The Hero Turned Into A Potato And The World Fell To Ruin Chapter 81: Bootlicker

Three hundred years ago, Swirling Mire City was a bustling trade hub.

"Heh, you know about that, huh?"

Back then, the city was vibrant and lively on the surface, but beneath it, darkness lurked.

"At least it's not as dark as you."

Back then, there was a young Earthwalker. Due to his poor family conditions, he was frequently bullied. Every day, he worked hard, but barely got enough to eat and was never warm enough.

"Poor guy… Is that what you hope I say?"

…

No one pitied him. People thrived in the city's false prosperity, ignoring the filthy young earthwalker begging on the streets.

"Oh… So your hard work was begging?"

…

One day, the young earthwalker accidentally dirtied a merchant's trousers and was dragged into an alley, beaten mercilessly by the merchant's men. The young earthwalker thought he would die, but in his despair, he met a beautiful girl.

A beautiful outsider…

At that time, the young earthwalker didn't know that she was the oracle destined to lead the city to salvation.

"Salvation? Ha, like what you're doing now?"

She saved a young earthwalker! And just like how she saved him, she wanted to save this city!

And this world!

She foresaw a future calamity and urged the people here to plant the sacred tree in preparation for the future.

However, the people didn't understand or believe her. She was just an outsider; they dismissed her words.

Yet, the young earthwalker knew she spoke the truth…

"Maybe it's true from a certain sense. Three hundred years ago, huh? Three hundred years ago, the Sanctum of Arcane Arts was 'completely annihilated.' A ten-thousand-year-old organization was wiped out. Even the founders' 'world salvation magic' was left to an outsider…"

…

I don't know what you are talking about…

"You don't need to. Continue the story, the one you've embellished and altered countless times. The fairy tale in your memory."

…

The girl gave a speech in the bustling square for a whole day, but no one stopped to listen. They mocked her, threw rotten vegetables at her, staining her beautiful dress. Yet, the stains made her seem even more divine.

"Hm, sounds like street evangelism… Keep talking, don't look at me like that, I don't owe you money."

…

You wouldn't understand. Only those who saw it would know how divine she was at that moment. The city, rotting in its wealth, couldn't comprehend her. Only I understood her truth, and she was moved by my sincerity. Though I was just a scrawny beggar, she chose me.

"Who else would she choose? Only you fell for her lies."

…

Just give me a quick death.

"No, that would be too lame. Keep talking. Do you know her name? Don't tell me you worshiped her without knowing her name?"

Her name? Of course I do. Until now, I still remember how holy her name was. She told me herself; she was Patricia, an oracle that could receive divine revelations.

"Patricia… Patricia? Patricius? Oh, him. Ahahah! It's him! Hahahaha, it's actually him, hahahaha…"

？

?!

Why are you laughing?

"I'm laughing at you! Hahaha, you called him a 'girl'? Hahaha! Patricius has lived for thousands of years, usually using male bodies. After his daughter was killed by the Tyrant, he started using young female bodies. Hahaha! Look how he fooled you!"

…

I don't know what you are talking about, but you can't deceive me. She personally showed me the calamitous scenes in her prophecy. Cities crumbling, the earth breaking, people displaced, killing machines everywhere…

"Hm, sounds more like a reflection of a past event rather than a future vision."

No! She told us! That calamity will come to our homeland! If we don't act! We will all definitely die!

"I don't deny that. But it looks like what you did only hastened the process."

No! It's to save the world! She gave us the Sacred Tree! It grants our people eternal life! With enough time, I can cultivate endless soldiers!

"Endless cannon fodder, you mean? Ha, Sacred Tree? No, I remember what it is. Codename 'Sky Crow,' Sanctum of Arcane Arts Experiment 5894.

"Patricius's poor imitation of the Red Moon Demon King, Myza Noravis Quezac. He tried to replicate the spell for an endless army generator within a controllable range.

"But it's a failed imitation, a monstrous creation. The surface roots only consume, and puppet soldiers need to be baited, modified within the canopy's range—a complete failure. And you… Now I see, the Sanctum of Arcane Arts escaped here long ago. You were their little experiment against the Tyrant."

At this point, Nox stood up, gazing down at the priest with contempt.

"Your whole life has been a joke. You've spent it living a lie. And your people… they are dying because of your stupidity."

"No, no, no! It's not a lie!" the black-robed priest howled, blood dribbling out from his mouth and wound. "I don't know what you are talking about! All I know is that she chose me! We are going to save the world together!"

"Together? Ha!" Nox sneered. "Then, tell me, where is that old thing now?"

"She! She's…" the priest stuttered. "She said she would return… At that time, I must show her the best army…"

Nox sighed and muttered, "Truly pathetic…"

"No! No! Don't look at me like that!" the priest got worked up and cried out hoarsely. "At least she chose me! At least she chose me! Only… me…"

With these words, he used up his last bit of strength. His vision grew darker and darker.

In his final moments, just as he was about to enter the darkness, he saw a figure approaching. It was another priest. That gray-robed priest that stayed in Swirling Mire City.