DKIE CH42: Victory is Imminent

The room was silent. The magical characters forming insults lingered in the air.

Being called a beast by a pet, Cullen was silent for a long while.

Considering the other party had a powerful backer, he took off the ruby from his sleeve and placed it in front of the ferret.

Cullen had first-rate observation skills. Just like its lustrous fur, the ferret liked shiny things.

“Saint… Your pre-order quota, I will have someone register it.”

Having received its answer, the ferret was satisfied and left a strangely shaped communication stone to pay for the book. Then, taking the gem, it turned into a stream of light and disappeared over the horizon.

Cullen breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure from the ferret’s paw swing earlier was almost on par with a great mage’s.

He glanced down at the communication stone, and his face lit up with joy.

Even if this communication stone couldn’t contact the Saint, it could contact the ferret. Its value was self-evident.

He just didn’t expect the Saint to be so gossipy as to specially send his pet out to buy a book.

Seeing that everyone else present also looked like they had discovered some incredible secret, Cullen instantly understood that they were all thinking the same thing.

He coughed lightly, “Don’t say what shouldn’t be said.”

The first day was mainly for warming up. Lilian had already prepared the promotional headlines. A picture of thousands of people in the Holy City scrambling to buy, causing traffic jams, was printed in various cities in advance.

A new section was added for the author’s introduction, with the title “Hellfire Youth, the Flame of Revenge is About to Burn.”

The author’s special identity, the large scale of the novel’s content, and the current situation of being sold out everywhere were all mixed in. Who could refuse?

Although they had made the best predictions, in less than forty-eight hours, the popularity had exceeded the Rhine Chamber of Commerce’s imagination.

In some small counties, as soon as a pre-order quota appeared, it would be immediately filled.

This trend even spread to other races. They went to check it out out of curiosity, only to find that they couldn’t get a spot.

Their status couldn’t even get them a pre-order spot?

Was this appropriate?!

Buy, must buy.

In the demon domain, having just persuaded two princes to transfer their wealth from the hunt, Alec thought victory was in his grasp. But early in the morning, he received news of Luka’s soaring wealth value.

In shock and anger, he almost broke his teeth.

“What exactly is he selling? No matter what it is, it’s not difficult to sabotage.”

Food and medicine could be poisoned. For a movie, they could find a way to tamper with the master copy. For books, it was even easier. They could publicize that the content was terrible, and then compare the price with a master-level magic book to make people feel it wasn’t worth buying.

The spy reported cautiously, “He’s selling… selling quotas.”

“?”

It couldn’t be explained in a few words, so the spy directly took out a newspaper.

Among the many shallow and exaggerated words, Alec finally saw the two words “pre-sale.” In an instant, he was frozen on the spot like a statue.

The spies below were speechless with suffering.

There wasn’t even a physical product. What was there to sabotage?
…

[Is it the annihilation of humanity, or the degeneration of morality]

At this moment, the top seller Luka was still writing his new book.

Quill Pen leaned to one side, his eyebrows raised high as he scanned the contents of the manuscript.

It was roughly about the Saintess and the Holy Court having disagreements on some matters, and her beginning to ponder the boundaries of humanity and morality.

Luka wrote about the Demon King and the Saintess in two extreme styles. When describing the Saintess, he directly portrayed her as an image of being unstained by mud.

“You’re really good at putting people on a pedestal to be roasted.”

If the Saintess was truly noble and pure, that would be one thing.

But she was two-faced. In the future, when the darkness within the Holy Court was revealed, and only the Saintess remained noble, it would be strange if the others who were exposed didn’t have any opinions.

A loud laugh suddenly came from outside.

The door was not closed. The lord of Red Banyan City’s voice came from far to near, seeming to be in a very good mood.

“Your sales miracle among the human race, even I have heard of it,” the lord of Red Banyan City laughed heartily. “There are even small vendors in the border areas privately engaging in代购 business.”

He was naturally happy that Luka could go against the current.

The fate observation was indeed very accurate. This one was specifically here to counter Alec.

These two days, Luka had been immersed in writing. He had heard that the pre-sale situation was good, but he didn’t know the specific results. He quickly stopped to ask.

