Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2882: Familia

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City

”I warned you all, but you didn’t listen. She didn’t hesitate for even a second to abandon you guys.”

The Field Marshal remarked as she looked at the card demigods who had followed Seraphina to their doom. However, no one responded to her. Some even jeered or looked at her with open disdain. To them, she was nothing more than a traitor preaching from her place of privilege.

”We stand by our choices, just like you stand by yours.”

The squad’s vice captain replied, knowing that the Field Marshal and they were not all that different. In the end, they all wanted the same thing: what was best for the Southern Region and its people.

”You guys are lucky. My lord believes in second chances for those willing to repent. You will continue serving your people, but as for the Southern Region, it must keep up with the changing tides or be left behind by time.”

The Field Marshal tried to persuade the demigods so that, when her young lord chose to show them mercy, they would be wise enough to accept the second chance offered to them, just as several others before them had done.

”Are you even listening to yourself? If the Southern Region disappears, where are our people supposed to live?”

”You do realize you’re talking about ending the Southern Region, right? What happened to you? You used to love the Southern Region and take pride in being a Southerner. Hell, you were the Southern Hero!”

”What the heck is there left to discuss? By ending the Southern Region, you’re basically robbing southerners of their birthright. That’s not something I can accept.”

.

.

.

One after another, the demigods rejected the Field Marshal’s words of persuasion. Then, the squad’s vice-captain suddenly spoke up.

”We are willing to join Southern Hope’s criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program.”

”Captain!” the other demigods protested in unison.

They were an independent squad originally created by the Southern Princess to carry out questionable missions along the Southern Borders. They had accepted her offer because they did not care about fame or recognition so long as the South prospered again.

However, after the arrival of the new Southern Heir, who took command of the squad as its captain, their original captain had been demoted to vice-captain. Of everything the Field Marshal had said, there was one thing they all agreed on: if their original captain had still been leading them, he would never have abandoned them the way she did. And unlike others, they spoke from experience.

”Shut up. If you still think of me as your captain, then you’ll surrender with me and continue serving under me,” the vice-captain thundered.

He knew the Field Marshal better than the others did. They had once served together. He understood that if someone like her had chosen to betray the Southern Region and the Southern Royal Family, then there had to be a powerful reason behind it, because no one took more pride in being a Southern than she did.

If she was saying the Southern Region had to go, then there had to be a strong and valid reason for it. And once again, he chose to trust her and follow her lead.

”Aye, aye, Captain.”

”Affirmative.”

”Roger that.”

One by one, the other fourteen demigods agreed to follow their captain’s decision. The world only knew them as extremists, when in truth, they were far harsher on themselves than they ever were on others. Earning their respect and loyalty was no easy feat, which only spoke to how extraordinary their captain truly was.

”Field Marshal, aaahhh!”

”Save me, aaahh!”

”Field Marshaaalll!”

The Field Marshal and the demigods immediately snapped their heads toward the source of the screams, only to find a giggling Corey being relentlessly tickled by their captor while the white snake wrapped around him, trying to choke him.

Their first reaction was bafflement, but their expressions soon turned solemn as they realized their captor did not even consider them a threat within this domain, to the point that he could casually flirt with his subordinate right in front of them.

At that moment, a fire suddenly ignited in each of their hearts. However, the Field Marshal immediately poured cold water over it.

”Even Seraphina chose to run rather than face him within his celestial rule domain and that was with you aiding her. Think twice before doing something reckless you’ll regret later.”

”Field Marshal, save me!!!”

”Field Marshal, I can’t take it anymore!!!”

The fifteen demigods turned to look at the Field Marshal, only to see veins bulging on her forehead. Feeling their gazes on her, she shook her head and said, ”Don’t ask.”

She then proceeded toward them, doing her best to hide her embarrassment.

As the Field Marshal arrived before them, she looked at the duo impassively just as Corey finally broke free, jumped into her embrace, and began acting cute. Meanwhile, I detached and reattached my head to escape Lil’Baem’s grip. That damn snake was really trying to kill me.

”Field Marshal, thank god you’re here. Wyatt’s trying to tickle me to death.”

”You two don’t need to go to such lengths to apologize to me. You’re clearly closer than I realized. I overstepped—”

”Field Marshal, please don’t blame Wyatt. He only did it because he was worried about me. You’re like an elder we both not only respect and look up to but enjoy being around and learn a lot from.”

Hearing Corey’s words, the Field Marshal, who seemed somewhat softened by our awkward attempt to apologize, looked at us skeptically and asked, ”Is this some new thing you kids do to tease people for being old?”

”No, no, that’s definitely not what I meant. Wyatt, you talk. I’ll only make it worse.”

With that, Corey immediately shut her mouth and exaggeratedly crossed her palms over it.

Just as I was about to speak, the Field Marshal cut in. ”Wyatt, I understand. I had friends too.”

”No, I still need to apologize where it’s due. Corey’s right that we’re not just people who work together, but something more, a family of our own choosing. It was wrong of me to be rude to you in the heat of the moment, because you were right. I do coddle this one a bit too much, to the point that it’s become a habit. A bad habit, even.”

Corey stared at me with bulging eyes and exclaimed, ”You... you coddle me? When? Where? Was I awake at that time?”