Category: Let Me Shoulder this Blame!

T/N: Apologies for the delay. 💦 There was an emergency at work yesterday, so I had to work unexpected overtime. I’ve decided to add a “Status Update” section to the side bar for when unexpected hiccups occur so that I can give you a quick update on the situation. For computers, you can see it on the right hand side of the screen. For phones, you have to scroll down to find it.

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Chapter 88 (33.5)

“Only I can do it.” Esmond said, meeting the other person’s teasing gaze. He pursed his lips slightly, and lowered his voice to explain: “I received the Light God’s gift, so only I have this ability…”

“All right, all right, I won’t randomly grab a person and kiss them.”

[T/N: Remember what you did in chapter 83, Su Shi?]

Su Shi said this without even realizing that his behavior at the beginning seemed to be almost the same as what he just said. Su Shi chuckled, and with the support of the other person, he propped himself up again.

They didn’t find any useful clues. Just as they were preparing to look for a new path forward, there was a sudden noise at the end of the street.

It was the pope calling for the people to convene.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

The masses were all looking forward to a quick response from the papacy, so they all promptly gathered at the plaza. Along the way they exchanged rumors with each other in low voices.

“It seems that Surrey finally admitted that the mastermind was actually Esmond…”

“So terrible, I believed in him so much!”

“I also heard! The law enforcement bishop wanted the pope’s position, so he secretly instigated the assassination of the pope, and put the crime on Ivan’s head—”

“Shut up! You don’t want to live anymore?”

Several people talking in low voices immediately closed their mouths, but the content of the conversation has quickly spread among the crowd.

Su Shi’s expression sank, and his heart gave birth to some unclear premonition.

The usually empty square was already full of people who heard the news and came.

The pope, who should have been seriously injured as a result of the assassination, was standing in the highest place wearing white clothes and delivering a heavy and lengthy speech to the people.

“…We regret this matter, but in any case, this is the truth we must admit and face.”

“It is with a painful heart that I must declare that Bishop Esmond betrayed the belief that he had swore allegiance to for his own ambitions. He tried to disturb the peace of the papacy and didn’t even hesitate to bring the whole continent into the darkness of eternal night…”

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The pope was absolutely right. The people in the square were filled with indignation and many people even swore in anger.

Esmond was hidden behind the crowd. His eyes darkened, but he still clutched the Holy Paladin beside him, not letting him make any moves.

The pope was standing on a high platform out in the open. Although there were guards around, the security was not as tight.

Previous experience has left a deep shadow on Esmond.

The cardinal who was accused of rebellion was deeply worried and sick at heart. He was afraid that if he didn’t hold on properly, the other person would rush up there and drag the pope down in a self-destructive move.

“Es!”

Seeing that his pot was being overturned in an inexplicable way, Su Shi was terribly anxious and he could not help turning around to look at the protagonist who said nothing: “Are we not going to do anything?”

After the cardinal revealed his identity, this was the first time that he called the other person’s name.

Esmond’s breathing stuttered. He subconsciously looked over. The Holy Paladin’s eyes held clear worry and concern. He was looking steadily at Esmond, impatiently waiting for his decision.

His gaze gradually settled down.

The pope represented the cohesive core of faith. No matter what, the demonization of the pope must not be revealed to everyone, otherwise it would only cause the entire continent to collapse and become a real abandoned place.

This secret could not be reveal and Ivan’s charges must also be eluted. Putting all the crimes on himself did indeed seem to be the best choice.

“Hide and don’t be found…”

Esmond shook his hand hard. Suddenly he removed his disguise, changing back into the cardinal, and he walked slowly towards the center of the square.

The blood red robe caused people to shirk their gazes. Instead of getting angry, the people gradually calmed down timidly.

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

Seeing him appear, the pope’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the black air diffused silently under his eyes: “Esmond, are you here to defend yourself?”

“I have nothing to defend.”

With a pale complexion, Esmond looked up at him, his voice calm and firm, resonating clearly into everyone’s ears.

“I plead guilty. Your Majesty, are you going to personally execute me?”

The crowd exploded in uproar. They finally couldn’t help giving voice to their furry, and they loudly scolded the cardinal.

Su Shi’s vision abruptly turned black.

After three worlds of experience, his protagonist finally learned how to get rid off all his pots, and also how to grab the pot from him.

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The author has something to say:

Su Shi: Put that down!! You put that pot down for me right now!!

o(*≧皿≦)o

#Can’t go on like this anymore*.#

[*T/N: 过不下去了 – to be unable to continue living (in a certain manner) / to be unable to make a living]

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Chapter 87 (33.4)

The cardinal tilted his head down slightly to look at Su Shi. His gaze was dark. He held his breath for a moment before leading him into the restaurant. “It’s not time yet.”

Su Shi didn’t believe it at first. But twice he tried to break free of Esmond’s grip around his wrist and couldn’t. Finally, he realized that the other party might be right about his weakening strength.

It seems like he might have to bring dynamite with him to blow up the pope.

Finally finding out the true state of his body, the Holy Paladin was so depressed that he slumped over the table and couldn’t keep his spirits up.

After looking at him for a long while, Esmond suddenly got up and rubbed the young man’s short hair.

“Wait a bit, I will be back right away.”

