Chapter 471: A Real Person
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 471: A Real Person
Stars and moon stood in indifferent opposition.
The entire sky seemed to be split horizontally into two layers. The upper layer consisted of brilliant, deepening stars falling from the infinite distance; the lower layer was a quiet, clear moon rising from the pitch-black sea.
Two diametrically opposed powers had begun a silent collision, starting from that invisible dividing line.
This was a confrontation far beyond the level of "humanity." Even though both sides were merely testing the waters with their attacks, a single leaked wisp of their aura was enough to make one tremble and fall to their knees.
"That... that is..."
The Marvin-bug looked at Anna, who stood proudly against the stars. He didn't even have the breath to spare for the stars he had just piously summoned. His terrified gaze swept over the moon behind Anna—a moon so clear it seemed real—and his voice began to shake.
"The Moon? That is the Great Moon? But isn't the Moon dead? Why? Why would she..."
"The Moon is dead, of course. But after His death, His legacy was inherited by the 'daughter' He carefully chose. Isn't that perfectly reasonable?"
Muen lightly pinched the Marvin-bug atop the woman's head. By now, all the other insects had been incinerated by the black flames; the man's soul had only this one hiding place left.
"Daughter?"
Marvin’s expression shifted drastically as if he had suddenly remembered something.
"She... but why is she still human? To be chosen as a Divine Heir, shouldn't she have..."
"Because true love is invincible, obviously."
Muen interrupted the Marvin-bug, smiling thinly.
"A pathetic loner like you wouldn't understand."
Marvin: "???"
"Well, let's set that aside for now. Wandering Poet, you've reached the end of your rope, haven't you? You've used up every trick in your bag."
Muen raised Elizabeth, using the blade to methodically snap the bug's legs one by one. He watched the writhing, struggling Marvin-bug with leisurely detachment.
"If you have any more performances left, please, show them now. Otherwise, you won't get another chance."
"No, no!"
Marvin shrieked in agony.
"It’s not over! So what if that brat has the lingering power of the Great Moon? How can a fragmented Authority stand against a true, supreme existence? You will all die! All of you!"
Yes, it wasn't over yet.
No matter how powerful the Moon's remaining Authority was, it could not possibly rival a complete, true Evil God!
Even at the Moon's peak, the Lord of the Stars was an existence of the same rank. Now that the Moon's Authority was so diminished, how could they possibly compare?
So... therefore!
Marvin looked toward the sky with desperate longing.
He could feel it. High above the infinite heavens, amidst the brilliant stars, a terrifying existence was casting an indifferent gaze downward, as if staring at a colony of ants arranged in a strange formation.
More power was about to descend. The stars flickered; an infinite, divine force was brewing!
And then...
Marvin felt that gaze skip over the proud silhouette standing high in the sky and land directly on him.
"Hm?"
Marvin was instantly seized by terror and tremors—the instinctive reaction of being scrutinized by a higher existence.
But he was also incredibly excited. That being had actually noticed him! His pious prayers...
But at that moment, the stars suddenly dimmed.
That cold, indifferent gaze, which had scrutinized Marvin’s soul with absolute clarity, vanished instantly. It retreated at high speed, leaving not a single trace behind.
The existence above the heavens departed. Everything that had just happened felt like a mirage. In the oppressive space, the cold wind of early spring began to blow once more.
The sky cleared. Only the "real" moon behind Anna remained, shining its cold light upon all things.
Marvin’s soul, hidden within the insect's body, continued to tremble. But this time, only pure fear remained.
"Wh... Why?"
Marvin couldn't believe it. That Evil God had abandoned him? Just left like that?
He had clearly...
"Heh."
Watching the visibly farcical scene of the bug in his hand, Muen suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"To say such a thing... it seems that even though you're a double-dealing cultist serving two masters, you don't actually understand your patrons very well."
"What... what do you mean?" Marvin stammered.
"Don't you get it yet? Those beings have always believed in 'fair' exchange. They grant you power proportional to the value of the sacrifices you offer. The sacrifice of a mere five hundred people isn't worth the energy that being would have to expend to fight here, is it?"
Muen crushed the legless bug into his palm, slowly grinding Marvin’s soul.
"It seems that in His eyes, your soul is worthless, Wandering Poet."
"...No, no... that's not it! It can't be! I was so pious! I gave everything! Why? Why?!"
Perhaps the truth was exactly as Muen said, but Marvin refused to believe it. His remaining insect torso twisted frantically in a final, desperate struggle.
But Muen had lost his patience.
Anna descended from the sky and nodded to Muen, signaling that the crisis in the town had been resolved and no traces of cultists remained.
Muen nodded back.
Then, his fingers tightened. The black flames flickered.
Amidst piercing screams, the performance of Marvin’s soul continued.
