NOVPUBUnder the statue of the God of Rock and Shelter in the Temple.
"You are a true divine artisan, and we don’t know how to thank you!"
Lord Algom came forward excitedly and took Lanci’s hands,
"How do you manage to restore the missing Divine Era runes and even endow them with brand new magic effects?"
Lord Algom was puzzled. He had previously consulted scholars from many races, but none told him it was possible to repair these Divine Era runes.
"Some artisans are good at painting, some excel in carving, and some like to study academics. If one understands a bit of ancient relic studies, perhaps they could manage to restore it."
Lanci humbly explained.
"So what is your greatest expertise?"
Lord Algom looked again at the statue of the God of Rock and Shelter, momentarily unable to determine what type of craftsman Lanci was.
"I know a little bit of everything."
Lanci replied with a smile.
"Haha, that’s certainly like you."
Lord Algom said, genuinely convinced.
The Orcs’ applause and cheers filled the entire temple, and amidst this celebratory atmosphere, Lord Algom continuously expressed their most sincere gratitude to Lanci.
He ordered the temple guards and priests to clear the area and attend to the crowd within the temple, while he personally accompanied the imperial craftsman, chatting with him. 𝘯𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"Mr. Rocky, the skill and dedication you demonstrated today deeply touched us all. You not only repaired our statue but also mended our trust in human artisans. I will personally write to the other Lords, asking them to provide you with the best care."
Lord Algom’s voice was deep and powerful, filled with respect in his gaze.
"The work you did just now is not only an art but also a sacred contribution, for which we are deeply grateful, Mr. Rocky. Please remember, wherever and whenever you need help, we will be there to support you without hesitation."
He added, as if feeling that these basic offers of help were not enough compensation.
Having such a skilled craftsman willing to help them with repairs for a nominal fee was purely a matter of goodwill.
"Don’t be so serious, Lord Algom," said Lanci lightly, waving his hand with a laugh as he looked into Algom’s eyes. "I just want to make friends with you all. Don’t feel so much pressure. Even without payment or despite the dangers, I would have done my best to repair the statue for you in the Land of Perpetual Night. If there’s any other item related to the God of Rock and Shelter that needs fixing in the future, send someone to find me in Hershalraym, or you can contact Empress Kexiya."
Lanci spoke casually, smiling slightly, his gaze steady on Lord Algom.
"...Is that so."
Lord Algom and Lanci exchanged glances for a while, and Algom’s expression softened into a smile.
He had never seen such clear eyes.
He was willing to believe that this craftsman’s heart was devoid of any impurity, and all his actions stemmed from a sense of duty.
"You wouldn’t find it bothersome? After all, it seems to me that you may not necessarily believe in the gods."
Lord Algom walked beside Lanci and said.
He guided Lanci away from the bustle and walked alongside him inside the temple, engaging in light conversation as they strolled.
At this moment, he was deeply intrigued by this human master craftsman.
He had seen many humans, their Fountain of Souls surging incessantly, vast and brilliant, able to remain true to themselves without the need for any faith. Yet the impression this human gave him was particularly strong.
"No, not at all," Lanci assured, shaking his head and gesturing with his hand.
He thought for a moment, and a light smile appeared on his lips.
"Thoughts that emerge in the mind, just like the lover standing in front of me, I deeply admire your spirit. You believe in gods, protect your land, and keep yourselves in check. In this world, it’s truly commendable to have such fine faith."
Lanci answered.
He then humbly shared his thoughts and experiences in maintaining the statue and talked with Lord Algom about how he interpreted the Chapter of Rock and Shelter in "Genesis." His words revealed a love for craftsmanship and respect for cultural diversity, suggesting how Algom might arrange regular cleaning of the statue.
Lord Algom listened with great interest, nodding in agreement from time to time, becoming utterly fascinated.
The sky began to lighten; Small Stone City’s temple looked even more pure in the dawn light.
"Lord Algom, I must be off to the next city-state now. We should have many more opportunities to meet in the future, if you’d like."
The moment to part had arrived. Seeing the time, Lanci apologized for the inconvenience due to Lord Algom’s warm hospitality.
"Of course, I look forward to our next meeting," responded Lord Algom, holding Lanci’s hand firmly, reluctantly wishing him well on his journey ahead.
