Perhaps it was indeed the magic power purified by the Underground Core Fire from the Great Demon that created this unfrozen wetland.
However, at this moment, the Hero had no intention of delving into these academic issues; she was merely counting one by one the Magic Creatures moving within her Perception Range in the wetland, her face brimming with a smile.
—Not a single Goblin, none at all.
"Fantastic! Who knew the air could feel so fresh without Goblins!"
Having finally confirmed that there wasn't even a trace of a Goblin within her Perception Range, the Hero contentedly closed her eyes, blissfully inhaling the pure breath of this clear world.
Although neither the smell nor magic power of ordinary Goblins reached the standard to pollute the environment, this did not prevent the Hero from feeling a profound joy.
Behind the Hero, after a period of learning with the Maid Supervisor, the middle-aged Housekeeper, the Gleaming Scale Serpent, now possessing quite a proper demeanor, was holding the reins of the military Chocobo, watching over the Queen with warm eyes.
Sensing the gaze from behind, the Hero's cheeks turned slightly red, and she retracted her widely spread arms, coughing lightly.
"Um, so let's set off then, first towards the snow-capped mountains, to look for Sister White Snake!"
[Sister White Snake's Perception (50-Not in the mountains, 50+ Will meet on the way)]
"But Sister White Snake seems to be very far away?"
In this uninhabited highland, let alone the road conditions, there simply weren't any normal roads to speak of, an area that was not meant for Chocobo Cart travel.
But times change, and now under the precise magical control of the Gleaming Scale Serpent, a narrow ice path formed under the wheels, allowing the Bird Carriage, which had an engraving of a lightness array, to move as if on flat ground.
At this moment, the Hero sitting in the driver's seat of the Chocobo Cart, feeling the faint magic connection within, frowned, revealing lines that one would feel compelled to smooth out.
Because of the Hollow Curse, she had unwittingly signed a Familiar Contract with the White Snake. Although the contract's connection was in good status, in the Hero's Perception, she had already gone from the Border to the Highland, but the signal strength had not improved much, which proved that the White Snake was still at a distant location, or possibly in a sealed environment.
"Forget it, we can just ask the Snow Woman sisters when we get there."
She confirmed the connection was not lost and did not worry about it; after all, when she first met Sister White Snake, she was running around in the Kingdom using her Fantasy Species strength and skills, known for vanishing without a trace.
Although at that time she was on a mission to collect materials to reinforce the volcano's sealing, and now the Corrupted Phoenix had been defeated by their joint efforts, no one decreed that Sister White Snake had to stay in her snow mountain lair afterwards.
While the Hero's Equipment Forging still needed her help, times have changed. Even without Sister White Snake, Gleaming Scale Serpent also possessed the rank of a Fantasy Species; although he was not fully grown yet, asking the Snow Women for assistance should not make much difference in results.
But unaware of the Hero's deep trust in him, the Gleaming Scale Serpent, feeling the tranquil aura around him, displayed a somewhat dissatisfied expression.
"The Water Mirror Crane clan... didn't come to welcome us? Even though you're now the Highland's king."
After defeating the Corrupted Phoenix and casting a Forbidden Curse to spread her presence throughout the Highland, in a sense, the Hero really had become the ruler there.
"After all, I am Human, as you know. Although I can transform into a Magic Creature, essentially, it's still different."
However, the Hero herself was quite open-minded about it.
Since she had defeated the Corrupted Phoenix, she hadn't returned to the Highland. Even if she really was its ruler, having neither actually ruled nor participated in a long while, not to mention Magic Creatures, even Humankind would have almost forgotten.
"You remember, don't you? At that time we intended to subjugate the serpent-like Magic Creatures near our home. Although some showed submission, many were still unwilling to obey my commands."
Recalling events that now seemed very distant, Gleaming Scale Serpent's expression carried a hint of nostalgia.
"Yes, and later it was I who took on the duties of the Queen on your behalf. I wonder if they still follow my commands."
"Um, so it's quite normal for the Water Mirror Cranes to have concerns. After all, I've never met with them, and I no longer have the power that was once lent to me by our predecessor, so there's no need to emphasize the identity of a Queen, just getting along peacefully is good enough."
Seeing Hero's broad-minded demeanor, Gleaming Scale Serpent could only nod in agreement.
But immediately after, his gaze turned cold, revealing a trace of murderous intent.
"However, it seems that some fools—"
The refined gentleman's eyes transformed into snake eyes, coldly staring at a few Magic Creatures foolishly approaching.
The Chocobo Cart racing across the grassland was quite conspicuous. Even if they weren't Goblins, there were still many predatory Magic Creatures eyeing the smooth and soft feathers of the Chocobos, and the delicate-skinned girl.
Feeling the piercing gaze of the Hunter, although this military Chocobo was far superior to its kind, it could not escape the instinct to ruffle its feathers,
If it were a wild Chocobo, it would probably have turned and fled by now, but as a well-trained excellent Chocobo, it controlled its instinctual fear and only nervously shuffled its stout legs in the marshland.
"No worries, leave it to me."
Hero's gentle voice reached Gleaming Scale Serpent's ears, quickly restoring calm to his expression.
The gentle voice seemed to have a magical power, soothing the raised feathers of the Chocobo as well.
Seeing both Gleaming Scale Serpent and the Chocobo calm down, Hero gave a radiant smile and then leapt up lightly.
The law of the jungle is a natural principle; here, killing does not represent evil, a stealth attack is not mean-spirited, and being outnumbered is only too normal.
As a Beast Spirit Mage, Hero was also a part of this nature.
However, the predator's killing was only for sustenance, and she had no desire to consume these weak ones who rashly viewed themselves as prey, nor did she have the habit of toying with them.
"So, let's have a friendly encounter this time."
The girl who leaped down from the cart, her toes lightly touching the wet shallows, the ripples settled as quickly as they formed, and the biting wind became soft and gentle. Around her, the space seemed to become tranquil all at once, serene and stable.
Only the breeze and chirping quietly conveyed her will.
[Hero activates Skill: Ceasefire (A roll of 60+ ensures a safe arrival to the snow mountains)]
D100+52=d100(97)+52=149
The taut muscles of the Magic Creatures, primed for the hunt, relaxed all at once. Looking at what was once tempting prey, their appetites could no longer surge; they blinked in confusion, no longer concealing their presence, some simply rolled on the spot, resting on the grasslands.
"Alright, let's continue our journey."
Watching the frolicking Magic Creatures, Hero curved her lips into a smile, then sprang nimbly back atop the Bird Carriage, and cheerfully started giving orders to Gleaming Scale Serpent.
The Shan Lin Snake bowed slightly and snapped his fingers lightly, causing a path of ice to extend under the wheels.
The Chocobo tacitly moved forward, pulling the conspicuously outstanding bird carriage across the highland towards the destination.
[Level has been raised to 50, Hero's Beast Spirit Mage profession has acquired the sixth Incarnation Position, and has received an Elemental Power skill reward]
Note: The tens place of the Ceasefire value determines the stacking Compound Attribute, with less than 10 being Dark; attributes and current Beast Spirit Embodiment of the Hero, or skills like Inferno Bloodline, will be strengthened when overlapping; if Compound Attribute is the same and overlaps with the skills, a Legendary Skill is obtained.
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure♛
[Ceasefire Critical Success! (Spirit - Positive Compound Attribute)]
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
[Elemental Power Extreme Failure! (Negative Compound Attribute)]
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure