So-Called Evil

“So... what kind of Hongmen Banquet is this supposed to be?” Li Yue looked at the gold-embossed letter with red accents on the table, her eyebrows twitching uncontrollably.

“Um... how should I put it?” Clo poked Li Yue cautiously and whispered in her ear, “What's a Hongmen Banquet? Is it some grand banquet that’s hosted really poorly?”

“Basically, it's another trap someone’s set for me to walk into.” Li Yue’s mouth twitched as she glanced at Helen. She was aware of almost everything that had happened in Parvati, and while she didn’t support Caesar, as a colleague at the time, she still had some understanding of his plans.

The person who was tricked into going to a banquet only to be killed... it seemed to be the lady standing right here...

Helen suddenly felt her back break into a cold sweat, and a chill surged from the top of her head down to the soles of her feet.

“His Majesty the King’s autumn hunt is drawing to a close, and a banquet will be held soon at his traveling palace. It will be a massive event.” The man in gold-rimmed glasses rested his chin on his hands. He studied the woman before him, who felt both strange and familiar. Even with strength approaching the Calamity rank, he still felt these two people were unfathomable.

If not for the guarantees from Helen and Professor Leonardo, he wouldn't have dared to trust such powerful magic users. He hadn't expected that a task he’d set on a whim—one with a difficulty comparable to ascending to heaven—would be completed so effortlessly by them.

Moreover, the Specter Church seemed... to have noticed nothing and shown no unusual movement.

Li Yue had Clo cast a spell when they left the Central Cathedral of Soul in Limbo. Even though her staff was stored at Karl Romon Academy, she could now use her second authority as a focus. Simply put, she used that authority to slow down time within the Church.

The monastics who stayed indoors all day might notice something was wrong in half a month, but by then, a full month would have passed outside. This was enough time. Unless something unexpected happened, Li Yue’s plan ensured that even as things concluded, no one would find anything amiss... but the probability of that was slim. Those leaders of the Specter Church were no fools.

“All factions will attend: the Old Royal Court bloodline faction representing the traditionalists, the scholars who guard the King’s safety, the Specter Church, the new nobles, our group of old nobles, the sect of Death, a mixed bag of individuals representing political and business circles, envoys from other countries...” The man in gold glasses listed numerous examples, making Clo and Helen’s heads spin.

Li Yue raised an eyebrow, a trace of helplessness appearing on her face. She looked out the window. Although layers of formations were drawn on the glass to prevent eavesdropping, the view outside remained unaffected.

A death list, huh? Interesting.

“Lord Head of the Family... do you intend to...” Helen started to speak, but she was cut off by the man’s gaze.

“To fulfill my promise, I will name this lady as the public successor of our family. As for Norton, let him remain patient for a while.” The man’s cold gaze made Helen lose the courage to continue. Here, facing this man who was both her father and a shadowy figure in her life, she no longer possessed the confidence she’d had in Yakutsk.

Or rather, all of that might have been an imitation of this man.

“I suspect your ambitions aren't limited to being a mere head of a family, Miss Vassal of Death.” The man pushed up his glasses. He was gambling, and in this wager, there was no way he could lose. No matter what choice this Calamity-class lady made, it would bring countless benefits to him and his family.

“What power does a family head have?” Li Yue asked casually. “In this world, I mean.”

“...” The man fell silent for a moment. The purple diamond on his suit seemed to lose its mysterious luster at that moment, turning somewhat dull.

“It seems there’s no practical value in it for me then.” Li Yue pursed her lips. “So, I advise you to manage your family lineage well. I don’t want my own backyard catching fire.”

“If such things were to happen...” Li Yue paused, thinking of what kind of threat to make next.

“I will carry out the execution by a thousand cuts on anyone who dares to object, personally wielding the blade before the great divine statue of the Lord.” The man smiled, revealing the very grin that made Helen’s skin crawl.

Li Yue blinked, imagining that bizarre and eerie scene in her mind. She thought that if such a thing really took place in front of her divine statue, plenty of bystanders would definitely mistake it for some terrifying blood sacrifice ritual and think of her as an evil god...

My reputation... couldn't have been ruined by my own fanatical believers, could it?

But then again, it made sense. Spreading madness and depravity was indeed something only an evil god would do. Even if she did it out of necessity, she would never deny her actions.

Yes, I am an evil and terrifying deity. A kind god cannot save this world that is on the verge of being dismembered... They are suited to be rulers of a peaceful world, not that... Savior?

Li Yue didn't much like that title. She still preferred the duty entrusted to her by countless gods in those blood-colored memories—the definition she gave herself now.

The executioner.

My hands are already stained with many departed souls... If the Underworld really has a place like Hell, I would probably be at the very bottom... But none of that matters anymore.

...

Just as Li Yue sat in the carriage thinking, she was once again heading toward a banquet meant for harvesting lives, and everyone attending... was a sinner, including herself.

She looked at Clo, who was napping across from her, and suddenly felt a momentary sense of familiarity, as if... she’d had this kind of déjà vu somewhere before.

Ah... right. Astana, Metis, Odin, Thor... When we said goodbye that time, were you all... looking at me like this too?

I’m sorry... for letting you all down.