Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The Third Memory Fragment! Rosaline Wants to Get a Little Closer

"So this is the mission objective, the Flame Cocoon?"

Su Xuan narrowed his eyes, finally understanding why Rosaline was so drawn to this thing.

’Also, the Demon Phoenix Butterfly inside the Flame Cocoon... Can it be tamed?’

’It’s a pet!’

Just then, Rosaline slowly raised her hands. A gentle, blue wisp of Magic Power drifted from her palms, floating toward the Flame Cocoon.

Just as Su Xuan was wondering what she was doing, the next sight made a glint appear in his eyes.

A wisp of a fluorescent blue soul emerged from the Flame Cocoon, drifting above the endless flames. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

’Rosaline’s third Memory Fragment? What is it doing here?’ Su Xuan’s brow furrowed, completely baffled by the scene before him.

Just then, he heard a familiar voice.

"My aunt once defeated an Apostle of the Witch here—a powerful Demon capable of destroying a city, a Flame Silk Demon Phoenix Butterfly! And it was that very battle that made the woman named Rosaline the strongest Oath Knight in centuries!"

Su Xuan turned to see Roxia, who had appeared behind them at some point without him noticing.

"When did you start following us?" he asked curiously.

’Come to think of it, this special mission doesn’t seem to have a specific client, does it?’

’Or perhaps the client just won’t show themselves directly.’

"A Knight reported to me the moment you appeared in Sunset City, so I’ve been following you." Roxia walked up to Su Xuan. "At first, I was confused as to why you were entering the Underground City, but it seems this has to do with my aunt."

A faint, sweet scent wafted into Su Xuan’s nose, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

’Roxia’s scent seems to be getting stronger. I wonder if that effect of attracting Demons is real. Causing a beast tide with just her scent... no matter how I look at it, that sounds ridiculous.’

But first, he needed to stop Rosaline.

"Rosaline, wait a second."

At his command, Rosaline’s steps slowly came to a halt.

Even as a Guild President, she still obeyed Su Xuan’s commands, trying her best to suppress the stirring in her soul. Rosaline stood in place, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Su Xuan, like a puppy eagerly waiting for its master to feed it.

After temporarily halting Rosaline, Su Xuan turned his gaze back to Roxia.

He noticed Roxia staring at him with a strange expression.

"What’s with that look?" he asked.

"It’s nothing." Roxia shook her head, though she was inwardly astonished. ’My aunt, once so magnificent and unrivaled, is this docile and obedient in front of this man?’

"You said just now that Rosaline once defeated an Apostle of the Witch here?" Su Xuan pressed on.

"Mhm." Roxia nodded and continued, "Haven’t you read the children’s readers in Sunset City? There are many more of my aunt’s legendary tales, like extinguishing the Phoenix Butterfly, slaying an Earth Dragon, and smiting a Giant."

"Children’s readers?" Su Xuan’s mouth fell slightly open in surprise.

’Still, being celebrated as a Legendary hero would be exciting for anyone, regardless of the medium.’

’Especially when it means becoming a part of so many children’s childhoods!’

"So, the thing inside the Flame Cocoon is that Flame Silk Demon Phoenix Butterfly?" Su Xuan asked.

"Mhm," Roxia explained. "The Flame Silk Demon Phoenix Butterfly my aunt defeated didn’t actually die; it just fell into a deep slumber. No one has ever been able to break the cocoon it formed, so it’s been left here all this time. But for some reason, its flames have recently started to grow more violent."

"..."

Su Xuan shot Roxia a sideways glance. ’And I’m sure you have no idea what the reason is, right?’ he thought.

"Are you saying that even back then... when Rosaline was alive, she couldn’t break the Flame Cocoon?"

"Mhm." Roxia nodded. "Its flames are too ferocious, and the cocoon’s surface is as hard as iron. Even my aunt couldn’t break it."

’That’s going to be a problem.’

Su Xuan’s brow furrowed slightly as he stared at the distant Flame Cocoon.

