Loveday detested noise. Because of the Star Spirit’s inherent physical structure and the solitary environment of the starry sky, their resistance to noise was quite poor. Even if prolonged solitude had become familiar, even after growing accustomed to the taste of isolation, Loveday tried to start appreciating this peculiar world, but it was beyond the capability of a lad named Dove.

That mouth, which seemed it would never cease, had allowed Loveday to discover another loathsome thing in the new world, ranking right after betrayal of faith and creating chaos.

"I hold no hostility toward you."

"Oh, is that so? That’s good news, sir. So could you move your Light Sword a bit further away? Your glowing greatsword seems quite hot, it’s too close to me, and my body is trembling in fear."

Trembling on the lips, huh? Loveday once again realized how fortunate it was that Star Spirits had no lips. Releasing the grip on the boy’s collar, Dove collapsed onto the ground.

"I’m tasked with protecting the Child of Light. He’s your guest, and I believe our duties do not clash," Loveday shifted his gaze to Grael, the Death Hunter had already picked up his bow, the arrowheads tainted with the stench of corruption aimed straight at his body. As for hostility, the Star Spirit was exceedingly frank.

"Child of Light, who is that?"

"A boy named Lyle, the guest you’ve invited to the treetop." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Dove looked at Grael, who had lowered his weapon, "Who’s Lyle? How come I don’t know about the old king making friends with Holy Light?"

"Mr. Lyle, as far as I know, is a Necromancer who manipulates corpses."

Loveday sheathed the Light Blade and extended his arm to Dove, who lay on the ground, "I know, it’s bizarre, but that necromancer, indeed belongs to the devotees of the Holy Light."

"I sheathe my weapon not because I trust your words, Light Chaser," Grael looked at the Star Spirit frozen in place, "but because there’s no need."

Chilly gazes focused on Loveday, as up in the branches, Rangers from the shadows watched this strange creature like a leopard pack eyeing their prey.

"Dove, come back." The owner of the hand crossbow called the boy’s name, a poisoned arrow imbued with natural magic aimed at the Star Spirit’s head.

"Sure thing, Zhen sis." Dove gave a harmless smile to the Star Spirit and scampered back up the tree.

The Rangers’ attire tended toward dark colors but each had his own distinctive features, and besides, they all wore a dagger of the same emerald hue as the one on Grael’s belt.

Leaf Concealment Blade.

Seven figures, plus Grael on the ground and Echel atop the canopy, made up the full roster of the Night Owl Squad.

Throughout, Loveday hadn’t moved; those figures, with magic flowing through them, truly had the capacity to harm him. But there was no need.

Once Dove safely rejoined his team, the atmosphere seemed to lighten a bit.

The leading man hid his physique within a feathered hood.

"It seems you were right." Nightingale sheathed his weapon, touching the tip of his foot to the branch in a slight motion that faded into the gentle swaying. "But Liveser has the ability to protect its own guests."

"Do not tread into Liveser’s dark woods; you are not our guest yet."

When the cold wind blew once more, the forest returned to darkness.

Lyle was woken up by the hammering of Reed’s iron fist.

The sky was barely lit, and the damp fog made the wooden hut feel a bit chilly. But Echel and Reed’s new round of brawling had already begun.

It was another physical persuasion about the charm of a granddaughter.

It seemed that something else had happened the previous night, as the surrounding Rangers seemed quite accustomed to the scene.

Lyle brushed off Nia’s tendrils, feeling as though slugs were hosting a party in his hair.

Kayla walked in dressed for action, and Echel dropped the argument with Reed in favor of praising his granddaughter’s new outfit.

"We need to move a bit, the ritual spot isn’t here."

Seeing Reed’s unconcerned expression, Lyle was tempted to remind him.

A small step for the people of Liveser was definitely not what he understood it to be; their mode of movement was certainly not as he understood it either.

Cheers and figures swinging on lianas created a spectacular sight, much like a great animal migration; in reality, it was a collective outing of the people of Liveser, swinging along.

Parents held their children close, listening to their laughter carried on the wind.

Among them were some particular figures.

For instance, a muscular man whose head was wrapped up, his swaggering stance suave, even dragging a large screaming iron ball beneath his vine.

"Damn it, monkey, hold on tight!!!" Reed’s roar could almost knock down the rangers around him.

Lyle followed behind, led by Kayla, whose cloak, like transparent cicada wings, left beautiful light and shadows as it fluttered in the wind. It was a Liveser-style gown for official events.

Lyle trailed behind her, barely able to keep up with the help of Nia.

"That’s right, Lyle, don’t look down. Look ahead, take my vine...Don’t overthink it, trust your intuition." Kayla was a gentle teacher, and she seemed very eager to teach.

Perhaps Lyle had sacrificed all his talent to the great Spirit Summoning Studies, for he never found a trace of the intuition Kayla spoke of until the end of his journey. Perhaps after I fall to my death, I might find it, Lyle consoled himself.

The scene of the Return Festival was not much different from the depths of the natural forest.

The trees were lush, the air damp and cold. This was a place untouched by human traces, on the edge of the area radiated by human civilization.

Today, the Return Festival had many, many bodies.

These deceased Liveser people were entwined with a deep blue vine overall, with parts covered in moss, but no stench of decaying bodies spread. Their relatives were making their last farewells with them.

Minutes later, when the farewells of the Return Festival were over, they would be left here to nourish the carrion animals lurking in the shadows with their deaths.

The Liveser people were accompanying their families, listening to the queen’s speech.

Echel looked with satisfaction at the back of his granddaughter, with Reed and Lyle by his side.

"Death brings new life, the Return Festival is as important as a Liveser’s birthday. For the Royal Family of Liveser, it’s also proof of their sovereign right."

"Parents bless our lives, and monarchs bless our deaths. Kayla will be a good queen."

Reed gazed at the girl who shone brightly in the eyes of the people, and even he, who regularly clashed with Echel, couldn’t help but express his admiration.

"My rival, you have a fine granddaughter."

Watching this scene, Lyle smiled.

"Mr. Echel and Mr. Reed have such a good relationship."

The expressions of the two old men became very strange at once.

"Yes, indeed they do now, although when I was alive, I couldn’t wait to strangle him to death."

"Were you not on good terms when you were alive?" Lyle asked with surprise, always thinking that they had a close-knit bond of fateful adversaries.

Reed and Echel exchanged glances.

"My biggest regret is that I didn’t wipe out that bastard’s country during my lifetime."

Echel was not to be outdone.

"If it weren’t for the lack of benefit, I would have annihilated your Dreya eight hundred times over."

Two neighboring states at odds with each other? It was a miracle that no war had broken out.

"The reason we didn’t come to blows is because I died, but the first thing I did after my resurrection, heh heh, was to dance on the grave of my old rival." Echel revealed a self-satisfied grin.

"And then?"

Reed snorted coldly.

"Then I climbed out of my grave and chased him from Dreya all the way to Liveser."