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

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 16 – Seeing

The Natalie Manor was truly unique in the town. Its heavy gates required two servants to push open.

Hua Qiling watched as the manor’s giant iron gates slowly opened on their own, but no matter how much she amplified her “Eagle Eye,” she couldn’t see anyone else present.

Yet, Luo Yan casually greeted the empty doorway, her cheerful voice calling out to the “servants” Hua Qiling couldn’t see.

This bizarre disconnect, combined with the oppressive atmosphere of the manor, made Hua Qiling feel slightly disoriented. Amidst the shifting light and shadows, she seemed to see a bustling and lively manor.

But the protective necklace at her chest emitted a cool aura, bringing her back to her senses.

“Ugh… I almost… fell for it.”

Hua Qiling broke out in a cold sweat. After regaining her composure, she saw a magnificent mansion before her.

Even ravaged by time, it still retained traces of its former grandeur and solemnity, a residence befitting only the “nobility” of the Old Era.

The mansion’s doors slowly opened, and Luo Yan led Hua Qiling inside, her hand in hers.

At this point, Hua Qiling knew she had to face the core area of Ghost Town head-on, without any preparation.

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Ronner,” Luo Yan waved to the empty doorway, then looked at Hua Qiling with a puzzled expression. “Miss Hua Qiling, you…”

“What about me?”

Hua Qiling immediately composed herself, trying her best not to let Luo Yan notice anything unusual.

“You’ve become a bit blurry.”

Luo Yan scratched her head. Seeing Hua Qiling’s confused expression, she quickly waved her hand and said, “It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s probably my problem. My eyes are a bit… faulty…”

In Luo Yan’s vision, the previously clear image of Hua Qiling seemed to have been smudged with random colors.

It seemed that every outsider who entered the town gradually became blurry…

A flicker of doubt crossed Luo Yan’s mind, but she immediately buried it, instinctively avoiding these thoughts.

“Faulty eyes?”

Hua Qiling perked up, acutely aware that this was a crucial detail.

But just as she was considering whether to question Luo Yan further, Luo Yan suddenly looked up towards the second floor and replied,

“Understood, Mrs. Natalie, I’ll be right there… Oh, can I bring Miss Hua Qiling with me?”

“…”

“Understood, Madam.”

After finishing her conversation with “Mrs. Natalie,” Luo Yan looked at Hua Qiling and said,

“Mrs. Natalie wants me to bring you to little Tini’s room. It’s rare to have a guest visit, and perhaps Madam wants little Tini to learn how to interact with strangers.”

Hua Qiling, gradually adapting to all this, didn’t speak, so Luo Yan took her silence as agreement and led her upstairs, hand in hand.

The second floor was a winding corridor, lined with closed doors, darkness stretching at both ends.

Luo Yan led Hua Qiling straight towards the far end of the corridor, where a maroon-colored antique wooden door stood.

Luo Yan pushed the door open and deftly slipped through the gap, pulling Hua Qiling along with her.

Upon entering, Hua Qiling was startled by the spaciousness and emptiness of the room.

In a space nearly ten times the size of Luo Yan’s cottage, there was only a circular soft bed in the center, covered in dust, with no other furnishings.

Out of habit, Hua Qiling quickly scanned the room and was immediately drawn to the oil painting in the center of the wall.

The painting was vibrantly colored, untouched by time, depicting what appeared to be Mrs. Natalie’s family of three.

The husband on the left, perhaps due to the lighting, had his face shrouded in shadow, only half of his body in formal attire visible.

The elegant Mrs. Natalie sat gracefully on the right, a polite smile on her lips, her appearance exuding grace and nobility.

In the center of the painting was their daughter, the “little Tini” Luo Yan had mentioned several times.

Little Tini had golden curls and lovely features, clearly inherited from Mrs. Natalie.

However, perhaps due to her young age, she hadn’t fully matured yet. Although she resembled Mrs. Natalie, she lacked the mature charm.

She held a drawing board in her hands, her expression slightly reserved, her head bowed slightly.

If this painting were anywhere else, Hua Qiling might have appreciated its exquisite brushstrokes and the depiction of a happy family.

Unfortunately, this was the core area of Ghost Town.

Hua Qiling could only feel a strong sense of unease and an irrepressible chill.

“Little Tini!”

Luo Yan finally released Hua Qiling’s hand and walked towards the circular bed in the center.

This was the first time they had let go of each other’s hands since they started holding them. When the soft, warm hand left hers, Hua Qiling felt a pang of reluctance.

But this reluctance instantly vanished, replaced by a chilling horror.

“Luo Yan… Sister…”

She heard it!

It was a third person’s voice!

Hua Qiling immediately used her “Eagle Eye” ability to its fullest, staring intently in the direction Luo Yan was walking, but she still couldn’t see anything.

There were two sets of footsteps on the floor, but dust rose only from Luo Yan’s feet.

“Did you enjoy your time with Luo Yan, our guest from afar?”

A soft, gentle voice suddenly sounded in Hua Qiling’s ear, but her expression was as if she had been struck by lightning, her shock undeniable.

A fourth person…

Could it be that little Tini and Mrs. Natalie… actually existed?!

But why couldn’t she see them?

Could it be…

An idea struck Hua Qiling. She didn’t answer the voice but remained silent.

Luo Yan’s and little Tini’s voices intertwined, seemingly conversing, but Hua Qiling didn’t pay attention.

Because she knew what to do.

She reached up and gently removed the blindfold from her eyes.

A completely new scene unfolded before her. The spotless room was adorned with resplendent decorations, and a small, human-shaped indentation was visible on the soft, circular bed.

Luo Yan and a little girl with golden curls were chatting happily, surrounded by exquisite dolls.

A beautiful woman stood before Hua Qiling, a purplish-black strapless gown accentuating her allure, but her gentle smile, like the winter sun, was enough to melt the ice in anyone’s heart.

No matter how much sadness, loss, or pain… seeing her smile made it all vanish.

—Leaving behind only… happiness.

Hua Qiling finally saw everything, everything that was completely invisible to her “Eagle Eye,” everything that was both illusory and real.

Perhaps the investigator who named “Ghost Town” had witnessed some truth here…

“Miss Hua Qiling?” Mrs. Natalie tilted her head slightly, her smile sweetening. “Do… you like it here?”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 15 – What is Real?

“Look, that’s Grandpa Casico’s snack shop. I occasionally use some of my wages to buy snacks there.”

Along the way, Luo Yan happily introduced the town to Hua Qiling, sharing some interesting anecdotes.

“Grandpa Casico makes the best brown sugar cakes, but you can’t eat too many, or you’ll gain weight… I’ll bring you to try them sometime!”

“Mm…”

Hua Qiling nodded in agreement, her “Eagle Eye” sweeping over the so-called snack shop.

The weathered curtain had been corroded by time into tattered rags. The signboard at the entrance had rotted into crumbling wood, creaking precariously in the gentle breeze.

Listening to Luo Yan’s description, Hua Qiling felt the eerie sensation lessen, replaced by a sense of melancholy.

This silver-haired girl seemed to be living alone in a frozen moment in time. Many of the words she used and the concepts she expressed belonged to a distant past.

What she saw and heard were scenes from centuries ago. The town she described was peaceful, tranquil, and beautiful, but in reality, it was the desolate and ruined “Ghost Town.”

However, it was worth noting that… Luo Yan had never appeared in any of the past archives of Ghost Town, and the things she spoke of were unheard of.

What puzzled Hua Qiling even more was how much Luo Yan was involved in the scene where Ling Qi had vanished amidst the shower of black petals.

These were all mysteries in Hua Qiling’s mind, but she knew that as long as she followed Luo Yan, these mysteries would be solved.

The journey from the town back to the manor wasn’t long, but due to Luo Yan’s frail constitution, they walked very slowly.

Luo Yan had naturally factored this slow pace into her calculations; they would arrive on time.

After walking for a while longer, Hua Qiling’s “Eagle Eye” saw a gloomy and oppressive manor at the end of the forest path, identical to the one she had seen countless times on the surveillance screens.

“It seems… this is the true core of Ghost Town…”

Hua Qiling’s breathing grew slightly heavier, and she couldn’t hide her nervousness.

