Shadow of the Evil God

"When you move your legs, you look like an old lady who's lost her crutches, Diana."

"Your analogy is really..." She was a little taken aback. "Then carry me on your back, Cesar. Imagine you are an old and frail draft horse. Your pace doesn't need to be fast, but it must be steady enough."

"Okay," Cesar leaned over, reached behind her and held her legs. "It's not inappropriate for an old packhorse to carry an old lady who can't walk. I just happen to be able to do this."

"You should have said something back," Diana said, frowning.

Cesar turned his head away. "I know you'll never grow old," he said. "But we haven't had a dream in a long time. I hope I can at least remember what it is."

She only opened one eye, "unrealistic theatrical performances, tricks to coax children, and the common imagination of the world."

"Of course," Cesar said. He didn't want to argue with her on this matter. "You are the eldest daughter of the Duke's family and the heir of the Yestren School of Thought, the most unconventional of minds. Every time I, a worldly person, try to get close to you, you hold up a sword and fend me off, telling me that I must use exquisite skills to overcome the steel sword's obstruction to take this step."

"So you're going to wait until I'm in trouble and lose my sword, and then come and bother me?"

"No, you hold the hilt, so I'll hold the tip. If I hold it tighter than you do, I can take it away and throw it away, and I can also stain your hand bright red with the blood from the cuts I made."

Diana sighed and hugged him silently.

Neck. Seeing she remained silent, Cesar turned his head and nuzzled her delicate nose, feeling her breath and gazing into her shimmering eyes. It had to be said that she was incredibly beautiful, like a dream. The closer he got, the more captivated he became, wanting to memorize and possess every emotion she expressed.

"Take me to the water tank first," Diana said softly, "Let's go now. Less talk and more action."

......

Cesar sat up, gazing out the window at the darkness, stunned for a moment before realizing the heavy rain. It was indeed early morning, and a gray-black curtain obscured the world, naturally obscuring the buildings of Gural Fortress and the distinction between day and night. Although the rain was heavy, hammering against the windowsill like nails, it provided a slight reprieve from the oppressive heat, bringing him some comfort.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, muffled and solemn. White lightning streaked the sky, and the outline of a city wall emerged from the darkness for a split second before it was lost in darkness again. Thanks to the advance preparations, entering Fort Gural went smoothly, not much different from his recent experience in Gonzales. However, the hardships that lay ahead were far greater than those in Gonzales. If he wasn't careful, he wouldn't even be able to save his soul, let alone escape to sea with his men.

"What's the architect's conclusion?" Cesar asked the Faceless Man in the darkness as he dressed. "Do we have enough manpower and funds to rebuild the fortress into a more complete bastion according to the rough blueprint I provided?"

"We have enough manpower and funds, but not necessarily enough time. The war will start soon," said Gou Zi.

"I'm trying to delay the war," Cesar said, "as long as I can. It would be even better if I could cause losses on both sides."

"Then this is your business, Master," said the dog. "While it's still dark, would you like to go and look at some of the spies I've written down? Most of them are local soldiers who have been bribed, but some are not entirely human."

"There are more and more people who aren't quite human lately..." Cesar shook his head, practically wanting to kill him. "But since you say that, we can guess where they came from—whether they're the Prime Minister's men, General Clefas's men, or the Queen and my good niece Isley's men."

Chapter 239: Wandering Knight Legosius

"Your choice is really interesting."

Those words weren't spoken by the Faceless One. Cesar froze for a moment before he saw pale moonlight suddenly appear, imprinted in the shadows to one side of the bedroom. Legotius arrived unexpectedly. Though clad in unprecedented black, its wings vanished, and its voice held a calm demeanor, its face was also incredibly lifelike, its faintly luminous skin still betraying its disguise.

Cesar had just seen the glowing sculptures of white nightmares in the ruins of the wasteland. Therefore, when he saw their special skin and the mask disguised as a human, he immediately recognized this very special white nightmare.

"That's very good," said Legotius. "You seem to recognize me, Cesar. That's quite remarkable. Perhaps it would be better if I came in the daytime?"

