34~ Don’t Touch Those Coins!
With a “plop,” Wenfu plopped her bottom onto the ground as she watched the retreating monster.
During the fight just now, the headbands on the monsters’ heads had been momentarily lifted by the wind, revealing something unsettling underneath.
These creatures had no facial features at all—just empty eye sockets beneath the red cloth, horrifying and grotesque.
As they ventured deeper into Ruglien, the Demon Races they encountered grew stranger. Initially, there were Orcs and Werewolves at least needing nourishment, but later on, these Demons didn’t even have mouths. How they ate was anyone’s guess.
But it seemed that these Demon Races weren’t interested in Humans or Elves; they were more interested in their own kind, leaving much still to be examined.
Tillysha noticed something: after the victor defeated and killed the loser, the victor snatched several coins from the loser’s headband, then, after glancing at them, sauntered off with a self-satisfied shake of the head.
Could it be that these monsters were killing each other simply because of the coins bound to their heads? But what made them so attracted to gold?
Moreover, the barrier of this Demon territory was a well filled with countless coins—was there some kind of connection between this well and the coins on their heads?
This was already the fourth Demon territory they had encountered.
Tillysha surveyed her surroundings. Here stood a wasteland of crumbling ruins, once perhaps a grand and prosperous city-state.
According to their observations, the barrier should have been located at the boundary between two areas.
Unlike past barriers, this one was quite conspicuous.
Aistride looked up, her elven eyes discerning in the distance the towering gates on the hillside, standing prominently in this dilapidated wasteland.
“Those gates… they seem somewhat familiar…?” Filisia frowned, her eyebrows knitting together.
“Familiar?”
“…. I think I’ve seen them in a painting somewhere.”
A bustling market, where if you looked up you could see the towering stronghold set against the mountains.
“Could that be… the Tiansuo Pass??”
“Tiansuo Pass? Do you mean the Tiansuo Pass of the ancient Empire?” Tillysha asked.
“Exactly, the Tiansuo Pass of the ancient Empire. I’ve seen a painting of these gates in my family’s gallery,” Filisia replied, pressing her forehead as if to recall better.
“This was the Emperor’s own pass, known as the ‘Greatest Pass in the World.’ It was a fortress that was easy to defend but nearly impossible to attack. The Empire once lured the elite forces of their enemies into this pass and wiped them out here, annihilating hundreds of thousands of invading forces and exhausting the enemy country’s military resources, thus dominating the entire continent. After that, this pass became regarded as the sacred pass of the Empire, strengthened by successive generations until it became an absolutely unbreachable and indestructible fortress.”
“Understandable.” Though Tillysha had never been to the Empire or seen the Tiansuo Pass herself, its legendary status was well known. The fact was, even after four hundred years of war and devastation, despite being scorched and battered, it had not collapsed, standing tall to this day—a testament to its incredible resilience. This was a miracle.
“Behind the Tiansuo Pass lies the Tiansuo City, the ancient capital of the Empire… we’ve really gotten so far already?”
“There, there must be many Demons living there.” At the mere thought, Filisia’s expression became somewhat more serious, but behind the solemnity was an unmistakable excitement.
Perhaps it meant little to the others present, but “Tiansuo City” held a special place in human culture, synonymous with “the Holy City.”
As someone with the bloodline of the ancient royal family of the Empire—even if from a branch line—this did little to dampen Filisia’s fervor for the human Holy City.
Upon seeing the Tiansuo Pass intact, an instinct within her drove her to enter the gate and see the city beyond, to check if this sacred city of human civilization still stood.
In a flash, the sleeplessness of the past few days was gone.
She hadn’t expected their journey into Ruglien to yield such significant results.
“Should we enter the pass and take a look?”
“Naturally, but there’s something that baffles me.” Tillysha paused, deliberating carefully.
“Baffles? What is it?” Filisia inquired.
“Who created the barriers separating these Demon territories?” Tillysha enunciated her query with great deliberation.
