From her spectator's viewpoint, Melina was utterly astonished. How had the Tarnished managed to recruit a Black Knife Assassin with just a few words? Was this charisma? The caliber of a king?
She had to admit, the conditions Frieren offered truly hit the vital points. Sanctuary was paramount for a fugitive.
Moreover, Frieren had already demonstrated her strength.
Easily suppressing a Black Knife Assassin wasn't something just anyone could do. These Numen women, augmented by the Rune of Death, were arguably hero-level combatants, formidable in their own right. Otherwise, how could they have infiltrated Leyndell, the Royal Capital, assassinated the prince, and still managed to withdraw?
But the silver-haired girl's unfathomable power was truly convincing. Coupled with the kindness of healing her, Auluo, weary of a life on the run, chose to join.
A win-win situation for all involved.
"Speaking of which, I felt a wary gaze on me just now..."
"That's my Finger Maiden. She's normally invisible to most people because she's in a spectral state," Frieren answered truthfully. "Don't worry, I'll ensure she gains a physical body."
Though said casually, it was a promise made with great earnestness.
Hearing this, Melina's heart skipped a beat. Even she wasn't certain if reaching the foot of the Erdtree would restore her corporeality. Perhaps she should consider backup plans. Honestly, this Tarnished always manages to strike a chord with one's hopes.
"Although I cannot see her, I surmise Lady Frieren treats her very well. Your choice of weapon and steed speaks volumes about your character."
"It's merely a mutually beneficial exchange. I quite enjoy accepting commissions."
"What are your plans?"
Regarding this, Frieren revealed Bernahl's earlier advice. Auluo, the Black Knife Assassin, also thought it wasn't urgent to head to Castle Morne. Especially bringing her, an enemy of the Erdtree, could easily provoke the castellan. It might be better to wait for the war to blunt their edge a bit more.
As for the longer-term plan of defeating Godrick, Auluo currently believed Frieren should focus on gathering followers and gaining support. After all, conquest and rule were two different matters.
In truth, Auluo believed Frieren's strength was sufficient to challenge the weakest of the demigods, but Stormveil Castle still harbored many dangers.
Furthermore, she didn't want her new superior to fight a major battle alone only to neglect establishing rule afterwards. Wouldn't that be a wasted effort? She herself also lacked the protection of a faction, which would be a lose-lose scenario.
"Compared to the steadfast castellan of Morne, the lord of Fort Haight, which is closer to us, might be more receptive to a change of leadership. He's actually quite dissatisfied with Godrick."
"Let's take it then."
"Wait, we have to pass through Summonwater Village first, a ruined place occupied by a very powerful monster."
"Then let's rest up before going. We both need a good sleep."
After saying this, Frieren leaned against the wall to rest. She had initially planned to rest casually along the way, but knowing there was a regional boss ahead meant conserving energy beforehand. She needed at least a full day's sleep to catch up, to make up for the continuous travel.
Moments later, the silver-haired girl drifted off to sleep as if no one else were around.
Auluo now understood what the saying "those who achieve great things don't sweat the small stuff" meant. You really treat your sister-in-arms like family, completely unafraid of a wielder of the Rune of Death.
The last person who slept soundly in front of a Black Knife Assassin was named Godwyn, and the grass on his grave mound was probably taller than the castle walls by now.
"I should rest too."
The Sunlight Heal wasn't without its toll; at the very least, it left one feeling drained. She needed to recover to ensure she was in peak condition to be helpful in the upcoming battle at Summonwater Village.
Their boldness allowed them both to sleep soundly even within a catacomb. However, the chain of events in Limgrave kept many others awake through the night. The turmoil stirred up by the new Tarnished continued to brew.
In the main hall of Stormveil Castle, Godrick, draped in robes, listened to a report:
"My lord, we found the remains of a Deathbird at the Warmaster's Shack. It was likely the work of the 'Funeral Spellblade,' but she vanished afterwards..."
"Useless trash!"
The towering, enraged man roared, his voice booming. Countless grafted arms writhed around him, seemingly eager to accept new material.
The surrounding soldiers trembled in fear. Everyone knew that once angered, Godrick would recklessly use grafting to create various monsters. The pitiful cries of those unfortunate souls echoed incessantly, terrifying people into sleepless nights.
Although he primarily used Tarnished, no one could guarantee they wouldn't become a target themselves.
"I heard that arrogant Tarnished, who doesn't know her place, even boasted about attacking Stormveil Castle to seize the Great Rune and rule Limgrave. Should we make preparations?"
"Rest assured, this place is extremely sturdy."
Godrick knew there was still a Crucible Knight within the castle walls – a veteran who had fought alongside his ancestor, the first Elden Lord, and posed a threat even to demigods. With the knight and himself, Stormveil's top-tier combat strength was sufficient, and the high walls were enough to repel most enemies.
Therefore, he never worried about the safety of his stronghold underfoot. The key was to eliminate dangerous Tarnished.
Frieren's track record gave him a slight sense of crisis; after all, the Tree Sentinel she defeated possessed considerable renown.
"Relying solely on our own search isn't enough. Have the lords of various regions cooperate."
Silence fell.
Several messengers showed troubled expressions. Seeing this, Godrick realized the next report was equally critical, and likely not good news.
"Castle Morne, the largest vassal castle, is facing a rebellion, along with numerous Misbegotten attacks. The fighting is currently fierce, with both sides engaged in a life-or-death struggle around the castle walls. We believe Castellan Edgar will ultimately prevail, but it will certainly drag on for a long time. Should we send reinforcements?"
"He brought it upon himself by not thoroughly eliminating the Misbegotten threat. No reinforcements needed; we have more pressing matters."
"There's also trouble at Fort Haight."
Hearing this, Godrick's brow twitched. Why was trouble brewing everywhere? He had clearly assigned personnel to garrison various locations, yet the situation worsened. He suppressed his anger and listened:
"The men you sent clashed with the local nobility. The person in charge, Kenneth, was driven out. So... according to their understanding, Fort Haight is in danger of rebellion."
"Their only job was to monitor the nobility! How did it escalate to this?!"
Was he supposed to admit his poor judgment of character and lack of decisiveness? Preposterous! It's all the fault of the nobles and the Tarnished.
"Not only that, but wandering monsters have appeared in the east, attacking everyone indiscriminately. They move in groups, and all forces sent to eliminate them have failed. They call themselves the Farron Undead Legion and remain undefeated so far. Local noble soldiers have also been affected. The area is currently in chaos, making it difficult to relay effective information."
"Damn it!"
The barrage of news made Godrick furious.
He took several deep breaths to compose himself, carefully analyzing the situation. Didn't this mean Stormveil Castle had lost its flanking support from both regions?
No, this is becoming dangerous. Relying solely on one castle made it vulnerable to exploitation, especially since Tarnished from the Roundtable Hold might seize the opportunity to snatch his Great Rune.
"Relay my orders: strengthen the alert, slow down captures, and station more personnel in eastern Limgrave."
The implication was clear: abandon the regions already aflame, let them fend for themselves.
"As you command."
...
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