Chapter 96: "Hail to the most sacred!"

The creature opened her eyes.

A creature with long white hair flowing gently down to her slender waist. Two black horns curved atop her head.

A pair of mismatched eyes was visible. One pale white, the other gold. Within those eyes sat vertical slits, the kind of pupils befitting a predator.

The moment those eyes opened, the creature, in the body of a sweet, small girl, with skin so pale it was almost white, slowly lifted herself up. She emerged from a coffin filled with beautiful white flowers.

Upon waking, she found herself in a dark, unfamiliar room.

The ceiling stretched impossibly high, countless candles flickering along the floor, alongside torches mounted on the walls, their flames dancing wildly.

The girl’s gaze was completely empty and languid as she turned her eyes around the room, and right then, a deafening chorus of voices rang out.

"Hail to the most exalted!"

"Hail to the most sacred!"

"Hail to the most exalted!"

"Hail to the most sacred!"

Rows of figures in dark robes came into view. All of them knelt, lifting their heads high before slamming them back down onto the cold floor, chanting all the while.

Their voices carried a flash of fanaticism, their eyes swirling with a tangled, obsessive gleam.

The girl simply watched in silence. She said nothing, made no attempt to move or speak.

A man in similar robes approached her. The only difference was that this man hadn’t concealed himself with a hood.

He openly exposed his face, reaching out and wrapping his arms around the girl, then lifted her into his hold.

The girl offered no resistance whatsoever, nor did she show any sign of discomfort or fear.

Besides, why would she be afraid?

She observed each of them. All of them were nothing more than ordinary humans, ones she could kill with ease, what was there to fear?

Meanwhile, in a corner of the room unnoticed by anyone, another girl stood there, one with long, beautiful golden hair.

She watched the entire scene unfold calmly, saying nothing, save for a small smile spreading across her face.

Then, that girl, Ilunia, murmured softly.

"Master’s third disciple... quite terrifying at this stage, isn’t she?"

***

This was perhaps the umpteenth time. Ilunia had dreamed the continuation of a prophetic fragment she’d first glimpsed several weeks ago.

And after observing it multiple times, piecing together everything she currently knew, Ilunia could say with certainty that the little girl was the exact same figure as her Master’s third disciple in the future.

Even with certain differences, like the goat girl’s currently small physical build, Ilunia didn’t hesitate for a moment.

How could she, when that girl possessed such a distinctly unique pair of eyes, impossible to overlook?

Beyond that, there were only a few troublesome details left.

’So she’s currently with the Church of Ascension. I wonder how she and Master will eventually cross paths?’

Ilunia let out a small sigh.

She hoped to receive more fragments of that prophecy soon. But unfortunately, fate alone decided what it wished to whisper to her.

And lately, ever since Ilunia had started forming a bond with her Master, the prophecies she received had, somehow, grown increasingly frequent and abundant.

’Well, that’s enough to explain a lot more about Master’s true existence.’

Ilunia gave a small smile. Then, as usual, she heard a faint breeze drift into her room.

That shouldn’t have been possible, but since it had happened, there was only one person who could’ve caused it.

"Are you here, Wilson?"

"Yes, Miss."

Hearing Wilson’s voice, not far from her, made Ilunia’s smile widen instantly.

She smiled sweetly, imagining what the night looked like right now, whether it was clear, whether the stars were out, and whether the moon was a crescent or full.

So much curiosity swirled in her mind, but unfortunately, she was a blind girl who could only see within her prophecies.

So, imagining all of it herself, Ilunia gazed up at the night sky she’d constructed in her mind and whispered softly, yet clearly enough for Wilson to hear.

"I can hardly wait."

That was a voice brimming with a fanatical gleam. Something Wilson always saw whenever good news had arrived.

"Is there good news, Miss?"

Ilunia nodded.

"My god... he’s getting closer, you know."

Pinpointing the exact timing was difficult. But Ilunia knew when it would happen, so long as she saw what was necessary.

That would be the moment her Master eventually took that goat girl as his disciple. Once that happened, her Master’s growth and level would finally reach an extraordinary height.

Not instantly, but it was a situation where her Master’s growth would eventually reach a level so absurd, so terrifying, that even Ilunia shuddered just thinking about it.

Her body trembled, and Ilunia let out a somewhat ragged breath, feeling herself break into a sweat. Then, she pressed her lips together gently and spoke.

"Wilson. Could you map out the safest possible route through a Rank-C Invaded Territory?"

Ilunia felt a flicker of guilt for having deceived her Master in so many ways. She’d even hidden the fact that she controlled a cult of her own.

But all of it was for her Master’s own good too.

This cult was something her Master would genuinely need in the future. Ilunia was simply preparing it earlier than it would naturally come to be.

"...That’s possible, but what’s it for?"

Hearing Wilson’s question, Ilunia simply let out a gentle laugh.

"Well, could you just do it?" She paused for a moment, mulling something over, and finally said it aloud.

"This is all for that person. You understand, don’t you?"

Wilson froze for a moment, and though Ilunia couldn’t see it, she’d likely already anticipated that reaction and simply smiled gently.

Yes, even though Wilson still couldn’t place his entire trust and faith in Ilunia’s Master, what he’d witnessed before was enough to stir something genuinely particular within him.

Ilunia wouldn’t force them, because, in the end, they’d come to understand it themselves eventually.

Right at that moment, Wilson bowed his head and answered.

"Understood, Miss."

Then, having gotten what she wanted, Ilunia prepared to drift back to sleep, but she heard Wilson speak up again.

"By the way, Miss, about Ariel..."

"Oh, how’s that boy doing?"

"He’s already managed to spread quite a few eyes across Central now. His information network keeps expanding."