Chapter Thirteen: The Lost Kingdom, The Witches’ Tea Party
Empty streets, muted colors, swirling grey fog. This was also Victoria, yet it pulsed with an unsettling unease.
Everything shrouded in mist carried a primal fear, as if only silence and nothingness could exist here.
“Iris, you’re late again.”
The distorted voice was elegant and composed, yet laced with unquestionable authority.
This should have been a beautiful garden filled with blooming flowers, but tainted by the fog, it was enveloped in a depressing grey.
The flowers still bloomed defiantly, devoid of all color.
A formless grey shadow reclined languidly on a bench in the grey garden. No one could perceive her form, only her voice and posture hinted at a woman of exquisite beauty.
“My deepest apologies.”
Another voice rang out, cold and emotionless, as if carved from ice. Even the sound sent chills down the spine, not from temperature, but from a deep-seated fear.
She sat beside the grey shadow, her equally enigmatic form sharp as a blade.
“Back at you, Snowdrop. You’re so annoying.”
Iris, the late arrival, crossed her arms and said helplessly.
“There’s a reason this time. A few noisy little things wandered into my Kingdom and caused a ruckus. Almost had a disaster on my hands…”
“Oh?” A gentle voice echoed, soft and alluring, “Little Iris, are you saying… you were invaded?”
“Was it the miracle caused by the White Witch just now?”
This was the only voice without any distortion, innocent and naive like a child’s.
However, given the fog-shrouded environment, it was difficult to determine if she truly was a child.
…At least, the time they had spent together far exceeded the definition of “child.”
Including the tardy Iris, there were five beings in this grey garden, all shrouded in mystery, their true forms imperceptible. Any distinguishing features quickly faded from memory once one looked away.
Only upon meeting again could these discarded, concealed details be retrieved from the depths of consciousness.
“Yes, I met Her Godchosen.” Iris propped her chin on her hand, recalling the encounter. “How should I put it… a little brat, innocent and adorable. Hard to imagine why she’d follow that killing god.”
“Sister Iris, is she the same age as me?”
The naive voice returned, small legs swinging from a chair clearly too large, her eyes filled with childlike curiosity.
“Ugh, Moonflower, don’t gross me out.”
Iris shuddered. Watching someone clearly old enough to be her grandmother act cute made her want to vomit.
Heaven knows what her true form looked like…
She was the latest addition to this group.
And Moonflower, this creature who looked and sounded like a little girl, was one of the original three members.
Everyone here, including Iris, kept their true identities secret, even from each other.
Even other Godchosen only knew their flower-themed code names.
“A Kingdom invasion is a serious matter, concerning our safety.” The gentle voice turned grave. “The reason we Godchosen and God’s Favored can avoid the influences and conflicts of the present world is because of the Kingdoms.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear the details later.”
“Actually, Sister Camellia, there’s no need to worry. It was just… my negligence.” Iris touched her nose, embarrassed. “I seem to have accidentally left an entrance open in the present world, and she wandered in…”
Even with an open entrance, having one’s Kingdom invaded was still unbelievable.
However, there was another presence with the White Witch’s Godchosen.
The infamous Naraku Godchosen.
That explained it. That explained everything.
If it was a Naraku Godchosen, nothing was surprising.
It must have been her fault…
In fact, Iris suspected that the White Witch’s Godchosen had also fallen prey to the Naraku Godchosen’s influence, leading her to follow that newly ascended killing god.
Even her status as a Godchosen was likely the Naraku Godchosen’s doing.
That little brat was clearly young, unlike Moonflower’s fake cuteness. Her eyes were filled with innocent ignorance, completely incongruous with the identity of a Godchosen.
Although her constitution was unique, exceptionally close to a “God,” it wasn’t enough to make her a Godchosen.
“Enough idle chatter. Since everyone is here, let’s begin this ‘tea party’.”
The elegant voice from the head of the table rang out, a tap on the chair drawing everyone’s attention.
The others composed themselves, their expressions turning serious.
This tea party, established by the five of them, could be considered an alliance of sorts.
The relationships between the various Gods’ Godchosen and God’s Favored were complex, not easily explained in a few words. They weren’t necessarily enemies, but most weren’t allies either.
Trust was a fragile thing. Even alliances were temporary. No one knew when they might become mortal enemies, locked in a life-or-death struggle, just like the Puppet Ballad and the White Witch.
This tea party provided a solution to such conflicts. Held within a completely silent, lost Kingdom, bound by a mystical veil of absolute anonymity. After the tea party, no one knew each other’s true identities, shrouded in a mist of secrecy.
It was the purest form of transactional relationship.
…Yet also the most intimate.