“Just the numbers I’ve heard of are this many,” the lord of Red Banyan City held up two fingers, then solemnly stated the unit: “billion.”

Luka subconsciously said, “A small goal?”

The lord of Red Banyan City couldn’t help but look at him with high regard. Two hundred million was actually just a small goal. He was someone who could accomplish great things.

“Unless Alec can persuade all the other princes, maybe…”

Maybe the final winner would be you.

The last sentence was too shocking. The lord of Red Banyan City didn’t even say it out loud.

Besides sales, today’s newspaper also published news about the dragon race, saying they were helping Mohe City develop its tourism industry.

There was no precedent for failure in an industrial development personally carried out by the dragon race. The source of all this came from their friendship with Iliad. It was self-evident who the demons there would vote for.

Not to mention, the lord of Red Banyan City had secretly done some research and found that everyone was randomly voting for Iliad.

Luka was still immersed in the joy of two hundred million.

The product had not yet been put into production, so there was no need to deduct costs. The final statistical results would be extremely favorable to him.

“Finally.”

Luka breathed a sigh of relief. For the past month, from the duel to the movie premiere, to the first speech, and now the final pre-sale was completed.

The lord of Red Banyan City did not know the hardships he had gone through and only thought he was immersed in the joy of impending victory.

And Quill Pen, having witnessed Luka’s growth, could somewhat understand this feeling.

The weak and humble youth had already broken out of his chrysalis and was ready to fly high.

This was the real Spring Day Breaking the Cocoon.

The lord of Red Banyan City left without even having a cup of tea.

He came, on the one hand, to inform Luka of the good news, but more to remind him not to let down his guard.

Last time, Princess Mary and the fifth prince were able to tamper with the teleportation array. Who knew if the other princes would use some dark tricks in the last few days.

He didn’t want another prince to have an accident in Red Banyan City.

Of course, Luka also knew this, and he knew even more that the strength of an individual was true strength. So after the lord of Red Banyan City left, he seized the time to cultivate.

Since yesterday, the power of faith in his body had become purer and more surging.

“Who can refuse a story of ‘don’t bully a poor youth’?”

Even in the Saint Demon Continent, where the weak were looked down upon, everyone still longed to break free from their existing class. His series of actions of provoking the authority of the Demon King and other princes had, to some extent, hit a hidden sweet spot in their hearts.

The sales miracle of the counterattack further expanded his fame.

In other words, now there were real demons and humans who were fans of Luka.

The kind of real-life fans!

Quill Pen supervised his cultivation from the side.

“Your use of the shrinking spell is too unpracticed.” To better launch the truth, it was far from enough now.

“Huh?” Practicing until his head was steaming as usual, Luka suddenly opened his eyes, revealing utter surprise.

Quill Pen thought something had gone wrong with his cultivation and immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”

Luka was puzzled, “There’s a strange light spot in my body.”

It was only the size of a water drop, but the energy it contained even surpassed the light spot of the dragon race in the past.

He hadn’t noticed it before because its color was not as bright as the other light spots, but rather a bit dim.

Quill Pen approached, “Let me sense it. Don’t resist.”

Sensing each other under the blood contract was easy. With Luka not moving, Quill Pen easily saw the countless golden avenues outside his shattered soul.

At the end of the roads were countless light spots, floating around the small golden figure like butterflies.

Quill Pen was very satisfied with Luka’s progress. The small figure’s head to neck had already been lit up.

Next, he checked inch by inch. After some effort, he finally found a slightly dim light spot.

As Luka said, the dimness was just its protective color. The energy it contained was almost overloaded.

The dragon race couldn’t possibly have such a strange light spot color. But besides the dragon race, who would have such strong feelings for Luka?

Quill Pen looked at the light spot with a cold smile.

Not actively getting close, silently occupying the position near the heart, it looked like a psychologically distorted and dangerous person.

It should be pulled out and executed.

For this, Quill Pen did not hesitate to expend some of the energy of his essential blood, tracing the path of the dim light spot back to its source, trying to find the origin.