“Isn’t it obvious? The Demons, of course.” Filisia answered without hesitation, with Wenfu and Aistride nodding in agreement.
Inside Ruglien, there were only Demons. If not them, then who else could it be? Besides, who else had the power to carve up their own kind into so many separate territories?
Were they really made by the Demons?
As far as they could ascertain at the moment, there seemed to be no other plausible explanation.
And yet…
An instinct within Tillysha warned her that things weren’t that simple.
Deciding to set up camp at the foot of the mountain and rest before ascending, the Brilliant Sun and Moon did so not out of any particular strategy but because Filisia and Wenfu, both human and demi-human, couldn’t handle going without sleep for days on end.
Sitting outside the tent with nothing better to do, Tillysha, Aistride, and Yimi decided to play a game of Truth or Dare.
To be truthful, Aistride was quite impressed by the carefree attitude of these two Gold Elves, playing Truth or Dare deep within the treacherous interior of Ruglien. She could only imagine what the local Demons would think if they knew.
“Ah, who would have thought I would lose?” Tillysha tilted her head, looking at her choice of cloth against Yimi’s and Aistride’s scissors.
“Choose: Truth or Dare.”
“Truth.”
“Unexpected. I thought you’d pick Dare,” Yimi said with mild disdain, eyeing Tillysha sideways. “After all, a woman with so many secrets would be reluctant to spill the beans.”
“Little Wenfu, you shouldn’t say such things. When have I ever had so many secrets?” Tillysha said with a warm smile.
“Go ahead and ask.”
“So, do you like someone?” Yimi asked the big question right off the bat.
Sitting cross-legged with shiny black legs, Aistride had been idly watching, but at this question, she suddenly became tense, her gaze shifting anxiously between Yimi and Tillysha, excited yet hesitant to hear the answer.
“Yes,” Tillysha replied without hesitation.
Aistride clenched her fists, grabbed her hem nervously, her lips slightly pursed, her lavender eyes shimmering like a clear pool.
“Wow, this old woman actually likes someone? Who is it?”
“I’ve already answered your question.” Ignoring Yimi’s follow-up, Tillysha smiled coyly. “Only one question, after which you don’t get to ask anymore.”
“Che, sneaky.” Yimi pouted but quickly turned to Aistride with a suggestive look in her eyes. “Aistride, it’s your turn to ask.”
“…” Aistride missed the implication entirely. All she knew was that Yimi’s question had already made her heart race.
At this point, Tillysha couldn’t even know how she felt let alone respond.
Could it be that Princess Tillysha already had someone she loved—or even deeply cherished?
Even knowing the question was strange, Aistride couldn’t help herself. The doubt gnawed at her like a thousand ants chewing on her skin, making her itch uncontrollably.
“Aistride?”
Meeting Tillysha’s puzzled gaze, Aistride cautiously formed her words in her mind, carefully enunciated her question.
“Princess Tillysha, the person you admire… who is it?” After asking, Aistride averted her gaze, pretending to act nonchalant.
“Admire?” Tillysha echoed, pondering the word for a moment before shaking her head. “No, I don’t have that.”
“Eh?”
“You said you liked someone…” Yimi’s lively eyes narrowed. “Are you going back on your words now? That’s not allowed.”
“Who says I retracted my words? Both statements are true,” Tillysha raised an eyebrow. “Like and admire are not interchangeable terms, you know.”
“I like a lot of people, yet the person I admire doesn’t exist… yet. There’s no conflict there.”
“For example, I really like Yimi~” Tillysha smoothly shifted gears, teasingly saying this with an ambiguous tone that sent shivers down the spine.
“Che, naughty woman,” Yimi pouted, turning her face away.
Hearing Tillysha’s response, Aistride’s heart relaxed but also sank unexpectedly, confusing herself with the sudden shift in emotions.
The game continued. This time, it was Yimi’s turn to lose.
After Aistride posed a light-hearted question, Tillysha twirled a strand of hair, leaning on her elbow, smirking mysteriously.
