The Hero Turned Into A Potato And The World Fell To Ruin

In the shed just before the mine's entrance, Yaine examined the seed that Mervant had obtained. Outside, the rescued earthwalker children gathered, peering curiously into the shack.

By the outdoor stove, Calidora and Guoguo were preparing food, while Mervant helped chop up firewood. Girunini and Osar ventured into the mine, intending to scout out the area.

As for Liu Ji…

He was slumped on one side of the table, staring blankly at the seed.

Yaine had told him that this seed might be related to those monsters in the swamp. Since then, Liu Ji had been thinking that while those black monsters were disgusting, this seed actually didn't seem that bad.

Well… Too bad Yaine probably wouldn't let him eat it.

About an hour later, the food was ready. After serving the children, Calidora brought portions for Liu Ji and Yaine.

Food supplies here were scarce, limited to some millet-like grain and dried vegetables. Fortunately, their party had some provisions left, so meat could still be added to the grains and vegetables to make porridge, which smelled quite appetizing.

At least the young earthwalkers outside seemed to enjoy it.

Liu Ji took the porridge and thanked Calidora. He then glanced at Yaine, worried the latter might forget to eat while engrossed in researching.

However, he soon realized he needn't have worried. Yaine simply chanted an incantation, and a portion of the porridge floated up and hovered near her mouth. Yaine then took bites for it without taking her eyes off her magic array in front of her.

In fact, she finished her meal before Liu Ji did, who still had half a bowl left when she was done.

Not too long after the meal, Osar and Girunini returned, carrying some crystal shards in their hands. While the tavern boss said that he didn't charge for food and drink, it was still handy to have some local currency.

After finishing the porridge being kept warm in the pot for them, the two also joined the others in the shack.

The group, along with the bunch of earthwalker children, gathered around Yaine, waiting for the results of her study.

The waiting took another two hours. Just as everyone was starting to nod off, the array in front of Yaine finally dissipated.

"What's the result?" Mervant asked eagerly.

"It's strange," Yaine said, frowning. "It's indeed similar to those swamp monsters, but not the same. Without a specimen of those monsters, I can't make a direct comparison."

"Did you find anything useful, though?" Osar asked.

"Yes. It's really peculiar." Yaine nodded. "While I'm not a hundred percent certain, I did sense a link between this seed and something else, but the direction…"

As she said that, Yaine held out two index fingers, one pointing up, the other down, which left everyone puzzled.

"What does that mean? A link to both above and below?" Mervant asked.

"Yes." Yaine nodded. "Either it's connected to two different things in those directions or…"

Swallowing nervously, Yaine finished what she was trying to say, "Or, I'm afraid we might be in the 'belly' of something."

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In the city church, a middle-aged earthwalker in gray robes was conducting the daily "Holy Communion."

The "Communion" was simple: a piece of "sacramental bread" and a cup of a "nectar," which were just a round piece of bread and water.

Many people queued up, with the majority being children and a few elderly. The robed earthwalker smiled warmly as he personally handed out the bread and water to each person.

A child fumbled and dropped his bread. Seeing this, the robed earthwalker smiled, picked the bread up, and gently pushed the dirt-covered bread into the child's mouth.

The crowd applauded, and the child, with tears in his eyes, gratefully ate the bread.

The robed earthwalker bowed humbly and continued with the "Holy Communion."

A few minutes later, yet another accident occurred. An elderly earthwalker accidentally spilled some water due to his hand trembling. The old earthwalker felt distressed about the spilled water and gazed helplessly at the robed priest.

Seeing this, the latter smiled reassuringly and walked over. Using the cup in his hand, he scooped up the wet soil, then gently pried open the elder's mouth and poured the muddy water in.

The elderly earthwalker was moved to tears, while the crowd cheered; some praised loudly, while others knelt in reverence and wept with gratitude.

The robed priest continued to calm the crowd before returning to the stage and carrying on with the "Communion."

Similar scenes like this occurred several times, making the ceremony rather lively.

Eventually, after slightly more than two hours, everyone had received their "Communion" and left contentedly, awaiting the next distribution.

The robed earthwalker rubbed his sore shoulders and returned back inside the church.

In the hall of the church stood a tall statue of a beautiful maiden. Made of pale yellow crystal, it emitted a faint glow.

The robed earthwalker prayed silently before the statue for several minutes before going around it and heading to the back of the church.

As he opened the back door, the light from behind the door briefly illuminated the gloomy church, revealing the scene behind the maiden statue.

It was another statue—spikes, tendrils, chaos, sacrifices, growths—a grotesque amalgamation covering the walls and ceiling.

Nobody would be able to describe what exactly this huge thing was…

Just that this haphazard statue in the darkness and the beautiful maiden seemed both discordant yet harmonious.

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Back at the tavern, the group had entrusted the earthwalker children to the owner.

They couldn't take care of this bunch of earthwalker children forever, and if the church couldn't be trusted, they could only hand them to the tavern owner…

Although as long as the kids were in the city, they still wouldn't be able to escape the church's influence.

"So, what do we do next?" Guoguo asked, glancing at the children leaning against the tavern windows and peeking out at them. "If we leave them here, who knows what will happen to them…"

"Guoguo, we're fugitives ourselves." Yaine sighed. "The problems of this city aren't something we can solve."

"I know," Guoguo said sadly. "It's just… these kids have been through so much. They're so well-behaved… I'm sorry, I know we can't do much. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's alright. We all feel the same." Yaine patted Guoguo's shoulder. "But we have other matters to attend to now."

She turned around, her expression serious. "Let's go see what's really happening at the so-called front lines."