However, Luo Yan didn’t lead her directly into the manor. Instead, she veered slightly off course and stopped in front of an inconspicuous cottage beside the manor. She skillfully took out a key and unlocked the door.

“This is where I live. It’s a bit small and cramped,” Luo Yan said apologetically.

“Sorry, Miss Hua Qiling, please wait here for a moment. I need to check on little Tini… I can’t bring guests into the manor without Mrs. Natalie’s permission.”

“I understand, I understand,” Hua Qiling nodded repeatedly.

As they approached Luo Yan’s cottage, Hua Qiling felt her tense nerves relax slightly, the oppressive feeling from the eerie manor easing somewhat.

Perhaps in this small cottage, she finally felt a touch of human warmth.

The cottage wasn’t large, but it wasn’t exactly cramped either. There was a simple dressing table on the left and a plain wooden bed on the other side.

A thin gray cloth covered the wooden bed, and a rough cotton quilt was neatly folded at the foot of the bed.

Although old and simple, it was very clean and tidy, much like its owner.

“Then… I’ll be imposing on you.”

Hua Qiling whispered, carefully stepping into Luo Yan’s room, guided by her small hand.

“After Luo Yan leaves, I should be able to re-establish contact with the Bureau…”

Just as Hua Qiling was thinking this, Luo Yan suddenly stopped and exclaimed in surprise,

“Oh, Mrs. Natalie, why are you here?”

Luo Yan seemed very nervous. She hurriedly released Hua Qiling’s hand, curtsied, and performed a proper servant’s bow.

The direction was behind Hua Qiling.

At that moment, Hua Qiling’s heart skipped a beat. She felt a strong gaze fixed on her back.

“…”

What was going on?

Mrs. Natalie, whom Luo Yan had mentioned several times, seemed to be right behind her… Was she about to meet a resident of “Ghost Town” so soon?

Countless thoughts flashed through Hua Qiling’s mind in less than a second, but she quickly composed herself.

—Regardless, the opportunity to unravel one of the many mysteries was right before her.

Hua Qiling turned slightly, mentally prepared, and said in a humble and friendly tone,

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Natalie. It’s a pleasure.”

…But there was no response.

Hua Qiling looked up, her pupils constricting.

There was nothing in front of her, only withered trees swaying in the eerie breeze.

Could it be that Luo Yan was just joking with her?

Or… were the “townspeople” Luo Yan saw merely figments of her imagination?

“…”

Luo Yan didn’t notice Hua Qiling’s strange reaction after she turned around. Instead, she looked nervously at the blurry figure before her.

Although Luo Yan couldn’t see Mrs. Natalie’s face clearly, she could vaguely sense her gentle beauty, her lips always curved in a polite smile.

She stood gracefully, her blue eyes looking at Luo Yan, the affection in their depths evident.

Little Tini’s golden curls and lovely features were inherited from Mrs. Natalie, though this was because young little Tini hadn’t fully matured yet.

Although she resembled Mrs. Natalie, she lacked the mature charm.

“I saw you returning with a guest, so I came to take a look.”

Mrs. Natalie replied softly, her gentle voice like the first rays of morning sun, caressing Luo Yan’s ears.

“I apologize, Madam. I acted on impulse. If…”

Luo Yan quickly explained.

But before she could finish, Mrs. Natalie raised a finger to her lips, shushing her gently, and said,

“Don’t worry, Luo Yan. I didn’t say it wasn’t allowed.”

“However…” Mrs. Natalie turned slightly and looked towards Hua Qiling. “It would be impolite not to invite our dear guest into the manor, understand?”

“Can I bring Miss Hua Qiling into the manor?”

Mrs. Natalie’s suggestion surprised Luo Yan.

Hearing this, Hua Qiling shuddered. From her perspective, Luo Yan seemed to be talking to herself, casually suggesting bringing her into the gloomy manor that looked like the final boss arena.

“Of course. Etiquette, Luo Yan. We must be mindful of etiquette when treating guests.”

Although Mrs. Natalie’s gaze was on Hua Qiling, she was speaking to Luo Yan.

“Mm…”

In this situation, Luo Yan could only nod.

“Little Tini will be waking up soon. Don’t delay. Quickly bring our esteemed guest inside.”

After giving another instruction, Mrs. Natalie turned and gracefully walked away, her figure disappearing into the depths of the manor.

From beginning to end, Mrs. Natalie hadn’t said a single word directly to Hua Qiling.

“Let’s go, Miss Hua Qiling. Mrs. Natalie seems to like you very much.”

Luo Yan took Hua Qiling’s hand again and noticed she was trembling slightly, whether from nervousness or something else.

“…What’s wrong?”

Luo Yan looked up at Hua Qiling, clearly seeing the fine beads of cold sweat on her forehead.

“Nothing, nothing.”

Hua Qiling shook her head. The unsolved mysteries left her feeling lost, and she began to suspect a more terrifying truth.

…Who was seeing what was real?

Was it her, or… Luo Yan?

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 14 – Following

Luo Yan was surprised.

After all, anyone would be taken aback when a stranger they had just met suddenly asked to follow them home.

Although Luo Yan did want to chat more with this woman, the fact that she had offered to accompany her… Luo Yan couldn’t help but feel a little wary.

Hua Qiling knew her request was abrupt, even intrusive.

But she had a strong premonition that in this strange town, following Luo Yan was the safest course of action.

She chose to trust her instincts, so when Luo Yan turned to leave, she made her request.

“This… isn’t very appropriate, is it?” Luo Yan said, a bit troubled. “Miss Hua Qiling, I’m just a servant. Bringing a guest to the manor without permission wouldn’t be good.”

Although Luo Yan knew Mrs. Natalie wouldn’t mind, she still felt a bit apprehensive.

Moreover, Hua Qiling was clearly armed, with two daggers at her waist and a strange-looking metal object on her back.

“I apologize. It’s a rather presumptuous request, but I’m new here and I don’t have anywhere to stay…”

Seeing Luo Yan’s increasingly wary expression, and even taking a few steps back, Hua Qiling quickly realized the issue.

“Wait!” Hua Qiling hurriedly removed the daggers from her waist and offered them to Luo Yan with both hands. “If you’re worried I’m a bad person, take these. Consider them a meeting gift.”

Because Hua Qiling had been viewing the silver-haired girl as a Devil’s Apostle of the Witch of Envy, she had subconsciously overlooked many things, including Luo Yan’s demeanor.

Regardless of the truth, Hua Qiling knew she had to treat Luo Yan as an ordinary young girl.

“Eh?” Luo Yan looked at the daggers Hua Qiling offered, a surprised expression appearing on her face. She couldn’t help but say, “These are your weapons, right? Are you sure?”

There were hunters in town who often went out hunting, and Luo Yan knew how much they valued their weapons.

Moreover… the daggers were incredibly clear in her vision, from their textures to the glint of the setting sun reflecting off them.

“Of course, it’s fine,” Hua Qiling said with a kind smile. “You said everyone in town is very kind, so there’s no need for weapons for self-defense, right?”

Furthermore, the daggers weren’t Hua Qiling’s primary weapons; they were just convenient tools.

If she really needed to fight, she would rely on the specialized sniper rifle on her back.

“A gift… is too much,” Luo Yan thought for a moment, still hesitant to accept them. “How about this? I’ll keep them safe for you, and when you want them back, I’ll return them.”

“Mm, that’s fine too.”

Hua Qiling didn’t mind. Her primary goal was to ease Luo Yan’s apprehension.

Luo Yan took the daggers and couldn’t help but touch them. The cold, hard feel was no different from other objects, but they were exceptionally clear in her vision.

An outsider’s belongings… Luo Yan wanted to study them carefully.

And Miss Hua Qiling had shown enough sincerity. She shouldn’t be a bad person… probably?

The fact that Hua Qiling’s eyes were also impaired, just like hers, made Luo Yan feel more sympathetic towards her. However, bringing her to the manor was still out of the question.

But if she needed a place to stay…

“If you don’t mind the cramped space, you can stay in my cottage for a while,” Luo Yan put away the daggers. “I’ll ask Mrs. Natalie. She’ll probably agree to let you stay in one of the servants’ cottages.”

