Category: Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 36 – The Luncheon

Little Tini loved to draw.

Even in the Natalie Manor family portrait, where she appeared very reserved, she hadn’t let go of the drawing board in her arms.

Why did she love drawing so much…?

Luo Yan had once asked little Tini this question, and her answer was,

“Little Tini wants to capture all the beautiful moments, record them all. That way, even if little Tini is gone one day, Mommy will have little Tini’s drawings, all these beautiful moments, as if little Tini is still with her.”

Indeed, little Tini knew she was going to die, and she wasn’t afraid.

Little Tini’s illness was severe, and Luo Yan, who empathized with her, knew this very well.

Even though her fleeting life seemed to stretch on forever in this frozen time, the dream bubble would eventually burst, and reality… was unavoidable.

…

“Perhaps… this is little Tini’s lost wish,” Luo Yan whispered.

She was certain that the little Tini she had spent time with in “Ghost Town” was the real little Tini, or rather, she carried little Tini’s wish and lived in the town.

The reason Mrs. Natalie desperately clung to this “eternal happiness” was because this wish allowed little Tini to stay by her side.

Even if countless others suffered because of it.

“So, what do we do now…?” Hua Qiling hesitated.

Grifres’s expression turned serious as he watched Luo Yan’s increasingly grave demeanor, but he remained silent.

“As guests invited by little Tini, we should naturally attend,” Luo Yan said seriously, then carefully straightened her clothes, brushing off the dust from their journey.

“This is too strange…”

Hua Qiling muttered, but Grifres, following Luo Yan’s lead, also straightened his clothes.

He glanced at the skeptical Hua Qiling and sneered.

“Rookie, in a disaster zone of this level, carefully following the ‘rules’ is more important than brute force.”

Although Grifres still didn’t fully trust Luo Yan, he had to admit that she was right.

Without overwhelming strength, it was best not to act recklessly in a disaster zone.

Grifres had experienced many similar situations and knew this well. He wouldn’t have survived otherwise.

“Of course I know…”

Hua Qiling grumbled. She had also participated in several “Ruin” level disaster events.

Luo Yan, however, wasn’t thinking about this. She knew that Mrs. Natalie’s target had always been her. Whether it was the previous “Atonement Day” ritual or this current “little Tini’s invitation,” it was all to bring her back.

However, Luo Yan refused.

After making their preparations, they cautiously entered the magnificent castle.

As they stepped inside, little Tini’s voice rang out again,

“Welcome! Welcome, everyone, to little Tini’s home!”

They looked towards the source of the sound and saw… a small doll standing in the spacious living room.

The doll vaguely resembled little Tini, crudely stitched together from scraps of cloth, barely forming limbs, a body, and a head, all disproportionate.

Golden threads were wound into curls and stuck to its head.

Its face was drawn with crayons, a bright red smile smeared across it.

It stood out starkly in the otherwise normal living room, surrounded by the townspeople who had just entered, the only bizarre presence.

“First!” The little Tini doll drawled, raising its uneven cloth arms. “Everyone needs to wear beautiful clothes, so that everyone will be happy!”

After saying that, little Tini chanted a nonsensical incantation, waved a broken bamboo stick in the air, and shouted,

“Transform!”

Hua Qiling was initially amused by the doll’s comical behavior, but as soon as the word “transform” left its mouth, she was horrified to find that the daggers she had been holding were gone.

Not only that, but her light armor combat suit had also vanished, replaced by a low-cut purple gauze dress.

The tight bodice accentuated her slender figure, and the full skirt, supported by whalebone, was clearly luxurious.

Grifres experienced a similar transformation. His damaged clothes were replaced by a fitted black tailcoat with an elegant red bow tie.

Even with half his face scarred and missing an arm, Grifres, even in Hua Qiling’s eyes, now looked quite dashing.

Except for… Luo Yan.

She was still wearing her simple gray dress, although the plain, almost worn-out garment couldn’t hide her breathtaking beauty.

Seeing Luo Yan like this, Hua Qiling felt a pang of disappointment. She had wanted to see what Luo Yan would look like in a beautiful dress.

Grifres, however, wasn’t in the mood for such thoughts. He stared at Luo Yan, trying to figure her out.

Why… was Luo Yan completely unaffected?

Fortunately, because of this, she still held the sniper rifle, ensuring they still had their strongest combatant, besides himself.

Luo Yan was also slightly surprised, but she quickly dismissed her doubts. At this moment, the “why” wasn’t important.

Meanwhile, the other guests had also changed into various beautiful dresses, although in Luo Yan’s eyes, they were just a few more strokes added to the scribbled figures.

Little Tini darted around excitedly. If she weren’t a worn-out doll, it would have been a heartwarming scene.

“Everyone looks even more beautiful in their new clothes!”

Little Tini drawled, as if emphasizing her point. “Hee hee, to properly entertain our guests, little Tini has also prepared a feast! Let’s all eat happily together!”

The scene shifted instantly.

The resplendent living room vanished. When they regained their senses, they found themselves seated at a long dining table in a narrow room, napkins already tied around their necks.

Hua Qiling held chopsticks, while Grifres had a knife and fork.

“It’s time for lunch.”

It was Luo Yan’s voice.

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 35 – Little Tini’s Invitation

Ghost Town, Interior.

Before heading to Natalie Manor, Luo Yan and the others made some preparations, out of caution.

Grifres bandaged his wounds from the previous battle. Although they were difficult to heal due to the corrosive liquid, they had to make do with what they had.

Hua Qiling and Luo Yan were uninjured. Hua Qiling fiddled with her communication device, no longer needing to hide it from Luo Yan.

However, she still couldn’t establish a connection. Some kind of force field seemed to be blocking the communication pulses, just like what had happened with the surveillance equipment.

Luo Yan examined the sniper rifle Hua Qiling had given her, along with the two remaining “Philosopher’s Stones” and sixteen ordinary bullets.

With the sniper rifle, Luo Yan went from being dead weight to possessing near-“Peril” level combat power, seemingly with a bonus effect in Ghost Town, making her much stronger than Hua Qiling.

Although she was just a fragile glass cannon, it was better than being completely helpless.

By the time Grifres finished bandaging his wounds and Luo Yan finished examining the rifle, it was time to head towards their final destination: Natalie Manor.

Only Hua Qiling frowned, troubled by the useless communication equipment in her backpack.

“Noon…”

Luo Yan looked up at the perpetually dim sky and murmured.

“What?”

Hua Qiling didn’t hear her clearly.

“It’s time for lunch,” Luo Yan said.

“Uh…” Grifres frowned. “Miss Luo Yan, at a time like this…”

“Just a meaningless thought, don’t mind me.”

Luo Yan lowered her eyes and whispered.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Hua Qiling urged, patting Luo Yan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Miss Luo Yan, we’ll find a solution.”

“I know.”

Luo Yan nodded slightly, masking her emotions, and led Hua Qiling and Grifres towards Natalie Manor.

…

Dark clouds crowded the sky, faint rays of light filtering through the gaps, sparsely illuminating the town.

As Luo Yan and the others emerged from a withered forest, Natalie Manor came into view.

