Chapter 326: Can I Refuse? (42K First Update)

Theresa felt as though she had had a long dream.

After Miss Xie Shen's incarnation turned to ash, she entered the dream.

In a cold, pitch-black space, she encountered a great existence filled with maternal warmth.

It was as if she had met her own mother or some kind, gentle elder, who told her about her origins and the glorious destiny she carried on her shoulders.

Through the "kind mother's" account, Theresa learned for the first time that she was actually a so-called divine descendant, a blood heir of a great existence!

On her shoulders rested the expectations of the gods.

These gifts from the gods gave her better talent and stronger power than ordinary mortals.

They were the children of gods, noble divine offspring.

But every gift comes with a price; after accepting this blessed bloodline, one day she too would have to repay the gods.

When that time came, she would offer up her body and become the vessel for the god's descent into the mortal world, thereby repaying the god's grace.

... Just as her mother had done back then, willingly giving up everything she had.

After hearing the great existence's account, Theresa actually did not resist the risk, feeling it was only right and proper.

But, for some unknown reason, there was always another voice at the bottom of Theresa's heart, always feeling that something was not quite right.

But that voice was too faint, unable to stir up any waves at all.

From the figure before her eyes, Theresa could only feel familiarity and warmth, a deep-seated, heartfelt respect and reverence.

It was like seeing the source of her bloodline, seeing her true ancestor!

She could only obediently kneel before that mountain-like, vast, blurred shadow, devoutly listening to Its teachings.

And just as Theresa thought this dream would continue on like this forever, something changed.

After some time had passed, a brilliant flash of Jin Guang streaked through the dream.

That great existence seemed to have suffered some kind of injury, letting out a scream and furiously cursing something.

Before Theresa could even react, the vast shadow shattered, dissolving into a puff of smoke.

And after the smoke dispersed, the entire dream space transformed, becoming an endless expanse of pure white space.

And in the center of the space, another figure appeared, one that made Theresa's eyes go wide.

That lord, had appeared in her dream!

Cloaked in golden, glowing light, a long sword in hand, he gave her a warm, gentle smile.

Knight!

It's the Knight, my lord!

The knight Theresa had longed for countless times in her dreams had once again walked into her dream.

And, in this dream, the knight finally had a face.

It was a handsome youth with white hair and grey eyes, with a pair of pure white wings spread out behind his back.

Like a holy knight, a divine apostle descending from the heavens in legend.

And, just as she had imagined, that knight was unusually gentle and kind to her.

He first extended his hand to Theresa, gently helping her up from the ground, no longer letting her kneel as she had before that great god.

Then, the Knight, my lord, took the initiative to hold the girl's hand, leading her on a stroll through this pure white space.

Theresa put up no resistance at all, nor did she want to resist, simply following the knight in a dazed, happy state.

The two walked for who knows how long, until Theresa's panicked heart finally settled down a little, and only then did the knight finally speak.

"Theresa, have you calmed down now?"

"Ah! Huh? Mm-hmm!"

The girl was startled into jumping, feeling as though she had become much more awake, and hurriedly nodded: "My lord, I have calmed down."

Theresa felt a bit embarrassed and deflated, thinking she was really useless, performing so poorly in front of the Knight, my lord.

"Hehe, don't worry."

The knight looked at her nervous state, shook his head and smiled, his other hand gently patting the hair on top of her head, soothing her:

"This is your dream, don't be too nervous, you are the master of this place."

"There is no one else here, you can show your true self before me."

Theresa blinked, hesitated for a moment, and asked softly: "Is it really okay?"

"Of course, it's really okay."

The girl hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head, slowly let out a breath, and her tense shoulders relaxed.

She was in a daze for a moment, looked around to the left and right, and found the dream empty, truly only the two of them.

"My lord, you said this is my dream? Then am I dreaming right now?" Theresa said, somewhat at a loss.

If this is a dream, then why am I so clear-headed right now?

And why have you appeared in my dream? Could it be that I missed you too much before I fell unconscious?

!!!

This bold thought made Theresa's cheeks flush red; she shyly pressed her lips together, secretly observing the Knight, my lord's expression.

"Yes, and also no."

Facing the girl's gaze, blooming with the stirrings of first love, the knight appeared very calm, and explained gently: "If you feel this place is a dream, then this place is a dream, and you won't remember anything when you wake up."

"If you believe all of this is real, then that can also be taken as fact."

The seemingly profound words, laden with hidden meaning, left the uneducated village Young Lady confused, tilting her head blankly.

Eh?

What does this mean?

Theresa thought about it carefully, quickly chose to give up, and instead asked another question she was curious about.

"Then what are you here for?"

Finally arriving at the true matter, the knight stopped walking, turned to face her, and said softly: "I've come to ask you a question—or rather, to give you a chance."

Teresa sensed the sincerity in his tone, and instinctively set aside her restless, trivial thoughts, tensing her nerves as she watched him intently.

"... A chance? What do you mean?"

She had a feeling she was about to hear a question beyond her wildest imagination.

And indeed, the next moment, Teresa heard from his lips a question that shook her to her core.

"If you were given one chance to rewrite your life's choices, what would you do?"

Teresa:!!?

What is he saying?

"If you were given another chance, how would you choose?"

"Would you choose to live as an ordinary human? To remain that carefree, innocent village girl?"

As the knight's words spoke, Teresa felt her body begin to change.

"I... my body!"

She looked down and saw her hands—not claws, but rough, calloused little hands, scarred from labor.

No longer the monstrous creature, but returned to her former, innocent self.

After enduring a nightmare-like ordeal, seeing these hands again, Teresa felt the taut string inside her mind finally loosen, washed over by a profound sense of peace.

Yet alongside this peace, another sensation surged into her body.

