Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"I rarely hear people say things like that to my face. There aren't many people in Kjerag right now who would be so hostile to me." Enthiodis, knowing this person was likely sent by Nothis, had no intention of taking action. Rather, he hoped to gain more benefits from her. "To make such accusations, either someone's interests are affected or they're a truly devout extremist... Tell me, which side do you belong to?"

"...Why do you think I will tell you?"

Moshi's anger was beyond words. If it weren't for this damn black guy who suddenly appeared, and if it weren't for the white-armored knight who treated Enthiotis's wound in time, he should have been able to complete the assassination. Being caught like this... is simply too inappropriate.

"What a pity..." Enthyodis looked at Moshi with genuine sympathy in his eyes. "These suddenly frenzied beasts were prepared in advance, right? I don't have many guards accompanying me on the Sacred Hunt. If they are all caught, this would be a rare opportunity."

"But...it seems your chance ends here..."

"Are you looking down on me?!" Mo Xi struggled violently, but the ropes on his body bound him tightly, with no intention of loosening at all.

"You..." Moshi's anger hadn't been fully vented when he was knocked unconscious by a white-armored knight's slash. The skill and decisiveness of the strike made Ensioudis, who was standing by, feel that it was incredibly quick and easy, as if he did this kind of thing all the time. After knocking Moshi unconscious, Roland picked him up and said to Ensioudis, "We'll take this child back. Lord Ensioudis, don't you mind?"

"…Is this what Noah meant?"

"Of course. But even if that weren't the case, I wouldn't let you take her away. After all, the child has been deceived." Roland said with a smile, "Letting innocent people become pawns in a conspiracy is the last thing I, and my master, want to see."

"Well, thank you for your help, including bandaging my wounds. I can tell them that the assassin jumped off the cliff. There is no trace -"

Enchiodis nodded decisively, "You can take her away. I believe Miss Noya will take care of everything."

"Thank you for your understanding. Goodbye then."

Roland and Tora disappeared in the wind and snow, and Enthyodis watched their backs disappear and remained silent for a long time.

It's true that there aren't many people who can lay out the hunting grounds in advance, so if you need evidence, you can find it. It would be best to have a witness, but it doesn't matter if you don't have one.

After all, things have already happened, just like the chess pieces have been placed, and what happens next... will be natural.

"Thank you for me and Miss Noah," he said, knowing the other party could hear him. Although there was no response, the sound of the wind gradually drowned out the place, and from afar, a full-throated roar could be heard, "Enthyodis!!"

The people who came were Actor and Latatos who came to support. Actor noticed the bandages that Roland had bandaged. "Are you injured? Where's the assassin?"

"Aktos, I was really surprised that you would come here. Is this a sign that Shivaash and Perlochi have reconciled?" Enthyodis was really a little surprised and said.

"Bah! My coming here has nothing to do with you! I just want to personally catch the despicable villain who dared to cause chaos at the festival of Yelagund! Make him pay the price he deserves!" Compared to Enthiodis's indifference, Actos was obviously more angry. After all, this was the security he was responsible for, and the appearance of an assassin was simply an insult to him.

"You are indeed Yelagund's most devout believer, Actoros." Enthiodis sighed, "But this time, you are too late. The assassin has already committed suicide by jumping off a cliff."

"...jump off a cliff?" Actor looked at the nearby cliff. "...you actually let go of your prey?"

"I will continue searching for her. You can continue hunting." Enthyodis shook his head. "This happened suddenly, and I have someone to help me."

"Noble..." The noble man Enthiotis mentioned made Actor frown, but Enthiotis didn't give him time to speculate. "Continue hunting. The Holy Hunt isn't over yet."

The festival of Yelagund should not be allowed to go wrong because of anyone.

Under the gaze of everyone, Enthiotis continued to move forward. The wind and snow covered the mountain and the forest, but Enthiotis continued to move forward as if he was oblivious to it.

No one, and no one, would stand in his way.

