Above E-Rantel, Chu Lian floated quietly in the air, gazing down at the city below, now changed in subtle ways. She knew this would likely be the last time she returned to this dungeon.
After finishing everything here, there was still one matter she had to deal with. She could not very well leave without a word and abandon that girl, could she?
After all, if you turned a young man into an Enchantress with the face of a little girl and the body of a mature beauty, it would be stranger if she did not feel some complicated mixture of helplessness and awkwardness.
"It's around eight o'clock. Most people probably haven't gone to sleep yet. Perfect time to release it. After tomorrow, Slane Theocracy... just wait to become genuine public enemies wherever you go."
Chu Lian murmured softly. She immediately opened the system interface, found the Integrity Points exchange section, and selected an option.
"Teacher Chen's Live Performance: Well, it simply lets you enlarge and sharpen indecent videos or photos onto a giant screen for all to see. Please note, this screen is a real LCD display and can be damaged. You may place it wherever you like. If you don't mind becoming famous, you could try Times Square in New York for truly shocking results. Exchange Cost: 1 Integrity Point / 1s."
"I know most things in the Integrity Points shop are shameless, but this is obviously just a screen magnifier. Why are the name and description so dirty? Where exactly did the integrity go?" Chu Lian had noticed this option long ago, or she would not have rushed straight to exchange for it.
Even while mocking the name and description, she had to admit it was incredibly practical. Especially in worlds without technology or similar magic, this thing could practically turn someone into an idol superstar group.
Perhaps she should choose a dungeon someday and become an idol? Bring along Inori Yuzuriha, Chu Chu, Li Xiu'er, Cai Ya, Liu Yanran, Ruriko Nana, Lux Lyle, Kurosaki Satsuki, Anna, and the others, then let the cult of Lalala shake that world?
Oh, right. She admitted her thoughts had wandered off track again.
Shaking her head, she focused on the matter at hand. Chu Lian took out the edited footage she had recorded through the Seraph system, then said, "Loop this footage all night. Tonight, E-Rantel becomes a city that never sleeps."
As soon as she finished speaking, a giant screen covering more than a hundred square meters appeared beneath her. Upon it played the scenes of those Slane Theocracy officers, affected by her [Deepened Desire] spell, blurting out all kinds of things they never should have said.
To make sure the people below could hear clearly, Chu Lian even exchanged for several microphones and speakers, placing them atop the screen. Since they were physical objects anyway, she might as well use them.
A tall, burly dark-skinned man: "Damn it! If I'd had a little more time, that beauty would've been mine."
A stern, clean-featured man: "Lulan, didn't I say we came out here for sabotage, not to let others track our movements? Why do you always do this?"
Beginning with their conversation, the video fully displayed the Slane Theocracy's deceit and malice. It also revealed their contempt for humans of other nations despite being human themselves, and the arrogant superiority they believed they possessed. Everything about it made people instinctively loathe them.
Those who remained calm could tell this mysterious footage had obviously been released by someone trying to stir conflict between nations. But the people shown were clearly visible. Their names and characteristics were all there. Anyone who investigated seriously could verify them.
So the authenticity of the footage was beyond doubt. Since it was real, what excuse could possibly explain it away?
Every sentence they spoke also reflected what the Theocracy had always believed: unify humanity internally, exterminate all foreign races.
If that were all, people might not have cared much. But they sought to achieve that goal by sacrificing the citizens of the Kingdom and the Empire. That was intolerable.
Those with insight, or those who clearly saw the schemes behind it, had no way to stop the furious residents now.
Only days after suffering an undead invasion, they discovered that fellow humans of the Slane Theocracy had long been slaughtering their countrymen.
Even worse was their expression, as though people of other nations were born to serve them. It was revolting.
What right did they have to act this way? Just because they were from the Slane Theocracy?
You killed our people, mocked us at will, and now insult us while calling yourselves superior. Do you really think you're something precious?
