Chapter 00043: Master and Servant
# Master and Servant
Chapter 43
Novel: AFK Game: Portal to Another World
Chapter 43: Master and Servant
Demon Lord Calendar Year 648
April 22nd, Morning
Count Leon’s Territory
It had been exactly ten days since the Lord of the territory had been hanged upon the gallows by Her Highness the Princess.
By all rights, one might expect chaos to engulf a territory after its ruling lord vanished.
But in truth, the moment the lord died, the rest of the lower officials swiftly pledged allegiance to Her Highness the Princess.
This count had hoarded everything for himself, refusing to share even soup with his subordinates—it was no wonder he ended up abandoned by all.
His presence or absence made no difference.
As for the common folk, they couldn’t care less.
Some even clapped their hands with joy.
No relief during years of disaster, and taxes collected without pause—such a lord was no loss, and the common people felt more satisfaction than any kind of grievance.
The greatest change across the territory was simply that more people were entering and leaving the city.
This was because Her Highness had abolished the city gate tax, attracting many farmers from surrounding villages to bring their produce into the city for sale.
And so, on one of the now more bustling dirt roads, two people with a rather out-of-place appearance showed up.
“Reina, would you look at that? They're actually using ox carts out here.”
The one speaking had a head of shining golden hair.
Despite the rough conditions of the countryside with barely any foundational infrastructure, she wore a lavish puff-skirt, although layered beneath it was a pair of riding pants—her final compromise.
“Miss Wendy, not every place can afford horses. You ought to be more understanding.”
“But they’re just so ugly,” she pouted.
The one called Reina wore a perfectly ironed butler’s uniform.
Her light blue short hair was smooth and neat.
Seen from afar, one might mistake her for a handsome young man.
But up close, one could notice the slight swell of her chest and hips far more pronounced than any man’s.
A large backpack hung from her shoulders, so massive it seemed it might squash her flat.
Yet she walked with steady steps, standing impeccably straight as though bearing no burden at all.
This pair, so starkly different in appearance from the local folk, naturally drew many lingering glances.
But Wendy wasn’t bothered.
It was only natural for commoners to envy nobles.
“Just look! They’re actually farming right near the city gate.”
“The ones tending the fields look like soldiers. Must be an order from Her Highness.”
“Well, that’s certainly odd.”
As they spoke, the pair arrived at the city gates.
The guards there also noticed that these two didn’t look like the usual townsfolk.
But they didn’t seem suspicious, merely unusual.
After a few simple questions, the guards let them pass.
“Heavens, why is there a bear in the city?”
Wendy pointed her elegant cane at a bear just passing through the gates.
Despite her tone of surprise, her eyes sparkled with delight.
“That’s a druid. Remember? The master once said there were plenty of tree elves in the Distant Forest near Leon Territory.”
“A druid? So that bear really won’t bite people?”
“It shouldn’t. But Miss, please don’t look so eager to reach out and touch it. That would be rather impolite.”
The vegetable seeds delivered by Li Chengxi were entirely foreign to the locals.
The druids—particularly the tree elves—had heard that the seeds were bestowed by the Demon God himself.
Eager to nurture these divine gifts with their own hands, they were now flocking to the city.
That’s why one could now often see druids in town.
Some locals had even grown accustomed to them in the past ten days.
Occasionally, you might spot a restaurant owner passionately dragging a leopard along home, insisting that the druid try out their latest vegetarian dish.
Still, Wendy found that aside from this curious development, the town was much like any other rural backwater.
“Please pray earnestly, and the Lord will bless each and every one of you,” rang a voice at the central plaza as the pair arrived.
A crowd of commoners had gathered there.
It seemed a structure was being built—scaffolding already rose into place.
At the front of the scaffolding stood a stone pillar, upon which sat a sculpture shaped like a hand.
The voice had come from beneath this very sculpture.
Wendy’s interest was piqued.
She tiptoed forward and peered past the crowd, finally catching sight of the petite figure of Shelly among the people.
She wore a thin robe, arms raised high:
“Let us offer our prayers together!”
The crowd burst into a unified cry of “Gan!” and “Cao!”—it almost felt like some bizarre cult ritual.
Yet even as they chanted, a layer of divine radiance gradually emerged above their heads, coalescing into a halo resembling that of an angel.
Moments later, the halo exploded, breaking into countless shimmering fragments of light that drifted down into the crowd's bodies.
This was a ceremonial spell, a divine art commonly used by priests.
It was often employed for weddings, funerals, store openings, military send-offs, or in daily prayers to recruit followers.
Its functions were broad—soothing the spirit, healing minor ailments—and the more people who participated, and the more powerful the priest, the greater its effect.
Eager to meet the expectations of the Demon God and Her Highness the Princess, Shelly had been working exceptionally hard recently.
In the mornings, she led prayer rituals in the plaza, and in the afternoons, she went behind the castle to practice swordsmanship.
So one could often catch her at the plaza at this hour, leading the people in prayer.
“There are priests in Leon Territory? Isn’t religion banned in our country?” Wendy asked in disbelief.
“Shh, Miss. It's best to be careful when speaking about matters of faith.”
Always more sensible than her blunt mistress, Reina tugged Wendy away from the crowd before continuing:
“The priestess leading that ritual is powerful. I’d guess she’s part of the Royal Guards. Her Highness must have something planned. Best not to speculate.”
“You’re right. Our top priority is meeting Her Highness.”
Though blunt, Wendy was quick to take advice.
So the pair moved through the plaza and soon arrived under the shadow of the castle.
Entering the city was easy—but the castle was an entirely different matter.
Besides stationed guards, Royal Guard knights patrolled its premises.
Wendy retrieved a golden crest bearing a sword and shield emblem, presenting it to the gate-keeping Royal Guard.
“I’m Wendy of House of Thor. I seek an urgent audience with Princess Viola Avarus.”
The Royal Guard, himself noble-born, immediately recognized the emblem—heraldry was required study, after all.
“Wait here, I’ll inform Her Highness.”
Soon after, the guard returned:
“Her Highness is ready to receive you. Please follow me, Miss Wendy, and your attendant.”
Wendy raised an eyebrow.
“Why not enter through the main gate?”
“A statue of the Lord Demon God has just been brought in and is being installed in the chapel,” the guard explained. “We worried an accident might occur if you passed by during setup, so we ask that you use the side entrance.”
“The Demon God? Wasn’t that all just legend?”
“It used to be legend. Not anymore.”
Wendy opened her mouth to ask more, but just then she noticed a group of children around ten years old training in the castle courtyard.
“I win again!” cried Lilia, swinging a wooden sword.
Her opponent, a boy of similar age, fell to the ground.
Lilia jumped up with joy.
“It’s not over! I wasn’t even using half my strength!”
“Then let’s go again!”
Noticing Wendy’s gaze, the Royal Guard explained:
“Those children are from nearby villages. Her Highness decided to gather those who voluntarily wish to train and raise them as knights.”
Finally, Wendy, who until now had viewed Leon Territory with nothing but disdain, nodded with approval.
“Her Highness has done the right thing. Children should be given paths to rise.”
After all, House Thor had once been farmers.
Through a twist of fate, they’d become knights, and then were ennobled through military merits.
As the daughter of House Thor, Wendy deeply resonated with these children’s journey.
The two circled the training yard and entered the castle through a side door.
Inside a conference room on the second floor, Wendy finally laid eyes upon the Princess Viola Avarus she had been so eager to meet.
(End of Chapter)