Due to the battle, the positions of several people were all exposed. The remaining two monsters immediately shifted their targets. One of them focused on Yan Xiu, who was the closest, while the other set its sights on Bai’er.
The townspeople around, as if bewitched, stood motionless, watching Lisa. Suddenly, they knelt down, submitting and worshiping, chanting together, “Accept our sins with calmness, cross the black abyss, and what awaits us is the eternal magic and glory.”
They continued repeating “eternal magic and glory,” oblivious to the fact that just minutes ago, Father Benson had died before them. Their faith found a new focus, and everyone’s gaze was fixed on Lisa.
The bat with twisted limbs suddenly charged towards Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu evaded but suffered 6 points of damage from the bat.
“…How much health do you have left?” asked someone.
Yan Xiu replied, “3 points.”
“Still holding on.”
Subsequently, the monster emerging from the lake attacked Bai’er.
Bai’er skillfully dodged the attack, successfully avoiding damage.
It was their turn to counterattack, and the group effortlessly defeated the remaining two monsters.
“Is that all?” Bai’er widened his eyes.
“I told you, it’s a beginner’s dungeon,” kp said. “Very easy. I’m a conscientious DM; if I say it won’t be too hard, it won’t be too hard.”
“I don’t think so. If Felton hadn’t rolled that critical success, someone would have paid the price here.”
As the lake returned to calm, Shen Lin and the others noticed no more monsters climbing ashore. The calls of the townspeople seemed to have been drained away, and the forest was ablaze, casting a glow over Shen Lin’s silent world.
During their battle, the townspeople gradually gathered in a circle, surrounding Shen Lin.
Lisa said, “Come with me, my dear brother. Let’s seek refuge in the embrace of the gods, and let the sinful bloodline of Haino end here.”
Freud exclaimed, “Is she trying to drag Olok down with her?!”
Lisa continued, “You’re smart; you should have guessed. I was the sacrifice of the previous generation, raised by a wet nurse, kept in a tall tower. I had no friends, no family, grew up lonely. The wet nurse, a deaf old lady, was the only one good to me. However, her gaze always made me feel like a dying person. She looked at me with sympathy, making me believe my life was tragic. I knew that one day I would die.”
She looked sad, gazing at Shen Lin in pain. “I hated the way she looked at me, but she was the only one good to me. She secretly took me to see operas, even though we were quickly discovered. I still felt grateful to her. But ten years ago, when I was sent on that ship to be a sacrifice, she sent me off. She gestured in sign language, telling me there was a grand opera about to begin.”
Shen Lin looked at Lisa as he walked slowly forward. The townspeople closed in around him, and he saw some familiar faces among them, including the bartender Luther, the innkeeper Lena, Mayor Rodson, and his daughter Lilia.
Lisa continued, “I soon realized I was deceived. The sea was rough, storms everywhere. I couldn’t stand it. I sneaked out, and I met Dorena. He was still a child, and he said he always wanted a sister.”
Lisa smiled, and all the townspeople around followed suit with smiles. “He’s a good boy, just like you. Affectionate and gentle, with all the good manners of a gentleman. After learning I would die, he said he would save me. So he secretly let me go. But I missed the chance to go back with him, and I was left in Moonset Town.”
Shen Lin stopped, noticing a clear distortion in space. The whole world plunged into a deep color, and the red moon overhead emitted a strange halo.
Lisa said in pain, “This is a sacred sanctuary blessed by the gods. I haven’t received the gods’ blessing; I’m even considered a traitor. Therefore, I am punished by the gods. On the third day in Moonset Town, my body began to twist, bones misaligned. I kept coughing up red blood, burning with a fever. I thought I would die here, on the streets with no one around. Mrs. Annie saved me. She picked me up, prayed for me. She made the gods recognize me, acknowledge me, and I survived.” She smiled again, like an innocent girl under the moonlight. “When I woke up, I saw a lily in a vase on the table. Mrs. Annie said she thought I would be happy to see this flower when I woke up. I was really happy. Mrs. Annie is a kind and gentle lady, the one who treated me well.”
“But I still caused her death,” after a brief silence, Lisa stared at Shen Lin. A cold wind blew around, making Shen Lin frown. Lisa said, “Mrs. Annie fell seriously ill. Overnight, she suddenly aged rapidly, her skin wrinkled, her steps faltering. It was all because of me. She used herself as a sacrifice, praying to the gods to spare my life. I tried many ways, found the incantations she used in her prayers. I am guilty, and I continuously begged the gods to give her a longer life, to let her live healthily and happily. That was the first time I heard the voice of the gods. They said they could save Mrs. Annie as long as I offered a sacrifice.”
Shen Lin asked, “Did you see it?”
“No,” Lisa shook her head. “It’s the divine gods. I just heard the teachings of the divine gods in my dreams. In my dreams, they guided me. I… I am guilty.”