Su Shi nodded listlessly and continued to contact the system, unresigned. But he found that even the communication icon has dimmed. Asides from the basic stand-alone offline functions, he couldn’t even send messages.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

It seems that the god of light was right, and that the flow of time in him has stopped. Before he can successfully return to the main world, he may only be able to operate by instinct.

As he was seriously worrying about this, the fragrance of cocoa suddenly permeated the air, drawing his attention back to reality.

Su Shi was surprised. He raised his eyebrows and sat up.

Esmond had brought back two cups and handed one of them to him with a smile.

“Drink some. Be careful, it’s hot.”

“I really can’t help but wonder now. If we’re in ancient times, how would you be able to give me this thing…?”

After taking the cup of hot cocoa, Su Shi smiled lightly and took a small sip of the dark drink, his eyes gradually softening in the steaming heat.

It was just one world. If it’s just his time being suspended, then as long as there was a way to go back to the main world, it didn’t matter if he stayed for a while.

[T/N: Why does this thought pattern seem familiar, hmm? XD]

Esmond obviously couldn’t understand his words, and some quiet curiosity appeared in his eyes, but in the end he didn’t ask.

There were actually a lot of mysteries about the other party. Like why did he know about the secrets in the treasure cave? How did he discover the truth of the pope’s demonization? Why did the Light God who has never interfered with humanity before suddenly make an exception for this one person?

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Everyone has his or her own secrets, and since Ivan did not intend to share, Esmond would not press and ask.

The young Holy Paladin took the cup in his hands and slowly sipped the hot cocoa. The eyes hidden under the hood were calm and warm, and Esmond could not detect even a shred of the biting cold gaze of before when the paladin seemed set to destroy indiscriminately.

That treasure cave’s highest-grade treasure was that magic circle. He had firmly shoved it at the protagonist. If the protagonist’s strength did not upgrade then that would be strange.

Esmond seemed to have something to say. He looked at him quietly for a long while before speaking softly.

“I’m already very powerful…”

His hands clenched tightly. His eyes fixed deeply on the young man: “So—don’t do anything dangerous to protect me in the future, okay?”

Su Shi sighed and raised his head. He met those eyes full of anguish and self-blame.

The choice between life and death that day… so the protagonist had never really let it go.

He would not die. Esmond did not know.

Su Shi’s chest suddenly ached and his throat felt heavy. After a while he raised his head and inevitably met with the other person’s gaze.

“…Okay.”

Those watery eyes flashed. His eyes fell on him quietly. He held his breath for a long time before finally curving in a warm arc.

The two took a break in the restaurant before going out again and continued to investigate the situation outside.

The never ending darkness obscured the perception of time, until Su Shi suddenly found that he could no longer move and fell into Esmond’s arms did he realized that quite some time had passed.

“It’s okay, don’t be afraid…”

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

Esmond spoke softly. He brought the cold and stiff paladin to a corner, holding him firmly in his arms and kissing him softly.

A warm power once again filled his body, breaking him out of his unmovable plight. The instinctual chill in his heart was alleviated slightly.

Su Shi leaned in Esmond’s arms and slowly moved his body, feeling relieved.

“So this kind of method also works…”

“Only I can do it.”

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Chapter 86 (33.3)

Su Shi’s experience points were crumbling. He couldn’t help taking a step forward, but Esmond caught him tightly by the wrist.

A figure in a white robe walked slowly out of the palace.

An abrupt hush descended upon the square. The guards knelt down on one knee. The people were quiet and their eyes fixed upon the person coming closer.

Surrey’s eyes fell on the arriving person. His eyes narrowed, and there was a sudden panic in his eyes: “Y, Your Majesty—“

[T/N: Surrey actually calls him 教皇陛下, which roughly translates to “Your Majesty the Pope” or “Supreme Pontiff, Your Majesty.” I found that a bit clunky in English, so I shortened it to simply Your Majesty in dialogue.]

“Faith is innocent. People gather here under the guidance of oracles. No one has the right to disperse them, let alone the servants of God.”

The pope spoke slowly, glancing at the crowd.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly projected into everyone’s ears.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

“We must admit that this is undoubtedly a mistake made by the papacy, and it almost cost a loyal paladin to pay the price of his life. It is not an individual who caused this mistake, but rather, those who once chose to misunderstand, and all the people who chose to easily trust in us.”

Shame appeared in everyone’s eyes, and the original intense emotions gradually calmed down.

The pope seemed very satisfied, and he nodded slightly for a moment before continuing.

“We regret to inform the public that Bishop Esmond had disappeared not long ago. And the one who disappeared with him is the paladin who we also want to urgently see, who had just been pardoned by the oracle.”

“We swear at the feet of God that we will continue to investigate the truth, no matter how complicated the secret is underneath, we will make people convinced. The sun will rise again.”

When he had finished speaking, he turned around and slowly returned to the palace.

Surrey wore an embarrassed face. He promptly followed close behind. The guards also silently retreated.

The gate of the imperial palace closed slowly. A glorious golden flame suddenly descended from the horizon, falling on the mostly shattered stone statue.

When the flame gradually extinguished, the stone statue was actually recovered and it stood silently in the center of the square.

Unlike the original slightly sloppy carving, each and every line of the armor became smooth and fine. The helmet was held in the stone statue’s right hand, revealed a handsome and delicate face.

