Surviving The Fourth Calamity

One reason Shaer has always had a good impression of Hill is his inherent honesty.

Although Hill speaks rather tactfully, he clearly lays out everything he can and cannot accept.

His rhetorical skills possess an elven elegance and subtlety, yet the meanings behind his words are clear, even to Celene.

However, you cannot say he is impolite... Shaer genuinely appreciates this trait of his.

His words are pleasant, devoid of any provocative tone, so even if the real meaning is ”Your overly unscrupulous henchmen best not come to my home,” Shaer doesn’t feel uncomfortable.

After all, Hill discusses matters rather than people.

Hill similarly does not permit the Silvermoon Archbishop of the Celene House from Deepwater City to enter his territory, even though she’s officially part of the Kind Alignment.

Yet it’s obvious that her methods are no cleaner than those of Shaer’s followers... it’s just that she always manages to present herself as spotless.

Hill can understand that anyone who can oppose the Envoy of the Night naturally cannot be lacking in techniques, but he refuses to let such tactics target his people.

Moreover, the Silvermoon Archbishop from Deepwater City dares to defy even the will of Celene... as long as she believes it’s for Celene’s benefit.

No matter how nicely it’s put, it cannot deny that she prefers leveraging the desires of the poor to counter the Nobles and those in power.

Yet she’s not doing it for the poor... once she achieves her goals, she cares little about the fate of the poor.

That’s not her responsibility, right?

She is the kind Silvermoon Envoy, providing the poor with means to survive and hope for betterment... ultimately, the dire outcome for the poor is blamed entirely on those filthy Nobles and officials.

Initially, Shaer did not understand where Hill’s annoyance with the Silvermoon Archbishop stemmed from; she indeed significantly contributed to countering the Power of the Night.

Several times, she single-handedly thwarted the waves stirred by the Envoy of the Night in Deepwater City.

But in Hill’s eyes, the Silvermoon Archbishop is akin to those mischievous Envoys of the Night.

It was only later, when William explained the underlying reasons, that she understood all her achievements were built on the blood and tears of the poor.

Just because she gave substantial rewards doesn’t mean enticing the poor to counter the Night Cloak was justified.

When the poor accepted her tasks, they were unaware of whom they faced.

Executing without education is a crime, sending people blindly against powerful foes is even more so.

Though Evil Factions act this way and are detestable, they inherently disregard anyone’s life.

But for the Kind Alignment who presents as saviors to behave thusly, it’s... disgraceful.

William never tolerates her behaviors due to their relationship, which is why he often cites examples of Shaer’s followers... Shaer sometimes thinks her shift from covert to overt actions is due to William’s disdain and loathing.

By focusing her conflicts on high-level figures now, things are more complicated, but... her relationship with William has indeed become more harmonious.

Otherwise, they would genuinely argue.

Though William mostly chooses to overlook some of Shaer’s actions, Shaer occasionally probes slightly... yet William would mercilessly thwart Shaer’s probes.

Even if he doesn’t directly confront Shaer, he uses examples of Shaer’s Chosen to make his point.

Ah~ that dog of a man.

Uses a speaking style clearly learned from ’Snow Cloud Peak,’ Shaer finds it hard to endure.

But arguments aside, love remains hers, so Shaer gradually builds herself through this kind of adjustment.

And precisely because of William’s words, Shaer understands Hill more and more... this child has firm boundaries and never sways between goodness and evil.

His close relationship with Lansendel probably also relates to his life’s attitude.

Though Dawn’s actions are rather senselessly unkind, he and his followers are among the rarest in the Kind Alignment to work solely themselves, never involving innocent bystanders.

Except when necessary for survival by resisting.

Similar to Josh in this world.

He does what he can, but he does not hide the truths from the Magic Tower’s mages.

If those in the Magic Tower are not willing to make such immense sacrifices... the world’s ruin, the Magic Tower’s destruction, so be it.

The world is vast; high-level Archmages will always find places to hide.

It was the Magic Tower’s resolve that led Josh to follow through rather than him devising everything for them to execute.

Though the result is similar, the causes vastly differ.

Hill is fond of and willing to engage with such entities.

Shaer now somewhat comprehends the Teraxil Divinity’s approach and profoundly questions how they harbor Evil Deities?

