[Outside Qlipoth Fort]
In front of the Everwinter Monument, people passing by here always can't help but turn back to look a couple of times.
There's no other reason, there's simply a sight here that's impossible to look away from.
That knight wearing silver armor, with blazing red long hair, is as vivid and beautiful as a rose in full bloom.
His posture is upright, his figure graceful, his movements proper and natural, and his speech humorous and engaging. He is like an elegant gentleman, yet his gaze, gentle without losing loyalty and resolve, makes him seem even more like a devout believer.
Amid Belobog's snow and cold winds, this knight shines like the blazing sun. Passionate and sincere.
Without a doubt, whether in looks or temperament, this knight is outstanding.
Standing opposite him is the Silvermane Guards' garrison commander of Belobog, Officer Gepard. As a great hero who protects Belobog, Gepard has short blond hair and a resolute face. His looks may be slightly inferior to that knight's, but his presence is absolutely no weaker.
To the people of Belobog, these are unquestionably two top-tier handsome men.
By comparison, the hunched, shivering guy standing behind the knight looks rather sleazy.
"Thank you, Mr. Gepard." Argenti raised his left hand to his chest and expressed his gratitude to Gepard.
"Thank you for bringing us into the city and helping Martin find a doctor. Your righteousness is like a sword, and your kindness is even warmer than the blazing sun amid wind and snow."
Gepard's cheek twitched slightly. Even after serving as a Silvermane Guard for so many years and developing an ironclad mental fortitude, he still found it hard to endure the countless praises from this strange man before him.
So he lifted his head to look at the sky. Belobog's sky was blue, but farther away, gloomy clouds still churned, it was actually hard to see the sun.
Thinking carefully, from the moment he began patrolling the snowfields under the Great Guardian's orders to prevent any allies of the previous outsiders from arriving, encountered these two, and all the way up to now, after meeting the Great Guardian…
This guy seemed to have spared no praise for every single existence he saw along the way, people or objects alike.
From Silvermane soldiers to city passersby, from a wildflower to a snowflake, from Qlipoth Fort to a single paving stone, almost everything had been praised by this man.
However, according to the Great Guardian's judgment, these two were not of the same kind as the previous criminals.
Gepard cleared his throat and said, "It's nothing, just doing my duty. Since the Great Guardian has confirmed that you're different from those outsiders who tried to incite rebellion before, please rest well in Belobog. I still have work to do, so I'll be leaving now."
"Please allow me to express my thanks once more. Farewell, Mr. Gepard."
Gepard nodded and left.
Only after seeing Gepard leave did Martin step forward and ask Argenti, "How long are we staying here?"
Argenti turned to look at Martin. "At least until your injuries heal, my friend. Also, the Rarely-Seen has run into some problems, and I need to look around this world to see if there's suitable fuel."
As he said this, Argenti's gaze suddenly sharpened, and his expression grew much more serious.
The next moment, the Knight of Pure Beauty said, "I'm sorry, Martin. Perhaps we'll have to stay even longer than we imagined."
Martin didn't understand and asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Yes. On this planet, I've smelled the scent of evil!"
"The scent of evil?" Martin was even more confused.
"Just like it, Martin." Argenti gently patted the pitch-black box sealing the Stellaron. "On this planet, I've sensed fluctuations similar to its own."
"This is a beautiful planet. If I were to ignore it, then it might suffer the same disaster as the planet that gave birth to the Stellaron."
"As a member of the Knights of Pure Beauty, I cannot allow such a thing to happen. I must fulfill my duty and protect the seeds of beauty on behalf of Idrila."
"I… is that so?"
Martin was still rather muddled, but he looked deeply shocked.
"That's right, Martin." Argenti nodded. "And besides that, I came here, to this beautiful planet, with other matters to attend to."
"Other matters…?" Martin suddenly thought of the polarizing convictions within the Knights of Pure Beauty. "You mean… you're going to search for the Aeon of Pure Beauty on this planet?"
"Exactly!" Argenti said solemnly.
"The whereabouts of Pure Beauty are unfathomable, and some even claim She has already fallen. But the universe is boundless, and beautiful places are many. Perhaps, at some moment, in some place, Idrila will descend."
