Cecilia had always trusted Lu Mo.
Besides, during this time, Lu Mo’s body had shown no problems, so she gradually felt relieved.
And time passed.
Not long after, they finally arrived at the Holy Capital.
In the Holy Capital, the divine statue that stood between heaven and earth appeared before their eyes once again. A sacred aura rippled from the ancient towers. At that moment, everyone felt that the lingering demonic aura, their fatigue, and even their souls were being washed clean in that sacred breath.
“The Holy Capital…”
The crowd spoke excitedly.
“Finally, we’re back.”
Lu Mo, on the other hand, stared expressionlessly at the city before her. From a long time ago, she had never felt any attachment to this city. Now, it was still the same.
Before entering the Holy Capital, Lu Mo had been a little nervous. After all, within her body resided the Demon King’s power. And she was also carrying the Original Sin Divine Weapon. In this state where human power and demonic power were on the verge of imbalance, would she be exposed by the Holy Capital’s detection?
As it turned out, her worry was unnecessary. The Holy Capital’s detection array did not linger on her. It seemed to still regard Lu Mo as the useless waste devoid of any sacred power from the past. However, the girl who was once regarded as a nobody was now a hero who had killed the Demon King.
They sat on the back of the Holy Dragon. On both sides, the sounds of a boisterous crowd. The people of the Holy Capital were cheering, praising them as the heroes of this era and the saviors of humanity.
After returning to the Holy Sanctuary headquarters, the Pope personally received everyone.
Some felt a little intimidated. The being standing at the pinnacle of the world receiving them personally… Even if the head of a God-descendant family came, they probably wouldn’t receive such treatment.
“Your Holiness, your injury…”
At this moment, Rumina asked. She could sense that even after so much time, the Pope’s injury had still not healed. Before the Sacred Demon Wall, the battle between the strongest human and the Demon King had been earth-shattering and extremely tragic.
“I’m fine.”
In response, the Pope smiled.
“In comparison, you lot are the true heroes who killed the Demon King. When heroes return in triumph, how could I not come in person? You… all did very well.”
As he spoke, he smiled and looked at Rumina, and then at Lu Mo.
Not long after, the Pope left.
“It’s been a long journey; everyone must be tired, right? The Holy Sanctuary has prepared resting places for all of you. Please rest well.”
A high-ranking member of the Holy Sanctuary appeared before them and spoke with a smile.
“Although the war is over, you’ll all be busy from now on. Banquets, celebrations, and various commendations and award ceremonies are all waiting for you.”
At these words, many people laughed. Yes. After this, they would receive no shortage of honors and rewards. Having made such achievements in human history, their ultimate accomplishments would surely surpass those of their fathers.
Rumina did not rest immediately.
“Lady Rumina, please—”
She and the high-ranking official in charge of archives and historical records walked into the core area. Next, the Holy Sanctuary would compile the information she provided along with various archives and materials from these past years into a book to be recorded in the official history of the human world, for future generations to read.
Meanwhile, Lu Mo and Cecilia did not immediately go to the accommodations arranged for them by the Holy Sanctuary.
“Aren’t we going over, Miss Lu Mo?”
Cecilia asked.
“Mm… I still don’t really like places like the Holy Capital, I guess?”
Lu Mo smiled and answered.
“It’s beautiful and prosperous, but it’s not suitable for me.”
“Then where would you like to go, Miss Lu Mo?”
“I want… to go back and rest for a few days.”
Lu Mo said, then quickly asked:
“What about you, Cecilia?”
Cecilia answered without hesitation:
“Of course, I’ll go with Miss Lu Mo.”
After thinking it over, the Kalis Manor was the most suitable place to rest. It was not far from the Holy Capital, and it didn’t have that oppressive sense of order. Moreover, the manor held many memories for her. It had been so long since she had been back; she sort of missed home too.
“Then let’s go.”
“Okay.”
So the two returned to their respective families without informing anyone in advance.
When they stepped into the manor, it naturally caused quite a commotion.
“Miss Cecilia is back!!!”
“Miss Lu Mo is back!!!”
The members of both families shouted. Soon, they were each surrounded by a sea of people.
“Cecilia! My little Cecilia!”
The head of the Helovit family didn’t care at all about his image as he ran toward Cecilia. In his excitement, he even tripped.
“Cecilia… you came back… that’s really great…”
The head of the Helovit family got up from the ground, wiped the blood from his nose, and choked up. Whether it was from the pain or from the excitement of seeing Cecilia.
“Forgive me, Dad… Dad will never again make you do such dangerous things for some damn honor…”
Meanwhile, on Lu Mo’s side. The head of the Kalis family was slower because he had to come out from his training room. By the time he came out, Lu Mo was already surrounded by layers of people. The family’s high-ranking members and elders all stood around Lu Mo, showing concern.