Unlike the people’s imagination of a brave and powerful Holy Paladin, the stone statue reflected a clear and bright heroic spirit.

The crowd was suddenly unable to speak.

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The stone statue smiled faintly, his expression fearless, and he gazed calmly to the front. Obviously, one should not be able to tell anything from the eyes of a stone statue, but everyone seemed to see the firmness and loyalty in those eyes.

Out of the blue, someone started to recite hymns, and everyone’s eyes flickered with emotional light.

No one thought that the pope would have such a clear impression of an ordinary paladin, and those glorious golden flames were almost bright enough to reflect the luster of the sun’s light.

Su Shi’s airway felt knotted up. He turned to look at the calm and tranquil cardinal.

“That stone statue is not good-looking.”

Esmond had good reasons. He looked at Su Shi calmly and rubbed the Holy Paladin’s head comfortingly.

“You’re already disguised. No need to worry.”

Su Shi was not worried, but when looking at the protagonist’s skillful set of beauty techniques, he inexplicably felt some overlap with a certain unreliable god.

Su Shi sighed and dragged Esmond to a secluded corner.

“Aren’t you worried about the pope? He deliberately announced this, maybe he intends to push everything on you…”

“He will do this sooner or later, whether I worry or not, it’s the same.”

Esmond insipidly replied in one sentence. Then he looked at the time and led Su Shi out of the square to a restaurant on the corner.

“Are we also eating?”

Su Shi was dragged forward by him, and he followed the other person’s steps in disbelief.

This was too ridiculous!

How can a protagonist stop for a meal while in the middle of saving the world?!

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

The Holy Paladin beside Esmond was breathing a little harder, but the paladin himself didn’t even notice it. His eyes were still clearly full of anxiety and the hand gripped in Esmond’s was faintly becoming cold.

Esmond’s eyes dimmed, but he held the Holy Paladin’s hand patiently and let the temperature of his palm be transferred to the other’s hand.

“You are continuing to live by the grace of the sun god. Now that there is no sun, you have to eat more, or use some other method to prevent yourself from becoming too weak.”

Solar Energy Su Shi raised his head, stunned. He blinked. “What method?”

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Chapter 85 (33.2)

But this time, a stone statue of a Holy Paladin was set up.

Don’t know if it was to save time or energy, but the stone figure was still wearing heavy armor and a helmet, so the face was not clear at all. It was as if the stone statue could refer to any nameless Holy Paladin.

The people surrounded the stone statue. They knelt down one after another, praying piously and confessing their sins.

Su Shi suddenly had a bad premonition.

Esmond raised an eyebrow. It seemed like he had a hunch, but he was not in a hurry to resolve the doubts for the Holy Paladin beside him. Instead, he just pulled Su Shi forward and continued into the crowd.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

“The papacy’s verdict was rejected for the first time in thousands of years. It must be because the trial went wrong and blamed someone who was originally innocent…”

“The oracle already came down, is there still a need to say it?”

“But there have been others that were wrongly sentenced before, yet the oracle did not interfere, because nobody is completely innocent. I did not expect that there would be someone who could really be forgiven under the judgment of the god of light. What a great and pure soul…”

“So this everlasting night must be the Light God’s punishment. The sun will only rise again if we sincerely repent and the papacy admits their error!”

“But the papacy’s sentence on him was for demonization and assassination of the pope. I heard that he also pleaded guilty. Just what kind of truth would make this judgment wrong?”

……

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

Su Shi’s stomach started to hurt again.

Looking at the faintly blackening complexion of the Holy Paladin beside him, Esmond lowered his eyes. His gaze was full of smiles. He could not help lifting a hand to rub the other person’s hair.

“Isn’t this great? Why are you not happy?”

“Of course I’m happy, so happy that I’m about to explode.”

Su Shi took a deep breath and looked at the murmuring crowd with a headache. He silently comforted himself.

The pope was indisputable, and right now, the people only believed in his innocence, but they did not have the time to touch upon the full truth. Misunderstandings were still there. He might still be able to save his experience points.

…The last time he thought like this, his tower of experience points collapsed loudly within a few days.

His self-consolation talk was a complete failure.

Su Shi dropped his gaze. As he had planned, he should just rush directly into the papacy right now, and proceed with his plan of self-destructing with the pope.

“Everyone leave! No one is allowed to come in at will!”

Suddenly, an angry shout rang out from the plaza. Guards in heavy armor quickly surrounded the square, expelling people indiscriminately. They also smashed the stone statue mercilessly.

The spear shimmering in the cold light hit the stone statue’s chest heavily and broken stone rained down, hitting the chaotic crowd and immediately sparking cries of pain.

“It’s Surrey, looks like he has also become the pope’s minion.”

Looking at the gloomy expression on the guard, Esmond’s eyes turned cold. He muttered one sentence and then smoothly moved the Holy Paladin, who was next to him, behind him to protect.

Esmond was the cardinal in charge of the prison trial. Under him was Surrey. During the time when he was accompanying Ivan in his escape, it was clear that the other party was fully responsible for all matters on the papacy side.

Esmond had no doubt that if those black-robed pursuers had killed them in the misty forest, then the position of cardinal would definitely go to Surrey.

“The papacy is clearly wrong. Why don’t you dare to admit it?!”

