After Faust and the others returned to the town, it didn't take long for someone to notice that the enclosing mist surrounding the Fog Moon Kingdom had dissipated.
The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the kingdom in no time.
After so many days of the Winter Hunt Festival, the public's spirits, which had begun to sag, were suddenly revitalized by a massive surge of joy.
Hundreds, even thousands of citizens rushed to the borders of the kingdom, cheering in ecstasy at the disappearance of the mist.
Some even fell to their knees, kissing the soil beneath their feet.
They weren't necessarily yearning for the world outside; for most, they would never leave their kingdom in their entire lives, but the end of the night of the hunt was absolutely a cause for celebration.
People naturally assumed this was Alkin's doing.
They believed the hunter who had slain the Ancient Ones must have subjugated all the beast gods in succession, finally satisfying the Moon Deity enough for it to withdraw the miracle of the closure.
Meanwhile, those among the wolf-kin who knew the inside story were filled with disbelief.
Had Alkin not gone mad, but actually found a way to break the curse? How on earth did she do it?
Given the mental state of the blood moon, it didn't seem like the type of entity one could reason with; otherwise, the wolves wouldn't have been so pessimistic before.
What exactly did Alkin do to make the Great Moon withdraw the closure without purging the wolf-kin for their betrayal?
Well... that was a bit difficult to explain.
Perhaps some harbored bold guesses in their hearts, but no one dared to voice them in public.
The deicide of the Moon Deity was an absolute secret.
From beginning to end, only a few people—Faust, Alkin, Sylvia, and a handful of her sisters and trusted confidants—knew the truth.
Alkin actually had no intention of hiding it; she even planned to state the truth openly.
Fortunately, Faust stopped the straightforward hunter.
"Things like this should be enjoyed within a small circle. Making a scene will only bring unnecessary trouble."
To be honest, slaying a divine incarnation wasn't exactly a glorious story to tell one's family.
While it wasn't exactly a heinous crime, it was certainly enough to shock neighboring nations.
This was especially true given the unique nature of the Fog Moon Kingdom.
Although they hadn't established a strict system of church worship, the Moon Deity had protected this land for centuries, and the people still held onto some degree of faith.
"That makes sense. Before this, if someone had told me they'd killed the Moon Deity, I'd probably have wanted to seek revenge too."
Alkin nodded readily, putting herself in their shoes, and asked, "Then how should we answer?"
Faust pondered for a moment before providing an answer on the spot.
"Just say the Moon Deity has successfully completed its mission and returned to the Celestial Realm. That is indeed the truth."
They had handled the slaying of the Moon Deity's incarnation quite cleanly, leaving almost no loose ends.
No one besides those involved knew of the battle that had taken place deep within the forest.
As for the remains of the Moon Deity's incarnation, Faust had taken them away and sacrificed them directly to Mephistopheles.
Mephisto's top-tier crowd control and damage output in that fight were truly undeniable, so it was only right for it to take the spoils.
In any case, there had been communication between the fairies.
Mephistopheles had said that the Moon Deity really didn't mind.
The only thing left was to explain it to the people of the Fog Moon on an official level.
Regarding this, the prince of Qingxi felt he could say a few words:
"Ahem, I believe the historical significance of the Great Moon lies in its leading the Fog Moon Kingdom to complete the task of pioneering the wilderness, greatly expanding the range of human activity."
"However, in its later stages, the initiation of the night of the hunt was indeed somewhat inappropriate, causing the closure and suffering of the kingdom—it took some detours."
"Because of this, the Moon Deity chose to make a graceful exit, returning the sovereignty over the mortal world to mortals."
"We must not forget the blessings and grace the Moon Deity brought us, but neither should we blindly follow a god. Gods are not perfectly benevolent or omnipotent; they can also make mistakes."
"But overall, its merits outweigh its faults."
When Sylvia heard these words, she couldn't help but say sarcastically, "Is the final verdict already settled? And coming from you Godslayers, no less?"
Faust replied in a low, meaningful tone, "Do you know? History is written by the victors. Regardless, that's the official story. I advise you not to argue with me. If you won't change your mindset, I'll simply change the person in charge!"
In the post-battle settlement phase, the prince finally couldn't help but reveal his true nature, acting with absolute authority.
Unfortunately, the people who could actually restrain Faust didn't care about such things.
Compared to serious matters like kingdoms and gods, the witches were far more interested in Faust's gossip history.
Sylvia glanced at the white wolf girl leaning against the dining table, pouring herself a glass of white wine.
The latter was chatting with Selena and Viviana with great interest.
It seemed she didn't care about such matters at all.
"Forget all that. The key is what comes next... where does the Fog Moon Kingdom go from here?"
Sylvia figured she didn't have much loyalty to the Moon Deity either, so moving past the matter quickly was fine. There were more urgent issues at hand.
The Fog Moon Kingdom had technically perished long ago.
The betrayal of the Wolf Ancestor had completely overturned the kingdom, leaving barely a tenth of its territory and population.
More troublesome than these losses was the absence of a royal family.
In the past, the kingdom had been governed quite crudely by several major families of the wolf-kin, but that could only serve as a temporary measure for an exceptional period.
Because a kingdom must have a king!
No matter what form of monarch it was, one had to exist.
This was a tradition unchanged since ancient times; a land without a monarch would essentially not be recognized as a truly equal kingdom.
"If the Fog Moon Kingdom is to reintegrate into the outside order, the first priority is to enthrone a new king."
Sylvia's eyes were fixed intently on Alkin.
The meaning was self-evident. Currently, the only one with the prestige, achievements, and ability was the white wolf girl.
However, before she could even speak, she was met with a scoff.
"A king?"
Alkin laughed, raising her wine glass high.
"Do you want me to don a shackle called a crown and act like some courtier? How cruel, Sylvia. What did I ever do to offend you?"
The wolf-girl pressed a hand to her chest with poetic flair and spoke loudly:
"I can be a hunter, a poet, a singer, even a common carriage driver or a performer on a stage—but I will never be a king!"
"Why be so anxious about the future of the Fog Moon? Since the deity has stepped down and the throne is vacant, then let everything of the past vanish like smoke. Let there be no more Fog Moon Kingdom."
"The mist at the borders has been dispelled; next, let everyone be free. Life will find a way."
Alkin drained the white wine in one gulp, a flush appearing on her handsome, pretty face as she tilted her snowy-white chin up:
"Once I was sorrowful, but now I sing!"
The white wolf girl had never said she wanted to be a leader; she just wanted to see a grand display of fireworks. Anyone expecting her to take on responsibility was dreaming.
The personalities of the witches were generally this self-willed, but Faust offered a constructive suggestion.
"If you don't mind, the Qingxi Kingdom would be very happy to welcome new citizens."
Rate on N.U.