"I'll recognize you anytime," Cesar said. "Your eyes are as empty as a blind man's, your pupils unfocused. And who else would suddenly appear in my bedroom? I don't know what you want in Fort Gural, but we have nothing to say, Legosius."

"I just came to see what's going on, Cesar, there's no need to be nervous."

"No need to be nervous? I was sleeping peacefully in my bedroom in the fortress, and I even asked the wizard to prepare a lot of revelation spells for me to guard against spies. But when I woke up, you were waiting beside me. And you tell me there's no need to be nervous?"

"Your Faceless One has been staring at me beside your pillow for over half an hour, but I bear you no ill will, as its actions undoubtedly prove."

"That's very thoughtful of you," Cesar said. "Can you take off that stiff human mask? It's scarier than your true appearance."

"Most people can't tell the difference," Legotius said. "You're just too good at seeing, Cesar."

"What do you mean most people can't tell the difference? Are you using this human face mask to commit fraud?"

"How can I say it's a scam? The Franks' religion portrays their gods as human figures. Why can't I adapt to different times and create different images of myself? After all, what the Kuna consider flawless skin is a symbol of terror in this era."

"So, you're already undergoing a new round of shaping. Your temple is gone, so where did you get your shaping from? From those cursed souls that fell into your belly?"

"You don't have to add a cursed name," Legosius said, a stiff smile forming on his face. "They live better here than most people in Olydan. As for the new round of shaping, that's normal. If beastmen dominate the world, I will also gradually acquire the fur, fangs and claws of beasts."

"You could at least roll your eyes," Cesar said, frowning. Its smile was so strange, as if fingers were pulling the corners of its mouth to the sides.

"Is that so?" Legosius said. "But I don't know how to move my eyes. Do you know how to open the hole in your skin? Just as you don't have that hole, I don't have your senses. The Faceless One was born to mimic, but I only wear a mask of muscular texture, and I adjust its features behind it. That's all. Moreover, in the eyes of the suffering Franks, this expressionless face only makes me more divine."

"Then go find those tortured Franks and save them, don't come to me."

"I do, but it's just a minor matter." It paced among the blurred outlines of the bedroom furniture. The luster on the furniture gradually faded, and soon it was completely invisible. The rain continued to pour down under the dark sky, hammering steadily against the fortress buildings. "Sean thought you were causing him some trouble, so he sent me here to monitor you and give him regular reports," it said.

"Surveillance? Reporting? Could you not be so blunt?"

"Back then, I asked for your opinion directly and invited you to become our king. It's only natural that I would discuss this with you now, asking you what level of surveillance and regular reporting you would accept. This is not surprising."

It seemed Nauzog had indeed caused some trouble for the old count, Cesar thought. It wasn't just its own problems; it seemed to have a grudge against Legosius. For years, old Thane had treated the creatures like animals, caged and admired. Now, he finally understood the complex animosity between them. He had to consider the delicate balance between them, having to send some away and keep others.

"I don't want to wake up and see you standing by my bed." Cesar said bluntly.

"Oh, don't worry about that, Cesar. I won't always be by your side. I'll just be walking around, and when I remember, I'll come to you and ask you a few questions and then throw them back." It said very comfortably.

"So you still show up from time to time."

"Perhaps," Legosius said, "perhaps I won't necessarily show up, but will observe the fortress's situation from afar and leave my conclusions to him."

"I didn't know old Thain would pay so much attention to me one day."

"At least this time, he has to pay attention to your movements," Legosius said. "The horde of corpse eaters is tracking you. Now they are not only replenishing the fuel of the war, but also trying to capture the firstborn in your hand and let her reproduce a new tribe that can serve as their compatriots.

Those flesh puppets crave blood. The more dead they devour, the more powerful their war machines become. Furthermore, Clefas is already mobilizing his forces. While the Sasoulai discuss tribal changes and new responsibilities, they will turn the blades of their border guards against you. The army will pour out, swarming the mountains and roads, aiming to break their trapped position, aid the noble coalition in crushing the Olidan royal family, and, incidentally, crush you like a bug in a rut.

"That's really cruel," Cesar said. "And then?"