This wasn’t the first time Hua Qiling and Grifres had seen the manor. The broken fence, the rusty iron gate, the signs of vandalism everywhere… yet, traces of its former splendor remained.

The gloomy, castle-like mansion stood in the center of the manor, its gate smashed halfway open, the other half creaking precariously in the breeze.

Hua Qiling stayed close to Luo Yan, while Grifres cautiously led the way, gradually approaching the manor.

Only Luo Yan walked calmly, her expression unchanged, though a complex look flashed in her eyes as she saw the state of Natalie Manor.

They carefully passed through the iron gate and entered the manor.

The moment they stepped inside, a cheerful, childish voice suddenly rang out.

“Welcome… everyone… to Natalie Manor!”

The voice continued excitedly, “Hee hee, Mommy said that today, little Tini is the mistress of the manor, and I must be a good host… and make everyone feel happy!”

As the voice faded, Hua Qiling and Grifres felt a wave of dizziness. When they regained their senses, their expressions were filled with confusion.

“What… happened?”

Hua Qiling looked around and murmured.

Grifres’s expression was serious, a spear faintly forming in his hand. He looked at the transformed Natalie Manor, his breathing slightly rapid.

In an instant, the gloomy ruins, seemingly abandoned for centuries, had become a magnificent manor bathed in sunlight.

Warm sunlight poured down, lush flowers and trees filled the garden, and birdsong filled the air.

A stately and elegant castle stood in the center, its gate slightly ajar, as if awaiting guests.

Even after using “Eagle Eye” repeatedly, Hua Qiling could only conclude that this was real.

Grifres also couldn’t find any clues. This wasn’t the desolate town, but it wasn’t a spiritual domain either.

“Are we… just going to go in…?”

Not just Hua Qiling, but even the experienced Grifres felt a chill down his spine.

This Natalie Manor reeked of strangeness and unease, like a blatant trap waiting for them to walk right into it.

But Luo Yan didn’t speak. She carried the sniper rifle and walked calmly towards the castle gate.

Unlike what Hua Qiling and Grifres saw, in Luo Yan’s vision, everything in Natalie Manor was blurry, countless patches of color piled together like randomly smeared paint.

This was the vision Luo Yan was most familiar with. In her memory, she always saw a world of childlike scribbles.

She used to be puzzled by this, troubled by her blurry vision, but not anymore.

“Is this… little Tini’s lost wish…?”

Luo Yan reached out, wanting to touch these scribbled images.

But several voices interrupted her.

“Oh, it’s little Tini hosting today. Then we won’t stand on ceremony!”

“We’ve taken good care of Mrs. Natalie on weekdays, so it’s only right that we do this today!”

“Careful, careful! Walk this way, don’t damage anything in the manor…”

At the same time, Hua Qiling and Grifres were startled to see numerous people appear in the manor.

Living, breathing people…

They chatted and laughed, walking towards the castle in groups.

These people seemed not to see Luo Yan and the others, passing right through them.

“Who… who are they?”

Hua Qiling held her breath as she watched the group pass through them.

“I don’t know,” Grifres frowned. “I can see their souls, but they’re… normal.”

To his spiritual senses, they were just ordinary people.

“Miss Luo Yan?”

Hua Qiling looked up and asked.

“The townspeople,” Luo Yan whispered.

Dr. Messier, Uncle Andre, Grandpa Casico… all the monsters who had been kneeling and wailing in front of the church now appeared before Luo Yan, just like in the past, in their usual scribbled forms.

Were they real?

Or just… fading phantoms of the past…?

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 34 – Lying in Wait

Meanwhile, outside Ghost Town, in Yan City.

Despite the numerous incidents within Ghost Town, with the situation spiraling out of control and all previous plans scrapped, the outside world remained calm.

Ironically, due to Luo Yan’s awakening and the shattering of “eternal happiness,” the area around Ghost Town experienced a brief, eerie period of calm, like the quiet before a storm.

An hour had passed since Hua Qiling entered Ghost Town, and half an hour since the end of Dawn’s Ninth Cadre Alyxsia’s interference.

During this brief respite, the Yan City Anomaly Management Bureau headquarters had been trying to re-establish communication with Hua Qiling, but all attempts failed for unknown reasons.

Inside the Bureau, Li Ping stared at the dark screen on his desk, silent.

“Reporting to Director-General, Alyxsia’s attack resulted in seven deaths and thirty-two serious injuries. All casualties are receiving emergency treatment.”

A voice reported the losses from the operation through the communication channel.

Seven members of the investigation teams dead. This was the minimized loss only achieved thanks to the intervention of a “Peril” level ability user stationed in Yan City.

Even when dealing with a “Ruin” level disaster, such casualties were considered heavy.

Moreover, this was just a diversionary attack, not a full-blown confrontation.

This was the power of Alyxsia, Dawn’s Ninth Cadre, known for her large-scale mechanical tactics. Even Grifres, whom she called “brother,” was slightly weaker than her.

Of course, the terms of address within Dawn weren’t based on strength, but simply on age.

“Director-General Li, you… don’t worry too much.”

An Zaipao hesitated, then said, “You know Director Hua’s abilities, and her soul lamp is stable. Also, the situation in Ghost Town has calmed down, which means there shouldn’t be any major problems…”

“…” Li Ping was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “It’s different, very different…”

“What’s wrong?” An Zaipao asked.

“The fact that there’s no news from Ghost Town is the worst news.”

Li Ping sighed and whispered, “A ‘Peril’ level Dawn Cadre has been inside Ghost Town for a whole hour, yet nothing has happened. Do you think that’s normal?”

“Perhaps he hasn’t encountered…”

An Zaipao wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“You misunderstand. Regardless of whether he encountered anyone, the fact that nothing has happened, that it’s even calmer, is the problem itself.”

Li Ping said gravely, “Ghost Town is recorded as a ‘Ruin’ level incident in the archives, which should be handled by ‘Ruin’ level ability users. That’s why I didn’t forcefully stop Xiao Hua.”

“But now, even a ‘Peril’ level ability user has entered Ghost Town, yet there’s been almost no commotion. We need to reassess Ghost Town’s disaster rating.”

Although Li Ping wasn’t as strong as the two “Peril” level ability users stationed in Yan City, he was among the strongest “Ruin” level ability users. He had participated in resolving multiple “Ruin” level disasters and even faced a “Peril” level disaster head-on.

He was very experienced and could deduce the situation inside Ghost Town based on these anomalies.

“If it truly is a ‘Peril’ level disaster…” Li Ping frowned, his breathing heavy. “Perhaps the Ice Coffin Weapon… no, we need to request assistance from the Free Federation first.”

The deployment of the Ice Coffin Weapon required extreme caution.

“Go and inform Sun Biwu to be ready to support the ‘Ghost Town’ incident,” Li Ping turned to An Zaipao and said. “Also, make every effort to contact someone inside Ghost Town. If that fails, consider the possibility of a forced entry.”

Sun Biwu was one of the two “Peril” level ability users in Yan City. He was the one who suppressed the most dangerous machines during the confrontation with Alyxsia.

“…Understood.”

An Zaipao nodded and quickly got to work.

Although he now held the title of Director of the Disaster Response Department, he was still essentially doing secretarial work, just like before.