’Rosaline was at least Level 30 when she was alive, but even she couldn’t break it?’

’The Recommended Level for this special mission is only 15. Logically, it shouldn’t be this difficult.’

"This Flame Cocoon has remained here ever since my aunt defeated the creature inside," Roxia continued. "However, we haven’t just been standing by, watching it get ready to hatch. We’ve prepared an item to deal with it."

"An item to deal with it?"

A flicker of light passed through Su Xuan’s eyes.

"Mhm."

Roxia nodded. "We found a Frost Fragment. It’s a Magic Essence derived from an Icefield Snow Maiden, and it’s powerful enough to completely destroy the Flame Cocoon."

"And the fragment?"

"It won’t be delivered until tomorrow."

"I see." Su Xuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

’With Roxia’s help, it seems this mission just got a lot simpler.’

’However...’

His gaze shifted to the Flame Cocoon.

The Flame Cocoon was trembling rhythmically, the life within seeming desperate to break free.

’If I want to tame the Demon Phoenix Butterfly inside the Flame Cocoon, does that mean I have to refuse Roxia’s offer?’

’Whatever, I’ll worry about that later.’

’For now, at least, I don’t have a good way to handle the Demon Phoenix Butterfly, and the probability of taming it is a measly 0.1%.’

"I... want to get a little closer."

Just then, Rosaline’s soft voice reached him.

’She wants to get closer?’ Su Xuan was puzzled by Rosaline’s request. ’Is it because she’s that desperate to get her hands on that Memory Fragment?’

’Well, the Flames can’t really hurt her much anyway.’

"Go on, but be careful."

"Mhm." Rosaline replied and took a step forward.

The moment she took that step, frenzied flames erupted from the cocoon, pouring out in all directions!

In an instant, an entire square kilometer was transformed into a sea of fire!

"Aunt!"

Seeing this, Roxia’s heart seized, and a worried expression crossed her face.

"Don’t worry, she’ll be fine."

Su Xuan quickly reassured her.

’Because Rosaline has the Crystal Body trait, she’s completely immune to Elemental Magic. Those Flames can’t hurt her in the slightest.’

Besides.

[Your Adventurer, Rosaline, is absorbing a Memory Fragment...]

[The water spirit is resisting the Flame’s erosion! Magic Power purity is increasing by 0.1%...]

"A pleasant surprise?" A glint appeared in Su Xuan’s eyes. He hadn’t expected that the Demon Phoenix Butterfly’s Flames could be used to purify the water spirit’s Magic Power.

"This..."

Beside him, Roxia’s eyes widened in astonishment.

’Those are flames that can melt steel, yet her aunt Rosaline is completely unharmed inside?’

’Could it be... that becoming Undead has actually made my aunt even stronger?’

"Let’s leave. She’s going to be here for a while."

Su Xuan turned to leave. Judging by the rate at which the water spirit’s purity was increasing, this would take at least several hours.

He wasn’t worried about Rosaline’s safety. The Demon Phoenix Butterfly couldn’t possibly break out of its cocoon within the next few days, and no other Demons were likely to appear. Even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to force their way into this raging sea of fire.

「The scene changed to the Yerman Clan’s Castle.」

"Hmm hmm hmm~"

A voice like a nightingale’s drifted through the air as Natasha meticulously prepared desserts for afternoon tea.

Su Xuan sat properly at the table, with Ivsha beside him.

"Please try the desserts I made with my own hands~"

Natasha brought over a tray of exquisite desserts and placed it on the tea table.

"Thank you."

Su Xuan smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the desserts on the table.

There were plates of colorful cakes, cookies, and other pastries of all kinds, each one exquisitely crafted and looking incredibly tempting. However, Su Xuan wasn’t a big fan of such things; he much preferred savory meat dishes.

"Mr. Su Xuan~ Please have some tea~"

Natasha poured a cup of rich tea for Su Xuan.

Su Xuan raised the cup, just about to take a sip.

’But for some reason, this tea’s aroma is a bit familiar. I feel like I’ve smelled it somewhere before...’