Lilith raised two fingers.
"Second, I learned these theories from books!"
"The true Red Priest isn't someone who wages war for the sake of war itself, nor someone who ignites conflict merely for a ritual. A genuine Red Priest fights to uphold a belief—one that, after victory, will bring real change to the world. The ritual is secondary."
"Medici, read more books!"
Medici rolled his eyes with clear irritation. "Get lost!"
Having followed the Ancient Sun God for so many years, Medici had indeed considered the "meaning" of war under His influence. But in the end, he had learned one thing:
You have to win first.
No matter how grand your ideals were, no matter how beautifully you spoke—if you lost miserably in the end, then it all meant nothing.
Hmph.
Lilith…on the surface, it looks like you're two steps ahead of me. But who wins in the end? That's still hard to say.
"Alright, whatever schemes you're plotting in that little head of yours, it's best for the two of us to cooperate first. We need to figure out whether this war stirred up by Feysac was simply Badhiel—The God of Combat—trying to target Amanises, or whether someone else is taking advantage of the chaos."
Medici gave a small nod of agreement. "So?"
"So, why don't you pretend to agree to the cooperation proposed by the person Badhiel sent? See how much of this involves Him."
"Heh. Pretend? And how exactly would I do that? Do you take Badhiel for an idiot? He'll definitely make me sign a contract. With the Evernight Goddess on one side and the God of Combat on the other, do you want me to get beaten by both of them together?"
Lilith pinched her chin thoughtfully. "Well…even if there's a contract, it would only be valid after you advance to Red Priest. If you fail to advance, the contract naturally doesn't apply."
"…"
Medici stared at Lilith. Then suddenly, faces appeared on his cheeks—two mouths twisting into mocking grins.
"Hahahaha, Medici, she's obviously trying to fool you!"
"Exactly! After all that talk, all she wants is to stop you from competing for Red Priest!"
"You're not actually thinking of saying yes, are you?"
"That would make you unbelievably stupid."
"Hahaha—unless…unless our iron-blooded warrior Medici has always harboured certain feelings toward Lilith~ Tsk tsk, who would've thought…"
Medici finally lost patience. He jabbed a finger directly into one of the mouths. "And what if the one muddying the waters has nothing to do with Feysac or the God of Combat?"
Lilith chuckled. "Then the question becomes—who in this world doesn't want me to become Red Priest, and also doesn't want you to become Red Priest?"
Medici's expression darkened instantly.
"Adam."
But a moment later, he added, "Though that kid told me some time ago that Adam is dead. I don't believe He'd die that easily, but the kid was absolutely certain when he said it. That means there must be a hidden truth."
"You know it, don't you, Lilith?"
The smile faded from Lilith's face. "I know."
"Tell me."
"Are you sure you want to know?"
Lilith looked at him seriously. "Edward once told me something: Lies don't hurt people—truth is the sharp blade. Are you sure you can endure it?"
"…"
Medici froze. He suddenly remembered hearing that same line during that damned 'misery contest' some time ago.
"Enough with the theatrics! Tell me!"
"Alright."
Lilith said calmly, "Adam fused with the True Creator. In a sense…He really did 'die.'"
"???"
Medici's pupils contracted sharply. "What…do you mean? Fused? Why would they fuse? How could they possibly fuse? They…they—"
"Haven't you already guessed?"
In an instant, a bone-deep chill surged up Medici's spine, freezing every drop of blood in his body. A wrenching pain twisted through his heart.
Memories flooded his mind like a raging tide—
From the early days when he followed the Ancient Sun God into countless battles, full of youthful pride and blazing radiance; to the moment he chose to stand with the True Creator, believing each decision was guided by fate; to becoming a pawn in Adam's schemes, falling in a single moment, reduced to an evil spirit struggling endlessly in darkness and agony.
In a daze, the two faces that had always overlapped interchangeably in Medici's memories gradually merged into one another. Their features aligned bit by bit, finally forming that earliest and most familiar visage.
So that was it.
So this was the so-called truth.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Medici suddenly threw his head back in wild laughter—unrestrained, ceaseless, manic. He laughed until even an evil spirit like him shed tears.