If it had only played once or twice, many might not have heard clearly and soon forgotten it. But after this one-minute clip repeated dozens of times, everyone understood every word and every sentence. They knew with certainty that they were being humiliated.
The dying embers of the city reignited. Though the authorities came out to maintain order, the people, consumed by rage, cared for nothing else. They gathered together and shouted:
"People of the Slane Theocracy, get out! Get out! Get out!"
Their cry of "get out" meant more than leaving their nation. It carried the deeper meaning of, Get out of human society, you scum.
The flames of anger spread as though burning across a lake of oil. Ordinary methods could never extinguish it, and calming their fury was harder still.
Of course, there was one direct solution: destroy the screen playing above them.
But setting aside the fact that it hovered five hundred meters in the air, Chu Lian was still present. Without strength on the level of Ainz Ooal Gown, trying to destroy that screen while Chu Lian stood there with full mana, all skills unused, and Seraph ready to activate at any moment, was pure fantasy.
And since she had lit this fire, she had no intention of letting it go out.
After one full hour of continuous playback, Chu Lian saw events had developed exactly as expected. She immediately reopened the exchange interface and once again headed straight for the Integrity Points section.
"Small Scene Recording Crystal: Insert recorded footage or scenes into the crystal, and it will preserve them perfectly. Whenever the user wishes to play them, it will automatically display the recording. This crystal uses solar charging technology. Convenient, fast, harmless, pollution-free. Perfect for home travel use, and especially convenient for watching naughty little movies. Exchange Cost: 10 Integrity Points."
The description had been fairly normal up until the very last sentence, which completely obliterated any remaining sense of integrity. Chu Lian looked at the small crystal in her hand. She knew it could record no more than ninety seconds of footage—more than enough for a video that lasted just over sixty seconds.
She recorded the edited video into it, then used the system to frantically duplicate it one hundred thousand times. After that, she spun through the sky, scattering the crystals down into the dense crowd below.
Of course, she infused them with a bit of magic first, both to prevent them from injuring anyone as they fell from such height and to ensure they would not shatter.
Those who were still shouting slogans saw objects falling from the sky and instinctively reached out to catch them. When they saw that what lay in their hands was a crystal-like object, they had no idea what it was.
It was only when someone accidentally activated one and the recorded video began to play that realization dawned upon them.
"Heaven is punishing those people from the Slane Theocracy! The gods are watching! With these, we can rally even more people to join us and drive the Slane Theocracy out!"
The crowd erupted once more. By now, no matter how foolish they were, they understood that someone was deliberately targeting the Slane Theocracy.
But they were willing to bebe used.
Because what they saw in that video disgusted them to the core. The mere thought of the Slane Theocracy's actions made their anger surge uncontrollably, demanding release.
Burn. Burn.
Better yet, let it become a towering inferno that reduces the Slane Theocracy to ashes.
Seeing that her task was complete, Chu Lian tossed another hundred thousand Integrity Points into the screen to keep it running for more than a full day. She then retracted Seraph, allowing it to return to its bell form, and quietly descended into the city.
"Slane Theocracy, you brought this on yourselves by doing something so hateful. Even if your starting point was good, your methods were not. You succeeded in making me despise you. And since my future goal is to subjugate humanity and the various races to complete that final optional quest, you were bound to become obstacles in my path anyway. I might as well make things a little more troublesome for you now."
She murmured softly to herself before turning and leaving. Her destination was Nfirea Bareare's potion shop.
The golden-haired girl lay lazily across the table, her watery blue eyes gazing at the night scenery outside the window, listening to the noisy uproar around her. She seemed both languid and faintly sorrowful.
"Liliana still left... and she left so thoroughly. Aside from the dress she left me, there are no other memories. But I miss her more and more."
Nfirea, Nfirea... stop overthinking. You're an Enchantress, she's a fox girl. Our races are naturally incompatible. It's only natural that she dislikes you. And you've always caused her trouble. Of course she'd avoid you.
