Chapter 1697: Chapter 1695: Talking Big Feels Good for a Moment... (Super Goomya Evolution Continues—Vote for Us!)

After returning to the castle, Fang Zheng informed everyone about Emilia and Felt participating in the Royal Selection, and as expected, everyone was quite surprised. However, as friends, they naturally supported the two of them, but...

"In that case, Felt won’t be able to go on adventures with us, right?"

The Priestess of the Goddess was a bit disappointed, but Fang Zheng waved his hand.

"No, the plan remains unchanged. Felt will go with you, and not only Felt, but Emilia will join too."

"Eh?"

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this.

"Why?"

"Because adventurers can better connect with every layer of society, and as adventurers, you’ll also be more familiar with the state of the country."

Saying this, Fang Zheng looked at Felt.

"The life of an adventurer is different from when you were in the slums. You need to remember this. Also, I want you all to base your activities around the Kingdom of Lugnica."

"Is it necessary.... to do it this way?"

"That’s right."

Fang Zheng nodded.

"Currently, Felt and Emilia are both Royal Selection Candidates. Although this can’t be spread around randomly, acting as adventurers and helping solve problems can also enhance their prestige. Especially for Emilia, if your goal is to become a king, you must accept and adapt to this situation."

"Okay, I understand."

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s request, Emilia was somewhat nervous and uneasy, but she still nodded.

At this moment, Megumin suddenly thought of something.

"Wait a minute, does this mean we’re going to.... celebrate the newcomers joining the team?"

"That’s right."

Fang Zheng snapped his fingers.

"Let’s go hunt some goblins, consider it as a welcome party. This could also become a traditional activity for your team, right?"

"I don’t want this kind of traditional activity!"

Megumin immediately made a sour face, while the Priestess of the Goddess and Ais didn’t respond, only Emilia and Felt looked surprised. Seeing Emilia, a slight smile appeared on Fang Zheng’s lips. The reason for doing this was to target Emilia. In Fang Zheng’s opinion, Emilia was still too "virtuous" and lacked exposure to society’s harsh realities. A goblin hunt should provide a useful shock for Emilia.

As for whether there would be any danger for Emilia and Felt, Fang Zheng wasn’t concerned. Emilia had Parker the Grand Elf by her side, and a goblin capable of defeating a Grand Elf... hehe, that wouldn’t be a goblin.

Meanwhile, in the nearby town’s Adventurers’ Guild, a group of unexpected visitors arrived.

"Are you looking for the Goblin Slayer?"

Looking at the three before her, the counter lady smiled.

"I’m very sorry, he took a goblin extermination mission yesterday and hasn’t returned yet."

"How long will it take?"

It was a young girl asking, standing before the counter lady. She carried a longbow, had a slender figure and long, green hair. Her pointed ears revealed her true identity—an Elf.

"This time the destination is quite far, it might take a week..."

"Too slow!"

"Little girl, as an Elf, you should be more patient."

The dwarf standing beside the Elf Maiden stroked his beard, laughing.

"That’s why you aren’t mature."

"What did you say? You’re not even up to my waist...!"

The counter lady couldn’t help but feel perplexed as she looked at the unusual team comprised of a High Elf, a dwarf, and a Lizard Man. Moreover, they were Silver Rank adventurers, which was surprising.

Generally, Silver Rank adventurers wouldn’t be interested in creatures like goblins.

Unfortunately, the most suitable Silver Rank adventurer to take the job hadn’t returned yet.

However......

"Well......"

Thinking of this, the counter lady raised her hand, interrupting their quarrel.

"If you all are looking to solve an issue related to goblins, I can recommend another adventurer team. Although they are Black Obsidian Level adventurers, they’re skilled at handling goblins and should be able to help."

"Really?"

The trio turned their heads quickly upon hearing the counter lady’s words.

"But at Black Obsidian Level.... isn’t that too low?"

"After all, it’s goblins... isn’t that what you’re thinking?"

"That’s true....."

The three whispered among themselves, and then the Elf Archer looked back at the counter lady again.

"Well, where is this team?"

"They’re not here, but in the nearby castle. If you follow the road outside of the town, it will take about twenty minutes to reach it. Regarding the commission, our Adventurers’ Guild will handle it......"

However, before the counter lady could finish, the guild door suddenly opened, and a lively voice echoed.

"Haha, I can feel it, this is fate’s guidance..."

"Ah, Megumin, you arrived just in time."

Seeing the Priestess of the Goddess and her companions entering from outside the guild, the counter lady smiled.

"We’re here to take a commission, is there a goblin-related one?"

"Of course, these people were just looking for someone to take on a goblin commission."

"Ah, that’s perfect, Sir Knight wants us to take another goblin mission..."

"What’s the reason this time?"

"Uhm... welcoming newcomers?"

"Eh?"

Upon hearing this, the counter lady paused. Then she noticed Felt and Emilia step out from behind the Priestess of the Goddess.

"These two wish to apply as adventurers and join our team."

"That’s absolutely fine, but they’re newcomers... is that really okay?"

"Don’t worry, big sister."

Faced with the receptionist’s inquiry, Felt responded boldly.

"Emilia and I are really impressive! Plus, it’s just a goblin, it’s no big deal!"

"Ah, well..."

Hearing Felt’s response, the receptionist replied somewhat awkwardly, then looked towards the Priestess of the Goddess, who also showed a helpless smile and nodded.

So the receptionist immediately understood what she meant.

