Chapter 537 – Little Rabbit Person

Clang!

“Damned evil…”

Seeing the two rabbit-person guards pointing their weapons at each other, Claire could no longer contain the fury burning within him. Without hesitation, he drew his blade at a speed that left only afterimages. Then, accompanied by the flash of lightning from his thunder-attribute Battle Aura, Claire’s greatsword effortlessly shattered the two rabbit-people’s spears.

“Evil, face your death!”

Ignoring the wooden splinters scattering through the air from the shattered spears, Claire with bloodshot eyes swung his greatsword to behead the rabbit-person guards. In Claire’s mind at that moment, the mention of evil made him think of that cold figure in black mage robes with red patterns at the arena entrance, and it made him remember… the deceased Lina!

Thus, the usually indecisive and even cowardly Claire was now increasingly resembling those extreme justice fanatics.

Fortunately, Claire still had a mentor. Audreylinda was the first to notice Claire’s unusual behavior, and she easily blocked the youth’s strike with her Battle Aura.

Thud!

“Stop, Claire! They don’t deserve death yet!”

The ice-blue Battle Aura neutralized the lightning on Claire’s greatsword, and the sudden drop in temperature helped clear Claire’s mind considerably. With his mentor’s sharp command, Claire silently sheathed his greatsword, realizing he had let his emotions get the better of him.

As an obedient apprentice, Claire would always follow his mentor’s commands no matter the circumstances, even though he still felt furious at those two rabbit-people who had aided the wicked.

“D-damn it!”

Whether due to wounded pride or ignorance of how terrifying a professional warrior’s power could be, the two rabbit-person guards who had been blown to the ground by the gale from Claire’s swing kept retreating while blustering loudly:

“Humans, d-don’t get too arrogant! Our… our elder will… will teach you a lesson!”

After saying this, the two rabbit-person guards who were too frightened to stand straight supported each other and jogged down the hill. Though their threat was somewhat hollow, for the naturally timid rabbit-people, having the courage to utter a few bold words before fleeing could already be considered “remarkably brave.”

Regardless, the two rabbit-person guards had run off to seek reinforcements. Now, only a dilapidated little wooden hut remained before Audreylinda and her apprentice. Moreover, after being battered by the strong winds from Claire’s earlier swing, the small hut appeared even more precarious.

“Sorry, mentor.”

After carefully sheathing his greatsword, the now-calm Claire apologized to Audreylinda:

“I was too impulsive…”

“You were indeed somewhat impulsive, but there’s no need to blame yourself. You’re still young—this is how youthful impulsiveness often manifests. When I was your age, I was even more vehement against evil.”

Seeing Claire’s dejected expression, the gentle female knight bent down and softly counseled him:”But we are not the kind of chaotic-good alignment that kills indiscriminately over minor evils. No one is without fault. For those evils not deserving death, we must give them opportunities for redemption. Only then can the mercy of justice be manifested. Those two rabbitfolk earlier only wielded their blades out of ignorance. What we should return to them isn’t equivalent violence, but tolerance and education!”

After speaking, the Female Knight stood up and gazed at the disorderly cluster of rabbitfolk wooden huts scattered across the distant hills. Audreylinda couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Had she encountered such an ignorant tribe during her wandering travels, Audreylinda would have undoubtedly chosen to stay for fifty or sixty years to guide the “ignorant people” onto the “path of righteousness.” However, she now had to pursue greater evils, so the role of guiding this Rabbitfolk Tribe was destined to elude her.

“If I return alive, then I’ll consider how to educate these poor rabbitfolk.”

Thinking this, Audreylinda sighed quietly to herself.

“Let’s go, we should check on this poor little girl.”

Setting aside her various thoughts for the moment, Audreylinda refocused her attention on the small wooden hut. Especially when she sensed the fearful trembling of the soul inside, the compassionate Female Knight couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Eager to “save the innocent,” Claire stepped ahead of Audreylinda and knocked on the door, asking:

“Don’t be afraid, we’re here to help you. May we come in?”

“P-please… come in…”

After waiting about one or two seconds, a timid response emerged from the small hut. The owner of that soft, sticky voice seemed to be trying hard to make her reply sound normal, but her voice unavoidably carried obvious fear.

Claire and Audreylinda exchanged glances. Finally, under the Female Knight’s encouraging gaze, the now-calm Claire gently pushed the wooden door.

The door wasn’t locked, and Claire easily pushed it open. As this barrier between the outside world and the hut swung open, the interior scene revealed itself to Audreylinda and her disciple.

It was a room with dried grass serving as flooring. Apparently, the ground hay doubled as both bed and table. The entire space, less than six square meters, contained no furniture whatsoever – only a meticulously licked-clean wooden bowl placed in one corner of the room.

The room’s occupant was currently huddled in a corner, trembling.

“D-don’t hit Kaisa… Kaisa will be good… Kaisa didn’t cast any curses… It wasn’t Kaisa…”

The young Little Rabbit-Person, dressed only in tattered clothes, covered her head with her hands, not daring to stand up. Besides her beautiful, adorable face, she had another distinct difference from other rabbitfolk – her long ears and short tail were pink.

Moreover, numerous shocking whip marks were clearly visible on her exposed arms and thighs. The mixture of fresh and old wounds sufficiently revealed what kind of treatment the poor little rabbit had endured.

Now, facing the commotion from outside the hut, the little rabbit-person who called herself “Kaisa” was clearly terrified.”Don’t be afraid, poor child. We’re here to help you.”

Seeing the little rabbit-person trembling uncontrollably, Audreylinda couldn’t help but feel sympathy. Before the chilly wind could fill the entire wooden hut, the Female Knight quickly took out a luxurious garment from her Storage Ring and draped it over Kaisa. Then, sensing the little rabbit-person’s extreme weakness and hunger, the sympathetic Audreylinda took out an Apprentice Rank “Restoration Potion” and gave it to Kaisa to drink.

“It’s alright now. No one will bully you anymore.”

As she traced the numerous scars on Kaisa’s body, Audreylinda’s voice grew increasingly soft and gentle. Though the young Kaisa appeared somewhat fearful of the potion offered by this stranger, she still reflexively trembled while quickly drinking the liquid.

It was evident that the rabbitfolk had left Kaisa with terrifying memories, to the extent that even while filled with immense fear and vigilance, the little rabbit-person would obey commands without uttering a single word.

“Alright, sleep now, poor child.”

Witnessing Kaisa’s heartbreaking response, the compassionate Audreylinda let out a soft sigh. After seeing these scars on the little rabbit-person’s body, Audreylinda realized she couldn’t possibly leave this child in this Rabbitfolk Tribe. Even if she forcefully compelled the rabbitfolk to abolish the cruel “Living Dead Sacrifice,” poor little Keisha would still likely perish from cold and hunger or malnutrition.

“What should we do now?”

Frowning, Audreylinda looked helplessly at her apprentice. But clearly, Claire was equally at a loss about the current situation.

(End of Chapter)