To maintain Kind Alignment with such a mindset, the Evil Factions must operate somewhat within the rules.

Let’s not even cite herself... Such as Cyric, who would likely be considered a Great Demon King in Teraxil.

What sustains the evilness of Teraxil’s Evil Factions?

Shaer sometimes couldn’t help but be curious about that God of Nobility... just from the little stories she occasionally heard, Shaer truly felt that this God of Nobility was not as daring as Heim.

Heim did slay a original deity of a continent to save a slave trader!

She thought it over and couldn’t figure out which True God from Toril could enter Teraxil and still stay among the Kind... it seemed there really was only one Lansendel.

Ah, she usually wouldn’t count Tyr.

Though she didn’t want to say it, Toril really couldn’t cultivate such righteous beings.

Shaer’s contemplation was soon interrupted.

”Hill.” Lansendel, crouching over there, suddenly spoke, ”Are you planning to let Russell help Josh build the Dawn Tower?”

”Hmm!” Hill blinked, ”Why? Do you need the tower to be built immediately?”

”No... I was just calculating, if they proceed slowly like this, isn’t it just right to hire the Undead Tribe to work?” Lansendel tapped his paw on the ground, ”Demolish those nearby Subsidiary Towers of Sia Tower and move them here... hmm... something seems off?”

”What have you learned from the Young Master again?” Hill was a bit confused, ”To use those guys’ building materials, wouldn’t you have to purify them first?

They aren’t anything good, no real value in them, right?”

”Ah ah! So that’s it!” Lansendel frustratedly stomped his foot, ”I really wanted to experience what it means for enemies to build for us!”

Hill sometimes really couldn’t understand the thought process of the Great Peacock.

But he handled this kind of situation well... The Earth Bear’s cubs also thought impulsively, all too idle.

”Josh seems like he no longer intends to manage the affairs of the camp below?” He casually changed the subject.

”Yes!” The Great Peacock answered indifferently, ”Back then he wasn’t smart enough, only took away that part of the Mage’s family.

Foolish... the worst among them are noble Young Masters who wouldn’t want to do heavy work!

He just knew to distribute bread at the time, the water they could drink freely.

The rest depended on who brought in better, more things... some brought seeds but no one wanted to farm.

Hehe~

Nobles, enjoy the different ranks, but such a fair environment is simply unacceptable.

So, they caused Josh quite a lot of issues.

Josh didn’t truly understand these complications, thinking they were just dissatisfied with the poor living resources.

In any case, he acted decisively, punishing whoever acts first.

Hmm... if it hadn’t been for the short time, I suspect the camp’s defensive shield would’ve been broken from the inside.”

Hill slightly opened his mouth and then slowly closed it.

Did Josh make a mistake?

Of course not.

That was indeed the only option back then... only in this way could they avoid the eyes of Sia Tower.

But, it cannot be said that he did the right thing.

Obviously, Josh just brought people in and considered it done, without even discussing with them how to survive.

Nobles who couldn’t let go of their high status, and Mages who had insufficient ability and wouldn’t lower themselves, naturally created numerous dirty tricks.

”At least, they were quite lucky.” Hill could only respond this way in the end.

Lansendel tilted his head: ”Therefore, I won’t bother with those useless matters of mortals.

But I also won’t protect these ungrateful guys.

Hill, where around here is more suitable to build my Dawn Tower?

Help me choose... oh, the Undead Tribe might take missions at my Dawn Tower, so don’t choose a place too comfortable.”

”Hmm? What did you say?” Hill doubted his ears.

”The environment shouldn’t be too good, best if the Undead Tribe feels a unique sense of stimulation... unintentionally, that would be the best!” Lansendel calmly stated his request.

Even Shaer couldn’t help but glance at him: ”What do you want to do?”

”The language of the Undead Tribe is quite rich.” Lansendel patted his wings, ”I hope Josh can learn some essentials.

This way, even if he remains just as naïve, at least he won’t get aggrieved.”

He didn’t even figure out why those mortals were entangled, what grievance did he suffer?

But Hill understood, once Lansendel’s protective instincts kicked in, he couldn’t control them.

So, he simply summoned List and displayed the nearby terrain map... while the Magic Tower was in the sky, it directly created the map.

The curious Great Peacock pointed with his claw tip: ”Here, it’s just right!”