Or Did You Really Come Back to Life

He winced in pain as he tugged at his wound.

"Marshal, it's been investigated!"

Alex burst in from outside, furious and anxious.

"It's the potions! I just had someone test it myself. Although the potion can indeed turn pigs into humans, it also makes them insatiable and opportunistic!"

At this, Marshal's face turned ashen, as if he had just swallowed a mouthful of excrement.

"So it is!"

From the beginning, he had suspected that something was off. Everything was fine, so why would they suddenly behave like rutting boars?

He immediately thought of the potion he had downed earlier to show off his boldness.

Heaven above!

He was red with rage, his eyes wide with fury.

It was those Winter Spring Valley mages!

They must have known they were going to steal the potions, so they deliberately concocted this vile aphrodisiac to humiliate them!

"I'll kill them! I'll make them die!"

He slammed his fist into the ground in rage.

Sssst—

A barely audible sound came from behind.

"Agh—"

Marshal let out a shameful and pained cry.

"I told you not to move, why don't you listen?!" the doctor sighed.

"It's not even sewn up yet, and you go and strain yourself, of course it's going to split open again!"

Marshal was red with fury, his fingers digging into the wooden bedframe.

"Alex, immediately gather the troops! Find those Winter Spring Valley mages. They dare to humiliate us like this, I want their lives!!"

Alex looked somewhat hesitant. He thought the people from Winter Spring Valley were actually quite nice.

If it weren't for Marshal sending someone to steal the potions, this terrible incident wouldn't have happened.

But Marshal was still his superior.

As a knight, he was duty-bound to obey orders.

"Yes, Marshal!" he clenched his teeth and slammed his fist against his chest. "I'll arrange it right away!"

He was about to turn around.

But at that moment, he suddenly remembered something and was struck with a jolt.

"Wait, Marshal, do you remember? About two hours ago, you sent someone to deliver some potions to Lord Augustus at the volcano, was that right?"

Instantly, Marshal was struck with a jolt.

He stared, cold sweat pouring down like a torrential rain.

"Send someone to chase after them right now!"

He roared,

"Stop them before the potions are delivered! Otherwise, everything will be ruined!!!"

Sssst—

In an instant, Marshal froze in place.

...

Soon, a large number of knights and warriors gathered at the church entrance.

Following Marshal's orders, Alex had mobilized most of the forces from the Lakeside Town cathedral.

Once assembled, they immediately marched towards the inn where Nanako and the others were staying, full of aggression.

Alex clenched his teeth.

Although he felt bad about it, the thought of so many of their elite warriors being affected in such a way was infuriating.

"Alex, we've found them!"

"The Winter Spring Valley mages are at the Lakeside Town square!"

"Move!" Alex abruptly drew his blade, his voice dark. "Surround the entire square. This time, we must get justice for Marshal!"

With the sound of clashing shields and swords, Alex led his troops towards the Lakeside Town square.

But the next moment, when he saw the scene in the square, he froze.

In the center of the square, one after another, pigs were lined up in neat rows. At the front of the line was a makeshift stall set up by the Winter Spring Valley mages.

A few tables, a few stools, and a large alchemical container filled with purple liquid.

"Don't rush, everyone will get their turn! Once you drink the potion, you'll all be able to return to your original forms!"

Elina held a ladle and shouted, her face full of joy.

At the stall, Nanako and six beautiful girls with radiant smiles were distributing the potions to the cursed residents.

Those who drank the potion soon transformed back into their original forms in a flash of white light.

To prevent any embarrassing situations, there were also small changing booths nearby.

"We... we've really turned back!"

"Thank you so much! Are you messengers sent by the gods to save us?! Great divine messengers!"

"Thank you, my lord, for your grace upon us!"

The residents, now returned to their human forms, were overjoyed, tears streaming down their faces.

They knelt before Nanako and the others, kowtowing repeatedly.

Nanako helped them up with a cheerful smile. "It's okay, no need to thank us. This is what Winter Spring Valley should do! We're here to help everyone lift the curse!"

On a nearby recliner, Lynn, holding a book in his hands, watched the scene with a slight smile.

[Although they remain as ignorant as ever, the gratitude on their faces is still quite heartwarming.]

[Actually, doing good deeds once in a while isn't so bad, even if it doesn't have much significance.]

[It's just...]

Lynn's eyes reflected Nanako, happily distributing potions to the residents, her face glowing with genuine joy. Lynn's lips couldn't help but curve into a smile.

[She's really, really similar...]

[To her... so kind, so pure, so easily delighted by small things...]

[So is she a similar flower... or did she really come back to life...]

Lynn let out a wry smile, flicking his finger to wipe away the barely noticeable wetness at the corner of his eye.

[At least let me know if accompanying you for so long was really meaningful...]

Nanako's cowlick paused.

She slightly turned her head, her sapphire eyes glancing over.

Similar flower?

Really come back to life?

What did her disciple mean by those thoughts?

Why did it suddenly feel like her disciple was a bit melancholic...

...

"Alex, shall we move in?!"

The soldier next to him had a fierce gleam in his eyes, slowly drawing his blade, the cold light flashing.

"Wait!"

Alex watched the scene in the square, the residents one by one turning back into humans, their faces filled with tears of joy.

He lowered his head, frowning tightly, his fists clenching and unclenching.

They were helping the residents of Lakeside Town lift the curse...

They really came to help...

He looked up again, staring at the harmonious scene in the square, his lips pressed tightly together, his eyes flickering with light.

After a long while,

He took a deep breath, as if he had suddenly lost all strength, and uttered those two words.

"Retreat."