Luo Yan paused, then added, “Mrs. Natalie, like everyone else, is very kind and hospitable, especially to guests from outside. Don’t worry.”

The town had always been welcoming to outsiders. In Luo Yan’s impression, guests from outside quickly integrated into the town, living happily together, just like Miss Ling Qi a few days ago.

“I understand, I understand.”

Hua Qiling felt a cold sweat running down her back. She admitted that before entering, she had considered the silver-haired girl the most dangerous person in town. But after entering, all signs indicated that she might be the friendliest one…

Moreover, Hua Qiling was very interested in the Mrs. Natalie that Luo Yan mentioned. She wanted to see the townspeople Luo Yan spoke of with her own eyes.

“Oh dear, it’s getting late. I have to hurry back.” Luo Yan tapped the ground with her cane, then seemed to remember something and turned to ask, “Miss Hua Qiling, since you can’t see… do you want me to lead you?”

Luo Yan extended her hand, her pale skin taking on a jade-like warmth in the setting sun.

Hua Qiling was about to refuse, but then she remembered that she was supposed to be blind, so she extended her hand slightly.

“Mm… thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Luo Yan smiled and gently grasped Hua Qiling’s hand.

Her small, delicate hand was cool to the touch, with a hint of warmth, no different from an ordinary person’s.

At this moment, Hua Qiling began to doubt her previous judgment.

Could such an ordinary, kind girl… really be a vicious Devil’s Apostle?

…

Yan City, Anomaly Management Bureau.

Communication had been cut off the moment Hua Qiling encountered “Pale.”

In the New Era, “perception” held power. The “perception” of a high-ranking ability user could even alter some rules—of course, such powerful individuals were rare among humans, but not uncommon in the vast and unknown Endless Wasteland.

Therefore, to prevent “Pale” from perceiving the connection between Yan City and Ghost Town, which could lead to her appearing in Yan City and a complete loss of control, cutting off communication was a necessary choice.

An Zaipao stood beside Li Ping, who silently stared at the dark monitor screen.

“Director-General Li, don’t worry too much. Director Hua is strong… I mean, she’s very capable. She should be fine.”

An Zaipao didn’t know what to say, but felt he had to say something, ending up rambling.

“I know,” Li Ping glanced at An Zaipao and sighed. “I’m not worried about her.”

Although An Zaipao lacked initiative, was easily swayed, and had little combat ability, making him unsuitable for a Director’s position, his office work abilities were excellent. That’s why Li Ping had promoted him to be Hua Qiling’s deputy, to compensate for her weaknesses.

“Then…”

“I’m worried about Dawn, and that old antique who has lived since the Old Era.” Li Ping stood up shakily, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and looked down at the bustling Yan City. “The target who escaped into Ghost Town is the next cadre candidate he has been carefully cultivating, a rare spatial ability user. He won’t give up until he receives confirmation of her death…”

“What do you mean?”

“A ‘Ruin’ level disaster is certainly terrifying, but I believe Xiao Hua can handle it,” Li Ping sighed softly. “The biggest variable in Ghost Town is that little girl named Ling Qi… and the ‘Dawn’ organization behind her.”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 13 – “Pale”

As the melodious, slightly hesitant voice sounded, Hua Qiling froze.

“How could this be…?”

She hadn’t expected to encounter “Pale” the moment she entered Ghost Town.

And now she was alone in the enemy’s territory!

It was like being in a dungeon raid, before even having a chance to learn the mechanics, the strongest boss suddenly appeared right in front of her.

Meeting “Pale” wasn’t part of Hua Qiling’s initial exploration plan for Ghost Town.

The first phase of the investigation plan was simply to gather more information about Ghost Town.

Indeed, Hua Qiling had intended to confront “Pale” eventually, but she hadn’t planned on rushing to her death…

The plan was to proceed step by step. No one wanted to run straight into the boss’s face.

The people at the Bureau quickly realized that the worst-case scenario had occurred.

“Stay calm, Hua Qiling,” Li Ping’s voice was urgent. “Maintain vigilance, don’t show any aggression, and approach with caution!

“To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, we’re cutting off communication now. You’ll have to act according to the situation!”

Although Li Ping was worried about Hua Qiling’s safety, it was better to let her face the danger than to let “Pale” discover the external communication, lest the situation worsen further.

Faced with this undesirable situation, they could only take it one step at a time.

The earpiece fell silent; the communication had been cut off.

Now, Hua Qiling was truly alone in this terrifying disaster zone, facing the supposed boss of the area.

“Hello.”

Hua Qiling took a deep breath, suppressing her apprehension, and turned to Luo Yan, offering the most amiable smile she could muster.

“Oh,” Luo Yan said, slightly nervous. “Sorry… Did I disturb you?”

She had regretted speaking the moment she greeted the stranger. The woman was carrying weapons; what if she was dangerous?

So, when Hua Qiling actually responded, and in such a friendly manner, Luo Yan was caught off guard.

“No.” Hua Qiling used “Eagle Eye” to subtly observe Luo Yan, her gentle expression unchanged. “Is there something I can help you with?”

—Unexpected.

Facing the silver-haired girl who had troubled her for so long, Hua Qiling suddenly realized that something seemed… off about her.

No… it should be said that “Pale” was normal, very normal.

Apart from her inhumanly beautiful features, “Pale” looked no different from any ordinary girl in Yan City.

However, this normalcy, appearing in the “Ruin” level disaster area “Ghost Town,” was the most abnormal thing.

When Hua Qiling turned around, Luo Yan noticed the white cloth covering her eyes and let out a small gasp. “Ah, Miss, your eyes…”

“Just an old injury, nothing to worry about.”

Hua Qiling said calmly. After the initial panic, she had gradually regained her composure.

“Is that so? Okay…”

A flicker of pity crossed Luo Yan’s heart. She already struggled with her limited vision; this woman couldn’t see anything at all…

This thought quickly passed, and she politely curtsied, a servant’s curtsy.

“Let me introduce myself. My name is Luo Yan. I’m a helper at Mrs. Natalie’s manor. Welcome to our town.”

Seeing this, Hua Qiling’s eyes sharpened.

“That’s… a Western Continent style curtsy…”

There were many mega-cities in the world, each with its unique customs.

Some of these customs originated from the Old Era. The curtsy Luo Yan performed was one such custom, a remnant of the Western Continent.

However… “Luo Yan” sounded more like a name from the Eastern Continent.

Perhaps from these fragmented pieces of information, she could uncover the true nature of Ghost Town.

Hua Qiling noted the name and nodded. “My name is Hua Qiling.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” Luo Yan said with a smile. “It’s nothing, really. I just rarely see visitors from outside, so I was a little curious… Miss Hua Qiling, where are you from?”

Seeing a clear figure again, and just like Ling Qi, a newcomer to the town, Luo Yan couldn’t contain her curiosity.

Luo Yan felt that the town was good, her life was good, but she was also interested in the outside world.

Coupled with the recent string of strange events, Luo Yan had a desire to find answers.

Furthermore, perhaps she could find some answers regarding her strange illness from these inexplicably clear outsiders.

“Somewhere… a very distant place,” Hua Qiling replied vaguely.

Relatively speaking, Ghost Town was currently adjacent to Yan City, but considering the need to cross between reality and illusion, it wasn’t wrong to say it was far away.

However, this was the first time Hua Qiling had clearly heard “Pale’s” voice. It was quite pleasant, she had to admit.

The listening devices they had sent in before had been affected by strong energy fluctuations, making it almost impossible to discern the original voice. They could only barely make out a few words from the chaotic noise.

“The same answer as Ling Qi.”

Luo Yan murmured softly and then saw Hua Qiling’s visibly startled expression. She quickly explained,

“Ling Qi is a friend of mine… Do you know her, Miss Hua Qiling? She also came to town not long ago.”

How could I not know her…

Hua Qiling was shocked to hear the name “Ling Qi” from Luo Yan’s mouth. She still remembered the scene on the surveillance screen where Luo Yan had lightly touched Ling Qi’s body, causing her to vanish.

Suddenly, Hua Qiling felt a chill run down her spine.

“No, I don’t know her,” Hua Qiling forced her expression to remain calm and asked, “But, coming from outside… can people live in this town?”