Priscilla, who had dozed off to the side after realising Lilith and Medici were discussing things she couldn't understand, was jolted awake by the laughter. She hurriedly looked at Medici in panic. "Medici, what's wrong?!"
"Lilith, Medici…he…he looks really scary right now!"
Lilith replied, "Don't worry. He's fine."
After quite a while, Medici finally stopped laughing. He wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes and said, "Lilith, you came here today just to tell me this, didn't you?"
"Huh? You're the one who insisted on asking."
Medici said coldly, "You want to oppose Adam. But now that He has fused with…the True Creator, you deliberately revealed the 'truth' to me so you could use me to help you, didn't you? Hmph. As expected of the Temptress."
"Hey, hey—now that's unfair."
Lilith crossed her arms with a huff. "Talking about 'using' you is something you imagined yourself. At most, I just don't want you standing opposite me when the crucial moment comes."
"Anyway, that's how things are. Do what you want with the information."
Medici fell silent for a while. "Back then…did the True Creator know what Adam planned to do to me?"
Lilith considered a moment before answering, "Probably not."
"Heh."
A faint breath of relief loosened deep within his gaze. "That's enough."
"If their fusion leaves the True Creator dominant, then Adam is effectively no different from dead, and the past ends there naturally. But if Adam's consciousness becomes dominant…"
Medici clenched his fingers. "Then…I will finally be free."
Lilith clapped lightly. "Congratulations, Medici. From now on, you are no longer the former Red Angel. You can lay down the burdens of the past and simply be yourself."
"…"
"But if you get the chance…I recommend you visit the Forsaken Land of the Gods and meet the True Creator yourself. You might change your mind then."
Medici raised a brow and snorted. "Lilith, you truly aren't as stupid as you used to be."
Lilith beamed. "Hehe, people have to grow~ These were all lessons Lil Krismona taught me. How's my learning ability?"
Medici silently raised his middle finger.
Priscilla immediately put her hands on her hips. "Medici! Don't make that gesture at girls!"
Just then, a servant jogged over to Priscilla and whispered, "Miss Audrey has arrived."
"Oh! Lilith, Audrey is back!"
Soon, Audrey walked into the lounge. Her face was full of exhaustion. After leaving the Psychology Alchemists' base, she had rushed straight to the bombing site to help treat the injured.
Only after all the wounded had been properly taken care of did she hurry over.
"Lilith!"
The moment she saw the little girl sitting with her chin propped in her hands, legs swinging, and face brimming with a sweet smile, Audrey finally exhaled in relief. "Whew, glad I made it."
"Good afternoon, Audrey~"
Lilith hurried over with a bright grin. "Did you miss Miss Lilith during this time?"
Medici internally: Hmph, putting on an act again!
Audrey crouched down and swept Lilith into her arms. "I did!"
"Hehe, I knew it~"
Lilith tilted her head back. "But did you miss Miss Lilith more…or Edward? Don't tell me you mostly missed Edward and only missed me on the side?"
"I missed both of you!"
Audrey met her eyes seriously. "Lilith, where did you and Edward go? And why hasn't he come back yet?"
"We went somewhere very, very far away~ So far that even gods can't cross that distance. As for why Edward hasn't returned—it's because he's preparing to advance to Sequence 1."
"!!!"
Audrey froze. "A-Advance to Sequence 1?!"
The news shocked her beyond measure. The last time she saw Edward, he had still been Sequence 5! How could he suddenly be about to jump to Sequence 1? It was far too unbelievable!
Priscilla also gasped and covered her mouth. "Wow! That's amazing!" She counted on her fingers. "That means…he advanced one Sequence every week!"
She turned toward Medici. "Medici, look at Big Brother Edward!"
Medici:I was born a Sequence 2 angel, alright?! Even advancing to Sequence 1 didn't take me several years. In terms of speed, how could that kid ever compare to me?!
Lilith continued, "That's why right now is Edward's most crucial and delicate moment. No one can know about him, and no one can disturb him. I can't even tell Audrey."
After a long while, Audrey finally calmed her shock. She nodded firmly. "Lilith, you did the right thing!"
She hesitated, then couldn't help asking, "Then…do you know how long before Edward returns?"
"Soon. Don't worry, Audrey~"
Lilith gently patted her head and said warmly, "When he comes back, he'll definitely come find you first~"
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.