Chapter 107: The Truth
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107: The Truth
High above the firmament, the Blue Moon loomed hideous.
A young girl stood suspended in the air, her pink nightgown fluttering in the breeze. Her long white hair billowed out, stained with a faint, pale blue fluorescence.
Before that colossal Blue Moon, which occupied nearly half the sky, the girl appeared infinitesimally small—like a solitary, insignificant grain of dust.
Yet, the moment she appeared, the deadly ghost shadows that had been frantically eroding the academy suddenly froze.
As if time itself had stagnated, those shadows—which had caused Professor Prang such a headache and lacked even a physical form—were transformed, one by one, into ludicrous, twisted sculptures.
A terrifying gaze descended from the infinite reaches of the sky. Within that gargantuan will, saturated with deathly silence and madness, there was a hint of... solemnity.
"It really has been a long time, hasn't it?"
The girl tilted her head back, the blue moon reflected in her crimson eyes.
The moon remained silent, but the hideous shadows formed by its craters and lunar seas grew increasingly heavy.
"It seems you still dislike me as much as ever."
The girl shook her head helplessly and turned her gaze toward the nearby, grotesque mass of flesh.
"And you. Why is it that every time I see you, you’re always so disgusting? Love God."
The fleshy sphere, which possessed only a single eye, began to writhe. Soon, that eye transformed into a twisted mouth, emitting a grating sound like metal scraping against metal.
"...You... are actually still alive?"
"Hehe, does my being alive surprise you?"
The girl smiled. "But how does the saying go? Girls who love their sleep age slower. For an eighteen-year-old girl in the flower of her youth like me, who just happened to nap for a few decades, isn't it perfectly normal to live a few years longer?"
"However, Love God... during the time I was asleep, you seem to have taken particular care of my academy."
The girl raised her hand, aimed it at the hideous meatball, and then slowly closed her fist.
Instantly, the meatball let out a piercing shriek. With a loud bang, it exploded, turning into countless tiny fragments of shredded meat that scattered in all directions.
"Trying to flee?"
The girl’s cute, slightly baby-faced features were now masked in an absolute chill.
"Since you’ve come to visit, shouldn't you leave a little gift behind?"
She gave the pink star-topped magic wand in her hand a light flick.
A massive roar erupted.
Atop the twelve black towers, a surge of mana—far more gargantuan than what Professor Prang had commanded earlier—poured in, causing the structures to glow a brilliant, overloaded crimson.
The first layer of the Grand Ritual activated under the girl's command. A new architecture rose from the deepest foundations of the academy, transforming the space beneath her feet into a sea of silver.
It looked like an endless flow of mercury.
In the next instant, that boundless silver sea solidified.
It became as smooth as a mirror.
The mirror reflected the giant Blue Moon and the fragments of meat fleeing in every direction.
But as those fragments scrambled to escape, they suddenly lost their way.
The remnants of the Love God outside the mirror had vanished; like reflections in a glass, they had unknowingly become part of the mirror's reality.
Realizing it was trapped, the meatball turned toward the white-haired girl outside the mirror and let out a furious roar.
"Quiet."
The girl reached into the mirror and made a light scooping motion.
The meatball instantly lost all signs of life. Then, it was as if she had grasped something tangible.
It was a mass of twisted, invisible substance.
Feeling its weight, the girl couldn't help but show a look of disappointment.
"No wonder you’re so weak after losing that Crowned body. So it was only a tiny fraction of your will projected here? Truly worthy of you, Love God. To be this cowardly... you haven't earned the title 'Disgrace of the Evil Gods' for nothing."
Losing interest, the girl casually tossed the twisted, invisible substance back into the mirror.
She looked up, gazing once more at the Blue Moon.
The moonlight was deathly and cold, cascading down like a waterfall.
However, the moonlight—which should have traveled at infinite speed—seemed to encounter an obstacle. Under the reflection of the silver mirror, it condensed into clusters of pale blue mist.
The mist drifted over the academy, swaying as if moved by the wind, refusing to descend.
"Next, it's your turn, Moon."
The girl’s leisurely voice, like a folk song, carried up toward the moon.
Like a blasphemer, she announced her disrespect for the deity beneath the open sky.
And so, the Silent Moon erupted in rage!
Countless shadows flowed out from the dark side of the craters and the murky lunar seas, spreading across the pale blue moon like thick drops of ink.
The spreading shadows formed two small, inverted lunar arcs and one large, upright arc.
The shadows of the moon and its craters sketched out a grinning joker mask.
And within that profound darkness, blood-red eyes snapped open one by one, staring down in fury at the tiny, disrespectful mortal!
Boom!
The firmament shook!
The cloudless, pitch-black sky rippled with visible, invisible waves, as if struck by a massive iron ball.
The barrier separating the worlds seemed on the verge of being shattered by some incomprehensible, mighty force. The lunar essence expanded, and it felt as if the shadows of the entire world had come to life.
Even the silver mirror beneath the girl's feet began to tremble.
Within the mirror, the infinite ghost shadows that had emerged from the land of death suddenly broke free from the shackles of time. They grew indistinguishable black limbs and shrieked as they slammed against the academy's lowest foundations.
