“Which deity do you worship? So, is this world practicing religious discrimination now?”
Truth didn’t quite understand why the butler was asking such a question, but as Suna’s savior, he probably wouldn’t try anything underhanded against her.
“The Mist Hidden Sovereign, I suppose. That’s the one I follow.”
That’s right—I worship myself! After all, she was a being who had attained godhood… well, formerly male, but now female.
Dammit, I miss my “little brother” again… Thankfully, she’d gotten used to playing a female avatar, or else the embarrassment might’ve kept her trapped in the mist forever.
“I see…”
Norton gave a slight shake of his head and waved for a carriage.
“Get in. I’ll take you where you belong.”
Where I belong? Truth tilted her head in confusion but followed Norton into the carriage. Soon, they arrived in the bustling city of Deya. Norton spoke again:
“You’re quite naive, Miss Truth. You just boarded a carriage without knowing its destination— aren’t you afraid I might sell you off?”
Sell me? Oh, that’d be perfect! Then I could slaughter them all without any moral qualms!
That’s what she thought, but outwardly, Truth replied sweetly:
“Probably because you’re too weak.”
“Is that so? Hah.”
An unexpected answer. Though Norton was only at First Tier, Stage 3 (Level 13), he could easily handle ten priests like her.
He said nothing more, and soon the carriage stopped before an imposing stone structure.
This was one of Deyà’s elevated landmarks, bathed in the holy glow of the setting sun.
Above the entrance was a string of squiggly, otherworldly script that Truth could barely decipher:
“The Goddess of Life shall guide those lost in darkness.”
Goddess of Life… Which class’s godhood is that?
Truth followed Norton into the domain of the Goddess of Life.
As long as she kept her Priest Panel deactivated, no one would ever detect anything amiss.
Inside was a vast chapel, nearly empty. Norton then opened a heavy wooden door in the corner, revealing a dimly lit tunnel leading underground.
The basement was illuminated by candlelight, arranged like a prison— though without prisoners.
It wasn’t until she spotted the bloodstained torture tools that Truth realized this place was far from ordinary.
“This way, Miss Truth.”
Norton ushered her through an iron gate, but Truth saw no further path. Then— click— the gate locked behind her.
Truth was now imprisoned, her expression eerily calm.
“Ah…”
Outside the bars, Butler Norton shook his head.
“My deepest apologies. Though you saved our young lady, I had no choice but to bring you here. In Deyà, worship of any deity outside the Five True Gods is forbidden. If an heretic like you were associated with us, the Divine Inquisitor would lead the Judgment Legion to strip Earl Suho of his title and raze his estate.”
Tch. Religious discrimination, as expected.
“If you wish to leave, you must accept the Divine Inquisitor’s guidance,” Norton continued. “Renounce your heresy, change that unnatural hair color and priestly robes, and pledge yourself to the Goddess of Life. Only then—”
“No.”
Truth’s reply was instant. The robes and faith didn’t matter, but her hair color? Absolutely not! White hair and crimson eyes were non-negotiable!
(Though her priest form’s pink eyes were nice too.)
“Very well. I can only hope you reconsider. The young mistress is quite fond of you—we’d welcome your return to the estate. Until then… enjoy your time with the Divine Inquisitor.”
With that, Norton left Truth in the dungeon. After a brief moment of thought, she gave the lock a light tug— clank— it fell apart instantly. She could leave whenever she pleased.
Hmm… Should I kill that butler? From his perspective, he’d done nothing wrong, but something about his connection to the “Divine Inquisitor” felt shady.
Feels like I got sold out. Annoying.
Just as she was about to push open the iron gate, a gaunt, bespectacled man crawled out from the hay in the adjacent cell.
His glasses were cracked, his appearance that of a disheveled scholar.
“Hey, you! Did you blaspheme the gods too?”
Oh? Someone else here? And a blasphemer? Truth’s interest was piqued. Maybe she could extract some useful info.
“Yes. I believe the Goddess of Life is actually a bitch in heat.”
“Wha—?! You look so devout, yet your words are worse than mine! I merely sought to research the origins of the gods, and they threw me in here!”
“Origins? They just reached Tier 12 before everyone else. Nothing worth researching.”
“Tier 12? What’s that? Seems we have differing views. Let me share my findings—the gods claim they created the world, but my research suggests the world birthed them!
“And in an ancient ruin, I discovered that people of the past didn’t worship the gods at all! It contradicts modern doctrine. The gods don’t love humanity— this very dungeon proves it! They’ve deceived us all!”
“Click!”
The heavy door swung open again.