A boy dressed in shabby clothes was so angry that his face was beet red. Squeezed among the crowd, he opened his mouth to loudly say: “Everyone heard the oracle of forgiveness. Do you still want to say that Ivan is guilty?”

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In a split second, the boy’s words completely ignited the anger of the crowd. They no longer panicked trying to avoid the falling debris. Their roaring shouts sounded out one after another.

“It must be because you refuse to admit your mistake, and that’s why the god of light sent this everlasting night as a punishment!”

“Esmond is the cardinal. Where has he gone? We have to get him to ask the papacy to change the judgment!”

“I see it now. Ivan did not assassinate the pope at all. Maybe you were the one who did it, and then you framed him for your crime!”

Listening to the roaring of the crowd, Surrey’s face became even paler, and the black gas in his eyes got more intense. He looked like he was about to demonize at any second.

Su Shi’s heart sank.

The priesthood of the papacy has fallen and demonized. Once such news spread, it would surely cause strong panic. Rumors were unstoppable, as long as they continued to develop, sooner or later someone would guess the truth about the pope’s demonization.

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Chapter 84 (33.1)

Su Shi was stunned. Unfortunately, it was already too late to regret his actions. Before he could collect his thoughts, his body was already pulled back.

Planted in a familiar warm embrace again, Su Shi found that the other person’s heartbeat was even faster than that day. Su Shi was a bit concerned. He raised his head and was about to speak, but his gaze clashed with those dark and deep eyes.

Esmond embraced him and kissed him seriously.

Unlike the Holy Paladin who had rushed to deal with the matter in a hurry, the soft kiss fell upon his lips carefully, tracing over his somewhat thin lips. The burning temperature of his palm seeped through the thin clothing, and unconsciously tightened up more and more.

Su Shi’s heart thudded for a long time. Finally his brows softened.

The kiss was long and delicate.

Eventually, Esmond finally released him. They were both breathing quickly with eyes that were still glazed with dazzling starlight.

“All right, don’t waste time anymore. Even the sun is gone outside…”

It actually took so long to recover from the kiss.

Su Shi’s chest undulated up and down as he murmured softly. He was dizzily embraced in the other person’s arms.

His breathing was still unsteady, carrying a hint of nasally sound as if he had yet to recover. He leaned against the other person’s chest and chattered in bits and pieces. He did not express even the slightest bit of blame.

Finally, he couldn’t help but smile. Esmond chuckled softly and rubbed his short hair: “Okay, we won’t waste time anymore. Close your eyes first, you still can’t just run out like this…”

Su Shi has long been curious about Esmond’s cosmetic surgery technique. Su Shi blinked, wanting to use this opportunity to take a look at the other person’s movements, but a hand lightly covered his eyes.

Esmond’s fingers delicately fell upon the Holy Paladin’s face.

Motes of gold rained down like stars, and very quickly turned his features into an average-looking face. His complexion was somewhat wan, looking like a completely ordinary young man.

Undoubtedly, this type of face was the safest way to go out and do things. But for the first time, the Cardinal had some doubts about his work. He held his arms for a long while and could not help adjusting several lines.

“Does it need to take this long?”

Not knowing what Esmond was busying with, Su Shi stood holding his breath for a long while. Finally he could not help but ask quietly.

Awakening from his contemplation, Esmond coughed a little and retracted his outstretched hand. The gold light in his palm flickered out. “Done.”

Su Shi immediately opened his eyes and leaned towards the mirror full of zest. It was indeed an unfamiliar face.

There was no unusual feeling on the face, and the expressions made were smooth and natural.

Su Shi raised an eyebrow with great interest. Satisfied, he put on the black robe, turned around, and pulled Esmond quickly out of the door.

“Okay, okay, let’s hurry out and take a look. At least, we should first figure out what is going on.”

The Cardinal had yet to get rid of the deep self-doubt when he was dragged out of the door. He sighed regretfully and quickly followed after.

He felt like—the lips should have been thinner…

The two went out the door and rushed all the way to the bazaar. Gradually, they saw more and more people.

Civilians still had to run around for the day’s rations. This was also the time when the nobility had to move about. The people were panicking, but they still couldn’t just hide in their homes all day.

The streetlights were faithfully lit, and pedestrians hurried by beneath the cold light with uneasiness on their faces, but there was no other commotion or accidents.

Unable to figure out what was the pope’s plan, Su Shi frowned slightly and took measure of the undisturbed situation all around.

“Maybe—it’s not necessarily the pope who did this.”

Esmond accompanied him by his side.

He lowered his voice and consoled Su Shi: “If he really has this kind of power already, then it would be easy for him to seize the whole continent. And we would not be able to live to this day.”

Esmond’s words were not unreasonable, but if what he said were the case, then the situation would become increasingly unclear.

Su Shi still could not feel at ease. He turned around and was about to speak, when suddenly a loud noise came form a short distance away.

The people spontaneously rushed to the central square in front of the palace. Their steps were urgent, and their eyes flashed with tension and anticipation.

Esmond and Su Shi looked at each other. Then they followed the rushing flow of the people.

In the center of the square, there was some stone statue that was added who knew when.

It was not surprising for stone statues to be erected in the central square. Both the pope and the bishops had corresponding stone statues in the square. With the combination of earth and metal abilities, those statues were carved to be life-like, and they accepted the people’s beliefs and offerings day after day.