“Yimi, wasn’t it you who ate the mango cake I bought the other day and placed on the desk?”
Dun dun dun!
Yimi hadn’t expected Tillysha to pose this question, momentarily stunned. When she pulled herself together, she decided to keep cool in front of Tillysha’s piercing emerald gaze, steadfast but unyielding. However, the curve on Tillysha’s lips belied an absent smile.
“… It’s getting late. Wenfu should be waking up soon. We should pack our things.”
“Not so fast. Answer the question first before packing,” Tillysha waved her hand, holding down Yimi’s shoulder, her smile unwavering.
“Yimi, it’s truth. You can’t lie, right~?”
“I’ll… join Aistride to prepare things…” Yimi attempted.
“Unnecessary,” Aistride interjected, feeling Tillysha’s intent. “Yimi, take care. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Yimi swallowed, watching Tillysha’s increasingly taunting smile.
The little interlude ended.
Everyone resumed the journey.
Yawning, Wenfu got up. Sleep wasn’t the best, but she had rested at least. Meeting up with her walking companion, Yimi, her eyes brightened.
“Yimi, your hat is adorable~ Did Tillysha give it to you?”
“…” Yimi stiffly nodded, seemingly unwilling to elaborate.
Unlike the previous Demon territories, this one looked treacherous but was surprisingly safe.
Throughout their trip, they encountered many Demons. However, each of them had eyes only for their own kind, not caring much for the Light races who passed by without a glance or fight.
That way, they managed to ascend the mountain smoothly.
“Eh?” Stepping on something hard, Wenfu cocked her head, bending down to check. It was a shiny golden coin.
Curious, Wenfu picked it up. It sparkled in sunlight, revealing a crowned bearded man carved on the surface.
It was probably made of pure gold, definitely a coin from the ancient Empire.
Filisia sister seemed very interested in the ancient Empire. Should she give it to her?
Deciding that, Wenfu hopped along after the group.
“Beware, there are those faceless monsters patrolling around the pass,” warned someone.
“Relax. They’re not interested in us,” Yimi stated confidently.
“Filisia sister! Filisia sister! Look what Wenfu found!” They all turned at the sight of the young girl skipping up, showing a shiny golden coin.
“Filisia sister, do you think this is an ancient Empire coin?”
“Hmm? According to the remaining samples, this is indeed an ancient Empire gold coin…”
Yimi nonchalantly glanced at the monsters aimlessly pacing in front of the pass, when suddenly she froze in shock.
The faceless monsters, who were supposed to ignore them, had all suddenly turned their gaze to Wenfu!
“This, this… this is not right!”
“Wenfu, throw the coin away quickly!” Tillysha yelled immediately.
“Ah, meow? Throw where?”
“Just throw it anywhere, quick!”
“Oh!” Wenfu quickly hurled the gold coin down the mountain.
The round gold piece tumbled down the slope, and immediately thereafter, a loud commotion followed.
Everyone quickly stepped aside. The faceless creatures that had been idly roaming around the gate now all charged down the slope in unison, chasing after the tumbling coin.
“This, this… this what?” Wenfu gasped, startled.
“Indeed,” Tillysha observed as the monsters disappeared. “These monsters fight each other because of these coins.”
“But why do they fight over the coins?” Aistride didn’t understand what made the coins so special in the eyes of the monsters, enough to drive them crazy.
“It’s unclear, but whatever the reason, avoid picking up things in Ruglien.”
“Mew, Wenfu understands…” Wenfu whimpered pitifully, clutching the hem of her skirt.
In no time, the group arrived at the gate.
Aistride glanced worriedly at Tillysha.
She could sense that Tillysha had been pushing the limits of her “Holy Oblivion” abilities for days on end, and it was unclear if this would leave any long-term effects on her body.
But what they didn’t anticipate—when they casually pushed the gates of the pass, they opened easily, standing wide open with no resistance or security whatsoever.
