NOVEL WEB chapter 104
Chapter 29, Butterfly (Ten Thousand Words)
“Hiss—where is this?”
Accompanied by the lingering sharp pain in his body, Mu En gradually awakened from his unconsciousness, finding himself lying in an unfamiliar room.
Before he could take a good look at his surroundings, an old face that looked like a smiling chrysanthemum suddenly popped into his line of sight.
“What the hell, who is that?” Mu En almost had a heart attack from the shock of that old face, but quickly realized, “You are… Professor Gran?”
“Oh, Mu En, you finally woke up.”
Professor Gran stared at Mu En, smiling brightly… and oddly:
“Congratulations, the surgery was very successful, and you’re now a beautiful young lady.”
“What?”
Mu En was taken aback.
His expression changed drastically.
Could it be that the one with the crown was so powerful that with just a single gesture, he changed my gender?
No way!
Mu En hurriedly lifted the blanket covering him… and looked down.
He couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness… still there.
Hmm? Still there?
Mu En immediately raised his head and looked at Professor Gran angrily:
“Professor Gran, please don’t make such jokes, okay?”
“Eh?”
Professor Gran stroked his chin, puzzled:
“Isn’t this the kind of joke that young people love to make?”
“How is that possible? That’s a really scary joke, okay!”
“It seems I’m a bit out of touch with the times.” Professor Glen sighed, then became thoughtful: “But… scary? Although this joke isn’t very good, it can’t really be called scary, can it?
You’re so sensitive, Mu’en. Could it be… you’ve experienced something like this?”
“Nonsense.”
Mu’en subtly averted his gaze: “No, absolutely not. Such ridiculous things, just thinking about them is impossible, right?”
“True, perhaps I’m overthinking it.”
Professor Glen’s expression became more serious as he asked:
“Enough of that, how are you feeling? Your body is alright, right?”
“I… feel much better.”
Mu’en took stock of his body and found that aside from some pain, his injuries inside and out had mostly healed.
But for injuries to heal this fast…
“Eh, could it be…”
“That’s right, I’ve healed your injuries.”
“Then the one who saved me before…”
“Did you forget? It was also me.”
Professor Glen snapped his fingers and said:
“That time was really a close call. If I hadn’t risked my life to save you, Mu’en, you would have probably been turned into mush.”
“Is that so…”
Mu’en let out a gentle breath; the feeling of having escaped death left him with mixed emotions. He thanked Professor Glen:
“Thank you, Professor Glen.”
“Ah, no need to be polite. It’s the teacher’s duty to save students, isn’t it?”
Professor Glen patted Mu’en on the back, encouraging him to sit up straight:
“For me, this is just a trivial matter.”
“It may be a trivial matter for you, Professor Glen, but you truly saved me, so I will definitely repay this kindness.”
“Is that so?”
Professor Glen suddenly revealed a strange smile, as if to say, “Finally, you’re saying that”:
“Then, how fortunate, Mu’en. I have an opportunity for you to repay me right away.”
Huh?
What a coincidence?
Mu’en shivered; his heightened sense of crisis, evolved from multiple past traumas, was buzzing continuously.
This is…
An arranged atmosphere!
“Actually, the way I mentioned to repay is with money.”
Mu En rested his chin on his crossed arms, speaking earnestly:
“One million or two million, Professor Gran, just name a figure, the Duke’s residence will definitely satisfy you. Of course, if you don’t want money, treasures and riches are also acceptable.”
“As expected of the Duke’s son, quite extravagant, but I’m sorry, I’m not short on money right now.”
“Then come find me when Professor Gran is in need of money; I have something to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait.”
Gran grabbed Mu En’s shoulder, leaning in with a pained expression:
“Mu En, the teacher risked his life to save you, and you’re just leaving like this?”
“But…”
Mu En’s lips twitched: “Didn’t you just say that was a trivial matter for you, Professor Gran?”
“The teacher was just being polite, why did you take it seriously, Mu En?”
