Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 706 - 90: Within the Pages

The Earth Elemental Elf is free, ever since she arrived in the Imperial Capital, she has never stopped digging underground. Ethan felt if this small yellow potato was born in an MC world, the entire underground map should turn into a maze she dug out.

Compared to the dark tunnels Ethan imagined, this passage doesn't seem to have been intentionally constructed. The soil has buried the original underground library vault. Only through the passage the small yellow potato opened can some broken building remnants be vaguely seen, but this is considered a blessing in disguise.

At least someone escaped Julius's reckoning.

The fat man with gold-rimmed glasses mentioned by the small yellow potato wasn't at the end of the passage, where there was only an extremely small space, containing a table with a dusty sheepskin book on it.

"Where's the fat man you mentioned?"

The black cat looked around; she didn't observe the presence of other people.

"In the book!"

The small yellow potato said, craning her neck, "I originally wanted to take that book away, but got sucked into it!"

Upon hearing this, Ethan stepped forward, flipped through the book pages, and almost immediately felt a stinging pain as if stung by a hornet. Then, deep blue light filled his vision, and when the scene in front of him became clear again, he found himself standing before a house.

This world is very small, not even enough to be called a "plane." Its surroundings are crudely made, looking like an amateur's test project after half a year of self-study. What comes into view at a glance are mosaic-like flowers, grass, and trees, only the big house in front maintains a realistic world style.

The room's owner noticed the commotion outside, and through the door, a woman's voice could be heard, "Carl, that blond little girl is here again..."

As she spoke, the slightly hunchbacked woman pushed open the door, holding a bamboo tray in her arms filled with various dried fruits. After making eye contact with Ethan, the woman's face immediately changed, trembling as she took out a black ebony wand from inside her apron, angrily shouting, "Careful, Carl, someone is here!"

This wand demonstrated the woman's identity; she was not only a stay-at-home wife but was also a former member of the Astrologer's Guild.

"In the name of the God of Truth!"

A voice weathered by time echoed from the second floor of the room. A middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses opened the window. He chanted something, holding a deep blue glowing tome. However, upon seeing Lady Lindong arrive, his hand shook, dropping the tome to the ground, and after confirming several times in disbelief, he shouted downstairs, "You're out of your mind, that's Lady Lindong!"

"Magic deception!"

The woman sneered coldly, aimed the wand at Lindong, reciting an incantation, "In Kadela's name, false mask, true form revealed!"

Her wrist moved lightly and swiftly, forming a sharp contrast to her slightly bulky figure, suggesting that in her youth, she was also skilled at magic duels. The ebony wand tip spewed forth a dark green light that transformed into a venomous snake striking Lindong.

Lindong didn't use any counter-spells, letting the dark green snake strike her, and with a "bang," a small, obedient ragdoll cat sat on the ground. It meowed and skillfully climbed along Ethan's arm back to her position.

"In Kadela's name, I was truly out of my mind!"

The woman exclaimed, throwing the bamboo tray filled with dried fruits onto the cupboard at the door, rushing forward without changing her shoes, and in slippers, ran to Ethan's side, lovingly picking up the white cat on Ethan's shoulder, "My heavens, it's really you, but everyone said Julius set a trap for you! Are you alright? Hmm... Your magic power circuit looks stable, that kind of spell wouldn't affect you."

Quickly, she urged Ethan and the others into the house; at this moment, the fat man with gold-rimmed glasses also hurriedly descended the stairs, still wearing blue-striped pajamas, his hairstyle somewhat disheveled.

It seemed just like an ordinary day for them.

Except for the man's slightly differing "slightly pudgey" description from Lindong, which at least indicates he has been living well for the past three years.

"I escaped to the empire's border, and he saved me."

Lindong explained.

Once seated, the woman hurriedly headed into the kitchen, returning with a bread basket and sun-dried fruit to the living room, instructing, "You all snack on these to fill your stomachs, but don't eat too much; today's lunch is your favorite roast turkey with sautéed sturgeon."

She looked at Ethan, "And you, young man, have a heart of gold! You can't imagine what hope your good deeds have brought to the empire! By the way, I haven't had a chance to ask your name yet..."

"Ethan, a clerk from the Adventurer's Guild in the small town."

"A very good position, a way to broaden your horizons, I used to work in the guild front desk when I was younger."

"Back then, she wasn't as plump as she is now."

Carl joked with a smile, "Not as old either; plenty in the Astrologer's Guild were pursuing her."

