Seeing Ranni appear before him and ask for his help, Bai Shi finally felt a wave of relief.
Now he wouldn't have to worry about her situation.
If Ranni were left to seek revenge on the Two Fingers by herself, there was no guarantee she would succeed.
After all, Ranni's power had diminished ever since she cast aside her flesh.
If she still possessed the strength she had in life, she would have carved a bloody path through the Two Fingers' underlings long ago. The Fingers themselves would probably be dead by now.
But in reality, the current Ranni had to be extrely cautious even when facing the Baleful Shadow.
Although the impact of losing her original body was sowhat lessened by her being a sorceress, confronting the entire might of the Two Fingers alone was still a daunting task.
Faced with Ranni’s non-negotiable request, Bai Shi readily agreed.
“Alright, alright. I’ll go take care of that thing called the Baleful Shadow for you.”
Ranni blinked, waiting for Bai Shi to ask her about the Baleful Shadow.
She had already decided that when he asked, she would intentionally give him half an answer.
Just monts ago, Bai Shi had clearly suspected she was here and had deliberately spoken in riddles to lure her out. Now, it was her turn for a little 'revenge.'
But Ranni t Bai Shi's gaze for a long mont, yet the question never ca.
Growing impatient, Ranni took the initiative and asked Bai Shi:
“Aren’t you going to ask
what the Baleful Shadow is?”
Bai Shi looked slightly puzzled and shook his head.
“There’s no need to ask.”
“Just tell
where the target is, and I’ll go kill it.”
Small Ranni stared at Bai Shi in disbelief.
“Aren’t you curious what it is?”
“You used to be so inquisitive!”
Bai Shi shrugged.
He more or less understood that Ranni wanted him to ask about it.
That being the case, he would stubbornly refuse, just to tease her a bit more.
So Bai Shi replied with an air of nonchalance:
“Not curious.”
“I get curious about other things, but as for enemies... not so much.”
“I’ve faced so many enemies. It would be too much trouble to learn who each and every one of them is.”
“As long as I know they’re an enemy, all I have to do is kill them.”
Bai Shi genuinely wasn't curious.
Of course, the main reason was that Bai Shi already knew what the Baleful Shadow was.
This was the confidence his status as a player gave him. His information network was not to be underestimated!
Small Ranni gritted her teeth, annoyed that Bai Shi had turned the tables on her again.
“That’s not it at all. The Baleful Shadow is no ordinary enemy!”
“It’s different from all those common foes you’ve t before...”
Bai Shi chuckled twice.
“It’s still an enemy, isn’t it? Knowing that is enough.”
Small Ranni clenched her tiny fists and stomped her foot on Bai Shi’s hand.
“No, you have to ask!”
Bai Shi decided to stop teasing her and finally asked:
“Then please, Lady Ranni, tell . What is the Baleful Shadow?”
Only then did Small Ranni nod in satisfaction and begin her explanation:
“The Baleful Shadow is a servitor created by the Two Fingers using their unique abilities.”
“In a sense, they are the sa kind of life as Blaidd. You could even consider them his kin.”
“But unlike Blaidd, they were not granted an independent will. They are rely tools that obey the commands of the Two Fingers.”
“They possess the power of the Two Fingers and are very difficult to kill.”
Bai Shi nodded along seriously, playing his part.
“Oh, I see.”
“Sounds impressive.”
Small Ranni nodded as well, her massive pointed hat swaying with the movent.
“Of course. They are the strongest force under the Two Fingers’ command, and my greatest obstacle.”
“The fad Maliketh is also a shadow, and his strength is terrifying to behold.”
“If Selys were to focus all their power into a single shadow, even if it couldn’t reach Maliketh’s level, it would still be incredibly fearso...”
Hearing Ranni’s words, Bai Shi’s interest was piqued.
Maliketh was Queen Marika’s shadow-bound beast. Compared to the likes of Blaidd and the Baleful Shadow, he was certainly in a league of his own.
But if the Two Fingers were to use their full power to protect themselves, the Baleful Shadow’s strength would surely increase dramatically.
If that Baleful Shadow could even touch the hem of Maliketh's power, things would get interesting.
He might even get a good fight out of it.
