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

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 26 – Half a Priest

Ignoring the monsters’ appearances, the scene before the church was very familiar to Luo Yan.

Or rather, she had once been a part of it.

“Atonement Day.”

The town’s annual festival, where all residents would stop working and gather in front of the church to pray to their deity.

[Offer precious belongings as sacrifices, pray for His forgiveness of our inherent sins, and appease His boundless wrath.]

[Then… He will, in His supreme form, fulfill our humble hopes and wishes.]

“…This is an evil god, right?”

Hua Qiling looked astonished after hearing this.

“Aren’t all gods like this?”

Luo Yan asked, puzzled.

They stared at each other, neither understanding the other’s words.

“Ahem… Anyway, let’s put aside the question of faith for now. Is today the town’s ‘Atonement Day’?”

Hua Qiling coughed to ease the awkwardness and asked.

“No, although time in the town has always been chaotic, today is definitely not ‘Atonement Day’,” Luo Yan replied gravely. “Before ‘Atonement Day,’ the town would make elaborate preparations, but I don’t know the specific details.”

“Then it must be that woman’s doing,” Hua Qiling said.

“Mrs. Natalie…”

Luo Yan’s heart sank. She knew how strong Mrs. Natalie’s obsession with “eternal happiness” was. The annual “Atonement Day” was likely a crucial part of maintaining that “eternal happiness.”

This sudden “Atonement Day” ritual must be related to reconstructing “Ghost Town.”

In that case…

“We must disrupt this ‘Atonement Day’!” Luo Yan whispered.

“How?”

Hua Qiling raised the sniper rifle, but recalling Luo Yan’s previous performance, she hesitated whether to hand it over.

After all, in Luo Yan’s hands, “Severed String” was clearly a level above…

Luo Yan didn’t notice Hua Qiling’s hesitation. She looked up at the church before them.

Bathed in the light of the stone eye, the church glowed faintly. Its doors were half-open, revealing a darkness within that seemed to devour all light.

“A ‘priest’ will enter the church soon, carrying all the offerings, to offer the final prayer to the statue inside, seeking the ‘Lord’s’ forgiveness.”

Luo Yan paused, then continued, “But I don’t know what the offerings are, because I wasn’t responsible for that in the manor…”

“So, we’re going to kill the ‘priest’?” Hua Qiling asked.

“…” Luo Yan was silent for a moment. “If possible, we should try to destroy the statue they pray to.”

“Alright.”

Hua Qiling shrugged. She understood Luo Yan’s thoughts.

Not long ago, Luo Yan had still been living in the “eternally happy” town. These monsters, in Luo Yan’s past perception, were living people.

She couldn’t bear to harm them, and Hua Qiling understood.

“When do we go in?”

Finally, it was time for action, and Hua Qiling was eager to fight.

Previously, she had either been unable to use her powers or faced insurmountable odds, making her, a “Ruin” level ability user, feel like dead weight in a “Ruin” level incident.

…Of course, it would be foolish to still consider the “Ghost Town” incident as merely “Ruin” level.

“After everyone finishes praying, the eye above should close. We’ll go in then.”

Luo Yan looked apprehensively at the stone eye atop the church spire. She had a nagging sense of familiarity, but she couldn’t place it.

Regarding this town, the church, the “Lord,” and herself… the secrets hidden within had yet to be fully revealed…

Just then, the stone eye, which the monsters had been worshipping, returned to normal. A “priest” slowly emerged from the crowd of monsters and walked towards the pulpit in the square.

The “priest” was also a monster, but it only had half a body, its lower half severed at the waist, dragging a long, dark trail of blood.

It wore worn-out leather shoes on its remaining withered arms, using them as feet to walk.

Upon reaching the pulpit, it skillfully removed the shoes and, using its arms, nimbly climbed onto the platform and settled its half-body.

This series of actions was incredibly natural, without any sense of incongruity.

After climbing onto the pulpit, the half-monster carefully adjusted the tall white hat on its tumorous head, even though the hat was mostly burned.

“The ‘Lord’ has heard our sins and wishes. The ‘Lord’ will forgive everyone and bring eternal happiness.”

Its deep voice was kind and gentle, completely different from its grotesque appearance, and unlike the hoarse voices of the townspeople, its words were clear and distinct.

If one ignored the half-monster’s horrifying appearance, it seemed like an ordinary, kind old man.

“Mr. Upton…”

Luo Yan’s eyes flickered. She recognized the old man.

As the only priest in the town’s church, even in the “eternal happiness,” he had been the kindest of them all.

But this kind old man, for some reason, had half of his body severed.

“Now, on behalf of everyone in town, I will perform the final prayer ritual,” the half-monster’s torn orifice opened and closed, emitting a foul odor, its deformed fangs faintly visible. Yet, its voice remained calm. “May the Lord’s light redeem us all.”

After speaking, it jumped down, put on its shoes again, and walked towards the church entrance.

At the same time, the gaze of the stone eye vanished completely, and the silent monsters erupted in fierce roars once more, their twisted limbs pressing together as they scrambled towards the church entrance, but none crossed the threshold.

“Now’s our chance!” Luo Yan said gravely.

Hua Qiling immediately hoisted Luo Yan onto her back and handed her the sniper rifle.

Luo Yan took the rifle without hesitation and slung it over her shoulder.

They bypassed the surging crowd of monsters and rushed towards the church entrance.

…

However, what neither Luo Yan nor Hua Qiling saw was that after they left, Ronner’s figure slowly appeared in their place, a sorrowful sadness in his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

“How I wish… you could succeed, that you could break this eternal curse…”

“But I can’t.”

“This is Mrs. Natalie’s only wish. For her…”

“I’m sorry, Miss Luo Yan.”

As if sensing something, Ronner turned slightly and looked back.

Then, with another long sigh, Ronner shook his head and whispered,

“Why are you so stubborn? Clearly… leaving would be the best choice.”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 25 – Atonement Day

As the faint chanting echoed around him, the one-armed man watched in horror as the dazed, wandering monsters seemed to “awaken.”

They roared and wailed in pain, trampling over each other as they stumbled towards the church.

“Sins… happiness…”

These words were vaguely discernible amidst their meaningless growls, but most of their cries were unintelligible.

Even worse… Ling Qi was among them.

Although she and a few other outsiders who seemed to have been recently caught hadn’t yet transformed into monsters, aside from their appearance, they were practically the same as these bizarre creatures.

The one-armed man wanted to stop Ling Qi, but just then, a powerful gaze locked onto him.

“…”

“Sigh…”

A distant sigh echoed, seemingly filled with helplessness, as if lamenting one’s fate.

A blonde, middle-aged man in a neat suit and gold-rimmed glasses, his demeanor elegant and refined, abruptly stepped out from the surging tide of monsters.

However, to the one-armed man’s spiritual senses, this blonde man was no different from the other monsters, only much more powerful, exuding an aura that made him wary.

“Is this really just a ‘Ruin’ level contaminated area…?”

Although he couldn’t access the deeper Yan City archives, Dawn also possessed past records of “Ghost Town.”

Whether it was the mysterious silver-haired girl who served as the “entrance” or the now overwhelmingly powerful blonde man, there were far too many things here that shouldn’t appear in a “Ruin” level contaminated area.

“Greetings, outsider. Allow me to introduce myself.” The blonde man placed a hand on his chest and bowed impeccably to the one-armed man. “My name is Ronner Natalie, and I have been the butler of the Natalie Manor for generations.”

Natalie Manor…

The one-armed man immediately recalled the grand manor he had seen during his encounter with the silver-haired girl. Now it seemed that his decision not to pursue them further had been the right one.

