Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 131 - 117: Talking with Ostusi 2
"Excuse me, Lady Aurianna, it seems you’ve been rather quiet for a while," Ostusi interjected their conversation, clearly perplexed by her prolonged silence. While Aurianna had been engaged in dialogue with Eva, she remained completely silent, her eyes closed, and a continuous nodding that was starting to give him an eerie feeling.
"Ahem," Aurianna cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "I was actually lost in thought," she remarked with a serious undertone, before rising from her bed and stepping into the center of the room.
"Come over here," she gestured, extending her hand towards him.
Perplexed by her sudden action, Ostusi looked at her with a quizzical expression.
"Aren’t you interested in visiting the underground city?" Aurianna inquired.
"Why are you leading me there?" Ostusi questioned, cautiously approaching her.
"I’m on your side, remember?" she reassured him with an innocent smile. "And besides, there’s someone I’m eager to meet," she added, her gaze slightly intense.
"Alright then, let’s proceed," Ostusi agreed, sidling up beside her.
"Now that I think about it, you’re not exactly the most intimidating presence," Ostusi chuckled, noticing Aurianna was only half his height as he stood next to her.
"I don’t find that joke amusing," Aurianna retorted with a touch of annoyance.
’Looks like she’s a bit annoyed,’ Ostusi thought, nervously scratching his neck.
"Well, let’s not waste any more time – shall we?" Ostusi shrugged..
"Eva," Aurianna murmured, and in an instant, intricate golden patterns formed around them on the ground, enveloping them in a golden light that whisked them away.
As Aurianna opened her eyes, she found herself in a dimly lit corner, accompanied by Ostusi. The area around them was alive with a medley of noises, the most dominant being the lively chatter of people and the aroma of various foods wafting through the air.
"So this is the place," he murmured, casting a quick glance from his vantage point, observing the carefree crowd ambling about. A multitude of young men and women engaged in conversations as they gathered their meals from the culinary staff in an orderly manner. Seated along elongated tables, as they dined in tranquility.
Aurianna, too, took a discreet look from her corner, taking in the expanse of the colossal hall. It stretched out like a football field, accommodating thousands of individuals spanning various ages. Through the acuity of her keen eyesight, she could discern the lively assembly of youth and adults sharing a meal together.
Despite the absence of windows, the hall managed to maintain a refreshing coolness, allowing Aurianna and Ostusi to breathe easily.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Aurianna posed a question as she observed dozens of miniature figures emerging from Ostusi’s arms and darting toward the crowd, some blending in like chameleons with their surroundings.
"What’s your plan with those?" she queried.
"I need to keep an eye on this place and share it with Vatium and the others," Ostusi replied, revealing his purpose.
"Won’t they be detected?" Aurianna inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"The level of magic I’ve imbued won’t be easily detected by ordinary humans. Perhaps an Arc Human might catch a faint trace of their presence, but fully exposing them would require a Grand Human or a Primordial Human," Ostusi detailed, his tone revealing fear when he mentioned those particular human Classes.
"Are Grand Humans that much of a big deal then?" Aurianna mused.
"Consider an Arc Human at level 5000; a Grand Human surpasses that, reaching level 10,000. So, yes, their mere presence has the potential to dismantle any carefully laid plans," Ostusi confessed, a nervous energy manifesting as he clenched his fists. A touch to his neck conjured a disconcerting memory.
The recollection was vivid: his neck clutched firmly by an individual with twin pink-glowing crosses in his eyes.
’I barely managed to escape his grasp,’ he ruminated, teeth clenched in a blend of indignation and fear.
Observing Ostusi, Aurianna’s thoughts churned, ’Given how he’s visibly shaken, he might have encountered one himself. Grand Humans must be even more formidable than Arc Humans. And just when I thought Arc Humans were fearsome to begin with ( ꈨຶ ˙̫̮ ꈨຶ ),’ Aurianna cried inwardly. ’However, I’m beginning to grasp the hierarchy of human evolution. A regular Human ranges from level 1 to 149. A High Human is between levels 150 and 499. A Chaos/Holy Human is level 500 to 999. An Arc Human has levels 1000 to 4999. A Grand Human is from level 5000 to 10,000, and as for Primordial Humans, the extent of their levels is still a mystery to me,’ Aurianna’s thoughts fluttered nervously.
"So then any idea how we can get by pass them?" Ostusi inquired, collecting himself.
"Simple, just hide your aura and follow my lead," Aurianna responded with a smirk, striding toward the crowd with a nonchalant demeanor that baffled Ostusi. He was on the verge of issuing a warning, yet minutes passed and Aurianna remained in place, met by no reaction. His puzzlement grew.
"Just follow me," Aurianna directed, prompting Ostusi to fall into step beside her as they advanced.
"How are you managing this?" Ostusi questioned, bewildered by the lack of response to their presence. ’She didn’t even use invisibility magic,’ he contemplated.
"Noise cancellation barrier, aura concealment, and light manipulation," Aurianna replied, accompanied by a wink.
"Light manipulation?" Ostusi queried, confused with the concept.
