<h4>Chapter 729: Punishment Game</h4>


    "Everything is okay. Hees with us." Nell came out of Elysia''s invisible magic to calm the panicked holy knights.


    "The Goddess of Blessings?" The holy knights breathed a sigh of relief when they saw who it was. They straightened their backs and immediately gave a knightly salute.


    "If you need to recognize his identity, he is the Beast God of the Beast Continent. You should return to your duties." Nell gave Regulus an introduction to avoiding another misunderstanding on another asion.


    "Alright. Then, we excuse ourselves." The holy knight with the highest rank represented to answer. He and his fellow holy knights then went to their guard post, but they still paid close attention to that giant red lion.


    "E, since we got here, would you like to meet your grandfather, E? He happens to be around." Elysia identally saw the Pope doing some paperwork in a room in one of the cathedral towers.


    "Eh? Has my grandfather returned to the Holy Cathedral? Then I will tell him that we are back and are near the Serene River. I''m sure he will be here in a few seconds." E took out a goldenmunication talisman and wrote a message there using a brush.


    A few seconds after E delivered her message, an old man d in a golden white robe flew from the window of one of the cathedral towers. He went tond near the Serene River to look for his granddaughter, but he only found a giant red lion and the Goddess of Blessings.


    ''Master Elysia, I think you need to revoke your invisible nket first.'' Rhea conveyed a suggestion via telepathy.


    ''Okay.'' Elysia immediately revoked her invisible magic.


    "..." Alexander had just opened his mouth to ask, but a group of people suddenly appeared nearby. Therefore, he swallowed back the words that woulde out of his mouth and turned them into a respectful greeting to his Goddess. "Utmost respects to your divine self. Pleased to see you and everyone have returned without missing anything."


    "Hum. What about the western region? Is the situation there already under control?" Nell replied with a subtle nod.


    "Two sealed areas that copsed have been effectively contained. Reinforcements arrived just in time before things got worse. We add more frontline personnel to deal with ursed monsters. Thus reinforcements can arrive on time if the situation gets out of control." Alexander put his hand to his chest with pride and confidence shining in his eyes.


    "I''m relieved to hear that. We''ll be visiting the Devil Continent in a moment. Would you like toe with us?" Nell suddenly had an idea and asked without discussing it with anyone. She knew that an event would happen if the strongest human met the most potent devil.


    "Devil Continent?" Alexander widened his eyes slightly, but he soon regained hisposure. He nced sideways, at his granddaughter, to be exact. "Is E going there too?"


    "It''s a good thing for her toe with us to thend of devils, the forbidden ce that humans hate the most. She will see that ce firsthand. It''s been a long time since you''ve been there, hasn''t it? What''s your answer?" Nell opened her palm and asked once again with a tender smile.


    "Please allow me to speak to my granddaughter first." Alexander could have made up his mind right away.


    However, depending on some conditions, he needed different kinds of preparations. The Devil Continent was not a ce for humans to visit carelessly for a reason and cause.


    "Very well." Nell nodded in agreement.


    Alexander approached his granddaughter while ncing at the giant red lion by the river every now and then.


    "Grandfather, nice to see you again. Are you all right? How about mom and dad? Are they still in the Xeafinata Kingdom?" E greeted her grandfather happily.


    "Yeah, Alfred and Lucia are still in the western region. Didn''t you trouble your friends during your round-the-world trip?" Alexander patted his granddaughter''s shoulder.


    "Mou, I won''t trouble anyone." E pouted.


    "Hehe, anyway, are you going to the Devil Continent?" Alexander immediately changed the topic to something serious. His expression said it clearly.


    "Mm, Sylvi said she will show us what the Devil Continent really looks like. It''s not as bad as our depiction. Although some ces are terrible, not everything is like that. That''s what she said." E answered frankly.


    Alexander took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He made the decision, and it was invible. "Hm, might as well take this as a study for you. However, we''re leaving with an escort. We''re still humans, and that ce is thend of devils. Their dark magic doesn''t bode well for us, especially our holy magic."


    "Okay." E just nodded meekly. She didn''t have any objections either.


    "Hmm..." Alexander looked at everyone in Elysia''s group. There are several new faces that he does not recognize. Still, his primary focus is the other two humans, namely Elysia and Evelyn. "What about you, Elysia, Evelyn? Would you like me to send a Saint Knight to be your bodyguard during the visit to the Devil Continent just in case?"


