Chapter 145: Meeting the Parents
The journey from Claren City to Count Lidilia's territory was quite far, even with Coleridge's magic powers, the carriage still traveled for ten days.
Loria didn't let these ten days go to waste.
Besides practicing and improving her seduction skills in simulations, and earning more stamina points, she would intentionally stay close to the guildmaster and try to use her beauty to make the person who did something bad with her that night "unable to resist."
But after all, it was in reality, and there were others nearby, so Loria didn't dare to go too far.
It turned out that these little tricks didn't have much effect.
Her body's response during heat was more intense than a succubus, but she wasn't as charming.
Charm comes in many different forms.
Even with the same 13 charm points, it would naturally make people feel attracted to a succubus, but when applied to her, the first impression people get is cute and beautiful.
Who made her a noble and righteous female knight on the surface?
And she usually wears very proper clothes, while succubus wears either a black fishnet bodysuit or a dress made of black ropes, always paired with accessories like collars and leg bands.
In this way, the charm displayed by Loria is completely different from the charm exhibited by succubus.
Loria in the simulation is fearless, she has even tried on the clothes that succubus often wears, but the real Loria doesn't have the courage to do so.
The pursuit of excitement is quite thrilling, but if one is not careful, they may be mistaken for a succubus among people, thus attracting countless troubles.
"I'm super innocent, if people mistake me for a perverted spiritomaniac who is obsessed with lewdness all day, my life would be completely ruined."
Miss Knight, who is full of integrity, also has the grand dream of living off someone after marriage.
The carriage wheels clanged, just like the distant sound of heavy artillery fire.
On the third day after leaving Claren City, Loria, who got off the carriage to buy a newspaper, discovered that something big had happened.
First, assassins sent by the Hidden Leader caused chaos in Claren City. They killed government officials who couldn't escape in just one day. Several officials managed to hide and avoid Loria's thugs, but before they could celebrate, the assassins killed them in a gruesome way and hanged their bodies in their own windows.
In the words of a journalist, it looked like a spider with human heads from afar.
This horrific scene caused great panic in Claren City.
The citizens who were still unsure about whether to leave or not, no longer hesitated and quickly grabbed their belongings to run away.
However, to everyone's surprise, the assassins sent by the Hidden Leader didn't harm the common people this time.
The second news was related to the war situation. Just as speculated before, the rebel forces organized by the Hidden Leader launched wave after wave of attacks. They easily broke through the temporary defenses set up by the unprepared imperial army and were about to invade the Province of Claren.
At this time, the capital finally reacted. While deploying troops, the Royal Knights and the Golden Knights controlled by the Goddess Church also sent powerful knights to the front lines.
This was not an ordinary war. Victory would not be achieved by merely defeating the rebel forces.
The Hidden Leader, with their strange beliefs, initiated the war not only for the sake of power. Only by completely shattering their ambitions can the situation truly come to an end.
"The Royal Knight and the Golden Knight, that would be at least a B-level adventurer?"
Loria suddenly felt a bit excited.
Being a B-level adventurer means at least one attribute has reached 201 points.
Such powerful individuals were out of reach for her at the moment.
"I wonder when I will be able to reach this level."
On the seventh day after leaving Claren City, Loria learned from the newspaper that the rebels had finally attacked the city.
At this moment, she couldn't help but feel worried, and could only silently pray for those who hadn't escaped in time, hoping they wouldn't suffer harm.
The biggest unexpected event occurred on the ninth day of the journey.
Just a few hundred miles away from Count Lidilia's territory, Loria, who had nothing to do, walked into a church in the town, ready to pray.
She didn't believe in God, but it never hurt to bow down on someone else's turf.
Just as she reached the vicinity of the church, cries of alarm could be heard from inside.
"Ah, c-cracked...the goddess has cracked!"
The sound of wailing swept through the entire street like a wild gust of wind.
Loria was bewildered.
The goddess cracked?
As the shouts grew louder, she finally grasped the situation.
The goddess hadn't cracked, but the statue of the goddess with hands raised, symbolizing dawn, wind, and sky, had cracked.
Not only was it cracked, but it was severely cracked, starting from the little crown on top all the way down to the bottom, with numerous small cracks spread around the large fissure. It seemed like with just one more push, the statue would collapse completely.
"How did it become like this?"
"Quickly go call the mayor!"
Loria swayed like a flat boat, being squeezed in the crowded crowd.
She felt a little guilty.
Last time when she went to the church to worship the goddess, there was suddenly lightning and thunder outside. Could it be related to her that the goddess statue also shattered this time?
No, that's not right.
This time she didn't even enter the church, so it definitely has nothing to do with her.