“Let’s set aside the Kingdom matter for now. I have information regarding the ‘path to godhood.’ The price is three petals. Any takers?”
As the leader finished speaking, everyone’s eyes sharpened.
“The ‘path to godhood’… I recall that was the Harbingers’ failed attempt, wasn’t it?” Camellia said slowly. “They sacrificed most of their members seeking the path to ascend to godhood, yet all they got were a few grotesque imitations.”
For a human to wield a Grotesquery’s Authority was an unprecedented feat.
With just a few members, they could rival multiple Awakened One organizations, even the Company was wary of them, yet Camellia dismissed them as mere “imitations.”
It was simple. If they truly controlled their Authorities, Philosopher and the others would have already swept aside existing human forces to execute their grand and tragic plan.
It was precisely because their control was incomplete, with a “price,” that they remained dormant.
Of course, this incompleteness limited the number of times they could use their powers, but their combat strength was undeniable. This was the conclusion the Company reached after suffering heavy casualties.
Even weakened by their “path to godhood” attempt, the Harbingers could still hold their own against an alliance of Awakened Ones.
In the eyes of most Godchosen, the Harbingers’ actions were a defilement of the Gods, a blasphemous attempt to deceive and usurp divine power. Thus, they were considered mortal enemies.
More importantly, no one knew if the Harbingers would, or already had, targeted their own Gods.
This would directly impact the Godchosen’s power, potentially causing permanent damage.
Of course, only High-Risk Grotesqueries within the top fifty Sequences, beings capable of wielding Authorities, could be called Gods. Lower-ranked Grotesqueries were still referred to as Grotesqueries by the Godchosen.
“The ‘path to godhood’…”
Iris sighed, thinking of that particular being.
Perhaps it was Her appearance that rekindled the Harbingers’ belief in the “path to godhood.”
The White Witch.
The first “God” to replace a Sequence position.
If anyone in this world had achieved godhood, it was Her.
“I’m out.”
Snowdrop spoke up abruptly. As her voice faded, she sealed her senses.
Since this was a transaction, it was based on mutual consent. She could withdraw if she wished.
Snowdrop had no interest in becoming a god, so she flatly refused the deal.
The others fell into contemplation, even the newly joined Iris.
Having reached this level, those like Snowdrop, who had no desire for godhood, were a minority.
The leader was patient, calmly awaiting their responses.
Suddenly, the leader sensed something, her form shifting slightly. Even this abandoned, lost Kingdom trembled momentarily.
At the same time, Iris abruptly stood up, a hint of panic in her voice.
“…Something’s wrong.”
“Hmm?”
Everyone’s attention immediately focused on her, except for the leader, who wore a thoughtful expression.
“My Kingdom has truly been invaded this time…”
Iris sensed drastic changes occurring within her Kingdom, though she couldn’t pinpoint the cause.
It was that Naraku Godchosen…
The universally despised Naraku Godchosen.
She wanted to return, but the tea party was still in progress, causing her to hesitate.
Although the tea party members shared the most intimate relationship, that was only within the confines of the tea party.
Outside, when they returned to their true identities, they might even be mortal enemies.
Therefore…
Iris didn’t intend to seek help from the tea party members, but she needed a reason to convince them.
“Iris, did you omit something regarding your Kingdom earlier?”
The leader spoke, her gaze fixed on Iris.
Even though Iris knew that the mystical veil protected their true identities, the leader’s gaze seemed to pierce through everything, laying bare her inner thoughts.
“I wouldn’t say I omitted anything…”
Interacting with a Naraku Godchosen was undoubtedly dangerous.
Or rather, interacting with any Taboo Godchosen was perilous.
Because… compared to other Godchosen, the influence of Taboos was the deepest and most irreversible. They had essentially become obsessed with pursuing their Taboos, perfectly embodying the Awakened world’s perception of Godchosen… or “Grotesquery Apostles.”
Take Naraku Godchosen, for example.
These madmen, yearning for “omniscience,” relentlessly pursued all truths, greedily accumulating all knowledge.
Once targeted by them, even the protection of the mystical veil might not be enough to escape exposure.
Simply put, they were a group of doxxing enthusiasts.
“It’s… a Naraku Godchosen, isn’t it?” The leader said softly. “Has she set her sights on you?”
She shouldn’t have engaged in conversation just because the other party could communicate!
But how did the leader know?
Iris bit her lip and nodded, confirming the leader’s words.
The others gasped. Even Moonflower, sitting closest to Iris, couldn’t help but scoot her chair away.
“It’s not that serious, is it?!”
“What is Sister Iris talking about? Moonflower doesn’t understand.”
