Chapter 3: Transformation

Master, you seem to be quite familiar with that town of Semarang?

Gazing at Angela's puffed cheeks due to her displeasure, Li Lin chose not to say anything further. Although this little vampire girl had various shortcomings and could sometimes be excessively cunning and fierce, in fact, she could still be considered a good child. Whether as a familiar or a companion, Angela was very obedient and would diligently complete the various tasks assigned to her by Li Lin. Of course, a significant part of this was driven by Angela's curiosity, but even so, Li Lin held a great appreciation for this girl who was willing to abandon her own world to follow him to this unfamiliar capital. Although Angela had expressed from the very beginning that her own world held no allure for her, Li Lin understood that making this decision was not easy for her.

Li Lin originally intended to casually decline and continue on his own path. However, he suddenly had a whimsical thought and changed his mind. After all, a thousand years have passed; will that small town still exist?

That is a syntax specifically used by clergy, where they juxtapose two consonant-heavy words while omitting the conjunctions in between. This way of speaking sounds more authoritative

Faced with Angela's malicious and cold words, the border guard soldiers did not respond with anger. Instead, the serious expressions that should have been on their faces gradually faded away, replaced by a kind of chaotic disarray.

I am sorry, but it seems that there is nothing nearby that you are looking for

Isn't this a bit excessive

The soldiers, armed with sharp spears, blocked Li Lin's path, their expressions serious and fierce

We are ... ... male dogs ... ...

Are you referring to Giantwood City? If you head east from here, it will only take half a day to reach there

The male paladin harbored a trace of doubt regarding the judgment of his companions

Regardless, the task has been completed, and we should leave here

Angela has returned to her former self, skipping joyfully alongside Li Lin

During the era of magic and the Empire of the Tome, there existed a powerful lich who, for reasons unknown, adhered to the natural order of larger fish eating smaller fish and smaller fish eating shrimp. He concealed his phylactery within the belly of a fish and released it into the sea. Although this lich committed numerous atrocities and was destroyed by arcane mages and various divine priests countless times, he always managed to resurrect because his phylactery could never be found. Ultimately, in desperation, the arcane mages had no choice but to make an exception, allowing the gods to intervene, which finally compelled the King of the Dead to forcibly take his soul, bringing a sense of complete relief.

Watching the figures of the two slowly and leisurely depart, the two paladins finally let out a sigh of relief. They had originally intended to inquire about the identity of this mysterious individual and the organization to which he belonged. However, the little girl accompanying the man was simply too terrifying; ever since their conversation began, her bright red eyes had been darting back and forth between the two of them. The overwhelming aura of authority and fear rendered the battle-hardened paladins completely unable to bear it, especially the female paladin, who could keenly sense that the little girl's gaze was almost constantly fixed on her neck, even giving her the unsettling illusion of being watched by a venomous snake.

The two individuals appear to be outsiders. If there is anything you need, we can assist you

Li Lin was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded at her

Moreover, Li Lin was soon stopped by someone

A small hand, adorned with pristine silk gloves, gently glided forward, extending a finger to point at the soldiers' eyes. The soldiers' gazes gradually dimmed, reflecting a faint red demonic glow within.

We are going to Semarang Town

I had previously visited there while monitoring the border fortress; it is a beautiful small town, truly picturesque, and at that time... there was no war

However, the place name they mentioned caught my attention. The name Semarang was abandoned over five hundred years ago. Nowadays, apart from those who are well-versed in history and the mages studying ancient relics, hardly anyone knows this place name

Are you saying that he is a wizard

Li Lin explained to Angela that although the little one had already learned the universal language of this world from him with his own intelligence, just like in that world where passing the English proficiency tests requires not only the ability to write the exam papers, true communication is also a kind of test

Although the vampire species possesses an unparalleled advantage in hypnosis, if those soldiers were to wake up, the situation would become extremely troublesome. Therefore, Li Lin said nothing further and led Angela through the city gate.

You are a group of male dogs in heat, do not block the way here, go elsewhere to conduct your courtship. The female dogs are wagging their tails, waiting for your arrival

Although he indeed cast a spell that appeared to be extremely powerful, his attire did not resemble that of a wizard

Who exactly are they

I do not know, just ... ...

Although Li Lin said nothing, Angela still sensed his anger from the subtle actions of her master. Although she did not know the exact reason behind it, the lovely and beautiful vampire decided not to miss any opportunity or means to suppress and trample on others.

What qualifications do you, a group of useless male dogs, have to stand before me and my master

Perhaps sensing something, Angela once again inquired, and Li Lin timely provided her with a response

As Li Lin and Angela were about to turn and leave, the male paladin immediately spoke up to stop them. He respectfully removed his helmet, revealing a head of abundant flaxen hair and a face weathered by the elements. The paladin solemnly bowed to Li Lin, appearing very cautious.

As expected, upon hearing this name, the paladin was momentarily taken aback, clearly indicating that he had never heard of a town by that name existing near the vicinity of the map.

Li Lin gazed at the road ahead while silently calculating the journey.

Li Lin murmured softly, while revealing a hint of a bitter smile

Present identification that can verify your identity! Otherwise, we have the right to arrest you!

