Chapter 250
Chapter 250
Chapter 250
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 250 – Huperion’s Strange Adventure
Far to the northwest of the Northern Continent.
The northern lands of the Aetherthalan Kingdom.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, dancing with golden motes adrift in the air. It coated the forest morning in a soft glow. As the morning mist gradually dissipated, the city-state slowly awakened.
The royal capital, Ghedalia, blended seamlessly with its surrounding fairy-tale-like woods and lakes. Whether in architecture, city planning, or the lifestyle of its people, harmony with nature was preserved—retaining the raw beauty of the wild while also embodying the wisdom of modern craftsmanship.
On the streets, people bustled with activity. Couriers mounted on giant birdlike steeds hurried past, their light armor gleaming in the sunlight.
Water streamed through wooden channels, flowing across every corner of the city, nourishing the land.
This vast kingdom thrived on inclusiveness. One could see residents with vastly different racial features along the way, yet none found it strange.
Aetherthalan was, after all, a federal kingdom built on multiple autonomous races. This alone made their culture stand in direct opposition to the Protos Empire.
Though not as advanced in magical engineering as Protos, in pure magic and martial prowess—bolstered by deep traditions and diverse magical scripts—their strength was formidable. They were one of the few powers in the Northern Continent capable of resisting Protos head-on.
Deep within this city, beside a clear lake encircled by woods, a towering temple stood.
Suddenly, the quiet sky above the temple quivered with faint tremors, followed by a low hum. The sound swelled as a medium-sized passenger wyvern descended slowly from the sky. Its wings stirred the ground below, scattering leaves and dust.
The wyvern landed steadily before the temple. Several figures leapt down.
Leading them was a man in immaculate priestly robes embroidered with gold at the edges, walking ahead to guide the way.
Behind him followed an executioner in heavy armor draped with a red cloak, and a shining paladin clad in silver-white armor.
Clearly, all three held high ranks within the Church. Passing clergy greeted them, but paid special respect to the final figure who alighted.
“Miss Huperion, we will take you to meet the Holy Maiden.”
The priest spoke with reverence.
“…”
Huperion gazed at the temple, her expression conflicted.
By now she had shed her disguise, revealing her original form—silver hair and amber eyes.
“…Sigh, alright.”
Huperion sighed and followed her three old acquaintances into the grand temple.
As for why she was traveling with these three upon arriving in the Northern Continent—it all began with that shipwreck.
Never in her wildest thoughts did Huperion expect that her Northern Continent journey with Lan Qi would veer so far off course. She had been cast adrift into a disaster-stricken zone, forced to detour around it, eventually reaching the Aetherthalan Kingdom’s borders.
At first, the locals suspected her to be a Protos Empire stowaway or spy. Fortunately, her escape skills were strong, and she soon slipped free of the guards.
Upon learning more about the Northern Continent, she realized that without any legal identity, survival in Aetherthalan would be near impossible.
So she went straight to the border city’s Temple of the Goddess of Fate, requesting to meet the “three heads.”
These three were now famous in Aetherthalan. After the Shadow World incident, they had reportedly ascended to Sixth Rank and become a major force in purging domestic cults.
With the border city’s clerics arranging contact, the three, upon hearing that the Southern Continent’s Spiritual Mentor’s dear friend had arrived, rushed overnight to the town.
When they found Huperion, they invited her to the Fate Goddess’s temple in Aetherthalan’s capital.
Not only would they secure her a formal identity within the kingdom, but apparently, there was also an order from the Holy Maiden herself.
The Holy Maiden wished to meet this half-demon.
“…By the way, why does the Holy Maiden want to see me?”
Walking inside the temple, Huperion asked uneasily.
Even the echo of her own footsteps in the vast hall made her anxious.
She couldn’t help worrying—could this be about some trouble Lan Qi caused… and now the Holy Maiden wanted to settle the account with her?
“Please rest assured. The Holy Maiden merely heard that you are a half-demon with silver hair and amber eyes, and instructed us to bring you before her.”
The priest, as gentle as always, answered.
“That’s good…”
Looking at the three, Huperion felt they seemed normal again. This, in fact, was a late-stage symptom of Lan Qi’s influence—ironically, they looked “normal” again.
As long as she wasn’t being dragged in to take the blame for Lan Qi, that was fine. She simply couldn’t carry that burden.
Still, she worried endlessly about the true culprit, Lan Qi.
The Great Love Poet had comforted her, saying Lan Qi must be fine—because if he died, the Poet would vanish as well.
With the Poet inside her, Huperion could always locate Lan Qi. As long as they were within a certain distance, the Poet could sense him. But if Lan Qi was inside the Protos Empire’s territory, she had no idea how to sneak in.
The four of them walked through the solemn spaces of the temple. Light filtering through stained-glass ceilings shifted into colorful patterns across the hall.
Stone pillars rose high, carved with intricate reliefs, each telling ancient tales.
At last, they arrived before a massive door deep within the temple.
The stone of the door intertwined pure white jade with deep gray stone. Even from outside, one could feel the cool air emanating within.
The priests at the entrance saluted both the three clergy and Huperion, then knocked on the stone doors.
“Holy Maiden, Miss Huperion has arrived.”
“Please, come in.”
From inside came a soft voice, tinged with frost.
After briefly bidding farewell to the three clergy, Huperion pushed open the heavy doors.
Before her lay a vast hall like a refined private library, its four walls lined with church tomes.
At the center’s sitting area, upon a sofa, was a woman with silver hair and silver eyes.
Her beauty was sculpted perfection, her posture elegant as an elf beneath moonlight. Only her breathing proved she was not a flawless statue, but a living being.
What shocked Huperion most was that she bore no disguise. Even if some could not discern her race, Huperion saw it instantly—
The Holy Maiden was also a half-demon. No horns adorned her head; her only demonic trait was the slight sharpness of her ears.
Yet Huperion had never seen such a beautiful demon. She was more like a snow spirit than any devil, pure beyond words.
“Many years ago, before I became the Holy Maiden of the Fate Goddess’s Church, I was called the Ice-Snow Witch. I was once a great demon.”
Seeing Huperion’s doubt, the Holy Maiden spoke calmly.
Her gaze brimmed with pride and coldness, pushing all away as though across a thousand miles. Yet hidden deep within lay a quiet gentleness, enough for Huperion to ease her fears.
“Holy Maiden, may I ask—what business do you have with me?”
Huperion asked bluntly, as long as it wasn’t about Lan Qi.
“Before that, I have a question.”
The Ice-Snow Witch fixed her eyes on Huperion.
“What is your relationship with Ifatia—or with Talia?”
(End of Chapter)