Volume 2: Empire Chapter 97: The Gravedigger of the World Tree
The originally noisy market was now completely silent, and the welcoming horn sounded in the Sun City. Amid the blowing sand, the Moonlight Knights divided into two columns and followed the queen towards the open city gate.
They rode on war horses, and although their armor was worn, they all stood straight. They were warriors guarding the Moonlight Court, and knights bestowed with glory by the World Tree. They followed the queen, spreading the majesty of the court and bringing the barbarians of the west together again.
Earl Urd led a welcoming team of Western nobles, waiting at the gate on horseback. However, all the barbarian warriors, including the orc leader Andre, dismounted and knelt, greeting the oncoming Moonlight Royal Court envoys with the highest etiquette.
Seeing this, the nobles realized that the changes brought about by the revival of the World Tree to the Western Territory were more serious than they had imagined. If the Moonlight Queen was an ambitious person, then the nobles of the Western Territory would really have to take on the task of guarding the Western Territory for the Empire.
Count Urd, who was heavily dependent on the barbarians, was even more worried. In the past, the barbarians were in disarray and he could deal with them with ease, but now... he was afraid that if the Moonlight Queen gave an order, half of his army would immediately turn against them.
Count Urd looked at the Moonlight Court Cavalry marching towards the Sun, and gradually made out the elf riding a black panther in the lead.
She is wearing a crown, so she must be the Moonlight Queen.
But why does the Moonlight Queen look so familiar?
Count Urd wiped his eyes...
That’s right, it’s Miss Qingkong!
Didn’t Her Royal Highness the Princess say that she is the head of the Department of Mysticism at the Oulu College in Nutao City, the dean of the Saint Lun City branch of the Oulu College, and a senator of the Nutao City Senate?
During the siege of Jingting, she also killed Sylvia, the sixth apostle of the Abyss Temple.
How did she become the queen of the Moonlight Court again?
When Earl Urd was full of doubts, the Moonlight Court's troops marched to the foot of Sun City.
Qingkong smiled and said to Count Urd: "I am Qingkong, the magic professor of Oulu College, and the Moonlight Queen of the Moonlight Court. The revival of the World Tree has added new responsibilities to me. I hope that we can be friendly and helpful neighbors in the West in the future."
Earl Urd immediately saluted to Qingkong: "Your Majesty, the Moonlight Queen! I and all the lords of the empire in the western region are very happy to hear that the World Tree has revived. The blessing of the World Tree will benefit all of us.
May the friendship between the Golden Shield Empire and the Moonlight Court last forever.
Her Royal Highness Princess Agatha of the Empire is waiting for Your Majesty's arrival at the Sunnyside Manor, and I am very honored to show Your Majesty around my city.
please……"
“It’s my honor…”
Qingkong led the Moonlight Knights, followed by Count Urd and the Western nobles into the Sun City. The barbarians who were kneeling outside the city took a long time to stand up.
People were discussing the World Tree, the Moonlight Queen, and what changes the Moonlight Court would bring to the West. The market gradually became lively again, and some barbarian merchants even gave out items for free to express their feelings at the moment.
"Your Majesty is the most beautiful elf I have ever seen. She must have a kind heart. Under your Majesty's governance, the Moonlight Court will soon become a prosperous country."
"And the great World Tree... Yesterday I felt the World Tree's response to my sincere prayers. That rain was the nectar from the World Tree. Have you noticed that today's wind and sand are much less than before, and the air is more humid."
"Praise the Moonlight Tree King, praise the Moonlight Queen, everything will be fine!"
…
Oakwood looked at the Moonlight Knights marching into the city with shining eyes, and said loudly to Mavisman: "Teacher, I want to become a Moonlight Knight when I grow up, to protect the Moonlight Court and Her Majesty the Queen!"
"It's a good ambition, but if you want to achieve it, you must train harder."
As Maeve Sman answered Oak, her eyes were on Sandpaper and Kestrel, who were rushing away.
She just noticed that when the queen passed by, the black panther she rode looked at the two sisters with a subtle look. The two sisters were also incredibly surprised to see the queen. They must have a deeper relationship with the queen.