At that mont, Bai Shi was already looking forward to the battle to co.
But before that, he had one more question.
Bai Shi asked, a bit puzzled:
“Selys... is that the na of those Two Fingers?”
The na felt strangely familiar to Bai Shi, and this vague inkling of recognition struck him as odd.
Logically, he should have never heard the Two Fingers’ nas before.
After a mont of thought, Bai Shi figured out where the sense of familiarity ca from.
The Manus Celes Cathedral.
It was exactly the sa as the na Ranni had just spoken.
In the ga, the place where those Two Fingers ultimately hid was in a cavern beneath the Manus Celes Cathedral.
It was in that hiding place that Ranni finally slew them with the Fingerslayer Blade.
Ranni nodded and spoke.
“Yes, they have nas.”
“Selys. That is the na of the Two Fingers with whom I share a mutual curse.”
“Those Two Fingers have deep ties to our Carian Royal Family.”
“There are not many Two Fingers active in the Lands Between, but there are more than just one or two.”
“The Two Fingers are peculiar beings.”
“They wield power from the Greater Will and possess imnse wisdom.”
“Like envoys, they choose factions to support.”
“So Two Fingers stand in the open, while others hide behind the scenes.”
“Selys is one of those that hides very deep.”
Connecting this information with his knowledge from the ga, Bai Shi nodded.
He just didn't know if those Two Fingers moved there at the very end or if they had been hiding there all along.
Bai Shi figured they probably relocated there out of desperation at the end.
After all, that cathedral was on the Moonlight Altar, a place of paramount importance to the Carian Royal Family.
Furthermore, the cathedral’s very na had a strong connection to the Two Fingers.
If Ranni had searched there directly, she would have apprehended them imdiately.
Ranni let out a long breath.
In any case, with Bai Shi’s help, the matter of the Baleful Shadow was basically settled.
Bai Shi’s strength was deeply reassuring. It felt as though any problem could be smoothly resolved as long as he was involved.
Looking back, she had really said quite a lot today.
Ranni looked up at Bai Shi.
“...In this form, I find my mood is more relaxed.”
“I seem to have spoken too much without realizing...”
“Hmph. From now on, don’t keep trying to find .” Faced with Small Ranni’s words, Bai Shi blinked.
Then, Bai Shi raised his hand, cupped Small Ranni, and placed her on the palm in front of his face.
This sudden movent startled Ranni, nearly making her lose her footing. She had to hug one of Bai Shi’s fingers to steady herself.
“Hey, what are you doing!?”
It couldn’t be helped; this body was truly just a doll.
When Ranni created it, she never intended for it to hold any power.
Even if she could channel a sliver of her strength to it while observing, that couldn't change the fact that this body was frail.
Right now, in terms of physical strength alone, she wouldn't be able to fend off even a curious little squirrel. All she could do was try to shoo it away with a puff of ice mist.
Seeing the fragile Small Ranni in his palm, Bai Shi chuckled.
Ranni usually maintained such a calm, composed, and aloof deanor. Seeing her like this was a rare sight indeed.
Realizing she had lost her composure, Ranni felt a blush of embarrassnt.
Ranni shot Bai Shi a fierce glare. To make the Witch Ranni lose her composure again and again—unforgivable!
Ranni raised her hands, casting another cloud of ice mist into Bai Shi’s face.
However, an attack of this level could hardly be called a punishnt; it was more like playful banter.
Bai Shi brushed away the ice mist, a faint layer of white frost now clinging to his eyebrows and hair.
Looking at Small Ranni, Bai Shi grinned.
You’re in my hands now, and you still dare to be so defiant?
Taste my ultimate technique!
Bai Shi's other hand extended a single finger, poking at the forehead of the small Ranni standing in his palm.
Small Ranni’s fragile body was powerless against Bai Shi’s tornt. The poke sent her sitting right down onto his palm.
Small Ranni sat there, stunned for a mont before she processed what had happened.
That fiend! To think he would tease her like this while she was powerless to resist!
Where was she supposed to put her pride?!
Ranni crossed her arms over her chest, turned her head away, and deliberately ignored Bai Shi.
Bai Shi extended his finger once more, poking at Small Ranni's cheek.