-

"... Kuro, please help me get a basin of hot water. The child has been squatting in the snow for too long and is already frozen." When Roland brought Moshi back to Noya, Noya had been waiting for a long time. However, after checking Moshi's physical condition, she was still secretly shocked. In order to squat for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Moshi waited in the snow for several hours and did not take any measures to keep warm. He was almost frozen.

Roland left immediately after dropping the patient off. After all, his current status meant he couldn't see anyone casually in Kjerag. After the doctor left, Noah was the only one with medical qualifications left.

Noah lit the earthen kang and placed his beloved Originium stove next to Moshi. After the hot water boiled by Kuro arrived, he also helped her apply hot compresses and wipe her head, hands and feet. To be honest, it felt like touching a corpse.

After everything was done, Noah covered Moshi with the quilt again and breathed a sigh of relief.

"...Why would you help her?" Kuro was honestly still a little curious. "She's an assassin, and you're not the type to sympathize with an assassin, are you?"

"Of course I'm not." Noah shook his head. "It's just that I have some questions I need to ask this child. Rather than letting Enthiotis take advantage of me, it's better for me to understand the situation. Isn't it?"

"...I see." Kuro nodded, accepting the reason. "Then what's the real reason?"

"...Okay, I can't hide it from you." Noah was stunned for a moment, then smiled awkwardly, "I want to stop Enthyodis."

"Sure enough." Kuro was not surprised. Noah was that kind of person. She didn't want to see too much bloodshed and sacrifice, and even wanted to see a perfect result. When she was in Casimir, she almost did it. Although she was exiled in the end, for Noah, this was a happy ending. The bombardment about the infected that Margaret might have encountered disappeared, and the crisis of trust was also resolved.

It is no exaggeration to say that although her reputation became terrible because of Noah's magic, she achieved the most perfect ending she could have hoped for.

This time, Noah naturally couldn't stay out of it.

"I need intelligence, and I also need to be able to stop Ensioudis and Nothis when they lose control." Noah said, "And now, my only entry point is this child."

"How much do you think she knows?"

"Not much, but enough." Noah shook his head. "If possible, I want to control Nothis right now, but even Roland can't completely kill Nothis. After all, he's not a ghost, and he can't penetrate everywhere."

"Then I-"

"You can't move. You are definitely Nothis's key target of observation. When you are not with me, Nothis will definitely hide—" Noah shook his head. "Nothis is Enthiotis's confidant. He should know your identity."

"Okay." Kuro shook his head. "Are you planning to become an enemy of Enthiotis?"

"No, I just want him to not go too far." Noya shook her head. "Kjerag can't lose his faith, just like Casimir can't lose his chivalry. It's something rooted deep in their souls. Without faith, Kjerag would no longer be Kjerag."

"You're just a tourist, Noah," Kuro reminded him. "You have no reason to do these things, and no one will thank you."

"...Maybe." Noah nodded in agreement with Kuro's statement, "But I want to do this, is that not okay?"

"it is good."

Kuro pondered for a long time, then finally nodded. "You can do as you wish. In the end, no matter what the outcome, I will get you out of Kjerag. I promise."

"...Your words really make me feel at ease."

-

As expected, when Noah was taking care of Moshi, public opinion outside had begun to gradually change.

News of Ensiodis's attack during the Sacred Hunt spread at an alarming rate, and the simple folk of the Snow Mountain region naturally began to suspect the other two families of involvement. Even those who truly benefited from the benefits of the Kalan trade, those living on the lands of the Brontao family and the Perlochi family, began to resent their lords.

For these people, Enthiotis's piety was obvious to all. It was he who proposed returning power, it was he who paid homage according to tradition, and it was he who closed the factory. In addition, Enthiotis's support rate among the people was actually very high. After all, he had brought convenience and prosperity to Kjerag. His reputation among the upper class did not affect the lower class. The number of people in the lower class who supported Shivaash was far greater than the Three Tribes Council had imagined.

After this image of a perfect victim is formed, it becomes very easy to add fuel to the fire.

Many people began to speak up for Enthiotis. This was a sacred hunt, and attacking Enthiotis in such an occasion was a slap in the face of Yelagund.

How disrespectful!

