Chapter 260: The Urge to Be a Cao Thief
Qin Chu had always assumed that Shaye was also a human girl.
After all, although she was a Witch, Witches were still human… well, most of them weren’t exactly normal humans anymore.
Violet was a body formed from magic elements, Phil was just a soul, Gaia was even worse, just a remnant soul residing within Norma, and Ireta, the Daughter of Death, had been a cold corpse before he met her.
Although he hadn’t encountered the other Witches, they were probably in similar states.
After all, a thousand years of torment was enough to wear down even the strongest wills.
He had thought that Shaye was the same, just younger, further away from the brink of madness. But now, her reaction seemed… strange.
Her consciousness born in a dense darkness?
Could it be… in a womb? Had she already been conscious in the womb?
If so, her talent was truly astonishing. But Qin Chu quickly realized that he had underestimated her.
Shaye seemed to be struggling to recall her past, a troubled expression on her face. “It was a dark, yet vast place,” she said, her voice distant, “My consciousness drifted in that dense darkness for a very long time.”
“I don’t know how long.”
“Then, one day, I opened my eyes.”
“I saw light, I saw the earth, I saw trees, I saw mountains…”
Qin Chu was stunned. He had never heard of such a bizarre birth.
“The darkness that had enveloped me was gone, and I was alone. I don’t know if I have parents, or who they are,” Shaye said, her face slightly troubled as she played with her silver hair.
Then she smiled and shook her head. “But it wasn’t so bad. There was plenty to eat in the forest. Some Demon Beasts and wild animals tried to hurt me, but they were so weak, they died just from my glare.”
“I’ve never experienced it, so I don’t understand that feeling in your heart.”
“But even if you can’t understand it, living a good life is the best way to honor their memory, right?”
Qin Chu smiled slightly. He knew she was trying to comfort him, but for the Dark Witch, this was probably the first time she had done such a thing, so it seemed a bit clumsy.
“Thank you,” he said.
Shaye blushed and turned away, ignoring him.
He heard faint footsteps approaching.
Looking down, he saw Florence and Inas. Florence’s neck wound had healed.
O’Niens’s death had clearly taken a toll on her, mainly mentally.
Her face was still filled with sadness, though not as intense as before.
Under the moonlight, Florence’s face seemed strangely beautiful. She wasn’t wearing her usual clerical attire, but a simple, dark dress.
After a brief hesitation, Qin Chu jumped down from the tree and landed before them.
“Lady Florence,” he asked, “are you here for revenge?”
Florence smiled wryly and shook her head. “Revenge?” she said, “If I wanted revenge, I should probably kill myself first…”
Perhaps, at first, seeing him beat O’Niens, she had felt a surge of hatred towards him.
But now, she knew that she should hate herself most of all.
“O’Niens died bearing the weight of his sins. That was the punishment he deserved.”
“But even though he’s dead, the evil he committed still remains. So, for a while, I will try to atone for his sins, to cleanse the taint he left behind…”
“Inas and I, perhaps we’ll go hunt some Demon Beasts, or explore some ancient ruins related to the Evil Gods, to see if we can find a way to fight against them.”
“So, we came to say goodbye.”
“Thank you for your rescue and your… teachings… Hero. I will always remember them,” Florence said quietly.
Teachings?
Did she mean the “if you lose a son, just make another one” thing?
Qin Chu’s face flushed with embarrassment. That was just something he had said casually in the heat of the moment. She hadn’t taken it seriously, had she?
After a pause, Florence continued, “And before we leave, I have one more thing to tell you, Hero.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Beware of Saint Monique,” she said, her voice strangely ominous in the night.
Qin Chu’s eyes narrowed.
“Perhaps you think I’m trying to sow discord between you, seeking revenge but knowing I’m not strong enough to face you directly…”
“Believe it or not, it’s up to you.”
“I’m just here to warn you. Saint Monique wasn’t that strong before, just talented, her progress rapid. When I was the Holy Maiden, I did intend to groom her as my successor.”
“I believed she could reach level 90 with her talent, but it would take twenty, thirty years.”
“But she went from level 80 to 90 in just two years.”
Level 80 to 90, in two years?
Even Qin Chu was surprised.
Perhaps this rate of improvement wasn’t much compared to his own, but he was a special case, a cheater.
Even Augustus and Wadsworth, both incredibly talented, hadn’t achieved such a rapid breakthrough.
Wadsworth had taken fourteen years, Augustus twelve.
And Zimmerman had been stuck at level 89 for decades…
It was impossible for Saint Monique’s talent to be six or seven times greater than theirs.
Two years was simply too fast.
Florence, seeing his shock, gave him a moment to process it, then continued, “One day, I discovered that Saint Monique no longer worships the Earth Mother Goddess, but another deity.”
The Holy Maiden of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess worshipping another god?
This news would cause a huge uproar.
“Who?” Qin Chu asked instinctively.
Florence shook her head. “I don’t know. I only know that it’s not a benevolent deity.”
“That’s all I can tell you. Please be careful, Hero. And… the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess received an oracle recently. I don’t know the details, but it seems to be related to you.”
With a slight nod, Florence and Inas turned to leave.
But after taking two steps, Florence stopped. “Hero,” she said, “I will remember your words. If I ever have another child, I will raise him right.”
“We will meet again.”
Under the moonlight, her figure, her receding back, hips, and legs, formed a beautiful silhouette.
Wait, what’s the point of telling me that? Qin Chu thought. I’m not going to have a child with you.
If Cao Cao were here, he would have used any means necessary to keep her. But Qin Chu wasn’t Cao Cao. He was more interested in what she had said about Saint Monique.
He knew that she wasn’t a good person, but he hadn’t expected her to be hiding such a secret.
The Holy Maiden of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess worshipping another deity?
Interesting!
Could it be one of those seven in the Void?
If so, which one?
And although he had just insulted Florence, calling her desperate… she was truly beautiful.
For a moment, he felt a surge of… Cao Cao-like impulses.
But he did nothing, just watched her leave, pondering her words, their implications far more important than her body.
…
Meanwhile, in the Demon Beast territory, at the Demon King’s Palace.
Nagath was in a good mood.
His deal with the mysterious informant had been very fruitful.
His second brother, Eldritch, had disappeared without a trace. May the Demon King bless his soul, he was probably dead, one less rival to worry about.
As for his elder brother, Diabolique, some Demon Beasts had seen him being carried into the Demon King’s Palace by their father. He had been dead, his heart ripped out. He didn’t know who did it.
He hoped his father wouldn’t revive him.
The Demon Beast territory was in a state of unease.
And the remaining princes were more active than before.
With Diabolique and Eldritch gone, the other princes were no longer as restrained. Even that mysterious Horus had instructed Candice to tell him to submit to the First Prince, to avoid being targeted before he grew stronger.
Lomond had thought it was good advice and had intended to follow it. But then… this had happened. It was… wonderful.
Having captured two members of the Hero Squad, Lomond was now a rising star among the Demon Beasts, his power and influence growing rapidly.
Just as he was enjoying his newfound prestige, a Demon Beast rushed into the palace, “Your Highness…”
“We’ve found traces of human activity within our territory.”
Lomond’s eyes lit up.
That Horus was truly remarkable.
Everything had gone according to his plan. The members of the Hero Squad had come to rescue Ronald, who was already dead.
Since they were here, they wouldn’t be leaving!
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