Moonflower blinked innocently.
“Iris, go deal with this matter first. Your absence… is excusable.”
Camellia smiled gently, as if about to kick Iris out of the lost Kingdom.
“It’s fine, it’s fine, no rush…”
Beads of sweat appeared on Iris’s forehead.
She knew that if she were kicked out now, the tea party members would likely decrease from five to four.
That damned, universally despised Naraku Godchosen!
The leader remained silent, lost in thought.
A moment later, just as the others were about to forcibly remove Iris from the Kingdom, she spoke calmly,
“I think, we should let her in.”
“Who?”
The others were stunned.
“The Naraku Godchosen.”
“Leader, have you lost your mind?”
“I just remembered I left the gas on at home. Gotta go.”
“…Farewell.”
Upon hearing that the leader wanted to invite a Naraku Godchosen into the lost Kingdom, even Snowdrop felt the urge to retreat.
She had already released her sense block during the earlier commotion.
“She’s different from the usual Naraku Godchosen.”
The leader seemed to have sensed something, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Although fleeting, this sight stunned the others into silence.
When was the last time the leader had smiled?
It seemed to be when the Harbingers’ “path to godhood” attempt failed.
And that smile had been mocking… mocking their arrogance.
But now, her smile was unreadable.
Could it be… that the leader was interested in this Naraku Godchosen?
They had only heard of Naraku Godchosen being interested in others, never the other way around…
However, if it was the leader, it seemed plausible.
As the founder of the tea party, the leader had always been the most enigmatic among them.
She always seemed to possess crucial information at critical moments, and she handled every transaction with effortless grace.
As if… she knew everything.
“Since it’s my decision, so be it.” The leader lowered her gaze, her drifting eyes casually watching her slender fingers, a hint of amusement in her expression. “Having a Naraku Godchosen at the tea party isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
The others remained silent for a moment. Snowdrop was the first to speak.
“Agreed.”
However, Moonflower and Camellia still hesitated, looking at Iris in unison.
“…This time, it’s not my fault for dragging you all into this.”
Iris immediately raised her hands in surrender.
“I trust the leader.” Camellia said softly. “But I hope that if we are implicated, the leader will give us an explanation.”
“As you wish.”
The leader appeared indifferent.
Seeing that everyone had agreed, Moonflower, who had been planning to escape, could only sigh, then realized that such an elderly gesture didn’t suit her persona. She quickly said sweetly,
“Since my sisters have all agreed, Moonflower… Moonflower will listen to you.”
“…Can you stop with the fake cuteness, you old hag?”
……
“Still no reaction?”
Luo Ling stood beside a half-withered demonic tree, a branch in her hand.
Using her “Weave” domain, she had located the Incubation Barrier within this Kingdom and discovered this demonic tree, a slumbering Grotesquery.
Its power wasn’t particularly strong, roughly equivalent to a fifth or sixth-order Awakened One, likely a low-ranked Grotesquery.
Barely palatable.
Luo Ling had anticipated a fight to subdue the demonic tree, but it offered no resistance. So, she simply started dismantling it.
After consuming at least half of it, the familiar old lady finally rushed over, panting.
Seeing the state of the demonic tree, Iris nearly fainted.
This was her first business deal since obtaining her Kingdom! The old demonic tree had promised that if she successfully nurtured its seed, it would offer its Sacred Relic.
The complete Sacred Relic of the Bodhi Ancient Tree, Grotesquery Sequence 145, Path of Silent Demise.
A Sacred Relic of this level was rare, even in the Company’s vaunted secret vault.
Moreover, Iris desperately needed this Sacred Relic.
She had painstakingly nurtured it for nearly ten years, finally seeing hope of success, yet Luo Ling’s few bites had set her back at least eighteen years.
“Naraku Godchosen, what are you doing?!”
Iris’s heart bled as she carefully supported the ravaged Bodhi sapling.
“I just wanted to find you.” Luo Ling replied. “I figured this would get your attention.”
Definitely not because she had been looked down upon earlier.
Definitely not.
“…You could have just shouted, I would have heard you.”
Iris clutched her chest. This excuse… even for a Naraku Godchosen, it was too outrageous.
“You seem upset.”
“No kidding!”
“Would you feel better if I apologized?”
Luo Ling’s voice, though her expression couldn’t be seen through the grey shadow, sounded genuinely sincere.
Iris: “…”
Suddenly, she felt like punching this Naraku Godchosen.
Wait, was this revenge?
“Forget it, Naraku Godchosen. If you’re interested in me, you’ll only find me boring.” Iris said patiently. “Come on, there’s someone much more interesting who wants to meet you.”
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