Chapter 23: The Necessity of Hiding

Not long after, Vellandelle looked at the already sleeping Kelosha and smiled helplessly.

She’d said she would put her to sleep, but once she got on the bed, Kelosha bounced twice on the soft mattress, then obediently lay down and fell asleep.

She just watched Kelosha sleep.

Kelosha’s head was resting on her arm, like a little dog.

Vellandelle began to think about the future.

After awakening her bloodline, she felt some sadness over losing her male identity, but in exchange, she’d gained even greater power.

In the end, it wasn’t unacceptable.

After all, her goal had always been to obtain more power to avenge her mother.

This only made her plan clearer.

Right now, Vellandelle still faced some problems.

The ones behind her mother’s assassination were surely watching from the shadows.

Her appearance would inevitably be reported.

This meant she had to be extremely cautious within the Academy.

She didn’t believe the conspirators who targeted the Banshee Tribe would kindly spare her.

In the game’s storyline, the Banshee Tribe wasn’t much focused on.

Even Seleste in the game didn’t know what had happened to the original Vilan.

It was only later, after going to the Banshee Tribe and seeing that the Queen of a Royal Branch had become the new Queen of the Banshees, that Seleste appeared disappointed in the plot.

She felt the Queen was not what she’d expected, and lost interest.

By the time she next heard news of the Banshee Tribe, it had already collapsed, scattered across various Nations, and most Banshees, because of their beauty, had become Slaves.

“This is something that must never be allowed to happen!”

Vellandelle clenched her fist and swore in her heart.

She would protect her people, not betray her mother, nor her bloodline.

Of course, the first priority was still to hide her identity.

Her greatest advantage now was that those murderers behind the scenes still thought she was male and would never suspect she’d become a true Banshee.

She must not casually use the Moon Authority or Arcana’s power again.

She needed to study Magic, and learn abilities she’d never understood before.

At this thought, Vellandelle unconsciously recalled Vilan from the plot.

In the story, Vilan never awakened the Banshee bloodline, so was it for revenge that he sought Blood Magic and became a villain?

Just as Vellandelle was lowering her head in thought, a hand landed on her shoulder, startling her instantly.

“Sister, what are you doing?! Why are you touching that sleeping one?!”

Rosasys glared at Vellandelle.

Even someone as dense as Vellandelle could hear the jealousy in Rosasys’ tone.

“Ahem, Kelosha is childlike and can’t sleep without being comforted.

I was just helping her fall asleep.”

It might’ve been better not to explain.

The moment she did, she saw Rosasys’ expression darken even more.

“So Sister means, when your dear little sister is far away and sleeping alone… you’ll sweetly comfort this beastkin to sleep instead?”

For some reason, her usually gentle sister felt a little scary right now.

She stared gloomily into Vellandelle’s eyes.

Vellandelle instinctively looked away.

“Ahem.”

Vellandelle pulled Rosasys out of the room.

“I won’t put her to sleep anymore, okay?

I’m your sister, is there any need to be angry over this?!”

“Sister…”

Rosasys repeated heavily.

“Alright, alright, don’t pout.”

Helpless, Vellandelle gently kissed Rosasys on the forehead to comfort her.

With just that one kiss, Rosasys instantly regained her spirit, a smile breaking out as all her dark thoughts vanished.

“Sister is the best!”

She clung to Vellandelle’s arm.

“The upperclassmen and upperclasswomen around my dorm are really enthusiastic—they told me about all kinds of delicious food and drinks.

Let’s go check it out and buy some snacks?”

“Sure.”

Vellandelle smiled softly.

But looking at Rosasys, there was a trace of bitterness in her heart.

She could see how much this girl liked her, but didn’t know if she could accept it now.

She was too dangerous right now—romance was not an option.

Better to wait until after her revenge was complete before giving Rosasys an answer.

***

The sky was dark, cold wind swirling around the buildings.

Scraps of paper fluttered in the air, passersby walked aimlessly, numbness in their eyes.

A pair of iron boots landed on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

A deep voice rumbled with faint displeasure.

“Ka Jielielun’s sky is as disgusting as ever.”

A tall figure over two meters gazed up at the sky, his expression stern beneath a wide woolen cloak.

Behind him, a giant knight three meters tall followed step by step, each footfall shaking the ground.

“King, no matter how many times we come, the atmosphere here remains just as foul.”

The middle-aged man’s face was marked with age.

His eyes looked toward a massive palace in the distance, and he sighed helplessly.

“Though we both serve the God of Suffering, in the end, our paths differ.”

He walked toward the black hall.

In the corners, eyes opened, staring at them.

The knight at his side spoke.

“King, is Dunkhert dead?”

“Dead.”

“Then why…”

“We’re on his land—don’t speak ill of him.”

The middle-aged man glanced at a massive eyeball in the shadows.

As if realizing it had been discovered, the eyeball turned to black mist and vanished.

After they passed through a barrier, the darkness burst into color—pink and blue towers, rainbow bridges, laughter, music.

“These people…sigh, mere puppets lost in delusion…”

The knight murmured.

Just then, a man in a jester’s outfit approached and bowed respectfully.

“Honored guests, my King has awaited you for some time. Please follow me.”

They passed through bustling alleys and the laughter of children, through rows of training soldiers and one palace after another, finally arriving at a round table.

“Please.”

The jester opened the door with his white-gloved hand, bowing to invite them in.

The middle-aged man and the knight entered heavily.

Twelve candles lit the large round table, casting light on the darkness.

At the head sat an aged man, head bowed and silent.

This was the current King of Ka Jielielun, Dunkhert IV.

The doors closed, and the man and knight took their seats.

“Rosa, you’ve come?”

Dunkhert IV did not look up, nor did his mouth move.

His eyes were closed, yet his voice echoed in the air.

“Yes.

What do you mean by ‘survivor’ in your letter about the Banshee incident?

Wasn’t the task for the Divine Oracle completed when Malinsa died?”

“No…no.

Her bloodline was passed on—she left something behind.

The Queen of the Banshees has already been passed to the next generation!”

“Who is it? Her son? But according to Banshee records, a male Banshee means a dead bloodline—they can’t inherit power.”

“Wrong. We were all wrong! The Divine Oracle has descended—the Banshee records are false. Her son’s bloodline is pure. We must find him and eliminate the final threat. The Prophecy of the Godfall Day cannot be allowed to come true.”

“I understand.”

“……”

Three days later, Rosa left Ka Jielielun.

The giant knight beside him looked uncertain.

“King, why are you in such a hurry?”

“We must return, quickly!”

“What’s happened?”

“We were wrong—all of us.

Dunkhert is the God of Suffering!”

Cold sweat ran down the man’s face.

The world darkened.

A massive red-black pupil opened in the sky.

Countless ghostly wails rose from the darkness.