Chapter 761: Flesh-Bearing Doe

So if you put it that way… I'm the one repaying kindness with enmity, then?

After hearing the Red-haired Woman's words, Li Ang's expression twitched slightly in embarrassment.

If things had truly gone that way, "Li Ang Lyne" would have been gone six years ago, and I wouldn't exist at all.

So even though Reynard is utterly despicable, he's technically half the population of the Capital and my savior—for disrupting the Descent Ritual.

If I calculate it that way, I really did the wrong thing—I should've thanked him first, then killed him.

…

"Director."

After silently thanking Reynard in his heart, Li Ang spoke with a flickering gaze:

"Based on your guess, which of the Death Realm Sovereigns was trying to descend six years ago?"

"Why are you asking this?"

The Red-haired Woman narrowed her eyes, her expression wary:

"You're not planning to kill the Death Realm Sovereign too, like you did this time?"

"How could I possibly…"

Li Ang groaned in exasperation:

"That's a Death Realm Sovereign who's lived for countless years—I'm just a lowly Level Three Cleaner. How could I ever have thoughts about such a being? I'm just asking to get a sense of things."

"You'd better think that way!"

The Red-haired Woman snorted, then frowned in warning:

"If it were something like the Goddess of Wealth, killing her wouldn't matter much—but the Death Realm Sovereigns are different. Those who bear the title 'Sovereign of a Realm' all provide indispensable aid to the normal functioning of the entire world."

For example, the Path of No Return, which guides souls back to the world, was created by the First Dead, and it was precisely because of this achievement that he became one of the Death Realm Sovereigns.

The other Sovereigns: the Crow-Eyed Granny created the Crows' Nest of Death's Omen and the Funeral Corridor of Death's Proclamation; the Weeping Doll established the City of Regret and the Mist of Phantom Souls; the Faceless One created the Bridge of Black and White and…"

After briefly listing the names and deeds of the Death Realm Sovereigns, the Red-haired Woman's gaze turned cold:

"As for the one who tried to descend six years ago, it was almost certainly the Flesh-Bearing Doe. The Mirror Lake of Burial Garments where Emma stayed, the Corpse-Soil Black Forest I took you through, and the Bone Palace—all three were created by her."

That… that Death Realm Sovereign is responsible for stripping the dead of their false fleshly garments after they come to understand their own death, turning them into pure, naked souls—and she's made considerable contributions to the return of souls to the world."

So we can't truly kill her. Even if she had succeeded in descending six years ago and caused massive deaths in the Capital, the Bureau could only drive her back to the Death Realm and forcibly force her into slumber—we couldn't strike her down."

Otherwise, the three places she created would collapse rapidly. Before new corresponding rules form, countless dead would be stranded on the Path of No Return, unable to return to the world normally, causing chaos in the Death Realm's operation."

So Emma's vengeance can't be settled, then?

Hearing this, Li Ang said with reluctant frustration:

"What problems would arise if many dead were stranded?"

"Problems would be severe."

The Red-haired Woman sighed:

"When the Third Director was still alive, he led a team to kill a Death Realm Sovereign, causing the Valley of Dimmed Souls—the place that erased excess wisdom from dead souls—to collapse. As a result, countless souls were stranded before the City of Regret."

In the fifteen years that followed, with no large-scale wars, the world's newborn souls decreased by nearly one-twentieth—and the decline continued."

The Bureau had no choice but to station large numbers of Cleaners permanently in the Death Realm, burying those overly intelligent souls and slowly dissolving them unconsciously until new rules formed… That place later became known as the Graveyard of the Wise. The Third Director's coffin is buried there."

…Unbelievable… So you guys actually did that before?

After hearing the Director recount past disasters caused by the Bureau, Li Ang couldn't help but press his hand to his forehead, marveling at how this world was nothing but a shoddy operation—and how every seemingly absurd "rule" likely stemmed from some massive past catastrophe.

"Now do you understand why I didn't want to tell Emma the truth?"

The Red-haired Woman said helplessly:

"I understand how you feel, but many things in this world are like this—they're destined to have no perfect ending. For Emma, perhaps this is already the best outcome."

"Sigh… Anyway, if you truly insist on something happening between you and Emma, I won't stop you—but her and Ellie's situation is too unusual. You must prepare yourself mentally."

"Especially Ellie—I suspect she was the Flesh-Bearing Doe's chosen vessel for descent. Though the Descent Ritual was interrupted, once she recovers her body, even if the Doe can't descend through her, she might still exploit the opportunity to cause trouble."

"These damned bastards never end—kill one, another pops up. Miss a beat, and they'll sneak into your house like rats and wreck everything. It's maddening… Oh, by the way, after work I'm going to have a drink. You coming?"

"Huh?"

Li Ang, who had just been listening with grave expression, was thrown off guard by the sudden shift. When he realized what she meant, his face fell, and he shook his head without hesitation:

"No way! I've quit drinking! And you should drink less too! Don't you remember what you promised the Golden Bull?"

"Tch… Boring!"

The Red-haired Woman's well-intentioned invitation for relaxation was met with blunt refusal and a stern reminder. She pouted:

"Fine, I'll go alone!"

"Seriously… I've been lying in wait down there for days, fought a battle with Aquarius—I worked my ass off! Can't I even relax?"

"It's not that relaxing is bad… but drinking really causes trouble!"

Still preoccupied with the Flesh-Bearing Doe's schemes, Li Ang couldn't help but warn:

"When you're sober, your abilities are unquestionable—but when drunk, your vulnerabilities are enormous. What if someone invades while you're passed out?"

"Then here's the question: my drunk self is easy to deal with—but how would they know I'm drunk?"

"?"

The Red-haired Woman turned back at the door, smiling sweetly:

"Remember this: when someone has a weakness known to everyone, you'd better be careful."

Giving Li Ang a meaningful glance, she smiled warmly:

"A person who is flawless at all times can't remain vigilant forever—even if they're always cautious, they'll still slack off eventually."

"But a person who is flawless when sober, yet riddled with flaws when drunk—any opponent who isn't an idiot will strike when she's drunk… Do you understand what I mean?"

"…"

So I just need to be extra cautious when she's drunk, and can relax a bit otherwise? Or… you're not always truly drunk? Most of the time, you're just fishing?

Watching Li Ang's eyes widen in disbelief, the Red-haired Woman smiled smugly and gave a playful blink of her fox-like eyes.

"Learn from me, little Li Ang~"

"You've got talent, sure—but when it comes to outmaneuvering your opponents, you're still green as spring water~"

(End of Chapter)