Looking at the massive Mysterious Ice before her, the cold began to alter the temperature of the entire room.
This sudden Witchification had completely ruined all the plans she had in her heart.
What was even more worrying was the phenomenon triggered during Witchification.
As an Order-keeper, she could hold her ground, but 80% of the city consisted of commoners who were believers of the Holy See.
If a scene of ice and snow truly appeared, she would be caught red-handed.
Zhou Qingqing had previously been afraid of being treated as a Heathen for harboring a Witch.
However, ever since learning about the Saintess’s thoughts concerning her, Zhou Qingqing feared that her death might be faked, and she would spend the rest of her life entirely as that Saintess’s plaything.
“Why now of all times? It shouldn’t be… In the game, it definitely wasn’t meant to happen now!”
Zhou Qingqing did not know where the error had occurred.
According to the description in the game, the other party should have experienced several betrayals and deceptions before feeling despair toward the world.
It was only because of a despairing heart and a hatred for the world that she would completely fall as a Witch, wanting to plunge everything around her into a false eternity to escape reality.
She had clearly cut off that impending first betrayal at the source and had not done anything excessive.
The Ice Frost Witch, who was supposed to be born years later, was already beginning to gestate now.
‘I guess I can’t really say if I’m lucky or unlucky right now…’
If Bai Shuang were to become the Ice Frost Witch, she would certainly be an existence of high order.
Perhaps she would even be a good assistant when facing Lillian, the Desire Witch, in the future.
But Zhou Qingqing was equally afraid of the phenomenon between heaven and earth when the other became the Ice Frost Witch.
The overwhelming cold could be felt just by being in this room.
Furthermore, if the high-ranking officials in the Holy See found out, they would certainly use it as leverage against her.
‘But speaking of which, I already clicked Option 3 earlier. If I don’t trade with a Witch…’
A trace of panic flashed in Zhou Qingqing’s heart, as if she were worried about what would come next.
After all, no one knew what would happen if she failed to fulfill the requirements of the option.
‘Do I just have to wait for Bai Shuang to come out on her own?’
The unease in Zhou Qingqing’s heart grew stronger.
At that moment, just as she had anticipated, the ice mist around her began to grow denser even as she continued to stroke the block of ice.
‘No, I can’t stay here any longer. I have to trade with a Witch…’
Zhou Qingqing rubbed her head in frustration and moved the sofa out of the way.
After stepping out, she locked the door behind her.
The worst-case scenario was that she would be unable to reach a deal before the Land of Desire began its invasion.
She would be forced to take a risk and go to the Land of Desire to find the so-called Desire Witch.
However, as a Central Nun of the Holy See, going to the Land of Desire alone was practically no different from seeking death.
After all, those succubi were not to be trifled with.
Moreover, the System Panel from earlier had indicated that she had attracted the gaze of the Witch of Fate.
That was the third Witch whose identity she had discovered.
However, it was obvious from their names alone that these were not existences she could easily contact.
Zhou Qingqing leaned against the wall, seemingly starting to think if there was any other way to get in touch with other Witches.
‘So annoying. I know the locations of the Witches in the game, but I don’t have the ability to get there…’
Zhou Qingqing supported herself against the wall.
She thought for a long time but could not think of another Witch at this time who was as simple and easy to fool as Bai Shuang.
Whether or not she could even have a normal conversation with them was a problem.
‘Wait, maybe there really is one…’
While Zhou Qingqing was still worrying about what to do next, a suitable candidate appeared in her mind.
This person could communicate normally with others and was a Witch she could actually contact.
In the game, there was a very suitable candidate who was also very easy to satisfy.
That person could be called the most powerful magic force, or the weakest Witch.
‘If it’s that girl, maybe I can use her…’
After thinking of this, Zhou Qingqing walked quickly toward the center of the Church.
The letters and reports she had originally written to the Holy Capital would take at least three days to arrive.
However, each Church in every city possessed a book called The Codex, which was the fastest means of contacting the Holy See.
In the game, it also served as a distress button.
“Greetings, Master!”
Before Zhou Qingqing even entered the Church, the Nuns who were still worshipping nearby all greeted her with a hint of excitement in their eyes.
For some reason, Zhou Qingqing felt that the ordinary Nuns around her seemed a bit too enthusiastic.
But as the situation was urgent, she did not allow herself to think too much.
Zhou Qingqing came before The Codex and flipped open its pages.
Just as she was worrying about how to use this thing, the System Panel appeared once more.
It directly solved the problem of her not knowing how to send a message.
Although such a convenient method of contact was handy, not all information was meant to be sent this way.
Since it was a one-way line of communication, Zhou Qingqing did not hide the matter regarding Bai Shuang.
After all, such a thing could not be hidden forever.
Even if she didn’t say anything, the other party would find out sooner or later.
It was better to admit it personally to leave some room for maneuvering.
However, Zhou Qingqing did hide the fact that Bai Shuang was specifically the Ice Frost Witch.
‘This should be fine. After all, besides me, no one else knows that there’s also a Witch within the Holy See…’
After Zhou Qingqing settled these matters, she called over a Little Nun nearby.
She assigned the girl a few tasks and simultaneously had the Church issue a low-temperature warning.
She had to make some preparations for the Bai Shuang incident.
Although she didn’t know what kind of phenomenon would appear, she had to be on guard regardless.
After completing several tasks, Zhou Qingqing was guided by an ordinary Nun to the edge of the city wall.
She looked at the silent forest outside the city and the area shrouded in pink mist.
Every scene was exactly as described in the game; it was not a naturally occurring weather phenomenon at all.
If not for the protection granted by the Saintess, the city would likely have been engulfed by that mist as well.
‘The Land of Desire? It certainly looks more grand than in the game…’
The thick pink mist blocked her vision, making it impossible to see the scenes beneath it.
At least for the knights guarding the city wall, the pink mist was like a sea with no visible end.
The boundless sea of mist made one feel a sense of despair from deep within, as unknown existences were often the most terrifying.
However, from Zhou Qingqing’s perspective, it was different.
It was even more frightening than the plain mist because knowing what was beneath the mist made one feel even more powerless.
[High-level Succubus]
[Low-level Succubus]
[Succubus] [Succubus] [Succubus] [Succubus]
***
Densely packed text appeared in Zhou Qingqing’s field of vision.
The sheer number of labels formed by the System Panel almost covered the sea of mist before her eyes.
Zhou Qingqing bit her lip, feeling a deep sense of helplessness.
‘This number… Could they have been prepared this whole time?’