Shen Lin questioned, “Guilty of what?”
“I killed Mrs. Funnell’s son, that little guy. When I heard the guidance of the gods in my dreams, I thought it was just a dream. After waking up, I casually said something. That made Mrs. Funnell’s son a sacrifice. The day before, when I went out to sell flowers, that naughty kid deliberately tripped me, and he trampled on my lilies, ruining them so I couldn’t sell them to others. I hated that kid, so I wanted him as a sacrifice. But I didn’t expect—he really died.”
“In front of Mrs. Funnell, he died in a strange way. Since then, I often heard the call of the gods in my dreams, urging me to get closer to the divine. I wanted to pray to the gods, to plead for an end to the curse of Moonset Town. But no matter how devout I was, they couldn’t hear my calls and pleas. So, I prepared for this sacrifice ceremony. I want to end it all, whether it’s the curse of Moonset Town or the curse of the Haino family.”
She reached out to embrace Shen Lin. “Come, Olok. I know your name is Olok. It’s such a nice name. Come with me to the embrace of the gods. We will be together forever.”
Shen Lin stared at the ruby in her hand and asked, “Why does Lilia obey your commands? Did you enchant her?”
“I didn’t, but it’s also a coincidence. Ten years ago, when I came back to life, my consciousness often lingered in another person’s body—that person was Dorena. I could see what she saw, hear what she heard, but she couldn’t perceive my existence. Her father really doted on her, raising her like a princess. It’s truly enviable.”
“So, she thinks she knows Dorena? That’s why she likes the golden eyes so much. I should have realized that you two must have a connection.”
Lisa replied, “Maybe my memories influenced her. At first, I also had golden eyes. After recovering from the illness, my eyes turned purple. Fortunately, Benson didn’t trouble me for that. He hated outsiders, so he also hated people with golden eyes. He would have found a way to kill me.”
The townspeople blocking the path between Lisa and Shen Lin automatically stepped aside, creating a path.
Lisa looked at Shen Lin innocently. “Don’t talk about these irrelevant people anymore. Come with me. The gods will bestow happiness upon us, Olok. You’re a genuinely good person, just like Mrs. Annie. I was very happy during the days we spent together. I want to be with you forever.”
Shen Lin sighed. He took steps toward Lisa. “Sorry, do you remember what I told you? My friends are waiting for me to go back together. We want to climb snowy mountains, watch the sunrise, attend the Imperial Christmas banquet. They want to see the opera I’m performing. I want to go back to another world. I’m sorry, Lisa, I can’t go with you.”
“Olok…” Lisa looked at Shen Lin sadly. “Why? Why won’t even you go with me?”
Shen Lin noticed Lisa’s body enveloped in the red river water. The six people designated as sacrifices jumped into the river, each standing on one point of the hexagram, ready for the final sacrifice.
“Damn, is she going to transform?” Bai’er nervously gripped the spear in his hand.
Shen Lin walked to Lisa.
Her body had begun to undergo a bizarre transformation. The legs standing on the river’s surface turned into eight soft tentacle-like limbs, and half of her face was covered by a hard black shell. She continued to look at Shen Lin.
Shen Lin stopped in front of Lisa. His lower body was wrapped in Lisa’s tentacles, and the sharp thorns that mysteriously appeared on the suckers pierced his skin, and blood quickly seeped out.
Shen Lin took out an old pocket watch, opened it with a click, and presented the photo inside to Lisa. “Mrs. Annie liked you like this the most. Stay like this forever.”
Lisa cried.
Shen Lin reached out, feeling the scorching flames burning his palms when they touched Lisa. However, he persistently placed his hand on Lisa’s head.
The golden light remained bright, and Lisa’s hair was soft and fluffy.
Shen Lin smiled and said, “Lisa, you’re a good girl.”
Lisa was taken aback, tears blurred her vision. She bit her lip and said, “I’ve done so many wrong things. Now that you know everything, do you still think I’m a good girl?”
“Yes,” Shen Lin nodded. His expression was calm, but his eyes were tender. “Because you grew the most beautiful lilies in the world.”
Lisa cried in pain. She suddenly pushed Shen Lin away, saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It will all end now.”
The people around began to stir. More and more people gathered, isolating Shen Lin and Lisa.
Lisa said, “Leave here, leave forever.”
More and more people squeezed Shen Lin out.
Then, with a “bang,” he heard a gunshot.
Outside the human wall, Shen Lin clearly saw Lisa’s body fall into Moonset Lake. The red moon flowed with a crimson glow, casting a light on the lake’s surface with a tint of red.
The world suddenly became blurry. The scenes before his eyes peeled away inch by inch. The brilliance of the red moon became distorted, and he gradually lost all consciousness.