"Stop it, Carl."

The woman gave Karl a glance, swaying her body as she hummed a tune once more heading towards the kitchen.

The harmonious atmosphere of conversation seemed to instantly return to three years ago.

Lindong transformed back into human form and explained to Ethan, "Mrs. Vince is quite skilled in cooking, she often invited me over for dinner at their house in the past."

Both Mr. Karl and Mrs. Vince are good people; after learning about her background, they often cared for her unintentionally. Lindong was genuinely happy upon hearing the news of their survival.

"I heard them say Julius ransacked your home under the pretense of 'harboring forbidden books', and his minion Abaddon led a squad to capture you, tying you and Mrs. Vince onto the pyre."

"Just like you."

Karl chuckled, casually picking up a piece of bread, pairing it with butter and dried fruits, and began to gorge. Ethan thought Karl's transformation from "slightly chubby" to the current description of "fatty with gold-rimmed glasses" had something to do with these magic breads.

Magic bread is the Astrology Guild's most classic transformation spell. Although the spell isn't demanding, turning bread delicious requires numerous details to be considered — precise magic power control, skillful incantation, and a touch of culinary talent.

The latter is the hardest part.

Take Rowena for example, she can also make magic bread, but hers is so hard it can be used to hit people; even Miss Keroy doesn't want to eat it. One evening, when the Other Shore took her troops to hunt in the northern region and didn't return all night, she attempted to use magic bread as dinner to make do with Miss Keroy. Miss Keroy took a bite of the bread and went out that very night to buy a meal with three dishes and one soup.

As for this, Rowena reckoned it was because Miss Keroy has gotten too used to good food upon arriving in the Imperial Capital and has become picky, thus needing more introspection.

Ethan chewed on the soft bread, enjoying the dried fruits paired with butter.

Mrs. Vince has a great talent for cooking; if she wishes, she could open a popular bakery in the Imperial Capital at any time.

"The Church once sent you to the pyre as well; we all witnessed the execution."

Karl said, "But I always thought you wouldn't fall so easily into the hands of the Church Court, whereas my experience is quite legendary. That night, I thought I was doomed, and planned to save the books in the cellar before Abaddon and his knights arrived. They were my grandfather's grandfather's salvaged collection!"

He deliberately kept a pause, adopting a storyteller's flair. "You absolutely won't believe what happened next! While organizing the collection, I suddenly heard the call of the God of Truth! He guided me to find an ancient book, and the moment Mrs. Vince and I opened the book, we appeared in this place!"

They have stayed here for the past three years, moving all the cellar's collection into this new house.

Karl believes it must be their family's longstanding defense of truth that earned the recognition from the God of Truth, who then extended a helping hand during their plight.

This place has all the necessities they need, is away from politics, and is even more pleasant than life in the Imperial Capital; his added thirty pounds is the best proof of that.

"That child who always buries herself in the soil should be the Earth Elemental Elf. Unexpectedly, she brought you here... Logically, we shouldn't be able to see an Elemental Elf, something must be happening outside."

Upon saying this, Karl's expression turned more solemn. "Since you've returned to the Imperial Capital, are you planning to rebuild the Violet Commune and retaliate against Julius? Though Mrs. Vince and I are old and fat, don't underestimate us; we are Fourth Tier Transcendents and can surely help you."

"Julius is already dead."

Suddenly, silence fell over the dining table, Karl halted his chewing, froze in place, and it was a long time before he incredulously asked, "Dead?"

"And his accomplices, Prince Freeman, the Iron-handed Judge of the Judicial Court... Many things have happened over this past year."

"Good, great, excellent!"

Karl excitedly slapped the table and shouted towards the kitchen, "Darling, that scoundrel Julius is finally dead!"

"Really?" A head immediately poked out of the kitchen doorway, "How did he die?"

Lindong didn't respond but smiled at Ethan.

She decided to leave this opportunity to introduce the achievements to Ethan himself; he fulfilled his promise, dragged Julius and his henchmen onto the street, and executed them using his preferred methods.

The curses and cries were turned into ditties by the bards of the Imperial Capital and sung in taverns across different cities of the empire.

Suddenly, everyone's gaze focused on Ethan, even the black cat curiously looked at him.

"This is a bit complex to explain, simply put, Mr. Julius failed his fire resistance test."

Ethan explained, "It's a pity he couldn't become the Empire's fireproof king."