"Ha... ha... my body? Why is it so heavy?" The girl gasped in shock, struggling to breathe.

Intense weakness flooded her mind and body; her legs felt weak, her breaths labored and shallow.

Then Teresa heard the knight's second sentence.

"Or would you choose to cast aside this frail human form, accept this inhuman bloodline others deem impure, and wield this power?"

In a daze, Teresa felt another transformation.

Her vision rose higher; her legs turned into thick, powerful serpent tails, and her hair seemed to come alive, hissing with a chilling sound.

She felt the strong, steady beat of her own heart.

Unlike the feeble human body moments before, she now possessed terrifying strength—capable of tearing apart beasts with ease!

"I'm... hmm?" As she spoke, the girl noticed yet another difference.

She was now stronger than even when she first transformed.

"Do you feel it? This immense power, belonging to something inhuman."

Amid the knight's soft laugh, the girl had no time to savor it—her power slipped away, and she returned to her original form.

"..."

Teresa fell silent, finally understanding what the knight meant by "chance"—to become human, or to become a monster.

How absurd a thing this was.

If anyone else had told her this, she would never have believed it—she'd have thought them a fraud.

But the boy before her made her heart unable to harbor doubt.

A chance to start over?

How many people dream of such a thing?

In countless legends, only the power of a god could achieve such a miracle.

She couldn't help but ask: "My lord, are you a god?"

The boy paused at these words, then smiled gently and shook his head: "I am no god, but I can indeed give you one chance to choose again."

Even beneath the boy's gentle gaze, Teresa hesitated, asking uneasily: "My lord... can I choose? Do I truly deserve such an opportunity?"

Teresa lacked confidence in herself; she saw nothing special in her, felt unworthy of such a chance.

She was merely an ordinary village girl—could she really be worthy of such a precious opportunity?

Yet the knight still smiled, soothing her:

"You certainly may accept it."

"Not just you—everyone has the right to choose their own life, to walk the path they desire."

"No matter what expectations others hold for you, what tasks they assign you, what emotions they place upon you—none of it matters."

"Your life is yours alone; the path you walk, only you may choose."

Teresa nodded, half-understanding.

"Enough thinking now."

The knight stepped forward, facing Teresa, gently taking her other hand in his, and said softly: "Make your choice."

"If you wish to become fully human, to leave all this turmoil behind and live in quiet peace, clench your left hand."

"If you wish to become fully a monster, to plunge into this chaotic, dangerous world, clench your right hand."

"Rest easy—the choice rests in your hands. No one will blame you, no matter what you choose."

"But remember: this chance comes but once."

Feeling the warmth from the knight's palm, Teresa gradually calmed, sinking into a hazy state.

"Give up. Just take this chance to let it all go."

She felt exhausted.

Being enslaved, kidnapped here, hunted, killing... all of it weighed on her with unbearable fatigue.

"Why not escape this nightmare entirely? Become a simple village girl again, living peacefully, free from any turmoil."

Once given the right to choose, the exhaustion buried deep within her surged like a tide.

It was like a pair of hands, pulling her consciousness down into the depths.

But just as she was about to sink beneath the water, Teresa suddenly opened her eyes.

"... No!"

This is impossible.

Just now, Teresa recalled a great many things.

In truth, she had not left the village of her own accord, but rather... had fled after killing those villagers.

Although at the time she had lost consciousness and her body had been controlled by some unknown existence, and those people had not been on good terms with him... they had indeed died by her own hands.

By these hands, their necks were wrung.

By this tail, their bodies were pierced through.

Their forms were twisted and reshaped into that terrifying idol.

Why had she forgotten all of this?

Her hands, too, were already stained with the blood of others.

On her body, too, the lives of others had long since been borne.

And also...

"Mother."

This despised bloodline was the only tie between her and her mother.

Was she truly going to sever it?

Teresa had never seen her mother since she was small, nor known what her mother looked like.

It was only when her father drifted off in conversation that she would realize she likely resembled her mother greatly.

But Teresa felt that her mother must have loved her.

In the wardrobe, there were dozens of sets of clothing, hand-sewn by her mother, from childhood to adulthood.

It was as if she had foreseen that she would be unable to stay by her child's side as she grew, and had prepared these in advance, so that after her departure they could accompany the child as she grew.

Mother had perceived her fate, and had tried to struggle against it to the end.

Though she had ultimately failed, she had indeed once struggled against it.

Teresa was silent for quite a while, drew a deep breath, and softly murmured in her heart: "Mother, please, grant me strength once more..."

She opened her eyes, looked at Herbert, and mustering her courage said: "My lord, I-I've already made my decision."

"I can't make a choice, I... I don't want to give up either side!"

She clenched her teeth, as if steeling herself, and said loudly: "I am not a pure human, but I am also not a pure demon."

"I am not a monster, I am only myself."

"A village girl chasing naive, beautiful dreams, an oddity caught between two bloodlines."

"Whichever one is missing, it won't be the me of now!"

After loudly voicing the thoughts in her heart, Teresa felt the pressure over her entire body vanish, and her whole person relaxed.

That's right, this was the thought in his heart.

But soon, Teresa, who had been brave for a moment, realized her rashness, shrank back timidly, and said carefully:

"My lord, uh, what I meant was... may I refuse?"

I've gone and refused his kindness, the knight, my lord, surely won't be angry, right?

Just as Teresa thought she had ruined everything, she heard laughter.

"... Heh."

She raised her head and found the young knight looking at her with approval, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Of course you may!"

"Besides, you are not 'unable to make a choice'... this is your choice."

"Accept yourself, whether it is this weak mortal blood or that cursed divine bloodline—accept both with calm."

"This is the path you have chosen."

"Teresa, walk forward with resolve."

(End of this chapter)