief and surprise danced together within.
The mayor, Lady Vivi, offered us the finest suites to sleep for the night and who were we to choose the camp over such an offer? Even the team knew I’d accept, not bothering to give me a look of challenge. The food was heaven.
After washing, we headed directly to bed in robes provided to us by the staff.
Milia fell asleep damn near on top of me. I didn’t have the energy to move her, my eyes closing the moment my head touched the pillow.
The next morning, we found out that Chenzu bedded the mayor. Not because of them saying anything, but because she was practically too friendly with him. It turned out she managed to get some wine into the beastkin and his wolf ears and tail… sparked something—which we would not discuss—within her.
After breakfast, we said goodbye to the townsfolk, including Lindia, her kids, and the gnome alchemist. They both agreed to be in contact with the shop as allies. Lindia’s store turned out to be D-ranked. Nobody wanted us to leave. We gave them our clan’s name but urged them to keep it secret.
I turned to everyone when we were a good distance outside of town. Observing them, I could easily sense how much stronger we’d grown from the incursion.
“I have to say, I’m extremely proud of this clan,” I said. Everyone smiled or nodded or murmured modestly. I patted Lucas on the shoulder, nodding. I also nodded at Alexander, whose achievements were likely going to be a song. The kid with the heart of a brave hero. He wasn’t too pleased with the ten-year-old girl, daughter of a noble, trying to woo him. Nuwa teased the former pirate king for a solid half hour. “We were thrown a curveball and overcame that hell. Did I mention that the Peace Spawner’s a dick? The prick.”
A moment of silence formed into a fit of laughs and giggles. I scratched Wolverine beneath the chin, his tail wagging, tongue lolling, the goodest boy one could be.
“Let’s hope the rest of our trip will have fewer interruptions like this,” I continued. “We’ve got a few days left. The weather’s looking perfect.”
“There’s more to see,” Milia said. “But I can do without miasma attacks.”
“If you ever meet the Peace Spawner, make sure you punch him in the nose for me,” Chenzu said.
I laughed. “Noted.”
“I’m in agreement with him,” Iris said. “Do you have any idea how much my feet hurt when we were finally allowed to collapse from exhaustion?”
“You and me both,” I told the elf.
“Feet? My back’s killing me,” Kelvin said.
Maxus chuckled. “You could’ve taken off the armor.”
“Time wasn’t exactly in his favor,” Ramon said. “But still, ripping it off and repairing it later…”
“I don’t think so—do you have any idea how much this cost?” Kelvin said, patting his chest.
“Didn’t your wife make the chest piece?” Ronica asked, smiling at him.
I chuckled. “Come on, let’s go.” I glanced at Harmony and nodded. “I’m proud of you. Truly.”
Seemingly caught off-guard, she nodded, blushing.
Milia smiled at her. “You should praise them more,” the dryad said.
“Pfft, next thing you know, you’ll be asking for me to go easy on them as well,” I said.
Nuwa, Mandi, and Lucas laughed. Beakwing grunted.
Cheetara hopped onto my shoulder, nestling against my face, getting the smile out of me. Patting Mandi on her shoulder, I climbed onto the griffin. The disciples mounted their lightning horses.
“Where to next?” I asked as I glanced at the damp map.
“Hopefully to Whirl-Waters,” Milia said. “Only half of the trip remains. Should go by fast.”
I nodded. “Off we go.”
My mind briefly wandered to the sighting of the red-eyed mass of darkness in the sky. If only I’d realized it sooner. But even if I did, was it possible for me to blast someone that powerful out of the air?
“Big Brother Woofy, did we do good?” Cheetara asked.
Wolverine’s tail continued to wag in excitement. “Best Buddy is very proud of us. How do you feel, Disciple Beakwing Wingy?”
“Like a true bird of the world,” Beakwing replied. “A feather united on a great phoenix.”
Wolverine watched Disciple Ronica caress the griffin nearly absentmindedly, her eyes staring down at the clouds beneath them.
He took a cue from Best Buddy and decided not to care about the bloodline she hid from the others.
“Harmony, what’s that on your arm?” Best Buddy suddenly asked. “Holy shit, is that a Dao tattoo?”
As Maximus exited his office, he took the lengthy journey to Ling’s room. Unsurprisingly, the door was still locked, and she was still sulking. He hadn’t a clue why, but guessed she’d challenged the Raider and failed, despite being stronger than him.
“Is this who you really want to surrender the kingdom to, Father?”
Maximus turned his cold eyes on Myster. The prince shook his head.
“The rest of us work our asses off to ensure the best for the kingdom, while she just sits in that room, crying all day,” Myster continued boldly. “Tradition does not favor crying little girls. You know this.”
He walked off, followed by his bony butler. “By the way, the Astral Empire’s champion has requested to have dinner with us. Perhaps we can set it up for next month. I would certainly love to propose the idea of marrying off Ling to him.”
Myster made sure to be as far away from the Lord Ruler as possible and turning the corner while saying such words.
Maximus sighed. Where did he go wrong? Perhaps it all began with agreeing with his wife to have kids.
“Everybody wants to complain about the government,” Maximus told the maid who stepped out of another room. “I have bigger issues to focus on, and it is up to the dukes to do their jobs. Go to my wife. Tell her we will have a grand meeting, right in Wingston. All five dukes are to be present or considered traitors. I will personally hunt each and every one of them down if I have to.”
The maid’s eyes widened, knowing what that meant. She scurried off, only looking back once at the handsome man.
“I’ve been too busy to address this,” Maximus told his daughter through the door. “But you will come out there this instant, or I’ll destroy the door, your room, and everything in it.”
No reply. Only Ling would dare defy him, reminding the man that he was… too soft on his little girl. But she wasn’t a kid anymore. The rumors were only increasing… but what could he do? Execute his flesh and blood? Lock her up in a dark hole?
Besides, rumors were only rumors… Right?
Or was he purposely ignoring any presented or hinted evidence?
He had hopes of raising up a decent hero, a symbol for the people. He thought they were close. But Ramon had left, and every whisper of the noble circles pointed to Ling being the reason why.
He hadn’t seen nor heard from the hero’s party since.
Maximus kicked down the door, only to freeze. His daughter was not present. She faked her presence using some kind of talisman in the form of a glowing bead.
A note next to it read,
Will be back eventually. Keep an eye on the Pope. The church and the Inquisition failed to win me over to their side. I take orders from no one.
Maximus felt his blood boil. Had everyone lost their Wanda’s damned minds?