"Alright, I’ll process the paperwork for you two right away..."

Meanwhile, in the castle, Fang Zheng was also looking at the distant village from the window, with Beatrice rarely by his side enjoying the breeze.

"I didn’t expect you’d let that young girl become an adventurer. In my opinion, that girl isn’t cut out for it."

"From my perspective, she’s also not cut out to be a king."

Facing Beatrice’s words, Fang Zheng nodded. In his interactions with Emilia, Fang Zheng discovered that Emilia’s biggest issue was being overly sanctimonious.

This isn’t the type of sanctimony people mock on the internet but a true holy mother... and that’s what makes it troublesome.

Being kind is a good trait, but it depends on the occasion and identity. If Emilia continues to live her simple life in the Frozen Forest, excessive kindness is only a minor flaw. But if Emilia wants to become a king, this level of kindness is deadly for her.

Kindness itself isn’t the problem, and thinking of others isn’t the problem, but boundless kindness is a recipe for disaster.

In Fang Zheng’s view, the goblin will give Emilia a very good lesson in ideological education.

But what kind of score Emilia will get in this exam is yet unknown.

Emilia’s willingness to challenge racial discrimination is naturally commendable, but now it’s uncertain whether she’ll become Martin Luther King, Gandhi, or Mandela.

Although none of their fates was particularly pleasant.

But speaking of which...

"You don’t get bored staying in the library all day? Why not go out for a walk?"

"No way."

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Beatrice snorted lightly.

"Betty has a mission to stay in the library."

"Mission? What mission?"

"..."

Facing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Beatrice was silent for a moment. Then, with a gesture, a book appeared in her hand.

"This is Betty’s mission."

"Uh... I don’t quite understand, could you explain?"

"Betty isn’t a natural elf; she’s an artificial spirit created by the ’Witch of Greed’ Echidna. In fact, this Forbidden Library also belongs to my mother. Betty only signed a contract to guard it here. And this ’Book of Wisdom’ can know everything about the past and future of the world. Betty and Roswaal each have a copy."

"Oh..."

So that book is somewhat similar to the Ratziel?

"So, what next?"

"In the contract Betty signed with my mother, it was agreed that Betty would guard the Forbidden Library until a certain person’s arrival and impart the knowledge within to them. When that person arrives, Betty’s prophecy book will react."

"So you’re telling me this to say that there’s been no reaction so far?"

"Correct."

Beatrice nodded slightly.

"It’s been four hundred years. Betty has been waiting in the Forbidden Library for four hundred years. To be honest, for Betty, it’s been long enough. However, until now, Betty still hasn’t met the person my mother talked about..."

"What about Meiyin and Mel? They’re not suitable either?"

Fang Zheng couldn’t help but curiously ask. Afterall Meiyin loves books the most and is also infatuated with the Forbidden Library. Mel, with half of this world’s Ancient Dragon average ability, seemed a promising candidate too. More importantly, both are transmigrators, essentially possessing a protagonist aura...

"No."

Beatrice shook her head again.

"To be frank, Betty agreed with you once in hopes of finding a glimmer of hope... Betty knows you have a way to easily and quickly find the whereabouts of Betty’s brother, so Betty also hopes you can help find that person."

"Hmm..."

After listening to Beatrice’s request, Fang Zheng frowned, lost in thought.

"I have a question."

"What question?"

"Your agreement with your mother—the Witch of Greed—is to wait here, without a time limit?"

"Yes."

"But here’s the thing, this place has always been inhabited by the Roswaal family, and not everyone can open that door, so you’ve waited for four hundred years... without any feature, and you want me to find someone... at least your brother could give me a name."

"Isn’t it..."

Hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, Beatrice lowered her head a bit dispiritedly, her usually icy indifferent face showed a trace of sadness. Seeing Beatrice like this, Fang Zheng felt a stirring in his heart.

"But, speaking of it... maybe I am the person you’re waiting for, hahaha."

"Huh? Impossible."

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Beatrice rolled her eyes irritably.

"My mother once told me that when that person arrives, Betty’s Gospel will react."

"However, isn’t there a reaction with no reaction? And if it’s me, it’s also normal that your so-called Gospel doesn’t have any reaction, because it’s impossible for it to investigate anything about me."

Fang Zheng appeared very calm; after all, he held the Ratziel in his hand, and he was both a Time Dragon and a Prophet Mage. Prophet Mages cannot predict other Prophet Mages, and Time Dragons are outside the timeline. From the time perspective, Fang Zheng is both here and not here, visible and invisible. Despite not knowing what Beatrice’s ’Gospel’ is, Fang Zheng doesn’t believe it’s stronger than the Ratziel.

"Such nonsense..."

Beatrice snorted softly, then opened the ’Gospel’. After a moment, her eyes widened in astonishment.

"How is it possible? There’s really nothing..."

Looking at the smooth pages, Beatrice was momentarily dumbfounded. This ’Gospel’ is a replica given to her by Echidna, capable of showing the holder’s future. It somewhat resembles reading your future self’s diary in advance. But what shocked Beatrice was that when she tried to find content related to Fang Zheng, nothing appeared on the pages!

It was as if he didn’t exist at all!

"Alright, it’s still a possibility. Take your time to think it over."

Fang Zheng reached out to pat Beatrice’s head, then hummed a tune while petting the little kitten and walked out. Beatrice remained in the library, staring at the ’Gospel’ in front of her with uncertainty.

Could it be... it really is him?