But this time, a stone statue of a Holy Paladin was set up.

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T/N: A day late, sorry, was so busy yesterday that I forgot I had this chapter scheduled. But it’s here now! >_<

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Chapter 83 (32.5)

Esmond loosened his arms, got up, and walked out quickly to retrieve the meat that had already been roasted. A golden flame suddenly burst from the hollow of his palm.

“Has it become so beautiful?”

Before, Esmond’s flame was still a deep dark color that made people trembled. Su Shi blinked and looked at Esmond in surprise. Finally, from the bottom of his heart, he felt greatly comforted.

Looking at this evolutionary direction, the protagonist’s power was obviously getting closer and closer to the pope. As long as the problem with the pope was successfully resolved, Esmond would be able to become the new ruler of this continent.

Seeing the unreserved bright light in the Holy Paladin’s eyes, Esmond’s eyes felt faintly hot. He raised the corner of his lips, nodded, cut the roasted meat into small pieces, and handed it to him. “It’s very hot. Be careful.”

The enticing aroma overflowed, finally stirring up Su Shi’s appetite and making him feel hungry. He ate a few mouthfuls and his eyes lit up. “It’s delicious. I didn’t know your cooking skills were this good.”

“I only know how to roast meat. If you like it, I will learn other methods.”

Since childhood, Esmond has lived like a prince. At home, there was a first-rate specialized chef. Roasting meat was just a necessary skill for the wilderness.

Seeing Su Shi eat with relish, the cardinal’s gaze became even warmer. He smiled and answered with a warm voice.

Su Shi’s chest felt heavy and he did not continue this topic. He turned his head and looked out the window at the dark night.

“Did I sleep all day?”

“No—actually you didn’t sleep very long.”

Esmond spoke softly, rubbed his head, and the smile in his eyes faded away. His gaze fell outside the window, showing some anxiety, and he fell silent again.

Although the destroyed crystal core has been restored, it would still leave wounds on the soul. This sleep could not have been just for a few hours.

Su Shi frowned, somewhat puzzled. “But—the sun has set…”

“The sun has not set.”

Outside was a canvas of darkness, and Esmond seemed to be worrying about something. He interrupted Su Shi in a low voice. After a while, he continued on, “This morning, the sun did not rise again.”

Su Shi’s heart abruptly sank.

He was supposed to self-destruct with the pope at the end of forty-eight hours. It must be because of his delay, and that’s why this kind of unforeseen event happened.

“Is it because of the pope? Did his power grow to this degree?”

Esmond touched his nose. There was some guilty conscience in his eyes. He gave an unclear sound of response.

“Let’s go quickly. He’s been coveting this continent for a long time. We must stop him as soon as possible.”

Seeing that the plot line was going to have problems again, Su Shi was full of worries. He propped himself up and put on the black robe. Then he tugged on the protagonist to go out and save the world.

He had only taken one step, but his hand was gently pulled.

“Wait, Ivan…”

Esmond pulled him back, raised his arms around the Holy Paladin’s warm and pliable body, and suddenly leaned forward.

His eyes fell quietly on the face of the young man, his tender gaze penetrated deeply. His expression seemed to be tangled. His mouth opened and closed, wanting to say something but then hesitating.

Su Shi was in the midst of worrying and did not have the mood or inclination to play tug of war with him. He pulled Esmond forward by the shoulders, lifted his head up, and took the initiative to kiss him.

“I like you too. Okay, okay, let’s go quickly. If we continue to tarry it will be too late.”

Esmond’s raised hand froze in midair. His expression froze. The gold Miscanthus sinensis in the hollow of his palm clearly extinguished. Caught off guard, a pleasantly surprised warmth suddenly overflowed from his chest.

“No, I just–”

The cardinal who suddenly received a confession was almost overwhelmed by it and deeply flattered*. His heart thumped nonstop. After a moment, he finally returned to his senses, and promptly pulled back the Holy Paladin who was about to run off.

[*T/N: The phrase used here is 受宠若惊 which means to be overwhelmed by favor from a superior. It’s a humble expression.]

“I just wanted to say, you are a wanted man now, you need to change your appearance before going out…”

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The author has something to say:

Su Shi: Didn’t you say to fall in love??? (╯°Д°)╯︵ /(.□ . )

#My secret crush confessed to me first#

#And kissed me too#

(/ω＼)

Thank you for the ko-fi Valerie!! ☕ 💕ฅ(ᐤˊ꒳ฅˋᐤ♪)

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Chapter 82 (32.4)

Su Shi could not stay.

“Okay, okay, it’s fine. I’m not sad, not at all…”

For the first time, Esmond saw the young Holy Paladin showing such intense emotions. Tears slipped down the beautiful face, splashing silently on the back of his hand, causing Esmond’s chest to express unspeakable pain.

Even when faced with the threat of death, the youth remained unmoved and chilled. But right now, the body in his arms was weak, trembling, and choked with sobs.

As Su Shi’s arms tightened, the cardinal felt flustered and confused for the first time. He hastily stroked the other’s back soothingly, his tone becoming increasingly soft.

“I will do what you want to do. I will fulfill your wishes. I will pretend as if you’re still here. Don’t worry. I—I won’t be sad…”

His voice was hoarse, but he persisted in saying the last line out loud.

