RNP Chapter 87 Demonized Object
Chapter 87 Demonized Object
Chapter 87 Demonized Object
"The demon possesses intelligence. Sometimes he won't kill you outright, but will capture you and try to assimilate you into his kind."
Master Qiao turned to a page in the book and pointed to the picture on it.
Kathy Lines swallowed hard, then looked timidly at the hand-drawn picture, clenching her fists in fear.
"What would happen if I became a demon too?"
"According to the records, you will still retain your memories, but your temperament will change drastically, and you will instinctively pursue evil forces, or rather, pledge allegiance to and submit to those forces."
"But if I still have my memories, perhaps for the sake of those I care about, I will still retain some rationality?"
"Lady Casey, do not take any chances. Mortals cannot resist that kind of power," George said earnestly. "A life corrupted by demons is not even a life; it is merely a puppet. We must not have any expectations of those things."
Kathy nodded and said nothing more.
Jode closed the book and said:
"Legend has it that there were even legions of demons in the past, but there have been no records of such things since the time of the ancient people. And now, demons are rarely seen, even once every few decades. Duke Kathy, please do not worry or be afraid."
"But if that's the case, why did you tell me?" Cathy asked, puzzled.
"The Lyons Plateau is renowned for its expertise in resolving demonic possession incidents. As the lord of this plateau, you need to learn about these matters, and I have an obligation to guide you."
"I understand, Master Jode," Casey nodded. "I will remember these."
Kathy saw Jord's wrinkled hand reach out and place it on his head:
"You are so adorable, Lady Cathy, but I cannot ask you to stay any longer. You must go and practice your martial arts."
Although Cathy didn't like practicing martial arts, he nodded, bid farewell to Jode, and then headed to the training ground.
Upon arrival, he saw Bekas standing in the barn:
"Pegasus, I'm here."
Pegasus stood up straight facing Kathy and curtsied to him:
"I've been waiting for you, my lord! Look what I've brought you!"
Kathy stepped forward, then burst out laughing:
"Hehehe! Pegasus, this horse is so short, it looks so funny!"
“That’s just the breed, sir,” Pegasus explained. “These ponies are specifically for children like you to practice horsemanship. Horses are an important strategic resource, and riding is an essential skill for any lord!”
Then Pegasus led out the horse and showed Kathy how to mount it.
Zhi Kexi felt that her field of vision had increased, so she stretched her neck as much as possible to look ahead.
Pegasus held the reins and led him forward across the open space.
The horse walked faster and faster, the wind brushing against her cheeks felt pleasant, and Cathy's smile grew wider and wider.
Finally, the horse started running, and Pegasus began to pant. He slowly loosened the reins, letting Kathy hold them herself.
But the moment Casey grasped the reins, he suddenly tensed up.
He didn't know how to handle the reins, so he could only let the miniature horse run on its own.
Suddenly, a straw target appeared directly in front of them.
If this continues, the little horse will definitely crash.
Not wanting the horse to get hurt, he closed his eyes and pulled hard on the reins.
The horse stopped, and Kathy breathed a sigh of relief.
But perhaps he used too much force, and the horse reared up on its front hooves and leaned back.
Then, Kathy saw the sky receding into the distance.
But for some reason, a large patch of darkness appeared in the sky, and the sounds around me became muffled.
Then an old man with a white beard blocked his view, his mouth agape as if he were saying something.
"-Mr.--Mr. Cathy!"
As if sensing the shaking, Kathy suddenly woke up.
The dark shadows in front of me disappeared, and the sounds in my ears became clear.
"Your Grace! Are you alright?"
Pegasus, in his anxiety, called out.
Kathy nodded, then asked:
"Pegasus, what's wrong?"
"Thank God you're alright. You fell off the horse and hit your head. Does your head hurt or anything else hurt?"
Cathy shook her head: "I'm fine. Where's the pony?"
"It's stopped over there," Pegasus pointed in one direction.
Kathy helped Beccas to his feet, then knelt down and walked toward the horse.
"Sir, you—"
"Bekas, let's continue practicing horseback riding," Kathy said with a smile.
"No, you hit your head. You should rest now. If a concussion isn't treated promptly, it could leave lasting effects."
"I'm fine, Pegasus, come on, let me continue practicing!"
"grown ups!"
Kathy felt her hand being grabbed by a large hand.
The hand was so strong that even with all her strength, Cathy couldn't move her body forward an inch.
He had no choice but to give up the struggle.
Kathy lowered her head, but suddenly felt her eyes sting.
