Chapter 00068: I’ll Be Right Back
# I’ll Be Right Back
Chapter 68
Novel: AFK Game: Portal to Another World
Chapter 68: I’ll Be Right Back
Demon Lord Calendar, Year 648.
May 2nd, morning.
A light drizzle had persisted for half the night.
The morning’s thin mist shrouded the sea, smoothing over everything that had happened the night before.
The sea had returned to its calm, but the coast had not.
Soldiers were busy tidying up the defensive fortifications, while fishing boats were hard at work heading out to sea, searching for any signs of survivors on the water's surface.
This task had already been going on all night.
Viola had sent ships to retrieve people.
This had nothing to do with humanitarian spirit, but it had everything to do with the labor force...
The entire Leon Territory was engaged in infrastructure projects everywhere, and Viola wanted to transform the knowledge she heard from the Demon God into tangible products.
And in this era, people were productivity.
Capturing prisoners of war to get free labor was quite a good deal.
In the city, residents had emerged from their homes at the crack of dawn, spontaneously gathering in the plaza to pray.
Although the Leon Stronghold was several kilometers from the coast, the commotion last night was still witnessed by the residents, causing considerable panic at one point.
For this reason, after returning to the city, Viola had specially sent people to announce that it was the Demon God who had routed the invading enemy.
It took until midnight to persuade everyone to return home.
The result was that the people became even more devout...
The post-battle cleanup had kept them busy all night, but Viola was full of spirit, even looking somewhat radiant.
As usual, she led her Royal Guards into the Chapel to prepare for the day's Morning Prayer.
But there was a slight difference today: two more people were present.
One was Wendy.
“Although I have read the Demon God's scripture before and agreed with its teachings, it wasn't until last night that I truly felt the power of a god.”
Wendy said with some emotion:
“That power... it was so beautiful, so powerful, and far too magnificent. I cannot describe it with any words.”
Viola understood Wendy’s state well.
She was just like herself when she first made contact with the Demon God, filled with incomparable excitement.
As for the other person, it was naturally Audel.
Compared to Wendy, who had already become a fangirl, Audel still wore a very cold expression.
“I have become more interested. Please allow me to participate in the prayer.”
This was precisely the problem.
Audel's extremely high research spirit and curiosity had allowed her to become a High-Ranking Mage at a young age, and she held a very prestigious position in the City of Academics.
But the side effect of this research spirit was a complete disregard for consequences.
Viola was genuinely worried that she would anger the deity...
However, before Audel came, she had pointed to the heavens and the earth, repeatedly swearing that she would absolutely not do anything to displease the Demon God.
Only then did Viola, half-believing, let her into the Chapel.
It was almost time, and the meal prepared as an offering to the Demon God was wheeled over on a food cart.
“Stay by my side, and absolutely do not wander off.”
Viola decided to have Audel pray in the spot next to her.
At the very least, if any problems arose, she could discover them immediately.
Audel, of course, nodded indifferently and followed Viola to the very front of the praying group.
At this moment, two Royal Guards had already lifted the tray from the cart and placed it on the altar.
As usual, Viola led the way, kneeling on one knee before the Holy Emblem, her hands clasped in preparation for prayer.
But at that moment, a cry of alarm came from the knights behind her.
Viola turned her head to see Audel taking off her robe in front of the Holy Emblem.
“Why are you taking off your clothes?”
Audel, who had already stripped herself naked, revealed a puzzled look:
“Shouldn't the rites for the Demon God be performed in the nude to be proper? According to the archaeological research from the City of Academics, only women were allowed to participate in the prayer rituals at that time, and they were not permitted to wear any clothes while praying.”
“No, but why are you not even wearing underwear!”
“I just thought that since I'd have to get naked anyway, it would be most efficient not to wear anything underneath.”
“There’s no such thing!”
Viola quickly grabbed the clothes and put them back on Audel.
“We have never taken off our clothes when we pray. It's just an ordinary prayer.”
“Is that so?”
Audel thought for a moment.
“Could it be that the archaeological research from the City of Academics is wrong again? I thought a debauched and licentious Demon God would demand this of his followers.”
“He is not!”
Having stayed up all night, her already unstable blood pressure soared at this moment.
