Meanwhile, the Starcinder group, who had just returned to the society dormitory, headed to the exclusive lounge on the top floor. They had already sent people to set up the venue, open fine wine, and arrange fruit platters to begin tonight’s revelry.
The torrential rain was still pouring outside, but it seemed to have nothing to do with them. Beams of light filtered through the stained glass, bathing the entire bar in a kaleidoscope of colors as everyone immersed themselves in the wild party.
“Guess how long it will take for Velrose to commit suicide if she finds out her mother is dead?”
Brute, the President of Starcinder, held a goblet and adjusted the bow tie at his chest. Amidst the lively atmosphere, he uttered such horrifying words, yet almost no one cared. In fact, the room only grew more boisterous.
“The King of Lystra hanged herself, didn’t she? Hahaha... I bet she’ll be just like her mother and end her own life within two days!”
“Demons have no dignity. My guess is she’ll still act like Babarol’s dog.”
“Say, do you think she’ll actually turn into a magical beast and come seek revenge on us?”
Brute suddenly gave a smirk. “She doesn’t have the ability.”
The notion that “the people of Lystra are demons” was nothing more than a cover story fabricated by the Church.
Fifteen years ago.
A powerful magical beast appeared on the border of the Kingdom of Lystra. They immediately dispatched soldiers and achieved the first great feat in human history—slaying a magical beast solely with the power of a single nation, without a single civilian casualty.
On the surface, after that, the power-hungry King of Lystra was drawn to the strength of the magical beast and became immersed in researching them.
In reality, the King of Lystra was simply dissatisfied with the Church’s attitude and their speed of action.
Every nation had to pay gold to the Church as “protection fees” for defending the world from the ravages of magical beasts.
What started as a superficial investigation ultimately led the King of Lystra to discover the truth behind the Church.
Consequently, she became the primary target for elimination by the Church’s high-ranking officials.
The Church’s solution was to destroy the Kingdom of Lystra.
This was the most foolproof method.
Hundreds of thousands of humans were burned alive as “demons,” and most of the survivors were exiled.
However, Brute only knew a tiny fraction of this.
“If Velrose can’t become the Saintess anymore, we’ll sell her to the black market. She’ll fetch a good price.”
“Don’t bring up that demon. It’s bad luck. Everyone, let’s have fun!”
Brute raised his glass.
His friends raised their glasses as well, and for a moment, the bar erupted in cheers.
Right at that moment, Velrose walked into the bar, heading straight in the direction of the President.
Brute initially thought it was some female student trying to flatter him. Just as he was about to reach out and wrap his arm around her shoulders, he suddenly saw Velrose’s face, which was filled with murderous intent.
She had changed into clean clothes, but her hair was still slightly damp. She was beautiful, but she looked utterly miserable.
Lust flickering in his eyes, Brute mocked Velrose. “Velrose, if you play with me today, I’ll forgive your mistake!”
“Where is my mother?”
“What mother? Isn’t she in Lord Babarol’s guest room? Are you homesick?” chimed in one of Brute’s lackeys—the very same person who had dumped the cold water on Velrose earlier.
Velrose’s voice caused everyone to halt their revelry and turn their gaze toward her.
She didn’t ask further questions; she simply held up the letter in her hand for everyone to see.
“I need an explanation, Brute. Tell me this isn’t true. Have you all been lying to me this entire time?”
To her surprise, Brute lunged forward to snatch the suicide note, intending to destroy the evidence right then and there.
But Velrose took a few steps back, dodging Brute’s hand. His guilty conscience alone was enough to prove everything.
But Brute quickly burst into loud laughter. “So what? You Lystrans are demons, you deserve to be enslaved! It’s absolutely hilarious that you didn’t realize it for so long!”
“Allowing you to be an apprentice Saintess was doing you a massive favor, and yet you come here asking such pointless questions. You should be expressing your gratitude to me! Now, get on your knees, Velrose!” Brute commanded, fueled by the alcohol. “If you kneel and apologize to me, I’ll let you off.”