It pondered the words, "So, you hope to get more information from me?"

Cesar stared at it intently. "Information is information, but I have nothing to do with the crown, Legosius. I cannot be your new king, and you are not a knight of the kingdom."

"Of course I'm not a knight," it raised its chin like a human, and studied him with its still-stiff fake smile. "But before I accepted the Kuna people's worship, I wasn't their revered messenger of God or sage. Do you think I would hunt and tear living beings apart like a beast, causing them pain and suffering? No, I simply comfort the suffering of this world, allowing them to voluntarily accept my mercy, that's all. Judging from the times, I might not be what Olidan calls a knight."

"Go ahead and dress up as whatever you want. If you want to be a knight, go ahead and do it. Don't discuss it with me. I don't have any interest in acting in stage plays."

"It's very interesting to discuss my life experiences with you, Cesar," Legotius said, his attitude still very relaxed. "Perhaps I could indeed become a wandering knight, spreading justice everywhere. Do you have a horse to give me in return for the information I receive? Every era has its own justice. If I rescue the suffering and exiles and collect a few souls as interest, I might not be able to avoid being widely praised, just like in the past."

"Legosius, you..." Cesar almost couldn't hold back his swearing, and then he didn't want to hold it back anymore, "You still want to be widely praised?"

"Will it not happen? No, of course it will. You are a soul from another land. Unlike the Franks, you haven't grown up listening to the terrifying legends of the White Nightmare. You are not prejudiced. You know I can do it. There is no doubt that I can better meet their definition of a knight than any other knight in this world. As long as I am willing to do it, there is no honor or commandment that I cannot uphold."

He forced himself to calm down. "All I can tell is that you don't care about any of this. You're just using it as a way to have fun," he said.

"No, that's not right, Cesar." Legotius bent forward and gave Cesar a smile that was becoming increasingly natural. "For those who were saved by me, whether I was doing it for fun or not, my purpose itself is irrelevant. Whether I will be widely praised depends only on my deeds, not on my soul or my heart. This world is constantly changing, and I am always chasing its pace of change. The alternation of thoughts and actions is so easy, like a game, don't you think?"

“I don’t think so. I live here.”

"Well," it shook its head, "but you could have accepted my invitation, even my submission. You could have lived on a higher plane. You always had the chance to accept it. The scale and intensity of the war will grow. If you take a wrong step, you will lose everything."

"Even when I was trapped in the slums of Noyen, I knew the war would grow, Legosius. Enough of the empty chatter and bedtime stories, and give me any intelligence you have."

It bent even lower. "Do you have the armor, baggage, and horse for me to set out as a wandering knight?"

"If you want, I'll take you to choose," said Cesar.

"That's not bad," Legotius nodded in satisfaction. "But I'd prefer you to choose them for me, Cesar. When I come next time, you can prepare them and show me the place."

"Then?"

"Clefas won't encounter the Corpse Eaters' army. The timing is wrong. If you don't want to defend Clefas first and then the Corpse Eaters, you have to consider utilizing the jungles and mountains north of the fortress. Using the terrain as a buffer and resources worth slowing down both sides, you can influence their marching trajectories and stationing times, leading them to an eventual encounter. Even if it doesn't lead to a large-scale encounter, it can at least create a stalemate."

"Is Old Sean paying close attention to this war?" Cesar asked. "That sounds like the outcome of a military meeting. You're just here to pass on a message to me."

"Of course Sean is paying close attention. He's taking advantage of Olidan's predicament to make a fortune. You're guarding the most critical juncture of the war. How could he not be paying attention?"

Chapter 240 Bathing Time

"What are the more specific measures?" Cesar asked.

"Where are the more specific measures?" Legosius asked him. "I'm not a military strategist. There's no point asking me about something they haven't discussed. Besides, don't you have military strategists around you? Since you want to survive here, then proceed at your own pace."

"You're such a talker, Legosius. You've dumped a bunch of garbage on me, and in the end, there's nothing concrete to say."

"Well," it said, "you're a real requester, Cesar. So, let's put a map by your bed in a few days. I'll take it away and show it around. When it reappears by your pillow, it will show the route of the Corpse Eaters and Cleface."