Being in the town personally, the feeling was much stronger than through the screen.

Everything in the town bore the marks of time, as if it had been abandoned for centuries. It didn’t look habitable at all.

Or rather, what lived here probably wasn’t human.

And, Ling Qi had clearly…

“Of course, Ling Qi is very comfortable living in town,” Luo Yan seemed happy. “Miss Hua Qiling, do you want to live in town too? Everyone would welcome you.”

This seemingly mature, blind woman spoke gently, and Luo Yan had a good first impression of her.

If she was willing to stay in town, it would be nice.

“Live in town?” Hua Qiling suddenly recalled the black flowers blooming everywhere, shuddered involuntarily, and quickly shook her head. “No, no, I think I’ll pass.”

“…Okay.”

Luo Yan’s excitement was immediately extinguished, a look of disappointment flashing across her face.

Seeing her disappointed expression, Hua Qiling inexplicably felt an urge to agree, but she quickly suppressed this terrifying impulse.

Luo Yan’s disappointment didn’t last long. She looked up at the sky, then slapped her forehead.

“Oh dear, it’s getting late. Little Tini will be waking up for dinner soon. I have to hurry back…”

Luo Yan looked apologetically at Hua Qiling and said,

“It was a pleasure chatting with you, Miss Hua Qiling, but I’m sorry…”

Although Luo Yan wanted to chat with Hua Qiling longer, if she seemed trustworthy, Luo Yan would have shared her situation with her, hoping to find a solution.

Unfortunately, the current situation didn’t allow it. If she went back any later, little Tini would be in tears.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Hua Qiling quickly waved her hand.

She was eager for Luo Yan to leave so she could continue investigating this strange town.

Of course, while chatting with Luo Yan, Hua Qiling had also been secretly memorizing every word she said.

Clearly, in Luo Yan’s perception, there were other residents in the town.

But… were there really residents here?

Their target, Ling Qi, a member of the Dawn organization, was recorded as deceased in the Anomaly Management Bureau’s archives.

Hua Qiling had even witnessed her demise on the surveillance screen, the culprit being the lovely silver-haired girl before her.

But, according to Luo Yan, Ling Qi was still alive and well in this town.

Not only that, but in this conversation, the town Luo Yan described was prosperous and peaceful.

…Not at all like the desolate ruins she saw.

Just then, Hua Qiling felt a chill run down her spine.

Despite the emptiness of the town, at this moment, it felt as if countless eyes were coldly watching her.

“Miss Luo Yan,” Hua Qiling swallowed hard and whispered, “Can… can I go with you?”

“Huh?”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 12 – …Hello?

The outer regions of Yan City were filled with settlements built by refugees wandering the wasteland.

Although strictly speaking, the outer regions didn’t belong to Yan City, the city’s higher-ups had decided to allocate some resources to protect the refugees.

Refugees could accumulate merit points by completing tasks issued by Yan City, which could then be exchanged for supplies. Accumulating enough points could even earn them the opportunity to enter the inner city.

The sudden appearance of “Ghost Town” had already destroyed many settlements in the outer regions. Its slowly moving path left a barren wasteland in its wake.

Yan City had urgently evacuated the refugees in the vicinity. Now, the area within twenty kilometers of Ghost Town was completely empty, except for a lone figure walking towards the bizarre area.

Hua Qiling had been prepared to enter Ghost Town herself from the beginning, but she had hesitated, burdened by too many concerns.

It wasn’t until she was dismissed from her position, coupled with the incident involving the high-ranking ability user Xu Lin, that Hua Qiling finally made up her mind.

Now, Hua Qiling carefully approached Ghost Town. The blindfold covering her eyes didn’t hinder her vision at all. In fact, what she saw now was even more precise than with her eyes.

“Eagle Eye.”

This was Hua Qiling’s ability. The initial stage significantly enhanced her vision, while the evolved stage allowed her to see through objects. Now, Hua Qiling could see everything clearly even with her eyes closed.

In this state, the silver-haired girl’s gaze couldn’t affect her.

As Hua Qiling crossed the boundary between reality and illusion, the surrounding scenery rapidly transformed, as if countless years had passed in an instant, before finally settling.

Silence.

“I made it!”

Although she had anticipated this situation after countless simulations, Hua Qiling still couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy, which quickly subsided.

This was just the first step; there were more important things to do.

Hua Qiling’s expression turned serious. She used “Eagle Eye” to observe the town, while also using her ability user’s “spiritual sense” to perceive changes in the surrounding environment.

This was a town that appeared to have been abandoned for a long time, heavily weathered, with a style vaguely resembling the mega-cities in the western part of the continent.

At this moment, a cacophony of noise came from the communicator hanging from Hua Qiling’s ear. It was clear that the early execution of the investigation plan had completely disrupted the Bureau’s previous arrangements, creating a lot of extra work.

A moment later, Li Ping’s low, hoarse voice came through the earpiece.

“Listen, Hua Qiling, all our observation points in Ghost Town have been destroyed. We can only provide assistance based on previously recorded archives and data. The danger has greatly increased. You… must prioritize your own safety before taking any action.”

“…Yes, Director-General Li.”

Hua Qiling still couldn’t bring herself to call him “old man.” Formality was necessary in official situations.

“What is the approximate time in Ghost Town now?”

“Near dusk… approximately between five and six in the afternoon.”

Hua Qiling looked up at the sky and quickly determined the approximate time.

Ghost Town had a day-night cycle, but due to the unstable flow of time, it didn’t correspond to the outside world.

“And your current location?”

Hua Qiling pondered for a moment, glanced at the surrounding scenery, and said,

“Judging from the environment, I should be near Observation Point Three, close to Observation Point Four.”

The rustling sound of flipping through documents came from the earpiece. Soon, Li Ping’s voice sounded again, seemingly more tense.

“…Detailed environmental description?”

“The third building on the left is an abandoned bar. The second building on the right is a public restroom.”

Hua Qiling looked around and casually mentioned two easily identifiable landmarks.

“Wait! This, this is…”

More rustling sounds came from the earpiece, followed by An Zaipao’s voice, slightly trembling.

“Director Hua, ‘Pale’… might be near you right now.”

Hua Qiling’s heart skipped a beat, her pupils constricting.

“You mean…”

“Yes, according to records, ‘Pale’ has a seventy percent chance of passing through this location at this time.”

Hua Qiling’s breathing quickened. She realized she had to leave this location immediately and avoid contact with “Pale.”

But before she could act, a pleasant, melodious voice sounded from behind her.

“…Hello?”

…

Every idle afternoon, Luo Yan would go into town and help the residents as much as she could.

Helping Uncle Andre sharpen his knives, delivering medicine for Dr. Messier, chatting with Old Li, the blacksmith at the town entrance… Small things Luo Yan could manage.

Due to her illness, little Tini could stay awake for much shorter periods than ordinary people.

While she was sleeping, Mrs. Natalie suggested that Luo Yan interact more with the townspeople and build good neighborly relationships.

Luo Yan readily accepted Mrs. Natalie’s suggestion. Before her illness progressed past 80%, she would actively help others in town, partly to make up for the minor troubles her occasional pranks caused the residents.

As usual, after a busy afternoon, Luo Yan strolled along the familiar path, preparing to return to the manor on the edge of town.

However… the strange phenomenon that had inexplicably disappeared a while ago had reappeared today.

In Luo Yan’s vision, clear fragments began to appear in the shadowy corners of the town, contrasting sharply with the surrounding scribbled lines.

She could even touch these fragments, but they felt no different from other areas.

“I remember… when I met Ling Qi before, something similar happened?”

Luo Yan frowned slightly, the question she had buried resurfacing.

She had encountered this strange phenomenon when she met Ling Qi.

But as Ling Qi integrated into the town and became blurry, the clear fragments had silently disappeared.

Until now, they had reappeared in Luo Yan’s vision.

Clear fragments, clear outsiders… There seemed to be a connection between the two.

“Could it be… that another outsider has come to town?”

Just as Luo Yan was wondering whether to go back to town and look around, she looked up and saw a clear figure appear in front of her.

“Eh… an outsider?”

Luo Yan was slightly taken aback. What a coincidence.