No one stood up to speak for Velrose.
On the contrary, everyone joined in the jeering, hurling insults at Velrose and calling her an ungrateful wretch who didn’t know how to appreciate the President’s kindness.
“Starcinder is full of talent to begin with, and you weren’t the only one with light affinity. You didn’t know how to cherish such a wonderful opportunity, and now you even question my choices—you’re biting the hand that feeds you!”
Brute pointed at her nose and continued to mock her. “Are you still not going to get on your knees?”
The surrounding noise grew louder and more chaotic, but Velrose merely stared straight ahead with a blank expression.
She seemed to think of something, her body trembling, and at some point, a table knife had appeared in her hand.
The table knife was imbued with fire magic, sharp enough to slice through mithril.
In an almost instantaneous flash, she was in front of the President, slashing toward his neck.
The knife traced a beautiful arc through the air.
Clash—!
But the knife did not sever the President’s neck. Instead, it collided with several knight swords.
Brute was a cautious coward who always kept his most trusted bodyguards by his side.
A man suddenly lunged from the side, blocking the strike with his knight sword, while Brute fell backward in terror.
“You lunatic! You’re a murderer, damn it! I knew you people were demons!”
The crowd erupted in an uproar. Before Velrose could launch another attack, numerous knights hired by Brute rushed forward and pinned her to the ground.
“She’s a demon!”
“Oh, our poor President, to have trusted such a wretched creature.”
“Execute her! The Church will never tolerate such an existence!”
Velrose’s face remained completely expressionless throughout.
Afterward, Brute kicked her in the stomach several times.
Her consciousness grew hazy...
Her hands were bound, and she was sent to the holding cell of the Holy Academy.
Though it had a refined name, it was no different from a prison.
A dark corridor, cold iron bars, and heavy, hard chains shackled her limbs.
Leaning against the wall, she could not imagine or think about anything.
Ever since the truth was revealed just now, ever since her mother’s death...
She had stopped thinking.
She was driven solely by the instinct to kill everyone.
Numerous chaotic voices whispered agonizingly in her ears. It sounded like countless sirens blaring simultaneously, followed by a persistent ringing.
“Velrose, do you know the truth now?”
The girl’s voice was sweet and pleasant, causing the noise to instantly disperse.
Velrose raised her head and saw the girl she had met this morning standing outside the iron bars. The black mask she wore did not just cover her eyes.
It also blocked all perception.
“Why... are you here?”
“Just to take care of a few things.”
“Tell me, what should I do...”
A noticeable tremor appeared in her previously flat voice. She was begging—begging Tina to offer her some form of help.
“What should I... do?”
“My mother is gone... Before she left, she wrote this suicide note. She said she had to die, because if she didn’t, I would be controlled by these wretched people... But I...”
“I was so naive.”
With that, the girl began to weep.
It was not a soft, delicate crying, but a heart-wrenching, soul-shattering wail.
This was not the first time Tina had heard such a cry.
Because she had been the same...
Sathya.
Tina opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but closed it again.
Because there was no longer any need for her to interfere in what was about to unfold.
“Velrose, are you still dreaming?”
Suddenly, Velrose’s eyes snapped wide open.
The cell, the chains, the iron bars, and the dark corridor collapsed and vanished as the overlapping illusions shattered. Her tear-filled eyes finally beheld the real world.
The building that could once be called a “bar” was slowly melting like gummy candy. Charred bricks and wooden planks tumbled down, dissolving into the green flames that covered the ground.
Everyone here had been swallowed by a tsunami of green flames, reduced to puddles of black sludge.
The remaining survivors in the building were screaming and wailing, desperate for someone to save them from this green purgatory.
The bizarre green flames continued to spread outward, with the kneeling girl at their center.
“The Flame Magical Beast.”
Rate on N.U.