Cesar wanted to make another request, but Legosius had disappeared. The dark bedroom was silent, with only the heavy rain still pounding against the building.

......

Diana sat reclining in the wooden tub, soaking in the warm, shimmering water, a faint blue hue, a rolled-up towel resting on her head. She still looked frail, her breathing shallow, her cheeks flushed from the water's warmth, and her vision hazy. She occasionally reached up to ruffle her damp hair, mumbling inaudibly. Seeing Cesar bending over her, examining her, she couldn't help but glare at him.

Cesar stood up and looked around the experimental site, which was not yet fully set up. He found that Phils came in with a bucket of water. She not only fetched water to heat, but also prepared a large number of medicinal plants. She even broke off a branch of flowering flowers and placed it in a bottle next to the bathtub, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

When Phils saw him here, she immediately hung the bucket in his hand, ground the medicinal plants for a while, diluted them in the bucket according to the proportion, and then asked him to slowly pour the bucket of water into Diana's bathtub.

Cesar watched as Fils trotted out; it looked like she had something else to prepare. "I had no idea she was so caring." He carried the bucket to the tub and began pouring the potion. "I thought you were already in chaos before I got here."

"It's not that she can't live independently, it's just that you take care of her too much," said Diana.

"is it?"

"Wasn't she the one who helped take care of you when you first arrived at the dog pit? You just didn't realize it, but Phils said that everything happened so vividly that she still remembers it."

The deep blue of the tub grew even more magnificent, like the sea at night, shimmering with starlight. Cesar set the empty bucket down and watched Diana pick up a bottle of potion from the small round table to the side. She took a sip, then frowned. It took a long moment before she caught her breath and took another sip.

"I don't know if you've ever heard her talk," Diana said, "but before you came, she often visited various shops. But she didn't enjoy it. She simply knew she wasn't good at speaking or socializing, so she wanted to buy materials for her trip to Itris as practice. She saved up the money the old earl gave her, little by little, and had a long list of things she wanted to buy. She would often go over the items on her list, asking others which shops in Itris had the best prices and which ones were the most expensive."

"It sounds like it can no longer be practiced."

"Never mind the drill..." Diana took another sip of the potion. "The gradual transformation from a human to an unnoticeable ghost was an irresistible process for her. Besides, she wasn't even a ghost, she was a remnant of memory. A few days ago, I went to the military camp in the fortress, hoping to get some medicine from the vendor owned by One-Eye. She was nearby, too. She found a small item and wanted to pay for it, but what she took out wasn't money, but a vague remnant of memory, and no one could see her hand as she extended it. In the end, I was the one who bought it."

"Doesn't she want to just take it?"

"I think...she hasn't fully accepted the situation. She always wants to use money to buy things like everyone else, but she rarely shows her inner emotions."

For a moment they were silent, sitting quietly in the herbal bath and in the chairs. The fragrance of the flowers was still fragrant and pleasant. Soon, Phils came over with a bucket of water and hung it in his hand, grinding and mixing another medicinal plant.

When the water in the tub finally reached Diana's shoulders, Fils said it was ready. "I remember it was this mixture," she muttered to herself. "It can heal wounds and soothe the spirit. But it's a pity that what we need is so precious that we can only use it ourselves."

"How about you come in too?" Cesar leaned over and rested his arm on the back of the chair. "I think the tub is big enough for one more person, and the medicine for the bath won't be diluted with one more person."

"This is a medical measure for the wounded!" Fils raised her delicate white hand, extending it a hand's width toward him. "If I go in too, wouldn't the serious meaning of the treatment be lost?"

"To be honest, I'm just temporarily injured and need to recuperate. You always need recuperation, Finny," said Diana.

"You found a lot of ownerless souls last night. I'm very excited now and don't need to recuperate," said Phils.

"Those were the war puppets of the corpse eaters, who died in the wasteland with their bellies full of dead souls and flesh and blood.

"Dispersion is what generates the abundant nutrients," Diana said. "That's a rare occurrence. Your very nature dictates that you will continue to dissipate, like flowing water, falling lower and lower, and you can never receive enough nutrients."