In her heart, she believed everything that had happened was entirely her own fault. Whether it was race or behavior, it was all her fault.
One had to admit, the Enchantress race was extreme to the core. Either mature beauty or soft girl, queen or loli—whatever personality trait existed would inevitably be taken to its limit.
Fortunately, Nfirea's extremity lay in her soft-hearted nature—and the kind of extremity that devoted herself wholly and exclusively to the one she loved. That, in turn, made her emotionally inclined toward complete vulnerability.
Honestly, girl, if you hadn't once been a boy, with a temperament like this, you would absolutely have been deeply loved by your Liliana.
After all, for a girl who had always been the one bullied, having someone she could bully in return was perhaps the most wonderful thing.
"Nfirea..."
Just as she was lost in thought, the voice she longed for day and night sounded from behind her.
She turned around in surprise and delight, only to see Liliana, dressed in a cheongsam, sitting on her bed and smiling at her.
"Liliana..."
She hesitated, not knowing what to say.
"Aren't you going to give me a hug?" Chu Lian spread her arms and smiled.
"I missed you so much..."
Almost throwing herself forward, Nfirea wrapped her arms around Chu Lian, tears threatening to spill.
Gently stroking her golden hair, now grown to her waist, Chu Lian whispered, "I only came back this time to see an old acquaintance. After this, I'll be traveling overseas to train. It might be a very long time before I return, so I wanted to tell you. When I come back... we'll talk about other things then."
"This world is going to change greatly. If you want to see me again, live on. Improve your strength. With your current racial talent, reaching the hero level isn't difficult at all."
"In chaotic times, without reaching the hero level, everything is an illusion. Remember what I said... and be stronger. Yes—look at things in a better light..."
Chu Lian gently pushed the girl away and looked into her azure eyes. After a brief hesitation, she added, "If you get tired... think of me."
Without waiting for Nfirea's reply, she stood up.
"Goodbye, Nfirea. Remember—wait for me to come back..."
In the blink of an eye, she vanished.
The girl turned around.
She wasn't there.
She wasn't there.
She wasn't...
It was as though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than a dream—a dream born from longing too deep to contain.
Unable to hold back any longer, tears slid down her pale cheeks. She covered her mouth with both hands, refusing to let herself cry out. Even if her tears soaked the bedsheets, she would not make a sound.
Liliana hadn't made any promises. She hadn't said what would happen after she returned.
But that trace of gentleness—she had never seen it in Liliana's eyes when she faced her before.
Liliana told me to live, to grow stronger. Then I won't be lazy anymore. I'll study magic. I'll reach the hero realm. Only then will I have the right to stand behind her.
She told me to be strong. Then I won't cry. Even if there are tears, there will be no sound. I will be strong.
She smiled at me... Does that mean she doesn't mind everything that happened before? Otherwise, why would she come to say goodbye before leaving? Liliana is not someone who does meaningless things. Every action of hers has its own meaning. Whatever that meaning is, I will become the person she wishes me to be.
And when I'm tired... I will definitely, definitely, definitely think of you. Because you are the reason I keep going.
Liliana, I will follow in your footsteps. No matter what the future holds, no matter what I encounter, I will never give up.
Every Enchantress has her own faith—unknown to outsiders, never spoken aloud.
And my faith is you, Liliana. No matter what your true identity may be.
"I'll grow stronger. I'll reach the hero realm. I'll live on. I'll wait for you. I'll think of you. I'll think of you. I'll... think of you..."
Satisfied at heart, the girl, now exhausted, lay sideways against the bed and slowly drifted to sleep.
The Chu Lian who had seemingly left suddenly reappeared. Seeing her like this, she let out a soft sigh, lifted her back onto the bed properly, and vanished from the room once more.
She opened her eyes.
Was she here?
There was still her scent.
Looking out the window, she saw a magnificent figure flying toward where the moon was rising...
"I'll wait for you... Liliana..."