"All living things perceive objects based on the light they reflect. By manipulating that light around us and eliminating it, we become practically invisible – not even a trace of our shadows is cast. I advise you to suppress your aura as much as possible and avoid any physical contact. Otherwise, our presence could be detected," she cautioned as they continued their stride toward a substantial doorway, breezing past guards with ease while tailing other knights.
"However, that alone isn’t enough to achieve this level of stealth. You’re hiding something," Ostusi deduced, narrowing his gaze at her.
"I don’t really have an obligation to provide you with reasons. So kindly maintain silence and follow my lead. Frankly, your queries are becoming irksome," Aurianna huffed, her expression marked by displeasure.
"See, my magic comes in handy all the time!" Eva proclaimed proudly, hovering alongside Aurianna.
"It’s undoubtedly proven its usefulness," Aurianna telepathically acknowledged.
"I’ve been able to effectively cloak every trace of your presence. Even devices meant to detect spirits and souls won’t pick up on you," Eva informed her.
"Thank you, Eva. Your assistance means a lot to me," Aurianna expressed with a grateful smile.
"You should shower me with praise more frequently, my dear. Hohoho," Eva chuckled.
"I doubt that’ll happen," Aurianna muttered under her breath, a faint frown on her face.
"By the way, we’ve been walking for quite some time. Where exactly are we heading to?" Ostusi queried, his gaze settling on Aurianna.
"We’re making our way toward the chambers where they hold enslaved prisoners. There’s a matter I need to address there," Aurianna replied.
"I’m appreciative that you’ve allowed me to witness this place, yet certain aspects remain unclear," Ostusi rambled on, his fingers rubbing against his chin thoughtfully.
"What’s the core objective of our presence here? I’m well aware I lack the necessary teleportation means to transport a significant number of people," Ostusi pointed out.
"While you might not possess such resources, did you overlook the fact that I happen to be one of the wealthiest princesses in this Highland? I do indeed possess the required technology. Would I risk appearing here without a meticulously devised strategy?" Aurianna retorted, her raised eyebrow conveying her point.
"I have heard through my contacts that you often favor a punch-first, think-later approach," Ostusi remarked, prompting Aurianna to turn toward him, a cold and piercing glare emanating from her eyes. Ostusi averted his gaze.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Aurianna demanded, anger etching her features, visible veins standing out on her forehead, her cheeks puffing.
"Nothing, just ignore those words," Ostusi quickly responded, avoiding direct eye contact.
"So, when’s your surgery scheduled, Fp 89?" One of the knights clad in verdant armor, who walked ahead of them, inquired of his comrade.
"I’ve been told it’s in two days. Once they’re done, I’ll need to stay for a bit and undergo additional tests before I’m cleared for the upper level," Fp 89 replied, a note of contentment in his voice.
"Well, aren’t you the fortunate one," Fp 534 chuckled, casually draping his arm around Fp 89.
"No doubt about it, Fp 534," Fp 89 responded bashfully. "I owe my gratitude to King Girsal for granting me this opportunity. If not for him, most of us wouldn’t be here."
"That’s absolutely true. We owe him a great deal, and it’s our duty to repay his kindness with our best efforts," Fp 467, a female-voiced knight beneath her helmet, chimed in with fervor.
"You’re quite the fireball, Fp 467," Fp 863 laughed, leaning her arm on her waist.
"Of course! I found out I’ll be summoned about a week later. They’ve finally located an elf with wood-based abilities similar to mine. Can’t help but imagine the new skills I’ll gain!" Fp 467 exclaimed, punctuating her excitement with a little dance as they continued walking.
"Oh, curious about the body parts they’re giving you?" Fp 89 asked.
"Feeling envious, Fp 89?" Fp 467 teased, closing the distance between them.
"No, no," he hurriedly protested, waving his hands, "I’m genuinely thrilled for you."
"Why, thank you. I’ll be getting a heart and eyes transplant. That’s what the medical team informed me. Speaking of which, what did they replace for you? I heard your surgery was a success," Fp 467 inquired of Fp 534.
"Unfortunately, I was endowed with body parts from a lower-tier demon. The arm they gave me isn’t quite satisfactory, and they also swapped my blood with demon’s blood," Fp 534 shared with a hint of sadness, his posture reflecting his low spirits.
"Don’t be too disheartened; demons possess an extraordinary capacity for rapid healing!" Fp 863 interjected, aiming to uplift his spirits.
"That’s accurate, but unfortunately, my own healing abilities aren’t particularly potent," Fp 534 responded with a resigned sigh.
"Then perhaps you should consider undergoing another surgery, this time with a higher-tier demon!" Fp 863 suggested.
"I’d welcome that option, but it implies tackling more perilous missions to amass the points required for such a surgery. Without that, I’m left with the alternative of natural selection – a process that could take years for them to select me again," Fp 534 grumbled.
"Well, best of luck with whatever path you choose!" Fp 467 offered, punctuating her words with an unseen thumbs-up and a wink concealed beneath her helmet.
"I’m not sure my luck will be of much help, but I appreciate the sentiment," Fp 534 conceded.
