The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!
Chapter 67 - 02: Heading to the Lion King City (2)

Chapter 67: Chapter 02: Heading to the Lion King City (2)

Heading to Lion King City was a very pleasant journey. At least for Gray, it certainly was.

Almost everywhere they went, Gray received enthusiastic welcomes.

Children hoped to ride on Gray’s horse.

Parents hoped to receive Gray’s blessing.

Men admired Gray’s bravery.

Women adored Gray’s heroic appearance.

His story with Yilin was sung like a legend. Yes, Gray and Yilin.

This made Shelley puff out her cheeks in anger, "I am clearly Gray’s fiancée! How can they forget about me!"

...

A distant voice said, "Jealousy."

...

Gray was surrounded by flowers, everyone singing his praises, extolling him.

Yilin stood right next to Gray.

A child asked Yilin, "Sister, will you marry the Holy Knight?"

Yilin was taken aback and turned her face to look at Gray, finding him busy giving children high-fives, completely not hearing the question.

After a slight hesitation, Yilin softly replied, "I don’t know."

...

A distant voice said, "Vanity."

...

"Do you follow the Holy Knight into battle?" a young girl asked Pas.

"Of course, I am his best friend." Pas smiled wickedly, "How about it, want to hear more stories about the Holy Knight? The kind you can’t hear anywhere else."

"Of course." The girl smiled tenderly, reached out and tugged Pas’s belt, then leaned back, pushing open the door behind her, retreating into the room.

Pas stepped forward and followed her in.

...

A distant voice said, "Lust."

...

"Are these two the Holy Knight’s squires?"

"No, I hear they are the Holy Knight’s adopted son and daughter."

"Wow! No wonder they wear the same style armor as the Holy Knight! Will they inherit the title of Holy Knight?"

"Fool. The title of Holy Knight is not hereditary. But, the Holy Knight has many other titles, which are sufficient."

"The Holy Knight already has Miss Yilin. I wonder if these little Holy Knights are engaged?"

A group of elderly ladies surrounded Jones and Dora, discussing them.

*Jones’s feelings at the moment: I want to die! I want to die! I want to die!*

...

A distant voice said, "Melancholy."

...

The Black Cat was stuffing its face with the food Gray had tossed into his armor, gifts from the town’s residents. Then it let out a long, satisfied belch. Turning its head, it saw there was still a lot left, practically lying on a mound of food, making it instantly beam with joy.

"I love winter! Food doesn’t spoil easily in winter! Hahaha! I’ll sleep on this food until next spring flowers bloom!"

...

A distant voice said, "Gluttony and sloth."

...

Already in the inn, Count Gruglu spread out a map, carefully examining it while discussing it with the escort official beside him.

"Benedict II’s letter said there will be new fiefs. What do you think he means? Is he intending to expand the territory of the Beisher Duchy? The Royal Family doesn’t often give out land. If the Beisher Family gets new fiefs, could we Gruglu family also have a chance? This is a great opportunity." said Count Gruglu, his eyebrows slightly raised.

...

A distant voice said, "Greed."

...

"Get out of the way! All of you get out of the way!" Huoersi pushed through the crowd, shouting loudly, "The Duke and the Holy Knight have to leave tomorrow! What do you people think you are doing? Don’t delay their rest!"

The residents reluctantly backed off. Gray was left somewhat at a loss.

Yilin persuaded, "Huoersi, you shouldn’t act like this."

"No, this is exactly how it should be, Duke!" Huoersi retorted angrily, "Our most important task is to head to Lion King City to receive our fiefs, not to stay here and be gawked at by these ignorant people!"

...

"Wrath and arrogance," said the distant voice softly, "I haven’t even counted everything yet, but here are the nine sins already complete. Gathering nine sins in his rank was no easy task for this Lich Holy Knight. What was he thinking?"

"So it’s easy to solve?" another voice asked.

"No, not easy. Rather particularly difficult."

"Why?"

"Sins, they spread like a plague. Associating with greedy people makes one greedy, associating with wrathful people makes one wrathful. Though this is a tattered team, look at him, he has gathered nine sins, but not a single sin touches him."

...

Gray gently pulled Huoersi aside, speaking softly, "Huoersi, I feel we shouldn’t act like this. The people are anticipating our arrival because they respect us. The title itself is an honor granted by the people; we seek honor, yet coldly treat the people. That is wrong."

"Alright! You’re becoming a preacher!" the Black Cat whispered.

"I saw this in the Bible last night," Gray replied excitedly.

"You only saw it last night? Haven’t you read the Bible several times?"

"Yes, but I had a new insight last night."

"Oh, thank heaven. Maybe one day I’ll hear you singing hymns inside your armor," the Black Cat said helplessly.

Huoersi was stunned, hesitated for a moment, then said, "As you command, my dear Holy Knight."

He then bowed respectfully and stepped aside.

The people cheered. This was indeed the image of the Holy Knight they had imagined.

...

"Look, he truly has none of them. Clean as a child. How did they find such a Lich?"