At that moment, the female paladin, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke. She finally shifted her gaze away from Angela and turned to look at the man before her

Li Lin has never mentioned why the Magic Empire erupted into war and how it ultimately failed Angela seems to understand that this is a taboo for Li Lin and never touches upon it

Giant Tree City

He was well aware that after he confessed to Angela about his imminent return to his own world, this little fellow had gone missing for five consecutive days. Initially, Li Lin thought that Angela would choose to terminate their contract and continue living a carefree life in that world. However, it was evident that Angela did not make the choice he believed to be the right one.

Indeed

The crimson eyes emitted a faint glow, reflecting in the eyes of every soldier

Thank you both for your assistance in helping us eliminate this evil spirit

Please hold on

However, when Li Lin approached the city wall and saw the flags fluttering above, his eyes revealed an unmistakable anger and hatred that could not be concealed

This is the fate that the rude intruder, who obstructs the master and myself, deserves

As he gazed at everything happening before him, Li Lin's inner anger seemed to suddenly dissipate. He smiled and patted Angela's little head, deciding not to dwell on what fate awaited those poor soldiers.

Giant Tree City

May I ask where you two are going

Although Li Lin noticed that the gaze of the female paladin towards Angela was not particularly friendly, he was not worried. The divine office of the Goddess of Dawn is hope, and her followers act with the motivation of bringing hope to others. While it may sound like a benevolent deity at first, the reality is not as straightforward. Whether it is an old man wishing for his child to grow up quickly, or a villain hoping that his superior will die soon, both fall under the category of hope. Of course, most of the time, the followers of the Goddess of Dawn do protect the living and combat those who pose a threat to their lives—once dead, there is no longer any need for hope.

Fortunately, such neurotic individuals are still heretics. Most mages who choose to become liches are driven by a fear of death and do not have the habit of wagering their lives on the unknown. Otherwise, in the future, if liches were to appear on the continent, people would have to avoid them—after all, killing them would be futile.

However, I do not believe them. Especially that female just now; her words were somewhat incoherent, and I feel as though she reversed the place names, deliberately leading us to take a wrong turn

The seemingly mature and composed paladin spoke up again, perhaps sensing Li Lin's impatient gaze, he had to explain cautiously. After all, although the two individuals before him appeared strange and filled with suspicion, they were nonetheless capable of effortlessly annihilating a lich, so it was better to be cautious.

That was once a supply base for the military fortress of the empire

At this moment, Li Lin, who was walking on a different path, was receiving complaints from Angela

Without saying anything further, those soldiers, in a daze, dropped their weapons. Immediately, they got down on all fours, barking like dogs, and turned to leave the positions they were supposed to defend.

Angela seems to be rather unhappy

Now, immediately tuck away your tails and roll far away

Indeed

The future is long ahead

It is indeed a nice name

Li Lin was not lying; the most troublesome aspect of a lich is not its ability to create undead minions or spread plagues. On the contrary, the most challenging part about a lich is that it is quite difficult to eliminate. Each lich possesses a phylactery, and even a newly minted one like this is no exception. As long as the phylactery remains intact, the lich cannot be destroyed; this is common knowledge among those who deal with undead creatures. Moreover, the phylacteries of liches are varied and unique, and their detection is exceedingly difficult, making the task of eliminating a lich far more challenging than merely defeating it. As long as the phylactery remains intact, the lich cannot be destroyed; this is common knowledge among those who deal with undead creatures. Moreover, the phylacteries of liches are varied and unique, and their detection is exceedingly difficult, making the task of eliminating a lich far more challenging than merely defeating it.

Forget it

Although I do not oppose your predation, it is somewhat inappropriate for you to treat those two individuals, who are devotees of a deity with whom I have a slight acquaintance, as your lunch dessert. In the future, we will have plenty of opportunities to encounter other followers of deities, and at that time, not only can you taste the blood of paladins, but you may also sample that of saintly maidens. Furthermore, regarding slaves... I believe I do not require any at the moment

No need to thank us; we were just passing by. Moreover, he is not truly dead.

Master, we should set off now

At this point, the female paladin furrowed her brow and fell into deep thought

The female paladin clearly did not wish to linger on this issue any longer. She had just escaped from that perilous situation, and although the warm sunlight was shining on her armored body, it still sent a chill through her heart. She made an effort to shake her head, then she sheathed her longsword once more.

The scenery gradually began to change; on the once desolate plains, traces of man-made roads started to appear, and one could even see a somewhat decayed signpost nailed to the side. In fact, even without its guidance, Li Lin could easily see the majestic city walls in the distance

What is it?

Angela's smile at this moment is innocent and charming, yet carries a hint of pure malice

Master, if you had not stopped me, I would have been able to taste the blood of the paladin. Moreover, I could have turned that woman into your slave. Although such a woman is not of the highest quality, she would still serve well as a diversion

Incapable and foolish reptile

This is the border of the Kingdom of Curis

Thank you

Samara Town

It is no wonder that Li Lin is still wearing the black coat he brought with him during his time travel, while Angela's attire is considerably more splendid and vibrant compared to the nobility of this world. It is not surprising that they are mistaken for foreigners from afar.