After a long silence, he spoke softly, his tone almost cautious.

“If I’m not sad… Is it possible that you will come back one day?”

Su Shi’s breathing stuttered. His chest hurt so much that he could not speak.

Pressed against the other’s shoulder, he was silent for a long time. Su Shi suddenly raised his hand and used force to pull Esmond. He pressed the other completely onto the bed. He sniffled.

“Go to sleep.”

All of a sudden, they progressed to sharing the same bed*. Esmond’s heart palpitated for half a day. His eyes vaguely expressed a bit of brightness, but then gradually dimmed down.

[*T/N: 同床共枕 tong chuan gong zhen – means “to share the bed,” but figuratively it means “to be married.”]

His gaze was pleasantly warm. He rubbed the Holy Paladin’s short hair. As if he did not feel unhappy due to the other person’s near offensive tone, he just spoke softly, “Okay.”

The warm temperature of Esmond’s fingertips touched Su Shi’s closed eyelids, making his heart tremble with warmth, and almost making the tears that he suppressed with great difficulty pour out again.

Su Shi took a deep breath to hold back the tears, but when he spoke, his voice was hoarse and trembling. “Quickly go to sleep. We’re together. I’m not hungry…”

“Okay, we’re together.”

After stroking the youth’s face, Esmond got up slightly, took off his clothes, and lay down again, holding the person gently in his arms.

However, sleepiness fled Su Shi.

He was still not sure whether the law imposed on him by the god of light could resist the highest will from the main plane.

It would be forty-eight hours soon, and if the law fails, he would never see the sun rise again the next day.

Su Shi burrowed back into the other person’s arms, closed his eyes, and sighed very softly.

“It doesn’t matter, it will be fine.”

The arms around him tightened firmly. The words in his ears were gentle and firm as he took him into his arms again. “You’re already very tired, sleep for a bit, I will guard you…”

Sleepiness once again came over him like a tide. His awareness became fuzzy. The voice by his ear seemed to be coming from a very distant place.

Su Shi closed his eyes. His body gradually relaxed, and his breathing also became smooth and long.

He could not resist the soul deep exhaustion.

Looking at the young man’s quietly sleeping face, Esmond’s eyes dimmed and his arms slowly tightened.

“If the sky no longer brightens, if dawn never comes, does that mean you won’t leave…”

He himself thought the idea was ridiculous. He shook his head and smiled bitterly. He sighed very softly, closed his eyes, and hugged the other person close.

Even if there were a god, he would not fulfill his crazy prayer.

……

Su Shi woke up from a deep sleep.

He clearly felt like he had slept for a long time, but the scene before his eyes was still dark, as if not much time had passed.

He vaguely felt that something was wrong. Su Shi frowned slightly before moving his body. The person holding him immediately tightened his arms and looked down at him. “You’re awake?”

His tone was very soft, but there was invisible tension in his eyes.

Only when Su Shi finally opened his eyes fully, did Esmond finally let out a breath of air. Esmond rubbed Su Shi’s head with a smile. “Are you hungry?”

“I’m still good…”

Su Shi was a little dazed. He propped up his body and sat up.

Esmond loosened his arms, got up, and walked out quickly to retrieve the meat that had already been roasted. A golden flame suddenly burst from the hollow of his palm.

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Happy 2021! May this year bring positive changes to all!

I really wanted to get this up on January 1st so that I could wish everyone a proper Happy New Years, but I haven’t had a day off since New Years Eve, so I simply didn’t have the time or energy to translate. Today is finally my day off, so I’m getting this update out to you now. My workplace is severely overworked and understaffed at the moment. One third of the people in my department are out sick. So please excuse the sparse updates as of late.

I’m also updating The Big Landlord today, so readers of that story can go check it out.

Stay safe everyone, and happy reading!

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Chapter 81 (32.3)

Esmond nodded lightly, but didn’t answer. He leaned over, wanting to pick the other person up into his arms, but Su Shi lightly pressed down on his arm.

“I’m fine. Do you have a place to live?”

Su Shi said it very concisely, but Esmond still quickly understood what he meant. Esmond nodded somewhat calmly, took his hand, and turned into another street.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

Su Shi followed him without talking, only walking quietly, but inexplicably his mood gradually relaxed.

He let out a sigh of exhausted relief. He was so tired that it was getting hard to walk.

Esmond led him for a while. Then his steps seemed to slow as he looked at the youth yawning behind him, and his eyes finally begin to gradually gain gentle warmth.

Su Shi was so sleepy that he had his head lowered as he walked forward. Not paying attention, he ended up bumping his head against the other.

“Tired?”

A deep, mellow voice rang by his ear. The tone was soft and gentle, making his heart tremble inexplicably.

Although there was still resistance to forcefully falling in love, his heart still instinctively softened. Su Shi didn’t answer. Honestly letting the other hold his hand, he nodded reluctantly under the hood.

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The progress was so fast. Su Shi didn’t know what the god of light had shown to the other person…

[T/N: I don’t know if I translated this part well, but here Su Shi feels that it’s not right for the god of light to force Esmond to fall in love with him by showing him Ivan’s tragic past, yet he can’t help being a softy to Esmond.]

