Otaku Witch

Chapter 2055 - 1041: Underworld Guards (2)

The recruiting source for the Imperial Guards is even stricter, targeting only those powerful and loyal ancient witch families, because only the descendants of these ancient families possess enough talent to become the Forbidden Army, and only these bloodlines proven to be loyal are worthy of serving alongside the great Witch King.

Moreover, witches are knowledgeable from birth, with some genius witches even starting to record events while still in the womb. Therefore, the selection of guards truly begins from the womb.

The guardians responsible for recruitment will visit when the fetus’s talent manifests but consciousness has not yet developed, and if the fetus’s talent is deemed acceptable, they will immediately take the mother away, sending her directly to the guardian training camp for professional prenatal education to ensure the future recruit hears of the glory of the Third King from the moment consciousness is born, rather than the honor of the witch families.

Upon the birth of the fetus, they are immediately taken from their mother’s side, and the mother is sent back to her family while the child continues to receive various training at the camp.

Generally speaking, this training continues until the new recruit has etched absolute loyalty to the Third King into their bones and soul. Then, they are allowed a certain amount of freedom, such as visiting family.

Unfortunately, most guardians have no concept of family or kinship; the so-called family visit is even a form of assessment. If the new recruit develops any ties with family or kinship, they are deemed unqualified.

Because loyalty that is not absolute is absolutely disloyal.

A truly qualified Imperial Guard has only the glory of the Third King in their mind; everything else is illusionary.

In short, only those who pass all sorts of tests and ultimately succeed are selected as the true Forbidden Army, and the passing rate is shockingly low.

Merely a fetal candidate with the potential to become part of the Forbidden Army is already a one-in-a-hundred-thousand genius, and even among such geniuses, only about one in ten thousand successfully ascends to the Forbidden Army.

That’s nearly a one-in-a-billion probability, and even in today’s most prosperous era of witches, the total witch population is just 50 billion.

Thus, the number of Imperial Guards is quite scarce, and such high standards mean every guard essentially has the strength of a Peak Witch to start.

Even though the Witch World has been passed down for tens of thousands of years, the total number of Imperial Guards accumulated over the years is reportedly only around 1,000.

Hmm, hence, these Forbidden Army are incredibly precious indeed.

Such a precious Forbidden Army naturally enjoys the highest level of treatment; each Forbidden Army’s equipment, such as magic wands and battle robes, are custom-made exclusive sets by masters, starting from legendary gear, with everything else like magic potions and summons being maxed out. After all, anything that can be solved by spending money is maximized.

Therefore, each member of the Forbidden Army is a premium player among premium players, each one even more formidable than the people of the Golden Country, utterly enviable.

However, while the Forbidden Army may look cool, they are actually rather miserable, as they are rarely allowed to leave the Royal Palace, and their lives are spent serving around the palace, like being imprisoned there.

Even though they possess unparalleled martial prowess, they cannot roam the battlefield and make a name for themselves; even with extravagant equipment, they cannot go outside to receive public admiration; even with astonishing wisdom, they’re only confined within palace walls.

That is the plight of the Imperial Guards.

Of course, these tales about the Imperial Guards are what Dorothy saw online in the Magic Network, so she doesn’t know if they’re true, but she did just see the Underworld Holy Palace’s guards personally.

Hmm, starting from True Pinnacle.

And those fanatical, admiring eyes that looked at her as if worshiping a deity.....

Damn, wouldn’t this girl be my Imperial Guard?

Inspired by this thought, Dorothy felt a toothache.

Based on the introduction of the Imperial Guards, each one is an absolutely loyal fanatic, already brainwashed so that only loyalty remains in their mind. And if the Underworld’s Guards are similar, then this could explain the fervent gazes of those guards when they looked at her before.

Furthermore, real guards only receive brainwashing in training camps, while the Underworld also has the Mechanical Church aiding this....

A combination of fanatic and zealot, that’s hopeless.