…

“This place… is interesting.”

A petite figure with blue twintails squatted down, fiddling with some unknown devices. Her delicate face was smeared with makeup and engine oil.

This was Alyxsia’s usual appearance. She had only put on makeup for the confrontation with the Free Federation so as not to lose face for Dawn.

…However, before even cleaning off her makeup, Alyxsia immediately got back to work.

No one had noticed that after disrupting the Yan City investigation teams, she hadn’t left immediately. Instead, she had changed locations and remained near Ghost Town.

“My brother has been inside for an hour without any news. Something’s definitely wrong!”

Alyxsia touched her chin, smearing more foundation on her hand.

She wiped it off on her ponytail in disgust, then clapped her hands.

“He couldn’t have been taken out by a ‘Ruin’ level girl, could he? Not in terms of strength, maybe she charmed him?”

Alyxsia considered this possibility, then immediately dismissed it. “No, no, no, that’s impossible. He’s always been ruthless, who could possibly take him down…”

(Grifres inside Ghost Town sneezes)

“Eliminating those possibilities, the only remaining issue is ‘Ghost Town’ itself.”

Alyxsia’s expression turned serious, her gaze shifting towards the distorted space before her. “It’s recorded as ‘Ruin’ level in the archives… but there have been cases of incorrect classifications.”

“Although my brother is a bit weaker, he’s still ‘Peril’ level. He shouldn’t be unable to handle a ‘Ruin’ level disaster.”

“And…”

Alyxsia pondered, then reached out and gently touched the distorted space.

Ripples spread through the space, then repelled her hand. A sense of mortal danger washed over Alyxsia.

Yan City was trying to contact Hua Qiling, and she was also trying to provide some assistance to Grifres, sending in a few mechanical soldiers, but all attempts had failed.

Not just the soldiers, but even surveillance devices couldn’t penetrate the barrier. It seemed that after Grifres entered Ghost Town, the entire town had sealed itself off.

“…Forget it. Even if it’s a ‘Peril’ level disaster, my brother should at least be able to escape. As for little Ling Qi, she’ll have to fend for herself~”

Alyxsia gave up on further exploring Ghost Town, but she didn’t leave either, continuing to lie in wait nearby, wary of Yan City’s movements.

And… the situation inside Ghost Town.

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 33 – Betrayal

The “Ghost Town” incident.

In the numerous disaster records of the New Era, it was just an unremarkable “Ruin” level event.

Even though there had been four or five observation records over the centuries, compared to other “Ruin” level disasters, “Ghost Town” was much more “benign.”

Of course, “benign” here didn’t mean it wasn’t destructive. In fact, even a slight leakage of “Ghost Town’s” power was enough to destroy ordinary city defenses.

However, “Ghost Town” hadn’t shown any strong aggression. Just as its name suggested, it drifted aimlessly like a ghost.

But even with the previous misjudgment, “Ghost Town” was still a “Ruin” level disaster event with multiple recorded instances in the archives.

“You might not believe this, but I’m actually just an investigator… not here to resolve the incident.”

Hua Qiling touched her nose awkwardly and looked away.

In the original plan, Yan City first dispatched an investigation team composed of “Calamity” level personnel, expecting to suffer about twenty percent casualties in exchange for preliminary results.

This kind of intelligence gathering suicide squad was a common tactic used by mega-cities when dealing with disasters, because every “Ruin” level ability user was invaluable.

Yan City, with a population of nearly a million, had only about thirty “Ruin” level ability users.

However, Hua Qiling had to admit that she had been impulsive, devising such a reckless plan and entering Ghost Town alone in place of the investigation team.

But now it seemed that this was a blessing in disguise.

Before entering, who could have known that Ghost Town was already on the verge of collapse?

Luo Yan’s growing doubts were nearing a breaking point. Just a little external force, and the fragile balance of Ghost Town would shatter.

What was even more unexpected was that Ghost Town wasn’t a “Ruin” level contaminated area at all.

A “Ruin” level incident was defined as one where “Ruin” level ability users could participate and had the ability to resolve it.

But after entering, Hua Qiling discovered that she couldn’t even deal with the small fry (like the shadowy monsters summoned by Ronner), let alone resolve the disaster.

“…That’s quite a predicament.”

Grifres twitched his lips, then, vigilantly observing the surroundings, said gravely,

“But I’m curious, why was ‘Ghost Town’ only classified as a ‘Ruin’ level incident? If we had known it was a ‘Peril’ level contaminated area, Alyxsia would have come with me.”

Alyxsia was the Dawn Cadre holding back Yan City’s forces outside, also a “Peril” level ability user, even stronger than Grifres.

Dawn always employed overwhelming force for rescue missions. For a “Ruin” level incident, they would send a “Peril” level ability user. For a “Peril” level incident, they would deploy multiple “Peril” level ability users, and if the situation was urgent, even a “Destruction” level ability user, considered the peak of human strength, might intervene.

“The disaster archives classified the incident based on ‘Ghost Town’s’ destructive capability towards the outside world. But in reality, this destruction was merely an unintentional side effect of ‘Ghost Town’s’ immense power.”

As a professional investigator, Hua Qiling sighed and concluded, “The true threat, the most dangerous aspect, lies within Ghost Town itself, at least ‘Peril’ level or above… But before this, no one knew.”

“I see…”

Grifres nodded thoughtfully.

Luo Yan was completely lost, but she didn’t ask any further questions.

She had never experienced the world outside the town. Although she was curious, resolving the town’s crisis was more important now.

Other questions could wait.

“The ‘Atonement Day’ ritual should be completely disrupted now, right?” Grifres turned to Luo Yan and asked gravely. “Miss Luo Yan, what do you think that ‘Mrs. Natalie’ will do next?”

Hua Qiling also looked at Luo Yan, her eyes questioning.

After all… only Luo Yan truly understood Ghost Town.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Luo Yan shook her head. She looked around and continued, “However, the townspeople who were here during the ‘Atonement Day’ ritual seem to have disappeared.”

Corrosive marks remained on the ground in the square, but the grotesque monsters had vanished without a trace.

“And, Mr. Ronner mentioned some interesting information before he died, such as ‘Mrs. Natalie obtaining power by making a wish to a demon’ and using it to ‘create a world of happiness’,” Luo Yan lowered her eyes and whispered.

Having spent countless years in the “eternally happy” town, she deeply understood Mrs. Natalie’s obsession.

“And ‘find Miss Tini’s lost wish’…” Hua Qiling added.

“…to resolve the crisis?” Grifres frowned.

Luo Yan was silent for a moment. She clearly remembered Ronner’s dying words, and combined with the horrific appearances of the townspeople-turned-monsters, as if they had suffered inhuman torture…

Connecting these clues, the tragic past of the town seemed to be gradually coming into focus.

“Perhaps… I know where we should go.”

Luo Yan stood up and said softly.

“Where?”

Hua Qiling asked.

“Natalie Manor,” Luo Yan looked towards the faintly visible manor in the distance, her eyes flickering. “Regarding little Tini’s lost wish…”

…

Mrs. Natalie sat gracefully in her chair, holding a worn doll in her arms.

