Chapter 36: How Did It Turn Into a Gathering of Villains?!

Chapter 36: How Did It Turn Into a Gathering of Villains?!

When Fie woke up, she had never felt so refreshed.

Her vision was clearer than ever, her thoughts sharp and active, her body felt light as a feather, and with a casual clench of her hand, pure and intense magical power excitedly screamed within her.

She tried using [Glimmering Light], and then she saw a pure radiance. She could even control the intensity, range, and color at will.

This was incomparably more powerful than before.

Her personal panel's data had also become impressively enhanced.

Her Health Points [HP] had broken through the 3000 mark, and her Magic Points [MP] had reached an astounding 4700+.

Not to mention her attack power; as a mid-level witch at level 35 after her class change, her attack stats had soared to 5990.

With the additional 25% adjustment available from the Wheel of Fate modifier, Fie could now easily overpower any mid-level or lower class profession or minor monsters.

Even some low-level bosses were no longer a concern.

Fie exhaled deeply.

After so long in this world, she finally had a semblance of self-preservation ability.

[Congratulations.]

The little world spoke up timely.

"Thanks a lot." Fie stretched and hopped out of bed to wake up Xil for breakfast.

Today's schedule was packed.

Perhaps because they were about to embark on an exploration, in the first lesson of Magic Manifestation, instructor Belona taught several heavyweight ancient spells.

Soul Ejection: If the magic power value is higher than the target's, it forces out the target's soul, causing instant death. If weaker, it forces the target into a [Stunned] state for 2.5 seconds.

Another spell was Void Evasion, a weaker version of [Teleportation]. It momentarily detaches the caster from their spot, reappearing two steps away in a blink.

Although the movement distance is short and the casting time longer than teleportation, it was sufficiently useful for them, being only in their second year.

The last one was Fie's most familiar spell, used just the night before—Extreme Cold Freeze.

When Belona demonstrated it, the entire castle turned into a glittering white sculpture.

Suddenly, Sarila's magically amplified, piercing voice echoed from upstairs, "Belona, there's no lunch left."

The white frost instantly shattered.

Belona rolled her eyes in frustration and grabbed a gasping student to forcibly begin instruction.

Fie blinked; she didn't know the ages of the instructors but didn't quite want them to perish.

So, a trip to the monastery tonight was in order; Alviss would surely let her examine all the theological books.

She had to find a way to break the divine punishment quickly.

In the Familiar Summoning class, Fie channeled magic into the undead, temporarily boosting their energy to scrape through.

Lunch was bluegrass cheese with a unique grape flavor, which, when consumed regularly, effectively enhances magical resistance. Also on the menu were lamb shanks, sweet-juiced vegetables, and red grapefruit juice.

In the afternoon's Dark Magic Tools class, instructor Jacqueline taught them how to select weapon types suitable for themselves.

The homework was the same: decide on their weapons, and in the next class, they would begin preparations for it.

In Exploration class, Sarila took the entire class to a nearby cave, home to heaps of cavern dwellers.

The instructor elegantly stood at the entrance, herding the students in like chicks.

"The number of cavern dwellers you slay will determine your extra credit for today."

Upon hearing this, the students went wild, casting a barrage of magic into the cave.

Leveling up in monster hunting for beginners is just that simple.

Fie was the first to complete the task, earning permission for a simple exploration in the vicinity.

She took the opportunity to visit the locations of several mini-bosses from her memory, defeating them one by one before reaching adulthood.

The world line correction rate rose to 29%.

Unfortunately, she didn't find any fragments of the Wheel of Fate.

Fie skipped dinner and slipped away to Ninihu Town.

Alviss was delighted to see her and was about to call his daughter Marian, but Fie quickly stopped him.

"I need to concentrate and have a lot of time," the witch's pupils flickered with a deep light, "Don't let anyone disturb me."

Alviss had no choice but to agree, preparing a secret rest room for Fie within the monastery. All the books were moved there for her perusal.

Afterwards, the head of the monastery bowed and left, not having the chance to speak of all the things Marian had been eagerly preparing for the Lady Witch these days.

Then, Fie devoted herself entirely to the books.

The little world, constrained by the laws of the world, couldn't explain to her, so she had to search bit by bit on her own.

Seeing the light in the room stay on late into the night, Alviss thoughtfully notified little Vinnas to send several stamina-replenishing potions from the potion shop.

Thus, Fie sacrificed several nights of sleep and rest, constantly switching between attending classes, doing homework, and researching, surviving four days on physical strength potions until she finally found a clue in an inconspicuous book, "The Holy Words of the Divine."

