HPxLOTM: A Wizard's Path to Divinity

Lilith sprinted rapidly through the sewers. She had taken this route countless times back when she was playing the role of an assassin, so it was deeply familiar to her.

Those two scoundrels who had snuck into her house in the middle of the night—she had no idea who they were or how powerful they might be. That was exactly why she hadn't run to Audrey's place; she didn't want to drag her into danger.

She was heading for Krismona.

The sewers of Backlund were all interconnected, and since they lacked the complicated twists and turns of surface streets, they were actually shorter in distance for a straight run.

Miss Lilith usually took a carriage and then transferred to the subway—it took around half an hour. But now, running there would take…

"Ugh! I can't calculate it!"

Just as she was fretting over that, a shadow flew from behind and overtook her, then transformed into dozens of ghostly bats that blocked her path before condensing into a human figure.

Lilith immediately screeched to a halt with her four little legs, skidding hard as she turned to flee the other way—only to find the second figure already waiting.

"Ha!!"

Lilith shrank back toward the wall, letting out a low hiss of warning. The assassin potion she had taken made her able to swiftly identify the vital points on their bodies.

Her hind legs coiled tighter and tighter like a spring, and when the two drew close enough, Lilith burst forward like a shadowy missile. Her razor-sharp claws slashed unhesitatingly at one of their eyes and throat.

At the same time, the surrounding darkness and shadows condensed into a phantasmal shackle that seized Lilith mid-air, pinning her down precisely.

"Let me go!!"

Lilith clawed and bit at the illusory shackle with all her might, but as a mere Sequence 8, she stood no chance against two Sequence 5 vampire viscounts. Her efforts were futile.

At that moment, the high-nosed Ernes blinked forward, grabbed Lilith by the scruff of her neck, and lifted her up. Turning to the other man, he said, "Got her, Arlde." He frowned slightly. "Can you stop fussing over your damned suit? Lord Nibbs's orders should take priority."

Arlde snorted. "I told you, this is a custom piece! I waited nearly six months for it!"

Lilith's eyes turned as she shouted, "That high-nosed one's trying to dirty and ruin your outfit on purpose—because he's jealous you're better looking than him!"

Arlde frowned and looked over. "Really?"

Ernes cracked his knuckles. "How did you even become a viscount? Can't you tell she's trying to instigate you?"

"I…My father died, and I inherited his viscount Beyonder characteristic. I didn't even want it—I'd have been fine staying a baron, no need to run errands like this all the time."

Ernes's mouth twitched. Is there no one normal among our younger generation of vampires? One's into dolls, one's obsessed with suits, another can't stop bragging about his marquis grandfather…

"Let's go!"

His figure once again scattered into dozens of ghostly bats. Carrying the bound Lilith, they flew swiftly through the sewers, then emerged from the nearest exit, heading straight for the Odora Villa in the West Borough.

——

Over ten minutes later, a timeworn villa came into view. Bathed in crimson moonlight, it looked eerily sinister—normal people would instinctively avoid the place at night, even if they didn't know vampires lived there.

Cosmi was already waiting at the front gate. When he saw Ernes approaching with the still-struggling Lilith, a faint smile crossed his face. "Grandfather has been expecting you."

He turned and led the way inside, heading toward a staircase on the second floor. Ernes and the slightly delayed Arlde hurried to follow.

After descending into the basement, they passed through several hidden doors and entered a wide, grey hall. At its centre rested a heavy coffin that looked forged from black iron, etched with countless arcane symbols and magical seals.

Even Arlde lowered his head and grew solemn—because the one lying inside was a mighty vampire who had once roamed the Fourth Epoch. Time, however, had decayed his vitality to the point that he could only sleep for ages in his cold coffin.

"Put her down. All of you, leave," came a voice, old and deep, from within the coffin.

Ernes placed Lilith onto a table that had been prepared in advance, then turned and left without hesitation. Arlde quickly followed.

"You too, Cosmi."

"Huh?"

Cosmi was momentarily stunned. He glanced at the black cat, still full of questions: After learning that Emlyn had once again sought out Ernes, Grandfather had abruptly issued an order to find a black cat, even granting him a Sealed Artifact to do it.

Why search for a cat? No clue.

What was the cat for? Still no idea.

Did it have anything to do with Emlyn? Completely unknown.

Cosmi had merely acted as the messenger from beginning to end.

But he couldn't defy his grandfather's orders. So, reluctantly, he nodded and turned to leave.

Soon, only the coffin and the black cat remained in the hall. If Klein were here, he might think someone was trying to conduct another spooky occult ritual.

The abyssal shackles binding Lilith vanished. She immediately dashed toward the door.

Bang!

The door shut a moment before she reached it. She slashed at it with her claws, but they didn't leave so much as a scratch. She whirled and began darting around the room, looking for another way out.

Lying inside the coffin, Nibbs frowned. The Ancestor gave me a vision of a cat, but said nothing more. Now that I've captured it…what am I supposed to do with it?

"Ancestor, I have followed "Your" divine revelation and brought this cat back. Please bestow "Your" next command upon me."

Since vampires were forbidden from praying to the Moon, they no longer used any of the old moon-related liturgies. Only a few demigods could invoke the Ancestor's name and receive divine inspiration.

Lilith, who was still darting around the hall, froze in place when she heard that.

"Why are you calling for Miss Lilith?" she demanded.

Nibbs was stunned. "What did you say?"

Lilith glared at the coffin. "Aren't you calling for Lilith? That's me! I'm Lilith!"

"…???"

