Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 114: Mercenary Mission (Part-2)

Just then, Raphael spoke again, his tone light and reassuring.

"Zora, don’t feel pressured by the bet. This rivalry has nothing to do with you."

"It’s simply an old grudge between Marcus and us." Raphael’s star-bright eyes were gentle as flowing water. His voice, low and refined, carried an unmistakable note of reassurance.

Zora nodded lightly. "I understand."

This competition was, at its core, a matter between Alaric Von Seraph and Marcus. Her agreement to participate was, in truth, a gesture of respect toward Alaric Von Seraph.

Win or lose, it should not have concerned her.

And yet—

She had never liked losing. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Stupid woman," Alaric Von Seraph said indifferently, his gaze fixed straight ahead. "If we lose, you just admit you’re a stupid woman."

The tone was flat, almost careless. If not for the words themselves, one might have thought he was merely stating a fact.

Rude to the bone.

Every movement, every word of his carried an arrogance that seeped from his very marrow.

Zora’s clear eyes flickered with light. "Then if I win," she asked calmly, "will you admit that you’re an idiot?"

She had heard it. Beneath his unpleasant wording was a kind of clumsy reassurance.

What he truly meant was that even if they lost, she didn’t need to take it to heart.

After all, he called her "stupid woman" whether she won or lost.

In that case, there was nothing to lose.

Alaric Von Seraph shot her a cold glance, said nothing, and continued walking.

A faint, amused curve lifted Zora’s lips.

Perhaps this man wasn’t quite as detestable as she’d thought. Teasing an iceberg-faced genius like him was... unexpectedly entertaining.

Raphael caught the sly look in her eyes and smiled, his eyes glinting.

Compared to her initial cold composure, the current Zora seemed far more vivid and lively.

*

The entrance to the White Mountains Range lay not far from the Academy. Since students frequently entered the mountains to complete missions, the surrounding area had gradually developed into a small settlement.

There were two main entrances, east and west.

Zora’s group took the eastern entrance, while Baldwin’s team headed west.

By noon, Zora and the others arrived at the eastern entrance.

What had once been a simple passage had transformed into a bustling town. Stalls lined the streets, selling supplies cultivators needed for survival. Others specialized in purchasing demon beast materials, forming a livelihood deeply tied to life and death in the mountains.

Alaric Von Seraph, Raphael, and Sylvandria were clearly frequent visitors. As they appeared, gazes filled with admiration and respect followed them.

Yet even more eyes were drawn to Zora.

"Since when did Alaric Von Seraph’s team have another woman? She looks almost as good as Sylvandria."

"Isn’t she the new special enrollee?"

"Unbelievable. Not only strong, but her looks are outstanding too."

"If only I could become a student of Imperial Academy..."

Zora swept her gaze calmly across the crowd.

No wonder students of the Imperial Academy were so envied. This identity alone drew countless covetous looks.

"Are you fully prepared?" Raphael asked gently. "If there’s anything missing, you can still buy it here."

"I’m ready," Zora replied.

"Good. Let’s eat at the inn first, gear up, and then head out."

The White Mountains waited ahead, silent and dangerous. The inns near the mountain entrance were packed.

Some cultivators rested here to recover their strength before entering the White Mountains, while others dragged themselves out of the depths, bloodied and exhausted, waiting until they could move again.

But for Zora’s group, lingering was unnecessary.

They ate a quick meal and immediately changed into combat attire.

In the mountains, vines and thorns sprawled everywhere. Flowing robes and long skirts were nothing but liabilities, easily snagged and torn, costing precious moments in battle.

When Zora stepped out after changing, the gazes around them froze for a heartbeat.

She wore a crimson, close-fitting battle outfit that traced her figure perfectly, sharp and clean without excess decoration. The blazing color set off her delicate features, while the resolute confidence between her brows grew even more striking. Her almond-shaped eyes, deep and luminous, held a restrained sharpness that hinted at danger beneath the beauty.

For a moment, even Raphael felt as if he were seeing her anew.

This Zora radiated a seductive yet lethal aura, like a blade hidden within silk, making it impossible to look away.

Even Alaric Von Seraph paused briefly, his gaze flickering before he instantly masked it with indifference.

Sylvandria’s gentle eyes held a flash of surprise. Compared to Zora’s usual white-robed elegance, this vivid red was a complete contrast.

Meanwhile, Zora swept her eyes across her teammates.

Alaric Von Seraph remained dressed in black, cold intent lingering in his deep-set eyes as usual. Raphael wore a light aqua-blue battle suit, as refined and graceful as ever, even in hardened attire. Sylvandria, clad in pink, retained her water-like softness, looking like a celestial maiden.

It’s just for a second, but Zora felt a bit jealous of how beautiful this girl was. However, that thought faded away as quickly as it came to her head.

"Let’s go," Alaric Von Seraph then said flatly as he turned around, his voice carrying the same chill as ever.

Soon, the four of them headed into the White Mountains Range together. Along the way, they crossed paths with mercenaries and lone cultivators, all bound for the depths.

There had never been a formal entrance to the White Mountains. Paths only formed where people walked often enough. Near these well-trodden routes, demon beasts were scarce. Only deeper within did danger truly begin.

As they walked, Raphael casually explained the terrain and common precautions to Zora. Since she had only just registered as a mercenary, it was presumably her first time entering the White Mountains in this capacity.

Zora listened quietly.

None of this was unfamiliar to her, and in fact, she was way more experienced than these kids, but now she was playing the role of a newcomer from the Elysia Empire. Some things were better learned again, if only for appearances.

Alaric Von Seraph and Sylvandria led the way. Raphael and Zora followed behind, and along the path, it was mostly Raphael’s voice that filled the silence.

Gradually, the number of people thinned.

And eventually, only the four of them remained, as they ventured deeper into the vast, shadowed heart of the mountains where towering ancient trees pierced the clouds.

Suddenly, a faint disturbance cut through the stillness.

"Be careful!"

Alaric Von Seraph’s handsome, icy features sharpened instantly as his senses caught something. His gaze swept the surroundings with razor focus.

There was a demon beast nearby.

Sss—!

A subtle hiss sounded. A black shadow darted out of the undergrowth.

In the blink of an eye, Alaric Von Seraph moved.

His sword just left its sheath and flashed like lightning; before Zora could even blink twice, the creature of the Late Sky realm fell.

Alaric Von Seraph then flicked his wrist, cleanly extracting the demon crystal. Without sparing the corpse another glance, he sheathed his sword and continued forward as if nothing had happened.

Zora raised her brows slightly.

No wonder he was ranked first among the Academy’s students. His perception, decisiveness, and execution left no room for doubt.

"In the White Mountains, demon beasts can strike anytime, anywhere," Raphael reminded calmly. "Your focus must never waver. One moment of carelessness can cost you your life."

Zora nodded.

As they pressed deeper, demon beasts appeared with increasing frequency. Alaric Von Seraph, Raphael, and Sylvandria took turns dealing with them smoothly and efficiently, making Zora’s journey smoother.

Throughout the journey, Raphael patiently explained the habits, weaknesses, and combat precautions of each beast they encountered.

Zora quietly absorbed everything.

She soon realized that demon beasts in this era were vastly different from those of her past life.

After a thousand years of evolution, these creatures were smarter, more adaptable, and far more dangerous. Weak species had been wiped out by time, while the strong had grown even stronger.

What remained were survivors shaped by ruthless natural selection.

The Holy Mystic Continent now possessed a detailed and systematic classification of demon beasts, but even so, many species had vanished or become exceedingly rare over the centuries.