In summary, it's quite troublesome.

With a heavy mind, Sif decided to go on an adventure to clear her head.

As for political affairs...

"Magic Mirror, continue handling the affairs for me while I'm away. Don't rush important decisions; consult with the ministers for anything needing immediate judgment."

"Got it." the Magic Mirror replied lazily.

Seeing the lackluster appearance of the Magic Mirror, Sif felt a bit angry.

But she soon remembered this had been herself a few months back, and her anger dissipated.

After all, the Magic Mirror is just a magic tool with some divine artifact characteristics, it can only stand guard for her, nothing more expected.

After putting on her armor, she patiently briefed the Magic Mirror once more before leaving with Roland.

Though she vaguely worried about the Magic Mirror not holding up well, she never intended to synchronize her latest behavioral logic with it.

Roland had warned her several times.

She understood clearly.

Even if something happened to the Magic Mirror, it would just be that politically naive Sif, no need to panic.

With her and Roland around, the Magic Mirror could not mobilize even a single troop overseas.

Although it was strange to guard against one's own divine artifact this way, Sif still firmly executed the plan.

As Roland said, this was a drill.

If an unexpected situation occurred, the drill would become an actual battle.

To save time, they didn't take a boat but set off on horseback.

Anthony cast a basic Floating Skill on the horses to lighten their weight.

At first, the horses were scared and couldn't release their hooves properly when they started running.

Once they got used to the weightless state caused by the Floating Skill, they immediately began to gallop joyfully.

Ah, the body feels so light, running so fast, it's wonderful!

The horses couldn't speak, but their expressions conveyed joy.

It took them just over half a day, reaching Val City before evening.

Roland immediately went to the Light Chapel, finding Christine who was in prayer.

"We must head to White Mountain immediately; I need your help."

"As you command."

Christine, without further ado, picked up her scepter and prepared to get up.

"Aren't you worried about the danger of entering White Mountain at night?" Roland asked in surprise.

"Would you change your decision?" Christine's eyes glimmered with a sacred light, giving Roland the illusion of being watched by the Goddess of Light.

He avoided Christine's gaze and softly said, "Let's go."

Indeed, he wouldn't change his mind, so why ask, wasting time.

Christine wore a loose-fitting priest's robe externally, but inside, she was wrapped in specially made hard leather armor.

The white rhino leather armor offered defensive capabilities not inferior to plate armor, yet was much lighter and didn't impede spellcasting.

More remarkable than the rhino leather armor was the scepter in her hand.

Noticing Roland constantly glancing at her scepter, Christine simply handed it over to him, softly explaining:

"The Resurrection Staff, after receiving the blessing of the Holy Spring Revival, can revive those in a near-death state."

"It can only revive false death, cannot bring back the truly dead, so please be careful, don't be reckless."

Christine seemed worried Roland might charge in recklessly upon hearing about revival, hurriedly reminding.

Roland smiled silently.

Miss Saintess didn't understand him at all.

If he could stay stable, he would never go reckless.

After all, life is but one, no resurrection coins available.

After meeting up with the Priest, the group of five departed overnight.

Sif volunteered to take the lead but was refused by Anthony.

"I will go first." insisted the Old Mage.

"I am the White Rose Knight!" Sif protested softly.

"Are you stronger than me?" Anthony ended the argument with one sentence.

Looking at Anthony's still mountain-like sturdy build despite his age, Sif obediently quieted down.

What kind of Mage is this, strong like a bear.

Sif silently mocked within.

Anthony's image was completely different from what the books she'd read described Mages to be.

What happened to the weak-bodied Magicians?

Sif had no doubt that even if she used body techniques, she might not be Master Anthony's match.

After all, combat had levels, and before Tier Seven, physical fitness greatly influenced the outcome.

Since someone was willing to lead, she certainly wouldn't contest.

Lisa and Christine walked at the center.

With the fragile Mage and Priest needing protection, it made sense.

Roland and Sif followed behind.