"It is truly unexpected for us. But as it is, Liches first eliminate lust, gluttony, and sloth, leaving only six sins. I have never seen a melancholic or jealous Lich, though I have seen vain, greedy, wrathful, and arrogant ones, but not many. Could it be that the distance between Liches and divine faith is closer than humans? This is a tremendous discovery. So, what do you plan to do?"

"It is very challenging. In the past, we have made Holy Knights fall, but without exception, it was through lust. Humans elevate love highly, not even the Church can deal with them thoroughly. It became the easiest part of the Holy Knights’ faith to shake, giving us an opportunity. In fact, now the Pope hardly dares let Holy Knights stay outside the Church; we are so adept at using that, and they have no way. But now, a Lich, he doesn’t even have the possibility of lust."

"So? Are you planning to give up?"

"No. I see it as a challenge. Tavia, I just need some time to think. In our long lifetimes, we need diversions, and making Holy Knights fall is indeed a good diversion, at least I think so. Moreover, you said it yourself: worst-case scenario, just exposing his identity counts as mission complete."

"Yes, Zeda."

"So, I will definitely complete this mission."

Nightfall arrived, and the members of the group had returned to the inn. Only a few guards were left outside on duty. The two demons hiding atop the distant mountain finally slowly unveiled their forms.

Yes, two demons.

The one called Tavia was a female messenger demon. Her skin was fiery red, her flaming long hair flowing in waves, with a proud figure, dressed in a black, tight-fitting leather bodysuit. She had a pair of enormous, disproportionate flesh wings, and a long, barbed tail.

Zeda, the male demon, was bald, with large ram horns on his head. He had the same red skin as Tavia, but a deeper shade. With a slim body, wearing only black long trousers, his muscular physique was clearly visible under the moonlight. He had a pair of enormous flesh wings as well, but no tail.

Just like angels, their eyes each had two pupils, though not silver, but red, the same color as their skin.

Appearance-wise, they were both handsome. But their styling was quite gothic. Of course, demons clearly don’t need to cater to human aesthetics.

"His Guardian Angel is back," Zeda said softly.

...

Indeed, a bit of crystal slowly floated down from the sky into Gray’s room, gradually becoming larger, eventually unfolding and revealing the angel’s form before Gray.

It was Catherine.

Gray was sitting at his desk reading, stretching his neck to look back, "Does the Holy Spirit have new orders?"

"No, it is not the Holy Spirit summoning me," Catherine shook her head, "There is one bad news and one good news; which do you want to hear first?"

"Good news!" Gray raised his hand.

"The good news is that, thanks to your support, the church reform in the Beishier Duchy over the past few months has been confirmed as successful. This is the largest achievement we’ve had in the Isaac Kingdom for the past few centuries. The commoners, the church, and the nobles all support it completely. It’s a very thorough religious reform. The Holy Spirit acknowledges and praises your contribution."

"Really?" Gray was thrilled.

"Yes, really. Before, you were just an excellent knight, a newly knighted Holy Knight. Now, you are an outstanding Holy Knight."

"Yay! I have taken another big step towards being a great knight!" Gray cheered with joy.

The Black Cat sighed from the side, watching with relief.

With an angel’s assurance, a Lich pursuing the Holy Spirit’s faith doesn’t seem so bad anymore. Though that agreement was quite a trap. If his identity gets exposed and hunted, the Church would immediately change their stance.

Of course, hope that day never comes. That would be quite challenging. After all, when a Lich says forever, it truly means forever.

"Now it’s time for the bad news," Catherine said.

"Alright, I’m ready for the challenge!" Gray turned his chair, sat up straight, and clenched his fists.

"This challenge might come a bit early, a bit large," Catherine said helplessly, "The bad news is that the smooth implementation of the church reform has angered Hell. And we have every reason to believe that your identity has been exposed. They will send demons to deal with you soon, perhaps already outside the door. This isn’t surprising; our intelligence doesn’t always outpace theirs."

"Just like that?"

"Yes, just like that."

"This was expected," Gray said seriously, "When I decided to believe in the Holy Spirit, I was already prepared to fight demons!"

"But they won’t confront you with force; they will tempt you, distort your faith. Many Holy Knights have fallen this way. Now they likely have traps set in Lion King City waiting for you. It probably won’t be a beauty, but that’s worse; we can’t even guess what they intend to do."

"No matter what trap it is, I won’t fall!"

"I believe you," Catherine answered with a smile.

As night deepened, everyone was asleep. Even the wandering Pas had rolled back in.

Only Gray remained awake, earnestly sitting at his desk studying the Bible, receiving Catherine’s most fundamental holy belief education, preparing for the upcoming challenge. Of course, Jones and Dora were sitting beside him too... these two little vampires were being "re-educated" seeking redemption.

A Lich resolutely plunging into the embrace of light, whether seen by angels or demons, was so bizarre. Yet such bizarre events could warm hearts. This drove Catherine to want to help him wholeheartedly, to create a miracle. A miracle that angels considered, a miracle.