Professor Gran released his grip, revealing a meaningful smile:
“Of course, if you insist on doing this, I won’t stop you. It’s just that tomorrow’s headline in the academy news might be about the infamous Mu En Campbell, who once again forgot his gratitude, abandoning the teacher who risked his life for him in the sunset, turning away coldly, leaving the teacher to wallow in sorrow and wash his face with tears, ultimately…”
“Stop, stop, stop!”
Mu En interrupted Professor Gran, horrified:
“Where did this ultimate male teacher-student relationship turn into a scumbag narrative come from? And what’s with the sunset? This wretched place can’t even see the moon, alright?”
“So…”
Professor Gran grinned, his smile kind, but that seemingly harmless smile made Mu En feel a chill down his spine:
“Mu En, you wouldn’t want your reputation to suffer again, would you?”
“…”
The atmosphere fell into a brief silence.
Professor Gran leisurely enjoyed watching Mu En struggle.
“How despicable, Professor Gran.”
Mu En gritted his teeth:
“Speak, what is it?”
“Nothing much, Mu En, you don’t need to be so tense, making me feel like one of those strange creatures called Minotaurs.”
Professor Gran, like an old friend, put his arm around Mu En’s shoulder and, after a moment of thought, said:
“Actually, I have a niece.”
“Niecel?”
“Yes, that’s right, my niece. She’s a bit of a late riser.”
“Late riser?” Mu En was increasingly puzzled:
“But what does that have to do with me?”
“Of course it does! Because she likes to sleep in, it just so happens that she needs a sunny, handsome, blonde big brother to wake her up.”
“So…”
Mu En was taken aback:
“You went through all this trouble just to have me wake your niece?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Professor Gran nodded: “That’s about it. It’s just that my niece can be a bit grumpy in the morning, but you don’t need to worry, Mu En.”
“You’re making me more worried, okay!”
After all this effort to rope me in, it can’t just be something as simple as a niece.
It couldn’t be…
Mu En stroked his chin, serious:
“Your niece is actually a temperamental, easily angered, mountain silverback gorilla that tears apart scumbags, right?”
“…”
Professor Gran’s face visibly twitched:
“Mu En’s imagination is truly rich, but she is not a gorilla.”
“That ‘she’? You just referred to her as ‘that,’ right? Who calls their own niece ‘that’?”
“Ahem, in any case, time is of the essence. Let’s talk as we walk.”
“Wait, I haven’t even put on any clothes! Let me find something to wear.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.”
Professor Gran wore a knowing smile, snapped his fingers, and, as if by magic, Mu En found himself dressed in a fitted suit.
Looking at Professor Gran’s clear and confident smile, Mu En felt a chill of frustration; when would he ever get to stand up for himself?
But he had no choice, only to be swept along by Professor Gran into the unknown.
…
A few minutes later, somewhere in the depths of the academy.
Staring at the heavy, imposing metal door in front of him, which made him feel insignificantly small, Mu En was completely dumbfounded.
“Professor Gran… your niece… lives in a vault?”
“Vault?”
Professor Gran sneered dismissively, “This door is made from dozens of rare metals, hundreds of magical arrays, and countless artisans have poured their heart and soul into its creation. It can withstand an invasion by an evil god for quite some time. Even the most secure vault in Belrand can’t compare to a single hair from it.”
“Can withstand an invasion by an evil god…”
The corner of Mu En’s eye twitched violently.
In his memory, it seemed that only the Life Church’s Holy Realm of Life could achieve such a feat.
And this door was made so solidly…
“Could it be that what’s inside isn’t your niece at all, but some kind of secret weapon of the academy?” Mu En speculated.
Professor Gran paused for a moment, then immediately revealed a “naive and innocent” smile:
“What secret weapon? You’ve been reading too many storybooks, kid. How could a place like the academy, which promotes peaceful learning for students, possibly have something as violent as a secret weapon?”
“Absolutely it is! Your eyes just shifted!”
“Young people shouldn’t be so suspicious; it’s easy to discover that the color of the hat you’re wearing doesn’t quite match.”
