Chapter 427

The sun set behind the western mountains, the fiery red disc slowly sinking toward the road's end; the once clear, bright sky had been veiled in a thin red halo, and scattered sunlight filtered through the scorched‑yellow leaves, casting mottled light spots on the tree trunks.

The yellowish‑brown squirrel was finishing a day's work, clutching the pinecone in its arms as it ran along the somewhat wide branch.

The gently blowing wind made the leaves sway slowly within the red curtain, and the woman in a purple gauze dress gazed into the shadows deep in the forest, but in the end she saw nothing.

The white mist brought by the wind shrouded the place in a shadow, gradually swallowing her elegant silhouette, and when the mist cleared nothing remained.

Medusa strode forward on her long legs, walking through a forest filled with mist like a haze, where she could not see her own hand in front of her face; the thick fog reduced visibility to an unacceptable degree, making it feel as if she had entered the territory of some terrifying monster that exists only in legend.

Even those adventurers who are experts at surviving in all kinds of extreme environments, if they insist on going deeper, will ultimately be trapped to death in this forest filled with white mist, for the environment here is not something they can break through.

Just then, a streak of purple spread from the white mist, a magical pulse flickered and vanished, and the white mist that had obscured the sky and made direction indistinguishable, like snow facing the sun, melted away instantly; at some point a beautifully decorated two‑story duplex villa had appeared out of nowhere around them.

Medusa looked at the two‑story duplex villa built deep in the forest; the faint glow that had originally shimmered on her body gradually faded, she walked lightly up the steps, reflecting a face slightly tinged with tension.

She paused briefly before the gate, took a deep breath, and gently pushed open the villa's main door.

The sound of the door opening startled no one, as quiet as a gentle breeze passing by.

Medusa lightly touched the wooden railing adorned with patterns, walking with the softest voice she had ever made along the spiral staircase until the end of the room.

She stood before the room's door and gently pushed open the door to the innermost part of the villa.

A very young man was sitting on an ordinary chair just like any common household chair in the room, leisurely looking at the magical records in his hand.

His clear, sparkling eyes were like the finest gemstones, seeming to burn in the sunlight streaming through the glass window.

Although Medusa had grown accustomed to seeing the man like this over the past few days, she could not help but feel a sense of awe.

"The hunting game is already over; Guleimlin is dead, and Medusa's Eye has petrified him, turning him into part of this world." Medusa walked up to the man, knelt before him, and a serious expression appeared on her face.

"Well done, Medusa; what reward do you want?" The man pinched the edge of the page, turned it lightly, his tone relatively flat, showing no surprise at Guleimlin's death.

Guleimlin's death was a choice of fate; it only differed slightly in the manner of dying, for being petrified is at least less painful than being torn apart by a specter.

Come to think of it, he was the one who showed great mercy.

Under the battle between National Security Division 0 and the mage Cao Zhenren, the specter army was repelled and vanished from public view—at least that's how the internal report of the Metropolitan Police Department reads.

"I only wish to stay forever by the side of the Wise One, at least until you gain another assistant." Medusa voiced her wish.

Jiang Xia shifted his gaze from the magical material before him to Medusa kneeling in the shadow on the floor; there should be no second specter that, like Medusa, venerates the Wise One solely by its own will.

"Then you must work hard; I have many followers beside me, their strength far surpasses yours, and although your loyalty is a merit, compared to them you still fall far short." Jiang Xia said encouragingly.

Hearing her master's words, Medusa lifted her head and gazed earnestly at Jiang Xia with her beautiful light‑purple eyes: "Wise One, please tell me what I must do to be worthy of standing by your side."

Staying beside the Wise One is her sole and most important wish in this life; she truly longs to remain by his side.

"In this world there are countless humans; Tokyo's total population accounts for only a few percent of Earth's, and the number of mages is far smaller compared to humans, so one feels despair—but exactly how many humans on the whole planet actually qualify as mages?"

"What do you mean?" Medusa was a little surprised. Although they already have many specters, proportionally speaking the world still harbors countless specters hidden within human society, not to mention that their lifespans are longer than humans'.

Therefore, in such a long span of time, it is hard to imagine how many specters lie hidden in human society; their numbers and abilities are both astonishing.

The world is vast; compared to that, the specter attack incident at Torii Hill is probably just a trivial footnote in the history of mages.

"Try to recruit as many of those specters hiding within human society as possible; I believe their numbers far exceed what you imagine, and this is the new game." Jiang Xia said softly, resting his hand on his chin.

"I understand, Wise One; I will strive." Medusa lowered her head deeply.

Besides the specters that appear at the magical night banquet, there are also others born from the host's own despair; these tend to be powerful and possess many special abilities.

For example, a cannibal specter can devour other specters to gain their abilities, which is actually quite similar to Jiang Xia.

After undergoing one Evolution, and with Medusa able to see through magic, she is truly the perfect fit for this mission.

"Step back first; you may command the specters participating in the game as you wish." Jiang Xia glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall, then turned his gaze to the bowed Medusa, saying, "Do not disappoint me."

Medusa solemnly nodded, her body slowly merging into the shadow on the floor.

"The time is almost up; now is the moment to reap the results." Jiang Xia calculated the time and put away the magic book in his hand.

These are all the legacies of Di Muzou, including artificial specters and the magic usage of the Witch's Banquet; looking at these materials, I once again feel admiration for him—he truly is a rare genius.

A pale golden magic circle appeared out of thin air above Jiang Xia, wrapping his body in magical energy,

"How cute, Xiao Li." Damén Linzi looked at Di Muzhi emerging from the fitting room, dressed in Lolita‑style clothing, her eyes shining.

The petite girl, dressed in white Lolita, had her black soft long hair turned into a braid; combined with her cute little face and her skin so fair it was almost translucent, she was utterly like a princess living in a fairy‑tale world, elegant beyond compare.

She was truly too cute; Damén Linzi could not help but want to hold her in her arms and kiss her fiercely several times.

Naturally, this is the instinctive reaction people have when encountering something cute—an involuntary surge of pity and joy.

After Di Muzhi's magic‑replenishment issue was resolved, the two of them have often gone out shopping together.

Now they are in a shop that specializes in Lolita styles; the reason they came here is, of course, because there is a princess perfectly suited to wear Lolita right by their side.

"Hmm." Di Muzhi gave a slight nod, her reflection appearing in the bright mirror before her.

Sunlight, liveliness—her shining eyes were already filled with happiness and joy.

Her inner loneliness and emptiness were gradually being filled, while her body grew steadily stronger with the passage of time—she could run, she could jump, and that newborn heart gave her a healthy body and vitality.

She was no longer the sort of person who needed winding up, forcing herself to be happy all day long.

All discomfort, doubt, and fear in her heart have vanished; the shadow within her heart has completely disappeared, and there will be no more feelings of giving up or sadness. (End of chapter)