Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"...Hehe, now's the time! What a great opportunity!" The craftsman cat almost jumped up, but Maria's anger was almost at its peak. Then, as she struggled to chop the giant axe in her hand towards the left-hand knight, the light contained in the shield and sword turned into violent energy. The moment the axe hit the ground, it blasted towards the left hand. The left hand only had time to raise the spear, but the next moment - the spear broke directly.

And the figure of the left hand flew out of the venue directly with five consecutive explosions and slammed into the wall.

written request for leave

It's called a leave note, but actually I have something to do today and can't write four updates, so I should only update twice in the morning, and will update normally tomorrow.

over!

One hundred words one ...

Chapter 92: Run away! Must run away!

After an examination, the Left-Handed Knight was found to be fine. Although strictly speaking, this meant that the physical damage he had suffered was actually very limited—Maria's healing ability, which treated everyone equally, had taken effect. But what was worse... When he crashed into the wall, the Left-Handed Knight's ribs were broken, but they healed the next moment. The ribs healed despite being broken...

The result was that the Left Hand Knight had to break his ribs again to re-set them, which only caused him more pain.

The Artisan Cat happily explained that this time the charging axe was filled with a sleeping bottle, so for the Left-Handed Knight, this brought him a baby-like dream.

After all, the original target of this weapon was a behemoth, so the dosage might be a little bit large. Although the result is good, the Left-Handed Knight will probably have to stay in bed for a season.

The debut of [Dragon Fever Trap: Flawed Light Charge Axe] was a resounding success, earning praise from even the tinker cat. It's said that even experienced hunters couldn't match Maria's savvy when using the Charge Axe for the first time. Unleashing a unique skill like Super Break with the Charge Axe on her first try was unprecedented, even for the tinker cat's experience. Putting aside the gamblers who lost everything by betting on the Left-Handed Knight, this was a resounding victory.

This match also made Maria realize that her strength was still lacking, but it didn't matter anymore. Her entry into the official competition was a sure thing, and her points were more than enough. Even if she didn't win the next match, she would still be guaranteed a spot in the official competition. So, it didn't matter if she opened the champagne now!

Boom!

The champagne cork flew out with a thud, blasted out by the pressure. The golden liquid gushed out, frothy. Maria opened the champagne herself and immediately filled Mainna's glass. There was no other way. Those here were either forbidden to drink, underage, or forced not to drink by Noah. Only Mainna could drink freely. Mainna looked at her obviously oversized glass and fell into deep thought.

He had reason to believe that this was Noah's small revenge for him blocking the spring without telling her.

But Manna didn't care. He could drink quite well, having attended numerous social events at the company. It was impossible for him not to drink. And today was a special occasion, so he immediately untied his tie, raised his glass, and drank it with his neck tilted back. The wine was already overflowing from the corners of his mouth, flowing down his jawline into his shirt, but he didn't care. After draining the liquid from the glass, he raised the glass high.

Noah, who was already a little worried, felt a little embarrassed. She didn't expect her uncle to be so honest. She picked up the juice in the cup and drank it all in one gulp. She took the lead, and Zofia and Maria also raised the orange juice in the cup and drank it in one breath.

"First of all, of course, we're celebrating Maria's entry into the official competition!" Zofia smacked her lips after finishing her juice. To be honest, she did want to drink this time, but it was because she was in such a good mood. She was definitely the happiest person to see Maria succeed. After all, Maria was her own student, and for a teacher, a successful student is the best reward. She patted Maria's shoulder with satisfaction. "You've done me proud! Becoming the champion isn't impossible!"

"...Gu, I'll do my best." Maria scratched her head. Logically, she couldn't defeat the Left Hand Knight. If it weren't for the Left Hand Knight's constant mercy and his penchant for trash-talking to provoke her anger, and the new weapon Sister Noya had prepared for her, she probably wouldn't have been able to defeat him either. If Left Hand Knight was that strong, could she really defeat those knights with single-word titles?

To be honest, Maria was unsure. Indeed, this victory was too lucky. If the Left-Handed Knight had won quickly, Maria would not have been able to make that super-resolution move.

However, knight competitions never believed in "ifs." Victory was victory. Maria had defeated Zuoshou, earning her an invitation to the official tournament. Even if the Chamber of Commerce was unhappy, they probably wouldn't take action against Maria. Furthermore, even if Noah's power was restricted, he would be able to quickly notice any violations by these people. Then, the situation would shift.

Noah had long wanted to take action against those guys who were always impeaching him and disgusting him, but he just hadn't found any good reason. After the Left-Hand Knight was defeated this time, it would be impossible to hide his action from him.