“Ugh…”

The blood in his body felt like it was solidifying. Luka was a little uncomfortable. He endured it for a while.

However, this sense of restraint was still deepening. Just as Luka was about to ask, the uncomfortable feeling suddenly disappeared.

Almost at the same time, a strong fluctuation appeared in front of him. Quill Pen retreated several steps as if electrocuted.

Luka was stunned by such a big reaction.

“Is something wrong?”

Quill Pen stood in the shadows, his expression very strange. After a long while, he said, “No. I just overused my strength.”

Luka narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Quill Pen slowly said, “The color of the light spot is wrong, it’s related to the race. Some special races have relatively special souls, for example… for example, high elves.”

So that’s how it was.

Luka remembered that when the movie was released, Grover had specially invited a high elf to watch the premiere with him.

Could it be that this race had a masochistic constitution and became a fan after watching it?

“You continue to practice,” Quill Pen never looked at him directly again. “I’ll go check if there are any spies nearby.”

Before his voice had finished falling, his figure disappeared from the room.

Luka was puzzled. Check is check, was it necessary to use spatial movement?

The weather outside was nice, and the temperature had risen a little for a change.

It wasn’t clear if the sun was making him restless, but Quill Pen walked faster and faster after he came out. When he finally stopped, his face was as gloomy as water.

How could it be?

The source of that dim light spot… was actually himself.

So the abnormal mood during this period, the excessive attention to Luka, was not because of the blood contract at all?

The sound of a door opening came from ahead.

Quill Pen instantly concealed all his emotions and found that he had somehow walked to the temporary residence of the dragon race.

Currently, the other dragons had all gone to Mohe City to work on infrastructure. Only Berlanie had specially stayed behind to prevent the princes from sending demon generals to assassinate.

His gaze towards Quill Pen was not as soft as when he faced Luka, but rather somewhat meaningful.

On the day of the assassination, the methods Quill Pen had displayed were not the methods the Holy Court would use.

He didn’t expose him, but it was because Luka and Quill Pen seemed very familiar, and even seemed to be actively covering for him.

In the tense, silent atmosphere, Quill Pen suddenly took the initiative to speak:

“If an individual’s emotions suddenly change abnormally, with joy and anxiety coexisting, worry and expectation coexisting, what does this mean?”

The dragons were a race of wisdom. He tried to hear an authoritative answer from the other party, an answer that he might already have in his heart.

Berlanie’s face was indifferent, “It means he’s having a child.”

“…”

Quill Pen’s eyelid twitched slightly.

He remembered Luka’s first cultivation. When he sensed the magical elements, he said three words: I’m pregnant.

Then his eyelid twitched again. Why did he think of Luka again?

“I told you, didn’t I?” Berlanie, who had given the ridiculous answer earlier, suddenly lifted his eyelids and stared at Quill Pen. “He’s still a child.”

The air was silent for a moment.

Obviously, Berlanie had long since heard the true meaning in Quill Pen’s words.

Not even a quarter of an hour had passed since he discovered the gray light spot. There were many things that even Quill Pen himself hadn’t figured out.

Completely ignoring the threat, he said something inexplicable, “What if you don’t like it?”

It was unclear if he was asking Berlanie or himself.

The imprinting effect, the unknown disadvantages of the blood contract, the suspension bridge effect—he tried to dig up all possible explanations.

Berlanie’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, “Are you blind?”

So good, why not like it?

Quill Pen: “…”

The dragon race’s words always hit the nail on the head.

“Just maintain the status quo. I am not interested in your origin or anything about you.”

As long as it was like the day of the attack, risking exposure and unhesitatingly protecting Luka, he could always turn a blind eye.

After stating his attitude, Berlanie sighed. Was this what it felt like to be a parent?

A day of endless worries.

He suddenly remembered that he and Luka were not related by blood.

It didn’t matter.

He could just pretend the Demon King and the Saintess were already dead and had entrusted the child to him.

That couple didn’t look like they could outlive a dragon.

Berlanie was immersed in the joy of inheriting someone else’s child. Seeing this, Quill Pen didn’t even say goodbye and returned to the room, deep in thought.

Luka was practicing spells. In terms of magic, he had always preferred quality over quantity.

