Chapter 748: A Farce
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 748: A Farce
"Another smiling ghoul? Is it a new one... or did the one from before come back to life?"
Ariel instinctively tensed. Facing such an eerie scene, even as the hair on her neck stood on end, she couldn't help but let out a cold, disdainful sneer.
So what?
What if there was one?
What if there were two?
What if they could resurrect?
These "ghouls" were only slightly superior in speed and strength. Earlier, a sneak attack might have posed a threat, but now they were simply walking out into the open?
How foolish. Were they truly just attacking based on instinct?
If that was the case, no matter how many came, she had no reason to shrink back. In fact, this kind of battle—one that squeezed every drop of potential from her body—actually made her feel quite exhilarated...
Slap!
A crisp sound echoed through the cold, mist-shrouded space, momentarily drowning out the piercing wails.
Ariel’s head tilted slightly, her cheek a bright crimson.
It wasn't the flush of shyness; it was the red of agonizing pain and fresh blood.
The wound on her left palm hadn't even begun to heal. Under the force of that slap, the vivid bloodstains smeared across half her face like the war paint of some ancient tribe.
"Am I being influenced again?"
Ariel grit her teeth, forcibly suppressing the eerie smile that had begun to tug at the corner of her mouth—a smile that seemed to have been "infected" by the ghoul.
The stinging in her palm, the bite on her tongue... none of it could stop this emotion from eroding her mind.
The moment she relaxed even slightly, an emotion that didn't belong to her would quietly shroud her heart, driving her to act against her reason.
"This is... a bit terrifying..."
Ariel looked at her blood-stained palm, her pupils trembling slightly.
Compared to the "distinguished" appearance of the ghouls, this bizarre ability was clearly far more dangerous. It wasn't magic, nor was it a specific technique, yet it could silently influence a person's heart...
This strange trait felt more like...
"Pollution?"
Ariel was struck with horror.
Was it an Evil God? Or something related to one?
Dammit, even if Divine Will was a Grand Duke of the Demon Race, how could he tolerate such foul things related to an Evil God right under his nose? Was he not going to do anything about it?
No!
She couldn't stay here any longer!
Setting aside whether this bizarre emotional pollution would have some hidden effect on her, if she stayed here to tangle with these ghouls, they would eventually grind her down to nothing!
She still hadn't figured out their potential resurrection trait; these ghouls clearly turned into black embers upon death!
"I have to run," Ariel whispered.
In truth, from the very beginning, the most rational course of action had been to flee.
It was only because she had been hexed by that eerie smile when facing the first ghoul that she hadn't realized it, allowing herself to be delayed until now.
"Roar!"
The angry ghoul let out another roar, and an extreme rage surged within Ariel’s heart in response.
"Shut—UP!"
But this time, Ariel controlled herself perfectly. She slammed her foot into the ground, her entire body tensing like a drawn catapult. Using her planted foot as a pivot, she violently hurled the Heavenly Fire Greatsword from her hand.
Whirr—
Heavenly Fire sliced through space like a falling star.
However, this angry ghoul was incredibly agile. The moment Ariel made her move, it shifted into a defensive dodge.
As a result, the Heavenly Fire Greatsword whistled past, nearly grazing its wrinkled skin as it flew backward.
Yet, just as Heavenly Fire and the angry ghoul crossed paths, Ariel snapped her fingers.
"Burst."
Instantly, the runes upon the Heavenly Fire Greatsword flared with brilliant light!
Boom!
An explosion erupted. A terrifying wave of heat and light tore through the cold mist and darkness. Ariel didn't linger for a second, bolting through the opening created by the blast!
"Hee."
The smiling ghoul appeared out of nowhere, blocking Ariel’s path of escape.
Ariel’s eyes flickered as she raised a hand: "Come."
The Heavenly Fire Greatsword, which had just caused the massive explosion, flew out from the swirling dust and returned to her palm.
"Get—OUT OF MY WAY!"
Ariel gripped the sword with both hands, slashing at the blocking ghoul with all her might.
The eerie smile on the ghoul’s face seemed to deepen. Just as it had done when first defending against Ariel’s attack, it crossed its claws to block with brute force.
Sword and claw collided once more.
According to the usual script, Ariel would have exhausted a massive amount of strength in this unhesitating head-on clash.
But this time...
The ghoul was visibly stunned.
It felt no significant power within the blade.
