Hero? Are You Worthy?

Antasia's parents, Osvid and Heidi, along with Atreus, Helois, and Iyeta, had been waiting anxiously for a long time.

They could only sense the waves of fluctuations coming from deep within the glacier but had no idea what was happening over there.

Osvid and Heidi were worried about their daughter and son-in-law, while Helois and Iyeta were concerned about their master. They were eager to rush in, but Great Shaye had specifically instructed them before leaving to stay put and not to act rashly, no matter what happened.

At this moment, when Qin Chu returned, they finally breathed a sigh of relief, especially Helois and Iyeta, the two monster girls, whose faces instantly flushed with a touch of red.

Qin Chu could feel that their joy was undoubtedly genuine and heartfelt.

Osvid and Heidi were still worried about Antasia. After learning from Qin Chu's words that Antasia was injured but recuperating inside the World Tree, they felt slightly relieved. Although they didn't fully understand what the World Tree was, since it was described by the Hero, it must be reliable, and the name World Tree itself sounded extraordinary.

When Qin Chu informed them that the threat deep within the glacier had been eliminated, and the Ice Duchy would no longer be plagued by the abnormal cold, the two felt an even greater sense of relief, as the heavy burden that had weighed on their shoulders was finally lifted.

Qin Chu didn't linger long in the Ice Duchy. After declining Osvid and Heidi's invitation, he returned to the Oville Empire.

The hero's palace was luxurious and quiet.

Only Silf and Carol were staying behind in the palace.

Upon seeing Qin Chu, Nadia, Helois, Iyeta, and Atreus appear, the two women immediately displayed expressions of excitement and joy—clearly, they had been very worried about Qin Chu during his absence.

After all, although Qin Chu would occasionally disappear, he had never been out of contact for such an extended period like this.

Moreover, it seemed that Mr. Brave had become even more charming after his reappearance.

And once again, he inexplicably brought back another mysterious lady... It was almost becoming a habit for Qin Chu. Even with many people around, women seemed to follow him in increasing numbers.

Looking at Carol, Qin Chu's expression turned a bit unusual. The news of Wozworth's death had to be relayed to Carol, but how to break the news was truly a dilemma.

And the strange look in Qin Chu's eyes clearly made Carol feel that something was off. This seemingly carefree, even slightly crazy girl had sharply sensed that something was not right.

"Qin Chu..." Carol lightly bit her lip. She had always addressed him as Mr. Brave or Mr. Qin, until later agreeing reluctantly to use his name at Qin Chu's request.

"Has something happened?"

"You all felt it, right? Something unusual occurred among the glaciers in the Extreme North," Qin Chu chose his words carefully.

Silf and Carol both nodded. They didn't know the details but understood something very grave must have happened there, as the tremors had spread even to the Empire, although not as exaggeratedly as in the Ice Duchy.

But the fact that the impact reached the Empire, thousands of miles from the glacier, was unimaginable even for one as powerful as Silf, and certainly beyond what even the First Generation Brave could accomplish.

"In the Void, an Evil God descended upon this world."

Sssss.

No one doubted Qin Chu was lying. Upon hearing from Qin Chu's mouth about an Evil God descending on the Sky Dome Continent, Carol and Silf gasped, their faces full of shock.

"The descended Evil God is an old acquaintance, the one worshipped by the Blissful Witch Association, the Lord of Pleasure, who once corrupted the Elder Prince Lance."

"Carol, your father appeared on the battlefield."

Carol's face suddenly turned pale.

This smart girl had already vaguely realized what had occurred.

"He was a hero," Qin Chu sighed and said.

Carol's body wobbled slightly, but she quickly steadied herself, taking a deep breath to forcefully suppress the pain and sorrow within her chest.

At this moment, this Princess demonstrated unimaginable strength: "What about the Evil God?"

"Killed."

"Did my father die in combat with the Evil God?"

"Yes."

"Then that's good." Carol's face blossomed with a slight smile, though her small hands instinctively clenched tightly: "I know, I know my father made too many mistakes in his life, especially in recent times. To die battling against an Evil God, to die in a war to protect the Sky Dome Continent, that is his final dignity. I shouldn't be sad, I should be proud of him."

"Did my father leave any last words?"

"Underneath his sleeping chamber lies an arm of the Evil God, along with the Fighting Energy and the Benghuai Three Fists inheritance manuals of the Royal Family," Qin Chu did not hide anything: "Don't go near the Evil God's arm; it's too dangerous for you. I'll retrieve the Fighting Energy and Benghuai Three Fists for you."

The Fighting Energy and Benghuai Three Fists were skills reserved only for the heir to the throne, but Carol was clearly uninterested in these.

"Did he say who he wanted to inherit the throne?" Carol softly asked.

Qin Chu shook his head: "No, he seemed not to wish for his children to be caught in power struggles. The role of Emperor is not an easy one."

"I see, thank you for bringing me this news." Carol gracefully bowed to Qin Chu: "I might be quite busy in the coming days, needing to handle some affairs in the Imperial Palace."

Carol seemed not too deeply affected and, after standing up, walked toward the door.

Just as Carol's figure reached the doorway, Qin Chu's voice once again called out from behind: "By the way, Carol, Wozworth entrusted me with one more thing."

"Oh, what is it?" Carol did not turn back but halted her steps.

"He asked me to protect you."

"Is that so?" Carol seemed to hear something amusing: "That doesn't sound like something my father would say at all."

"In any case, as long as I'm in this world, I won't let anyone bully you."

"The Imperial Palace may have been destroyed, but the hero's palace will always have a room for you."

"Thank you so much." Carol chuckled softly, covering her mouth before finally stepping out of the room.

Upon leaving the palace and reaching the outside, with no one else around, Carol could no longer hold back. She hugged her shoulders tightly, under the bright sunlight, yet she felt a bone-chilling coldness.

Her petite, slender body trembled uncontrollably, squatting in the corner.

Two lines of tears flowed down her pale cheeks, dropping onto the floor and shattering like pearls.

She had known for a long time what fate awaited her father, had known all along.

But only upon hearing it all from Qin Chu's mouth did Carol realize how painful it truly was, as if a part of her heart had been carved out.

She couldn't cry.

As a princess, she could not lose the composure and decorum befitting her station.

These were the teachings her father had instilled in her, though Carol had never truly taken them to heart.

She didn't want to cry, didn't want anyone to see her at her lowest.

She had never properly called him 'father,' had secretly, even defiantly wished he would just go away... so she could be the first Empress of the Oville Empire.

But now, with her father truly gone, Carol realized just how much it hurt.

She knew her father was by no means a good man, but no matter what, he was still her father.

"Ahhhhhhh..."

Finally, this Princess could no longer hold back, her agonizing cries, like the wailing of a cuckoo bird!