"I saw hatred and black fury, I saw light shattered, the earth dimmed."

"Anyone can make mistakes, but some mistakes are beyond redemption."

"If the light cannot spread across the world, the world will plunge into the deepest despair."

"How I wish to forever hold up the sun, to dispel all the shadows with moonlight."

These weren't the Divine's own words; according to the laws of this world, the Divine's words couldn't be heard. Only the purest souls could glimpse into the bestowed divine power and record it as per their understanding.

But Fie felt that, being divine, the words couldn't be entirely miscommunicated. These records might not be absolutely correct, but the gist was probably very close.

If that was the case, combined with the timing of these records, they became significantly meaningful.

Because these words were recorded right after the Divine Punishment descended, on the last page of "The Holy Words of the Divine."

After this, the Divine uttered no more holy words.

Fie summoned her familiar, opened the Wheel of Fate, and carefully examined the collected fragments.

She remembered that the first time she activated the Wheel of Fate, it resonated due to the sacrifice of monk Alviss's soul and an ancient bronze coin.

That coin was the very one stolen from the Elbibil city monastery by the Necro-Singer.

Most importantly, the fragments bore a strong essence of light. The little world had also said that the Divine was its most failed child.

Now, Fie was almost certain that the Divine had been taken down by the great witches. His soul shattered and disguised as countless ancient bronze coins scattered among humans.

Some monsters, by a twist of fate, absorbed these fragments, gaining unparalleled growth potential and wreaking havoc, like the Curse Book, the Corpse King of Mine No. 8, and possibly other bosses.

Moreover, those at the monastery lost in greed for money and power, are likely the root cause of the world line's deviation and corruption.

What role, then, does the Black Moon Tavern play here? How did they transform this world into a game program and descend onto Blue Star?

Fie's gaze returned to the last holy words once more.

"How I wish to forever hold up the sun, to dispel all the shadows with moonlight."

Shadows of moonlight... dispelling...

Could the moonlight here refer to the black moon? Did the Divine see the future before shattering?

There were too few clues to be certain.

Just to be safe, Fie still noted down everything on this page.

The theological path had reached its end, but she couldn't just sit idly by.

Since she currently lacked the power to confront directly, she could approach from another angle.

—The twelve-year-old girls.

She stepped out of the room, instructing Alviss to be extra vigilant about similar incidents of human trafficking or abduction.

As the head of the Ninihu Town monastery, Alviss often communicated and interacted with other town leaders.

He promised to spread the word and notify her immediately of any clues.

Fie nodded, unable to resist sitting down against the wall.

"My Lady—," Alviss hastily supported her, "What's wrong? Are you alright? Should I call a doctor?"

"No need," Fie managed to wave her hand weakly, "I've just been overworking myself lately, feeling a bit exhausted."

She wanted to say a rest back at the academy would suffice, but the overwhelming sense of fatigue, following her prolonged intense focus, left her unable to even stand.

Alviss looked at the girl's frail figure, his brows furrowing deeply.

"My Lady," he said softly, "I might have a way to help you recover quickly."

Fie looked up at him.

"I'd like to ask you to visit the prayer room, a place Marian specifically built and opened for you."

A prayer room? Marian opened a prayer room? Was it the one she saw on the street with a long queue?

Probably Marian had a comfortable resting room there; she desperately needed to sleep right now.

Fie nodded silently; she was indeed extremely tired.

Alviss, pleased, apologized for the intrusion and squatted down to lift Fie, allowing her to semi-sit in his arms.

Carrying the Lady Witch, Alviss chose the least crowded path, stepping out of the monastery, and headed towards the prayer room.

A woman with a cool demeanor, dressed in a black monk's robe, was apologizing to the people in line.

"Thank you for your patience, everyone. The prayer room is about to close for the day; please come back tomorrow."

The crowd stirred slightly, but no one voiced any dissatisfaction. Just faces filled with regret, they soon dispersed with the flow.

Only then did Alviss step out of the shadows.

The cold young girl, seeing her, immediately bowed respectfully, "My lord, you've arrived, I will go inform—"

"No need to mention me," Alvis interrupted her, "Tell all the believers, that lord has returned."

The aloof girl looked up in confusion, her gaze landing on the face in her arms, those dark purple pupils.

She was momentarily stunned, her usually indifferent expression collapsing instantly, and she dashed off, overwhelmed with excitement, "I, I'll go right away!"