I can't cry! Cathy strained her neck to look up. I'm almost ten years old!
But for some reason, tears just keep rolling down my cheeks.
"grown ups-"
Bekas knelt down and wiped away his tears.
"Pegasus," Casey sobbed, "I'm so useless—you said all the lords can ride horses, but I can't."
“This is your first time riding a horse,” Pegasus said. “Nobody is born knowing how; you just need to practice.”
"But I also can't hold a wooden sword well, and my archery is inaccurate. I can never remember what Master Jode taught me—Pegasus, don't lie to me. Tell me the truth, do you also despise me?"
Bekas grabbed his arms and shook them hard:
"How could that be, sir? You are my master. You may not have done many things perfectly, but no one can be perfect in everything."
"But--"
"My lord! What is the meaning of the Lynes family's words?"
"Breathe carefully."
Have you ever thought about why you need to "breathe carefully"?
Kathy shook her head.
"The air is thin on the plateau. If people on the plateau don't breathe carefully, they are prone to fainting from lack of oxygen."
"Master Qiao said it's altitude sickness."
“Yes, sir,” Pegasus nodded. “Success is like air. It may be so thin that you can’t feel it, but it’s always close to you. Breathe carefully, feel yourself carefully, and you will eventually discover your unique power.”
Kathy nodded with some skepticism, wiping away her tears and snot with her sleeve.
He took a deep breath, which seemed to make him stronger.
Kathy assured Pegasus, "Pegasus, I will work even harder!"
"You've already tried your best, sir. You just need to be patient."
"But if I were a little smarter, I could have put your and Earl Reggie's plans into action sooner, instead of just waiting," Cathy lowered her eyebrows. "Pegasus, you—your beard is all white now."
"My icy beard is proof of my power," Pegasus patted Casey on the shoulder. "My lord, you know the power I wield."
"Well—but that's definitely what you all hope for."
"We certainly expect you to become better, but we have never thought you were bad. Your qualities make Sir Reggie and me very proud."
Kathy nodded, gazing at the cold, hard ground beneath his feet, when a question suddenly popped into his mind:
"Pegasus, my mother, was she intelligent?"
"She's very smart!"
"If I were a little smarter, would she like me?"
"You're already charming enough, child!"
Pegasus reached out and patted Cathy's head.
"I long to see her, Pegasus. If I become a duke—I mean, a real duke—will she come back to see me?"
"She definitely will, sir, she definitely wants to see you."
"Really?" Cathy felt much better. "Then she didn't leave me any promises, or any messages for you to pass on?"
Kathy saw Pegasus stiffen, then his face darkened, and he uttered a single word:
"no."
Kathy rarely saw Pegasus with such an expression, and he wanted to press for more information—
But then, someone found them:
"Sir Bourne, the Earl requests your presence."
Kathy turned her head and saw a servant.
"I'll go right now," Pegasus said, straightening his back.
"And Master Casey," the servant said, "the master said that you two should go together."
Pegasus took Cathy's hand and headed towards the main castle.
Kathy remarked that his hands were very rough and cold.
They found him in Reggie's study, where the portly lord immediately dismissed the rest of the room.
The door closed, and Reggie curtsied to Cassie:
"Your Majesty Duke Kexi."
"Sir Reggie, Earl Davis, you summoned me here, and even brought Lord Casey along. Is there something important you need to discuss?" Pegasus asked.
“Of course,” Reggie nodded, “but first I need to check how our Duke has grown up.”
After hearing this, Cathy felt a little timid, but still said:
"I practice swordsmanship and archery, and today I tried riding a horse, although it wasn't very successful. I've also learned a lot about heraldry from Master Jode, as well as a lot about history."
"And what about politics and political maneuvering?" Reggie asked. "Sir, do you know how to deploy troops and lead armies into battle?"
Kathy shook her head.
"Well, there's still a lot to learn," Reggie said. "But in these areas, Jord isn't exactly a first-rate teacher, let alone this elderly knight. However, sir, I do have some experience. How about I personally instruct you?"
Reggie can be quite assertive at times, so Cassie is a little afraid of him.
But he knew that a man should not be afraid, so he nodded.
"Good boy," Reggie nodded, "but that's for later, a distant solution won't quench immediate thirst. But for now, I don't ask much of you, sir. If I give you an article, can you guarantee you can memorize it and recite it fluently?"
Kathy lacked confidence, but Pegasus had told him not to easily expose his weaknesses:
"Yes, I can!"
"That's enough for now," Reggie said, patting Cathy on the shoulder happily.