At this moment, the Silent Moon completely abandoned its blockade of this world, turning instead to an all-out, desperate assault!
Across the world, many powerful experts were jolted awake from their dreams, casting horrified gazes toward the heavens.
"Oh? Flying into a rage out of shame?"
The girl sighed softly.
"But rules are rules. That world barrier isn't so easily broken. By acting so recklessly, what can you achieve other than pointlessly exhausting your own power?
Therefore..."
The girl stared fearlessly at the hideous moon, which no longer possessed a shred of beauty. Her expression was solemn.
"Get lost, Moon. This is my territory, not a place where you can lay your hands!"
As her cold voice fell, a magnificent bell tolled.
The Great Clock Tower, the tallest building in the academy, cast a clear shadow onto the silver mirror.
It looked like the hand of a clock.
The twelve black towers standing at the academy's edge acted as the hour markers.
The hand tilted, pointing between five and six.
Then, it tilted faster.
In just a few breaths, it covered the final distance between five and six.
Invisible rules expanded.
And so, on this morning that went unnoticed by all but a few of the world's top experts...
The time of the entire world seemed to have been cut away by exactly half an hour.
Six o'clock sharp.
At the edge of the pitch-black horizon, a glimmer of light appeared.
It was the dawn.
The bell tolled again.
The girl, who seemed to have grown slightly younger, reached out as if to crush the hideous Blue Moon in her palm.
"Look, Silent Moon."
Gazing at the gradually receding night, the girl declared coldly:
"It is dawn."
*
"It's over."
Watching the Blue Moon grow increasingly dim behind the brightening sky, the girl finally let out a sigh of relief.
After all, this was an Evil God who had nearly descended in person. Even for her, handling it had been quite a pressure.
"Fortunately, the price paid is barely within the range I can accept."
But as she tugged at her now somewhat loose nightgown, a flash of displeasure appeared in her crimson eyes.
She couldn't get any smaller.
"Now, let me see why you suddenly came running to my academy, Moon."
As her cold voice fell, the dim Blue Moon in her eyes vanished, replaced by countless stars.
The stars flickered and shifted within the endless void, sketching out profound and mysterious traces.
The girl watched those traces, deducing the flow of fate.
"You are... afraid?"
The very first result of her deduction left her slightly stunned.
The stars continued to flicker.
"Because of... the Withered King?"
The girl’s eyes lowered. She thought of the boy who had been favored by the Withered King earlier.
But this fragment of deduced fate only made her more confused.
The Silent Moon and the Withered King were Evil Gods of the same rank.
Their authorities were completely opposite, yet they complemented and restrained each other. They were natural enemies, yet the two most similar existences.
Logically speaking, even if these two really fought, neither should be able to do anything to the other.
So why was the Silent Moon afraid of the Withered King now?
According to the deduction, the Withered King was indeed moving toward the Silent Moon at all costs. In as little as two months, or as long as half a year, they would completely collide, and a divine war would erupt.
As for the reason, it was difficult to calculate.
When multiple gods were involved, being able to deduce this far was already the limit. Anything further was a wall of mist, seemingly involving even more factors.
So, the girl gave up on deduction and began to use logic.
Sometimes, one doesn't necessarily need to see the tracks of fate to know the truth.
For supreme existences like gods, there weren't many reasons that could cause their behavior to change.
Therefore, one only needed a bit of insight that transcended this era to guess the truth.
Coincidentally, the girl did not lack insight.
Thus, she quickly guessed the most likely scenario.
"Perhaps it's because... the Withered King somehow learned your weakness."
"That's why He is lunging toward you at all costs—to devour your authority."
"And that's why you are afraid, because a Withered King who knows your weakness can actually do it."
"So, in pursuit of new power, to avoid being eaten by the Withered King, you invaded the academy, wanting to obtain the thing hidden beneath it."
"I see. I think I understand now. It's just..."
Gazing at the nearly vanished Blue Moon, the girl sighed with melancholy.
"As far as I know, there are only one and a half beings in this world who know the weaknesses of the gods."
"No, one of those 'one and a half' died a long time ago."
"Which means..."
The girl’s eyes flickered. Her heart, which had been as calm as a mirror, couldn't help but ripple.
"Does that thing still exist in this world?"
*
"Professor Glen."
"Don't talk to me!"
In the flower sea, Professor Glen—who, like Muen, had been disassembled into pieces by the girl—said angrily, "I'm not familiar with you!"
"Can you stop being so childish, Professor?" Muen’s mouth twitched.
"What do you mean childish? You screwed me over like this, and you won't even let me be angry?" Professor Glen glared at him.
"Didn't you screw me over first, Professor?"
Muen sneered. "Don't tell me you were planning to keep that candy for yourself."
"..."
Professor Glen looked away guiltily.
"Fine, I just wanted to ask you a question."
Muen sighed softly and asked, "What exactly was the situation with the Silent Moon invading the academy earlier?"
"Hmm? You're just a student, why are you asking so much?" Professor Glen asked suspiciously.
"Curiosity."