A stone eye, the one from the church spire, slowly materialized before her.

The appearance of the stone eye signified the complete failure of the “Atonement Day” ritual, and Ronner, who had performed the ritual… was naturally dead.

Upon receiving news of Ronner’s death, Mrs. Natalie’s beautiful face was filled with unconcealed grief and sorrow.

She clutched her chest and whispered mournfully,

“Ronner, in the end, you still chose to betray us…”

Regardless of success or failure, when Ronner decided to unleash his complete form, revealing his grotesque body stitched together from countless limbs and flesh, his consciousness couldn’t be preserved.

It was his final effort, and what he considered his selfishness… Ronner had betrayed Mrs. Natalie’s wish for “eternal happiness for everyone.”

Because Ronner was in too much pain. In this endless torment disguised as “happiness,” he needed release.

“No, I can’t cry… Little Tini is watching…”

A smile, filled with love, abruptly appeared on Mrs. Natalie’s tear-stained face.

“We must be happy, eternally happy… Little Tini, you said… right?”

“That’s right, Mommy,” a sweet, childish voice sounded from the doll. “Little Tini’s wish is for everyone to have happiness!”

“Happiness…”

Mrs. Natalie laughed and cried, wordlessly hugging the doll tightly.

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 32 – Escape

At the same time that Ronner’s consciousness completely dissipated, the barrier he had erected within the church crumbled as well.

The shadowy monsters, previously restrained by Ronner, were now free, and with the statue destroyed, they began to rampage unchecked.

Violent tremors shook the church, the monsters’ roars echoing, the walls crumbling, and debris raining down.

“Not good!”

Hua Qiling reacted instantly, scooping up Luo Yan and rushing towards the church entrance.

Grifres wasn’t idle either. Despite having only one arm and being a mind-related ability user, his physical strength was considerable.

He single-handedly held up collapsing walls, allowing Hua Qiling and Luo Yan to escape safely before following after them.

“Boom…”

With several thunderous crashes, the ancient spire-topped church collapsed, the falling debris crushing countless shadowy monsters, but a significant number still escaped, scattering throughout the town.

The townspeople who had been praying outside the church had vanished. Aside from the roars and rampaging of the shadowy monsters, the town seemed to have returned to its initial deathly silence.

Beside them lay the ruins of the church, rubble everywhere, but the stone eye that had been atop the spire was now gone.

“Huff… huff…”

Hua Qiling carried Luo Yan out of the church before it completely collapsed, then gently set her down, gasping for air.

Even though Luo Yan was light, she still had weight.

Having been chased by the shadowy monsters and then sprinting out of the collapsing church at full speed, Hua Qiling was utterly exhausted.

“Thank you.”

Luo Yan felt embarrassed for being a burden but didn’t know what else to say.

“It’s okay, it’s okay…”

Hua Qiling waved her hand dismissively, then inadvertently met Luo Yan’s pale red eyes and quickly looked away towards the church. “Um, that Dawn guy should be alright, right?”

“Calling your savior ‘that guy’… isn’t that a bit rude? Or is it a Free Federation tradition to be both useless and impolite like you?”

A burly figure emerged from the dust and smoke of the collapsing church. Grifres walked out.

He looked at Hua Qiling with a mocking gaze, then turned to Luo Yan, his expression softening.

“Miss Luo Yan, are you alright?”

“I’m… fine…”

Luo Yan hid her strange expression and replied awkwardly.

Having been fighting each other just moments ago, and now suddenly showing concern… it was a strange feeling.

“I apologize for my earlier offense. I’ll make amends when we have the chance. Right now, we share a common goal: to escape this town,” Grifres paused, then added, “Or rather, to save it.”

In truth, Grifres’s opinion of Luo Yan had changed drastically, or rather, he had become much more wary of her.

Although he had confidently stayed behind to hold off Ronner, he had greatly underestimated Ronner’s strength.

If Ronner hadn’t been holding back, deliberately controlling his increasingly erratic behavior, Grifres felt he might have died there.

And then Ronner’s sudden frenzy, his attempt to prevent the destruction of the “Atonement Day statue,” which ultimately led to his demise… If all of this was Hua Qiling’s doing, Grifres would have found it absurd.

Coupled with the reappearance of “Manjusaka”… it could only be Miss Luo Yan.

Now it seemed that this mysterious Miss Luo Yan was far more significant to the town than he had initially thought, not just a tool for constructing the spiritual domain.

No mind-related ability user would be foolish enough to use their own soul to build a spiritual domain. They would always find a person with a strong soul to serve as the anchor point.

Otherwise, if something went wrong, it would be their own soul that suffered.

This method was extremely inhumane. Even “Dawn” wouldn’t readily use such drastic measures. Only “Primordial Demons” and their “Devil’s Apostles” would do such a thing.

So…

Grifres glanced at Luo Yan’s slender figure from the corner of his eye, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He didn’t dare look directly at Luo Yan, because her face, her eyes, and her soul… were like weapons, silently “devouring” anyone who approached her.

“For Hua Qiling from Yan City to still be conscious after being so close to her… she’s quite capable,” Grifres thought to himself.

Although he had called her useless, Hua Qiling was young. For someone her age to be involved in this “Peril” level disaster event was already quite impressive.

“Gri…”

Luo Yan couldn’t finish, having forgotten his full name.

Although she had vaguely heard it while unconscious, she hadn’t paid attention.

“Grifres.”

Grifres supplied his name.

“Alright, Mister,” Luo Yan still found it a bit difficult to pronounce and didn’t say his full name. “Although I don’t really mind, but what happened earlier… could you explain?”

Luo Yan was referring to Grifres attacking her without a word when they first met.

Hua Qiling immediately stood beside Luo Yan, glaring at Grifres as if trying to intimidate him.

But Grifres didn’t seem embarrassed at all. He said seriously,

“I came to take my little sister Ling Qi away. She was trapped in the spiritual domain constructed from your soul consciousness, so to rescue her, I had to attack you.”

“Little sister?” Luo Yan blinked. “The name doesn’t seem to fit.”

“Names are just labels,” Grifres shook his head and said gravely. “Once you join Dawn, we’re family. Regardless of status, we address each other as brothers and sisters.”

“Dawn… That doesn’t sound so bad.” Luo Yan glanced at Hua Qiling. “But Miss Hua Qiling, I remember you saying that you and Dawn are enemies…”

“I don’t know,” Hua Qiling shrugged nonchalantly. “Some historical issues. The Apprehension Department would know more about that. I belong to the Disaster Response Department, which deals with disasters.”

“Hmph, I know. If you were one of the Apprehension Department’s lapdogs, you would be dead already.”

Grifres sneered. After all, it was the Apprehension Department’s fault that Ling Qi was trapped in such a dangerous place.

Hua Qiling glared back defiantly (or perhaps fearlessly), leaving Luo Yan looking slightly exasperated.

“However,” Grifres asked, puzzled, “why did Yan City only send you, a reconnaissance-type ‘Ruin’ level ability user, to handle this supposedly ‘Ruin’ level disaster event?”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 31 – Mistakes

“Mr. Ronner,” Luo Yan patted her clothes, declining Hua Qiling’s offer of support, and walked towards Ronner alone. “I’m sorry.”