Professor Gran stepped forward and embedded a glistening gem into the groove at the bottom of the grand door.
Seventeen gems had already been set into the precision instrument that resembled a compass.
“Claiming you didn’t want to come, yet your movements are quite swift,” Professor Gran raised an eyebrow as he looked at the gems.
Then, twisting his wrist, the gem emitted a soft glow.
A rumbling sound erupted.
The massive mechanisms unfolded layer by layer, accompanied by a tremor like falling boulders, as the grand door slowly opened, revealing the profound darkness within.
Standing at the entrance, Professor Gran crossed his arms and looked at Mu En:
“Are you going or not, kid? Give me a clear answer. While I’d love for you to go, as a professor, I wouldn’t force a student to do something they don’t want to.”
“I… will go.”
After a brief hesitation, Mu En exhaled deeply, as if trying to squeeze all the air from his lungs.
“Ha.”
Professor Gran chuckled, “I thought you would refuse.”
“I wanted to refuse… I just suddenly remembered something.” Mu En replied.
At that time.
Due to the difficulty of connecting the written description with the actual scene, combined with the different manner of appearance and the urgency of the situation, Mu En hadn’t thought much of it then.
But once he calmed down, many overlooked details began to surface in his mind.
That crowned figure…
Mu En raised his head and looked at Professor Gran, asking earnestly:
“Professor Gran, that crowned figure who attacked me earlier, was she the Holy Maiden of Purity from the Life Church?”
“Oh? You actually know her?”
Professor Gran raised an eyebrow in surprise: “That saintess has been missing for twenty years. I thought no young people would recognize her. What, do you have a hobby of collecting those fake saintess photographs like Dean Pink Bear?”
“No, of course I don’t know her…”
It’s just that I know the plot of the original book.
In the original story, the Pure Instrument Saintess, manipulated by the God of Love, had once invaded the academy.
At that time, it seemed that He had already amassed enough power, so there were no appearances from the male cultists who were merely acting as sacrifices.
In the plot of the original book, there was only the Pure Instrument Saintess, but the invasion of such a crown-level powerhouse without any warning was even more terrifying, as no one could predict her actions.
And the purpose of the God of Love’s invasion of the academy was—
To hunt down Ariel.
That’s right, in the original book, as the protagonist, Ariel had undoubtedly provoked the God of Love, the most active evil deity in the early stages, directly causing His cult in Belrand to be largely uprooted.
Thus, in His fury, the God of Love manipulated the Pure Instrument Saintess to invade the academy and pursue Ariel.
And as the protagonist, Ariel naturally couldn’t fall so easily; with her various external aids, combined with her own strength and the attributes of an unkillable cockroach, she managed to hold on until Professor Plang arrived with the great protective ritual.
After that incident, Ariel also turned misfortune into fortune, successfully stepping into a higher realm.
It could be said to be a very conventional protagonist power-up event, but the only problem was…
It happened too early.
This event was supposed to occur at the end of this academic year; after all, according to the timeline, Ariel at this point hadn’t had much contact with that God of Love, let alone incurred His wrath.
And if we’re talking about the recent invasion, it should be the Blood Demon incident a month later; there was no way for the God of Love to take the stage so soon.
So, the reason for all this…
“Could it only be my variable?”
Mu En couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed that he had provoked that God of Love, leading to His early invasion.
But…
What Mu En still couldn’t understand was…
At that time, the God of Love didn’t seem to come purely to kill him.
His attack on him was merely incidental; He clearly had other motives.
Otherwise, at such a close distance, if a crown-level being were to strike with full force, unless the deity’s true form descended, no one could be saved.
“So, just because I, this little butterfly, flapped my wings, a storm of this magnitude brewed?”
Suddenly, the Pink Bear, who had emerged as the acting dean.
An invasion by the God of Love that was a whole year ahead of schedule.
It seemed that merely because Mu En, the yellow-haired villain who was supposed to exit the story a month ago, was still active in the narrative, all the plots had been thrown into disarray.
Although Mu En wanted to shout, “I just want to live happily; what’s wrong with that?”