She wanted to see how much money these guys would spend...

After the celebration banquet, because Mainna had drunk quite a bit, Noah simply let them stay. After all, the villa had nothing else to offer, but it had plenty of guest rooms. When he first bought the villa from the old knight noble, he had heard that this knight noble had a rather unruly lifestyle. Most of the rooms in the house were guest rooms, specifically for the women he had sexual relations with. Of course, Noah completely renovated it after buying it, but he still kept most of the guest rooms, but they were mostly used to store miscellaneous items.

As long as we tidy up a little, it would be possible to even move everyone from the Lin Guang family over.

She had thought it all out. When Margaret came back, the Linguang family, which had been almost sold out, was obviously no longer suitable for settling down. So she simply transferred her company and the house under her name to the Linguang family. Noah had made two preparations. If she left Casimir safely, she would transfer these assets to Margaret. If she... had an accident, she had already written Margaret's name as the beneficiary in her will.

Anyway, now that things in Casimir are over, after Margaret comes back and fulfills the agreement, I will definitely not stay in Casimir any longer.

Maybe I could go to Columbia, or Kjerag, or meet friends on Rhodes Island, or take a trip around Terra.

Although she still had expectations for Casimir in her heart, she was indeed tired. If it weren't for the agreement with Margaret, she would have left Casimir long ago.

Now that Maria has gradually become capable of standing on her own, it is almost time for her to retire.

I guess even Maria didn't expect that after Noah dealt with the remnants of the Witch King, his first thought was that if Maria could advance successfully, he would wait for Margaret to come back and then run away.

This determination to run away is indeed deeply rooted in the bones.

Chapter 93: The Voice of the City

Noah still wanted to finish the things at hand as soon as possible. She didn't think Margaret was interested in running the company, so she started looking for a successor for the company early on. This candidate was the director of the human resources department. Noah was now like Zhuge Liang before he came out of the mountains. He had already started thinking about retreating before things were over.

Of course, she'd also considered the possibility of running away with everyone in the Linguang family if Margaret couldn't save Casimir. After all, running away with Kuro was the same as running away with the whole family, so it wouldn't be a big deal. Ultimately, Noya felt that Margaret would care more about Casimir than she did, so she hadn't considered forcing Margaret to choose between the two. She'd run away on her own initiative.

In reality, Noa saw many things clearly. After all, she had a natural sensitivity to emotion. She saw that Mainna hadn't been assimilated by Casimir's corruption, and that the Candle Knight was still trapped in the attic. She knew that Maria admired her sister, but also truly loved the end of the craftsman. She understood Zofia's reluctance and her concern for Maria. She saw it all clearly, or rather, too clearly.

So she knew that even if Margaret came back, she would only stay in Casimir, Maria would go back to her own craftsman's path, and after everything was over, Mainna might return to the life of a ranger, or go looking for Snitz and Yolanta. Their personalities determined their decisions. They were all in the light and did not need other people's advice. As for herself, she was tired of Casimir's intrigues and wanted a long vacation.

She was too tired. Tossing between human natures, trying her best to protect herself and the people around her, was too tiring for Noah Kyrielet.

She doesn't want to be involved in so many things, she just wants to live the rest of her life well.

Oripathy is a terminal illness and her own symptoms are extremely severe. Every day before falling asleep, she would wonder if she could wake up. She had to think more and prepare for how to arrange for the people who depended on her if she really died in an accident.

Her life is a race against time, and she doesn't know when she will reach her end. To be honest... Noah is a pessimist.

But she was surrounded by a group of glittering figures, forcing her to drag her exhausted body along with them. Even though she herself didn't believe in Casimir's future, she believed in Margaret and Maria. She felt she owed them a debt from her past life to have met these two sisters. However, it was precisely because of their spirit of belonging to the light that Noa was able to cheer up from her pessimism.

...a pessimist being pulled along by an optimist.

Perhaps this is the true situation of Noah himself?

Night fell over Casimir once again. Noah sat in his wheelchair, listening to the sound of the wind—the sound of the wind seemed to be whimpering, mixed with some unknown noises.

At this moment, Noah felt as if she had picked up a conch from the beach, gently placed it to her ear, and listened to the sound of the waves. She loved listening to the voice of this city. This city was like a great beast, a beast that never rested. The people of this city, the city they built, had their own unique voice. She had heard the voice of Rhodes Island and the voice of Columbia, but the difference was huge. Casimir's voice was like an old knight riding a lean horse through the wheat fields, slowly advancing towards the setting sun.

It looks dilapidated, but the wheat waves under your feet are still full of vitality.