Ranni imdiately put up all four of her arms, struggling valiantly against Bai Shi’s finger.
Bai Shi used almost no strength, simply watching as Ranni struggled to push his finger away.
He had to admit, Ranni like this was incredibly cute.
It was as if his figurine had really co to life.
After a short while, Ranni finally managed to move his finger away and caught her breath.
She had never been teased like this before.
She had thought that having her usual image shattered would make her angry.
But unexpectedly, it actually felt... rather nice. Fooling around like this once in a while was quite interesting.
She had to admit, her mood had lightened considerably.
Nevertheless, Ranni put on a fierce expression, glared at Bai Shi, and exclaid:
“Damn you, you made
lose my composure!”
“Forget what just happened, do you hear ?!”
Bai Shi gazed at Ranni and asked:
“This is your true self, isn’t it? What’s so bad about that?”
“No one is asking you to maintain that mature facade.”
Ranni pursed her lips, saying nothing.
She was no longer the carefree ‘Lunar Princess’ of the past.
Back then, she could play freely with Blaidd like they were siblings and wander through the forest behind the manor.
That unrestrained childhood was a happy one, and she would never deny the happiness of her past just because of her dark present.
She would miss those tis, but she would never let them hold her back, nor would she ever regret setting out on this path.
From the mont she chose to defy the Two Fingers and reject her fate as an Empyrean, all that was left in these lands was ‘Ranni the Witch.’
This was her own choice.
Because of it, there were things she had to discard. Otherwise, she could not move forward.
The Two Fingers would not let her go so easily.
Besides, she was far from pure, her hands already stained with countless sins.
She could never return to those innocent tis; they existed only in mory.
Ranni patted her dress, straightening her clothes.
“There is no such thing as a ‘true self.’ I have always been just .”
“Whether I am cold or relaxed, that is still .”
“However, it’s alright to fool around occasionally.”
Ranni looked at Bai Shi.
It was ti to say goodbye again. What should she say this ti...
Right. In monts like this, all one can do is smile.
And so, for the first ti in who knows how many years, Ranni let out a genuine, heartfelt smile.
With a smile on her face, Ranni said softly to Bai Shi:
“Alright, it’s about ti I prepared to set out again.”
“There are quite a few troubleso figures among the Two Fingers’ followers. I must purge them one by one.”
After speaking, Small Ranni sat down, seemingly preparing to withdraw her consciousness.
Bai Shi stopped her and asked one last question:
“Where is your main body right now?”
Ranni gave Bai Shi a strange look and asked in return:
“At the Divine Tower of Liurnia, of course. Haven’t you been there?”
Ranni's answer left Bai Shi feeling a bit lost.
“That’s not the body I’m asking about...”
At that, Ranni laughed again, looking triumphant.
“Haha, just a little joke.”
“There are still things that only I can do, so I can’t tell you. My apologies.”
“However, when I think the ti is right, I will surely call for you.”
Small Ranni smiled as she glanced at Bai Shi.
“Then let’s leave it at that for now. I’ll keep an eye on things here.”
“So... don’t think you can get away with looking at things you shouldn’t while I’m not here!”
With that, Small Ranni’s head drooped down.
Bai Shi touched his hair.
Looking under her dress wasn't the main goal, anyway. He had succeeded in luring Ranni out.
But Ranni had left a bit too quickly. He still had many things he wanted to talk to her about.
Things about Miquella, and about the Cursemark of Death.
But since Ranni was gone, he could ask her later.
With the Small Ranni doll in his possession, contacting her would be easy enough.
Bai Shi stood up and continued onward, following the Ainsel River Main.
—
After a while, Ashmi suddenly reacted from within Bai Shi.
Ashmi’s core squird inside Bai Shi, as if sensing sothing.
Soon, Ashmi confird its perception and spoke to Bai Shi:
‘Host, may I have a word?’
Bai Shi nodded, responding to Ashmi.
‘Yes, what is it?’
Ashmi continued to sense its surroundings as it explained:
‘Host, I hear the sound of flowing water. It is not an ordinary sound.’
‘That sound cos from my ho—it is the river of an Eternal City.’
‘There must be another Eternal City nearby.’
‘Host, let us go to the Eternal City.’
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