"Ah, I forgot to tell you."
Ariel stared into the ghoul’s eyes, her mouth twisting into her signature, unruly smirk.
"I'm also very good at running away."
She released the hilt, which held no power, and her body spun nimbly in the air. With the grace of a gymnast, she vaulted directly over the ghoul.
"Heavenly Fire!"
The Heavenly Fire Greatsword shuddered, automatically breaking free from the ghoul’s claws to return to Ariel’s hand.
This was the benefit of a living spirit.
Who said a sword could only be swung by a person?
Look, it can move on its own!
"Ugh..."
"Roar!"
Before she could relax, the moment Ariel broke free, the sounds of sorrowful weeping and angry roaring echoed from the mist again. Several shadows emerged once more.
"Again? Is there no end to this!"
Ariel took a deep breath and rubbed her cheek against Miss Muse on her shoulder.
"Miss Muse, please lend me a bit more strength."
That warm, soft sensation revitalized the weary Ariel once again, even dispelling much of the inexplicable emotions clouding her mind.
Her expression turned solemn as she plunged into the cold mist, sprinting for her life in the direction Miss Muse had previously indicated!
Don't look, don't care, don't look back.
Ariel, use the experience and speed you gained from being hunted by that old geezer countless times—just run!
"Wooo..."
More shadows emerged from the mist, chasing after Ariel’s back.
There were far more than Ariel had imagined. It wasn't just three or five; they were packed together, converging into a tide of bodies.
The sheer number, glimpsed only out of the corner of her eye, made Ariel’s skin crawl, driving her to run even faster.
The sounds of weeping and laughing intertwined into a soul-burying dirge, hauntingly cold and shrill, seemingly seeping into her soul and chilling her body as she fled.
But suddenly...
The ghouls, despite their incredible speed as they pursued Ariel, all stopped in unison as if sensing something.
Faintly, a sound only they could hear drifted from the distance.
It was a majestic and terrifying voice.
And so, they stood frozen, staring in the direction Ariel had fled.
Among these ghouls, some were smiling excitedly, some were weeping in sorrow, and some were growling in anger...
But notably, none were afraid.
Yet now, their bloodshot eyes were filled with nothing but terror.
*
"Huff... huff... Dammit... what on earth were those things?"
After running for an unknown amount of time, an exhausted Ariel finally couldn't hold on any longer and stopped.
She leaned her hands on her knees, panting heavily, her heart still thumping with lingering fear from the last scene she had witnessed.
There were too many.
Those things that looked like ghouls weren't just the three or five she saw at the start—there were at least hundreds, if not thousands!
No wonder those ghouls hadn't shown signs of a fierce assault from the beginning; they were more like they were stalling her, waiting for the main force.
Damn, a bunch of monsters acting so unified? Don't they know how to be greedy?
If she had been delayed by those emotional influences back then... she probably would never have made it out.
"So, I've finally escaped the range of that mist, right?"
Those monsters seemed only able to move within the mist. Does that mean I'm temporarily safe now that I'm out?
Catching her breath, Ariel looked up, finally having the chance to observe her surroundings.
"Is this... a flower sea?"
After seeing the scenery around her, Ariel was stunned.
What appeared before her eyes was not a scene that should exist underground.
It was a flower sea.
A sea of flowers growing in the pitch-black underground space.
The flowers stretched further than the eye could see. From her feet to the horizon, there were flowers of every kind, huddling together, swaying, merging into an ocean.
Except...
"Have all these flowers withered?"
Ariel knelt down, touching the petals that hung low in their withered state.
This was why Ariel hadn't realized it was a flower sea at first glance. Every flower here was withered; these brown, dried stalks looked like common weeds at first.
But why were they all withered?
They had clearly grown to full bloom; they shouldn't have withered so uniformly.
Moreover, this state of being withered but not yet rotting was also very...
"Don't let their appearance fool you; this place used to be very beautiful."
"Who's there!"
Ariel’s pupils shrank. In an instant, she drew the Heavenly Fire Greatsword and entered a combat stance.
What kind of monster was it this time? She hadn't sensed the other party's approach at all...
"Calling me a 'monster' is a bit rude, don't you think?"
A petite hand gently plucked a withered flower, holding it before a youthful face with a hint of baby fat, sniffing it with an elegant motion.