"Since it's not related to me, then what's going on here? Is the statue old and poorly maintained? Is someone secretly causing trouble?"
Loria stood outside for a long time but couldn't figure it out.
This matter not only alarmed the mayor but also alarmed the church leader.
In the end, due to time constraints, she had to board the carriage and leave.
However, even if she stayed there to watch the play, she couldn't really see anything. The next day's newspaper reported on the matter, concluding that the possibility of a shoddy construction project could not be ruled out, but further investigation was needed for specific details.
"Okay."
Instead of focusing on that, Loria thought it would be better for her to learn about the customs and traditions led by Count Lidilia.
Temporarily relieved of her burdens, she flipped through the recently purchased travel magazine.
At a glance, her mood became complicated.
[Count Lidilia's Guide to Bawdyhouses·Foot Bath Edition]
[Reporter: Vita Orain]
The last name is the same, the first name is the same, and the job is also the same.
Is this Vita without a doubt the same Vita she met in Creek Town?
I wonder how Vita is doing now.
When she said goodbye to Vita, she said she would go find Vita once she reached A level, but she is still far from reaching A level.
"To be considered an A level adventurer, you need a single attribute over 500, but right now my endurance is only 121 points."
Let's just go to bed for now.
Loria closed the travel magazine, closed her eyes to rest, and after about ten minutes, she finally heard the guildmaster's voice by her ear.
"We've arrived."
The carriage stopped, and Loria jumped off the car, only to see a village nestled among green mountains and clear waters.
This is not an ordinary village, it looks more like a small part taken from a big city.
Her gaze naturally fell upon a large mansion at the foot of the mountain.
Needless to say, that must be the guildmaster's home.
The first Count Lidilia was a founding hero of the empire, but as time passed, the Count Lidilia family gradually lost influence, and became poor, seemingly only left with money.
"Are you... Miss Adeline?"
Suddenly, a farmer walking by the field dropped his hoe, widened his eyes, and ran up to the guildmaster.
His shouting was very effective, instantly attracting more than ten people in the village.
"Miss Adeline has returned!"
The cheers grew louder and soon spread throughout the entire village.
Loria was surprised. She didn't expect the guildmaster to be so popular among the villagers.
The guildmaster greeted every villager she met, and she could even say their names perfectly.
"Miss Adeline hasn't been back for five years, right?"
"Almost five years, Uncle Gick."
"The countess hasn't been feeling very well lately."
"I will pay attention."
It took nearly twenty minutes for Loria and her to finally make their way through the village to the entrance of the estate.
Two big black dogs were squatting at the entrance. They looked fierce, but as soon as they saw the guildmaster, they immediately wagged their tails and ran over.
"Goodness!"
In Loria's eyes, the guildmaster was not the type to smile easily, and when she was angry, she could even go as far as punishing her subordinates severely by tying them up in the basement.
But everything she saw today was telling her that the past the guildmaster was an extremely cheerful person, and everyone, including people and animals, adored her.
What caused her to become the person she is now?
Loria couldn't help but recall the story the guildmaster once told her, about the things she experienced in the necromancy society at the officer school. Could it be related to this?
Unfortunately, the guildmaster was evasive and refused to tell her the specific details of what happened back then.
Loria strongly suspected that the guildmaster's methods of gaining strength were connected to this incident.
"Such a big dog!"
Lady Luciene swallowed nervously and instinctively retreated behind Loria.
Just then, the servants who had heard the barking of a dog came running out from the mansion.
Just like before when they entered the village, with a loud shout, Count Lidilia, the countess, and the second young lady of the family came out.
After a while, Loria sat on the sofa somewhat shyly, holding a teacup in her hands.
Is that man with a mustache and emotionless face Count Lidilia, who simulated sending her to the guillotine?
This person indeed seems difficult to get along with.
The guildmaster clearly had poor health and passed away from a sudden illness. It's unreasonable to say she was killed by Loria!
After taking a sip of tea, Loria noticed her hand being pulled.
She turned her head and heard Miss Plump Sheep say, "I have a feeling something's not right."
Loria nodded lightly.
The guildmaster's family didn't seem very happy about her return.
Count Lidilia, who always had a cold face, stayed silent. The countess, with her head held high, spoke sharply without giving them a friendly look.
Loria always felt that this countess looked down on them "country folks."
The guildmaster, the younger sister with golden pigtails, behaved even stranger.
She sat on another sofa, occasionally stealing glances at the guildmaster. Her eyes were so complicated that one couldn't quite understand what they contained.
"Is this what it's like in a noble family?"
Just having these few people together already made one feel suffocated. If all those aunts and uncles came over, Loria doubted she could stay at all.
It was like squeezing a large iron rod into the gap in the sofa, making it impossible to sit down.