“Mmm… mmm…”

The giant monster seemed to be sobbing, but every piece of flesh on its body roared and howled, venting endless resentment and rage.

Hua Qiling tensed, about to approach Luo Yan, but Grifres stopped her with a look.

This wasn’t the time for “outsiders” to interfere…

The giant monster whimpered on the ground, the silver-haired girl watching it calmly, extreme beauty and extreme ugliness separated by a single step.

“Why…” Ronner roared mournfully, his voice filled with grief and sorrow. “Why… not kill me…?”

“But you’re already dead, Mr. Ronner,” Luo Yan whispered.

Ronner, the manor’s butler, had always been gentle and refined, easy to talk to, and one of the people Luo Yan respected the most.

But he was no longer his elegant and composed self. If Luo Yan hadn’t seen the sorrowful, weeping blonde man within this giant, grotesque body, she wouldn’t have recognized him as Butler Ronner.

However, beside Ronner’s soul were tangled, twisted soul fragments, radiating a chilling hatred and the accumulated obsession of years.

As Luo Yan said, “Ronner” was already dead. His current form was merely a shell, barely held together by these resentful spirits, with little time remaining.

Yet, even so, the prolonged suffering hadn’t extinguished Ronner’s consciousness. He was clearly and helplessly trapped in endless torment.

“Pain… so much pain…”

The giant monster struggled to its feet, even though its flesh was constantly disintegrating, the purplish-black viscous liquid no longer corrosive, turning into ash and smoke as it fell.

“It’s all your fault… It’s all your fault…”

Ronner’s form swayed precariously, but he still struggled towards Luo Yan.

“There is no happiness…”

“Why should we bear these sins…”

“The torment we suffered, the pain we endured…”

Many voices echoed from within Ronner’s body – old men, children, women, men…

At this moment, they all wailed in unison.

“You are the sin! You should all die! All of you!”

The giant, twisted body extended countless limbs, reaching frantically towards Luo Yan, as if trying to drag her into a bottomless hell.

Hua Qiling gripped her daggers, and Grifres’s hand tightened around his soul spear, both watching the scene nervously.

If anything happened to Luo Yan, they would immediately intervene and save her.

But nothing happened.

Luo Yan stood still, not moving an inch, her expression as calm as before.

Ronner’s twisted limbs reached within an inch of Luo Yan, then crumbled into foul black ash.

No matter how much the monster struggled, it couldn’t touch a single hair on Luo Yan’s head.

Until finally, the monster completely dissipated, leaving only a golden figure.

—Ronner, his last shred of consciousness, weaker than ever.

However, he was also lighter than ever.

“I can’t remember how many years it’s been…” The translucent blonde man sighed deeply. “The endless torment… can finally end today.”

For countless years, voices like the ones he had just heard had echoed in Ronner’s mind, a torrent of resentment accompanying his unnatural existence, until the very end.

Even “eternal happiness” couldn’t alleviate his pain. A life continued in such a way was destined to be cursed.

Fortunately, it was all over.

“Miss Luo Yan, thank you,” Ronner looked at Luo Yan and said sincerely, even though his face was still filled with sorrow. “But I also want to apologize.”

“Why?”

Luo Yan tilted her head and asked.

“Because… I was selfish. I am finally free, but you…” Ronner looked at Hua Qiling and the heavily injured Grifres behind Luo Yan. “…and you, are destined to continue to be trapped in this endless ‘eternal happiness’.”

“No, we won’t,” Luo Yan whispered.

“No, you don’t understand…”

Ronner’s form began to dissipate. Although he was pessimistic about Luo Yan and the others’ resistance, he still tried to reveal as much information as possible.

“Mrs. Natalie, in her despair, made a wish to a demon and obtained its power, creating this world of ‘eternal happiness’…”

“Her eternally sleeping daughter is her obsession, the driving force behind this ‘eternal happiness’… It’s an unbreakable curse, but also a final struggle born from an irreversible tragedy…”

“If… you have a chance to break free from all this… find Miss Tini’s lost wish. Perhaps you can find a glimmer of hope within the pervading despair…”

Luo Yan silently memorized Ronner’s words, her understanding of the town and Mrs. Natalie deepening.

Looking at the barely perceptible form of Ronner’s consciousness, Luo Yan curtsied, just as she had done in the past, offering a respectful bow to the diligent butler.

“Thank you, Mr. Ronner. Rest in peace.”

In his final moments, Ronner looked at Luo Yan, a faint smile finally appearing on his lips. He closed his eyes slowly.

“If that’s the case… then I can rest easy…”

But just as Ronner felt his consciousness fading into darkness, he inadvertently saw Luo Yan’s eyes.

No longer a faint crimson, but vibrant, intense scarlet eyes, gazing at everything with cold indifference. He seemed to have seen such eyes somewhere before.

Wait, somewhere…

Wrong!

Terribly wrong!

Ronner’s fragmented memories screamed in alarm. He had made a terrible mistake!

A flood of memories flashed through Ronner’s fading vision, each scene bearing those icy, abyss-like scarlet eyes.

Until finally, Ronner saw a throne, a throne bound by countless chains.

A girl sat on the throne, her black hair turned completely silver, her scarlet eyes blazing.

This was an important memory that had been erased from Ronner’s mind.

No…

Ronner struggled, trying to make a sound.

But it was too late.

By the time he realized his fatal mistake, Ronner’s consciousness had completely faded.

He left no trace in this world, unable to utter a word, unable to share his final epiphany.

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 30 – I Don’t Think It’s Good

Hua Qiling carried Luo Yan on her back, sniper rifle in hand, rushing towards the church exit along the way they came.

The shadowy monsters relentlessly attacked, forcing her to constantly use the sniper rifle to fend them off, quickly depleting her ammunition.

Hua Qiling’s own ability was “Eagle Eye,” which, before its evolution, offered almost no combat capabilities.

Her fighting strength mainly came from this specially designed sniper rifle and her hand-to-hand combat skills honed from a young age.

Unfortunately, in this cramped environment, and with the unconscious Luo Yan on her back, she couldn’t utilize her close-combat skills and had to rely solely on the rifle.

“Damn it…”

The relentless horde of monsters kept Hua Qiling on the defensive, and she gradually deviated from her planned route.

After running for an unknown amount of time, she still hadn’t escaped the church, which didn’t seem that large from the outside.

“It feels like I’m running in a loop…”

Hua Qiling was anxious but had no better solution.

Just as her stamina was about to give out, the shadowy monsters suddenly stopped, hesitantly hovering in place, afraid to approach.

“Huff… huff… What’s happening?”

Hua Qiling looked at the suddenly stationary monsters, then forward.

Her breath hitched.

“A statue…”

A statue was suspended in mid-air not far ahead, not embedded in the wall, but bound by countless chains.

This statue was more exquisite and lifelike than any she had seen before.

At first glance, Hua Qiling even subconsciously thought it was Luo Yan, awake.

“Are these monsters afraid of this statue?”

Hua Qiling pondered for a moment, then glanced at the still-unconscious Luo Yan, a look of determination flashing in her eyes.

“Destroy the statue!”

