The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!
Chapter 114 - 01: Setting Out

Chapter 114: Chapter 01: Setting Out

Here is the translated text:

Early August, Year 10754 of the Holy Calendar.

The eastern trade route on the Casesis Mountains near the border of Fides Kingdom, neighboring Isaac.

The dense forest swayed gently in the wind.

The morning sun cast its light slantingly, with sunlight filtering through the gaps between the leaves, scattering specks of light throughout the forest.

A felt hat, thick brows, big eyes, a prominent nose with a pimple on it, a beard resembling a broom, muscular arms, a robust build, and of course, a short stature.

A dwarf leader named Club, still in his prime at the age of 110, was solemnly instructing his followers.

"Being a bandit is a multifaceted profession. To do it well, merely knowing how to rob is absolutely not enough. No bandit gang in this world can thrive and grow big by only knowing how to rob. The crux of the matter ultimately lies in improving customer service quality. Otherwise, why would they let us rob them instead of someone else?"

The group of dwarves nodded in agreement.

"Regarding the issue of enhancing the customer experience of being robbed, does anyone have any ideas?"

A crowd of dwarves blinked their eyes and stared at him.

Club continued, "I’m throwing this question to you because I hope you can start brainstorming. Our tribe cannot rely solely on my brain forever. Come on, everyone, speak up. Whether it’s right or wrong, share your thoughts."

A cross-eyed dwarf raised his hand and said, "Perhaps we could toss them an apple before robbing them."

As he spoke, he had already begun tossing apples skillfully.

"This idea is great, but let’s put it aside for now and consider it later."

Another toothless dwarf, who spoke with a lisp, raised his hand, "Maybe we could perform a belly dance for them before robbing them."

Saying that, he lifted his shirt, revealing a painted face on his round belly.

"Yes, yes, I think this idea is excellent!"

"Re-re-really brilliant!"

"Belly dancing is the most fitting dance style for dwarves, and it can showcase the uniqueness of our race!"

Club, expressionless, said, "This idea is also good, but let’s put it aside for now and look at it later. Any other ideas?"

The dwarves all stared at him.

One stuttering dwarf pulled out a nail clipper, "May-may-maybe...I can help them trim their na-na-nails?"

A shirtless fat dwarf fished out an orange from his pants, "I can peel an orange for them."

"I can also slice a pear, though what if they don’t like pears?"

"Or maybe we could give them a bath? I’ve heard humans really enjoy bathing. Although I don’t like bathing, I’m willing to do it for our ideals!"

The dwarves eagerly proposed their ideas, but Club rejected them all.

He raised his hand to quiet his followers, then slowly pulled out a book from his pocket...The Bible.

Yes, The Bible.

He said meaningfully, "This, is the key to improving customer experience."

"What’s this?" someone raised their hand to ask.

"This is The Bible!" Club said proudly. "From now on, we need to try to move them with love, so they willingly give up their valuables. In this way, we can provide them with a pleasant robbing experience. Then, they’ll choose to walk this path again and become our return customers!"

"Wow! Boss, you’re so smart!" The dwarves exclaimed in admiration.

"Boss——!" A dwarf with bandages wrapped around his head came tumbling down the mountain—yes, tumbling—and crashed into a rock next to Club. He hit his head again and started bleeding profusely.

Oh, why do I say "again"?

Anyway, clutching his bandage, unable to stop the blood gushing from his head, he struggled to stand and pointed east, shouting, "Boss! Customers have arrived! Big customers!"

"Grab your weapons——!" Club’s roar echoed through the mountain forest.

The dwarves swiftly armed themselves: shields, giant axes, hammers, muskets, even oversized wolf fang clubs. In short, none of their weapons matched their height proportions.

"Let’s go——!"

"Take everything—!"

"This is so exciting! We get to rob again!"

The crazed dwarves followed Club, cheering and scrambling up the mountain. The bandaged dwarf also tried to climb but was kicked down again, crashing into the same rock.

High mountains, sparse trees, and the sight of a group of dwarves clambering uphill appeared from afar like balls rolling upward.

Soon, they reached the mountain peak.

What greeted them was a Silver Moon Banner, followed by...an entire Silver Moon Knight Order. Yes, an entire one.

Gray and Shelley rode horseback at the front, followed by Andrew, Carl, Jones, Dora, and an entire battalion of Silver Moon Knights clad in elite armor, fully armed to the teeth. Behind them were several carts loaded with goods.

Peering from the mountaintop, Club’s expression stiffened.

"Bandages——! Bandages! Where the hell did you go? Get your damn self over here!"

Still fumbling to wrap his head in bandages, the dwarf tumbled and scrambled to Club’s side.

Pointing toward the distant Silver Moon Knights, Club roared furiously, "Is this the big customer you mentioned?!"

"Yes!"

"Damn it, they outnumber us!"