Su Shi had yet to thoroughly come out of his thoughts about the god of light’s previous actions. He subconsciously raised his head. Before he could open his mouth, Esmond embraced him again with a smile.

“Close your eyes.”

The hug was firm and warm, separating him from all the darkness and cold outside.

A wave of tiredness washed over him. Su Shi relaxed and closed his eyes. He leaned on Esmond’s shoulder. Suddenly, his entire body was brought into a mysterious spatial fluctuation.

In the span of a few breaths, Esmond had already picked him up into his arms, took off the black robe on his body, and gently laid him down on a bed.

Su Shi did not know when they had arrived at a wooden house. The corner was quietly lit with warm yellow candlelight. The smooth and cozy bed accommodated his weary body in a flash.

Su Shi blinked. He raised a hand to hold on to Esmond’s arm.

“Don’t worry. It’s very remote here. No one will find us.”

Esmond spoke warmly. He gathered the youth lying on the bed into his arms. His whole body bubbled up with a warm stream of air, and helped the other person remove the dust on his body.

“I have mastered the trick to teleportation, just now it was just–”

It was just that he suddenly found the night scene to be very nice.

So he wanted to walk around a bit and not have to think about the responsibilities they carried or the desperate crisis they were in. He just wanted to take a nice walk with the person that he wanted to keep by his side no matter what.

He didn’t say it out loud. He just brushed the youth’s soft hair with his hand. A warm smiling expression flowed from his eyes. Feeling extremely light and satisfied, he stretched out and let out a breath.

Su Shi looked at him quietly and his chest suddenly felt painful.

“Have a good rest. I’ll go get you something to eat.”

Esmond didn’t ask him anything. He merely leaned over and pressed their cheeks together.

The youth’s soft hair rubbed against one side of his cheek, making him unconsciously unknot his brows. And the corners of his lips softly turned up. Esmond held his breath. He wanted to kiss Su Shi, but hesitated. In the end, he just rubbed the other’s hair with a smile.

Holy Paladins were all proud. Although he could hardly restrain his impulse, he would never rashly do anything against the will of the other party.

He straightened up, intending to find some food for the young man who had been traveling for two days, but suddenly realized that the strength on his arm had still not relaxed.

“If–”

Su Shi looked at Esmond. He almost regretted it the moment he opened his mouth, but he still hardened his heart and continued on.

“If I leave when it’s dawn, can you not be sad?”

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

The arm he was holding suddenly tensed, as if cramped by excessive force. Then he forced himself to relax a little.

Esmond turned back and knelt down beside the bed. He flipped his hand around to hold the other’s hand. His eyes were still warm. “Okay.”

All of a sudden, intense grief gripped him ruthlessly and spread throughout his chest. Su Shi subconsciously held his breath, gripped onto that hand, and not allowing the other to speak he used all his strength to pull the other tightly into his arms.

Su Shi understood without a doubt who the person in front of him was.

Unstoppable water vapor suddenly emerged from his eyes, and even his body could not help trembling lightly. The accumulated emotions that he suppressed through three worlds finally surged up violently and poured out.

Even the deities were blessing them.

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Chapter 80

Esmond took a deep breath, forcefully blinked away the tears in his eyes, and attempted to look for any remains of the other person.

In the next moment, his eyes suddenly fixed upon a very shallow footprint.

A little hope suddenly rose from the bottom of his heart. Rationally, he knew that it was almost impossible, but he could not help helping hope even if the probability was very faint.

His body was almost already numb from the cold. Staggering, he supported himself on the tree trunk to get up, and followed the footprints onward.

The footprints were very shallow. The person who walked out from here must have left quite some time ago.

Holding the crystal stone in his hand, Esmond’s chest rose and fell quickly. A thought suddenly stemmed from his heart.

His steps grew quicker and quicker. In a flash, his figure submerged into the forest.

In the cities and towns within the capital, it was still as peaceful and placid as before.

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The sun was about to go down soon. Pedestrians were walking fast on their way home. They rarely stopped to exchange words. Most of them were in a hurry.

Over the past few years, there have been more and more Fallen. It was still safe during the day, but at night, civilians with little ability to protect themselves dare not go out at will.

But at this time, a civilian youth in simple clothing still hovered on the road, looking around anxiously, as if searching for someone.

Today, the sunset period seemed particularly long. The rose-tinted twilight sky reflected upon the roads as a sheet of blood red. The youth lifted his hand to shade his eyes from the somewhat harsh sunlight, and his gaze landed on the dark shadows that flickered on the street corner.

His eyes lit up, but he quickly suppressed it and only accelerated his pace to follow behind the shadow, neither too far nor too close.

Su Shi’s steps paused. Then he crossed a road and squeezed into a secluded alley.

Originally, he had intended to go straight to the papacy, but the more he walked the more he faintly felt that something was not right. After deliberately circling a few roads and turning around several times in different directions, he finally confirmed that there was indeed someone following him.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

The god of light pardoned the brand on his body. This would certainly leave a vision in the papacy. The pope might have sensed it too. Since there were assassins pursuing Esmond, who could say that there won’t be people after Su Shi soon?

Su Shi didn’t dare to relax his vigilance; with rapt attention he quickly took a few steps forward, and then suddenly disappeared into the darkness.