Shortly after their farewell, Lanci left the temple through a discreet service passage.
At the end of the corridor, he stopped to change his attire.
Lanci took off his craftsman’s clothes and placed them in his carry case, reverting to the formal attire of the Protoss Empire.
When leaving the temple, Lanci looked up to find the dawn beginning to break across the horizon.
The air was filled with the scent of a new day, mingled with the distinct chill and freshness of Small Stone City.
Lanci took a deep breath, savoring the ambiance of the land.
"Eh, I remember Siegler left partway through earlier."
He looked around the temple’s entrance but did not see Siegler.
Walking alone across the stony plaza and past the neatly arranged stalls,
Lanci looked around and eventually found Siegler in a corner outside the temple.
She was sitting beneath an overhanging stone pillar, surrounded by a few young Orc thugs.
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They were playing cards together with a few bills on the ground, and the atmosphere seemed quite relaxed and cheerful.
Siegler wore a focused expression on her face, sitting on the ground and betting with a group of thugs.
And looking at the bills in her hand, she appeared to have won a small amount of money just then.
The bet they had just placed was probably whether Lanci could successfully complete the repair work.
Lanci walked over slowly and stood beside Siegler.
He didn’t rush her, just frowned slightly.
Siegler glanced up at Lanci.
This silence was making her a bit uncomfortable.
It felt just like being picked up by your parents after school.
"It’s okay, you play out this hand."
Lanci reminded her.
The surrounding orc thugs all looked at Siegler in surprise, this dirty-looking girl actually had a well-dressed rich person come to pick her up.
"Nah, no fun."
Siegler stood up from the ground, patted her pants, and gestured for Lanci to leave with her.
The two walked along the roads of Small Stone City.
They were heading to the station to retrieve the Snowfield Mystical Deer.
Lanci remained silent for a long time.
"I didn’t waste time, why do you look unhappy?"
Siegler looked at Lanci and asked directly.
"I am not unhappy,"
Lanci replied naturally.
"Come on, if you say you’re angry, then that means you’re not angry, but if you say you’re not angry, that means you’re a little angry,"
Siegler spread her hands and said.
The nuns at the orphanage did the same thing, when the Priest annoyed them, that’s what they’d say.
"..."
Lanci fell silent for a moment,
"Although I won’t tell you what hobbies are good or bad for someone your age, nor will I say things like ’this is what a girl your age should do,’ after all, my best friend always liked to gamble for fun, but I think it’s necessary to say a few words."
Lanci’s gaze was calm, as if to say—You asked me to speak, so whatever I say, don’t get upset with me in return.
"Go ahead,"
Siegler nodded.
She’d already been lectured by him for drinking before, and now he’d caught her gambling, he was bound to nag her again.
"Good people don’t go to bad places, but bad people can come to good places, you need to know how to draw the line."
Lanci turned his head slightly and looked at Siegler with genuine concern.
Siegler was stunned for a long time.
She had never heard anyone lecture her this way before.
"Tch, you actually look down on me in your heart, don’t you?"
Siegler thought for a while and then turned her head and clicked her tongue.
"..."
Lanci didn’t answer but just looked ahead,
"Just now, you could have joined me in the Hall of Dya, but you chose to stay outside."
Lanci continued walking toward the city gates on his own,
"Sometimes the choice is always in your hands."
Everyone has the chance to become better, it’s just that without a reminder, it might be difficult to notice.
He stated a fact in a matter-of-fact manner, also telling her that she had the qualities of a king but could also be complacent in her decline.
Perhaps Lanci had quickened his pace a bit, or maybe Siegler hesitated briefly in her steps.
Siegler fell silent for a while but then jogged to catch up.
"Oh."
Siegler responded.
"Meow."
The Little Black Cat sat on Lanci’s shoulder, watching Siegler’s petite figure.
It hadn’t expected these two people to get along so well.
Although Siegler outwardly appeared unruly, she surprisingly took Lanci’s admonitions to heart.
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ps: The next chapter will jump straight to several city-states later, approaching the end of Demon World, as I said before, it won’t be writing about each city-state one by one, six city-states are in order to correspond to six days’ time, easy to understand and remember, yet there are still people questioning me in this chapter about how long it would take to write six city-states ()
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