The old knight is the soul of this city. Though old, it has not died. There are always noble souls who bow and bear the flame for those who come. Casimir's chivalry is like a flame. Whenever people think it has gone out, a few people will appear and rekindle it, telling everyone that the fire is not extinguished and Casimir still has soul. In the story, whether this unworthy nation of knights will rush towards the shadow of the windmill or awaken the young people sleeping under the waves of wheat remains unknown.

Noah is just a listener. She is not a prophet, nor is she the one who can burn herself to ignite Casimir's tomorrow.

She listened to the sounds of the city, its whimpers, its roars, and its sighs as tiny as sparks.

The city is alive, she firmly believes that the people who build the city and the city itself have their own life and soul.

It's the people who support this city, but many people choose to ignore this fact. What's truly valuable about Casimir is not chivalry, capital operations, or those in high positions.

What truly supports the lifeblood of this city is always just that group of people, the majority.

It's just that their voices are too soft and many people can't hear them...

But Noah could hear it, she could hear it.

"Sister Noah?"

At this moment, someone interrupted her listening. She turned around and asked, "What's wrong? Can't sleep, Maria?"

"I just saw you on the balcony, Sister Noah, and I was worried you might have caught a cold." Maria came forward with a blanket and covered Noah with it. She turned and looked down at the balcony. The neon lights of the entire city were flickering. The city that never sleeps no longer had the remains of the former Knights' Kingdom. "Sister Noah, what are you listening to?"

"Listen to the sounds of the city." Noah said with a smile, "This may confuse you a little, so just think of me listening to the wind."

“The sound of this city…it feels so cool.”

"Pfft... That's really cool. In fact, I want to listen to the sounds of different cities in the future. It's kind of my dream. When the time comes, I'll publish a book at my own expense, describing what the sounds of the cities I hear are like, and give each of you a copy, autographed."

"Really? I want one too." Maria was really interested. For someone of her age, whether fighting with the shadows of windmills or listening to the sounds of the city, it seemed to carry a sense of mystery and coolness. This was also the time to indulge in knight novels and various fantasy literature, so in Maria's eyes, Noah was really cool.

"Well, there will be a chance." Noah nodded. She lowered her head slightly, but felt that the music box in her arms suddenly trembled and fell down along her clothes. Before Noah could react, the buckle of the music box hit the ground and opened with a click.

Everything happened so fast that Kuro didn't even have time to intervene. Noah only had time to protect Maria behind him when a tremor suddenly exploded.

In almost an instant, Noah and Maria were both enveloped by this strange vibration and then lost consciousness.

Kuro rushed to the two people at the fastest speed in his life, but he only had time to support them, and the music box was empty.

Chapter 94: I really like Noah’s words: Ah?

Maria...

When Noya regained consciousness, her first thought was of Maria, who had shared the impact of the restored Earthly Voice within the music box. This time, it was entirely her fault. She had assumed the sealed Earthly Voice was harmless, so she had kept it with her, only to be ambushed. As an archer, it was impossible for her to drop the music box due to trembling hands. In other words, she had dropped the music box herself.

I was still too naive, and I actually put Maria in danger——

No, I have to go check on Maria first...

Perhaps out of anxiety, or perhaps out of habit, Noya reached for her side when she stood up. She always kept her wheelchair beside her bed, no matter what the situation. Kuro always did this, just in case she was unable to move. But this time, she felt nothing. Noya turned her head subconsciously and found that there was no wheelchair there. Was Kuro negligent?

No...I...

Noah seemed to realize something. She put her hands in front of her eyes. They were a pair of unfamiliar hands, but they appeared so vividly in front of her - could she see?

Noah was stunned. She didn't know whether she was feeling joy or overwhelmed. The complex emotions made her brain crash for a moment, and she even forgot to check her physical condition.

No - what matters is Maria, what happened to her!

When Noah woke up, she planned to get out of bed by holding onto the bedside table. When she got out of bed, she had to hold onto something with her hands, and then use her arms to drag her body towards the window. She had done it many times, and it had even become a conditioned reflex. But when she swung her lower body under the bed, the pulley of the bedside table also moved, causing her to lose support and fall to the ground with a thud.

All the furniture in her room was fixed in place to prevent this kind of thing from happening. Noya fell, but didn't feel much pain. She turned herself over and propped herself up with her hands. Even though she could see... she was still so clumsy, or even clumsier than before. She just thought it was funny, but when she looked at her feet, she was stunned again.

…Did I just see my toes move?

To confirm whether this was true, Noah tried to move her toes again. Seeing her toes curled up, she felt like she was struck by lightning and her whole body was shaking.

