It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

"No, why are you asking?"

Perhaps it was due to her extensive martial arts training, but even though Bai Lin had almost forgotten what the old village chief looked like, she could still clearly recall every move during the battle. If she wanted to, she could recall it at any time.

Katie slowed down her pace and pursed her lips as she said, "Because you were quite skilled in using the machete in the fight today, I was wondering if some evil spirit or something had come to you."

"Haha, how is that possible? If something like that really happened, I definitely wouldn't hide it. You are the most important person to me."

The word "one"—what girls love to hear most, Bai Lin knows it best. His head, which had been a little rusty since arriving in this other world, started to work at this moment.

The previous conversation was like the last piece of a puzzle. The difference was that most of the puzzle pieces were forcibly filled in by Bai Lin himself, which was the so-called "guesswork".

Looking through various books and film and television works, the most important thing for modern people living in the information age is a broad vision. This also means that for something that has already happened halfway, most people can use their imagination to fill in that part.

At this moment, she was just saying this because of Katie's seemingly casual but actually intentional concern. Why was it intentional? Naturally, it was because people related to Katie had probably encountered something like this before, so Katie cared so much about it.

Apart from Klein, Bai Lin had almost no memory of anyone related to Katie. Therefore, Bai Lin boldly speculated that this was actually Katie herself experiencing something like this.

The sentence "You are the most important person to me" is reminding Katie that there are some things that she doesn't need to bear on her own. Bai Lin is hinting at her to talk about her own problems.

If Bai Lin's suspicions were true, then the divination's results were likely related to the outbreak of this "evil spirit." Furthermore, what intelligence had Katie obtained over the past two days? It was nothing more than that damned dragon and its followers.

The answer has gradually surfaced, and all that remains is for Katie to speak in person to find out everything.

"…" Hearing Bai Lin's deeply veiled hint, Katie stood frozen at the junction of the forest and the snowy plains. The icy wind still bit her bones, howling across the sky. But even with such a strong breeze, it only gently lifted a few strands of Katie's hair, causing them to flutter slightly in the breeze.

People love beauty, and so does the world. In this sunset, she was still, but nature preferred Katie's dynamic beauty, playfully leaving strands of white snowflakes on her soft golden hair, and forcefully making her slightly furrowed brows and stiff cheeks look lively because of the wind.

"What a beautiful world!" Katie exclaimed inexplicably after looking up for a few seconds.

"You are beautiful too. The world cannot exist without you." Bai Lin replied seriously.

This statement wasn't enough to be called a hint; Bai Lin stated her intention directly. She would never accept Katie's fate as a victim of bloodshed. A tragedy that had already happened must never happen again. Even if she died a thousand times, she couldn't bring back that life. And the one before her was someone she was bound to protect, even if it meant eternal damnation.

Katie lowered her head. Unbeknownst to her, Bai Lin had already removed her helmet. Their gazes met unobstructed, and when their eyes met, Katie felt a sharp pain in her eyes.

"Family" and "home".

You're tired, go home and rest. It was probably the feeling of a wandering child hearing a mother's words of comfort, or something like that. While this kind of gentleness could inspire a person's fighting spirit, Katie was truly captivated by it.

She walked closer to Bai Lin and stopped at a distance that was just too small for a hug.

"Bai Lin, do you love me?"

A question that almost all girls will ask, the simplest words, but the deepest meaning.

Bai Lin smiled, and the smile under the light seemed particularly sweet. She answered without hesitation,

"Love."

"I love you too, so I want to protect you. Do you believe me?" Katie continued to ask. This was her belief. She firmly believed in her own destiny and she would bear everything alone.

Bai Lin shook his head, "No."

"I love you, too, so I have to protect you. Even if I trust you, my body will still force me to stand in front of you. I will be your shield, your safe haven, the driving force for you to continue to move forward into the world, protecting your smile, your happiness, everything about you."

I originally thought that the first volume of the outline would be the one with the least content, but it turns out that it has already reached 16 words and there is still no boss fight, which is a bit dragged out.

