Chapter 52: The conspiracy begins to come to an end…
“Enough fooling around. Here, take it.” Aphrosia placed a small, purple-glowing fruit on the table. Blazewing instantly recognized it as the Genesis Fruit.
Now she was even angrier. “So you two were ganging up on me! We’re not done!”
“Who told you to hide coins? Consider this a little lesson~” Aphrosia chuckled, shedding her lazy demeanor, her expression tightening. “Alright, save your complaints for later. We can’t keep our ‘guests’ waiting…”
Her gaze turned grave as she looked toward the door, her lips parting softly. “Since you’re here, why hide? Must be exhausting dealing with those rude intruders, Miss Elf.”
Her words were deliberate, each one enunciated clearly. Sure enough, a figure emerged—a silver-haired, pointy-eared elf girl, radiating a faint aura of killing intent, her presence undeniably dangerous.
Aphrosia had noticed earlier that during their playful scuffle, the malicious voices in the lobby had gone silent, allowing her to let her guard down and mess around with the birds.
The one who dispatched those intruders was, without a doubt, this elf.
She’d been lingering outside for a while.
“Honored blonde miss, a pleasure to meet you. I am Aira Kanwit, subordinate of Princess Tatiana Peora, First Princess of the Elves. I’m delighted to serve you.”
Sensing Aphrosia’s confusion, the silver-haired elf bowed slightly and added, “Some days ago, Her Highness sensed your presence and sent me to request your assistance.”
“Assistance? And what’s this about sensing my presence?” Aphrosia feigned ignorance, her eyes betraying no hint of understanding.
“I believe you’re aware of the recent manifestation of the Goddess of Nature and Poetry. Through the World Tree’s resonance, Her Highness located you. We ask you to recount the events of that day in detail and explain why you resonate with the World Tree. Of course, if you don’t cooperate, Her Highness has authorized me to use extreme measures. I trust you’re a wise woman.”
Aphrosia shook her head helplessly. She could dodge the first strike, but not the fifteenth…
The two birds huddled in the corner, silent. Blazewing clutched the Genesis Fruit like a treasure, glaring warily at her sister, while Mistfeather reverted to her Cloudbird form to minimize her presence.
At Aphrosia’s former home—or rather, the recent ruins—several oddly dressed figures stood. One bore a striking resemblance to the Crimson Abyss leader.
“Heh, clever. The Astraea remnant. I knew letting her live was a mistake. If I’m right, she’s definitely tied to the array’s destruction.”
The one who submitted the array info to the Adventurer’s Guild was none other than the unassuming Flo…
“So what can you do? The house is rubble—no traces left.”
“Boss, the array’s last image showed a blonde, blue-eyed girl resembling Saintess Aitelien.”
“Sophia? Hah, isn’t she at Fichel Town? That old fox Pope’s got tricks up his sleeve…”
“Send the order: kill any silver-haired half-elves on sight!”
After wrapping up, Aphrosia sighed heavily.
As she’d suspected, the Crimson Abyss mastermind behind the orphanage incident wouldn’t be taken down so easily. A coin with her goofy face, hidden in the rubble, glowed faintly, unnoticed.
A mastermind orchestrating global disappearances wouldn’t bother with just one array—that was too trivial.
Aphrosia wasn’t naive enough to think the Adventurer’s Guild was untouchable. She’d submitted the array info and requested aid, but she wouldn’t pin danger on herself. The moment the orphanage incident ended, this house—her home for over a decade—ceased to be a safe haven.
And not just Crimson Abyss. Though she’d avoided appearing as Aphrosia publicly, she’d entrusted the orphanage kids and headmistress to the Church…
If questioned, they’d rat her out—it was inevitable. Despite destroying the magical devices during the fight to prevent recordings, she wasn’t convinced it was enough. She was always cautious.
Then there were the elves. Many witnessed Daphne, the goddess, one-shotting that sacrificial entity. Aphrosia carried traces of Daphne’s divine power, making her the elves’ only lead to the goddess’s appearance.
And that black cat she met before Yanlu arrived—she had a bad feeling about it. It vanished when Yanlu showed up, and its aura wasn’t linked to her. Better safe than sorry.
For some reason, the cat gave off a familiar yet repulsive vibe, as if Aphrosia had a personal grudge against it. But besides the Church and demons, she couldn’t recall any true enemies.
Ifrora? No, she didn’t count. Rivals were rivals, not enemies. Aphrosia could distinguish that. Sure, Ifrora was annoying, but she was also the closest thing to a “confidante” Aphrosia had, wasn’t she?
They’d met when Aphrosia fled the Papal State to the Kangkela Empire, sharing years of trials, knowing each other inside out. So, blowing up her house to escape suspicion? Ifrora would get it. She might even offer shelter. But appearing as Flo would bring her endless trouble…
As Aphrosia, though? Her face resembled Saintess Aitelien and the Time Goddess, but lacked distinct traits to draw hatred. Blonde, blue-eyed girls were common here—her appearance could pass as a coincidence.
Lost in thought, a delicate voice broke her reverie…