“Ensuring the safety of Lin City is your duty. Recently, incidents in the Celtic Forest have become more frequent, and the Magic Beasts lurking there have already harmed the residents of Lin City who venture out. No one can guarantee they won’t launch an attack on the city,” Gabriela said in a measured tone.
“Mr. Qiaolin is my confidant, but he has the ability to protect himself.”
Upon hearing this, Loki lowered her head, seemingly accepting the Demon King’s explanation.
Gabriela wanted to see Loki’s determination regarding this matter.
Since Loki didn’t know Qiaolin, her sudden proposal to protect him made Gabriela want to probe her intentions.
However, she hadn’t expected Loki to accept so easily.
‘Was she just mentioning it casually? If so, there was no need to come all this way to see me. It couldn’t be because she failed to sign in yesterday… I can’t let that slide. Her wages will still be deducted.’
“I simply felt that the man might be very important to you, My Lady, so I hoped to protect him,” Loki said.
“The Demon King has shown me great kindness, yet I lack the ability to serve you directly. If I can ensure that man’s safety, I can consider it a way to repay you. Consider it my own selfish wish.”
“Uh… that is true. That guy is indeed a very important person to me. He does need protection…”
Gabriela’s face turned crimson.
Fortunately, Loki was looking at the steps ahead, and the surrounding attendants were busy organizing documents.
No one could see the Demon King’s shyness.
“Very well. Seeing as you are so sincere, I will allow you to serve as Mr. Qiaolin’s personal guard. Of course, protecting Lin City remains your primary mission!”
“As you wish, My Lady.”
Loki raised her chin slightly, and a faint, peculiar curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
***
After traveling for some time, following a series of bumps in the carriage, Qiaolin looked out the window.
Rows of houses on both sides of the road came into view, with carriages passing one another on the wide street.
A human city-state built at the foot of the Demon King’s Castle—this was a scene people three hundred years ago could never have imagined.
Humans and the Demon Race were actually living together in the same region, and even in the same city.
The culture of the Demon Race was primitive and barbaric, defined by the survival of the fittest and the absolute rule of the strong over the weak.
While human culture also involved exploitation, it generally maintained order and laws.
That was true civilization.
The cultures of the two races were fundamentally incapable of peaceful coexistence.
That was the conclusion Qiaolin had reached several hundred years ago.
He had always viewed the Demon Race as a lowly species.
But he was not a demon, after all, and he could not feel the fear of being dominated by the strong.
Where there is oppression, there will be resistance.
The Demon Race was changing under the rule of the new Demon King.
Lin City was the product of the Demon Race living under order that Qiaolin now witnessed.
Just by scanning the atmosphere of the residents along the road, Qiaolin could tell the city was harmonious, and a small smile appeared on his lips.
Aurora inadvertently caught the expression on his face and asked, “Is Mr. Qiaolin also a human?”
“I suppose so.”
The answer was somewhat ambiguous, causing Aurora to wonder about his identity.
‘Could he also be a Half-Demon?’
“Where are we going next?”
Qiaolin turned his head and asked as he looked into Aurora’s eyes.
“Because the number of residents injured by Magic Beasts has surged these past few days, we have established a dedicated relief center to centralize the treatment of the wounded.”
“Mhm, a good decision.”
“The injuries are mostly superficial wounds and fractures, though a few people have suffered puncture wounds. I prioritized treating those, as well as the patients showing symptoms of poisoning. I will explain the situation in more detail once we arrive,” Aurora explained to Qiaolin.
“Has anyone’s wound worsened?”
“Yes, and the number is increasing. Although our Physicians have tried their best to prevent it, I have to prioritize those with life-threatening injuries first…”
Aurora showed a look of guilt. Her Magic Power could be replenished with Magic Crystals, but her Mental Power could not withstand the burden of casting Healing Magic for long periods.
Relying on Aurora alone, the number of people who could be treated in one cycle was very limited.
“The most urgent task, I think, should be restricting people from entering the Celtic Forest.”