If the butler was already this powerful, then the master inside…

Perhaps the unseen manor owner was the true Devil’s Apostle.

“However, I regret to inform you, guest, that you cannot take anyone from here,” Ronner said sadly. “It’s not my decision, but the town will not allow any of its members to leave.”

The one-armed man didn’t speak, silently gathering his mental power, preparing for battle.

He wasn’t in the spiritual domain now; he could use his abilities without restraint.

But to his surprise, Ronner didn’t attack him. Instead, he continued,

“Please leave immediately, while you still can…”

“Huh? Why?”

The one-armed man looked at Ronner’s sorrowful face in surprise, not only because he wasn’t attacking, but also because of his words.

“There have been many stronger than you, but no one has ever escaped, including myself.”

Ronner looked deeply at the one-armed man, then turned and continued walking towards the church, following the tide of monsters.

A heavy sigh was his final parting word.

The one-armed man stood there, uncertain, lost in thought for a long time, before gritting his teeth and following after Ronner.

…Even so, what could he do?

…

“Dong…”

“Dong…”

“Dong…”

The bell tolled continuously, interspersed with the chanting of prayers.

Hua Qiling carried Luo Yan on her back, walking towards the church.

With Luo Yan’s frail constitution, she would be breathless after just a few steps, so Hua Qiling had no choice but to carry her.

Luo Yan felt apologetic, but Hua Qiling didn’t mind.

Or rather, she seemed… to be enjoying it.

Feeling the light, delicate body on her back, Hua Qiling felt a strange fluttering in her heart, but the hellish scene around her quickly brought her back to reality.

The desolate town was almost identical to what Hua Qiling had seen on the monitors, the only difference being the grotesque monsters that filled the streets.

Some were missing limbs, some were impaled with sharp wooden stakes, and Hua Qiling even saw a vaguely female monster whose tongue had been pulled out and nailed with rusty iron nails.

“That’s… Dr. Messier.”

Luo Yan recognized her from the remnants of a white coat and a broken stethoscope, but this only deepened her sorrow.

Dr. Messier had been a strict but kind doctor, one of the few residents who cared deeply about Luo Yan.

But now…

As far as the eye could see, there were countless monsters in the same condition as Dr. Messier.

All the townspeople had become twisted and terrifying monsters, or perhaps they had always been monsters, only unaware of it because they were immersed in a happy dream.

Before they knew it, Hua Qiling had carried Luo Yan to the square in front of the church. All the monsters gathered there were roaring, but none dared to enter the church.

Among the monsters, Ling Qi and the other outsiders stood out.

“They… can still be saved!”

A glimmer of hope appeared in Luo Yan’s dim eyes, and Hua Qiling’s heart also lifted because she saw several civilians from Yan City among them.

They must have been swallowed by Ghost Town the moment it appeared. She hadn’t expected them to still be alive…

At that moment, the deep bell tolls finally stopped, and the faint chanting gradually subsided.

The agitated monsters also quieted down.

However, they didn’t wander around in confusion like before. Instead, they all stared blankly at the church.

The Old Era style spire-topped church stood silently in the center of the town. The stone eye at the top slowly moved, its gaze falling upon the monsters gathered before the church.

“Go!”

Luo Yan tugged on Hua Qiling’s sleeve. Hua Qiling immediately understood, scooped Luo Yan up in her arms, and, just before the gaze of the stone eye fell upon them, teleported away from the square.

At the same moment, bathed in the gaze of the stone eye, the dazed monsters slowly knelt down, clasped their hands together, and looked up.

“Great Lord, I offer you all souls, flesh, and life…”

“…To atone for all sins.”

They chanted in unison, their voices loud and clear, just like when they were still alive.

Luo Yan watched all this and whispered,

“Atonement Day.”

“What?”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 24 – The Bell

“Huff… huff…”

After fleeing the Natalie Manor for a considerable distance and climbing a nearby hill, Hua Qiling finally stopped, catching her breath.

Fortunately, Luo Yan was very light, much lighter than she appeared, otherwise, with Hua Qiling’s current injuries, escaping would have been much more difficult.

Soul-related injuries were the most troublesome. Even in Yan City, complete recovery required assistance from the Free Federation, let alone in “Ghost Town.”

Luo Yan leaned quietly against Hua Qiling’s back, silent throughout their escape.

“Sorry, the situation was urgent…”

Hua Qiling thought Luo Yan might be upset about her presumptuous actions, but Luo Yan shook her head and said,

“No, Miss Hua Qiling, there’s nothing to apologize for. I should be thanking you.”

Luo Yan slid down from Hua Qiling’s back and looked towards the Natalie Manor, a lingering sadness in her calm expression.

Although she had mentally prepared herself, when the truth was laid bare before her, it was still difficult to comprehend, even more difficult to accept.

The townspeople who had treated her with kindness and charity, the manor servants she interacted with every day, and little Tini… The real town was actually like this.

Anyone who experienced such a thing would struggle to remain calm.

“Based on my speculation, Miss Luo Yan, perhaps the peaceful town we saw did exist, but because of something that happened, it became what it is now…”

Hua Qiling trailed off, seeing Luo Yan’s expression.

This kind and mysterious girl seemed to be more perceptive than she had imagined. She had already grasped the truth.

“Little Tini is real, and everyone else is real, but they’re all living in the town’s past,” Luo Yan continued Hua Qiling’s thought. “Mrs. Natalie is doing everything she can to maintain all of this, even using me…”

At this point, Luo Yan finally understood what Mrs. Natalie had said.

“Yes, it was me… who saved everyone.”

Mrs. Natalie had used Luo Yan’s soul consciousness to construct the spiritual domain “Ghost Town,” recreating the happy times of the past within it, attempting to make it last forever.

Even though the happy residents of the town, outside the spiritual domain, had become twisted monsters clinging to their last vestiges of obsession.

“Can such a result… truly be called salvation?” Luo Yan murmured softly.

This happy dream had shattered when Luo Yan, after Mrs. Natalie’s attempt to keep her within it failed, realized the truth and awakened.

“Has the outside world also been damaged because of the town’s existence?”

Luo Yan suddenly looked at Hua Qiling and asked seriously.

“…Yes.”

Meeting those innocent yet terrifying eyes, Hua Qiling felt a chill down her spine, but she didn’t hide the truth about the outside world from Luo Yan any longer.

“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault,” Luo Yan lowered her head slightly and said softly. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, but now… perhaps a choice has to be made.”

Eternal happiness obtained in this way shouldn’t exist.

Hua Qiling wanted to say something, but a sudden bell toll interrupted her.

“Dong… dong…”

A deep, resonant bell tolled, echoing throughout the town.

The bell didn’t seem particularly loud, even carrying a slightly broken tone, but it was clearly audible throughout the town.

“Where is that bell coming from?”

Hua Qiling’s expression turned serious. She looked around, trying to find the source of the sound.

But the strange bell seemed to resonate around everyone, making it impossible to pinpoint its direction.

“It’s the church.”

Luo Yan turned slightly, her gaze fixed on the only towering building in the town.

After the dream shattered, the entire town appeared to have been abandoned for centuries, but the church hadn’t.

Moreover, this ancient, spire-topped church, in the real town, exuded an unimaginable sense of weight, pressing down on everyone who saw it.

The source of this inexplicable pressure…

Hua Qiling shifted her gaze upwards slightly, her pupils constricting.

At the very top of the church, a strange stone eye appeared, devoid of color, yet seemingly looking down on everyone.

Meeting its gaze, Hua Qiling’s expression gradually became vacant, her mind sinking.

