Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

However, the atmosphere in the tavern made Noah feel that something was wrong, especially among the people present... there was someone who made her feel quite familiar.

"...Who are you?" Noah frowned. "Who are you?"

Chapter 122: Heaven's Path

Noah appeared here mainly for the final adjustment of Margaret's sword and spear. The quality and upper limit of the sword and spear made by the craftsman cat, Maria, and the old craftsman are definitely no problem, but the problem lies in... this group of people with creative ideas, each one better than the other. Noah is worried that they will go too far and use untested equipment on Margaret. If this is true, the craftsman cat, Maria, and the old craftsman will all kneel down before him.

However, before she could inquire about the three's specific situation, she encountered a strange knight. Noya's perception indicated that the knight was quite powerful. While she wasn't sure if he could compare to Margaret, he was at least significantly stronger than everyone present. This wasn't a casual remark; Noya could tell just by listening to the knight's heartbeat. A strong person's breath was long and slow, and their heartbeat was slower than that of an average person. This physical structure made them less susceptible to fatigue than the average person. People with strong hearts were generally not weak.

So after Noah made a preliminary assessment of the strength of the person in front of him, he added one more word - you.

Anyone who came to the bar at this hour was either looking for trouble, or... perhaps a future rival for Margaret. After mentally sifting through the list, he realized he knew the Candle Knight, had met the Blood Knight, and had never met the Wind Knight, but he was said to be a psychopath and probably didn't have the same level of oppression as this one. After filtering through the layers, it seemed the Nightmare Chaser was the only option left.

After Noah guessed the other person's identity in his heart, he gave a professional smile.

"Knight Glory is still adjusting. If you'd like to spar or discuss anything, please contact my assistant, Mainna. Knight Glory does not accept private visits—" Noya replied calmly under the other's aura. "I hope you are a guest, not an enemy."

"Noah, stay behind me." Margaret immediately protected Noah. She stood before Noah, her unwavering eyes meeting those of Nightmare Chaser. The Nightmare Chaser sized up the two, including Kuro, who remained behind Noah. For some reason, he felt a sense of oppression. And this pressure wasn't coming from Knight Glory, but from... her.

And more importantly, he felt a familiar...breath.

He wasn't sure, but he took a step forward. This move was significant, alerting everyone. Knight Yao frowned and said, "Please keep your distance, this... Knight."

"Golden Pegasus... The duel between you and me shouldn't be now." The Nightmare Chaser glanced at Margaret and frowned. "I'm looking for the person behind you."

"...What do you want from Noah?" Margaret frowned. If they were coming for her, it wouldn't matter, but once Noah's concerns were involved, her attitude was completely different. Seeing the flickering light emanating from Margaret's body, Roy sensed that things were getting serious. If the Nightmare Chaser and the Radiant Knight came to blows in this place... regardless of what the higher-ups would think, they definitely couldn't stay here any longer.

I haven't finished my fries yet...

Roy sighed helplessly and began to observe the escape route.

"It has nothing to do with you." The Nightmare Chaser took another step forward. This time, not only Margaret, but even Kuro felt that he had ill intentions. Noah, noticing that the atmosphere was not right, quickly stopped Kuro from advancing and said, "We can't fight in this situation. It might affect Margaret's match."

"I understand." Kuro nodded. Seeing Kuro calmed down, Noya pushed the wheelchair and took Margaret's hand. She didn't exert much force, but Margaret took two steps back. Noya also reminded Margaret that she must not fight outside now. However, it was obvious that both Kuro and Margaret were very wary of the Nightmare Chaser.

After comforting the two people, Noah took the initiative to step forward and said, "Nightmare Chaser Knight, nice to meet you. My name is Noah Kyrielight, the person in charge of this knight competition and the spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce. Is there anything important you need from me? I'm not working right now, so if you need anything, I hope you can arrange a time and place during working hours. I would be happy to attend."

Noah's words were very appropriate. He tactfully told the other party that it was not convenient for him to meet him at the moment, and he had already promised to meet at a designated place during working hours. In fact, normally if the other party was sensible, he would choose to back down.

But being sensible? These three words might not even exist in the Nightmare Chaser's vocabulary. After Noya took the initiative to come forward, he stared at her face, then noticed that her eyes were unfocused. He slowly said, "What's wrong with your eyes?"

"...As you can see, I'm blind." This was the first time Noah met such an impolite person. Even when the Chamber of Commerce wanted to intimidate him, they at least used the excuse of giving him a gift.

"Blind? Are you blind?" Nightmare Chaser frowned. For some reason, this matter made him a little irritated. "Why? Who did it?"

