Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Grace’s Saintly Omen, the Sapphire Dragon’s Mystery
Just now, he discovered a fact that surprised him.
That is, within Grace flows a power that made his hair stand on end.
Even through the armor, Louis still felt a scorching sensation when shaking hands with her.
"The blessing of the God of Glory and Justice?"
Besides this, Louis couldn’t think of many reasons.
As the deity most involved in battles against the Abyss throughout the history of the stars, the Church of Glory and Justice has always been the main force in suppressing the Abyss.
Perhaps due to their loathing of the Abyss, the divine blessing of this denomination has a damage bonus against demons.
Originally, Louis thought Grace receiving the divine blessing and becoming the Libra Saintess would happen later.
But now it seems that Grace probably received the god’s blessing at this stage, she just hasn’t discovered it yet.
This was getting interesting.
Louis and the others sat on old chairs.
The first to raise a question was Louis:
"The blessing of the God of Glory and Justice, besides affecting demons, what other beings does it affect?"
William said without hesitation:
"Demons of the Abyss, devils of the Nine Hells, undead of the Netherworld...
All those who disrupt order and spread chaos are enemies of the God of Justice."
Alice curiously said, "Why are you asking this? It’s unrelated to this exploration."
"Of course it is!"
Louis silently thought.
Only he could connect the dots.
Because he had an ominous suspicion.
That is, in Grace’s family of three, only Grace survived. Was it that Grace was merely fortunate not to be killed by the creatures, or...
Could the creatures not harm her at all?
If it’s the former, then it’s likely Louis will indeed encounter the first wave of creatures charging down from the Burning Smoke Mountain Range this time.
If it’s the latter...
Then it’s a big problem!
Because most creatures aren’t actually restrained by the blessing of the God of Glory and Justice.
The creatures that attacked their family are intriguing.
Louis temporarily suppressed this concern in his heart.
At this moment, a gentle rain started outside.
Grace was outside tidying things up.
Alice, the rogue, went over to help bring some clothes inside and teased the comely village girl.
Grace ran back and forth between the kitchen and outside, working up a sweat, with her cheeks slightly flushed, and strands of hair sticking to her face.
She shyly scratched her head, only to hide her unease when she returned to the kitchen to continue cooking for the others.
Louis and the others sat just beside the kitchen.
They happened to be able to see her handling some game ingredients on the cutting board, her long lashes slightly trembling, her clear peach blossom eyes focused on the iron pot.
She was truly earnest in preparing the best food her home could offer for the group.
"Please, try this first, I just picked these mushrooms today."
Grace said softly, clueless on how to interact with these people.
Louis glanced at the cutting board and said in a low voice:
"What are you going to serve next?"
"Huh?"
Grace looked up in confusion, unaware of why Louis asked.
Louis moved slightly, seeing her lean closer, and patiently asked:
"What ingredients are you using next?"
"Specialty of the Dragonbone Prairie... prairie giant rats, they are, are herbivores.
They’re very clean, and a lot of people like to eat them."
Grace said softly.
Ali, who was relishing the mushrooms, paused her fork.
William also lifted his head, thinking about the cutting board.
Understanding dawned on Grace, and she bashfully said:
"Are, are you not used to it? I can change it for you!"
Louis calmly said, "No need, serve it."
"Oh."
Grace nodded obediently, still a bit puzzled.
...
Soon, the table was filled with a spread of rustic dishes.
Stir-fried wild greens.
Stir-fried mushrooms.
Spicy prairie giant rat meat.
Mushroom soup.
Rice topped with a meat sauce.
Seeing Grace’s panting expression, Louis glanced at the other two:
"Why are you looking at me? Dig in!"
Saying so, he picked up a piece of rat meat, lifted his helmet, and took a bite.
Seeing this, Alice also dug in:
"Little sister Grace has great skills!"
After tasting the spicy meat, she laughed:
"Caesar, are you regretting it? Last time in the Imperial Capital’s sewers, you shouldn’t have wiped out all those prairie rats."
Louis shook his head: "Are you joking? The moment they entered the sewers, they were off the menu."
William vaguely noticed Louis’ intent to eat first, so he grabbed his fork nonchalantly.
Joking, when in the Imperial Capital, prairie giant rat meat was his favorite.
"This time, see me as an adventurer, yeah, His Highness Louis surely wants me to act more convincingly."
So he started eating faster.
"I’m eating like crazy.jpg"
Louis leisurely scooped a spoonful of mushroom soup, lifted a small section of armor, and slowly drank it.
He said, "You sit down and eat too."
Grace shook her head with effort.
"When I tell you to sit, you sit, we won’t eat you."
Finally, Grace sat down. Her somewhat worn clothes revealed hands that looked a bit red.
Louis didn’t mind the hassle, lifting his helmet’s cover for every bite.
After finishing the mushroom soup, he had a few slices of mushrooms and wild vegetables.
He stopped eating after a few minutes.
Aside from the first bite, he didn’t touch the rat meat again.
He was actually the one with reservations about rat meat.
It was only then that Grace noticed something, her clear peach blossom eyes reddening.
When Louis turned to look at her, she lowered her head again.
Unnoticed by Louis, there was another person, who, even while devouring the prairie giant rat meat, secretly watched him.
"Your Majesty, is this why you asked me to protect him?"
And at this moment, while the others finished eating, Louis suddenly said:
"The appearance of prairie giant rats in the Imperial Capital’s sewers is somewhat problematic."
Alice lazily said:
"You don’t say, just didn’t expect this trip to have so many twists."
William nodded too: "Captain, the probability of a sapphire dragonlet appearing in the Dragonbone Prairie might have increased."
Louis gravely added:
"The prairie giant rat’s nest is mainly underground. The family-unit active prairie giant rats left their habitat in large numbers and went to the sewers of the Imperial Capital."
"There might be something in the dark depths of this land that they can’t resist at all."
Alice laid down her bowl and chopsticks, raised her head, her originally wild and carefree expression now only showed ruthlessness:
"Like, perhaps, a sapphire dragonlet!"
Her curved saber thirsted for blood.
Louis nodded: "Yes, like a sapphire dragonlet."
Then silently added in his heart:
"But it might not just be a sapphire dragonlet either."