“But it ultimately has something to do with me, doesn’t it?”
As her thoughts came to an end, Mu En looked at Professor Gellan and asked earnestly:
“If I go in and awaken the academy’s secret weapon, will it ensure the success of this incident?”
“Of course…”
At this point, Gellan was too lazy to play dumb anymore:
“But I advise you not to use the term ‘secret weapon’; that person would get angry.”
So your niece’s wording is fine then?
Mu En couldn’t help but mutter.
However, since she had received such an answer, there was no longer any reason to hesitate.
Mu En gradually walked towards the open darkness of the large door.
“Wait.”
Just as she was about to step in, Mu En suddenly remembered something, stopped, and turned back to ask in confusion:
“By the way, can’t Professor Plang resolve this incident?”
After all, in the original book, the invasion of the God of Love was resolved by Professor Plang with the protection of the Great Instrument.
Mu En recalled that the saintess was also Professor Plang’s student, and their meeting was quite tragic.
But in any case, merely the invasion of the God of Love did not seem to warrant the academy’s deployment of a secret weapon that even Mu En was unaware of, which meant it couldn’t be the kind of secret weapon that should appear in the early to mid-stage.
“Hmm? You don’t know?”
“What do I know?”
“Ah, right, you fainted back then, so you didn’t see.”
“So…”
“If it were just that saintess controlled by the God of Love, the old man Plang would certainly be enough, but the problem is…”
Professor Gellan sighed:
“There’s another evil god, the one who holds the authority of the night, the Moon.”
“I see, so that Moon has also arrived.”
Mu En nodded and continued to move forward.
But just after taking a step, she froze.
“Eh? Wait, that Moon?”
Among the evil gods, the one referred to as the Moon must be the Silent Moon.
As an evil god, it was natural for them to come out and make their presence known.
The problem is…
In all the plots that Mu En knew of,
that Silent Moon had never invaded the academy!
It was a malevolent god that only appeared in the mid-stages,
and by that time, the academy arc had long since concluded!
Why?
Is it because of me again?
But I never remembered having any connection with that Silent Moon.
A butterfly flapping its wings can stir up a storm,
but no matter how it flaps,
even if it wears its wings down to the bone,
it cannot possibly cause a volcanic eruption that has nothing to do with it.
“Professor Gran, please be more detailed about this matter…”
Mu En suddenly turned around, anxious to inquire about what had just happened.
But as soon as he turned, his expression stiffened,
for he saw a shoe sole gradually enlarging in his line of sight.
“If you’re going in, then hurry up and get in!”
Professor Gran kicked Mu En in the backside, roaring impatiently:
“If you keep babbling like this, that old fool Prang is going to get himself killed!”
……
……
“Ouch!”
Behind that great door, in the darkness,
was not flat ground, but a not-so-low, uneven platform.
So after being kicked by Professor Gran,
Mu En fell without surprise, landing face-first.
Pain shot through both sides simultaneously,
and for a moment, Mu En didn’t know whether to rub his backside or his face first.
But fortunately, the ground was softer than he had imagined,
so Mu En wasn’t too worried about his handsome face getting marred.
“Damn Professor Gran, at least let me prepare a bit.”
Mu En cursed inwardly, but he knew that time was indeed very tight.
Because no one knew how long Professor Prang could hold out
against the attacks of the two malevolent gods.
“The answers to those questions can wait for later; for now, focus on what’s in front of you.”
“This place is…”
Mu En lifted his head, ready to survey his surroundings.
Then, he was momentarily stunned by the breathtaking scene before him.
Flowers.
Countless flowers.
A myriad of vibrant blooms,
spreading out like a brilliant sea,
extending to the horizon, a sight too beautiful to behold.
—
And above that horizon, even the darkness that had fallen from Mu En’s head was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by a clear, azure sky.
A gust of wind blew in, carrying the fragrant scent of flowers and warm air, causing every pore of Mu En to involuntarily open wide, a comfort so incredible it was almost surreal.
It felt as if he had crossed into a world where only beauty remained.