This new outsider appeared to be a young woman in her early twenties, carrying a strange metal object on her back, two daggers at her waist looking rather intimidating.

She was looking around, as if searching for something.

“Could she be… looking for Ling Qi?”

Luo Yan recalled that when she first met Ling Qi, she seemed to be carrying similar daggers, equally refined and sharp.

Thinking of this, without further hesitation, Luo Yan raised her hand and greeted her.

“…Hello?”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 11 – Single-Handedly Entering the Fray

“Urgent report! Large-scale assimilation phenomena are occurring in Ghost Town. The affected area is rapidly expanding, and the town continues to move towards the inner city!”

“Understood.”

An Zaipao listened to the report and looked at the haggard Hua Qiling beside him, his eyes questioning. “Director Hua, what do you think…?”

“Now, you are the Director.”

Hua Qiling shook her head, interrupting An Zaipao.

Although she had been removed from her position and transferred to the Oversight Department, she was still the most knowledgeable about the Ghost Town incident.

Moreover, Hua Qiling couldn’t shake off her concern and frequently visited the Director’s office to assist An Zaipao.

However, without the authority to make decisions, her burden was considerably lighter.

“There was another report just now. Xu Lin from Team Two, while observing Ghost Town, suddenly experienced soul entrapment. All observation points have been lost… I’m afraid there might be a connection between these two incidents.”

Hua Qiling said gravely, “Worse, Xu Lin stopped recording before losing consciousness. No one knows what he saw last.”

Xu Lin was also a “Ruin” level ability user. Although not combat-oriented, his mental defenses were strong, and he had comprehensive protective measures in place.

Yet, even he hadn’t escaped unscathed.

“Even a ‘Ruin’ level ability user can’t resist, I’m afraid…” A worried look flashed across Hua Qiling’s face, but then her resolve hardened. “No, this can’t go on.”

After a period of hesitation and uncertainty, Hua Qiling finally made up her mind. She stood up and walked towards the door.

The decision had to be made; she had to take a chance.

“Director Hua, what are you doing?” An Zaipao, who had worked with Hua Qiling for several years, seemed to sense something and quickly stood up, calling after her.

“I’m going into Ghost Town,” Hua Qiling replied softly, the image of the silver-haired girl flashing in her eyes. “I must… meet her. I must stand before her, face her directly.”

It was time to lift the fog surrounding Ghost Town.

“That’s too dangerous!” An Zaipao exclaimed. “Director-General Li will never agree. Moreover, the Bureau has already decided to dispatch an investigation team. They are almost fully organized…”

“‘Ruin’ level disaster events should be handled by ‘Ruin’ level ability users. Those below ‘Ruin’ level are just cannon fodder.” Hua Qiling shook her head and sighed. “They are prepared to sacrifice their lives to fill this gap, but it’s not necessary.”

She continued towards the door without stopping.

An Zaipao didn’t try to stop Hua Qiling because he knew he couldn’t.

So, he decisively picked up the phone, intending to inform Li Ping and let him stop Hua Qiling from this dangerous course of action.

But unfortunately, Hua Qiling had temporarily blocked communication between the Disaster Response Department office and the Director-General’s office. The call wouldn’t go through.

“Damn it…”

An Zaipao was extremely anxious. He rushed out of the office and ran straight towards the Director-General’s office.

But it seemed to be too late.

…

After being removed from her position, Hua Qiling had been contemplating what she could do.

Regardless, the “Ghost Town” incident had become her responsibility.

Hua Qiling had a strong sense of responsibility. When she decided to do something, she would devote herself to it wholeheartedly.

Even now… when she had been stripped of her authority to act.

But it didn’t matter. Besides being the Director, Hua Qiling was a “Ruin” level ability user, a powerful individual even within Yan City.

Otherwise, even with Li Ping’s support, the twenty-one-year-old Hua Qiling wouldn’t have become the Director of one of the Bureau’s four departments.

At least, none of those who could compete with Hua Qiling for the position of Director of the Disaster Response Department were her match.

Hua Qiling’s life had been smooth sailing. She had never encountered a setback she couldn’t overcome; she had never tasted failure.

Hua Qiling was proud, and always had been.

—Until she met her, the silver-haired girl in Ghost Town.

Those pale red eyes were a recurring nightmare for Hua Qiling, even driving her to the extreme of suggesting the use of the Ice Coffin Weapon to erase Ghost Town.

Li Ping had seen that Hua Qiling was almost obsessed with this, which was why he had temporarily transferred her from the Disaster Response Department.

But what Li Ping hadn’t anticipated was that Hua Qiling would come up with an equally radical plan. She intended to go to Ghost Town alone, to confront her nightmare head-on.

By the time An Zaipao rushed to the Director-General’s office to inform Li Ping, it was already too late.

Hua Qiling, carrying her usual sniper rifle, two swords at her waist, and a blindfold covering her eyes, stepped into the area affected by Ghost Town.

To prevent herself from meeting those pale red eyes, Hua Qiling had blocked her vision. Of course, she had other ways to “see” her surroundings.

A deathly silence fell over the Director-General’s office. Li Ping stared blankly at the screen, watching Hua Qiling venture alone into Ghost Town.

This junior, whom he regarded as a granddaughter, was walking towards an unknown land of death. Cloudy tears streamed down Li Ping’s wrinkled face.

“Xiao Hua, why are you doing this…?”

“Old man, don’t cry. I can hear you.” Suddenly, Hua Qiling’s voice came from the monitor’s speaker. “Don’t worry, I’m not crazy. I just think that I’m the best person to execute your investigation plan.”

Hearing Hua Qiling’s voice, Li Ping was taken aback. A flicker of joy crossed his face, but it quickly turned into a complex expression.

“Xiao Hua, come back first. After the team has assessed the situation…”

“No, there’s no turning back now,” Hua Qiling said calmly.

“Moreover, I disagree with sending in a team for exploration. Last time, when Ling Qi from the Dawn organization strayed into Ghost Town, it triggered the ‘assimilation’ phenomenon. The best course of action is to have an ability user with strong solo combat capabilities execute the mission.

“And I am currently the most knowledgeable ‘Ruin’ level ability user in the Anomaly Management Bureau about Ghost Town, naturally making me the best candidate for this mission.”

“But this, Xiao Hua, you…”

Perhaps because there were no outsiders present, Li Ping didn’t seem like the authoritative elder he was during the council meeting. Instead, he resembled a nagging elder.

“From now on, I am the investigation team.” Hua Qiling said firmly. “Continue with your arrangements, old man. It’s pointless to dwell on this now. The more important thing is to focus on the task at hand.”

Li Ping was silent for a moment. He knew Hua Qiling was right. At this point, they could only continue with the investigation plan, with Hua Qiling replacing the team.

“…From now on, you must obey commands.”

“Relax, I understand.”

Compared to coordinating the overall situation in the office, Hua Qiling seemed more at ease carrying out missions personally.

Her rise to one of the top positions in the Bureau was due to her rich and outstanding mission experience.

Li Ping turned to An Zaipao and said, “Go. Initiate the investigation plan ahead of schedule. The executor has been changed from the team to Hua Qiling. Now… she’s in your hands.”

“Understood.”

An Zaipao nodded seriously and hurried out of the office. There was still much work ahead of him.

After everything quieted down, Li Ping sighed deeply, seemingly aging several years.

“I hope… everything goes well.”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 10 – Sins

“It’s raining again…”

Luo Yan held her umbrella, watching the light blue lines fall around her.

Occasionally, raindrops slipped through the gaps in the umbrella and landed on her skin, bringing a cool, damp sensation.

Luo Yan loved watching the rain. Drop-shaped lines fell from the slightly gloomy sky, striking the ground and creating small, fleeting splashes.

Raindrops fell on the ground, on the roofs of houses, on the leaves of trees lining the road. The pitter-patter sound filled the air, as if the whole world consisted only of the downpour and herself.

Luo Yan could watch this all day, but not today. She had to go to the small church in the north of town for worship.

There was a small church in the northern part of town. The town’s residents went there for worship once a month, though there was no fixed date.

Luo Yan was no exception, though she didn’t even know what religion the townspeople followed, let alone which god the small church revered.

But to fit in with the town, Luo Yan still went to worship with everyone else, so as not to appear too out of place.