The addition of Claire, a quasi-friendly creature, provides a minor boost to the protagonist. However, this also negates the original intention of expanding the Snowfields with a variety of races. This doesn't really matter, considering this volume has two main purposes: to explain Katie's background and life, and to set the protagonist on the path to the otherworldly rhythm. The latter is now nearly complete, while the former will likely conclude with the boss.

It's easy to guess what the specific situation is. Everyone can guess. All the clues are explained in the past content.

I just heard Eason's new song, and I recommend the BGM "Dance to Tomorrow" by Eason Chan.

Chapter 82 Katie Pello

"Since I am immortal, there is no reason for you to go through fire and water on my behalf."

At this point, Bai Lin took advantage of Katie's moment of daze and took two steps forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. Because her mind was blank from the words, coupled with the embrace, the roar that rang in Katie's ears had already drowned out the sound of the wind in the snowy plains.

Beneath the cold armor lies the warmest embrace. Bai Lin leaned down and whispered softly in Katie's ear,

"You've done a great job, would you like to share some of the work with me?"

Katie didn't answer, and Bai Lin wasn't sure if she'd heard him. But the glistening tears that trickled down her beautiful cheeks confirmed Bai Lin's strategy was correct. Then, Katie's body suddenly went limp.

Bai Lin hugged her tightly and said nothing more. What she needed was the feeling of companionship and a reliable arm, and this was all he could do.

The rest still depends on whether Katie can figure it out herself. But since she is so smart, Bai Lin believes that she will be able to figure out the right thing to do.

She clearly heard some sobbing coming from Katie's throat, but then it was suppressed. Katie stood firm with some strength and patted Bai Lin's back.

"Let go first." Katie said softly.

Because her voice was so low, Bai Lin didn't dare to judge her current emotional state, so he shook his head.

"No, I must get your answer first."

Sometimes, being persistent can be a good choice, especially in the right situation. It can express one's constant emotions and easily stir up the other person's emotions. Bai Lin is well aware of this and is determined not to let go.

Katie was a little annoyed by Bai Lin and laughed. Why was this guy so stubborn sometimes? "You don't want me to talk to you about serious matters with tears on my face, do you?"

This time, her voice became louder and her tone was the same as before, without the usual sense of alienation.

"Ah? Oh." Bai Lin realized that Katie had basically recovered and quickly let go of her hand as she requested. Bai Lin smiled awkwardly, stood up straight, and watched Katie wipe her face with her sleeve.

"Really? Why does it seem like you're much better at making girls cry than you are at fighting?" Katie shook her head somewhat dissatisfiedly, walked to Bai Lin's side, and headed towards the return journey.

Bai Lin also quickly turned around. At this time, both of them were facing away from the scattered light, but for them, the one next to them was the light that illuminated the way ahead.

The armored warrior consciously took the girl's hand, while the latter tilted her head, looked at Bai Lin, and asked,

"Would you like some toasted yellow buns?"

"Great!" Bai Lin answered casually.

-

After all, it was already afternoon, and Bai Lin didn't dare stay for dinner at the Minotaur's place. By this time, he was already starving. Leaning against a tree in the Ice Forest, watching Katie grilling meat with magic, he couldn't help but drool.

"Baked yellow buns" are essentially simple coarse bread with some meat wrapped in it, coated with Katie's homemade sauce, and then baked. This way, the originally rough surface is covered with golden oil, which looks very appetizing.

It wasn't really delicious or fragrant, but ever since Katie had made something similar once and Bai Lin had praised it highly, Katie had become interested in this fast food. As for why she liked it? Perhaps it was because it suited modern culinary tastes.

In short, the two of them started their lunch-cum-dinner session. Bai Lin wolfed down his food, while Katie half-jokingly criticized him, "Your eating manners, Saint Son."

"It doesn't matter. You're the only one who can see it here." After saying that, Bai Lin quickly finished the food in front of him and shamelessly stretched out his hand, "Anything else?"

Katie shook her head. "I only brought enough food for two servings. Can I give you half of mine?"