There wasn’t much she could do. She could only follow Luo Yan’s previous suggestion and destroy the statue used in the “Atonement Day” ritual.

Although she didn’t know why the ritual hadn’t been interrupted when she destroyed the statue in the confessional, this eerie and imposing statue might also be part of the “Atonement Day” ritual.

Thinking of this, Hua Qiling didn’t hesitate. She loaded one of the few remaining “Philosopher’s Stones” into the sniper rifle and aimed at the statue.

“No—”

A hoarse roar suddenly echoed.

The wall beside them was violently destroyed, and a two-meter-tall, blood-soaked, grotesque monster charged in.

Countless eyes embedded in its body stared intently at Hua Qiling, its torn orifice emitting a chilling shriek.

Following closely behind the monster was Grifres, also covered in wounds, seemingly even more severely injured than the monster.

Grifres had been locked in a difficult battle with the monstrous Ronner when Ronner suddenly shrieked and charged in this direction, crashing through the wall. He had no choice but to follow.

Then, Grifres saw the stunned Hua Qiling and the unconscious Luo Yan on her back.

“You couldn’t even escape?! Are all the people in Yan City as useless as you?!”

Grifres roared at Hua Qiling, his face filled with anger.

He had gone to such lengths to allow Hua Qiling to escape with Luo Yan, but she hadn’t even managed to get out of the church.

“I…”

Hua Qiling wanted to explain, but it was too late.

Ronner, as if losing all reason, lunged at Hua Qiling. Even as he approached, his wounds worsened under the statue’s light, putrid blood clots falling to the ground.

Hua Qiling finally understood why the monsters didn’t dare approach the statue, but she couldn’t dodge Ronner’s attack. Behind her were the other shadowy monsters, watching with predatory gazes.

Grifres was still some distance away and wouldn’t be able to reach her in time.

Just then, Hua Qiling heard a cold, indifferent voice beside her ear.

“Destroy the statue.”

It was Luo Yan’s voice!

Although Luo Yan was still unconscious on her back, Hua Qiling heard it clearly. It was definitely Luo Yan’s voice, even the tone was identical.

And at that moment, Luo Yan’s finger twitched slightly, gently touching the “Philosopher’s Stone” on the sniper rifle.

Hua Qiling didn’t hesitate. She held her breath and, just before Ronner reached her, pulled the trigger.

As before, a dark flower bloomed at the muzzle, enveloping both the suspended statue and Ronner. The breathtaking beauty consumed everything, the falling petals scattering in the wind.

…

“Miss Luo Yan, is this your answer?”

Mrs. Natalie looked at Luo Yan, her beautiful face filled with sorrow.

The surrounding environment was constantly collapsing, rebuilding, and collapsing again, a scene of apocalyptic proportions.

But Luo Yan sat calmly, silent.

She could vaguely perceive the situation outside, sensing Hua Qiling’s desperate escape attempt.

The church had long been enveloped by Ronner’s domain. Until the domain was broken, the church was a closed loop.

No matter which direction one fled, the path would be the same, eventually leading back to the starting point.

The reason Hua Qiling had finally escaped this endless loop and reached the suspended statue was because of Luo Yan’s influence.

Luo Yan had rejected “eternal happiness,” and because of this, her influence on the strange church had guided Hua Qiling to the breaking point – the statue where the true “Atonement Day” ritual was taking place.

The other statues were merely projections of this one.

“Why… why is this happening… Miss Luo Yan…?”

Tears welled up in Mrs. Natalie’s eyes, but the faint smile on her lips remained unchanged.

“Even if it’s illusory, isn’t a world filled with happiness good? Why… must you continue to face such a cruel reality…?”

Luo Yan considered the question seriously and shook her head.

“I don’t know.”

She stood up, turned slightly, and walked towards the door.

“But I don’t think it’s good.”

A rumbling crash echoed. After a blinding flash of white light, Luo Yan slowly opened her eyes. The dimly lit church reappeared before her.

The shattered statue lay on the ground, broken into countless pieces, almost unrecognizable.

The twisted, giant monster also sat on the ground, all its eyes staring blankly at the sky, filled with heartbreaking sorrow.

“Miss Luo Yan, you’re finally awake!”

Hua Qiling cried out joyfully. Luo Yan simply nodded and looked up at the monster.

“Luo… Yan…”

The monster’s orifice opened slightly, emitting a hoarse voice.

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 29 – I’m Sorry

Dawn.

Luo Yan opened her eyes and saw the familiar ceiling.

Grayish-white patches piled together, with a few black dots beside them – the oil lamps used for lighting at night.

This was the cottage she had lived in for many years.

“…”

It seemed… a new day had begun.

Luo Yan struggled to sit up in bed, her body weak and her movements labored.

Supporting herself against the wall, she slowly walked to the dressing table and sat down, as she always did.

The silvery-white figure in the mirror, its crimson eyes striking.

At the same time, noises gradually grew louder outside. Luo Yan turned her head. Just beyond the wooden wall, the world was bustling with activity.

“Miss Luo Yan, Miss Luo Yan!”

Several cheerful voices called out from outside. Luo Yan recognized them.

Dr. Messier, Uncle Andre, even… Priest Upton. They were all familiar faces from the town.

Their calls evoked memories, memories of beautiful and happy times…

When Luo Yan snapped back to reality, she found herself sitting in the dining hall of the Natalie Manor, a long table before her.

She had dined here countless times with Mrs. Natalie and little Tini, spending countless hours together.

“Luo Yan Sister.”

A tug on her clothes. Luo Yan looked to the side. Little Tini, with her large blue eyes, looked at her hopefully.

“Stay, just stay… forever… with us, okay?”

“So, this is happiness?” Luo Yan whispered, then turned to look at the other side, as if she already knew Mrs. Natalie was standing there. “Is this your happiness, Mrs. Natalie?”

“It’s our happiness,” Mrs. Natalie clasped her hands together, her fingers intertwined. “It’s the ‘eternal happiness’ granted to us by the ‘Lord’.”

“No pain, no sorrow, the painful past has vanished, only eternal happiness remains. This is the meaning of our existence here.”

“So—” Mrs. Natalie looked at Luo Yan, her blue eyes, identical to little Tini’s, filled with an eerie fervor. “Miss Luo Yan… stay.”

“For us, for everyone.”

…

“Us?”

Hua Qiling noticed something odd about Ronner’s words and instinctively looked behind her.

Sure enough, someone was standing there, and Hua Qiling recognized him.

It was the one-armed man who had attacked her and Luo Yan, the one who had followed them to the confessional.

“It’s you!”

Hua Qiling immediately tensed up, gripping the sniper rifle in Luo Yan’s hands.

Not only was “Dawn” considered an enemy of the Free Federation, but he had also tried to kill Luo Yan during their previous encounter. It was no wonder Hua Qiling was so nervous.

“Miss Hua Qiling, we can catch up later. At least for now, our common enemy should be him.”

The one-armed man said calmly, his gaze fixed on Ronner.

He paused, then continued, “‘Dawn’s’ Seventeenth Cadre, ‘Soul Spear’ Grifres.”

Hua Qiling’s expression shifted.

“…I know you.”