“Don’t look at it,” Luo Yan quickly covered Hua Qiling’s eyes and said gravely, “That church worships the ‘Lord’ the townspeople believe in. Although I don’t know which god it is, now that I think about it, it’s probably not something good.”

The monthly prayers were all pleas for this god to forgive the sins of its followers, at any cost, including, but not limited to, offering their souls.

Even when she was still immersed in the town, Luo Yan had felt something was amiss, but she hadn’t investigated further due to the environment’s influence.

Forced by Luo Yan to break eye contact with the stone eye, Hua Qiling finally regained her senses, feeling a wave of fear wash over her.

If she had continued looking, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Now, Hua Qiling felt more and more that the “Ghost Town” incident had been greatly underestimated. This couldn’t possibly be the level of terror a “Ruin” level event could achieve. Perhaps even Yan City didn’t have the power to resolve this incident alone.

But at this point, she could only press on.

The bell continued to toll. Luo Yan looked down at the town, seeing numerous black dots swarming towards the church.

Roars and howls filled the air as the monsters, once townspeople, rushed towards the source of the bell, like drowning people clinging to the last straw.

“Let’s go,” Luo Yan said resolutely. She had made up her mind. “No matter what, we have to go to the church now.”

…

Even though the spiritual domain had collapsed, the one-armed man still managed to find Ling Qi, following the aura he had locked onto earlier.

There were several other outsiders with Ling Qi, all of them dazed, mechanically repeating certain actions.

“Ling Qi!”

The one-armed man shouted at Ling Qi, but she seemed not to hear him, her hands mimicking the motion of chopping meat with a knife.

“Damn it, the sudden collapse of the spiritual domain has left their souls trapped in that virtual world…”

The one-armed man’s heart sank, but even so, he had to bring Ling Qi back to answer to Mister.

As he approached, attempting to forcibly take Ling Qi away, the bell tolled.

All the monsters and dazed outsiders froze, their gazes turning towards the church.

“The Lord said, we are all sinners.”

“Only through atonement can we obtain happiness.”

“Those who are happy… shall be eternally happy.”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 23 – Answers

In just a few days, Luo Yan had encountered several outsiders in the town.

Ling Qi, who had stumbled into the town injured and pursued; Hua Qiling, who had entered with a certain purpose; and the one-armed man, who had brought her face-to-face with a life-or-death crisis for the first time.

These outsiders were all different, but they shared one striking similarity.

They all believed this town was “dangerous.”

Even Ling Qi, who later fully integrated into the town, had initially shown hostility towards Luo Yan.

But why was the town dangerous?

Luo Yan couldn’t remember when she had come to the town. She could only vaguely recall it being a very, very long time ago, so long ago that she had no concrete memories.

During this long period, although the townspeople occasionally exhibited strange behavior, they were all kind.

Whether towards her, towards other residents, or even towards unknown outsiders…

Undoubtedly, this was a town filled with happiness, and always had been.

“Mrs. Natalie, I want to ask a question, may I?”

As Luo Yan spoke, little Tini froze mid-step, her form dimming instantly.

Including the servants standing behind Mrs. Natalie, they all became incredibly faint at this moment.

“Miss Luo Yan, since you already have the answer in your heart, why do you still want to ask me?”

Mrs. Natalie said softly, a heartbreaking sadness in her eyes.

Even Hua Qiling, who had been extremely wary of Mrs. Natalie, couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

“Because… you saved me, Madam,” Luo Yan whispered.

Mrs. Natalie shook her head.

“No, I never saved you. It was you—Miss Luo Yan, you saved us.”

“…”

Luo Yan didn’t speak further, remaining silent.

She seemed to understand something.

As realization dawned upon Luo Yan, the scribbled vision in her eyes finally shattered. The scattered clear fragments connected, and the true Ghost Town appeared before everyone.

Including Hua Qiling, and the one-armed man fleeing in the distance, they were all shocked to find themselves inexplicably freed from the strange spiritual domain.

The desolate town that Hua Qiling had seen on the surveillance screens reappeared. This was the first time Luo Yan had seen the town like this, completely different from the town in her memories, yet much more reasonable.

The illusionary little Tini shattered, the forms of the manor servants crumbled, leaving only Mrs. Natalie, still standing gracefully.

Luo Yan looked around at the town, both familiar and unfamiliar, a desolate landscape ravaged by centuries of time. A sense of melancholy welled up within her.

Not because she had spent countless years immersed in this place, but because she mourned the town’s long-lost happiness.

“You’ve awakened, Miss Luo Yan,” Mrs. Natalie’s voice was low, filled with sadness. She looked at Luo Yan and whispered, “But, Miss Luo Yan, why did you have to wake up?”

A doll appeared in her arms, vaguely resembling little Tini.

Luo Yan even saw a small bandage on the doll’s hand, the one she had tied for little Tini.

At the same time, the crumbling forms of the manor servants solidified, revealing grotesque monstrous shapes.

Their distorted faces had two protruding eyeballs that twitched restlessly. Their mouths, which could only be described as orifices, dripped with purplish-black saliva, sizzling as it hit the ground.

Their torsos were even more horrifying, covered in countless pustules, with claw-like blades extending from them, scraping against the ground as they stumbled forward.

“Happiness… happiness…”

The twisted monsters roared like mournful wails, their eyeballs rolling towards Luo Yan.

But Luo Yan could still see traces of the servants in them.

Head Chef Root, who always carried a ladle; Mr. William, the meticulous accountant with his gold-rimmed glasses; Aunt Fanny, the stern head maid…

But now, they were all howling in pain.

“Why… why is it like this…?”

Luo Yan stood frozen in place. Although she had many doubts about the town, she had never imagined… that the real town was like this.

Hua Qiling was the first to react. When these monsters appeared, she immediately realized it was time for a strategic retreat.

…In other words, to run.

Just the two of them, even with “Manjusaka,” wouldn’t be able to kill all these monsters, each at least “Ruin” level or above.

Moreover, in Luo Yan’s current state, asking her to kill these monsters was too much.

Therefore, escape was the best and only option.

Before Luo Yan could say anything, Hua Qiling grabbed her hand and hoisted her onto her back.

Then, just like the one-armed man, she fled without hesitation, so fast that Luo Yan couldn’t even react.

But when Luo Yan came to her senses, they had already run a considerable distance.

However, Mrs. Natalie didn’t pursue them. She simply watched them leave.

“Madam… she… left…”

“Ronner, I can see.”

Mrs. Natalie lowered her head slightly. A twisted monster appeared beside her.

Almost identical to the other monsters, sharp fangs dripped with corrosive saliva.

The only difference was that this monster was wearing what could be considered decent clothing, its limbs grotesquely stitched together, and its bulging eyes occasionally flashed with a glimmer of consciousness.

“But for Miss Luo Yan to awaken at this time,” Mrs. Natalie sighed, clasped her hands together, and looked up, murmuring devoutly, “Great Lord… is this your will?”

“M-Madam…”

A low, hoarse voice came from the monster’s throat as it extended a claw towards her.

But it quickly retracted its claw, as if realizing something.

“Ronner, listen,” Mrs. Natalie turned slightly to look at the monster and said gently, “No matter what you become, you are my most loyal butler, and I will always trust you.”

“No…”

The monster choked, purplish-black blood oozing from its twitching eyes. It seemed to be crying.

“Don’t be sad, Ronner,” Mrs. Natalie continued to smile gently. She looked at the little girl doll in her hands and caressed it softly. “This is the happy world that little Tini wished for the most. No matter what, we must be filled with happiness.”

“Happiness…”

The monster lowered its head, looking down at the Natalie Manor.

The manor was now covered in scorch marks and signs of destruction.

Painful memories resurfaced, the agonizing pain seemingly returning to its body.