Through the gaps of the grayish-brown flower, Ariel saw long, pure white hair and amber-clear red eyes. She saw a set of... pink strawberry pajamas that were completely out of place in this eerie location?
What the hell?
And the person in front of her looked like... a little girl?
"Calling me a 'little girl' is also very rude."
The white-haired, red-eyed girl, who looked to be about ten years old, puffed out her cheeks in annoyance through the gaps of the flower's stem.
"Also, I'm not 'little,' but I'm not 'big' either. I am eternally seventeen."
It was a very cute image, but Ariel had no intention of relaxing her guard. Instead, she became even more cautious.
Anyone with a brain knew that a white-haired loli appearing in a place like this couldn't possibly be just a simple little girl.
"Who... exactly are you, Your Excellency?"
Ariel pondered for a moment before asking cautiously.
This person was definitely no ordinary girl, and that expression just now was definitely an act.
Having spent a long time with Liya, Ariel knew very well that truly fragile and cute people didn't puff their cheeks in such a theatrical way.
And just now... was that mind-reading?
"Since you know I can read minds, could you stop letting those rude thoughts pop up one after another?"
The white-haired loli dropped the act, sighing with an air of old-fashioned gravity. "In terms of seeking death, you and the one behind you are quite alike."
"You... know me?"
Ariel keenly picked up on the familiarity in the white-haired loli’s words. "And you know Miss Muse?"
"Know? Not know? Who can say? I've never heard the name 'Miss Muse' before."
The loli’s red eyes reflected Ariel and the sleeping "girl" on her back, showing a flicker of interest.
"Being able to see such an interesting scene means my little trip down memory lane wasn't a waste. But speaking of which, this fellow really does get dragged into the center of the vortex every single time."
"You..." Ariel still hadn't let go of her sword hilt.
"No need to be so tense. As you can see, I am currently just an illusion without any power. I can't do anything to you—I can't hurt you, and I can't heal you."
The white-haired loli raised her hand; the flower petals she held passed right through her palm, drifting to the ground.
"I'm not even a projection. At most, all I can do now is pluck flowers belonging to the past... things like that."
"Illusion... flowers..."
Ariel frowned, strange thoughts swirling in her mind. She stared at the flawless, baby-faced girl, examining her closely.
"Do I know you?"
She felt as if she had seen this "little girl" somewhere before, but she couldn't place it. It was as if an invisible hand had deliberately obscured certain traces in her memory.
"Who knows? Perhaps you almost knew me."
The white-haired loli smiled. "But fate is a funny thing. Some people are destined to pass each other by, while others are simply meant to be."
"...What is that supposed to mean?"
Ariel was completely bewildered.
She had been certain this petite white-haired loli was some incredible existence, but now she was starting to have doubts.
Why was this person talking in such riddles?
Could she be one of those disguised magical beasts from stories that trick travelers and then eat them when they let their guard down?
"Sigh, you should be glad I have no power right now, or your head would be flying through the sky by now."
The white-haired loli threw up her hands helplessly. Young people these days had no respect for their elders—or their juniors.
Especially someone like her, who occupied both categories. Shouldn't she be treated with even more respect and care?
But whatever. The trouble she’s causing now, she’ll let that "Miss Muse" pay it back later. "Miss Muse" wouldn't be able to run away anyway.
"Your Excellency, I..."
"I know what you want to ask, but I cannot say. This involves many factors; once I speak, I will touch upon a certain taboo. So, you can only rely on your own eyes to see."
The white-haired loli pointed in a certain direction.
"The place you want to go is that way, isn't it?"
"This..."
Ariel turned her head, confirming that this was indeed the direction Miss Muse had pointed out earlier. "How did you know..."
"Then hurry along. Divine Will has dug this place up again. The number of Corruptors wandering there will only increase. I suggest you get there as soon as possible."
"Corruptors?"
"Well, they're the things you just saw. But after you enter the core area, there are many more types of Corruptors."
"What? Ugh..."
Ariel felt a wave of nausea. Those things from before were already troublesome enough, and according to this person... they would be appearing in swarms later? And in different varieties?
Dammit, she didn't want to go anymore. Could she turn back?
"Turning back won't work either. It seems a few little fellows are chasing after you."
"What?" Little fellows? Who was she referring to? Zagu and the others?
"Oh my, don't worry. At the critical moment, that one behind you will be somewhat reliable. It's just that, since you're going to that kind of place, how can you expect it not to be a little difficult? Good luck. I feel like a very interesting story is about to unfold."