There were few pedestrians on the road today. Vague gray shadows came and went, the heavy rain enveloping everything in the town.

Luo Yan’s frail body deteriorated with time, and these days she often felt an overwhelming fatigue.

Therefore, she walked very slowly along this not-so-long road.

However, she wasn’t in a hurry. Strolling and enjoying the surrounding scenery, she ambled to the church entrance.

Perhaps because of the rain, there weren’t many people in the small church.

When Luo Yan entered, there was only one figure praying in the pews.

Although Luo Yan could only see a blurry figure, judging from certain characteristics, it seemed to be Ling Qi, the outsider she had encountered a few days ago.

“…Ling Qi?”

Luo Yan called out tentatively.

Hearing her name, Ling Qi turned around and looked at Luo Yan with a slightly bewildered expression.

“You are?”

“I… remem-“

Luo Yan stopped mid-sentence. She realized that she had only had a very brief encounter with Ling Qi before she fell unconscious.

So, it was perfectly normal that Ling Qi didn’t recognize her.

But strangely, she had been able to see Ling Qi clearly at the time, but now she was as blurry as the other townspeople.

“I’m Luo Yan. We met a few days ago…”

“Ah, Miss Luo Yan,” Ling Qi quickly interrupted before Luo Yan could finish. “I know. Dr. Messier told me everything. You saved me.”

“Cough, cough…”

Luo Yan coughed awkwardly. Ling Qi’s worsening condition had actually been partly her “doing.”

Now it seemed that it had just been a misunderstanding.

Ling Qi bowed deeply to Luo Yan and said,

“Thank you very much. If it weren’t for Miss Luo Yan, I would probably be lying dead in the wilderness.”

“You’re welcome,” Luo Yan quickly reached out to help Ling Qi up. “Even without me, other townspeople would have saved you. Don’t worry too much about it.”

Mainly, Luo Yan felt guilty…

However, Ling Qi didn’t deny Luo Yan’s words, smiling slightly and saying,

“That’s true, everyone in town is very kind… Miss Luo Yan, are you here to pray as well?”

“Yes,” Luo Yan nodded.

“Praying to the great God brings peace of mind…”

Ling Qi turned to look towards the depths of the church and whispered.

“Miss Ling Qi, you came from outside the town, right?” Luo Yan suddenly remembered the question that had been on her mind and asked, “Could you tell me where you came from?”

Although she was curious about the outside world, with her frail body, it was difficult for Luo Yan to leave the town, so she knew nothing about the outside world.

“A very distant place, but nowhere near as peaceful as this town.” Ling Qi answered with a slightly troubled expression. “I’m sorry, I don’t really want to recall those things… If Miss Luo Yan is just curious, please don’t ask any further.”

Seeing that her question had caused trouble for the other person, Luo Yan blushed slightly.

“Okay, I won’t ask again—Have you gotten used to the town during this time?”

Hearing this question, a happy smile immediately appeared on Ling Qi’s face.

“Of course, I’m very happy staying in town.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Luo Yan smiled along with her, successfully changing the subject.

“Miss Luo Yan, if you’re here to pray, I won’t disturb you any longer.” Ling Qi bowed slightly. “I still have some work to do. Uncle Andre said there would be a shipment of meat coming in from outside, and he asked me to receive it.”

“Ah, then you should go quickly,” Luo Yan said, waving her hand, thinking that Ling Qi had integrated into the town quite quickly. “See you next time!”

“Goodbye, Miss Luo Yan.”

Ling Qi waved back and turned to leave.

Watching Ling Qi’s receding figure, Luo Yan, for some reason, suddenly recalled the scene she had seen when she used her ability on Ling Qi.

Then, as if possessed, Luo Yan softly spoke in a gentle, world-weary tone, mimicking the scene from before.

“Ling Qi… it’s not your fault…”

Ling Qi’s figure visibly trembled. She turned slightly to look at Luo Yan and said strangely,

“Miss Luo Yan, what strange things are you saying?”

“Nothing, nothing…”

Luo Yan smiled awkwardly, annoyed at her inexplicable behavior after she came to her senses.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

Ling Qi didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about Luo Yan. She nodded and then turned to leave the small church.

Luo Yan watched Ling Qi’s receding figure, frowning slightly.

However, she still felt puzzled.

Why was Ling Qi’s reaction so indifferent this time? She had clearly seemed so heartbroken before…

Perhaps it was because of her ability?

Or was it because of…

The town?

After thinking for a while, Luo Yan couldn’t come up with an answer.

“Forget it, I won’t think about it for now. Let’s pray.”

Luo Yan decided to put these worries aside, looked towards the vaguely visible statue in the depths of the church, took a deep breath, and walked forward.

Although she had decided to come for worship every month to fit in with the town, Luo Yan was serious about it.

The statue in the center of the church was high on the wall. During prayer, one had to look up at the statue and sing hymns.

Luo Yan knelt down properly, clasped her hands together, and looked up at the statue.

Whether due to the lighting or her poor eyesight, she couldn’t make out the statue’s features at all, only vaguely sensing its presence.

But this didn’t hinder her worship. Just like every time she prayed, Luo Yan softly chanted,

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

…

As with every observation, Xu Lin, a high-ranking ability user from the Disaster Response Department, was intently watching the images on each screen, simultaneously recording the information.

But just then, the images from all observation points became chaotic at the same time, various scenes flashing and interweaving on the screens.

Xu Lin had never encountered this situation before. He paused, slightly startled, and stopped writing.

The next moment, his expression turned to one of utter terror.

All the surveillance screens went black simultaneously, then lit up again, all displaying the same image.

—The silver-haired girl looking up at the observation point, her pale red eyes cold.

“…To atone for all sins.”

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 9 – Ice Coffin Weapon

Yan City Anomaly Management Bureau, Supreme Council Chamber.

After the “Calamity Tide,” countless ability users emerged worldwide, possessing varying degrees of power. The traditional administrative structure was no longer capable of managing such complex and unstable elements.

After the establishment of the mega-cities, it was decided to create the Anomaly Management Bureau, recruiting ability users as much as possible, implementing a system of ability users managing ability users.

Ability users could choose to join the Anomaly Management Bureau or act independently, provided they registered with the Bureau.

Those unwilling to register would be stripped of their mega-city residency and permanently expelled.

This decisive resolution largely resolved the chaos caused by the emergence of ability users, but it also resulted in a series of severe consequences, most notably the rise of the “Dawn” organization—but that’s a story for another time.

Now, all the “Ruin” level and above high-ranking ability users in Yan City were gathered in the Supreme Council Chamber, formulating a plan to address one of the most serious crises in Yan City’s history.

“Ghost Town, a ‘Ruin’ level disaster event. If left unchecked, it could lead to the complete destruction of the mega-city.”

Presiding over this meeting was Hua Qiling, Director of the Disaster Response Department. Her expression was grave, and her fatigue was evident.

She was undoubtedly the most exhausted during this period. After the “Demonic Gaze” incident, the Disaster Response Department was severely understaffed, a gap filled by Hua Qiling’s tireless work.

Even a young body couldn’t withstand such high-intensity work. Despite putting on makeup specifically for the meeting, Hua Qiling couldn’t conceal her haggard appearance.

Fortunately, no one had died because of the “Demonic Gaze” incident. After immediate rescue efforts, aside from a few members with weaker mental fortitude, most of the team had gradually recovered.

“However, in the ‘disaster phenomenon’ of this incident, a suspected Devil’s Apostle has been identified. This ‘Ruin’ level disaster event may escalate to ‘Peril’ level.”

Hua Qiling said seriously, projecting a photo onto the large screen in the council chamber.

The image of an unbelievably beautiful silver-haired girl appeared on the screen, but several high-ranking ability users from the Disaster Response Department instinctively turned their heads.

It was mainly… psychological trauma.

Despite the severe incident like the “Demonic Gaze,” surveillance of Ghost Town and the silver-haired girl hadn’t ceased.

The Disaster Response Department had spent considerable effort devising various plans, and many members risked their souls to execute them. Finally, after paying a heavy price, they successfully maintained surveillance.

—The solution was to have high-ranking ability users observe. If a dangerous signal appeared, they could react immediately and cut off the power.