What's going on? Who is this girl?

Fii frowned slightly, sensing that this prayer room was more complex than it seemed.

Alvis, holding her, passed through the outer hall and the sealed prayer rooms, finally arriving at a peculiar room at the far end.

The room was spacious, with a large spiral-shaped candelabrum at its center. The candelabrum was filled with black candles, casting dim, flickering light.

Behind the candelabrum stood a familiar high-backed chair, draped with a soft black blanket.

The polished marble floor reflected shadows directly, while beautiful, mysterious black drapes adorned the surrounding walls.

Fii's first impression was that the room resembled a site for some evil gathering. The chief villains in Blue Star television dramas, plotting world-destroying schemes, would definitely conspire in such a room.

Just as she was about to ask Alvis about the purpose of the room, he placed her directly onto the high-backed chair.

The look in Alvis's eyes, in the trembling dim candlelight, became devout yet sinister.

Fii: "……?"

The next moment, the door to the room burst open, and the beautiful Marian rushed in with seven or eight people, brimming with excitement.

"Witch Lady! You have finally returned!"

Marian, still in her black prayer robe, not yet changed, with her goddess-like face, seemed more witchlike than the witch herself in the flickering candlelight.

"I have returned..." Fii shifted her gaze, seeing the group behind, including the aloof girl, all looking at her with fervent eyes.

At that moment, her confusion reached its peak.

"Marian, what is this all about?"

"This is a gift I've meticulously prepared for you." Marian knelt down devoutly, and the strangers behind her also knelt.

"I've built this prayer room for you, where I shelter those on the brink of collapse. I console and guide them, offering genuine help. I encourage them to leave their hearts and all their faith here."

Fii's eyes slowly widened, "Hearts and faith? Why leave them here?"

"For you."

Marian, slightly out of breath and flushed with excitement, said, "They now, like me, like father, believe in you. We've been waiting for your return to complete the final step."

"Witch Lady, please accept their souls to nourish your magical power."

Alvis also knelt down.

The eyes of those behind them became even more worshipful and fervent.

Fii: "……."

She was utterly bewildered, "What is happening?!"

She had been away only for a few days, how did Marian organize a villainous brainwashing assembly?! And brainwashed so many people?!

Observing one or two people in prayer robes, "Good heavens, they've even started to recruit followers like Marian, haven't they?!"

"Do you have to be so diligent and hardworking?"

Although, uh... human sacrifices indeed could rapidly enhance her magical power, accumulate strength, and dispel all fatigue.

But still, she couldn't help feeling that this development was somewhat off! Could the world line really not shift towards an even weirder direction because of her?

[No, it won't happen.]

A line of familiar Blue Star text suddenly appeared, from the Mini-World.

[They harbor no ill intentions, and Marian's own heart is even more singular and pure. She simply wants to do something for you.]

Fii: "……"

"Can you hear my thoughts?" she asked softly.

[I can't, but if your emotions are intensely fluctuating, or if you keep calling out to me, then I can hear you. So don't worry, they won't cause any harm to the world line. They are just a group of helpless and pitiable people.]

Alright, alright.

Since the Mini-World said so... Fii covered her face.

She called Marian over and whispered, "I can accept the sacrifice, fulfill their wishes. But can we remove those dark candles first? Who uses black candles for lighting? And those fluttering drapes... Let's make it brighter, more normal, shall we?"

Marian nodded, immediately restoring the room to its original state.

Fii felt much more comfortable.

In the end, she accepted their souls.

The inverted triangle on her chest gained many new strokes, and Fii's magical power surged significantly.

Although her level was only 35, with so many sacrifices accepted, her base magical power was now approaching that of level 40.

Moreover, the excessive fatigue from pushing herself too hard was also rapidly alleviated.

Seeing the Witch Lady becoming more vibrant, Marian was like someone who had just enjoyed a hot spring, her cheeks flushed and her lips curving up in a quiet smile.

She thought, at last, I can also do something for the Witch Lady.

In the following days, Marian led each of these people to Fii to pledge their allegiance.

It was unclear how Marian had spoken to them, but each person showed extraordinary loyalty to the Witch they were meeting for the first time, as if baring their souls.

"Some of them had simple wishes, which my father and I have already covertly fulfilled."

Using money, or other methods.

Throughout this process, Marian was constantly ensuring that the people she helped could be trusted.

She designed various tests, and only when she was truly certain, would she subtly extol the greatness of the Witch Lady.

She poured her heart out, touching the believers before her with her sincere dedication.