“This is… the place where the academy’s secret weapon resides? How beautiful.”
Mu En was momentarily stunned, then instinctively began to walk forward.
He wasn’t afraid of losing his way in the endless sea of flowers, for all the blossoms leaned gently in the same direction, their petals slightly drooping.
It was as if they were all making a pilgrimage toward some existence, or perhaps drawn by something unseen.
Before long, Mu En found himself at the center of the flower sea.
There, he saw a girl surrounded by various adorable dolls and clusters of blooming flowers.
The girl seemed to be in a deep sleep, but as Mu En gazed at her, his pupils trembled—once, twice, again and again.
Because that girl…
was a midget.
And not just any midget.
She wore a cute pink nightgown that accentuated her fair, rosy skin. Her face, cradled by blossoms, was as delicate as a porcelain doll, yet carried a hint of baby fat, highlighting a unique vitality and charm.
But even more striking than her features was her pure white hair, which stood out even in the flower sea.
In short, this was a white-haired midget!
Suddenly, Mu En felt his heart pounding wildly.
A white-haired midget!
This was no mere trigger for his preferences; it was practically a rave on his very own XP!
What man could resist a sleeping white-haired midget?
“I really want to pinch her cheeks…”
Looking at the girl’s rosy face, Mu En couldn’t help but entertain the thought.
But soon, his reason, still not completely clouded by the allure of the white-haired midget, intervened.
He recalled the purpose of his visit.
“So, the so-called secret weapon of the academy… is this white-haired midget?”
Mu En was somewhat shocked.
He had expected a reclusive master or some monstrous dragon.
He never imagined it would be a white-haired midget.
“Wait, a white-haired midget and a reclusive master don’t seem to conflict.”
Mu En pondered, stroking his chin.
Just like in those xianxia novels, the younger they look, the more terrifying their cultivation might be!
“But…”
Mu En glanced at the cute dolls beside the girl.
“A reclusive master… surely wouldn’t like pink dolls, right?”
After all, youth is just a facade; their minds must be more mature.
“So that means…”
Mu En lightly slapped his palm, instantly conjuring up a tragic story of at least a hundred thousand words about an innocent and adorable white-haired midget, transformed into a secret weapon by a wicked academy, then cruelly imprisoned in this sea of flowers.
“No wonder Professor Gran said she doesn’t like being called a secret weapon; anyone recalling their tragic past wouldn’t feel good about it.”
Thinking of this, Mu En couldn’t help but grit his teeth: “How come I never realized the academy was so despicable before? Just wait until I get out; I’ll report you for mistreating young girls!”
“But…”
Mu En’s eyes suddenly sparkled again:
“Since she’s an innocent and adorable tragic girl, it should be fine for me to pinch her cheeks, right?”
“I can’t be blamed for being a pervert; she’s just too cute!”
“Yeah, I’m definitely not a creepy uncle!”
Resolute, Mu En reached out and gently pinched the chubby cheeks of the girl.
Ah, so soft.
In that moment, Mu En felt as if his heart was about to melt.
“I wish this moment could be frozen in time forever.”
But, it was just a fleeting thought.
Because a breeze blew in.
The entire sea of flowers began to sway, like waves in the ocean, layer upon layer.
And the girl, amidst the clamor of the waves, fluttered her eyelashes, then opened her eyes.
Her red irises first revealed a hint of confusion from just waking up, then, as if sensing something, her gaze shifted slightly to the large hand resting on her cheek.
A trace of bewilderment appeared.
“Ah, you’re awake?”
Mu En, momentarily distracted by the wind and the sea of flowers, noticed the girl had awakened and quickly withdrew his hand in a panic.
What to do, what to do? It seems I pinched for too long.
She wouldn’t think I’m a creepy weirdo, would she?
No, I need to find a way to make up for this.
In the midst of his fluster, Mu En suddenly felt a candy in his pocket.
Eh? How could there be candy in my pocket?
Could it be…
“Professor Gran…”
Mu En couldn’t help but feel a bit moved; you’re still quite reliable at critical moments!