A young man in a green-embroidered robe entered, drawing the attention of both Truth and the scholar.
Appraisal complete. Weakling. Truth ignored him and pressed the scholar:
“So what? What’s the point of proving all this?”
Seems those NPCs, after becoming gods, brainwashed the entire world. Must’ve spread countless lies. But lies have cracks and cracks mean weaknesses!
“It’s incredibly useful, okay? I need to spread my findings and continue my research—because people have the right to know the truth of this world. But before that…”
The scholar glanced back at the approaching robed young man and muttered under his breath:
“I need to stay alive first.”
With that, the scholar suddenly dropped to his knees before the cage, adopting a pious posture as he shouted toward the robed young man outside:
“Divine Guide, sir! At last, I can feel the grace of the Goddess of Life! Under your careful guidance these past days, I’ve come to realize the magnitude of my sins. Please, let me out of here! Let me return and worship the Goddess once more!”
“Oh?”
Ignoring the scholar’s pleading, the young man— referred to as the Divine Guide— strode directly to Truth’s cage, his mocking gaze unabashed as it swept over her from head to toe.
Beautiful…
Even though her modest priestess robes concealed her figure, he could still make out the delicate form of the young girl beneath.
Her snow-like hair and fragile height only made her all the more enticing.
“Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!” the Divine Guide licked his lips, making no effort to hide the lust in his eyes.
Another pervert?! Truth’s expression turned openly scornful. Are all NPCs in this world lolicons now?
“Yes, that’s the look! That expression, like you’re staring at some disgusting bug!”
The Divine Guide suddenly grew excited. This little gift from Norton was a real gem—worth every favor he’d had to trade for it!
The scholar, seeing this, shouted even louder:
“Divine Guide, please! Look over here! Let me once again feel the presence of the Goddess—!”
“Shut up!”
With a flick of his sleeve, the Divine Guide released a razor-sharp wind blast— so fast it was invisible to the naked eye.
It shot straight through the scholar’s throat! The man collapsed against the wall, clutching at the gushing wound in disbelief as blood poured through his fingers.
“Guh… cough… cough…”
The Divine Guide said calmly:
“The Goddess has just issued a divine command— she wants you erased from this world. And you…”
The scholar’s eyes rolled back as death claimed him. Then the Divine Guide turned back toward Truth.
“She also said that if you don’t obediently accept my guidance… you’ll end up just like him. Hm? Why aren’t you afraid?”
Even after witnessing the brutal death, Truth stood calmly in place, clicking her tongue softly.
The Divine Guide stepped forward and pulled out a key, intending to unlock her cage— only to find the iron lock already broken and lying on the ground.
“Well, well. How interesting.”
He walked up to Truth. The height difference between them forced her to look up to meet his eyes.
Perfect. I am officially furious.
“Little priestess, I can tell your faith doesn’t lie with the Five True Gods. And you should know—Deya City has no tolerance for heretics. That means your life is in serious danger.”
“Oh? Then what should I do if I want to survive?” Truth tilted her head, voice light as a breeze.
“Why, you simply need to obey the one chosen by the Goddess to guide you— me, of course. Follow my lead, hear the sacred teachings, and become a faithful believer. But before that— take off that blasphemous priestess robe.”
The Divine Guide couldn’t help but let out a perverted laugh.
Perfect, perfect! A rare heretic right here in Deya City! That flawless face, those porcelain hands… Come now, show me your most tempting side!
As a Divine Guide, as long as no one found out, dealing with a heretic however he pleased was considered standard procedure.
The last girl they caught only lasted a few days.
This time, he was going to pace himself. This priestess was going to give him the most delightful experience of all— gahaha!
“Oh, so you want to defile my body?” Truth asked, pressing a hand lightly to her chest and looking up at him with a chilling smile. “Well, that’s not entirely out of the question…”
“…As long as that so-called ‘Goddess’ of yours is willing to protect your pathetic little life!”
Enough with the creeps! I’ve had it! I may look like this, but my mental gender is still very much a macho dude! Getting stared at by some pervert with those eyes— it’s disgusting!
In the next moment, a blood-red light bloomed within Truth’s rosy pupils, like a flower blooming in fast-forward.
The red spread until it completely filled her eyes— bringing with it a suffocating, malevolent aura.
The Divine Guide immediately stumbled backward, the power he’d been charging up instantly vanishing like a popped balloon.
“This… this aura… You… You’re…”
The feeling radiating from Truth was unmistakable.
As someone blessed by a god, the Divine Guide knew it better than anyone.
It was the aura of a demon…
Tftc!