But I’m not the Witch King, why would I need Imperial Guards, my dear good sister, aren’t you hinting at something?

Dorothy felt speechless and quietly glanced at Hat Senior Sister overhead, always feeling like her husband committed a crime, after all, this one is the future Fourth King.

Even Senior Sister doesn’t have guards yet, and here she is already obtaining them, what is this all about?

And as their gazes met, the homebody witch saw the sadness and envy in senior Fanny’s eyes, making her feel uneasy.

Alas, good sister, you’re really putting me in a tough spot.

Senior Sister, you have to believe that I absolutely stand with you, I’m absolutely loyal, heaven and earth can witness.

"Senior Sister...."

Dorothy was about to express her loyalty, but Senior Sister was already blocking her mouth with a tentacle.

"Alright, Dorothy, I understand you, and I’m used to it."

Senior Fanny said smiling.

Meanwhile, on the homebody witch’s neck, Yemengade opened its eyes to glance at the two and then closed them again pretending to sleep.

Totaled mouth blocked, Dorothy could only withdraw her tentacle as she closed her mouth, she turned her gaze to the attendant lady in front, oh, should be guard lady.

And from the fact that this guard lady could guard the good sister’s office door instead of the Holy Palace door, it can be seen clearly that even among the guards, this lady is a strong one.

Well, after all, she’s an elite Peak.

A top-tier peak not far from a sage.

Such a powerful entity ought to be renowned, but unfortunately, she is a guardian destined to remain unnamed, let alone being an Underworld Guardian, which makes her doubly invisible.

"Can you tell me your name?"

Dorothy thought it over, then said so.

Upon hearing this, the Specter Witch was initially stunned, her semi-transparent figure trembled for a moment but soon returned to calm. She stood straight, loudly saying her name.

"Deputy Commander of the Underworld Guardians, the Death-Chasing Hound, Robert, salutes you."

"Well, Robert, I remember it. Nice to meet you."

The Homebody Witch nodded and said.

However, hound...

Dorothy glanced at the top and back of the Guard Lady, not seeing any dog ears or tail.

Well, probably just a title, not really a Dog-Witch.

Besides, the Dog-Witch template isn’t exactly a strong one, not really befitting the power of Lady Robert; at least a Werewolf...

Ugh, Werewolf Witch?

Dorothy frowned, recalling her purpose for coming to the Underworld today.

"A powerhouse like you is only a deputy commander? How strong must the actual commander be."

She seemed to speak from her feelings.

To this, Robert bent down and said.

"Apologies, Prime Minister, Lady Cerberus has long been dormant, she probably cannot meet you at the moment."

Dorothy: "..."

Cerberus?

Hellhound? Underworld Gatekeeper? Is it the dog I’m thinking of?

The Homebody Witch’s heart shook.

Well, in this witch world, some names always give her a strange sense of déjà vu, like Nidhogg, Yemengade, and now another Cerberus seems no big deal.

While she was in deep thought, the office door beside her opened, and two figures emerged from it.

One was Dorothy’s familiar good sister, still in white clothes and wearing the Bai Wuchang mask.

And the one beside her...

Ugh, another acquaintance of the Homebody Witch.

A beautiful white-haired girl, though youthful in appearance, the dignified aura and deep eyes spoke of her extraordinary nature.

"Joan."

Dorothy recalled the girl’s name, then realized her identity.

She was once the Underworld’s founder, alongside Lilith, the Red Moon Sage, and one of the oldest sages.

The Eternal Sage—Joan.

The Homebody Witch’s murmur made the girl look up, casting a glance at Dorothy, then revealing a smile on her previously expressionless face.

"Welcome home, Lady Dorothy."

She said.

Dorothy: "..."

Seriously, are you not even pretending?

Others calling me Prime Minister is one thing, but now you directly address me by name.

The Homebody Witch looked speechlessly at her good sister nearby.

While Miss Shepherdess gazed at her with the usual indulgence.

....Sisters facing each other....