37: Chapter 37 Monster Riot, Entire Town Evacuated, Follow and Protect

Watching Zhang Mu continuously cast fireballs, reducing the corpse of the bishop from the Kas Town branch to ashes, the emotions of Avril and Potter were indescribable.

Even Avril ignored the eerie white fireballs.

The Church insisted that the Saul Continent had gods.

Zhang Mu had once said that he did not believe in gods, and they did not doubt that this was bragging, but saying and doing were two different things.

Although there weren't many people who said they didn't believe in gods in private, there were, after all, some.

However, in over ten thousand years, there had never been a single person who dared to clash with the Church, which represented the gods; even powerful titled mages dared not say a word against the Church in public.

This was enough to show that everyone had some fear deep down.

First, they feared the terrifying strength of the Church.

Second, although the gods had never appeared and no one had witnessed the arrival of miracles, there were many unexplainable phenomena on the Saul Continent.

For example, the flat ground, like magic, would suddenly sprout towering trees overnight, inside which were labyrinths filled with treasures.

Or the fact that magical text could not be copied onto any medium other than magic books.

These phenomena were still somewhat lacking compared to the miracles recorded in history books, but for all living beings on the Saul Continent, they were already considered impossible miracles.

Therefore, countless people doubted whether gods existed, but it was always just doubt; no one dared to truly believe from the bottom of their hearts that gods did not exist.

Or rather, they defaulted to the existence of gods, just that for some inexplicable reason, the gods were unwilling to appear.

Naturally, they also lacked the courage to attack a church and test with their lives whether the gods would appear.

Even Potter, after drifting through hundreds of years of life, had finally decided to do something and called his plan "Defiance."

The two walked up to Zhang Mu, wanting to say something, but the words were stuck in their throats, and they couldn't say anything.

Their shock could not be described in words.

If they really had to say it, was Zhang Mu truly not afraid that a god might pop out of the church?

After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Mu finally spoke first, and what he said left the two stunned. Did he look down on himself that much?

So they gave him a small "punishment."

After being lightly chopped on the head by both hands, Zhang Mu understood what they meant and scratched the back of his head: "Then, Teacher, how should this side be handled?"

Potter scanned the courtyard, where soil was overturned and smoke was rising from craters, and didn't dawdle: "Let's go back first and talk later."

Subsequently, the three returned all the way to the entrance of Hatton Street.

On the way, they saw that the windows of the houses along the street in the middle of the night were all letting out light.

The street had also changed from its usual nightly loneliness; large groups of townspeople were carrying cloth bags and wooden boxes, jogging in a hurry towards the town entrance.

It seemed the mayor had moved quickly; in a few hours, he had already finished notifying every household.

After they finished listening to Zhang Mu's explanation, Potter said: "We will stay in the town; someone will come to pick us up later."

Zhang Mu nodded in agreement, and the three walked into Hatton Street, preparing to return to the house to pack up miscellaneous items.

Walking to a distance of more than ten meters from the door, they stopped in surprise.

On the steps in front of the door, a blonde Cat Girl was sitting there; she must have been waiting for some time.

She was still wearing that patched grey robe, her thin arms wrapped around her legs, and her little head buried between her thighs.

Perhaps hearing the footsteps of the three, her golden cat ears twitched twice, and she raised her head to look.

"Mr. Zhang Mu!"

The Cat Girl stood up abruptly and bounced in front of them: "Old Grandpa, Big Sister, good evening."

"Lia?" Zhang Mu stepped forward. "Why are you here?"

"Mayor said that Kas Town is being attacked by a monster tide, and we have to evacuate with everyone."

Lia took out a crystal gemstone from under her grey robe and handed it to Zhang Mu: "I was busy taking care of Mom the other day and never had time to give it to you."

Taking it and examining it in his palm, Zhang Mu understood; this was a specialty of Kas Town, and it was likely fished out from that spring water.

"Lia thought that after leaving Kas Town, maybe we would never meet again, so I hurried to bring it." Lia blinked her eyes. "This is Lia's lucky stone; it can bring good luck to Mr. Zhang Mu."

Yes, who knew when they would meet again after parting. Zhang Mu tucked the crystal gemstone into his pants pocket: "It will."

As he spoke, his gaze subconsciously fell on her golden cat ears, and his right hand raised and then lowered.

No, Teacher and Senior Sister are right next to me; I'll be treated as a pervert.

However, Lia noticed his abnormality.

Tilting her head and thinking for a moment, she grabbed Zhang Mu's large hand and covered her own head with it, while actively rubbing her head left and right against his palm.