"He is a Civil Servant, I am the White Rose Knight, I must protect him!"

"She is the Empress, I am her Guardian, I must protect her!"

Both thought silently without speaking, fearing inadvertently exposing their true thoughts would hurt the other's pride.

Under Lisa's guidance, the group leisurely walked the path leading into White Mountain's interior.

The volcano was still erupting.

The burning volcanic ash and spewing lava stained the skyline red.

Though it was just night, there was still a bit of light, making the surroundings visible.

After some distance, Sif and Roland suddenly raised their heads, simultaneously warning: "Be careful!"

They almost simultaneously sensed the unsettling atmosphere emanating from the forest.

The Elf Race are friends of the forest; choosing [Elf Princess] and [Inheritor] as extraordinary professions, they possessed some Elf traits and had a stronger sense of forest dangers than ordinary people.

Elves were favored children of the night, possessing the ability to see in the dark.

Though not fully inherited, their abilities still far exceeded those of ordinary people.

Actually, their reminder wasn't even needed, others also reacted quickly.

There were demonized beasts approaching.

Their weight far exceeded normal beasts, exposing their whereabouts through the subtle trembling of the ground.

The demonization amplified strength remarkably but also deprived rationality.

A pack of demonized snow wolves approached.

The snow wolf is a gray wolf subspecies highly adapted to the White Mountain environment; after replacing its fur in autumn, their coats blend into the snow, hence called white wolves.

Come summer, their fur turns light gray, suiting the re-vegetated White Mountain.

The combat power of white wolves wasn't considerable.

If the average combat power of a medium-sized sheepdog is set to 1 dog, the combat power of a white wolf is approximately equal to 1.2 dogs.

They fell within the range that could be torn by a human adult male at the cost of minor injury.

However, white wolves never acted alone, usually appearing in dozens, making them formidable for ordinary people.

The surroundings of White Mountain teemed with white wolves, making it a restricted zone for ordinary people within a twenty-mile radius, also a hunting ground for hunters.

Though demonized white wolves weren't Roland and the others' objective, refusing their self-delivery made no sense.

Among the wolves, a few with pure bloodlines had entirely white coats.

Such pure-white wolf pelts were quite precious.

Making a fur coat for Roland/Sif as a gift seemed fitting.

Sif and Roland drew their swords simultaneously, focusing their gaze on the leading solid-colored white wolf.

There it was!

Sadly a bit small, only enough for a vest.

As they inwardly regretted, basin-sized fireballs rained down like raindrops.

Anthony had made his move.

Actually, fist-sized fireballs were sufficient to kill white wolves, but small fireballs didn't look cool enough.

To showcase in front of his new apprentice, Master Anthony unhesitatingly used his ultimate move.

To let Lisa witness the power of magic.

"Ha! Ah!"

Anthony disliked chanting when casting spells; his style was to forcibly drive with immense spiritual power.

Commonly known as the great force brick throwing.

His fighting style left Roland and Sif in silence.

They didn't even have time to intervene when their ears started buzzing from the angry roars shaking the woods.

Next time, they must cover their ears in time.

Sif rubbed her slightly ringing ears, silently mocking, is this a human Mage or a war machine?

But this was good; with Anthony around, this journey promised to be easy and fun.

Stealing a sideways glance at Roland, Sif chuckled secretly.

This time there'd be no need to worry about Roland attracting monsters.

Roland looked at the pure-white wolf turned to charred black, at a loss for words.

A second ago, it was the whitest wolf on the mountain, now it's definitively the blackest.

After showcasing a big fireball, Anthony turned back triumphantly towards the young ones, saying nothing.

He knew these youngsters were well-behaved and would definitely know how to compliment him.

However, Roland and Sif remained silent, Christine didn't love to speak, so was also mute.

Only Lisa came forward, eyes filled with admiration towards her teacher.

A disciple's sincere gaze was the best recognition.

Anthony breathed a long sigh, adjusted his breathing, then laughed heartily:

"Let's go to the volcano crater!"

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