Chapter 29: Vivian is Fleeing

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【The sudden flare of light drew the attention of everyone still awake in the small town.】
【An orange-red figure charged out from the tavern.】
【She was fast, and in a blink, she had bolted from the town.】
【Yes, Vivian had run away.】
【Under those circumstances, fleeing was the optimal solution.】
【This was the golden rule Aunt Mary had taught Vivian when she prepared to leave the village with Wigfart.】
【However, this did not align with your interests.】
Yes, it did not align with Ron's interests.
Setting aside the Demon King’s lingering soul in the town, even the way Vivian ran away did not fit the plot Ron had designed for her.
If you run away at a time like this, how am I supposed to write the novel...
The readers will tear me to shreds!
【"Are you just going to run away like that?" you said calmly, your claws clutching her shoulder strap.】
【"If I try to be a hero, I’ll die there," Vivian said, sprinting all the way.】
【"That's not what you thought when you raided the bandit stronghold."】
【"Back then, if I played the hero, only I would die. If I fail here, the whole town will suffer."】
【Vivian displayed a surprising sense of calm.】
【She was not running because of fear.】
【You chuckled: "Whether you run or not, the moment you stepped into this town, the fate of its people was sealed, unless someone can shatter the cage of the dream."】
【Vivian came to a halt.】
This was not Ron attempting to bewitch Vivian.
It was, in fact, a very simple truth. The people behind the incident in Sola Town would never allow it to be exposed. As long as Vivian appeared there, whether she ran or forced her way in, she would only accelerate the pace at which the enemy initiated their ritual.
The ritual did not strictly require a sacrifice to begin; it was just that having one ensured a one-hundred-percent success rate for the fusion.
Once the ritual started, those whose dreams had been stripped away would fall into an eternal slumber, only to have their lives harvested one by one.
Ron had considered what Vivian might say after she stopped.
But when she spoke, Ron was still somewhat taken aback.
【"You want the lingering soul inside, don't you, Ron?" Vivian held you in her arms, staring intently into your eyes with a burning gaze.】
【The soft pressure gave you that familiar feeling of suffocation.】
【You squirmed, fully soaking in the softness and warmth of your "cat bed": "It doesn't matter to me. It's your choice."】
【Vivian bit her lip: "Then you have to help me."】
【"Rest assured, I don't want to change my cat bed just yet," you yawned, a faint shimmer of light radiating from your body.】
【It was only then that you realized Vivian had carried you back to the entrance of Sola Town—a different entrance.】

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【"Wait! Weren't you running away? Why did you come back here!"】
【You were certain that, just a moment ago, Vivian’s mind was entirely consumed by the thought of escape.】
【Vivian activated "Burning Body."】
【She opened the vial of poison in her hand and shook her head, saying: "I don't know, my body just ran here on its own."】
【"Perhaps my subconscious is bent on saving these people."】
【"Are you perhaps directionally challenged?"】
【"I knew I was a saintly person!" Vivian nodded firmly, then downed the poison in one breath.】
【"You are absolutely, goddamn directionally challenged!" you remarked, speechless. "A person who gets lost even while running away! How on earth did you find the bandit stronghold before!"】
【"Enough talk!" Vivian pulled out her staff. "We're starting! Don't you dare sabotage me, Ron!"】
【Vivian’s magic power was limited.】
【She relied solely on the few mana-replenishing potions Loli had given her.】
【She estimated she could maintain "Burning Body" for five minutes.】
【She had to seize the lingering soul and break the ritual within those five minutes.】
【As soon as she finished speaking, Vivian charged into the town without hesitation.】
【The guards and mages at the entrance were discussing the chaos on the other side of town, but as soon as they looked up, they saw an orange-red, flaming demon rushing toward them.】
【They tried to launch an attack, but their bodies instantly froze.】
【Faint red lights glowed on their bodies, declaring the sins they had committed.】
【"Keep moving forward!" you gripped her shoulder strap tightly. "Their ranks aren't much lower than mine; I can't control them for long."】
【Vivian understood this well; she gritted her teeth and sprinted toward the direction you pointed.】
【Every enemy they encountered was incapacitated by the "Sinful Judgment" you cast.】
【Finally, Vivian charged all the way to the town’s central plaza.】
【At that moment, a massive green magic crystal hovered in the center of the square.】
【The magical field it emitted bathed the entire plaza in a green glow.】
【Floating around the crystal were countless people.】
【They were the residents of the town, all trapped in deep sleep.】
【And in front of the green crystal, a tall man in white-gold robes stood, holding a white crystal staff.】
【He watched Vivian with a faint, confident smile on his lips.】
【"An apprentice? You've got guts," he said lightly.】
【Your heart sank.】
【You could see his sins, but you could not bring judgment upon him.】
【His standing was above yours.】

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【Vivian’s reaction speed was lightning fast; almost the moment she saw him, she cast a "Self-Silence" spell on him.】
【At the same time, she grabbed you and threw you far away.】
【"Go find it!" That was her final command.】
【The moment her magic was released, a powerful storm swept her up and slammed her down from the air.】
【The man’s casting speed was faster than hers; he had released his magic just before the silence took effect.】
【Vivian crashed heavily to the ground, her body twisted in pain.】
【The white-robed mage was about to speak but realized the silence on him hadn't worn off yet.】
【He frowned slightly, produced a potion, and drank it nonchalantly.】
【The silence on him was instantly dispelled.】
【"Your silence spell is quite interesting, but it's a pity you are too weak," the white-robed mage said, unwilling to let complications arise.】
【He waved his staff, sending Vivian into the dreamscape.】
【"Since you've come, just sleep here forever." He remained calm throughout.】
【However, when he saw Vivian slowly crawling up from the ground, his unflappable face finally showed a flicker of shock.】
【Why... didn't it work?】
【The flames on Vivian’s body grew more intense.】
【The moment the curse of "Eternal Sleep" touched her, it was transformed into fuel for her "Burning Body."】
【Vivian downed several mana potions to replenish her depleted energy.】
【She knew that with her current state alone, there was no chance of defeating him.】
【Vivian’s gaze fell upon the man's chest.】
【It was the emblem of a Level 4 Mage.】
【I must buy time for Ron!】
【A crazy idea formed in Vivian’s mind.】
【Vivian took out all her remaining poisons and poured them into her mouth.】
【As the poisoned state stacked up, flames erupted from her body, reaching toward the sky.】
【The flames could not burn any physical objects.】
【But here, there was no shortage of the fuel it craved.】
【The surging flames began to consume the curse of eternal sleep.】