"Mom and Dad also like to stroke Lia's hair." Lowering Zhang Mu's hand, she turned and ran towards the street entrance. "Lia has to go; Mom and Dad are waiting for me at the town entrance."

"Goodbye, Mr. Zhang Mu, and Old Grandpa and Big Sister."

Running while turning back to wave goodbye, soon, the Little Cat Girl's swaying fluffy tail disappeared at the corner.

Zhang Mu withdrew his gaze from her back and looked at the right hand that had just stroked the Cat Girl's head, his five fingers grasping at the air a few times.

Touched a living Cat Girl, sat... satisfied.

Unable to help it, a happy smile appeared on his face, and then he noticed two strange gazes staring at his back, and his upturned mouth came to an abrupt stop.

His smile slowly faded, and he slowly turned around, meeting the eyes of the silent Potter and Avril for a moment: "Listen to my explanation."

"Junior Brother, although this hobby does not violate the kingdom's laws, she is still a child, you..."

"Don't slander me, Senior Sister!"

Potter waved his large hand, interrupting the two: "There is no perfect person; everyone has shortcomings and deficiencies."

"But Zhang Mu, things that violate the kingdom's laws must not be done; you had better wait a few more years."

"I'm not! I didn't! You guys, don't talk nonsense!"

Obviously, the triple denial didn't work; the two just responded with "we can tolerate you" gazes.

It seemed that the Saul Continent did not quite accept intermarriage between humans and demi-humans.

Zhang Mu chose to shut up and accept his fate.

Potter didn't dwell on it either, and took out a drawstring cloth bag from the wide sleeve of his robe: "A storage bag; the space inside isn't large, but it should be enough for you to put things in."

Breaking off the previous topic, Zhang Mu was very happy and immediately took it: "Thank you, Teacher."

"Then I'll go back to the rented house to get my things..."

"Mr. Zhang Mu!"

The shouting from the street entrance gradually approached, and they turned around; it was the mayor.

He first looked at Avril and Potter with confusion; the two did not care about this.

Turning his gaze to Zhang Mu, his tone was full of apology: "Sorry, earlier because I was in a hurry to organize the townspeople to evacuate,"

"not only did I not have time to express my gratitude to you, but I also rudely left all three Believers for you to handle."

After finishing, without waiting for Zhang Mu to reply, the mayor put his legs together, stood straight, placed his right hand against his left chest, and bowed his waist to ninety degrees:

"I am grateful for your fearlessness and bravery in saving my life, even at the cost of being an enemy of the Church."

Straightening his waist, he explained with some guilt: "Some of the poor in the town lacked food, so I exchanged all the gold coins for food and distributed it to them,"

"so, I have no valuable items right now to give to you as a reward, Sir."

"But please rest assured, Sir, I will earn..."

Zhang Mu interrupted him with a chuckle: "What gold coins are needed for such a small matter."

"But..."

"Really, there is no need."

Hearing his insistence, the mayor did not continue to say more; he felt a bit moved, thinking that when he had the chance, he would definitely repay him.

He then reminded them: "The three of you, the monster tide could strike at any time, you should also evacuate quickly."

"I know the three of you are mages who possess power, but the number of the monster tide is terrifying. I have already used a sound transmission crystal to call for help from nearby Adventurers."

"It's just that there is no reward after all, so I am not sure how many Adventurers are willing to come, but I believe there will be some."

"Therefore." The mayor requested sincerely, "It will be much safer for the three of you to go with the townspeople's procession."

Seeing the three nod, he smiled and bowed again, then turned and left quickly, chasing after the townspeople's procession.

"Teacher, we..." Avril's eyes were questioning.

Potter smiled: "The monsters actually won't rush out of the forest to attack at this time... Let's go help; we'll return to Kas Town after protecting them until they reach Bala City."

"If Andre arrives early, tell him to wait."

"Very well, Teacher." The two replied.

"Additionally." Potter looked at Zhang Mu: "The badge."

Taking the badge he handed over, Potter clenched his palm, and his Mental Energy dismantled the reflective magic shield cast on it:

"Since the magic shield has already been triggered, to avoid you ignoring danger while practicing combat because you have the magic shield's protection, I am taking the magic shield back."

Zhang Mu had the resurrection function of the panel, and although it could not solve lung cancer, he would not die due to combat, so he didn't care about this and nodded his head.

Potter was very satisfied with his attitude and personally pinned the badge onto his right chest: "In the future, no matter what happens, do not take it off again, understand?"

"Understood, Teacher."

"Mhm." Potter walked into the house. "Pack the things when we come back; you go to the town entrance first, and we will set off when I come over."

Avril and Zhang Mu agreed, turned around together, and hurried side by side towards the town gate.