After hearing the circus’s “goal” as proclaimed by the female magician, Green once again realized just how terrifying the source of pollution from beyond the stars truly was.
Overturning black and white, disrupting ethics, concealing the truth…
Staring at the serious faces of the female magician and the puppeteer, Green did not say a single word, even though he had thousands of thoughts swirling in his mind.
Suppressing Magitech development.
‘Alas, I probably understand what those old fogies are thinking.’
As someone who had once sat upon a divine throne, Green did not need to investigate. Relying on his past experiences, he could roughly guess what the gods hiding and trembling within the Astral Divine Kingdom were afraid of, and why they were secretly restricting the development of Magitech.
‘In reality, the existence of circus members is the embodiment of the gods’ anxieties.’
Looking at the two circus members who utilized Magitech and claimed they could master the power of the pollution from beyond the stars—but who had actually been unknowingly corrupted—Green felt a wave of internal conflict.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
They had been completely reshaped by the power of Chaos. Even the source of their souls was now incompatible with the material plane. Although they appeared human on the outside, their very essence had become a threat to the world.
“What is it? Mr. Green, are you interested?”
Seeing Green suddenly fall silent after learning the “truth,” the female magician felt a surge of joy.
She understood people like bards all too well.
They were selfless and harbored a sense of justice, even willing to sacrifice everything for their ideals.
To some extent, that was why they were so powerful; they were pure and disregarded any impurities.
However, from another perspective, their weakness also lay in that “purity.”
‘So, as long as I frame my purpose with a bit of idealism, they will lose their footing and even begin to feel lost…’
Over the years, the female magician had met many people.
Some came from poverty, while others were of noble birth. Some were practically the chosen ones, destined for greatness from birth. Others rose from nothing, overturning the expectations of others time and again to create their own legends.
But no matter who they were, as long as they were mortal and possessed their own joys and sorrows, she could precisely find the loophole in their hearts. She would use her silver tongue to shake their will.
‘A second-rate magician obsesses over technique, but a first-rate magician understands that the true essence of magic is… the human heart.’
And now, even if this God’s Chosen before her possessed the most powerful strength and could completely suppress the Chaos power within them, the moment he revealed his concern for his companions and his pursuit of justice, he naturally fell into her trap.
“Is what you just said the truth?”
Looking at the female magician—who likely had the blood and tears of countless innocents on her hands yet remained calm and even appeared righteous—Green did not entirely believe her words.
But… but…
“Of course.” Facing Green’s question, the female magician nodded without hesitation.
*Hum—*
A surge of warmth rose in Green’s heart. ‘She didn’t lie?’
[Lie Detection], one of the most basic yet most difficult skills for the Paladin class to master.
With Green’s mastery—which was so refined that he could practically use it to ascend to godhood in that profession—he was confident that even a demi-god like the female magician could not evade his detection spell.
In other words…
Everything she said was true?
‘Hehehe.’ Seeing the flicker of doubt in Green’s eyes, the female magician laughed inwardly.
This guy had fallen for it.
However, this man was indeed dangerous. That [Lie Detection] just now…
The female magician could naturally see that although he liked to call himself a Bard, Green’s actual legendary-tier classes were Paladin and Mage.
She had never expected his Paladin skills to be so powerful. A basic skill was actually able to bypass the magic of Chaos.
‘Fortunately, I didn’t lie.’
Indeed, the female magician had not lied.
What she had just said was indeed the “truth”—at least, the truth as she knew it. She simply hadn’t revealed all the information she possessed.
The best lies were never fabricated out of thin air; they were created by cutting away parts of the truth from existing facts.
‘Circus members have different ideas. Some do have noble ideals and hope to use Magitech to eliminate all injustice in the world. However, the puppeteer and I don’t have such lofty ambitions.’
Staring at Green, perhaps sensing the danger of life and death, the female magician recalled the original reason she joined this mysterious organization for the first time since ascending to the demi-god rank.
‘Lies.’
Stroking several transparent caterpillars that had crawled out of the void, the female magician calmly sensed her own thoughts, hiding nothing and laying them completely bare.
‘There shouldn’t be any lies in this world.’ Insightful of the human heart and better at lying than anyone else—to the point where she gained the authority over [Magic] when her Chaos power awakened—she actually hated lies more than anyone.
In this world, how many disastrous and ugly things were born because of lies?