“But the awakened Miss Luo Yan seems intent on destroying this happiness.”

Mrs. Natalie looked at the monster with hope, the expression in her eyes as gentle as in its memories.

“Ronner, can you help me, bring her back? Please?”

“Redeem the sins of us all… and return to our happy past…”

The monster looked up at Mrs. Natalie, opening its mouth as if to speak.

It wanted to say something.

But after a long moment, the monster lowered its hideous head.

“Yes… Madam…”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 22 – Questions

As the instigator of all this, the center of attention, Luo Yan was completely oblivious to her handiwork and was, in fact, startled.

She could sense how powerful that mental force had been.

Powerful enough to instill in her the fear of imminent death, and with the one-armed man closing his eyes, completely eliminating the possibility of her using her ability…

In this seemingly hopeless situation, a single, delicate, dark flower had resolved the crisis.

Luo Yan looked at the sniper rifle in her hands. She hadn’t expected this unremarkable, strangely shaped metal object to possess such power.

It had effortlessly erased the one-armed man’s attack and even leveled the surrounding area silently.

“Miss Hua Qiling… This is your real weapon, isn’t it?”

Luo Yan looked at Hua Qiling and whispered.

She had thought that taking Hua Qiling’s daggers would prevent her from harming the townspeople, but it turned out this was the true weapon of mass destruction…

Hua Qiling hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

She knew what Luo Yan was thinking, but she wanted to explain that the rifle wasn’t usually this powerful.

In Hua Qiling’s hands, “Severed String,” combined with a Philosopher’s Stone, could at most snipe a single “Ruin” level opponent. It wasn’t effective against “Peril” level ability users or multiple “Ruin” level opponents.

Of course, it was still quite powerful, but compared to Luo Yan’s “Manjusaka,” it seemed… inadequate.

Facing Luo Yan wielding “Severed String,” the one-armed man was clearly hesitant.

He couldn’t determine Luo Yan’s identity, nor could he guarantee she wouldn’t use “Manjusaka” again.

The silently blooming dark flower had cast a long shadow over him. If he were directly hit by it, even he, a “Peril” level ability user, might not escape unscathed.

Moreover, he had inadvertently entered “Ghost Town” through Luo Yan…

The one-armed man stared intently at Luo Yan, then glanced at the gloomy castle behind her, sensing a mysterious and powerful presence within.

“No, I can’t get entangled in a Devil’s Apostle’s spiritual domain!”

The one-armed man knew that being trapped in this unknown spiritual domain meant that his every move was restricted by it.

Especially his mind-related abilities, which were almost completely suppressed.

This was why he had wanted to avoid entering “Ghost Town.” Although it would make finding Ling Qi easier, his combat power would be reduced by at least half.

But now, he had no choice but to accept the situation.

However, his primary mission had never been to resolve the “Ghost Town” crisis, but to bring Ling Qi back to “Mister.”

Since he couldn’t escape “Ghost Town’s” spiritual domain by killing Luo Yan, he could only find Ling Qi first and then look for another exit.

Faced with this unforeseen setback, he could only take it one step at a time.

Thinking of this, the one-armed man decisively turned and fled, vanishing in an instant.

The one-armed man’s abrupt departure surprised both Luo Yan and Hua Qiling. They didn’t know what he was planning or if he would suddenly return.

Only after remaining vigilant for a while did they dare to confirm that he had truly left.

“Oh no, what if he’s going to harm everyone in town?!”

Luo Yan suddenly thought of this and hurriedly stood up, wanting to go to town and warn everyone.

But Hua Qiling shook her head and said softly,

“Don’t worry, Miss Luo Yan. He won’t.”

“Why?”

Luo Yan looked down at Hua Qiling, her expression serious.

She still had many questions about this town.

And although she could understand why Hua Qiling was hiding things, she still wanted to know the truth.

“Because there’s no need. He’s only here to take Ling Qi away.”

Hua Qiling clutched her head and slowly sat up.

The pain had subsided considerably, and her mind was clearer.

The one-armed man’s initial attack hadn’t been intended to kill Luo Yan, and the shattered protective necklace had absorbed most of the soul damage. Hua Qiling’s injuries weren’t serious; only the blood trickling from her orifices looked frightening.

“Ling Qi…”

Luo Yan hesitated, then decided not to press further.

However, Hua Qiling went ahead and explained the situation regarding Ling Qi.

“Ling Qi is a member of their organization, an enemy of ours. She strayed into this town while being pursued by us.”

Luo Yan was silent for a moment, then decided to ask the question that had been on her mind.

“So, Miss Hua Qiling, the world outside the town—”

“Luo Yan.”

Before Luo Yan could finish, Mrs. Natalie’s elegant and gentle voice sounded from behind, interrupting her question.

Luo Yan turned around and saw Mrs. Natalie, in a long black dress, standing at the manor’s entrance. Her gentle eyes held both elegance and charm, two distinct qualities perfectly blended.

“Luo Yan Sister…”

A small golden head peeked out from behind Mrs. Natalie, and little Tini’s weak voice followed. Luo Yan could see the pleading look in her blue eyes.

Hua Qiling instinctively flinched and cautiously hid behind Luo Yan.

Even a fool would understand by now that this strange town was not only related to Luo Yan, but also to Mrs. Natalie and her daughter, little Tini.

It was even highly possible that they were the true masters of “Ghost Town,” the true Devil’s Apostles.

“It’s time to come home, Luo Yan.”

Mrs. Natalie wore a gentle smile, her lips curved just so, her hands clasped in front of her as she stood gracefully.

Impeccably elegant, as always.

Little Tini, as usual, looked at Luo Yan timidly, her large blue eyes seemingly trying to convey something.

“Come home,” little Tini stepped out from behind her mother and walked towards Luo Yan, opening her arms. “This… is your home, Luo Yan Sister.”

“Little Tini…”

Luo Yan looked at little Tini approaching her, but unlike before, she didn’t move forward to embrace her.

Her gaze passed over little Tini and landed on Mrs. Natalie.

“Mrs. Natalie…”

Mrs. Natalie smiled, a dimple appearing on her charming cheek.

“And everyone else…”

Luo Yan looked at the figures standing behind Mrs. Natalie. They were the servants she interacted with every day in the manor. She knew all their names.

But now, they felt so unfamiliar.

“Mrs. Natalie, I want to ask a question, may I?”

Luo Yan sighed softly and said.

曼珠沙華(Mañjusaka): Manjusaka – red spider lily (Lycoris radiata)

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 21 – Manjusaka

Whether it was Hua Qiling’s “real town,” the one-armed man’s “spiritual domain,” or Luo Yan’s “scribbled vision,” they were essentially the same.

They all referred to this strange town, existing in an unknown time and place, filled with falsehood and absurdity, yet undeniably real.

In this town, all the residents lived peaceful and happy lives.

Even outsiders would quickly integrate into the town, becoming part of it, adding to this endless, beautiful dream.

This also meant that once someone arrived here, they entered a Devil’s Apostle’s spiritual domain, becoming a pawn to be manipulated at will.

This was the worst-case scenario…

The one-armed man’s heart sank. He knew that he had encountered such a terrible situation entirely because of “Hua Qiling.”

From the beginning, the one-armed man had recognized Hua Qiling, lying in Luo Yan’s arms, as the Director of the Disaster Response Department in Yan City. He knew she was reasonably strong, with the potential to advance to the “Peril” level or even higher.

He hadn’t paid much attention to her before because Hua Qiling had almost completely fallen into the spiritual domain, her physical form in the real world reduced to a faint shadow.

Because of this, the one-armed man had deemed Hua Qiling harmless, and due to time constraints, he had ignored her.