So, Mu En took out the candy and placed it in front of the girl, then revealed a friendly smile like that of a kidnapper and gently said:
“Here, little sister, don’t be angry, brother will give you some candy.”
“……”
As soon as Mu En’s words fell.
It was as if the pause button had been pressed, and everything in the world came to a halt.
Even the wind stopped.
All the flowers bowed their heads, as if they couldn’t bear to witness what was about to unfold.
The girl sat up.
Her ruby-like eyes glanced at the candy in Mu En’s hand, then at Mu En himself.
She still wore a blank expression, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, as if she were smiling:
“Interesting.”
As soon as the girl’s melodious voice, like that of a lark, rang out, Mu En’s smile instantly froze.
His face turned pale.
That tone was so old-fashioned and autumn-like…
Could it be…
“Have the students at the academy become this bold after just a few decades of napping?” the girl said, her tone completely unfazed.
But Mu En’s mind instantly buzzed.
Napped for a few decades?
It’s over.
She’s a big shot!
Damn Gran, you set me up!
Mu En looked at himself, who was offering candy to a big shot, and began to seriously consider how many tables of guests he should invite when hosting a banquet for himself.
“Eh?”
The girl stared at Mu En, her gaze sharp, as if in an instant she could see through him entirely.
Then she let out a light “eh”:
“You seem… a bit different.”
“Ha ha, I don’t know what the big shot is talking about; I’m just an ordinary person.”
Mu En scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly.
But before he could say anything more, he suddenly felt a chill run through him.
“Eh?”
Mu En looked down and found that, in an instant, he had become completely naked.
What the hell, the white-haired midget big shot suddenly stripped me?
Could she be the legendary yandere?
What to do? I’m being stripped by a yandere-level big shot? And she’s a white-haired midget at that. What should I do now? Should I just lie down, or should I put up a token resistance?
Just as Mu En was lost in his habitual daydreaming, the silver-haired, red-eyed girl suddenly leaned in, her fingers gliding over Mu En’s skin, and in her clear eyes, it seemed as if stars were twinkling.
“The Mark of the Withering King,” she said softly.
One sentence.
In an instant.
It felt as if his blood had frozen, and Mu En was engulfed in a cold shiver.
He looked down at the girl, whose expression remained unchanged, and his body involuntarily trembled.
A great terror flickered in his eyes.
Like a mole in a hidden organization, suddenly exposed by the boss.
But without much hesitation, that fear instantly transformed into a furious and resolute determination to fight back.
Mu En drew his right hand from behind, a dagger hidden in his storage space glinting coldly, aimed at the girl’s vital points from an awkward angle.
At the same time, crimson flames surged up from his skin, flowing like mercury toward the girl.
“You really have guts,” the girl remarked, her tone ambiguous—was it mockery or admiration?
She extended a finger, lightly flicking it upward.
In the next moment.
Mu En’s movements froze, even the flames extinguished in an instant.
Because he realized his perspective had suddenly shot up, up, up.
Like sitting on a rocket, soaring into the sky.
The sea of flowers and the girl became exceedingly small from his vantage point.
Then, reaching the highest point, he began to descend.
The sea of flowers and the girl magnified in his eyes once more, and along with them, a headless body also grew larger.
Huh?
A headless body?
The brain hadn’t yet processed this incomprehensible information when Mu En saw the girl move her fingers again.
So.
Hands. Arms. Torso. Thighs. Feet.
Internal organs. Meridians. Bones.
Mu En’s entire body felt as if it were being dismantled piece by piece, like building blocks, by the girl.
Yet, during the disassembly process, not a drop of blood flowed, and Mu En felt not a hint of pain.
It was as if he had become a toy.
“Strange?”
The girl inspected those parts bit by bit, then reached out and caught Mu En’s head.
She looked at Mu En’s terrified face and asked in confusion:
“Clearly, you haven’t lost anything from your body, your soul is intact, and even looking at your fate trajectory, you have a happy family and harmonious friends, so how did you obtain the power of the King of Withering?”