"...It's an old injury." Noah could only say, "It was caused by an injury when I was a child. Including my legs, they are also the result of that injury."

"Injured... How could you possibly be injured?" The Nightmare Chaser's tone became a little subtle. "Who could hurt you? You are..."

"I hope you can be a little more polite, Nightmare Chaser. If you continue to be so disrespectful, I will challenge you to a duel." Margaret was already frowning. She had seen people with bad manners before, but she rarely saw someone so directly hurt as Nightmare Chaser. His words were truly disrespectful. In Margaret's opinion, it was simply hurting Noa to her face.

"It has nothing to do with you, Golden Pegasus. Sooner or later, you will be defeated by me." The Nightmare Chaser Knight ignored Margaret's warning and continued speaking. This time, she used a language Margaret could not understand. "My compatriot, I can feel the connection between us. Your bloodline is so noble, why did you fall into this corrupted city?"

"...?" Noah tilted his head in confusion. The language the other party spoke was very similar to the pastoral language he heard in his dream, and he could actually understand it. Noble blood? Fellow countrymen? What was the Nightmare Chaser Knight doing? Could he really have a distant relative?

Noah was still wondering if this guy was really her distant relative. Seeing her stunned, Nightmare Chaser's tone suddenly became gentle.

"This city is not worthy of your blood. If you wish, I will take you away and go to - Heaven's Path."

——Heavenly path?

When Noah heard these two words, she felt her whole body tremble. Tiantu... Why did she feel so familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere.

Heavenly path?

Where is it...

Chapter 123: Challenge

Memories were like pages that had not been turned for a long time. Noah had turned this book of memory countless times and recalled it countless times, but when she heard the word "Tiantu", the first thing she felt was familiarity. She seemed to have a deep impression of this word, but she couldn't think of it for a while.

She tried to recall where she had heard this word, and after a long while, a vague face emerged in her memory... They were two neatly dressed men and women. The woman had black hair and her face was no longer visible. The man carried a bow and had a family crest on his shoulder.

……yes……

Noah remembered that although her parents had not been around since she could remember, she had indeed spent some time with them... That was when she was still a baby, and her memories were vague, she couldn't even remember their faces, but she remembered that her mother left home before her father. Before she left, she seemed to have said this word... Tiantu, was she going to find her own Tiantu?

The father seemed to have persuaded the mother and even had a quarrel with her, but the mother still did not give up her goal and finally left home alone.

As far as I can remember, my father only stayed a few months longer before he followed my mother and left. He left me in the care of Yolanta and my grandfather, and they have since disappeared...

Noah investigated, but apart from knowing that the two seemed to have gone to Leithania, he found nothing else. Even the names of the two were taboo in Casimir.

Unlike Sneez and Yolanta, Noya's parents' names were erased. To this day, Noya still doesn't know them, only vaguely calling out "Dad" and "Mom." When they meet in dreams, their faces are blurry. For Noya, the mystery of his parents' disappearance feels like a curse, a trap. While suffering in his hospital bed, he called out to them... but they didn't respond even once.

She lit candles in Kuro's company during holidays, when others were having fun together, on her own birthday, when she worked so overtime that she fell asleep at her desk, and even when... she was on the verge of death.

Her calls were never answered.

She wasn't even qualified to know their names—

When she almost forgot their existence...

But the Nightmare Chaser Knight said in front of her... the two words "Heavenly Path" that they were pursuing.

Noah didn't know where she got the strength from, she stretched out her hand and tightly grabbed the collar of the Nightmare Chaser who was kneeling on one knee. She had never treated anyone like this before, let alone a stranger she was not very familiar with. But at this moment, she could no longer remain calm, and couldn't even calm herself down.

"Tiantu... What exactly is Tiantu? Tell me! What is Tiantu?" Noya's voice had never been so raspy. Not even Margaret had ever seen her so out of control. She clutched the Nightmare Chaser's collar tightly, her voice filled with anticipation, longing, fear, and... trembling. "Please tell me... What exactly is Tiantu? Where did my parents... go? Please... tell me."

She no longer looked like a mineral patient. Anger and pain had distorted her heart, even shaking her inner self. The lights in the bar flickered, as if affected by Noah's anger. Everyone subconsciously held their breath, not daring to disturb Noah in this situation.

The first thing they felt... was fear...

That's right, fear. It was like a devil's claw grasping her heart. At this moment, the aura emanating from Noah made even Margaret feel a huge pressure.

Is this really Noah? She couldn't help but wonder, she never knew her best friend had such a side.