At this point, Pegasus, who had been standing to the side with a frown, finally lost his patience and hurriedly asked:
"Earl Davis, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Reggie smiled and walked forward, giving Pegasus a big hug:
"The time has come, Pegasus!"
Pegasus's face froze instantly. After a long pause, he finally spoke:
"My lord—you mean, we're going to revive the Lanes family—"
"That's right, brother, it's time!"
Pegasus closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face.
Kashi was surprised; this was the first time he had ever seen Pegasus cry. He never imagined that such a powerful Pegasus would actually cry!
Pegasus said, "Thank God, the wait is finally over—my sir, do you remember how many years I've sought refuge with you?"
"When you brought Duke Casey to me, he was just a few months old."
Reggie said, looking at Kathy.
"But he's a healthy boy now, almost ten years old if I remember correctly? So at least nine years!"
"Yes, nine years—" Pegasus sighed. "Back then I was a young man in my prime, but now I'm an old man over fifty."
"Jazz, is the battle still going strong?"
"I have plenty of strength to kill!" Pegasus patted the sword at his waist. "But, sir, what is the plan?"
"Let's sit down and talk," Reggie said, walking toward the desk. "Lord Casey, you'll join us too. This will be your first lesson in strategy."
Bekas helped Kathy raise the chair, and then lifted him onto it.
On the table was a map depicting the detailed terrain of the Lyons Plateau and marking the locations of various cities and fortresses.
"This is my Whitewood City."
Reggie tapped the bottom left corner of the map, then pointed to the center.
"This is Goringburg, sir. If we were to attack this ancient castle, what do you think would be the biggest threat?"
Kathy stared at the map, carefully observing the area between the two locations.
He discovered that a city was nestled in the middle of a flat plain.
Although she didn't know why, Kathy pointed to that place.
Reggie laughed:
"That's right, sir. This is Gray City. The terrain around there is flat and offers a panoramic view. As long as my troops head northeast, they won't escape their notice. And the Zork family of Gray City is one of the beneficiaries of the downfall of the Lines family. They certainly won't stand idly by and watch me help the Lines family reclaim Goringburg."
Pegasus nodded in agreement: "Yes, that is indeed an obstacle. Moreover, the Zork family's territory has a large population and abundant military strength, so they can easily block our marching route."
"So this is a golden opportunity!" Reggie said excitedly.
"What happened, sir?"
"Zork captured a demon, but instead of killing him, he imprisoned him in a dungeon and sent a wizard hired by his family to enslave the demon and seize control of his evil power."
Pegasus raised an eyebrow: "If one could control demons, it would undoubtedly be an unparalleled source of power. But such an act is akin to pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth; a slight misstep would surely result in self-harm!"
"That's it," Reggie's expression turned extremely pleased. "The corrupted power took the opportunity to corrupt four more people, two of whom were wizards! Nearly a hundred warriors from their family were instantly killed. Baron Zorc could only destroy the dungeon entrance, but he failed to kill the five demons. And those demons are attacking the exit day and night!"
"I understand," Pegasus suddenly stood up. "He must station a large force to guard the city, or the consequences will be unimaginable!"
"That's right," Reggie said. "If we send troops now, even if they discover us, we won't encounter much resistance. But even so, taking Goringburg won't be easy."
Pegasus's expression calmed down considerably, and he sat back down in his chair.
"Moreover, the Capello family will certainly send troops to support them."
“I’m not worried about that at all,” Reggie said. “I have at least three reasons.”
"Which three points?"
"The forest is too far from the plateau. By the time the news reaches the forest, they will have already sent troops, and the outcome of the plateau battle will be decided long ago. That's one point. Secondly, Bob Capello has been missing for many years, and his fate is unknown. It would be naive to still hold onto the illusion that he is still alive. And Kathy also has Capello blood, which might be a situation that the forest would like to see."
"As for the last reason—Robin Capello is getting old, and hopefully he can at least still speak clearly."
Robin Capello. —.Casey thought—.Is he my maternal grandfather or my great-grandfather?
He saw Pegasus bow his head and remain silent for a long time before speaking again:
"In that case, all we need to do is capture Goringburg—"
“That’s just how it is,” Reggie said. “And when the time comes, all we have to do is announce Casey’s identity, and I’m sure a lot of knights will come carrying the Lines’s light grey plateau flag. As for those opportunists, I don’t expect them to respond to the call, as long as they don’t cause trouble.”
"Yes, once we capture Golinburg, the hub city of the plateau, it won't be too difficult to gain the knees and oaths of the remaining families."