At this point, the girl showed a hint of peculiarity:
“If we were to say something is missing… it would only be chastity. Could it be that you exchanged your chastity for power with the evil god?”
“……”
The corners of Mu En’s mouth twitched, thinking to himself that this big shot was quite humorous.
“No, the power you possess seems to be more than just a simple bestowal.”
As if she had discovered something, the girl’s delicate eyebrows slightly raised.
“With a source of crimson flame, a partial manifestation of rules, this is… divine favor.”
“Eh?”
Upon hearing this, Mu En was stunned.
Divine favor?
Me?
From which god?
The King of Withering?
But wasn’t the fire on him exchanged for the black book?
And this fire lingering on him was merely a means of temptation from the King of Withering to lead him to fall, right?
“It seems you are also unclear about this power you possess.”
The girl’s lips curved slightly, as if she had found something novel and interesting.
She gazed into Mu En’s eyes, as if she wanted to see through to his very depths.
“However, it’s still my first time seeing an evil god favoring a mortal. Young man, you must have some secrets, right?”
“How could that be? Didn’t I say it before? I’m just an ordinary person.”
Mu En forced a smile.
If we’re talking about secrets…
The Black Book.
But this time, no matter how much Mu En called out in his heart, the Black Book remained utterly silent.
As if it had vanished.
“Forget it, I don’t have a penchant for prying into others’ secrets, and…”
The girl looked up, gazing at the sky.
“It seems time is running out.”
She took the candy from Mu En’s hand, tore open the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth, revealing a hint of a satisfied smile:
“Really sweet.”
Then.
She walked past Mu En, heading towards the edge of the sea of flowers.
“Eh?”
Now Mu En was the one left bewildered.
“You… are just going to let me go? You’re not going to kill me?”
“Kill you?”
The girl turned back: “Why would I want to kill you?”
“Because… I have a connection to the Evil God, and I possess the Evil God’s power?”
As far as Mu En knew, the strong in this world held an intense disdain and hatred for the Evil God; the moment they sensed even the slightest hint of it, they would extinguish it at any cost.
That’s why Mu En had been so decisive earlier; he thought the girl would strike him down without hesitation.
“I see.”
The girl nodded, then countered:
“Have you used the Evil God’s power to kill anyone?”
Mu En paused for a moment, then shook his head.
“Do you think of yourself as a bad person?”
Mu En shook his head.
“At night when you sleep, do you hear strange voices whispering in your ear, urging you to destroy the world?”
Mu En still shook his head.
“Then that’s just it.”
The girl’s red eyes flickered slightly, her brows and eyes relaxed, revealing a smile so evident for the first time: “You’re a good person, and you haven’t done anything wrong. Why would I kill you?”
“But the power of the evil god…”
“Only cowards fear pure power.”
The girl turned, leaving behind a faint sigh that seemed to linger:
“Unfortunately, there are too many cowards in this world.”
“Only cowards… fear pure power…”
Murmuring the girl’s words, Mu En suddenly felt that the girl’s petite figure grew taller.
So cool, is this the aura of a big shot?
Absolutely stunning, right?
Wait, hold on.
Watching the girl’s retreating figure, Mu En suddenly remembered that he was still in a “parts” state, and shouted in panic:
“In that case, big shot, turn me back to my original form before you go!”
“You’re quite interesting; I’ll remember you.”
The girl turned back once more, her tone slightly cold:
“But my face isn’t so easy to pinch.”
“…”
Damn, does the big shot hold grudges too?
It was just a pinch of the face, was it really necessary? There must be some other resentment behind that action!
“But…”
Mu En revealed a faint smile, murmuring to himself naturally:
“I feel like this domineering, cool red-eyed, white-haired midget is quite a hit, you know?”
Just as he thought he was the only one who could hear his own words, Mu En felt his perspective shift again.
Gradually rising…
And then falling.
This time, fast!
Like being on a drop tower!
“Damn!”
So, before the wailing began, Mu En could only leave behind this one word as his last testament.