But now, his repeated carelessness and underestimation had led to this situation.

“I wasn’t cautious enough, but there’s still a chance to salvage this.”

The one-armed man quickly composed himself and looked at Luo Yan again, a sharp glint in his eyes.

“As long as I kill her, destroy the personal consciousness that this spiritual domain relies on, I can break free!”

This time, the one-armed man wouldn’t hold back, because he no longer needed to control Luo Yan to navigate the spiritual domain.

Rescuing Ling Qi required him to ensure his own safety first.

Instantly, an invisible mental storm erupted around the one-armed man, sweeping towards Luo Yan in the blink of an eye.

The intense mental fluctuations even distorted the surrounding environment. The “Peril” level mental power faintly tore at the town, revealing glimpses of the decaying real world.

Even though the spiritual domain suppressed his abilities, the sheer difference in their mental power levels was enough to deal with the injured Hua Qiling and the defenseless Luo Yan.

An invisible gale howled past Luo Yan’s ears. She looked up and saw the blurry one-armed man slowly close his eyes, avoiding her gaze.

At the same time, the clear fragments around her rapidly multiplied, revealing glimpses of decaying and fragmented scenes. The sky, like a torn sun, revealed a heavy, gloomy color.

“What… what is all this…?”

Although Luo Yan couldn’t see anything clearly, she felt the approaching danger. The life-threatening crisis made her hair stand on end, and a feeling called “fear” surfaced in her heart.

This was the first time Luo Yan had felt this strange emotion, making her blood rush, yet leaving her feeling cold.

The dark figures and little Tini had vanished at some point. Only Luo Yan and Hua Qiling faced this crisis.

Just then, Hua Qiling grasped Luo Yan’s hand.

She didn’t say anything, nor did she have time to. She simply used all her strength, her emerald eyes igniting once more.

But this time, the emerald flames also appeared in Luo Yan’s eyes.

—”Eagle Eye” sharing.

Within the range covered by “Eagle Eye,” Luo Yan finally saw everything, including the source of the danger: a concentrated mass of powerful mental energy.

“So… that’s how it is…”

Luo Yan whispered, her eyes slightly widened.

She instinctively reached for Hua Qiling’s sniper rifle. Hua Qiling didn’t stop her, allowing Luo Yan to take the superweapon crafted by the Anomaly Management Bureau’s Equipment Department.

From the moment the one-armed man launched his attack to Luo Yan raising the sniper rifle and aiming at the incoming mental energy, less than a second had passed.

But the situation changed drastically.

“…”

She pulled the trigger.

The cone-shaped crystal loaded in the sniper rifle instantly turned into gray smoke and dissipated.

At the same time, Luo Yan felt a momentary trance, as if a part of her soul had been drawn out.

Vaguely, she seemed to see a throne abruptly appear amidst the boundless darkness, surrounded by countless chains.

“This is…”

Luo Yan felt a desire to approach the throne, but in the next moment, she snapped back to her senses, as if it had all been an illusion.

At the same time, a dark flower bud appeared at the muzzle of the sniper rifle.

The dark flower slowly drifted out, accurately colliding with the powerful mental energy.

“…”

The dark flower bloomed silently, its breathtaking beauty on full display, yet filling every witness with a profound sense of sorrow.

“Higanbana blooms, Higanbana falls.”

After the fleeting beauty, it withered just as silently.

Dark petals scattered and drifted down from the sky, leaving withered trees and barren ground in their wake.

“This is… ‘Manjusaka’?” The one-armed man’s heart turned cold. He stared at Luo Yan. “Could you be… the Devil’s Apostle who created this spiritual domain?”

No, that was impossible.

Devil’s Apostles had vanished a long time ago.

The Dawn organization knew this better than the Free Federation. They even knew the reason for the Devil’s Apostles’ disappearance and what would happen when they reappeared.

It wasn’t time for the Devil’s Apostles to return yet, and Luo Yan was weak. At least in terms of spiritual power, she didn’t possess the ability to construct a complete spiritual domain.

But what about this forbidden technique called “Manjusaka”?

So far, only Devil’s Apostles could use this power, capable of instantly draining all life force, including spiritual power.

Even among all forbidden techniques, it was considered extremely dangerous.

The one-armed man looked at Luo Yan with a mixture of shock and uncertainty, his clenched fist loosening slightly.

Although Hua Qiling didn’t recognize “Manjusaka,” she was surprised by the remarkable result of Luo Yan wielding the sniper rifle.

This sniper rifle, called “Severed String,” possessed the ability to utilize “Philosopher’s Stones.”

Philosopher’s Stones were high-density energy crystals refined from ore in the New Era.

Under normal circumstances, Philosopher’s Stones didn’t possess any special power on their own. Their primary function was to amplify the user’s abilities, and the structure of “Severed String” could further amplify this effect.

But now…

Hua Qiling could feel a deathly aura permeating the surroundings, an unsettling pulse that disturbed the living.

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 20 – Spiritual Domain

“Not good!”

Hearing the sudden voice, Hua Qiling’s heart sank.

She immediately realized that the “Dawn” Cadre mentioned in the communication had arrived nearby.

Hua Qiling frantically looked around, but found nothing.

The surroundings were crowded with fading dark figures, but she couldn’t find any trace of the “Dawn” Cadre.

But Luo Yan saw him.

In her scribbled vision, a clear figure suddenly appeared, standing silently behind Hua Qiling.

It was a man with a missing arm. His empty right sleeve swayed in the breeze. Half of his face was handsome and refined, while the other half was covered in gruesome burn scars.

Even though Hua Qiling’s gaze swept over the man, it was as if she didn’t see him, passing right over him.

The one-armed man ignored the slightly panicked Hua Qiling and looked at Luo Yan. His previous words had clearly been directed at her.

“Entrance…”

Before Luo Yan could ponder the meaning of the word, the one-armed man moved.

He slightly raised his hand, a sharp, thorn-like light gathering at his fingertips, and slowly walked towards Luo Yan.

“So it’s a ‘spiritual domain’ woven from personal soul consciousness… It seems to be the work of a Devil’s Apostle.”

The one-armed man muttered words Luo Yan couldn’t understand, but his movements didn’t slow down. “Trying to find Ling Qi without your help would be quite troublesome.”

Ling Qi again…

Luo Yan’s eyes narrowed. She shielded the dazed little Tini behind her and whispered,

“Who are you?”

“Ling Qi’s brother, here to take her home.”

The one-armed man replied calmly, then in a flash, appeared before Luo Yan.

“Excuse me, Miss, I need to borrow your soul… Of course, I’ll try my best to keep it intact.”

He aimed the sharp light at Luo Yan’s forehead, preparing to pierce it.

Entering a Devil’s Apostle’s “spiritual domain” through the “entrance” was extremely dangerous. The one-armed man had a better method: controlling the “entrance” itself to achieve his goal of navigating the “spiritual domain.”

He didn’t want to waste time here. He just wanted to complete his mission quickly and leave Yan City’s territory with Ling Qi.

As for Luo Yan, the one-armed man briefly scanned her spiritual power, and after discovering it was even weaker than an ordinary person’s, he dismissed her.

Just a pitiful pawn manipulated by a Devil’s Apostle. Sparing her life was enough.

Thinking this, the one-armed man didn’t take any further precautions.

Facing the sudden attack, Luo Yan didn’t retreat.

She shielded the translucent little Tini behind her, slightly raised her head, met the one-armed man’s gaze, and tried to recall the feeling from when she dealt with Ling Qi, attempting to use that strange ability.