"Tiantu..." The Nightmare Chaser Knight sensed the aura of the other's bloodline emanating from him. It was pure Nightmare Blood, the aura of the true Khan's bloodline. In the distant past, when the Khan still existed, Noa's bloodline symbolized nobility, greatness, and glory. But now, the Khan's bloodline had even Tiantu questioning himself... questioning himself, a man who followed the past...

He couldn't help but find it funny, and he spoke with a sadness in his tone.

"The Heavenly Path is the highest honor of Kuranta. When a warrior reaches adulthood, to demonstrate the glory of being a Kuranta, they will make a promise accompanied by their parents. They will travel from their birthplace to a distant trial site. They will travel on foot, carrying only a weapon given by their parents."

He seemed to be telling a distant story, and also seemed to be mocking his own fate.

"Where is the trial ground?" Noah asked, holding onto the Nightmare Chaser's armor tightly.

"Their trials are their own choosing, and true courage must be recognized by themselves. The path of the brave traverses countless ravines and gullies, while the timid coward only chooses the woods at home." The Nightmare Chaser continued, "The distance of the journey is not the only criterion. Some warriors bring back the heads of their prey; some cut off the ears of their enemies; and some gain nothing, but are laden with gold and spices."

"...Our ancestors never forgot this tradition. It is a testament to their courage. Countless Nightmare Warriors have walked the Heavenly Road as the starting point of their journey."

"...Nightmare?" Noah finally heard these words, "You are Nightmare? Impossible... Didn't Nightmare disappear a long time ago?"

"Haha ......" At this moment, the Nightmare Chaser's laughter

"The Khan's bloodline will never die—those guys are lying! They deny their past conquests! They've tried their best to erase all traces of the nightmare! But we won't disappear. We are kin, connected by blood and history. We will never perish." The Nightmare Chaser laughed wildly, but when faced with Noya's question again, he smiled. "But at least, I found a treasure worth taking."

"...What did you say?" Margaret suddenly felt a strong hostility. It was a hostility directed entirely towards her...

"Golden Pegasus... I will defeat you head-on on the battlefield." The Nightmare Chaser stared at Margaret and said, "Then I will take her away."

"What did you say!?" Margaret watched as Nightmare Chaser pointed at Noah, a surge of anger rising in her. Almost subconsciously, she already had her hand on her weapon. "You'd better take that back."

"Why? To the victor goes all... It's only natural." Nightmare Chaser taunted Margaret, "I will take her. This city doesn't deserve her. And neither do you."

Chapter 124: Fighting for Noah's Heart

The Nightmare Chaser's words shocked everyone present, and the Nightmare Chaser was obviously serious. He put down Noah, who was still in confusion, and left the tavern on his own. The people who were overwhelmed by the amount of information just now did not stop him. He just appeared like this, and after making a declaration in front of everyone that he would take Noah away, he just... left?

Not to mention Noah, even Roy, who watched the whole thing, was a little confused...

But he still knew what he had to do. The melon he had eaten was obviously very big, and Xuan Tie would probably be happy to hear it - he stuffed all the fries into his mouth and swallowed them, then paid the bill and ran away.

"Noah...are you okay?" Margaret finally realized what was happening and went to check on Noah, but she couldn't say anything. She had thought she'd finally found a clue about her parents, but the news she got was...she'd chosen the trial ground herself...what was the difference between that and not telling anyone? She didn't care about the Heavenly Path. She only cared about...where her parents had gone.

She was so upset that she didn't even respond to Margaret's concern. Her palms were tightly gripping the back of the wheelchair, even leaving deep marks on it. She didn't know how many times she reminded herself to calm down before she regained her composure.

"I...it's okay."

This is obviously a lie, and anyone can tell that Noah is probably in the most panicked moment right now. From her expression, one can tell how much she cares about the answer to this matter.

But this answer obviously did not satisfy her...

Nightmare Chaser... Nightmare... Heaven's Path...

My own mother... turned out to be a nightmare... Could it be because of the nightmare... that's why...

Noah couldn't help but speculate wildly, even beginning to suspect that Ms. Russell had deliberately erased information about Nightmare. After all, not even mentioning their names was too abhorrent. This was practically erasing all traces of his parents' existence in Casimir. He couldn't even see them in photos. Yolanta had told him that the photos of his parents in his home had been sealed and destroyed by order of the Supervisory Commission, and not even their names could be mentioned.

His grandfather could only sigh when talking about this matter, and Yolanta was also ordered not to tell him the names of his parents.

In the end...all I had left was a family photo I doodled as a child.

Noah returned home and pulled out the family portrait he had seen countless times as a child. Aside from his black-haired mother and blond-haired father, there was basically nothing else. Even though he couldn't see it now, he could still remember what it looked like.