Muen lied with a straight face. "Wouldn't a normal person be curious after experiencing something like this? To be honest, Professor, my curiosity is about to explode. I’m at the point where I’ll die if I don't know the details."
"Hmm, true."
Professor Glen nodded solemnly. "A normal person would indeed be very curious. But unfortunately, I don't know the specifics very well either. After all, whenever something involves an Evil God, those in the know basically have to sign a Covenant of Silence."
Covenant of Silence...
Muen frowned. "Then... any unimportant intel..."
"What intel could I possibly know?"
Glen’s shoulders, which were several meters away, shrugged.
"I only heard that old bastard Prang sighing that this matter seems to involve a third Evil God. Other than that, I know nothing."
"A third Evil God?"
Muen fell into thought. Then, he faintly grasped a thread of logic, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Thanks, Professor Glen. I'm going to sleep now."
"Eh? Sleep?"
Professor Glen looked at Muen, shocked. "How can you sleep at a time like this?"
Ignoring Professor Glen, Muen closed his eyes.
His consciousness sank into the Black Book space.
The Black Book, which had hidden itself somewhere when that white-haired loli powerhouse appeared, was now floating quietly in front of Muen.
It seemed to have anticipated his arrival and was waiting for him.
"It seems you know why I'm here, Black Book."
Muen’s eyes flickered as he asked, "Then I won't waste words. The third Evil God Professor Glen mentioned refers to the Withered King, right? After all, besides the Love God, He’s the only one I’ve had contact with."
【...】
"Then the reason the Silent Moon's behavior changed like this is also because of the Withered King. Only another Evil God could so thoroughly influence the actions of one."
【...】
"And the Withered King's behavior underwent some change I don't know about, likely because of His previous contact with me. But I'm just a mere mortal; I couldn't possibly influence the Withered King. Which means..."
Muen paused. "The source that caused this entire chain reaction is actually you."
【...】
"So, Black Book, back then, when you exchanged for power to save me, what exactly was written on that page you gave the Withered King? I don't believe for a second that it was just an IOU!"
【Sigh...】
Facing Muen’s relentless questioning, a faint, ethereal sigh suddenly echoed in the space.
The Black Book suddenly flipped open to a blank page.
Then, neat script began to emerge on that blank page.
【Information.】
"Information?" Muen was puzzled. "What information?"
The script changed.
【The Silent Moon's weakness.】
"Huh?"
Muen froze for a moment, and then his expression turned to one of pure horror.
"Weakness? The Silent Moon's? Wait, wait, wait—you actually know something like that? No, that's not what's important right now. You told the Withered King the Silent Moon's weakness, which means..."
These two gods held authorities that were completely opposite yet shared the same origin. They were natural enemies, yet the closest of existences.
Therefore, after the Withered King learned this information, He certainly wouldn't just laugh and run over to tell some crude jokes. He would be desperate to skin the Silent Moon alive, crush its bones, suck its marrow, and then completely devour its authority.
That was why the Silent Moon had suddenly invaded the academy.
Muen vaguely remembered that the original novel mentioned something hidden beneath the academy that even gods would covet.
The Silent Moon wanted that thing to gain new power and resist the Withered King, who was lunging at it with a knife and fork!
"No wonder that white-haired loli powerhouse said the power I have isn't just a simple gift from the Withered King, but a Divine Blessing. A Divine Blessing that can be used infinitely, symbolizing the manifestation of a portion of a god's authority..."
Since the information traded was such a precious thing, how could the Withered King be stingy?
"But..."
Muen looked at the Black Book, still unable to understand. "Why do such a thing? Back then, we only needed a temporary fix. Couldn't you have traded something else less important?"
【To.】
【Save you.】
The Black Book flipped.
In the next moment, Muen felt a wave of dizziness.
An image appeared before his eyes.
Under a pitch-black sky, pure white wings unfurled.
Wearing a brilliant crown and a face full of compassion, the Purification Saintess stood before him, holding a holy sword.
A heavily injured Ariel leaned on her sword not far away, her face pale.
Further away, Professor Prang was rushing over, his expression furious.
And looking down, from the chest pierced by the holy sword, where the blood had already run dry, one could faintly see a heart that had stopped beating.
"This is..."
【If the Silent Moon had not intervened.】
【The Love God would not have developed designs on that thing.】
New words quickly appeared on the Black Book.
【Everything would have proceeded according to the original plot.】
【The Love God's invasion would have happened a year later.】
【The only difference is that His target would no longer be Ariel, but—you.】
"Me..."
Muen’s pupils shrank.
In an instant, he understood the meaning within that sudden vision.
In the original plot, Ariel, facing the Crowned Saintess controlled by the Love God, could rely on her Protagonist Aura and various cheats to hold out until Professor Prang arrived.
But what about Muen Campbell?
No, he wouldn't have held out.
Because Muen Campbell was not the protagonist.
He had no Protagonist Aura, and no cheats.
He was merely a blonde villain, loathed by fate.
Therefore, if things had proceeded according to the original plot...
Muen Campbell would have certainly died.
*
【This was... the original prophetic dream.】
【A future that would have inevitably come to pass, had there been no powerful outside interference.】