His soul was slowly consumed by the black flames—inch by inch, agonizingly slow. It was like a cauldron in hell, meant to boil him until every sin was repaid.
*
"It's okay now."
Inside the newly expanded golden barrier, Anna gently pulled the little girl into her arms.
"It's all over."
"Over... it's over?"
Emily blankly let go of her ears and opened her eyes, staring around in a daze.
She had always been a good girl, so she had kept her eyes shut and her ears covered just as she was told.
And now, she had to use her fragile body and soul to face the unchangeable reality.
Her mother's corpse lay quietly to the side. Thanks to Muen’s specific care, the body hadn't suffered much additional damage.
However, the damage she had already sustained was severe enough. Before Emily opened her eyes, Muen had done some basic cleaning, but unfortunately, he wasn't trained in mortuary aesthetics; he could only make her look slightly less tragic.
"Mama..."
Emily’s small frame shuddered as she bit her lip hard.
Perhaps because she had already processed it once, the girl appeared exceptionally strong now.
But when she looked up at the quiet town shrouded in the night, the vulnerability in her youthful eyes made even Muen’s heart ache.
"Where... where is everyone?"
Emily’s lips trembled. "Where is the Mayor? Where are the others? Where did they go?"
"They..."
Anna gently stroked the girl's head, hesitating for a moment.
"They've been taken elsewhere for medical treatment. You don't need to worry."
"Is... is that so?"
Emily stared blankly at Anna.
"Yes," Anna said. "Truly, don't worry."
"That... that's good then."
Despite it being "good news," Emily seemed unable to hold on any longer. She grabbed Anna’s collar and began to sob loudly.
Perhaps Anna’s kind lie hadn't truly fooled this overly mature little girl.
After crying for a while, Emily fell into a deep sleep.
Anna had secretly cast a minor Sleep spell on her to prevent her emotional turmoil from physically harming her.
After all, this was a blow that could break an adult, let alone a twelve-year-old girl.
"What happens next?" Muen asked, looking at Emily.
"We'll take her for an examination first. She was alone with a cultist for so long; there's no guarantee she hasn't been subtly corrupted. We can use that as an excuse to take her away from the town."
Anna summoned a subordinate and had her take little Emily to rest.
"As for after that... it will be her own choice."
"Is that wise? She's just a child."
"She is a child," Anna said softly, "but she grew up a long time ago. She should be able to make her own choices."
"I see."
Muen looked at Anna’s profile.
Perhaps seeing something of herself in little Emily, Anna was radiating a long-suppressed emotion.
Anna, who rarely got truly angry, was genuinely furious this time.
"I'm sorry, Junior."
Anna brushed a strand of hair back. Her brief clash with the Evil God hadn't diminished her beauty in the slightest.
"I might not be able to accompany you back to Belland. With something this big happening, the Silence Bureau needs me to handle the aftermath personally."
"It's fine."
Muen took Anna’s hand and gave her a reassuring smile.
"I'm not a child. I won't get lost just because you're not with me."
"You know that's not what I meant."
Anna stared at Muen, her beautiful face uncharacteristically solemn.
"Those people were after you, Muen. Someone wants you dead, and they've reached a level of insanity that knows no bounds."
"...I know. Something is brewing in Belland. But don't worry, Senior. This isn't the first time I've dealt with this kind of thing. I'll be extra cautious. The Duke's estate has already sent people to pick me up; they're on their way."
Muen squeezed her hand tighter to comfort her, but then his voice turned cold, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
"Besides, I'm going back specifically to settle those problems once and for all."
*
Although the Silence Bureau's reinforcements were still on the way, leaving them severely shorthanded, the cleanup work was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
After sealing away the ancient artifact Marvin had used, the Gospel of the Ignorant, Muen followed Anna to reunite with Jin Ze, who had gone off earlier to find the watchers.
"They're dead."
Jin Ze’s expression was heavy. A flash of irrepressible anger crossed his stern, square face.
"They died three days ago."
The door to the room was opened, and a foul stench wafted out.
Three men in black lay in the room in grotesque positions, their deaths clearly agonizing.
Their bodies showed no signs of rot, but they were riddled with holes where insects had burrowed through. It seemed they had served as nesting grounds for the bugs this entire time.
The insects had clearly been cleared out, but the corpses were so mutilated that their faces were unrecognizable.
"Judging by the marks in the room, they tried to fight back. But they were clearly unaware of the enemy's presence until the attack began. They were ambushed," Jin Ze explained.
"Why? They were watchers," Anna asked.
"I believe there are two reasons."
Jin Ze presented Anna with a bracelet that Muen found very familiar, along with a file.
"First, his aura was masked by a specialized tool. And second... the man known as Marvin Stellimo actually exists within the official intelligence system."