Even if they accidentally encountered the “Demonic Gaze,” the strong mental defenses of high-ranking ability users could withstand it for a short time.

Therefore, the high-ranking ability users responsible for observation reflexively averted their gazes upon seeing the silver-haired girl.

The high-ranking ability users from other departments didn’t react in the same way. Their expressions showed varying degrees of surprise upon seeing the silver-haired girl.

“Is she… really a Devil’s Apostle?” One of the high-ranking ability users couldn’t help but ask. “According to records, Devil’s Apostles usually assimilate to a certain extent with the demons they follow, so they should exhibit some inhuman characteristics.”

The concealment of Devil’s Apostles wasn’t foolproof. Due to these inhuman characteristics, they usually covered themselves completely.

But the silver-haired girl clearly hadn’t done so. Instead, she wore a simple gray dress. Apart from her stunning beauty and unusually pale complexion, she looked no different from an ordinary human.

“That’s the case. My personal speculation is that she is likely a follower of the ‘Witch of Envy.’ Her exceptional beauty is her inhuman characteristic,” Hua Qiling said gravely. “Therefore, I request the use of the ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’ to eliminate ‘Ghost Town’ before the incident escalates beyond repair.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the room erupted in an uproar. All the high-ranking ability users looked at Hua Qiling in shock, including those from the Disaster Response Department.

“This is absolute madness…”

“I can’t believe the Director of the Disaster Response Department would say such a thing… Is it because she’s too young?”

“Has she been working so much overtime that she’s lost her mind? The ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’ cannot be used so recklessly!”

Whispers filled the council chamber. Most high-ranking ability users spoke of the “Ice Coffin Weapon” with apprehension.

As for Hua Qiling’s position as Director, her age, just over twenty, was too young for them, so young that all her mistakes were magnified and questioned.

Just as the chamber became increasingly chaotic, a deep, clear shout instantly silenced everyone.

“Quiet!”

Everyone looked towards the source of the voice. A white-haired old man at the end of the conference table. He was the current Director-General of the Anomaly Management Bureau, Li Ping.

“Hua Qiling, you need to be responsible for your words.” Li Ping said each word deliberately. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an indescribable authority. “The use of the ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’ must be carefully considered. I believe the current situation hasn’t reached the point where it’s necessary.”

“I…” Hua Qiling opened her mouth, a flash of silver suddenly crossing her mind. Her gaze instantly hardened. “I believe it’s necessary to deploy the ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’ as soon as possible!”

Li Ping calmly looked at the young woman he had personally promoted and sighed.

“Such a decision is too radical and hasty, Hua Qiling. In your current mental state, perhaps you are no longer suitable to continue as Director of the Disaster Response Department.”

The Ice Coffin Weapon was the mega-city’s trump card, its use extremely limited, and its destructive power terrifying.

More importantly, once deployed, it couldn’t be controlled.

With “Ghost Town” so close to Yan City, the Ice Coffin Weapon could very well endanger the city itself.

Indeed, the simplest and most direct way to resolve the “Ghost Town” incident was to erase it with the Ice Coffin Weapon, but the consequences would be unbearable for Yan City.

Sometimes, the higher-ups of Yan City would rather abandon half the city, as long as the core area of the inner city wasn’t threatened, than use the Ice Coffin Weapon.

“You’ll temporarily transfer to the Investigation Department for rest. As for the Disaster Response Department… An Zaipao will take charge for now,” Li Ping said calmly. “As for your proposal, it will be taken into consideration.”

The Anomaly Management Bureau has four departments: the Disaster Response Department , responsible for handling disaster events; the Apprehension Department, responsible for apprehending wanted targets; the Exploration Department, responsible for outward expansion and exploration; and the Oversight Department, responsible for the overall management of ability users.

In the stable environment of Yan City, the  Oversight Department  was essentially a cushy job, as there were rarely any troublesome ability users.

Hua Qiling remained silent.

She wanted to say that the silver-haired girl’s danger was beyond imagination, that the situation in Ghost Town was completely different from the descriptions in the archives, and that the severity of this disaster event was immeasurable…

After this period of investigation, Hua Qiling’s fear of Ghost Town and the silver-haired girl had grown day by day.

She had a premonition that if this disaster event wasn’t resolved quickly, it could even escalate to the point of destroying Yan City.

But, in the end, Hua Qiling didn’t say any of this.

Hua Qiling knew she didn’t fully understand the cost of using the Ice Coffin Weapon, while Director-General Li Ping had personally experienced the incident where Yan City was forced to use it.

Perhaps… Li Ping’s decision was more appropriate.

Finally, under everyone’s gaze, Hua Qiling stood up in a daze, declining An Zaipao’s offer of support, and stumbled out of the chamber.

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 8 – As Always

Centuries ago, an unimaginable super-disaster struck this world.

Even the Multinational Alliance, with its technological prowess reaching towards space colonization, was as fragile as paper in the face of this cataclysm, easily torn to shreds and reduced to dust.

The surviving humans considered this cataclysm a dividing line, marking the Old Era before and the New Era after.

All the powers and nations of the Old Era vanished in the New Era. Now, on this continent, there were only giant cities rebuilt from the ruins.

Of course, this cataclysm, known as the “Calamity Tide,” brought not only disaster but also caused some of the world’s creatures to “mutate” or “evolve,” developing various powerful abilities.

Many humans became ability users, wielding powers comparable to natural disasters.

Relying on the defenses built by ability users and the mega-cities, humanity struggled to survive in the New Era.

However, the “Calamity Tide” brought not only ability users to the New Era, but also many powerful disastrous beings and phenomena.

Among them, the “Primordial Demons” born from the “Calamity Tide” were the most terrifying. There were ten in total, each possessing power on the level of a “Cataclysm.”

Every time a “Primordial Demon” appeared, even without deliberate action, humanity faced a crisis of survival, and many mega-cities were destroyed.

Such crises occurred a dozen times over the centuries, destroying thousands of mega-cities.

The remaining mega-cities either existed on the fringes of the disasters, suffering less damage, or possessed ability users who could barely withstand “Cataclysm” level powers.

Human courage allowed the embers of their race to continue in the New Era.

Of course, a considerable number of ability users didn’t harbor the will to protect humanity. Influenced by the remnants of the “Calamity Tide,” they actively embraced the Primordial Demons, becoming their minions, known as “Devil’s Apostles.”

Although Devil’s Apostles were far weaker than Primordial Demons, they posed no less a threat to humanity.

Because they were also human, Devil’s Apostles could often hide within the mega-cities.

When the right opportunity arose, they would unleash a disaster that the mega-cities couldn’t withstand. Many mega-cities were destroyed at the hands of Devil’s Apostles.

As for why Devil’s Apostles did this, in their words, it was all to “please their Lord.”

“If this silver-haired girl is truly a Devil’s Apostle… I’m afraid this disaster event is more than just ‘Ruin’ level,” Hua Qiling said gravely.

The members of the Disaster Response Department all gasped. They knew what a Devil’s Apostle signified.

Devil’s Apostles not only possessed a portion of demonic power, but they could also easily induce disaster phenomena and even summon avatars of Primordial Demons through sacrifices.

“Hopefully… not.”

Deputy Director An Zaipao stared blankly at the surveillance footage. The silver-haired girl’s lips still held a chilling smile.

Just as everyone was still reeling from the shock of a possible Devil’s Apostle reappearance, the silver-haired girl seemed to sense their gaze, tilting her head slightly and looking towards the monitors with her pale red eyes.

“Not good!”

Seeing this, Hua Qiling cried out and immediately closed her eyes.

She had experienced the same situation in her consciousness before, so she knew the consequences of meeting the silver-haired girl’s gaze.

At the same time, with lightning speed, Hua Qiling pushed down several colleagues standing next to her. However, other colleagues weren’t so lucky.

Even with her abilities, Hua Qiling had nearly succumbed mentally when their gazes met in her mind, let alone her subordinates, whose mental fortitude was far inferior.

They were caught off guard, meeting the pale red eyes. In an instant, it was as if their souls were drawn out, their consciousness falling into the abyss.

After pushing down her subordinates, Hua Qiling didn’t stop. She reacted swiftly, shouting with her eyes tightly closed,

“Quickly cut the power to the monitors!”