This sudden departure seemed to confirm Maeve Sman's guess. She regretted that she had just underestimated the two girls and missed the opportunity to meet Her Majesty the Moonlight Queen.
"Teacher, I will definitely train hard... Eh? Where did Sister Red Falcon and Sister Sandpaper go?"
Maeve Sman watched the two sisters and the Abyss Leopard disappear in the crowd, and at the same time she saw a figure that surprised her.
"They left first due to an emergency. If there is nothing else, take your mother back to Slave Point. I have some things to do."
Oak looked around and didn't see the Red Falcon sisters, so he had to answer disappointedly: "Yes, mentor, my mother and I went back."
"be safe……"
Maeve Sman gave Oak a warning and chased after the figure.
After passing through a store tent, Maeve Siman almost bumped into the person she was chasing. The person opposite was wearing an ordinary desert tribe sand-proof robe, with his face covered by a scarf, and looked like an ordinary Westerner.
Maeve Siman, who had just caught a glimpse of this person's appearance, immediately took a step back. Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she whispered, "Governor! I thought you were welcoming Her Majesty the Moonlight Queen at this time."
Standing opposite Maeve Sman is Luke.
"Qingkong is one of us. The reception is just a ceremony. It is enough to have the eldest princess to receive us. Poison Scorpion, are you confused now? Do you not know what the future holds?"
Maeve Siman was surprised how the Governor of Meteorite knew her troubles, and she answered truthfully: "Yes... Although the adults have shown us another way, there are people like Ham who are willing to live a peaceful life, and there are also people like me who have long been accustomed to that kind of life and don't want to spend their lives in mediocrity.
I beg your Excellency for guidance."
Luke looked at Maeve Sman and could feel her unconcealable edge.
Not all the bandits are willing to be recruited and switch to logistics. A large number of them have the same troubles as Maeve Siman. They are a group of people with adventurous spirits in their bones. They may compromise temporarily under pressure, but in the long run they will still choose the path that can bring them excitement.
After all, the World Tree has been gone for thousands of years, and the once simple and honest people of the West have become modern, martial and strong people of the West due to changes in the environment.
This is incompatible with the World Tree, which naturally has the attribute of "Madonna".
"Faith is a double-edged sword. While it brings a sense of belonging to the barbarians in the western border, it can also be taken advantage of by certain things.
You want my guidance...Okay!
Once you enter this tent, can you do whatever I ask you to do without hesitation?
Maeve Siman then noticed the inconspicuous tent next to her. Unlike other stalls, it was not filled with goods for sale outside, but a black curtain with astrological maps embroidered on it blocked the door.
It is an astrology hut.
"My Lord, may I ask why ?"
"Don't ask why. Do what you are told to do immediately... Hesitation means death!"
Hearing about death, Maeve Sman couldn't help but hesitate.
But when I thought about how I had brushed against death many times in the past, if I didn't seize this opportunity, I would most likely live a mediocre life.
"Sir, I will obey you in everything after we go in, without any hesitation."
"Then follow me in!"
Luke pulled aside the curtain and walked into the Astrology Hut, followed by Maeve Sman.
It was extremely dark inside the hut.
Logically speaking, the light outside is so strong, so even if the tent has poor light transmittance, it shouldn't be so dark.
Maeve Sman expanded her perception and realized that she had entered a cleared space. The sense of crisis made her alert.
In the middle of the space, there is a jujube-colored rectangular wooden table with a crystal ball on it. The blue light emitted by the crystal ball becomes the only light in the space, but it can only illuminate the area around the table.
There was a thick felt on the floor facing the table. When Mavisman saw Governor Meteorite walk over to the felt and sit cross-legged, she also walked over and sat down.
The atmosphere was extremely weird. Mavisman wanted to ask something but refrained from speaking.
At this time, a deep voice sounded from across the table: "What do you two guests want to divine?"
The crystal ball on the table lit up a little, and a man huddled in a black robe appeared across from him. He blended into the darkness, and the light could only illuminate a little bit of his edge.
Luke took out a gold coin and placed it on the table. "My friend wants to predict her own destiny. She has been very troubled about her future recently. Especially after the World Tree revives, her industry will suffer a serious blow."