——These were the first followers she had snatched from the hands of the priests for the Witch Lady.

Leaning close behind Fii, Marian softly concluded her explanation, then slowly said, "There's just one person we couldn’t intervene with. He has promised that if you fulfill his wish, he will devote everything to you."

"Rest assured, my father and I have covertly verified the authenticity of his story."

He was an old man with a bow and arrows on his back.

Among everyone, he was the only one who always wore a hood.

After receiving Fii's permission, Marian brought the man forward.

However, her first introduction made Fii's heart skip a beat.

"Mr. Clinfurd belongs to the Mercenary Association, and is the head of the Elberil City Mercenary Association."

Fii's pupils constricted.

"Sir," the young witch gazed intently at the elder, "As a mighty God of Hunting and a branch head of the Mercenary Association, you probably don't need the help of an underage witch."

God of Hunting, a branch profession for demon hunters. A ranged shooter, specializing in armor penetration and true damage, with secondary skills in shooting speed and attack.

Clinfurd had initially stood at the back, shrouded in darkness, unnoticed.

But as the room brightened, and he truly stood before Fii, a long-missed sense of danger rushed into her heart.

This God of Hunting was at least level 80 or above.

The aura he exuded was similar to that of Instructor Berona and the man with the Black Moon tattoo.

Clinfurd shook his head, his sharp gaze cutting like a knife.

He said, "I couldn't find any other witch, only you. If you can solve my problem, I don't mind offering you everything I have."

Fii's brow furrowed slightly, "So, what is your problem?"

Clifford: "My granddaughter has ventured into the Abyss."

Into the Abyss? Is that a challenge? Fiey became more vigilant.

It would be a different story for an ordinary person, but Clifford is an 80-plus level behemoth.

If he really wanted to find someone there, couldn’t he? Even Raphael and his group made it in, so why not the head of the mercenary guild's branch office?

Voicing her doubts, Clifford shook his head and delivered his next line.

"She has entered the Sea of Illusions."

Clifford’s only granddaughter, cherished beyond measure since childhood.

A weapon more precious than life itself? Playtime!

The serious and orderly Mercenary Guild? Playtime!

The cold and powerful mercenaries, revered by all? Playtime!

Grandfather spent every day taking his granddaughter out to play, indulging her in everything, always saying “yes”.

And so, playing led to the rise of a great demon.

As Polly, the granddaughter, grew up, no one could stop her from doing whatever she wanted.

Hearing legends of the Sea of Illusions at an inn, Polly's interest was piqued. She didn’t believe in a sea where one could only hear but never see.

"I'll go there myself and even bring back a bowl of its water to see."

Thus, Polly secretly planned for two weeks and set off on her journey, unbeknownst to everyone.

By the time Clifford received the message, Polly's location was beyond divination.

"Beyond divination means she's no longer on this continent; Polly has entered the Abyss."

As Clifford said this, his usually sharp gaze shattered for the first time.

Fiey noticed a mist forming over the old man's eyes.

"I've asked many friends for help," his voice heavy, "they searched the Abyss for a long time, only confirming Polly's disappearance near the Sea of Illusions. That mysterious realm, guarded by the dreaded and terrifying Child of Darkness, is beyond their reach."

Clifford himself had ventured there, now bearing a bone-deep wound on his left abdomen, a memento from the Child of Darkness.

Such power was beyond human reach, no demands could be made in the presence of such a being.

"So, respected witch," the old man closed his eyes deeply, bowing slowly to Fiey, "if you can bring my granddaughter back, I am willing to offer everything I have."

Fiey remained silent for a long time.

The Child of Darkness... could it be the demon Beelzebub?

The NPC that liked to wag its tail and eat fish... was it perceived so powerful by others?

During her time on Blue Star, her most frequent interaction with Beelzebub was facilitating class changes for others, never a direct conflict.

Even in their last face-to-face meeting, Beelzebub only showed a clumsy (?) and amiable side.

Maybe that creature just disliked humans?

Perhaps being a guide for witch class changes meant a higher likelihood of favorability?

Last time at the Mercenary Guild, Fiey confirmed that the person behind her definitely knew about the Black Moon Bar's intelligence.

Therefore, Clifford's identity greatly intrigued her.

"I'll give it a try," Fiey finally agreed.

Clifford barely perceptibly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had never knelt before anyone in his life, hoping that everything he did today would yield a favorable outcome.

And also the charge entrusted by that noble person, he hoped it too would smoothly come to fruition through this still-naïve witch before him.