It's funny to say that as their daughter, I may be the person who knows the least about them.

The family love he felt came entirely from Yolanta and his grandfather, and even from Lin Guang's parents, but almost none from his own parents... This kind of thing could even be regarded as a joke if told to others.

Noya stroked her doodles, tears silently falling from her eyes. She could endure the pain, the pain of losing everything she'd worked so hard for. She could even endure being separated from her best friend for a few years. She felt that everything would be alright, and she still loved this world. But she couldn't even confirm whether her parents had ever had even a little bit of love for her.

After all, my parents had left me before I could remember anything. Maybe it's just like the joke says.

Parents are true love, children are accidents.

I am that untimely accident. My father left to follow my mother, and my mother left to follow her own path. What about me?

I was left behind...

It's so ridiculous that I was abandoned by my parents who should have loved me the most, but I can never forget them.

I don't even know your names, I can't even remember your faces, but I still call out to them subconsciously in my dreams when I need help the most...

I clearly don’t need…

Noah pinched the graffiti, slowly applied force, and with a swish sound... the whole painting was torn into pieces by her.

Tiantu...her own mother abandoned her children, her family, and her husband because of this kind of thing.

And the father who loved his mother deeply followed in her footsteps and left with her - abandoning his family, abandoning the responsibilities of the head of the family, and abandoning his own daughter.

Why am I always the one being abandoned?

Noya, having shredded her only remaining family portrait, stood there in a daze, the shredded drawing paper falling onto her lap. She tore the painting apart, as if she were tearing apart her heart, or rather, the hope that her parents had only left for some unavoidable reason and would eventually return. "Heaven's Path"... "Heaven's Path," Noya was beginning to hate that word.

After a long time, she suddenly came to her senses and searched everywhere for the fragments of the painting like crazy, holding the fragments she could touch in her hands... crying like a child.

When she was tired of crying, numb, and felt cold all over, a hand held her palm.

"Don't look for it, I've picked it all up for you. I'll put it back on for you later—Noah." It was Margaret's voice. When did she come in? Noah thought to himself that he hadn't had the energy to listen to her footsteps just now. Maybe she had seen everything but waited until now to come over. "Don't cry, I'm always by your side. No matter what time it is."

Margaret wiped away the tears on Noah's face with her hands. When she saw Noah tearing up the painting in his hand, she felt that her heart was also torn into pieces. She could not imagine Noah's despair now.

She had deceived herself for so many years, and after the truth was exposed, she once again showed her vulnerable side.

At this time, I need to bring her even a little bit of warmth.

She silently picked up the scraps of paper on the floor, pulled Noah to sit at the table, took out the tape, and began to restore the painting bit by bit. She was very careful. When Noah was angry, he tore the paper into pieces. Now it was like piecing together a puzzle, which was actually quite difficult.

Besides, Margaret has never been good at handicraft classes since she was a child... People like her are actually not good at doing such detailed work.

Noah is good at these things, but since his eyes cannot be restored, he has to come by himself.

Margaret sat next to Noah, while Noah sat there silently, as if in a daze, or waiting for something.

She now looks like a doll that has lost its spring, but Margaret knows that she will eventually cheer up because she is Noah, the strongest person in the world.

What I have to do now is to try my best... to piece together this picture, or... to piece together Noah's heart.

Chapter 125: Red Bean Rice

It was really hard for the dignified Knight to play such a complicated jigsaw puzzle. Margaret spent the whole night, and Noah also sat beside her and accompanied her all night. When the sun came out, Margaret finally finished the last piece. Although it was definitely not as good as before, but... at least it was finished.

Margaret happily turned around to talk to Noah, but she found that Noah had already fallen asleep on her shoulder, tears still in the corners of her eyes. She looked defenseless in her sleep, like a child. Margaret swallowed the words she was about to say. Then she carefully lifted Noah from the chair, put her on the bed, and tucked her in.

Margaret once thought that she knew Noah very well. After all, they grew up together. If she had to say who in the world knew Noah best, she felt that no one could compare to her unless it was her mother Yolanta.

Noah had been a sensitive and somewhat withdrawn child. Before the incident at thirteen, she hadn't seemed very friendly to him. He'd always thought she was beautiful, like a little princess, and often asked her out to play. But she'd always declined, or simply remained silent the entire time, holding her hand like a stubborn bull. But Margaret still liked her.

On the one hand, her mother liked to compliment Noah in front of Margaret, saying that she was careful, good at drawing and archery, and worked hard in sword practice, but she was a little dull and always liked to be in a daze.