‘So, as long as our circus’s plan succeeds, I can reshape the world into the way I want it to be.’
The female magician, who had been slightly wavering due to the pressure emanating from Green, stabilized her will once more. A boundless fighting spirit rose within her.
She would not back down.
“Puppeteer, get ready to move.” Thinking of this, the female magician calmly gave the order to her companion.
“Huh?” The puppeteer scratched his head in confusion. “Weren’t you two just having a good chat? Why are we fighting again?”
“No,” the female magician explained, glaring at the idiot who was so obsessed with his art that he could only giggle while holding his puppets. “You didn’t think I could convince a God’s Chosen just by talking, did you?”
“Ah? But…” Looking at the brand new [Great Shaman Puppet] in his hands, the puppeteer asked in confusion, “Didn’t we just use a few words to trick this guy into running in circles and willingly working for us before?”
“Are you an idiot? In a battle between experts, even a moment of hesitation can decide the outcome. I talked so much nonsense not because I expected him to be convinced, but to prepare for the coming battle.”
The female magician began to wonder if inviting this fool to join the circus as a formal member had been the right decision.
‘Even though he was once a genius who shook the continent, his talent was entirely dumped into his personal hobbies. His reactions to other things are so stupid… he’s not even as good as that Great Shaman.’
Whatever.
It was better this way. if everyone else in the circus was this silly, she wouldn’t have to spend all day busy with internal schemes.
‘After all, although everyone shares a common goal of completing the plan, once it is finished, everyone has different ideas about what to do with that absolute power.’
The female magician thought to herself, having already calculated her next move.
“Do it!”
Once everything was ready, the female magician gave the command.
*Zzzt zzzt zzzt!*
Densely packed transparent insects swarmed out of the void, crowding the space around Green until not even water could pass. Simultaneously, these insects launched a mental field interference. Suddenly, all sorts of complex and contradictory emotions flooded Green’s mind.
Sorrow, joy, anger, despair, comfort…
All the joys and sorrows of the world seemed to play out in Green’s mind at once, even paralyzing his original thoughts.
Before he could use Holy Light, the puppeteer beside him moved without hesitation. The newly acquired Orc [Great Shaman Puppet] manipulated the Magitech array within the defensive line while ferociously pouncing toward Green, aiming straight for his head.
However, facing this near-inescapable situation, Green only spoke calmly and slowly, “An interesting offensive. Unfortunately, today’s audience is no longer interested in the protagonist struggling in a crisis. After all, everyone knows that the final victor will definitely be the protagonist.”
*Shing—*
The moment the two of them moved, a flash of white light streaked through the air.
“So, what everyone likes to see now is how the protagonist toys with the enemies who thought they had the advantage.”
*Boom!!!*
‘When did he?!’ That guy was clearly confronting the female magician just now. How did he manage to secretly set this up right under the nose of the Magitech array and my demi-god level perception?!
*Puchi—*
A sharp sword pierced through the puppeteer’s arm.
“Death Substitute!”
*Boom!!!*
A legendary-tier puppet shattered instantly. The puppeteer, his face pale, gasped for breath in terror.
“Indeed, the old cliché of the protagonist struggling and then turning the tables is very boring.”
The female magician tilted her head slightly. “But… compared to toying with villains, maybe the plot everyone likes more right now is—the complete annihilation of the protagonist’s side?”
*Whew!*
With a light tap of the female magician’s finger, an image appeared out of thin air.
Outside the defensive line, at the ambush camp Colonel Ryan had originally planned, Andy and the other companions who had escaped were resting and replenishing their supplies.
*Tap, tap, tap.*
However, as they were checking their surroundings with guarded expressions, a figure walked gracefully toward them under the bright moonlight.
“Oh, hello everyone.” Sitting familiarly by the campfire, she said with a beaming smile to Andy, who was too afraid to even breathe, “Our great show is only halfway through. How could you leave without permission?”
*Zzzt zzzt zzzt!*
Countless eyes opened simultaneously in the pitch-black night sky. Their crimson pupils looked down at everyone in the camp in silence.
‘Magic… I see. Talking to me just now was just to distract me? Then the female magician in front of me now is a fake? No, not a puppet.’ With Green’s perception in his God’s Chosen state, that female magician couldn’t possibly deceive him.
Then, was the one in the camp an illusion?
No, that wasn’t it either.