"That’s why they’re big!" Bandages replied excitedly.

Club’s expression stiffened again.

Bandages spread his arms wide, earnestly gesturing.

The dwarves beside him nodded earnestly, agreeing that it was indeed big.

"But there are so many of them. What do we do?" Finally, someone with a smidgeon of wits spoke up.

"No need to worry, our boss has a secret weapon!"

"Yes! He’ll use love to move them!"

"Exactly! We won’t even need to lift a finger!" Soon, the slightly smarter voice was drowned out by the not-so-smart ones.

Everyone’s expectant gaze turned to Club, whose lips twitched.

Both sides remained deadlocked for quite a while. Club coughed twice and said, "Regarding using love to move them, I need to prepare a bit more. After all, I’ve only read up to page three of The Bible, and there are still many words I don’t recognize. But no worries, if brute force won’t work, we can outwit them!"

"Wow! That sounds so cool!" The dwarves exclaimed in awe.

...

Amidst the lush green mountains, the Silver Moon Knights marched slowly.

Gray unfolded the map to examine closely.

"The road doesn’t seem to match the map. There should be a turn here, but we didn’t see one."

"Could it be covered by weeds?" Black Cat grumbled, "I told you not to take routes like this. Anything could happen on these trails. The map we’re using was bought from a street vendor for ten copper coins."

"But this is a shortcut. If we take the main road, we’d have to head north and bypass the entire Casesis Mountains. That would add many extra days to the journey."

"Did it occur to you that we might encounter all kinds of dangers on this shortcut?"

"Dangers?" Gray glanced back at his Knight Order.

"Alright, I suppose ’danger’ would actively avoid you, unless it’s not very smart." Black Cat spread his paws helplessly.

"It’s indeed a hassle. Still, as long as we keep heading west, we won’t go wrong." Gray thought for a moment before suggesting, "Perhaps we should send someone to scout ahead."

"I’ll go!" Vivian eagerly volunteered in Gray’s mind before falling silent.

"Uh... Did she already leave?" Gray quietly asked.

"Yes." Catherine replied.

"Why is she so proactive now? Ever since her last return, she’s been particularly enthusiastic, even pulling me aside to study The Bible together. At one point, I almost thought I’d converted her into a Holy Demon Envoy. Yet the dark aura on her hasn’t changed."

"Who knows?"

"Maybe she’s pretending to be redeemed first in order to later lure you into corruption. A truly cunning devil, huh." Black Cat chuckled mischievously. "Heh heh, fortunately, the wise Black Cat has seen through everything and knows it’s not that simple. She won’t succeed!"

Before he could finish speaking, the efficiency-minded Vivian returned.

"Black Cat, what nonsense were you saying about me while I was gone?"

"Uh...nothing, I was praising your beauty."

"Really?"

"Of course, this is an honest compliment from beyond the grave. You should have confidence in your looks."

"Fine, I’ll remember this and deal with you later. Gray, I checked—roads around here are a mess, so maps don’t matter anymore. There’s also a group of dwarves following us."

"A group of dwarves? Why are they following us?"

"No idea. Who cares? Would you care what the ants in front of your house are up to? I don’t. Gray, don’t you know levitation magic too? I suggest you go on ahead to the Royal Capital in Fides, and let the others catch up slowly. They’ll make it eventually anyway, won’t they? If you keep staying with them, you’ll waste too much time! Worse, it’ll hurt your studies."

"Um... But my levitation magic is not very practiced."

"No problem, I can teach you the key tricks. You’ll be good at it quickly!"

Silence, long silence.

Gray asked softly, "Catherine, aren’t you going to say anything?"

"I’m thinking. Since the devil has said everything I could’ve said, what more can I say?"

"So you agree with her plan?"

"No, I don’t agree. If a devil is this keen on pushing something forward, it must be a scheme."

"How unfair! How can you think of me this way!" Vivian shouted.

"Is there any other way I should think of you, Miss Succubus?"

"Gray, don’t listen to her! Think of the starving people of Lion King City awaiting aid! You must hurry to resolve the food crisis for them!"

"Ha... That’s not what you said earlier. If I recall, you described them as selfish, shallow, foolish, and shortsighted fools who deserved to starve."

"I’ve had a change of heart. Isn’t that allowed?"

"Nope!"

In Gray’s mind, Vivian and Catherine began quarreling again. Gray sighed, riding his horse onward. Turning to the side, he looked at Shelley, who was also riding and swatting at bugs miserably.

"You alright?" Gray asked.

Shelley quickly forced a smile, "I’m fine, nothing’s wrong."

"Is it hard to adjust to this place? Or are you too tired?"

"No, not at all. As long as I’m by your side, I don’t feel tired."

The group continued marching forward slowly.

Behind them, a crowd of dwarves was skulking and trailing at a distance. Their big, dark eyes twinkled, resembling a group of moles.