The white-haired loli smiled brilliantly, but for some reason, that smile sent a chill down Ariel’s spine.
"Bye-bye." She gave a light wave.
"..."
Ariel hesitated. She wanted to fish for more information, but the person before her clearly had no intention of saying anything else.
Helpless, she could only follow the "guidance," dragging her exhausted body further in that direction.
Mela silently watched Ariel depart.
A gust of wind blew, bending a large swath of flowers. The area around Mela was uprooted entirely, turning into a clearing.
A fiery red figure appeared beside Mela.
The figure had long red hair, a red dress, and red eyeshadow. The red was so vivid it looked as if a mad painter had taken the richest crimson and slashed it across a deep gray canvas.
Overbearing and cold.
"Hey, hey, couldn't you make a gentler entrance? You're stepping on my flowers!"
Mela put her hands on her hips, speaking with dissatisfaction.
"I hate flowers."
"I know you hate flowers, but could you have some basic manners?"
"I also hate you."
"You don't need to emphasize that; I've known for a long time."
"Hmph."
The figure snorted coldly. Her blazing golden vertical pupils shifted, her gaze landing on the girl running in the distance and the "girl" on her back.
"Aren't you going to stop them?"
"Stop them?"
"It's been a thousand years. Even we cannot fully predict what changes have occurred there."
"True. But if I were to stop them, Divine Will would notice, wouldn't he?"
"Oh? To avoid being discovered by Divine Will, you'd rather let your own disciple step into that place? Do you not care about that disciple?"
"On the contrary, it is precisely because I value my precious disciple so much that I will do nothing and say nothing."
Mela’s tone was calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
"You should know, they are already entangled with the karma of that place. Therefore, the less they know, the safer they are. Conversely, if the two of us were to interfere... they would both surely die."
"I see... That makes sense. After all, as one of the factors that caused all of that, we are still hated to this day."
The golden pupils shifted again.
"Speaking of which, the scent of that human girl is also a bit strange."
"You noticed?"
Mela crossed her arms, her fingers tapping lightly against her sleeve.
"That girl is the Child of Destiny of this era."
"Destiny? Does such a thing truly exist?"
"Of course. Isn't the essence of 'Destiny' just a special cleaning mechanism unconsciously generated by this terminally ill world to save itself? Well, it's essentially equivalent to a human's immune system. That's why that girl receives the love and support of the entire world. Calling her a Child of Destiny is no exaggeration."
"I see. No wonder I smell the power of at least five types of Divine Blessings on her. But she's only using one right now. The others... are they sealed?"
"A smart move. The power of Divine Blessings is too accessible and too powerful for her. If she indulged in that power too early, it would hinder her growth. Sealing them for now means that when she is strong enough herself, those powers will become her most potent weapons."
Mela sighed. "She has a good teacher."
"Is that so? Then why didn't you choose her? You are more excellent than the soul sleeping in her ring."
"What do you mean?"
"Your foolish plan. If you had chosen this Child of Destiny, it would surely be more secure, wouldn't it?"
"Hmm, about that... how should I put it? I was originally going to choose her." Mela tilted her head.
"Originally?"
"Yes. But later, I realized something."
"What?"
"It's simple. If this poor world could save itself through its own immune system... would there be any need for us old fogies to work so hard to support it until now? I could have retired long ago to grow my flowers and eat my lollipops, couldn't I?"
"..."
The figure fell silent for a moment.
"True."
"Of course, there are other important reasons." For some reason, a smile suddenly played on Mela’s lips.
"It seems you really think highly of that disciple of yours, even if his tastes are a bit... strange?"
"Oh my, a disciple's tastes aren't something a teacher like me can interfere with. But I advise you not to think about making a move on him so early. I know you've been starving for a long time, but he's still just a delicate flower. He can't withstand the ravages of a violent dragon like you."
"Hmph. He doesn't have the qualifications yet."
The figure snorted, ending the boring topic.
Then, she looked up, gazing at the empty space above.
"What do you think?"
"Just a farce."
"A farce? Even though that little fellow from back then has made such a huge commotion?"
"Heh, so what if the commotion is huge?"
Mela also looked up at the sky, sneering.
"No matter the commotion, it is nothing more than a hollow dream. Things that cannot become reality will always be nothing more than a farce."