“Soul Spear.” His ability was unknown, but it was certain that it could directly attack the soul.

Generally, mind-related abilities weren’t primarily focused on combat, but possessed various peculiar functions. However, “Soul Spear” was an exception, a freak among mind-related ability users.

He had put all his skill points into offense, which meant his mental power had no other use besides piercing souls.

However, such a specialized ability was also terrifying.

If he went all out, Grifres could instantly take any “Peril” level ability user down with him. Even a “Destruction” level ability user, the strongest human combatant, wouldn’t escape unscathed from such an attack.

“Good that you know,” Grifres didn’t waste any more words and walked directly towards Ronner. “I’ll deal with him. You take Miss Luo Yan and leave the church, then find an opportunity to wake her up.”

“But…”

Hua Qiling hesitated.

“No buts,” Grifres raised his remaining arm, an illusory spear appearing in his hand. “She’s our only clue to escaping this hellhole. If we fall into the spiritual domain again, it won’t be so easy to break free.”

“You can’t escape. Stay here.”

Ronner sighed. Countless shadows surged from his body, solidifying into grotesque monsters within the space.

Seeing this, Hua Qiling didn’t hesitate any longer. She scooped up Luo Yan and rushed out of the confessional.

The monsters roared and chased after Hua Qiling’s fleeing figure.

Grifres couldn’t stop so many monsters, nor did he intend to. He focused on Ronner, his spear poised to strike.

“Although I don’t know what happened here, I can see that it was an irreversible tragedy,” Grifres said gravely. “I can’t save you, I just want to take our little sister home. At least she shouldn’t have to continue experiencing this tragedy with you.”

Ronner didn’t reply, standing silently beneath the statue, the same sorrowful look in his eyes.

After a long moment, he lowered his head and whispered,

“…I’m sorry.”

“Sor… ry…”

His voice was hoarse as he repeated the words. The gentle, refined blonde man vanished, replaced by a monster twice the size of a human.

The monster’s body was stitched together with grotesque limbs, even its eyes multiplied, rolling within the putrid flesh, all fixated on Grifres, filled with deep sorrow.

“This is… an eternal… curse…”

Whether it was hands or feet that moved on the ground, the monster slowly approached Grifres, countless claws reaching out towards him.

Grifres’s expression was one of utter shock. With his mind-related ability, he could easily see Ronner’s soul, but he had never seen a soul like this.

Such a fragmented soul…

Just like his body, it was a fusion of countless soul fragments and remnants, given only a single consciousness named “Ronner.”

No matter how much this consciousness desired to be free from this depravity, the soul would never betray its master.

“There is… no… salvation…”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 28 – Eternal Happiness

“Priest” Mr. Upton.

He was the most devout believer, yet also the kindest old man.

Luo Yan rarely saw any emotional fluctuations in Upton’s expression; it was always calm and peaceful.

But now, it was so fierce.

“Sin… You are the source of all sin…”

The “priest” propped himself up with his arms, lurching towards Luo Yan and Hua Qiling, extending his claws.

“Atone… for us…”

He seemed to be roaring, yet also weeping, foul-smelling blood oozing from his bulging eyes, his body stumbling as he dragged himself forward.

“At least ‘Ruin’ level or above,” Hua Qiling immediately judged his strength from his aura, her breathing slightly rapid. “Miss Luo Yan, please step back!”

Although Luo Yan’s combat ability with “Severed String” was even stronger than hers, she always felt conflicted when facing these monsters, once townspeople, and was reluctant to harm them.

In that case… she would do it herself.

However, to Hua Qiling’s surprise, Luo Yan didn’t move.

She shook her head at Hua Qiling, then looked back at the “priest” crawling on the ground and whispered,

“Mr. Upton, you’re tired.”

“Hiss… hiss…”

The “priest” only responded with ragged breaths, opening his grotesque orifice, a cold glint flashing on his twisted claws.

As Hua Qiling watched anxiously, Luo Yan raised the sniper rifle, aiming at the approaching monster.

She slowly closed her eyes, some power once again being drawn from her soul.

This time, it wasn’t the effect of a “Philosopher’s Stone,” but Luo Yan actively using the ability she had discovered.

A trance, a daze…

Then she pulled the trigger.

A pulse of energy, similar to the one that destroyed the statue, shot out from the muzzle and struck the “priest” directly.

But unlike before, a faint blue flower bloomed silently, its beauty breathtaking.

“Wasn’t that an ordinary bullet? Why… why is the effect the same as a ‘Philosopher’s Stone’?” Hua Qiling’s eyes widened, then she frowned slightly. “No, wait… this feeling is different from last time.”

The dark flower from before had evoked only endless sorrow, but this faint blue flower was filled with a sense of release.

The “priest’s” expression and movements froze. The blooming blue flower consumed his fading life force.

The ugly tumors on his body peeled off one by one, turning into gray smoke and dissipating. The monster’s grotesque appearance gradually returned to normal.

Finally, the “priest”—no, Mr. Upton—revealed his former appearance.

He was a white-haired old man, his body severed at the waist.

His pale hair was stained with blood. His right eye had been gouged out but not completely detached, hanging precariously by a thin tendon.

“It’s… all our sins…”

A look of relief appeared on Priest Upton’s face. He turned slightly to look at Luo Yan, his eyes seemingly filled with gratitude and apology.

After fully blooming, the blue flower quickly withered.

As the petals scattered, the priest’s body disintegrated inch by inch, finally turning into dust.

“Rest in peace, Mr. Upton,” Luo Yan whispered. “You’re… finally free.”

“What was that just now…?”

Hua Qiling was still shaken by what she had just witnessed. The white-haired old man who appeared after the monster’s form disappeared, his death was too gruesome to bear.

Who could harbor such malice towards him?

“I don’t know, perhaps something that happened in the town’s past…”

Luo Yan shook her head. She had some speculations, but she didn’t voice them.

Not only Mr. Upton, but many of the monsters outside also bore horrific injuries, as if they had been subjected to inhuman torture.

“So is it over now?”

Hua Qiling exhaled. Staying in Ghost Town for so long had been incredibly oppressive.

Whether it was being trapped in the “eternal happiness” or witnessing the true state of the town, she felt a heavy weight on her chest.

“It should be over…”

Luo Yan frowned slightly and looked around. Nothing seemed to have changed.

“Should we go outside and check?”

Hua Qiling suggested.

“Let’s go.”

Luo Yan nodded, picked up the sniper rifle, and walked towards the door.

But just then, a sharp pain shot through her head, her vision went black, and she stumbled.

As Hua Qiling rushed to support her, she heard that chilling chanting again.

“Grant our humble hopes and wishes, bestow upon your suffering followers, an eternally happy paradise.”

Hua Qiling turned around in horror. The statue that had just been destroyed was now perfectly intact, glowing brighter than before.

Even the statue’s features gradually became clearer.

“This, this is…”

Hua Qiling looked at the statue in disbelief, then down at the unconscious Luo Yan in her arms.

“Why…”

“Exactly the same?”

The statue’s face was identical to Luo Yan’s!

However, the statue’s expression was one of indifference, looking down upon its followers like ants.

“Want to know why?”