This soft food doesn't taste good.
Luckily, the guildmaster in the simulation was tough, otherwise, she would have been kicked out of the guildmaster's house by her family a long time ago.
"How long do you plan to stay at home this time?"
Count Lidilia stood beside the bed and asked in a very calm voice.
"One month, maybe longer."
"Do you still remember this is your home?"
"I remember."
"Did you come back to me because you're in trouble?"
"I will solve my own problems. If I can't solve them, do you agree or not?"
The guildmaster and Count Lidilia quickly clashed, and Loria couldn't help but feel nervous at this dazzling sight, afraid that the father and daughter would start fighting.
However, Count Lidilia's composure was much stronger than he had imagined. Even when his daughter retorted like that, he surprisingly didn't get angry.
Maybe it's just a habit?
But the countess is different.
"How do you talk to your father?"
The guildmaster quickly exclaimed, "I'll pay attention next time."
She said she would definitely do better next time, but her attitude didn't change at all.
Huh, I won't change, I'll just play!
After a conversation that lasted for more than ten minutes, Loria finally felt free.
Before she could speak, Coleridge and Lady Luciene stood up.
"We won't disturb you for now."
They didn't want to get involved in the guildmaster's family matters, so they decided to leave while they had the chance.
The guildmaster didn't insist on keeping them, instead she told them they could stay in the village. The village was peaceful and had everything they needed, making it a good place to live.
"Then... we'll come back to visit you tomorrow."
"Hmm."
Miss Plump Sheep quickly took Doris and Lady Luciene and ran away.
After saying goodbye to Count Lidilia, Coleridge followed suit.
Soon, only Loria, the guildmaster, and Count Lidilia were left in the living room.
The count said, "Let's arrange a room for your friend."
The guildmaster nodded and took Loria upstairs. The place she arranged for Loria to stay was right next to her own room.
The maids are very diligent and they quickly cleaned the room in a few minutes.
"If Miss Jaratiya needs anything, who can we talk to?"
"Thank you."
Loria watched the maids leave, then began asking the guildmaster about the household chores.
"That is my stepmother, and my younger sister is my half-sister."
Loria nodded her head.
No wonder the countess doesn't like the guildmaster, there is a conflict of interests involved.
"Tonight, take a good rest. Starting from tomorrow, I will teach you from scratch about what I learned at the officer's academy. Be prepared mentally."
"No problem."
Isn't it just being trained by the guildmaster?
Loria has long been used to it.
Speaking of resting, she really needs a rest.
The long journey didn't make her body tired, but it made her spirit low. She desperately needs a hot bath now.
Loria took off her coat and was about to take off her white stockings on her legs when she suddenly heard a hurried knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
Loria walked over to open the door.
She thought the person standing outside would be the guildmaster or the maid who had arranged the room before, but it was the guildmaster's sister wearing a dress and a cute ribbon on her hair.
What was her name again?
Loria remembered the information that the guildmaster had told her not long ago.
Tracy Lidilia.
She is eighteen years old this year.
In a way, she is a genius. She showed exceptional learning abilities at a young age. She not only excelled in academics, but also had outstanding performance in music, painting, horseback riding, dancing, and religious studies. She was completely different from the guildmaster, who focused all her energy on swordsmanship.
What's even more important is that Tracy is very good-looking.
Like the guildmaster, she has charming golden hair. But unlike the aloof the guildmaster, she inherited her birth mother's gentle and pleasant appearance.
"Do you have something to tell me?"
Tracy crossed her arms and didn't rush to explain her purpose. Instead, she looked at Loria from head to toe for a while before asking, "What is your relationship with my sister? There were six of you in total, but the other four left. My sister specifically asked you to stay."
"？"
It's none of your business.
After all, Tracy might become her future sister-in-law, but Loria still showed a friendly attitude.
"When Guildmaster Adeline worked as the Adventurers Management Guild the guildmaster in Creek Town, I was a staff member of the association."
"So, you're just your sister's subordinate?"
"In addition, Guildmaster Adeline also taught me swordsmanship."
"It's nothing special."
Tracy snorted lightly, glanced at Loria, then turned her head and walked away directly.
Hey, hey, hey, why are you so rude?
Loria widened her eyes.
The rich girl is amazing, isn't she? Is your chest as big as mine? Are you as enduring as me?
Forget it.
Loria grumbled as she went back to her room. It wasn't worth dealing with a little brat with only E-level strength. Instead, she might as well take a nice hot bath, and relax.
Loria didn't waste any time while soaking in the bath.
Since she couldn't get any information about the Necromancer Society incident from the guildmaster, she decided to target the guildmaster's family instead!