The faith engraved in the hearts of the people in the snow mountains began to take effect, and this matter - must be explained.

Before the Saint's coronation ceremony, they wanted to capture the beast and punish it severely. And their anger was clear, targeting the Brontao and Perlochi families.

Everyone's thinking was simple: the only people with reason to target the Shivaash family were the other two Snowland families.

The impact is huge, so huge that it is difficult to estimate.

When the Holy Hunt team returned, people finally saw Enthiotis's slightly pale face and the bandages on his body, and the people who greeted them had already started whispering to each other.

The rumors are true.

The crowd was excited and turned their eyes to the saint, the one who should uphold justice for Enthiodis.

Amidst people's expectant gazes, Enya's expression was very bad, and the two family heads looked even worse than Enya.

Akhtos was only in a bad mood because the Holy Hunt was destroyed, but Latatos was in a completely different state of mind. She could foresee that her family would face very serious suspicion and accusations.

She felt as if she had fallen into an abyss... and there was no way out.

In order to stabilize the situation, the Great Elder first walked into the crowd and temporarily stopped the discussion.

"Everyone, I am very grateful for your concern. Although the murderer has not been found yet, it is only a matter of time. Now, let's give priority to the ceremony - what do you think, Saint?" Enchiodis spoke first, stabilizing the people's emotions.

"Since Lord Enthiodis cares so much about Yelagund, I certainly have no objection." Enya naturally couldn't solve the case now, so she could only delay it for now, and the word "delay" was the priority.

The Great Elder was very satisfied with the siblings' handling of the situation. He coughed and said, "Well, people of Yelagund, you should know that this year's ceremony is different from previous ones. At this year's ceremony, Ensiodis, head of the Shivaash family, proposed returning the power of the three tribes to the Saint. This proposal was unanimously passed by the three-tribe council and a notice was issued to the entire territory. And today, during this grand ceremony, we will hold a crowning ceremony for the Saint."

The Great Elder raised his staff and announced, "This will be the last time I preside over this ceremony! Yelagund will give his flesh and blood to the Perlochi family, enriching the land and ensuring that Kjerag will never again be hungry."

According to the content of the ceremony, the Perlochi family will now offer a glass of fine wine to the elder.

This glass of fine wine represents a good harvest and is made from excess millet.

"I offer the wine made from the grain to Yelagund, praying for a good harvest next year."

The Great Elder picked up the wine that was handed to him and drank it in one gulp.

"The current head of the Perlochi family, Actor Perlochi, pays his highest respects to Yelagund."

The ceremony seemed to be proceeding in an orderly manner, and no one noticed that at this moment, in the crowd, a man in a white cloak was looking at the glass of wine that had been drunk by the great elder with a serious expression.

——Because, as a unicorn, Roland is very sensitive to poisons.

This glass of wine...contains a deadly poison.

Chapter 26: Poisoning

The ceremony was still proceeding slowly. The elder who had drunk the poison had not noticed the gradual spread of the poison in his body, nor did he realize that there was anything wrong with the ceremony.

Next, the Brown Tao family presented a scarf, which represented good health, and the Great Elder personally put it on the saint.

Finally, it was Enchiodis who asked Weiss to hand over the knife representing minerals and a sharp blade, representing the hope for peace in the next year.

The ceremony was nearing its end, and Enthiotis frowned at this moment, because he had noticed something... For example, the Great Elder's body was trembling and even on the verge of collapse.

He had started coughing, his face was pale, and his eyes were bloodshot. The poison he had just drunk had already spread throughout his body, but he didn't know he was poisoned. He thought it was just due to old age and frailty, and some anemia from standing for so long. He shook his body, but forced himself to steady himself.

At this moment, a team of Shivaash family warriors appeared in front of everyone with a black crossbow. The moment she saw the crossbow, Xu Lusi, who was originally still standing below, trembled in her eyes.

——She would not make a mistake, this was Moshi’s weapon.

But why did Moshi's weapons fall into the hands of Shivaash's family at this time?

"I'm sorry, Master Enthiotis, we only found this weapon and the arrow that fell on the snow at the scene. However, we can confirm that this crossbow was the weapon used to shoot Master Enthiotis."

