NOVPUBUnder the influence of the Great Love Poet’s emotions, Viscount Augustin appeared to be more furious than afraid at this moment.
Apparently, the lengthy previous sealing had accumulated an unimaginable amount of resentment in him.
"Speaking of witches... I remember seeing in a magic book left by a witch that you are an extremely cruel vampire. You enjoy taking children from young mothers, sucking the life out of their child before their eyes, then feasting on their anger, despair and blood," Lanci, who seemed to have finally finished up his duties with the clergy and could now focus on Viscount Augustin, stated blandly.
His voice bore no hint of joy or anger, nor even any emotional fluctuation.
"So you want to judge me?! Human!!"
Viscount Augustin, as if understanding Lanci’s intention, roared out with his last strength in struggle,
"You hypocritical pitiful creatures, flaunting justice while committing the same deeds as the evildoers you condemn! Can you really say where I went wrong when you are completely right?!"
Hearing Viscount Augustin’s words, Hyperion seemed slightly startled.
She didn’t know how to refute Viscount Augustin.
In this chaotic and dark era, rules are merely a game that can be trampled upon at will. The strong do indeed possess the right to uphold justice and determine right from wrong according to their will.
If one wishes to deny the righteousness of the strong ruling over the weak, to break the rule of the Blood Clan, and establish rules and order to protect the weak, it’s unavoidable to repeat the cycle of the survival of the fittest and the violent suppression of violence. Opening a bloody path which, in essence, bears no difference from what the Blood Clan does except for a stronger power rising to rule over the Blood Clan!
In this era, one can either be a tyrant - there’s no path to become a benevolent emperor.
The three clergy on the other side also couldn’t find the answer.
If they were truly evil like the Rebirth Church, they might adamantly believe it is heaven’s decree for humans to slaughter the Blood Clan.
But they are now puzzled after hearing Viscount Augustin’s query. Under the banner of benevolence, could what they’re doing go against benevolence?
"..."
However.
A slight smile appeared on Lanci’s face.
"I never claimed to preach justice, and I never asserted that you’re evil. I just believe love can create miracles. And now, I am using love to influence you, in hopes that you can become kind and friendly."
His voice was full of sympathy, seemingly wanting to redeem Viscount Augustin.
"...?!!"
Viscount Augustin, who was still somewhat stubborn, thinking that Lanci was a quester of justice, suddenly started to tremble.
When enemies were still arguing over right and wrong with him, at least he could disturb their minds with words.
But now.
What he encountered.
Seems to be a thorough madman.
You can’t reason with this thing at all, and its mind won’t waver for any enemy!
"Great Love Poet, please help me by training Viscount Augustin."
Lanci spoke to his soulmate, the Great Love Poet.
"Dealing with such things, you’ve found the right demon for the job. I guarantee to train him well!"
The Great Love Poet pressed his fingers into his dimples, his face full of sweet happy smiles.
Meanwhile, Frey had pretty much finished drawing blood from Viscount Augustin.
Lanci also dismissed the summoning of [Shining Virtue], and instantly, the colors that seemed to have been forgotten in the bedroom returned, the candlelight flickered weakly, casting a faint halo on the curtains and illuminating the wooden carvings on the head of the bed.
The portraits and tapestries on the walls appeared slightly blurry in the dim light, the figures in the paintings seemed to quietly observe everything going on in the room, the manuscript and quill pen on the desk quietly awaited their owner’s return.
"By the way, Viscount Augustin, did you say that the Blood Clan member lying in bed is very weak?"
Lanci walked to the bedside, turned his head and looked at Viscount Augustin, who was trying to open his eyes on the floor, asking.
"...Isn’t he?"
Although Viscount Augustin’s mind was already filled with an extreme sense of foreboding, this was his last bit of momentum, and he absolutely could not be scared by these mere humans.
Lanci patted the mummy, and asked like in an interview,
"Count Paluocas, what are your thoughts on Viscount Augustin’s comments, as a predecessor?"
"Augustin, hello..."
The mummy’s throat trembled, producing a raspy sound, but nearly choked halfway through speaking.
"...Earl?"
Viscount Augustin’s eyes were filled with fear and disbelief, his pupils near to pop out of their sockets.