"I don't think there's any need to worry so much," Cesar said. "We've set up this testing ground in the castle's basement, which is separated from the outside world. So, I think, staying here, I don't need to worry about whether it's day or night outside, nor do I need to worry about the future or the past. I can just pretend I'm curled up in an eggshell, leaving the whole world behind, forgetting it, and doing whatever I want. Do you know what I want to do next?"

"What?" Phils looked at him intently.

"I need to relax, too," he said, then looked at Diana. "Do you mind?"

Diana stared at him for a long moment with her eyes wide open. Finally, she sighed and said, "Go sit across from me, feet to feet."

Cesar undid his clothes, hung his arms on the back of a chair, and comfortably stepped forward, leaning against the wooden tub and slowly immersing himself in the warm, blue water. Phils lay on the edge of the tub, watching him. She said nothing, but tilted her face, her dark blue eyes turning in thought. Soon, she, too, hung her clothes on the back of the chair, walked over with slow, slow steps, took his hand, and sat between them.

It's definitely a bit crowded now.

Diana raised her eyebrows slightly and continued to sip the potion, which seemed to be difficult to drink. In the end, she could not drink any more and tossed the potion bottle to Fils. She opened her mouth, and the whole mouth was emitting a faint blue frost, which almost seeped into her face.

Cesar was surprised to see Phils drink up the rest in one gulp.

"It's a medicinal plant extract used to enhance rationality," Firth breathed softly, curling up a little in the warm water. "It can maintain consciousness while we explore spells that cause spiritual confusion, and it can also improve thinking ability. Do you want to try it? Honestly, this thing is contrary to your path, so it's best not to use it."

"You don't even want to leave it for me," Cesar said.

"Uh......"

Seeing this, Diana leaned forward, pointed at her pursed lips, then at him. Cesar, gripping Phils's shoulders, leaned forward as well. She grasped his chin and kissed his mouth. Before he could even feel the touch of her lips, a piercing chill shot from his tongue to the top of his head, spreading rapidly to every inch of his skin, even to his fingertips. He almost thought his blood had frozen. It wasn't just cold; it was a piercing pain.

She put her hand on his chest and gave him a gentle push, and he fell backwards. He coughed, feeling the cold still rushing towards his head. His entire upper body sank, leaving only his legs struggling above the water.

After Cesar finally grasped Phils's hand and helped her struggle to her feet, Diana nodded meaningfully, as if she had proved his weakness and vulnerability. "Would you like some more?"

"No," Cesar said. He hugged Fils tightly and took a long breath of warm air from her bare shoulders. "I declare that I am not destined to be a mage."

Chapter 241: Cold and Warmth

"I know how I can give you some," Fils suddenly said, and with a gloomy look she warned Cesar, "I'm going to save them especially for you."

Diana covered her lips and coughed twice. She leaned on the towel behind her, not only pretending to be weak, but also closing her eyes, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

"My mouth is numb," Cesar said defensively. He still had that chill in his body, alternating with the damp heat of the bath, making him feel even more uncomfortable. "I have to go inspect the city defenses later," he thought of an excuse. "On the way, I can't help but talk to other people..."

"That's okay," she muttered. "You don't have to take it orally. This potion doesn't have to be taken orally anyway."

Because the tub was barely big enough for them, Phils leaned in, making him feel even more cramped. Their bodies were pressed so tightly together, there was almost no space between them, and even the slightest movement was difficult. She rested her head against his chin, her hands on his shoulders as she turned toward him, her hips pressing and rubbing against the limp snake, soon arousing it.

The snake's head climbed upwards, clinging to her twisting waist. Its body, bent by her weight, slid along her thighs, finally sliding to her lower abdomen, its head resting on her round belly button.

Phils shifted herself so she was sitting opposite him, then reached down to explore. She first grasped the snake's head with her small hand, tapping it twice with her index finger. Then, tightening her grip, she stroked it to the very bottom, then back up, moving it back and forth. Her palm was small, soft, and tender. Though her grip was strained, it gave him a pleasure beyond mere touch.