As this thought surfaced, Luo Yan’s pale red eyes instantly brightened, and her silver hair fluttered without a breeze, gently lifting.

Something seemed to be awakening…

“…”

Unexpectedly meeting Luo Yan’s pale red eyes and sensing her resolute gaze, the one-armed man initially felt nothing special, only slightly surprised by her extraordinary beauty.

However, he was completely unaware of Yan City’s research on Luo Yan, and the biggest taboo: making direct eye contact with her.

In the next moment, the one-armed man’s mind was involuntarily drawn to Luo Yan’s pale red eyes. Staring at the slightly mystical patterns swirling within them, his consciousness began to sink.

“Damn it!”

As his mind was about to be lost, the one-armed man finally sensed the anomaly and immediately bit his tongue, forcing himself to stay awake.

At the same time, he felt a strange spiritual force infiltrating his memories. He decisively sealed off the affected memories.

The one-armed man’s ability was also mind-related, and he was currently at his peak, skilled at handling such crises.

But even with his quick reaction, his movements still noticeably faltered for a split second.

At the same time, Hua Qiling finally reacted.

She recalled what she had seen and heard before, realizing that the Dawn Cadre was currently in the “reality” of the town. She, being in the “truth,” couldn’t directly see the “real” town.

However, her Eagle Eye could.

Her emerald eyes ignited, and Hua Qiling saw the danger Luo Yan was facing.

The light at the one-armed man’s fingertips was about to fall, aimed directly at Luo Yan’s forehead. At such close range, Luo Yan couldn’t dodge.

In this critical situation, Hua Qiling didn’t have time to think. Without any hesitation, she lunged towards Luo Yan.

“Look out—”

Luo Yan lowered her head slightly and saw Hua Qiling, her eyes glowing, rushing towards her with lightning speed.

“Miss Hua…?”

“Hiss—”

The one-armed man wasn’t affected for long. The sharp light only paused slightly before continuing its descent.

But… its trajectory had deviated.

Hua Qiling shielded Luo Yan at the last moment, her soul taking the brunt of the attack.

The necklace protecting her mind shattered, and her vision went black. Her consciousness plunged into a deathly silence.

When Hua Qiling woke up again, her mind was buzzing, and blood trickled from her orifices.

“How… pathetic…”

A bitter smile appeared on Hua Qiling’s face. She looked up and saw Luo Yan’s anxious expression.

“Miss Hua Qiling, are… are you alright?”

Luo Yan hadn’t expected Hua Qiling to go to such lengths to save her. After her attempt to use the special ability she had discovered failed, Luo Yan had resigned herself to death.

But Hua Qiling had shielded her with her body, saving her life.

Luo Yan held the weakened Hua Qiling, at a loss for what to do.

“I’m… fine.”

Hua Qiling forced herself to sit up. Even at such close range, Luo Yan’s beauty didn’t diminish.

The slight anxiety in her eyes only added to her ethereal charm.

“So beautiful…”

Hua Qiling struggled to raise her hand, instinctively wanting to pinch Luo Yan’s cheek.

To be able to save such a beautiful person… even death held no regrets…

Perhaps due to the mental attack, Hua Qiling’s mind was filled with chaotic thoughts.

Hearing Hua Qiling’s murmur, Luo Yan felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Even at a time like this, she was still thinking about beauty…

Meanwhile, the one-armed man, his attack having failed, looked shocked.

His temporarily sealed memories were released, and under the influence of that strange spiritual force, his mind also became disoriented.

However, the effects weren’t significant. More importantly, the one-armed man realized that the surrounding scenery had completely changed.

“I’ve actually… entered the Devil’s Apostle’s ‘spiritual domain’…”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 19 – The Entrance

Rewind half an hour to the Yan City Disaster Response Department.

After cutting off communication with Hua Qiling, the Department’s work didn’t end; instead, it became even busier.

All the surveillance equipment in “Ghost Town” had been destroyed in the previous incident, and the newly manufactured devices hadn’t yet found an opportunity to be deployed inside.

Therefore, even though Li Ping was deeply concerned about Hua Qiling’s situation, he couldn’t get any information from inside for the time being.

Of course, while Hua Qiling was carrying out her mission, the previously arranged investigation team wasn’t idle either.

They were dispatched to guard several access points to “Ghost Town” along with other teams.

Not only were they there to provide immediate support to Hua Qiling or to resist any dangerous individuals that might emerge from Ghost Town, but more importantly… to guard against Dawn.

“Spatial abilities… are among the most valuable and powerful. Even though this young Dawn member, ‘Ling Qi,’ is still weak,” Li Ping sighed, “once she matures… she’ll be a threat on the Cadre level.”

“So powerful…”

An Zaipao, unsure how to respond, could only offer a few awkward words of agreement.

“Hopefully…”

Before Li Ping could finish, the headquarters’ communicator suddenly blared with an urgent alarm. Then, reports from the captains of various teams flooded the communication channel.

“Reporting to headquarters, Team One under attack!”

“Reporting to headquarters, Team Two under attack!”

“…”

Seven teams had been dispatched, and four of them reported emergencies simultaneously.

And they only managed to send these brief reports before all communication was cut off.

“What’s going on?” An Zaipao looked slightly panicked.

“It seems to be the worst-case scenario. ‘Dawn’ has decided to act for the sake of a future Cadre,” Li Ping frowned deeply.

“To incapacitate several teams with ‘Ruin’ level ability users so quickly, they must have deployed combat power at the Cadre level or above… Immediately notify the Apprehension Department. It’s their turn to work.”

“Yes!”

An Zaipao swallowed hard, composed himself, and immediately began dialing the Apprehension Department’s communication channel.

But a moment later, his hands trembling, he looked up at Li Ping.

“Director-General, communication with the Apprehension Department… has also been cut off…”

At the same time, static noise erupted from the communication channel, followed by a cheerful, crisp female voice with a slight accent.

“Hello, hello? Can you hear me?”

As the voice faded, a slender figure appeared on the video screen.

A girl with blue twintails sat atop a rumbling machine, the bodies of several team members scattered around her.

An Zaipao stumbled backward in fright. He was purely administrative personnel, his ability practically negligible.

Encountering a legendary “Dawn” Cadre, even through the communicator, made him tremble.

“Dawn” wasn’t some unknown small organization. Even the Free Federation had to treat them with caution, let alone a single mega-city like Yan City.

And the Cadre-level individuals in “Dawn”… most possessed the ability to single-handedly confront a small-scale mega-city.

Li Ping, having seen much in his time, remained calm. He looked at the screen and asked gravely,

“Cadre from ‘Dawn,’ what do you want?”

“Oh, it’s Director-General Li himself! What an honor!”

Despite her words, the blue-haired girl’s tone was extremely flippant and casual, showing no respect for Li Ping. “What do we want…? Isn’t it obvious? We’re here to rescue our little sister, the dear Miss Ling Qi, of course~”

Within Dawn, members usually addressed each other as brothers and sisters, regardless of rank. Older members were called “Brother” or “Sister,” and only their leader was respectfully addressed as “Mister.”

“You won’t be able to rescue her. And your so-called Apprehension Department, sending so many seniors to bully our little sister at once… I, as her older sister, will be settling this score~”

A bright smile appeared on the blue-haired girl’s face. “Dawn’s Ninth Cadre, ‘Mobile Fortress’ Alyxsia, reporting for duty!”

“It’s actually ‘Mobile Fortress’…”

The wrinkles on Li Ping’s face deepened. This wasn’t good news.

“Mobile Fortress’s” ability was unknown, but it granted her the power to create and control a large-scale mechanical army, making her one of the few who could directly confront a mega-city.