    "Thank you for your offer, Grandpa. I will be fine because my master is there with me." Elysia nced up slightly with a tender smile adorning her face.


    "???" Alexander nced up, but he could see nothing but a clear blue sky. If the Goddess of Light was there, Elysia''s safety was guaranteed. So, only Evelyn was left. "What about you, Evelyn? Or do you need to inform the Mage Association first? A Saint Mage will obviously be dispatched to you when your mother finds out about this."


    "Uhm, then, I need to inform my mother regarding this matter. The situation doesn''t seem as simple as I imagined. I need to ask for permission directly." Evelyn thought for a moment and answered politely. She then tugged the hem of Elysia''s dress for attention. "The Mage Association is nearby... Can I go there for a bit? Please don''t leave before Ie back, okay?"


    "All right, we will be waiting for you here." Elysia patted Evelyn''s arm in her reassurance. She nced at Vanessa and gave hermand. "Vann, please apany Eve to the Mage Association."


    "Affirmative. We''ll be right back. Eve, let''s go now." Vanessa put her hand on her upper chest and nodded.


    "Thank you, then we excused ourselves first. We''ll be right back!" Evelyn was pleased with her best friend''s understanding of what she was thinking. She left with Vanessa by running.


    Elysia watched them go over the bridge until they could no longer be seen.


    "Very well, would you like to visit the Holy Cathedral for a while? I need to prepare a few things before leaving for the Devil Continent." Alexander invited everyone with a respectful gesture.


    "We appreciate the invitation. He is the Beast God, and he wille with us. It was not the right decision to enter the cathedral." Rhea pointed her palm to the big lion by the river. Regulus had just finished drinking the water, but she wouldn''t let him act unsupervised here.


    Therefore, everyone was led to one of therge buildings next to the cathedral. Alexander offered to send some priests to provide exceptional services, but Nell refused.


    "Mm, we won''t be attracting unwanted attention here while waiting for their preparations." Nell sent Alexander and E away and closed the hall door. Several holy knights stood guard outside the building, but she ignored them.


    "Hmph, this is a pitiful room. Is this the best treatment a human can give divine guests?" Regulus snorted after he scanned the entire room. It was just arge and empty hall, but a faint smell of medicine could be smelled easily.


    "This hall was the biggest one, previously used as an emergency room to treat soldiers and knights who were seriously injured on the battlefield. However, they all seem to have received proper medical treatment, and there are no more such emergency cases." Elysia exined a bit and took out a set of seats.


    "Nee, how about we y a game while waiting for them toe back? We have a lot from Ely''s games, but to make this fun, let''s add something like truth or dare!" Sylvia took a spot on Elysia''s left.


    "That''s my spot..." Yuuki grumbled softly in a mosquito-like voice.


    "Truth or dare?" Rhea sat on Elysia''s right side, feeling somewhat interested in the game in question.


    "What kind of game would you like to coborate with, truth or dare, Sylvi?" Of course, Elysia didn''t mind participating, but with terms and conditions.


    "It''s a card game with truth or dares! What do you think?" Sylvia pounded the table with burning enthusiasm.


    "Meh, it''s a boring game. I can win it with no effort." Regulus snorted disdainfully.


    "Hmm, I didn''t invite you to our girls'' game, though? You can y anything like a punishment game with the boys. The loser shall receive punishment from the winner and aren''t allowed to evade it, like a smack or a pinch." Sylvia raised her eyebrows and looked at Beast God skeptically.


    "Hoho?" Regulus suddenly had a brilliant idea for revenge. "Heehee, hahaha! Fine, let''s do this, Sea God! I will beat you with the so-called game of punishment." Regulus defiantlyughed like a maniac.


    "Ha? Why should I ept your challenge? You may be a bit stronger than me, but you can''t inflict anything on me at all." Oceanid folded his arms and smirked.


    "Are you scared, loser? You challenged me on the previous asion but now scared of something like a mortal''s game?" Regulus tried to trigger Oceanid''s irritation.


    "Hm? Hoo, alright then. I shall ept your challenge and beat you with ease." Oceanid nced at Elysia and suddenly had an insight. Everything from her game mainly required brainpower, but this stupid beast was hot-headed and easily swayed by emotions.


    Regulus'' defeat was bound to happen at every turn since the one he was challenging was the cool-headed and calm Oceanid. However, the challenge probably would soon turn into a violent game.