The astrologer said: "The stars are confusing, and the world is changing in an uncertain direction. Astrologers interpret the hints given by the stars to help lost travelers find the future direction.
Ask the guest to choose a card that will reveal your future destiny. "
The astrologer did not move, and a set of cards appeared one by one on the table in front of Maeve Sman.
All the animals drawn on the cards are common in the West.
Maeve Siman didn't know what Luke wanted to do. Seeing that Luke didn't give her any hints, she pointed her finger at one of the cards and pushed it in front of the astrologer: "I choose the poisonous scorpion."
The astrologer stretched out a hand like a dead tree and picked up the scorpion card, then placed the card on the crystal ball. The card turned into a pile of crystal powder and sprinkled down from the top of the crystal ball. The light in the crystal ball changed, and stars appeared and formed a scorpion pattern.
An astrological disk unfolds with the crystal ball as the center. The astrological disk rotates with a mechanical feel, and the runes on it keep changing.
"You're a sand bandit."
Maeve Siman was surprised at first when her identity was pointed out, but she immediately argued, "As a sand bandit, I am somewhat famous. It's not surprising that you have seen me before and know me."
"You are now facing a choice of destiny. If you accept a mediocre life, you will live a very comfortable life for the rest of your life without having to worry about money. If you choose your own nature, you will die miserably, but also very magnificently."
What the astrologer said made Maeve Sman serious: “I am not afraid of death, but I don’t think I have anything to do with greatness.
Can you tell me how I died?"
The astrologer interpreted the star chart: "You will be the pioneer who leads the people of the West to fight against weakness. Your death will arouse the suppressed blood of the people of the West."
Maeve Siman asked in confusion: "I don't understand what you are talking about. You think too highly of me. I am just a small character."
The astrologer said, "This is your destiny, I am only responsible for interpreting it."
"Can you be more specific?"
“I’m sorry, astrology cannot interpret your destiny clearly, it can only serve as a revelation to let you know how to choose your direction.
Is it a life of mediocrity and comfort, or a life of passion and greatness.
Sir, are you willing to try your luck?"
The astrologer turned to Luke and a deck of cards appeared on the table in front of him.
Luke didn't move. "Your astrology skills are a bit low. You can't even tell how my friend died."
The astrologer asked, "Do you see more than I do?"
"Of course..." Luke pretended to look at the astrolabe and said, "If my friend chooses to follow her nature, she will die in the battle to attack the Moonlight Court."
Maeve Siman was shocked and said, "How could I possibly attack the Moonlight King's Court! The World Tree is there, and my respect for the World Tree is unwavering."
Luke said: "Your respect for the World Tree now does not mean you will continue to respect it in the future. Especially after you have seen this astrologer for a long time, you will regard the World Tree's love as cowardice, and your love for it will turn into hatred.
You may feel that the World Tree should not be revived, that the dead World Tree is perfect, and that things that do not exist in the world are flawless and have no shortcomings.
So a group of people who share the same ideas as you attacked the Moonlight Court..."
"No, that's absolutely impossible. You are..." Maeve Sman stood up excitedly to defend herself.
"Sit down! Don't talk!"
After hearing the order, Mavisman sat down again and forced herself to shut her mouth.
Luke turned to the astrologer and said, "The mysterious energy that destroyed the previous world tree has already penetrated into the land of the West after thousands of years.
The mysterious energy released by the revival of the World Tree is only a part of it. The rest is floating on the edge of the World Tree's coverage, and its only goal is to destroy the World Tree.
They couldn't get close to the core area of the World Tree, so they controlled people's hearts and destroyed the World Tree. Although you tried hard to cover it up, I still smelled the burnt smell coming from you.
Scorpion, kill him!"
Mavisman's body suddenly jumped up like a spring and stabbed a dagger into the chest of the Astrologer. Then the Astrologer burned from the inside out...
The voice echoed in the space: "I have long since merged with the World Tree. Destroying it is the only value of my existence. I should have died with it, but it revived, and I gained consciousness because of it.
From now on, I will be its inescapable shadow, its endless gravedigger!"
The sound disappeared, the space collapsed, and light shone through the tent walls.
Maeve Sman saw the astrologer's appearance clearly, which was just a wooden vine covered with a black smock.
"Governor, what happened?"