“Eh, am I that famous?” Alyxsia twirled an energy crystal in her fingers and casually inserted it into the machine she was sitting on. “I know you’re mobilizing your elites, trying to deal with me. But unfortunately, I’ll be leaving soon.”

Alyxsia jumped down and patted the machine.

“Now, let it play with you. Holding you off for half an hour should be enough.”

“My mission is complete anyway. The task of rescuing little Ling Qi is left to that brother.”

After saying that, without further delay, Alyxsia made a face at Li Ping and quickly ran off.

As the machine rumbled to life, countless small machines poured out, rushing in all directions.

At that moment, the video screen turned white again, and the communication channel reconnected.

A flood of chaotic communication logs followed, countless messages pouring in from various teams.

They had all been attacked by the mechanical torrent and had barely managed to fend them off.

But soon, a wave of self-destructing machines appeared, delaying the teams’ rescue efforts.

Even worse news followed. After the unknown Dawn Cadre entered “Ghost Town,” the town’s expansion rate suddenly accelerated, and its aura became extremely unstable, almost violent.

Li Ping’s face darkened. He had anticipated that Dawn would act, but he hadn’t expected them to deploy two Cadres above “Ruin” level, at least “Peril” level, to rescue a mere “Calamity” level member.

Yan City only had two individuals with regular “Peril” level strength, and it was impossible to deploy them both for the “Ghost Town” incident.

“Immediately inform Hua Qiling of the situation, now!” Li Ping roared at An Zaipao.

The situation outside wasn’t important now, because the true target of the “Dawn” Cadres was inside “Ghost Town.”

In other words, the one in the most danger now was Hua Qiling, who was inside “Ghost Town.”

Even at the risk of mission failure, they had to get this message to her.

…

Back to the present, inside “Ghost Town.”

An Zaipao’s voice was loud, loud enough for even Luo Yan to hear clearly.

“Outside… annihilation? And… ‘Dawn’ Cadres?” Luo Yan looked at Hua Qiling and whispered. “And they mentioned Ling Qi…”

Luo Yan remembered that Hua Qiling had said she didn’t know Ling Qi.

Now it seemed that was also a lie. Hua Qiling was hiding many things.

But why would she hide this?

And the word “annihilation,” appearing alongside the town…

Could it be that this town was affecting other places, such as the “outside” where Hua Qiling and Ling Qi came from?

For some reason, as Luo Yan’s doubts deepened, the surrounding shadows seemed to dim slightly, and even little Tini’s figure became somewhat translucent.

Hua Qiling noticed this, her eyes lighting up. She realized this might be the key to unraveling the town’s mystery.

So, she opened her mouth, preparing to tell Luo Yan everything.

But just then, a cold, indifferent voice echoed around them.

“Found you… Miss.”

“You are the true entrance to ‘Ghost Town.’”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 18 – Rapid Deterioration

Something wasn’t right about the town.

Luo Yan had sensed it for a long time.

Everyone in the town was brimming with happiness, and their kindness towards her was both unfounded and excessive.

She had never witnessed any malice in the town, not even petty theft.

“Simple folk customs” wasn’t enough to describe this place. Such a perfect utopia shouldn’t exist.

Yet, this town did exist.

Was this reasonable?

But… wasn’t it unreasonable?

Luo Yan had forgotten when she came to the town, and she had no memories from before.

Even the name “Luo Yan” had inexplicably surfaced in her mind, and she had subconsciously adopted it as her own.

Her earliest memory was waking up in the cottage outside the manor and then naturally living in the town.

However, she had never truly accepted the townspeople’s kindness.

Whether it was the meat from Uncle Andre, the free medicine from Dr. Messier, or even the affection from Mrs. Natalie…

For whatever reason, Luo Yan had ultimately rejected them all.

She had always remained detached from the town, observing their happiness, and smiling faintly… nothing more.

Perhaps because she subconsciously knew some truth, Luo Yan had never truly integrated into this town.

“Miss Luo Yan, what are you saying…?”

Hua Qiling’s smile stiffened. She clearly saw the fleeting sadness in Luo Yan’s eyes and the strange indifference in little Tini’s expression.

“Nothing,” Luo Yan said softly. “I just want to ask Miss Hua Qiling to leave as soon as possible.”

Outsiders…

Luo Yan hadn’t directly encountered many outsiders, only Ling Qi and Hua Qiling. She knew of others only through the townspeople.

Ling Qi and Hua Qiling shared a common trait: they were initially clear in Luo Yan’s vision, but gradually became blurry like everyone else over time.

Luo Yan didn’t know what this meant, but she knew that when outsiders completely turned into scribbled images in her vision, they would truly become part of the town.

Including Ling Qi, they would live happily in the town with the other residents, forgetting everything from their past, whether sorrow or pain, even Luo Yan’s ability unable to reawaken those memories.

Luo Yan didn’t know if this was good or bad; she just felt it was wrong, but she didn’t know what was wrong.

So, when she encountered Hua Qiling, Luo Yan couldn’t help but greet her. She wanted to learn more about the world outside the town.

However, Hua Qiling was very wary, and Luo Yan was worried she might harm the townspeople.

So, she had taken the daggers Hua Qiling offered and held her hand, so that she could stop her immediately if anything unexpected happened.

As for Hua Qiling being blind, Luo Yan had realized she was lying after walking for a while.

Luo Yan’s own eyesight was poor, so she knew what a truly blind person would behave like.

Hua Qiling’s slightly panicked expression after entering the manor further suggested she was hiding something, especially the momentary fear in her eyes when she saw Mrs. Natalie in little Tini’s room.

—And now, the situation was clear.

“The town is good, it’s happy, but you don’t belong here.” Luo Yan stared into Hua Qiling’s eyes, her pale red eyes clear and sharp. “I don’t know why you came to this town, but this is not where you should be.”

Hua Qiling’s expression turned serious. She suddenly realized that perhaps this silver-haired girl knew the truth about the town but had been avoiding it.

But at this moment, Hua Qiling didn’t realize that Luo Yan was looking directly into her eyes, yet nothing was happening.

“Luo Yan Sister, why are you sending this sister away?”

Little Tini looked up and said in a weak voice, her expression blank. “Everyone in town welcomes guests… No matter what kind of guest, they can live happily here.”

Just like Ling Qi…

Dark figures emerged from all directions, silently surrounding Luo Yan and Hua Qiling. Little Tini clung tightly to Luo Yan’s hand, a deliberate look of pleading in her eyes.

Hua Qiling immediately retrieved her daggers, her sniper rifle also appearing in her hands. She looked around vigilantly, ready to fight.

“Let her leave, everyone.”

Unexpectedly, Luo Yan bowed deeply to the surrounding servants, then squatted down and spoke softly to little Tini.

“Yes, it will be happy, but even in a world with only happiness, there will be those who don’t like it.”

“Doesn’t Luo Yan Sister like it either?”

Little Tini asked, the indifference in her expression vanishing, replaced by her usual timidity.

“I like it very much.” Luo Yan patted her head and stood up. “Miss Hua Qiling, I’m curious about the outside world, but I can see that you won’t tell me anything.”

Hua Qiling had been observing Luo Yan, and Luo Yan had, of course, been observing Hua Qiling.

The vague answers, the thoughts practically written on her face…

Luo Yan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Miss Hua Qiling was truly bad at lying.

“In short, I don’t want the peaceful life of the town to be disrupted,” Luo Yan whispered. “So, Miss Hua Qiling, please leave the town.”

“It’s for the best… for both of us.”

Even though the town was strange, and even though Luo Yan had countless questions and doubts, this place held all her memories.

She didn’t want the town to change, and she didn’t want the friendly “outsider” Hua Qiling to be changed by the town like Ling Qi.