A gentle voice sounded. Hua Qiling’s gaze shifted downwards. A well-dressed blonde man had appeared beneath the statue. He was the one chanting.

“Because it was her, Miss Luo Yan, who saved us. She granted us ‘eternal happiness’,” Ronner bowed deeply to Luo Yan and whispered. “Therefore, she deserves our worship and reverence.”

“No, that’s impossible…”

Hua Qiling’s mind was in turmoil. She hadn’t expected this.

“But she awakened, because of you.” Ronner looked up at the statue again, his hands clasped in prayer. “With the ‘Atonement Day’ ritual, we can bring Miss Luo Yan back and allow the town’s ‘eternal happiness’ to continue…”

“This is… Mrs. Natalie’s wish.” Ronner, his back to Hua Qiling, shed tears. “We will live in eternal happiness, and all happy people can have their happiness—those who are happy shall be eternally happy.”

And Mrs. Natalie’s happiness was her only daughter, little Tini.

“Since you have given up your last chance to leave,” Ronner turned slightly, tears streaming down half of his handsome face, “then join us… in ‘eternal happiness’…”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 27 – It’s You

The atmosphere changed instantly as they stepped through the church doors.

The door seemed to be the entrance to a barrier. The roars and howls outside vanished the moment Luo Yan and Hua Qiling entered the church.

It was as if they were in a different world, the surroundings deathly silent.

“Miss Luo Yan, have you been to this church before?”

Hua Qiling cautiously observed the surroundings, drawing the daggers from her waist. This time, she was truly using them as weapons.

“Of course,” Luo Yan hugged the sniper rifle, her slender frame a stark contrast to the large weapon. “However, my vision wasn’t very clear back then, but it’s not much different from now.”

Inside the church was a spacious hall, filled with rows of pews.

Stained-glass windows with intricate patterns lined the hall, a dim oil lamp hanging between each window. The weak candlelight cast faint circles of illumination, barely reaching a few inches.

The hall remained dark, making it difficult to see clearly.

Fortunately, Hua Qiling possessed the most suitable ability for this place: “Eagle Eye.” With her emerald eyes ignited, everything in the church was revealed.

As before, the “Eagle Eye” vision also applied to Luo Yan.

Although it wasn’t the first time Luo Yan experienced the enhanced vision of “Eagle Eye,” she still felt a sense of novelty and wonder.

She also recalled Hua Qiling claiming to be blind when they first met, a strange expression appearing on her face.

“There’s blood on the floor.”

Hua Qiling’s words interrupted Luo Yan’s thoughts. She followed Hua Qiling’s gaze and saw a long trail of dark purple blood on the floor, seemingly sizzling from corrosion.

“It should be Mr. Upton’s…”

The blood trail stretched further into the depths of the church.

“Where is he going?” Hua Qiling asked. “Where is the place for the final prayer?”

“…I never came inside during ‘Atonement Day’ before, so I don’t know,” Luo Yan looked at the blood trail, pondering for a moment. “But judging from the direction, it should be the confessional.”

There were many statues in the church. Destroying them all one by one was practically impossible and unnecessary.

Their goal was to find the statue used for the final prayer and destroy it, completely interrupting the ritual.

“Let’s go!”

Without further delay, Hua Qiling hoisted Luo Yan onto her back and, following the blood trail and Luo Yan’s guidance, rushed towards the confessional.

Not long after they left, a battered and incomplete figure also entered the church: the one-armed man.

He glanced back apprehensively, seeing a blonde figure at the end of the tide of monsters, silently and sadly watching him.

“Damn it…”

The one-armed man admitted that his thoughts were in disarray. On one hand, he didn’t want to give up on rescuing Ling Qi, but on the other hand… he had a feeling that if he continued, he might not be able to protect himself.

Even though he was a powerful “Peril” level ability user, considered a top-tier combatant in any mega-city, in this strange town, strength alone wasn’t enough.

Moreover, Ronner, the self-proclaimed “Butler of Natalie Manor,” was already as powerful as him, let alone the unseen manor owner.

But when the one-armed man saw Hua Qiling and Luo Yan enter the church, he decided to follow.

He knew Luo Yan’s special status in this strange town. If there was any chance of escaping, it would likely be through her.

“No matter what, I have to keep going!”

The one-armed man exhaled heavily, ignoring the blonde man behind him, and followed the trail left by Luo Yan and Hua Qiling.

…

As they moved deeper into the church, the light grew dimmer.

Precarious oil lamps hung on the walls of the narrow corridor, their weak flames offering little solace in the boundless darkness.

“It should be just up ahead…”

Luo Yan frowned slightly. In her memory, the church wasn’t this large; it should be much smaller.

But there were already enough strange things; one more didn’t make much difference.

“Yes, I hear it.”

Hua Qiling nodded, exhaling, her expression serious.

“Supreme Lord… answer your humble follower… endless sins… forgiveness…”

A low, hoarse chanting echoed around them. Following the source of the sound, Luo Yan and Hua Qiling quickly reached the confessional and carefully pushed the door open.

Unlike Luo Yan’s memory, the confessional, which used to be small and cramped, barely fitting three or four people, was now incredibly spacious.

The half-bodied Priest Upton, just like the monsters outside, had his hands clasped together, his head slightly raised in prayer.

In the direction he was facing, a faintly glowing statue stood.

Luo Yan and Hua Qiling’s gazes were involuntarily drawn to the statue, but even with “Eagle Eye,” they couldn’t see its features clearly, only vaguely discerning some feminine characteristics.

Priest Upton didn’t seem to notice their arrival, continuing his final prayer for “Atonement Day.”

“Humble hopes… descend… happiness…”

Hua Qiling gripped her daggers, nervously watching the priest and glancing at Luo Yan.

Luo Yan held the sniper rifle, but she didn’t immediately aim at the statue and pull the trigger. Instead, she looked at the priest with a complex expression.

“Miss Luo Yan…”

Hua Qiling whispered a reminder.

“I know.”

Luo Yan sighed slightly and raised the sniper rifle.

But this time, she didn’t use a “Philosopher’s Stone.” Instead, Hua Qiling had reloaded it with ordinary bullets.

—Of course, due to the rifle’s structure, even ordinary bullets still amplified the user’s abilities.

However, it couldn’t achieve the effect of a “Philosopher’s Stone,” which preserved the original ability. Instead, it converted the ability into a pure release of energy.

So, this time, Luo Yan didn’t see any illusions, only a concentrated pulse of energy shooting out and striking the statue.

The statue, which seemed to be breathing, crumbled instantly, the pulse disintegrating it completely.

The priest’s chanting stopped abruptly. He stared at where the statue had been, a look of shock on his face.

“No… my Lord… Who… who has offended my Lord…?”

He stiffly turned his head and looked at Luo Yan, an expression of disbelief on his twisted face.

It seemed that Luo Yan’s appearance shocked the “priest” even more than the destruction of the statue.

“Long time no see, Mr. Upton,” Luo Yan whispered.

“It’s… you…”

The “priest” stared at Luo Yan, his whole body trembling slightly as he slowly turned around.

Even his voice, once gentle, was now hoarse and inhuman.

“It’s actually… you…”

“Why… why is it you…?”