Sea Tiger asked himself,
If he had to make a choice between strangers and the Eagle Mercenary Group, he would also choose the latter, even at the sacrifice of the former.
Vielsia stood still for several seconds before finally catching up, she followed at the end of the group.
Yes, just at the end.
The elf girl now hung her head low, her facial expression unclear, but Vielsia's tightly clenched her fists revealed the internal struggle she was facing.
Undoubtedly, Reji's previous words had a significant impact on her.
This was different from the "elf race education" she had always received.
What truly made Vielsia waver was,
If she had to replace the subject of Reji's words,
One day, when she was forced to choose between "justice" and "Reji," which side would she pick?
The most important thing... to me, what is truly the most important...
As Vielsia was still caught in this shift of thought, going through the most challenging period, another figure quietly approached and came to the elf's side.
Indeed.
It was Sophia.
"Miss Vielsia, don't be sad. I think you are right!"
The little princess reverted to her soft and fragile demeanor, like a little sister.
She was cheering up Vielsia, who was feeling down and disheartened.
"Since I was young, I've always admired those great heroes, the knights who are willing to help others! Miss Vielsia, please continue to uphold this spirit of kindness and justice! Ilinor has suffered greatly now, and what the country needs most in the future are people like Miss Vielsia!"
Towards the end, the little princess seemed to shyly lower her head, her fingers interlocked, and then she looked up bravely, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she continued, "I will take Miss Vielsia as my role model!"
"So, I also want to follow Teacher Reji, to become a student of him. When I have the strength in the future, I will become a companion by Sister Vielsia's side! Together, we can contribute to Ilinor and help those who are suffering!"
"Furthermore, Miss Sophia, please keep your distance from my teacher. I wouldn't want someone as dirty as you are now to come into contact with him."
"If you were to dirty my Teacher's clothes, I'd have to wash them when we return tonight. If you truly want to help me, please don't add to my workload with my Teacher tonight."
After saying this, Vielsia glanced at the once elegant and beautiful dress of the little princess, which was now stained with large patches of wine, vegetable juice, and grease stains from the earlier escape, shook her head, and made a disgusted face.
Then, without giving Sophia a chance to respond, she quickly walked away, jogging towards Reji, leaving the princess behind, coming back to her senses, furious and impotent.
Hearing the footsteps coming from behind, Reji smiled.
Of course, he had heard the interchange between Vielsia and the little princess.
'So my naive elf wasn't so foolish after all; she actually had a knack for talking back'
Or was it, perhaps, an instinct triggered between females?
As a jest, Reji purposefully asked the elf girl following him, "Vielsia, how did you know I had no plans of taking on more disciples?"
Vielsia, no longer timid and seemingly having grown, actually asked back.
"Does Teacher really have no such plans?"
"No, not until I have taught this bad student a thing or two, at least."
Hearing this, the elven girl's face transitioned from being slightly sullen to a sweet smile as if she had tasted honey.
Of course, this smile quickly turned into panic and shyness.
Because Reji followed up with, "But more than that, I'm interested in Miss Vielsia's mention of the workload with me at night. Could you elaborate on that?"
Fortunately, the awkward moment Vielsia had, wishing for a crack in the ground to swallow her up for her impulsive words, did not last long.
Because, as everyone continued to "flee" a few steps forward, a group of figures emerged from the darkness.
They were also monsters.
But not skeletons.
Instead, it was a bizarre species with limbs that seemed to transform into blades, sharp leg blades maintaining a strange balance on the ground, something even Sea Tiger, who considered himself well-traveled, had never seen before.