This weapon belongs to an assassin.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. Under the attention of so many people, the assassin actually escaped.

"...That...that's Moshi..." Xiu Lu Si almost blurted out, but Yucatan beside her immediately grabbed his wife and said, "Don't speak, now is not the time for you to speak."

"Moshi...that silly kid, did it for me." Xu Lusi's face was full of regret. In her opinion, Moshi took the risk of assassinating Enthyodis just to let her show off in front of Latatos. Although this was not her instruction, the other party really acted to help her. It was all her fault.

"Even for Moshi... you can't tell this." Yucatan sighed and shook his head. "She's not here now, which means she's escaped. You'll only expose her..."

"Yes... yes, I won't say anything." Xu Ruth quickly covered her mouth, but her inner anxiety never subsided.

"So..." Enthyodis naturally knew where the assassin had gone, but a slight smile curled his lips. "Since the weapon has been found, the assassin himself will naturally be found soon."

"But I'm curious... how she was able to sneak into the Sacred Hunting Grounds so quietly and leave so quietly." Ensiodis's gaze swept over the Bruntao and Perlochi families. After all, this Sacred Hunt was hosted by the three great families of the Snow Region, so the Bruntao and Perlochi families were naturally the most suspicious. Although Ensiodis didn't say it explicitly, he sensed that most people had grasped the idea and cast suspicious glances at the two families.

It is no exaggeration to say that the entire ceremony is like a thorn in the side for the other two major families.

The people recognized Ensiodis, but they also recognized the Brontao family and the Perlochi family, but now - this recognition, or reputation, is gradually disappearing.

Latatos and Actos had never experienced such a situation. Latatos turned her head and looked at her panicked sister. She opened her mouth and seemed to say something to her.

She didn't make a sound, but Latatos understood. After all, when they were little, they often devised their own secret codes without telling the adults. What her sister was saying was -

"But...I just want to do something for the Brontao family!"

——How could she not tell who the owner of this crossbow was.

But she couldn't admit it, no matter what... she could never admit it.

"——I'm sorry that my question disrupted the ceremony. Great Elder, please continue the ceremony."

“…Enthyodis is right…cough cough…” The Great Elder’s body began to shake, and his eyes closed. This reaction naturally attracted the attention of many people, and even their previous hostility towards the two families was forgotten.

"Great Elder...what's wrong with your body?" Enthyotis frowned and asked.

"It's alright... uh..." The Great Elder waved his hand and wanted to continue the ceremony. However, not only Enthyodis, but also the attendants beside him noticed that something was wrong.

"..." But it was too late. He collapsed like a silver mountain or a jade pillar. Green liquid was oozing from the corner of his mouth - a sign of poisoning.

"Someone's poisoned the Great Elder!" the attendant shouted, echoing the thoughts of everyone. Enya was the only one who remained calm. She quickly stepped forward, took out the sacred bell, and gently swung it, unleashing a healing spell. However, the poison had already spread, so the spell had no chance of suppressing it. So Enya had to settle for the next best thing: saving the Great Elder's life.

The Great Elder was poisoned... during the ceremony?

The Great Elder had eaten almost nothing today. After all, today was a grand ceremony, and it was a custom that required strict fasting and abstaining from water. The Great Elder was so pious that it was impossible for him to eat anything else before the ceremony.

So... there is only one answer.

"Wine! It's the wine that the Great Elder just drank!" The servant immediately grabbed the wine glass on the altar, and Enya immediately launched a verification spell at this time. The result was naturally the same as the servant worried about. There was a strong poison remaining in the wine in the glass.

"...These are indeed traces of poison." Enya frowned. She had realized something, but she couldn't lie... Lying at this time would only make the consequences worse.

"This is impossible!" Aktos roared, "This glass of wine is a fine wine that I personally selected! How could it be poisoned?"

"...Aktos, I can't believe you're so unwilling to give up your power, even going so far as to poison the Great Elder!"

Enthiotis's venomous gaze was fixed on Aktos' face, and the people's gazes also fell on Aktos.