The black robe on his body was very conducive to concealment. He wore the hood up and bowed his head. Standing in the shadows and holding his breath, almost no trace could be seen.

The swift footsteps were getting closer and closer, and the person behind him caught up with just a few breaths, looking nervously to the left and right.

Su Shi took the opportunity to burst forward. With one hand he clamped down on the other person’s arm, the other hand was already gripped tightly around the other person’s throat, pressing the man unwaveringly against the wall.

The other party did not struggle.

The moment Su Shi went on the offensive the other person gave up any and all resistance. He only looked at Su Shi urgently, his chest continuously undulating up and down. There was already a trace of water vapors in his eyes.

Facing those eyes, Su Shi was silent for a moment. Then, as if all the air was leaking out of him, he released his hold.

Before he could speak, a pair of powerful arms sturdily embraced him.

He was held so tightly that he could only exhale and not inhale. Dizzy, Su Shi raised his hand to pat the other person. He wanted to tell the other person to let go of him first, but suddenly there was ice-cold water dripping on his cheeks.

Su Shi’s raised hand dropped, and he hesitated for a moment. His strength gradually relaxed. He closed his eyes and leaned up against the other.

They were pressed chest to chest. Separated by a thin fabric, he could even feel the fierce heartbeat of the other person.

Su Shi’s nose was a little sour. He coughed lightly and raised his hand to pull at his cuff. “I didn’t know it was you… Did I scare you?”

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

“You scared me to death…”

A muted voice sounded in his ear with a choking quality that was difficult to control.

A warm palm suddenly enveloped his hand, and he was pulled even tighter into the other’s embrace.

In the end, Esmond hugged him to his heart’s fill.

Almost did not leave him any opportunity to make comments or suggestions.

Su Shi wanted to speak several times, but he still did not have the heart to do so. He could only let Esmond hug him. Su Shi lifted his hand and stroked the cardinal’s back in a placating manner.

“I’m alive. Don’t be scared.”

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T/N: I’m not dead! (Yet…) Anyways, double LMSTB update today for weeks 3 and 4 of November. It’s much belated, I know. Really sorry.

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Chapter 79

Although the god did not give him a chance to reject his question, at least he asked for his own will.

Su Shi was somewhat consoled. He raised his head, about to offer a polite word, but the voice impatiently continued on.

“Not bad, not bad, it’s good as long as you’re willing. The two of you are honestly really well matched…”

The tone was full of gratification. Then the voice gradually faded away, and the thick fog everywhere swallowed up the last rays of sunshine.

Su Shi didn’t even have time to speak. The wind around him was already picking up little by little.

Spilled blood continued to splash to the ground, and the descending lifeless body fell down weakly, hitting the frozen ground with a dull sound.

The sharp ice blades finally calmed down, circling slowly around him, and then turning into thin snowflakes. They fell silently, covering the bright red blood on the ground.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

Su Shi did not have time to tarry. He dropped into a half kneeling position and searched the leader of the black robed assassins. As expected, he found a black crystal stone.

The pope had already commanded for an assassination on the protagonist. Even if he had the bishop’s inscribed crystal stone, he would not be able to enter the papacy smoothly. When he pushed away Esmond, he had stuffed the other person’s crystal stone back into his hands.

There was clear demonic energy on these people. If they were not personal guards of the pope, then they were confidants cultivated by the pope himself. So they must have some special token of proof on them.

After he searched through several people one by one, Su Shi raked in some inventory. Then he picked up a black robe that was still intact and hurried towards the edge of the forest.

In any case, he must find the pope before the protagonist makes his move.

Having the feeling of full strength was indeed much better. Su Shi walked nonstop, following the map out of the forest. Before the sky turned completely dark, he successfully bypassed the misty forest.

Not long after he left, a new silhouette appeared on the snowy scene.

Esmond walked over slowly. The hands hanging at his sides were gripped into white-knuckled fists. They were gripped so tight that they vaguely trembled.

The temperature in this area was still much lower than in other places. The cold wind whizzes uncontrollably, occasionally rolling up some snowflakes, causing a person’s body to freeze stiffly after a while.

His strength was no longer the same as before. With just a thought he could summon a flame to warm himself. However, he just continued to walk forward one step at a time. Every step was taken with care, as if afraid of disturbing the perfect pure white snow before him.

The snow had accumulated into a thicker layer, but it was still unable to cover up the corpses scattered on the ground.

He knew exactly what had happened here.

The wound on his side had long healed, but like the ice cone piercing ruthlessly into his chest, the pain tumbled uncontrollably. The cold spread silently along the blood to the limbs and bones.

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He walked over to the tree, and carefully caressed the mottled scars left on it. Holding on to the tree trunk, he kneeled slowly on the ground and grabbed a handful of snow. But what remained was melted snow water and it flowed through the gaps in his fingers.

Esmond suddenly shook ferociously.

“Ivan…”

His voice was somewhat muted and hoarse. The name, spoken softly, was instantly blown away by the cold wind.

In the mirage he saw all those attacks rushing at Ivan like torrents—it was enough to completely obliterate a person. Ivan’s body was already extremely weak, so much so that Esmond had already lost all hope of finding even the smallest traces of the other party.

But even though he had fallen into such an unfavorable disadvantage, the young Holy Paladin still managed to die in such an incredible way, taking down all the pursuers with him here.

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