…
The girl hadn’t gone far; she extended her hand and gently swiped in front of her.
A door swung open.
Outside, more than a dozen elderly professors, including Professor Gran, stood silently on either side of the road. Upon seeing the young girl emerge, the usually arrogant professors lowered their heads in unison.
“Mentor Meladomir,” the professors said respectfully.
“Mm.”
The silver-haired, red-eyed girl nodded gently and looked at everyone:
“It’s been decades since we last met; you all look so old now. Dudley, the last time I saw you, you could still stand up straight, right?”
“It is a great honor to see the mentor alive,” the oldest professor said, wiping away tears, revealing childlike emotion.
“There’s no need for such gloomy words during a reunion.”
The girl spoke softly:
“However, being awakened this time was indeed unexpected. According to my previous calculations, I was supposed to awaken five years later.”
“It is our incompetence that we could not protect the academy.”
All the professors looked ashamed.
“It’s not your fault; I only just realized…”
The girl looked up, her tone taking on a serious note:
“Fate has shifted so drastically without notice. The moon, which should have had no intersection with the academy’s trajectory, has suddenly crashed directly into it.”
“We don’t know the details of this matter either. Prang seems to know something, but due to the silence pact, he cannot disclose it casually.” Professor Gran, usually irreverent, wore a serious expression in front of the girl.
“It’s fine.”
The girl waved her hand. “I’ll find out the specifics when I meet Him. You all go about your business, or get some rest. Don’t make a mess of your health at your age.”
“Yes.”
The professors bowed respectfully, as if they were children admonished by their parents, not daring to show any defiance.
Just as they were about to leave, Gran suddenly peeked his head into the doorway and saw Mu En, who had turned into a series of floating pieces in mid-air, his head bobbing up and down rapidly. Gran immediately broke into a gloating smile.
Fortunately, he had the foresight; otherwise, it could have been him in such a state.
But just as he was about to withdraw his head, he heard Mu En wailing while spewing forth furious shouts:
“Boss! Just now, Professor Gran called you his niece!”
“……”
Professor Gran turned back with an awkward smile, only to see the girl silently staring at him.
Her expression was so meaningful, reminiscent of how he had felt facing Mu En just moments ago.
……
……
Under the dim blue moonlight, Professor Prang’s face was pale.
The wound on his chest was still oozing blood, but that wound was no longer important.
What mattered was that he had reached the brink of exhaustion.
This exhaustion did not refer to his magical power; with the supply from the Grand Arcana, his magic was nearly limitless.
However, manipulating the Grand Arcana, combined with casting spells, had nearly shattered his mind.
Now, his brain was also throbbing with pain.
And beneath his feet.
Those ghostly figures, emerging from the land of death under the moonlight, surged like waves, layer upon layer tearing at the structure, eroding deeper into the academy.
“This can’t go on.”
Professor Plon gritted his teeth:
“I must protect the academy, even if it costs me my old life.”
Just as Professor Plon was preparing to fight with all his might, a sigh echoed through the air.
“Plon, you’re still so rigid.”
“Mentor Meladomir?”
Professor Plon looked at the petite figure that had appeared before him at some unknown moment, a hint of confusion in his eyes, and then suddenly realized:
“Did those b*stards disturb you?”
“If you hadn’t woken me, you’d be dead.”
The girl took the pink star wand from Professor Plon’s hand.
What had seemed so out of place in Professor Plon’s grasp felt entirely natural in the girl’s hands, as if it had always belonged to her.
“Go rest.”
The girl said:
“I’ll take care of this.”
“Yes.”
Professor Plon responded respectfully.
The usually stern man had no doubt about this command.
“Ah, by the way.”
The girl turned her head and suddenly said:
“That girl over there, who was corrupted by the love god, I’ve preserved a bit of the last remnants of her spirit. She should still be able to say a few words; cherish it well.”
“What…”
Professor Plon paused for a moment, then his eyes reddened, and he bowed deeply:
“Thank you, Mentor.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The girl said softly:
“It’s just a small effort.”
……