"Forget it, then. Just bear with it. We'll have more food when you finish eating." Bai Lin chuckled, looking eager to get back to the village and start eating. Katie, on the other hand, slowly built a fire and sat on a nearby tree stump.

"Then you have to bear it and come and listen to what I have to say."

Upon hearing this, Bai Lin quickly straightened up, his expression serious, and he pricked up his ears very seriously.

"It's a story about a little blonde girl."

Like an old man in the village, Katie began to tell the story of her past in an ancient tone.

Discrimination had always been a constant companion for Katie since she was a child. Although it wasn't as severe as it is now, it was undoubtedly a dark period for Katie. By then, her parents had passed away, and Klein, who was busy traveling all day, didn't have much time to spend with her.

Loneliness and depression dominated Katie's childhood. Most of her peers spoke harshly to her, and some even insulted her.

A descendant of the former captain of the guard, a boy named Sandor.

He was a cheerful person, friendly to everyone and very polite to his elders, a typical example of an excellent student. Perhaps this was why he felt so strongly about the injustice done to Katie.

Sander was the only one besides Klein who treated her gently. It could be said that the time she spent with him was the happiest time of her life. Unfortunately, it didn't last very long.

Just like there are top students, there are also the mischievous ones who are the opposite of them. Of course, they can never beat the perfect sunny boy, after all, Sander has more say with the elders.

So when he started to show concern for Katie, they finally found a breakthrough. Then, they began to treat Katie even worse, and the bullying went up several levels.

On a sunny day, which was Katie's birthday, the kind-hearted Sander used his own pocket money to buy Katie a hairpin as a birthday present.

As a child, Katie was naturally delighted, and Sandel's enthusiastic parents also invited Katie to stay and have a hearty lunch. But the only problem was that Katie chose to go home alone.

Just like so many other melodramatic plots, Katie, who was running home with a silly smile on her face, was stuck in an alley. As luck would have it, only a few adults who had a problem with Katie caught a glimpse of this scene, and naturally chose to ignore it.

Story bgm "Answers"

Chapter 83 Katie's Past

How could Katie describe that bullying? She couldn't think of the right words. So many years had passed, and the incident had already taken root in her heart. There were no more precise words to describe it. She could only say it was more intense than any previous one, and the most painful for Katie.

She closed her eyes, unwilling to witness all this, but her body was still in pain. This reminded Katie of Klein's terrifying expression as he lectured these guys, and of Sander's gloomy face as he drove them away.

What kind of courage is that...why didn't I resist?

It turns out it's because I'm too weak...

That day, Katie first understood what anger was. It was the first time that this emotion aroused a sense of resistance within her. At the same time, a power buried deep within her body also awakened that day.

Three people died and four were seriously injured. This was the result of that day. Among the three dead was Sander.

Because Katie had forgotten to take her hairpin, Sander thoughtfully prepared to return it to her. However, the result was that he could sense an extremely hot breath from a distance, and then...

The surrounding tents were the first to catch fire, followed by a burst of golden-orange flames. The naughty children fled in panic, and Katie calmly walked out of the flames, declaring who was responsible for all this.

Katie, soaring like a star, blocked the others' path with her phantom wings. Sander, naturally unable to bear the thought of them being killed, bravely stepped forward and told the remaining children to quickly call their parents. He tried to communicate with Katie, but the result was tragic.

In a frenzy, the unconscious Katie killed Sander. Despite the other party's persuasion and various obstructions, he and Katie fought for more than ten minutes, but reinforcements still did not arrive. This may have contributed to his death.

Holding Sander's body pierced by the sharp claws of fire, Katie doubted whether all this was real. However, the whispers before his death made her remember them for the rest of her life.

"Promise me you won't use powers that aren't yours, okay?"

These extremely soft and weak words made Katie realize the reality and feel the pain. She bent down and hugged Sander's already cold body and cried bitterly. There was no doubt that her best days had been completely shattered by Katie's own hands.