Seeing Quill Pen, he paused and said, “You’re very strange today.”

He knew that with his observation skills, if he continued to guess, he would definitely discover the truth.

Quill Pen very naturally changed the subject, “Drink the Soul Supplement Liquid. When I sensed you earlier, your soul still had many cracks.”

“There is a crack in everything,” Luka said calmly. “That’s how the light…”

Quill Pen looked at him coolly.

Luka tactfully stopped the second half of the sentence and gave a sheepish laugh, “I’ll drink it now.”

Actually, he had never felt any problems with his soul.

“The soul determines the upper limit,” Quill Pen reminded. “After your soul becomes stronger, your strength will further increase.”

Luka’s eyes instantly lit up, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

The strength party would drink it first!

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

He was just about to remind him that chugging it would be very stimulating, but it was too late. Quill Pen frowned.

The taste, which smelled very fresh, was very fiery as it flowed down his throat.

“It’s, a bit strong.”

Luka endured the discomfort and swallowed. When the last mouthful entered his stomach, it was as if something exploded in his mind, like millions of mosquitoes buzzing.

The drunken feeling numbed his thoughts. Luka squatted down uncomfortably, tightly covering his ears.

Someone supported him. It was Quill Pen. He seemed to be saying something, over and over, but Luka couldn’t hear at all. He just wanted the severe tinnitus to disappear, even if he had to faint.

The bottle fell to the ground and rolled around. The next second, Luka’s vision went black, and he passed out.
…

Darkness, silence, as if in a vacuum, the body exploding into particles.

The feeling of floating became stronger and stronger. Luka couldn’t tell for a moment whether he had fainted or his soul had left his body.

His head hurt, but it was also very comfortable. The taste of ice and fire was truly intoxicating. When the two opposing forces finally balanced out a bit, he could finally see something.

This was a room, surrounded by densely packed books.

It was like playing an early web-based horror game. Luka felt like he was looking at the scenery through a screen, very unreal.

Squeak.

The door suddenly opened.

A child walked in. As the distance between them gradually shortened, Luka’s whole body trembled.

A face that was all too familiar, so much like him as a child.

The only two differences were that the child had waist-length hair and looked like he hadn’t seen much sun. His skin was excessively pale, like an exquisite doll.

Seemingly unable to see that there was another person in the room, the child’s footsteps stopped by a bookshelf in the back.

Luka vaguely scanned it. There were all kinds of forbidden magic books there.

The books on the bottom seemed to have been read already. The child stood on tiptoe to reach the ones on top, stretching his arms with effort.

After the initial panic, Luka only felt a little sad and amused. After seeing so much magic, he couldn’t even get a single book down.

Bang.

After a lot of effort, the child finally touched the edge of one of the books. The book fell down in the process.

The book was not thick, and it only left a red mark when it hit his forehead.

The child was short, but his intelligence was sufficient.

Even though the text on it was ancient and different from the current circulation, he could still barely recognize it.

“Di-diary…” the child tried hard to recognize, reading out the characters one by one in a low voice: “Alex’s Diary.”

Luka’s eyes widened slightly.

At this moment, he even forgot the discomfort in his body and floated directly over.

Just as he was about to approach the child and the diary, a huge suction force came from above his head. Everything in front of him instantly turned into blurry black dots.

Luka struggled to open his eyes, wanting to see clearly again, even for just a glance!

In the painful pulling sensation, the suction force grew stronger and stronger, like being pulled into a vortex.

The scene tore apart in an instant, and Luka suddenly woke up.

The light stung his eyes. He moved his fingers and found that he was lying on the bed, tightly gripping another hand, his whole body twitching slightly.

His gaze followed his tightly clasped fingers all the way up. Quill Pen was staring at him intently.

__

Author’s note:
 

Excerpt from Luka’s diary:
Berlanie: There are many kinds of emotional feedback. Why don’t you first consider it from a friend’s perspective?
Alex: …
Berlanie: See, the blind spot in your thinking has already given you the answer.
Alex was silent.
A dim flame flashed.
That day, Luka: Huh, why is a page missing from my diary?!