"…Are you kidding me?"

My legs, which Rhode Island doctors had tried so hard to save but couldn't, could actually move freely? Does that mean I can walk now?

Having not used the walking skill for so long, Noya obviously couldn't stand up and walk as smoothly as before. In fact, she fell several times while trying to support herself, as if her legs no longer belonged to her. Although this was technically true, Noya, who had not used the walking skill for so long, had almost forgotten what it felt like to walk.

Just like a rehabilitation activity, when Noah slowly and tentatively took two or three steps forward, holding on to the wall, she felt a joy she had never felt before.

She could actually walk... How did that happen? Was it because of the explosion from the Voice of the World?

"No... Maria!" Noya slapped her cheek. She was happy to be able to walk and see again, but she didn't know how Maria was doing. She had to go check on Maria first. She forced herself to open the door and staggered out. This was the first time she'd seen the house she'd lived in for so long with her own eyes. She hadn't paid much attention to the decor back then, but now it definitely felt like Casimir's style—there were some meaningless wall hangings everywhere, either paintings or stuffed animal heads.

The things left behind by the original owner did not really conform to Noah's aesthetic standards.

She held onto the wall, feeling the joy of regaining what she had lost, but also worried about Maria's condition. Before she could take a few steps, she heard the sound of something falling. Noah turned her head in confusion, and Zofia had already rushed in front of her, "Why did you get out of bed?! How are you? Are you still in pain?"

"I... I'm fine." Noah was a little overwhelmed, "Z... Zofia?"

To be honest, the voice was indeed Zofia's, but this was the first time Noah saw Zofia's current appearance. She looked much more mature than when he first knew her.

"...How can you be so disrespectful?" Zofia rolled her eyes at her, then asked with concern, "You've been sleeping for three days. Can your body handle it?... I just... ah, my porridge!"

Sophia realized belatedly that she had spilled the porridge in her haste. She looked at the steaming vegetable porridge on the floor with some frustration. "I finally managed to make something edible..."

"Pfft..." Noah just felt funny, "I'm fine, I've never felt so good."

"How can you be okay? You... you worried me to death." Zofia reached out and stroked Noya's head with concern, which surprised Noya. Although Zofia had a good relationship with her, she rarely touched her head. Perhaps she was worried that Noya might feel uncomfortable, or for some other reason. But this was the first time Zofia had touched her head. She nodded subconsciously, "I'm sorry to have worried you... Zofia."

"...What's wrong with you? Didn't you always call me Sister Zofia? It's too early for you to call me by my first name. Are you in your rebellious phase?" Zofia pinched Noya's cheek in confusion. "Forget it, since you just woke up, I won't lecture you. Your uncle is worried about you too. Eat something first, and then go find that guy Mainna."

Noah nodded. Although she did consider Zofia her older sister, she usually just called her Zofia. And she was still in her rebellious phase… how long had she been an adult? This intimate gesture of face pinching was also the first time Zofia had done it. What was going on? Had she woken up in a new world?

"Don't worry, how is Maria now? Is she still in a coma? I want to go and see her." Noah said, but these words drew a puzzled expression from Zofia.

"Hmm? Could something really have happened to Maria?"

"...Maria, are you still awake? Didn't you just wake up?"

"...What did you call me?"

"Maria?"

"……what?"

Chapter 95: Determination

...No, considering that it is the music left by the Witch King after all, it is not surprising that it has such an effect.

But... exchanging souls? This kind of technology is actually possible.

Noah quickly realized what had happened. If she had become Maria, then the person inside her body... was probably Maria herself. Strictly speaking, Originium techniques involving souls seemed to have always remained only in legend. However, considering that this was the magic of the Witch King, the Witch King's music, it was not so surprising that it could produce such an effect.

No wonder I can see things and walk. It turns out this is not my body at all.

I was so happy for nothing...

Noah's heart was heavy for only a few seconds, and she soon put the matter behind her. She was more worried about Maria. After all, her own health was in terrible condition, and Noah didn't want Maria to continue to endure the pain she had been enduring. She walked towards her room holding the wall, but perhaps because she was too anxious and not used to walking, she stumbled and fell to the ground after only a few steps.

"...It hurts..." This time he fell quite hard, which scared Zofia who was following behind him. She quickly stepped forward to help Noah up.

"Don't force yourself when you've just recovered..." Zofia said helplessly, "You look so much like that kid Noah."

"...You guessed it right." Noah curled his lips, "I am Noah."

"Are you kidding?" Zofia patted Noah's head. "No matter how you look at her, she's still Maria."