How could it be possible that no one noticed such a loud noise when the house was burned? Although the village chief who arrived later issued a gag order, how could such a big thing be guaranteed not to leak out, especially when it was about this little blonde girl?

Fortunately, Klein made it clear that if Katie were executed, she would immediately leave the village. This would cause the only two disciples who had received direct instruction from the witch doctor to leave, and the village's medical culture and magical knowledge would regress. Despite this unseemly coercion, Katie's life was spared. Instead...

The sentence was three months of exile in the Ice Forest, followed by three years of house arrest. Even the village chief, who decided the sentence, felt the latter part was unnecessary. Even the guards couldn't guarantee their survival after three months of exile.

Under these circumstances, Klein naturally objected vigorously, but the villagers were resolute, and the two could only accept the verdict with a sense of parting. Before parting, Klein stuffed the entire spell book directly into Katie's hands, indicating that Katie's death would truly end the inheritance, thus forcing the villagers to repent.

But surprisingly, this girl, who rarely received love from others, unexpectedly received the care of nature. In the ice forest, she grasped the "principle" - that is, the principle of natural elements.

Three months was not a very long time. Since the smell dissipated very slowly in the Ice Forest, Katie, who had been hiding in various corners, survived by hunting.

During that time, no one came to her aid. Even on the final day, it was only when Klein and his men arrived to pick her up that Katie realized she could leave. Of course, the villagers' hatred for Katie had intensified since then, but she no longer cared because no one dared to provoke her.

"The story is over," Katie calmly concluded. Bai Lin could see that Katie's mood was falling. That was understandable. When talking about something like this, especially her own, it was understandable that her mood would fall.

She sat down next to Katie and held her hand. "The past is the past. There's no point in thinking about it anymore."

Katie nodded slightly. "What I'm worried about right now isn't the power going haywire. I can already control that power perfectly."

"Then what are you worried about?" Bai Lin asked. She didn't get much clues from the story just now.

"You should feel it for yourself." After saying that, Katie closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they had turned into the same golden orange color as she described. An inhuman breath made Bai Lin shiver unconsciously.

Does it look like when Chris uses lightning? The only similarities are the "violent" and "wild" ones. In comparison, it clearly has more of the aura and feeling of Chimera, but there are also some subtle differences. Bai Lin immediately made a judgment.

"Anyway, this power doesn't belong to humans."

Katie nodded, suppressing her outward expression. "Let me be more blunt. I don't belong to the human category. That's roughly the situation."

"No, I don't feel that way at all... Even if you have inhuman powers, so what? Humanity is the essence of the human species. In my opinion, those who bully you are not human."

Is this not considered human? Then wouldn't it be even more inhuman if I could resurrect infinitely? Bai Lin thought secretly.

Katie forced a smile. "That's great! I've never dared to show this side of my power to others, for fear of alienation."

How cautious she had lived in the past. Bai Lin thought so, is there really anyone who would alienate someone because of such a small matter?

"I only have a rough guess as to what kind of power this is. But from what the villagers have said, it's called ominous," Katie continued.

"And that divination that turned out badly was also related to this."

Chapter 84 Bai Lin's Response

"I think I understand." Bai Lin replied after hearing Katie's narration, "But I'm immortal, so why do you seem so uneasy these past two days?"

Katie shook her head. Bai Lin's thinking was wrong. "You said before that my power doesn't belong to humans. Only after seeing my followers with my own eyes can I make a judgment."

"It's very likely that I am now considered one of the dependents."

Although Bai Lin wasn't particularly surprised by this outcome, he remained silent. Katie had mentioned last night that dragons could possess the bodies of their followers, so she must be worried about this.

Thinking about it this way, it was a bit rash to agree to the Minotaur's behavior.

Katie glanced at Bai Lin who was thinking and said, "Without my firepower, you and the minotaur won't be able to kill the dragon, let alone those minions. So I must be with you in tomorrow's operation, otherwise there is a high possibility of problems."

"Then why did you agree so readily when it was obvious that the outcome would most likely be your death." Bai Lin asked curiously.

It won't be a lousy self-destruction plot...