—Even though Luo Yan didn’t know if these changes were good or bad.

“…”

Hua Qiling didn’t speak. She looked up slightly, her gaze passing over Luo Yan and little Tini, towards the elegant figure standing on the top floor of the manor.

She could feel Mrs. Natalie looking at her with a faint smile, waiting for her answer.

“No.”

Hua Qiling wanted to say this, but when she saw Luo Yan’s eyes, she swallowed the words.

Despite their brief interaction, she could clearly sense that Luo Yan was a pure and kind girl, and Hua Qiling couldn’t bring herself to tell her the cruel truth.

Just as Hua Qiling began to waver, the silent communicator suddenly blared with a sharp alarm, the intense vibrations and noise even attracting the attention of Luo Yan and little Tini.

The surrounding dark figures also focused their attention on Hua Qiling’s earpiece.

Beads of sweat instantly appeared on Hua Qiling’s forehead. Such an urgent alarm from headquarters could only mean one thing.

“Something big has happened…”

After the urgent alarm, An Zaipao’s panicked voice came through.

“It’s bad, Director Hua! The Dawn organization… they’ve stormed in to rescue Ling Qi!”

“The one who stopped us was their Ninth Cadre, and another unknown cadre has entered ‘Ghost Town’!”

“The situation outside is rapidly deteriorating! The annihilation is spreading to the outer city and is approaching the core area!”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 17 – Departure

“Reality” and “truth,” at this moment in this place, were like oil and water, unable to mix, yet clinging to each other.

A faint fragrance drifted around Hua Qiling’s nose, the voices of Luo Yan and little Tini echoing around her.

Before her eyes was Mrs. Natalie, smiling sweetly and looking at her gently.

Hua Qiling could even reach out and touch the exquisite porcelain placed by the doorway. Only the oil painting on the wall was mostly obscured by shadow.

Sight, touch, smell… everything told Hua Qiling that these were “real.”

However, everything in her “Eagle Eye” remained the same. In the cold, “real” room, only Luo Yan was talking to herself.

The charming yet graceful Mrs. Natalie stood before Hua Qiling, seemingly awaiting her answer.

Hua Qiling instinctively reached for the sniper rifle on her back, realizing that “Mrs. Natalie” was unusual and that she might need to use her weapon.

“Sigh…”

A soft sigh sounded. Mrs. Natalie shook her head gently, her expression filled with disappointment.

“What’s wrong, Mrs. Natalie?” Luo Yan popped up from the side, a small golden head beside hers. “Did Miss Hua Qiling offend you?”

Luo Yan looked nervous, seemingly worried that Mrs. Natalie would be angry.

“No, she didn’t,” Mrs. Natalie replied softly. “I just feel that our guest from afar isn’t ready yet. I’m a little disappointed, but it’s alright.”

Luo Yan breathed a sigh of relief and looked apologetically at Hua Qiling.

“Sorry, my tone might have been a bit harsh just now…”

“It’s okay.”

Hua Qiling released her grip on the sniper rifle and said with feigned ease.

An idea was forming in her mind, and she was grateful that she had stayed with Luo Yan.

From the moment she entered Ghost Town, Hua Qiling hadn’t left Luo Yan’s side, which was why she could see the “reality” of Ghost Town.

And when they entered the manor, she had held Luo Yan’s hand until they let go. Only then did “reality” crumble, and she found herself in the “truth” of Ghost Town.

The elegant silver-haired girl looked no different from an ordinary girl, even appearing slightly nervous next to “Mrs. Natalie.”

But Hua Qiling knew that it was this girl who allowed her to stand here safely.

—She was the only one in Ghost Town who, while existing in “reality,” could perceive the “truth.”

Even Hua Qiling herself could feel her form becoming somewhat ethereal, teetering on the edge between “reality” and “truth.”

If it weren’t for this… Hua Qiling wouldn’t be able to see the “truth” of Ghost Town.

Luo Yan stared at the contemplative Hua Qiling, frowning slightly.

“Why has Miss Hua Qiling become so blurry after just a short while…”

In Luo Yan’s vision, Hua Qiling’s body was now covered in scribbled patches of color, gradually replacing her clear form.

Especially her eyes, now that she had removed the blindfold, looked like random splashes of paint, crude and lifeless.

Suddenly, Luo Yan remembered Ling Qi.

She had witnessed Ling Qi gradually become as blurry as the other townspeople, and now Hua Qiling’s situation seemed similar.

“Luo Yan Sister, what’s wrong?” Little Tini asked softly, her innocent blue eyes looking up at Luo Yan. “Did little Tini upset you…?”

“Of course not, how could that be? Little Tini is so well-behaved.”

Luo Yan smiled and gently tapped little Tini’s nose.

Then she stood up and said softly to Mrs. Natalie, “Madam, Miss Hua Qiling doesn’t have a place to stay in town yet. Could we borrow one of the empty cottages outside the manor?”

“Of course, there’s no problem.” Mrs. Natalie smiled, her gaze fixed on Hua Qiling. “Our town is most hospitable. Our guest from afar… I hope you’ll enjoy your stay here.”

A sweet yet dignified smile, charming yet composed—Mrs. Natalie’s contradictory yet harmonious demeanor made Hua Qiling feel apprehensive.

She was a “Ruin” level ability user, yes, but that only meant she was qualified to participate in “Ruin” level disaster events, not that she could single-handedly contend with a “Ruin” level disaster.

All investigators knew one thing: when encountering bizarre and incomprehensible events or rules in a disaster phenomenon, obediently complying was always the best option.

“Mm, thank you for your hospitality, Madam.”

Hua Qiling composed herself and bowed slightly.

Mrs. Natalie didn’t speak further. She turned and gracefully walked out the door, the soft sound of her footsteps gradually fading away.

“Miss Hua Qiling, let’s go. I’ll take you to the cottage,” Luo Yan said softly.

Hua Qiling couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but at that moment, she felt Luo Yan’s mood dampen considerably.

But in the blink of an eye, Luo Yan regained her usual liveliness, the slight curve of her lips, different from Mrs. Natalie’s, bringing Hua Qiling a sense of inexplicable comfort.

“Are we just going to leave like this?” Hua Qiling looked down slightly at the blonde, blue-eyed little Tini beside her. “She… is Mrs. Natalie’s daughter, right? Won’t she mind?”

The place where Luo Yan lived was basically an ordinary servant’s cottage, a far cry from the manor’s mansion. Old Era “nobility” would typically avoid such places.

And…

Perhaps because little Tini’s appearance was so similar to Mrs. Natalie’s, especially those blue eyes, Hua Qiling felt a sense of unease.

“Little Tini likes to follow me. She won’t mind.”

Luo Yan replied, and little Tini nodded firmly.

Since that was the case, Hua Qiling didn’t say anything further and followed Luo Yan out of the mansion, towards the edge of the manor.

After exiting the manor’s large iron gates, Hua Qiling glanced back at the mansion.

The desolate and gloomy old castle overlapped with the resplendent and elegant manor. Flickering shadows and elusive gazes seemed to be cast upon her, and the lingering figure in the black dress seemed to be hovering right before her eyes.

Just then, Luo Yan suddenly stopped, turned around, and handed something to Hua Qiling.

“Here, take these back.”

“What?”

Hua Qiling was startled. It was her daggers, with the blindfold she had removed wrapped around them.

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

Hua Qiling forced a smile.

“Put it on,” Luo Yan said softly, referring to the blindfold. “And take these knives too. Then, leave the way you came.”

Hua Qiling’s pupils constricted. The innocent look on little Tini’s face vanished, replaced by an expressionless indifference.