Viola was already beginning to regret letting Audel in.
However, Audel did not insist.
It was perfectly normal for academic matters to have errors; practical application was what mattered most.
Since Viola and the others had never removed their clothes during prayer, Audel obediently put her robe back on.
With her blood pressure spiking, Viola watched Audel kneel and corrected her posture to ensure it was standard.
Only then did she turn back to the Holy Emblem, calm her agitated heart, and begin to pray again.
At this point, things were much the same as usual.
The tray on the altar slowly began to float, emitting a strong Divine Radiance.
Then, the orb of light collapsed into a small point and vanished completely.
Usually, in the afternoon, the tray would be returned after being washed clean.
Just as Viola thought this prayer would proceed as peacefully as usual, Zola gently poked her from behind.
“Your Highness, Miss Audel…”
Viola immediately opened her eyes and heard Zola continue:
“Miss Audel is gone.”
“……”
–‐‐——–‐‐——
Today was a rare day of fine weather.
After the heavy rains of the past few days, the temperature had finally cooled down considerably.
Sitting behind the cash register, Li Chengxi didn't even need to turn on the air conditioner.
He routinely checked the situation in the farmlands outside the city, then moved the camera view to look at the seaside.
Afterward, noticing it was about time, he moved the screen to the Chapel inside the castle.
The Royal Guards were pushing a food cart as usual.
It was only then that Li Chengxi remembered he should tell Viola not to prepare meals anymore.
After all, the small restaurant next door would be opening for business tomorrow, and Li Chengxi's standard of food would return to normal.
He had meant to tell her two days ago, but because he learned a fleet was heading for the Leon Territory, he had forgotten about it.
In any case, it wasn't too late to tell her now.
Just as he plugged in his headset cable, Li Chengxi saw a red-haired, two-head-tall chibi-style pixel person on the screen leading another blue-haired pixel person to the area below the Holy Emblem.
He thought for a moment.
This must be Viola’s mage cousin who had just arrived in the Leon Territory a couple of days ago, the one whose level was as high as the white dragon’s.
Seeing her also enter the Chapel, Li Chengxi even thought smugly that his performance last night must have been too dazzling, causing even non-believers to be influenced and convert.
Although that series of actions had cost him over three thousand Faith Points, it was completely worth it considering the benefits.
Just as Li Chengxi was feeling pleased with himself, the next second he saw the blue-haired pixel person suddenly rip off her clothes and toss them aside.
And it seemed she was wearing nothing underneath her robe...
To be honest, with a pixelated, two-head-tall chibi style, she could do the breakdance stark naked and still be broadcast on a children's channel without needing any censorship.
Li Chengxi was just bewildered.
What kind of move was this?
Fortunately, Li Chengxi wasn't the only one bewildered by this person's actions.
Viola quickly put the clothes back on her and instructed her on how to face the Holy Emblem and pray.
“This person seems to be called Audel, right?”
Could it be that high-level people developed quirky personalities?
Li Chengxi couldn't figure it out, so he decided to just consider her a weirdo for now.
He then enlarged the screen, focusing most of the view on the altar.
As usual, he took out an HDMI cable and connected it to his larger monitoring display.
They had already prepared the meal, so he might as well take today's portion.
He would just tell Viola not to prepare it tomorrow.
Also as usual, Li Chengxi reached his hand into the monitor, grabbed the edge of the tray, and pulled it out from inside.
However, for some reason, the tray today seemed a bit heavier than usual.
Could it be that because they won the battle, the chef added extra ingredients?
Li Chengxi didn't think much of it.
He pulled the tray out of the screen.
Since the cloche was blocking his view, he had to lift the tray completely to take it out fully.
And with this lift, he saw two fair arms clinging to the other end of the tray.
As the tray was raised, a delicate yet expressionless face appeared before his eyes.
Her slender body seemed to have no weight as she was gently pulled out of the screen.
With the motion of him lifting the tray, she floated slightly in the air before finally landing on Li Chengxi's lap like a falling leaf.
As for Li Chengxi, he was frozen stiff in his seat, maintaining the posture of holding the tray up with both hands, staring into a pair of silver-blue pupils.
For an instant, he had the illusion that his consciousness was being sucked right in…
(End of Chapter)