For a moment, Nibbs was dumbfounded. Then realisation struck: "Your name is Lilith?"

So—was she the vessel chosen by the Ancestor for divine descent? Yes, that made perfect sense!

Something major must be coming. That's why the Ancestor had suddenly chosen to descend. Though he didn't quite understand why a cat would be chosen as the vessel, it was only natural to be unable to comprehend divine will—that was the essence of faith.

If the Ancestor was about to descend, could the rise of the vampires be far behind? Wouldn't his chance to break through to Duke-level rise dramatically? Could he finally escape this damned coffin?

He quickly made his decision. From now on, he would treat this cat to the best food and care, and await the Ancestor's descent.

Just then, a beam of crimson moonlight seemed to pierce through the heavy coffin lid and shine directly onto Nibbs's decaying body.

He immediately understood—this was the Ancestor's response. He closed his eyes reverently.

And then—

"Immediately. Send the cat away. Now."

The divine command echoed in Nibbs's mind, and he froze in shock.

So…all of that?

Completely wrong?!

——

Meanwhile, at the Harvest Church in South Bridge District.

A woman in a plain black long dress, not particularly striking in appearance, walked into the church.

Neither Father Utravsky, who was engrossed in a thick tome of doctrine, nor Emlyn, dozing off while polishing furniture, noticed someone silently pass before their eyes and head straight toward the Holy Radiance of Life—symbol of the Earth Mother.

"Revered Mother Goddess."

Krismona clasped her hands together, her expression devout as she softly spoke before the enormous glowing sigil of life. "Your people have taken ours."

After a long silence, Krismona added, "Mother said "You" would give us an explanation. Will "You"?"

Again, the air remained still.

A gentle, serene voice echoed in her mind.

"Wasn't it she who severed her descendant's prayer to me first and deliberately projected the image of that cat?"

Krismona smiled slightly. "You know Mother didn't intentionally cut off the prayer. And afterward, "You" didn't send any new revelation to correct it—did "You"?"

The voice paused briefly.

"Go back and tell her—I will help her this once."

Krismona bowed deeply in thanks:

"Thank You, Great Earth Mother.

Thank You, Source of All Life.

Praise You, Mother of All Things."

She turned and slowly walked out of the Harvest Church.

A while later, a soft, helpless sigh echoed through the empty hall.

Father Utravsky seemed to hear something. He turned to glance at the Holy Radiance, then solemnly tapped his chest in a few specific places, drawing a devout symbol of the divine glow.

———

Outside the Odora Manor.

Lilith had a giant question mark over her head.

Ernes had a giant question mark.

Even Cosmi's face was one big question mark.

Only Arlde remained focused on his custom-tailored suit, wondering how to get rid of the awful sewer stench clinging to it.

"We're just…sending it back?" Ernes asked again, trying to confirm.

Cosmi was clearly irritated. He knew just as little as the rest of them.

Just then, Arlde pointed ahead and reminded, "Just so you know…that cat already ran off."

"???"

The two turned simultaneously, only to catch sight of Lilith sneakily slipping back into the sewer.

"Uh…should we go after her?"

"Well, we were supposed to send her back anyway. If she ran off, let her go."

"Fine, then I'm heading home."

Arlde gave a half-hearted wave, then turned into a cluster of illusory bats and flew off into the distance. Ernes also nodded to Cosmi before vanishing into the shadows.

Back in the sewer, Lilith sprinted at full speed, taking every fork and tunnel she could without the slightest concern for direction. She didn't know how long she'd been running, but eventually realised those two bastards hadn't chased her.

They must've lost track of Lilith the Great!

"Heehee, two big idiots!"

Slowing down at last, she emerged from a nearby exit back onto the street. She shook herself off to rid her fur of dust and dirt—though the filthier, wetter stains wouldn't budge.

Resolute, she swore silently: The next spell I learn must be a Cleaning Charm!

She rolled across the dry, dead grass of a roadside flowerbed, trying to scrub off as much grime as possible.

Suddenly, the manhole nearby clanked open, and a girl with long moss-green hair climbed out. She immediately spotted Lilith rolling in the grass. "Oh? A little kitty."

Lilith blinked and gave a soft, pitiful "meow~."

The girl carefully replaced the manhole cover, then approached and squatted beside her. "Poor thing. Did you get lost? Or were you abandoned?"

Her eyes landed on the bow-tied pendant around Lilith's neck. "Oh, poor kitty, you must've gotten lost. Let's go home first. I'll help you find your owner later, okay?"

Lilith hesitated, then decided: I'll lie low somewhere safe until Edward finds me. Plus, I can finally get a proper bath!

"Meow~"

She put on her most pitiful, helpless act and rubbed up against the girl's legs. The girl didn't mind her grime at all—she gently scooped her up and walked toward a nearby courtyard.

Just then, she paused as if hearing something, and turned around to walk back to the manhole. She pulled it open and climbed down again—still holding Lilith.

"Meow?"

Lilith mewed in confusion. Something felt wrong. She tried wriggling out of the girl's grip, only to find that her arms had suddenly become unusually strong. Lilith couldn't break free.

"I'll bite you!"

With a sharp snap, Lilith bit down hard on her captor's hand. The intense pain made the girl's eyes flicker, her expression clearing up as if snapping back to awareness.

"Huh? Why am I down here again?"

Then she saw the fresh bite wound on her hand. "Why did you bite me?"

Lilith seized the moment to leap from her grasp. Too weird! This place is creepy! I need to get out of here—now!!

Suddenly, she froze in place—her whole body stiffening.

Something…some other consciousness was trying to force its way into her mind.

———

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