The brief moment of magical fluctuation that burst like a dying ember was, without a doubt, characteristic of an Earl-level member of the Blood Clan!
Viscount Augustin recalled the ring of Count Paluocas that Lanci had first shown him realizing the full picture.
What followed was absolute despair.
Merely witnessing the undead state of Count Paluocas, a being far stronger than himself, turned Viscount Augustin’s complexion pale with both physical dread and psychological horror.
At that moment, he finally comprehended the danger he was in; the fear of impending doom was enough to shatter him.
However, it was all too late, beyond redemption.
All his confidence, arrogance, and pride, shattered in an instant. The emotional blow was too hard for him to bear.
Like a balloon punctured by a needle, he shattered completely in an instant, the light in his bloodshot eyes beginning to dissipate.
"Look at how modest and friendly Count Paluocas has become. This is the power of love."
Lanci was always full of goodwill towards Viscount Augustin, without an ounce of hostility.
"Listening to one sentence from Mr. Lanci is better than ten years of Church learning." n𝚘𝚟𝚙u𝚋.co𝚖
The executioner, the paladin, and the priest standing by, as if once again enlightened, nodded in realization.
Following a series of improvements in their skills, their faith also reached a new level of comprehension at this moment.
"We realized that there is no right or wrong, good or evil. Only love is eternal. Love is magic... Having understood the true essence, we can no longer be swayed by evil side creatures!"
"Viscount Augustin, come and join the glorious evolution."
The three clergymen, each holding a pair of tweezers, pliers, and a scalpel, even with their masks, their crescent-shaped smiling eyes could be perceived.
Their demeanor had truly evolved.
"No, no!!"
Augustin’s scream, like the most terrible curse from the abyss, pierced the thick stone walls of the castle, echoing in the night sky above the mountain peak.
Outside the castle, the unending, deep forest and the sea of clouds remained, bathed in the moonlight.
The night was mild, the moonlight gently spilling over Lichtenstein Castle, imbuing the ancient structure with a hazy and mysterious beauty.
The sun would rise as usual the next day.
Everything would once again become warm and beautiful.
The towering spires, the delicately carved windows, were even more tranquil in the breeze. The rustling leaves in the forest seemed to be preparing a fairy-tale for those about to visit the castle.
Only the silhouette against the curtain was sketching an unspeakable ritual.
The scene of the Shadow World came to an end at this final note.
...
Ichrite Academy.
At two in the morning, a few solitary stars glittered in the distance. The profound silhouette of the Main Building of Sage Academy almost dissolved in the night, with only the light from the top-floor meeting room window left on.
The magic fluorescent screen reflected on the window glass, its changing light and shadow dancing in the night each time the screen flickered. Eventually, it faded into the vast night like a final curtain call.
Most of the teachers had already left at this time, leaving only a few still sitting at their round tables watching.
Loren did not leave till this moment.
He supported his chin with his crossed fingers, witnessing the three priests in the picture beginning to deal with Viscount Augustin dismissively as one would treat an old hat.
"...I’m not going to watch Lanci’s Shadow World again. I don’t care how he torments me, if anyone asks, I don’t know Lanci."
Finally, Loren pushed away from the table and stood up, his voice filled with utter fatigue, and walked out of the meeting room.
But others knew.
Dean Loren was presumably not tired, but numb.
And hearing even the most honest and simple Dean Loren start to avoid responsibility, they had a feeling that there might be something off about the dean!
-----------------
The second Shadow World has come to an end, and a new chapter in the current world begins tomorrow!
I had been desperately adding updates at the start of this month, depleting all the manuscript reserves, and overturning my daily schedule. Now, I’m struggling to meet the deadline every day. Sometimes, I finish writing by 8 and publish by 9. It’s not that I don’t want to add more updates but I can’t; I would have to sacrifice sleep. Writing a creative novel often takes a lot more time to devise the plot than writing words. Sometimes it would take eight or nine hours just to write four thousand words. I’m truly not lazy; I’m constantly typing. Once I get my schedule right, I’ll make every effort to increase the updates.
Please give me your monthly votes at the end of the month. Crying out in pain in the twilight!