The Disaster Response Department had emergency measures for various situations. The personnel assigned to the control console wouldn’t be affected by external factors.

After Hua Qiling gave the order, the colleagues who hadn’t been caught in the soul vortex immediately shut down the monitors.

All of this happened in a flash. From the silver-haired girl looking up to the power being cut off, only two or three breaths had passed, but it was already too late.

Except for the few lucky ones who had been pushed down by Hua Qiling, the other colleagues stood frozen in place, their eyes vacant, staring straight ahead.

“Director Hua, what… what happened?”

An Zaipao was one of those who had been pushed down, but he was still trying to process the situation.

“Damn it! It was my negligence…”

Hua Qiling looked at the chaotic office and angrily slapped herself a few times, deep purple handprints instantly appearing on her delicate face.

She had encountered this situation before, but for some reason, she had overlooked it, still using the most common surveillance methods.

It was as if some force had subconsciously made her ignore this point.

Abilities related to the mind… were the most unpredictable and bizarre.

“Director Hua! Calm down, calm down…” An Zaipao quickly comforted her.

But then he saw the vacant expressions of the surrounding subordinates and felt a chill down his spine. After all, he had almost become one of them.

The other colleagues who had escaped unscathed also gathered around Hua Qiling, their expressions dejected.

“I know,” Hua Qiling waved her hand, her expression embarrassed. Taking a deep breath, she said, “First, take them all to the medical team. And… the rest of you, come with me to the Mental Department.”

She had only reacted so emotionally due to guilt. After calming down, Hua Qiling displayed the qualities expected of a leader.

Age didn’t mean everything. Although Hua Qiling was only in her twenties, she had handled many “Calamity” level incidents and participated in “Ruin” level incidents in other mega-cities.

“To the Mental Department… why?” An Zaipao asked.

“Memory cleansing. We must forget that girl,” Hua Qiling whispered, the beautiful silver-haired figure still uncontrollably appearing in her mind. “Otherwise, sooner or later, we’ll become like these colleagues.”

And at this moment, Hua Qiling became even more convinced of the silver-haired girl’s identity as a Devil’s Apostle.

Such a strange and terrifying ability… mostly appeared in Devil’s Apostles, corresponding to the Primordial Demons they served.

The silver-haired girl’s ability seemed to involve the soul, so the Primordial Demon she revered was likely—

“The Witch of Envy.”

…

“Luo Yan Sister, what are you looking at?”

Little Tini tilted her head, her big blue eyes curiously watching Luo Yan, who had suddenly looked up at the sky.

“…Nothing.”

Luo Yan lowered her head discreetly. She had inexplicably felt as if she was being watched from the sky, which had made her instinctively look up.

But there was nothing in the sky, only a large mass of chaotic, light blue lines.

As always.

Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 7 – Devil’s Apostle

Root’s appearance seemed solely for the purpose of lending a hand. After delivering the cart near the storeroom, he hurried off.

It took Luo Yan and little Tini a while to catch up, both of their constitutions weak, leaving them breathless from the short run.

“Little Tini, you go into the storeroom and find the medical kit. I remember there are some emergency medical supplies in the third cabinet on the left after you enter.”

Luo Yan said to little Tini after catching her breath, “I’ll stay here and watch over her. Wait for me outside.”

Little Tini hesitated for a moment, sneaking a glance at Ling Qi before nodding weakly.

“…Okay.”

After little Tini disappeared into the storeroom, Luo Yan exhaled and turned to look at Ling Qi on the cart, staring intently and scrutinizing her.

“So strange…” Luo Yan looked at Ling Qi’s pained expression. At this point, only Ling Qi’s face remained clear in Luo Yan’s vision. “Why is this?”

Why was her vision constantly filled with a thick fog, everything appearing as scribbled lines, except for the outsider who had just entered the town?

Was it because of the outsider, or was it her own issue, or… was it this town?

This question had lingered in Luo Yan’s mind since she first saw Ling Qi.

Lost in thought, Luo Yan seemed to grasp something, some hidden truth becoming clearer.

But soon, little Tini emerged from the storeroom, interrupting her thoughts.

“Luo Yan Sister, I only found this,” little Tini said, holding out a stack of cross-shaped bandages in front of Luo Yan. The bandages obscured Ling Qi’s face. “It should… be useful.”

Luo Yan snapped back to attention and took the bandages from little Tini’s hand.

“It’s okay, this is already good enough. We just need to bandage her wounds simply, to prevent them from worsening.”

After saying that, Luo Yan picked up the bandages and carefully applied them to Ling Qi’s wounds.

Strangely, these seemingly ordinary bandages, as they were placed on the mottled patches on Ling Qi’s body, instantly smoothed over all the wounds.

The red lines stopped flowing, and the bloodstains vanished.

“This… should be better now…”

Luo Yan touched her chin. She had never suffered such injuries and didn’t know how to treat them.

“It should be,” little Tini agreed. “Later, we can have Mr. Ronner, the manor’s butler, take her to the hospital in town. Luo Yan Sister, don’t worry.”

“Is that all… Is it really okay?”

Luo Yan scratched the back of her head, feeling uneasy for some reason.

She still had so many unanswered questions, so many strange things…

“It’s okay, Luo Yan Sister,” little Tini seemed to read Luo Yan’s mind and hugged her from behind. “Miss Ling Qi… she’ll stay in town. Luo Yan Sister can see her again later.”

Feeling the slightly warm, soft touch on her back, Luo Yan relaxed a little.

It was true; there was no point dwelling on these questions.

She was just curious, and there was no rush.

Even though Luo Yan still had many questions about the town, they didn’t affect her current life.

Luo Yan felt that, with her frail body, being able to live like this was already a blessing.

Even if nothing changed, she wouldn’t be disappointed.

“Okay, I’ll listen to little Tini.”

Luo Yan held little Tini’s cold hand, a smile appearing on her face.

Little Tini leaned against Luo Yan’s back, an inexplicable look flashing in her blue eyes before she slowly closed them.

“Just like this… always… forever…”

…

“She’s actually smiling… such a terrifying smile!”

“So cruel! To watch something like that happen without flinching… I probably won’t be able to sleep for days…”

“Poor Dawn member, it would have been better to die at the hands of the Investigation Department.”

Watching the images transmitted from the surveillance equipment, all the members of the Disaster Response Department felt a chill down their spines, murmuring their astonishment.

The silver-haired girl in the image smiled, so bright, so beautiful. Anyone who saw such a rare and stunning smile would be captivated.

—If this girl wasn’t in “Ghost Town.”

After days and nights of relentless work, and partly due to the changes in “Ghost Town,” the Disaster Response Department had managed to send a few more surveillance devices into the contaminated area, allowing them to see images from other parts of the town.

Although it was just a few more observation points, it was significant progress compared to before, making their efforts worthwhile.

And just as these observation points were activated, the Disaster Response Department finally saw the silver-haired girl again.

She was standing near an old cottage, a dilapidated wooden cart beside her.

Lying on the cart was the Investigation Department’s target, the Dawn member, Ling Qi.

But what followed was a scene no one had anticipated… a scene that would forever be etched in the memories of the entire Disaster Response Department.

The silver-haired girl waved her hands, gently touching Ling Qi’s wounds. In an instant, these wounds bloomed.

They literally bloomed. Dark, eerie gray flowers blossomed, like petals scattered at a funeral, covering Ling Qi’s entire body.

Soon after, these strangely vibrant flowers withered and decayed in an instant, their petals scattering in the gentle breeze.

Ling Qi disappeared, completely vanished.

The beautiful silver-haired girl smiled, surrounded by swirling, eerie petals, a blissful smile blooming on her face.

Watching this scene, only one thought remained in everyone’s minds about the silver-haired girl.

“Demon!”

“Perhaps… she really is connected to demons.”

Director Hua Qiling of the Disaster Response Department, who was also present, said gravely,

“Although there haven’t been any sightings of Devil’s Apostles in decades, the Free Federation has never ruled out the possibility of their return.”

“But there has never been any record related to demons in the Ghost Town archives. Why would this silver-haired girl, a suspected Devil’s Apostle… appear in Ghost Town?”