“Yes, we have temporarily closed the roads between Lin City and the Celtic Forest. We’ve also hired experienced adventurers to guard the checkpoints to prevent Magic Beasts from approaching the city.”
“The Magic Beasts in the Celtic Forest have never been this active. They seem to have been provoked by something. As long as they see a human or anyone from outside the forest, they attack proactively,” Lockes interjected.
Since it was an autonomous region under the jurisdiction of the Demon Race, Lin City did not have the right to establish a military.
It had only a Defense Force of less than a few hundred people, and its level of armament was very low.
There were quite a few Mages in the city, but most were neutral parties.
If the city fell into crisis, they could leave at any time.
“Lady Aurora, we have arrived.”
As the carriage stopped, the driver leaned his head through the window to remind them.
The three of them stepped out, and the first thing Qiaolin saw was a church standing before him.
The cross-star symbol atop the dome was clearly the emblem of the Holy Hero Church.
‘I wondered how the Church could fail to notice a city where humans and demons are mixed. It turns out they have tacitly approved of its existence.’
Qiaolin thought to himself.
This actually put him at ease.
He suspected that the Church had even been involved in the establishment of this city-state.
“Lady Aurora, you’re finally here!”
As the three were about to enter, a man dressed in a white monk’s robe rushed over frantically.
“What’s wrong?”
“One of the wounded suddenly developed a high fever and rapid breathing. He’s fainted several times! we managed to pull him back just barely by pouring herbal tonics down his throat!”
“What?! Take me to see him immediately!”
The young girl looked shocked.
The group rushed through the church hall.
This place was originally meant for prayer, but it had now been cleared to house the wounded.
Qiaolin glanced around as he passed, but most were healthy people—likely the families of the injured.
As they crossed the courtyard, countless strips of gauze were drying in the sun.
Qiaolin frowned slightly because it was obvious the gauze had not been disinfected.
Even in another world, wound infections were a frequent occurrence.
Qiaolin followed Aurora to the medical room where most of the wounded were kept.
The further they went, the more severe the injuries became.
The smell of herbs mingled with the thickening scent of festering wounds in the air.
Led by the man, Aurora reached the patient with the high fever.
The wound exposed to the air had already deteriorated severely.
Had it not been for the timely medical attention, the man likely wouldn’t have survived the night.
“Save me… Lady Aurora.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” Aurora comforted him.
She then took a breath as water-blue Magic Power swirled around her fingertips.
“Beloved God of Flowing Water, please respond to my plea. Disperse all pain and filth, eliminate the toxins of the flesh, and return this body to purity!”
As she chanted the spell, the water-elemental Magic Power from Aurora’s fingers flowed slowly toward the man’s wound.
Wherever the flowing water passed, the swelling subsided at a speed visible to the naked eye.
But she wasn’t finished.
Aurora focused on controlling her Magic Power to wash the patient’s body and even his blood.
During this process, not only was her Magic Power being used, but her Mental Power was also being rapidly depleted.
After about fifteen minutes, Aurora completed the treatment.
“How do you feel?” the pale girl asked.
“I feel… much better!”
The man’s fever receded, and the wound no longer throbbed with pain.
“Thank you, Lady Aurora! You saved my life!”
After Aurora finished the treatment, an accompanying Physician took some gauze and prepared to bandage the patient.
“Wait!”
Qiaolin interrupted him.
Everyone present, including Aurora, showed a confused expression.
“Is there a problem, sir?” the Physician asked.
“Lady Aurora, I suggest you also use ‘Clear Water Trickle’ on that gauze,” Qiaolin said calmly, pointing to the gauze in the Physician’s hand.
“Eh?”
When those words were spoken, not only Aurora but even Lockes felt extremely surprised.
Although Lockes wasn’t a healing Mage, he was a demon who had lived for a hundred years.
He had never seen anyone use Healing Magic on gauze for no reason.
‘What is that supposed to be? Healing gauze?’