“Lu Mo, we heard that this time, you and the Valkyrie together killed the Demon King and suppressed those brave warriors and Sacred Dragon Knights!”
“Our Lu Mo has been a genius since childhood.”
“Yes, what is sacred power anyway? Miss Lu Mo is strong enough without it!”
“When you returned, did the Holy Sanctuary promise you anything?”
They asked in low voices. Their eyes when looking at Lu Mo were extremely fervent.
Lu Mo looked at the elders and high-ranking members beside her, then took a deep breath and answered:
“Esteemed elders, being able to kill the Demon King together with the Valkyrie was just luck.”
“Luck is also a part of strength.”
“Yes, Lu Mo, that’s being too modest.”
“However, during the battle with the Demon King, I was severely corroded, damaging my foundation.”
Lu Mo ignored the elders’ praise and continued:
“So my cultivation level has been completely destroyed afterwards. With my level shattered and my talent broken, I might be no different from an ordinary person now?”
“What? What?”
“How can this be!”
As soon as the words fell, the elders and high-ranking members who had been burning with fervor suddenly changed expressions. This was not good news. Lu Mo and the Valkyrie killing the Demon King was a supreme honor. But Lu Mo’s talent and level were destroyed. This meant that Lu Mo might not be able to enter the Holy Sanctuary’s core power circle in the future. The Kalis family would lose a lot of influence.
“Useless… useless… how could this be?”
“I don’t believe it…”
“It would be good if even half her talent and half her level could be restored.”
“Miss Lu Mo, there must be a way, right?”
They were lamenting. Not only lamenting over Lu Mo’s talent and level. But also lamenting over… the future fame and status of the Kalis family.
At that moment, another voice sounded, carrying some anger.
“Enough!”
The family’s high-ranking members and elders, upon hearing this voice and sensing the pressure contained within, turned pale. They parted to make way for the owner of the voice. The head of the Kalis family, looking coldly at them, walked step by step to Lu Mo. He stood in front of Lu Mo, blocking the chaotic figures and the noisy voices.
“A bunch of cowards—when the Demon King was alive, none of you dared to go deep into the Demon King’s Throne and fight him. Now, the one who killed the Demon King has returned, and you think you have the right to point fingers at her?”
The family’s high-ranking members were speechless, hanging their heads.
After that, the head of the Kalis family turned back and looked down at Lu Mo.
“Lu Mo, don’t listen to their nonsense.”
His voice suddenly softened and became gentle. It was hoarse, full of concern, and also… carried a long-held guilt.
“The Holy Sanctuary has too much trouble and little pay—we don’t need to go even if we don’t.”
The Kalis family head kept comforting her.
“With your dad here, from now on, no one in this family will dare to give you attitude!”
As if afraid she would be upset, he didn’t dare to mention that her level was destroyed and couldn’t be restored.
‘Actually, your child’s level is still here. She even absorbed the Demon King’s power. But how can I say that out loud?’
So Lu Mo just looked at the Kalis family head and then smiled.
“Mm, Father… I’m back.”
“It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back…”
The Kalis family head repeated. At this moment, he was not the lofty head of the family, nor a high-ranking member of the Holy Sanctuary. He was just an ordinary father who had finally waited for his daughter’s return.
Because of the Kalis family head’s deterrent, the family’s high-ranking members didn’t dare to mention Lu Mo’s destroyed level again.
Lu Mo returned to her room. Her room was still much the same as it had been years ago when she left the family for the Sacred Demon Wall. But the room remained clean and tidy. It seemed that over the years, maids had been coming to clean it diligently. There were always people, in places she couldn’t see, silently caring for her in their own way.
That night, Lu Mo slept very peacefully.
The next afternoon, when the sun was scorching, Lu Mo came alone to a corner of the manor. She climbed up the wall with practiced ease, standing on top. Her golden hair shone in the sunlight, and her cowlick bobbed happily.
And soon, another figure appeared on the other side of the wall. Standing before that untended, vine-covered wall.
The girl smiled and greeted her.
“Good afternoon, Miss Lu Mo—”
“Good afternoon, you idiot Cecilia.”
Lu Mo also smiled and replied.
She had never told Cecilia that she would come here today. And Cecilia had never told her that she would climb over this wall.
The two smiled at each other under the scorching sun. Their light laughter echoed in the cicada-filled afternoon.
At that moment, it was as if the flames and smoke of the demon realm, and the conflicts with Solaris, were just a distant nightmare. They were still the carefree girls of that time. Without separation. Without sadness. Neither had they… been tightly bound by the threads of fate.