"Uh… so what now? How are you planning to look?"
Martin's expression was a little awkward. To be honest, he didn't dislike the Knights of Pure Beauty. They were kind, loyal, just, fearless, and filled with passion.
But it was precisely because their faith was so fanatical that it became somewhat unbearable.
Before Martin could say anything more, this ordinary corporate wage slave suddenly widened his eyes and stared at Argenti in disbelief.
He saw Argenti walk up to a trash can, extend both hands, and offer sincere praise.
"What a beautiful lifeform! Your body has been tempered through countless trials and endured wind, frost, snow, and rain."
"After innumerable hardships, you have forged a sturdy frame, a strong posture, and a heart that is gentle and smooth. Please believe me, you are truly beautiful!"
At this moment, Martin felt as if two spotlights had come down from nowhere, bathing both Argenti and the trash can in dazzling brilliance, complete with sparkling special effects.
What Argenti did next made Martin's jaw drop, his head spin, and his nerves twitch.
Argenti stepped forward, politely opened the trash can lid, then stuck his head inside and called out toward the spotless bottom of the bin, "Idrila, are you there? Are you there? Are you there? Are you there?"
"How could She possibly be in there?!"
Martin simply couldn't suppress his urge to complain anymore. He hurried forward, dragging his injured body, and pulled Argenti back out.
Even if Argenti didn't feel embarrassed or ashamed, Martin was about to dig a villa out of the ground with his toes.
"What a pity, my friend. It seems Idrila herself is not here…"
"It'd be strange if the Aeon of Pure Beauty were inside a trash can…" Martin shouted.
Then Martin added, "By the way, didn't Gepard just say that there were outsiders before us, who became wanted criminals because they tried to stir up a rebellion here? Those evil auras you sensed might have something to do with them."
"You're right, my friend," Argenti said. "Perhaps we should first take a look at the wanted notices. There just happens to be one posted on this beautiful monument."
With that, Argenti walked over.
When he reached the wanted notice and saw the portrait on it, Argenti unconsciously straightened his posture, vague emotions surging up from the depths of his heart.
He had followed Idrila's footsteps across the cosmos, constantly tempering his body and upholding justice, and had countless times stepped to the brink of death.
In those countless moments of confusion between life and death, in every unconsciousness brought on by severe injury, he would always see a blurry, indistinct figure.
Argenti believed that perhaps he had already seen Her many times, yet each time it was just a little short… Every time, he failed to glimpse Her true form, only a vague silhouette, gently helping him to his feet.
Every time, just like now, She would extend her hands toward him, white long hair brushing across his face, leaving behind a spring-breeze-like aftertaste…
"Argenti, what's wrong?"
Martin walked up behind him, looking at the Knight of Pure Beauty in confusion, not knowing why he had suddenly frozen in place.
Suddenly, Argenti dropped to one knee. An indescribable devotion filled his face; reverence and praise filled his eyes. He slowly raised both hands upward and softly called out, "Praise Idrila!"
"Huh? Idrila?"
Martin froze for a moment, then also lifted his head to look at the wanted notice on the monument.
On the notice was a drawing of a white-haired youth, a smile on his face, holding a Yanhuo creation in his arms. His long hair was soft, radiating light and warmth like a star, dispelling all the cold and unease of this ever-winter city.
An indescribable agitation arose in Martin's heart. Even though it was only a drawing, he still felt the person in it was beautiful; even though the strokes were natural and precise, the colors delicate, he still believed it was because the person depicted was beautiful.
Yes.
There was no more beautiful existence.
Martin suddenly thought of when he was a child, of the brother who grew up with him, of the time they spent together. Now, as time had passed, their contact had gradually lessened, but those days were still the most beautiful memories in his heart…
But…
"What does the youth in the picture have to do with the Goddess of Pure Beauty, Idrila?"
Argenti stood back up, his expression firm. "I don't know, my friend. But all signs point to there being some kind of connection."
"He is also the person I am searching for. That same feeling, I have only ever felt it in his presence and in Idrila's."
"His name is Nero, the one who saved the Herta Space Station. Just as I praise Idrila, I am willing to praise him in the same way."
"Praise his face, praise his deeds, praise his… beauty!"
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