"There's no need to even attack, Sir Burn," Reggie said with a mysterious smile.
Pegasus looked puzzled: "What do you mean by that?"
"After Bob's disappearance, the Zorks are now in power at Fort Goring, so they will inevitably resist."
Reggie analyzed,
"But there are still many people from the forest in the city, and as I just mentioned, Kathy's ascension to the throne wasn't a terrible move for the forest. And many of the remaining people are retainers left behind by Lord Jasper. Once they hear that the Lyons family has returned, there will likely be dissenting voices within Goringburg—"
"...but Gray City is struggling to survive and has no time to spare, so the Zorc family can't exert enough pressure!"
Pegasus opened his eyes wide, smiled, and took the words with trembling hands.
"That's right, Sir," Reggie's fat face jiggled with laughter, "There's a good chance of internal strife within the castle, with people turning against each other."
"Especially—" Reggie looked at Casey, "Our Duke even went to the front lines to give a passionate speech—"
Faced with the expectant gazes of the two adults, Cathy felt a little guilty.
But I'm a boy, Casey thought, I can't lack confidence—
At least, they can't see through it!
So, Cathy puffed out her little chest and raised her chin.
"No, we will not fail in our mission!"
Upon hearing this, Pegasus and Reggie exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.
Kathy looked confused and tilted her head.
Pegasus said, "My lord, you have no mission for us."
"At that moment, Duke Casey," Reggie added, "should have said, 'Leave it to me.'"
"Leave it to me!" Casey said immediately.
And then the two of them laughed again.
Kathy frowned, becoming even more confused.
In the evening, Cathy took some peas and headed to a remote tool warehouse.
After searching for a while, he finally found his target.
It was a mouse.
The mouse seemed to recognize Cathy; as soon as it saw him come in, it ran to his side.
Cathy crouched down and dropped a few peas, which the mouse immediately began to eat.
"Eat slowly, Xiao Hong."
These mice were discovered by Kathy by chance.
At that time, they were on the verge of death and were about to starve to death.
Kathy couldn't bear to leave them alone, so she found some food and saved them.
These rats seemed very clever; they never stole food outside the warehouse, waiting for Cathy to come and feed them.
This is probably the mice repaying a debt of gratitude by not causing trouble for the castle, thus making Cathy feel guilty.
So Kathy really liked these mice and gave them all names.
However, there is only one now.
He turned his head to look, but could not see any other mice.
"Little Red, where are your brothers and sisters?"
Little Red was chattering away, as if she was saying something, but Cathy couldn't understand a word she was saying.
At that moment, a figure suddenly emerged from the shadows.
Startled, Xiao Hong immediately turned around, causing Ke Xi to fall to the ground.
It wasn't until the other person had taken a few steps that Kathy realized it was a person, and someone he knew.
Kathy breathed a sigh of relief and said to the man:
"Wanpanog, it's you! What are you doing hiding in the warehouse? I'm sorry, I thought you went mining, so I didn't prepare any food for you."
Wanpanog didn't speak, but simply wrapped himself in his long coat and stared at Kathy with his green eyes.
One day, when Kathy was feeding the mice, she was accidentally seen by Wampanogg, who had come to return the tools.
Vanpagnog was no more than twenty years old, but even thinner than Kathy.
Kathy felt a little guilty, so she would occasionally bring some fine food to Vanpagnog.
To Kathy, Vanpagnog was no different from these rats.
"By the way, Vanpagnog," Casey said, "have you seen Little White and the others? Where have all the other mice gone?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Vanpanog lifted his long coat.
The iron cage he was holding inside his abdomen was exposed.
Then, Vanpanog placed the iron cage on the ground.
Kathy saw that Little Red made a wary sound and took a step back.
At that moment, Vanpanog opened the door of the iron cage.
Several mice came out of the cage.
Kathy laughed; he recognized the rats.
White, Black, Yellow, Blue, and Pink—they're all here!
But as they drew closer, the smile on Cathy's face gradually faded.
Those were indeed his friends, but—
These mice, however, were somewhat different from before.
Their eyes were as black as the underworld, their muscles were cracked and oozing pus, and their tails, which should have been long and slender, had all transformed into eerie black smoke that floated erratically.
They ran to Little Red's side.
Then, Kathy saw that Little Red's tail had also turned into that ominous thing.
Little Red turned around, its eyes pitch black, and stared at Cathy along with its brethren.
Cathy shook her head and crawled back two steps.
Then—
The rats hissed, baring their sharp teeth, and pounced on his arms.