After skipping over the unimportant pleasantries, Miss Dark Spirit and Miss Dark Lotus introduced themselves and then naturally took on the role of Miss White Fox’s guides, leading her to the inner chamber where the Diviner was said to be located.

 

Both sisters were of few words, and Violet naturally didn’t attempt to start any awkward conversations, so they walked most of the way in silence.

 

However, just as they were about to reach their destination, the previously indifferent Dark Lotus, who had her right eye covered by her bangs and seemed to be the younger sister, suddenly spoke without turning around, her back still facing Miss White Fox.

 

“Miss Dawn, you visited Demon Suppression City a few days ago, didn’t you?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

The priestess, who had been lost in thought about the exact relationship between Reaper’s Scythe and the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, as well as what might be going on here, was momentarily startled. But she quickly regained her composure, nodding calmly without panicking at the sudden question from the indifferent girl in front of her.

 

She didn’t add any unnecessary explanations, simply waiting for Miss Dark Lotus to continue.

 

Dawn had indeed been in Demon Suppression City, where she had rescued hundreds of captured girls from various races who were suffering from magical power outbursts.

 

Although her identity, sudden appearance, and subsequent disappearance were shrouded in mystery to outsiders, this fact was indisputable.

 

After those girls woke up, they would inevitably ask around about “Miss Dawn, the Shrine Maiden with the white fox mask,” so it was no surprise that Reaper’s Scythe, who had been at the heart of the event, and these two girls would have heard the name.

 

“Yes, I was there. Why do you ask?”

 

Hearing the calm response from beneath the white fox mask, Dark Lotus turned around, her cold face briefly showing a hint of surprise before quickly returning to its usual indifferent expression.

 

“I just wanted to thank you on behalf of the girls you saved… Thank you. They are all very grateful to you. To be honest, I kind of admire… Sorry, it’s nothing…”

 

“Hmm~?”

 

Oh, so after all this, it turns out she’s a cold-hearted tsundere…

 

Understanding that saying more wouldn’t have much meaning, Violet simply nodded slightly as well.

 

“No need to thank me. It was just a small effort.”

 

“……”

 

Hearing Miss White Fox’s still calm response, the two girls couldn’t help but exchange a glance. Although they didn’t say anything further, the cold aura surrounding them seemed to have lessened considerably.

 

The short journey soon came to an end as the sisters led Violet to an old-fashioned door. They stood on either side of it, slightly closing their eyes and raising their hands in a welcoming gesture.

 

“This is the place. Miss Dawn, please go ahead. Our mentor is waiting inside.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Walking past the twin girls, who apparently didn’t intend to enter with her, Violet gently pushed open the door and stepped inside.

 

She was immediately hit by a strange smell that was difficult to describe in words.

 

How to put it… It was somewhat like the stench of a few rats that had died in the summer, trapped in the cracks of a narrow, sealed room, fermenting for several days. It was the kind of odor that made you wrinkle your nose, feel like vomiting, yet you couldn’t quite locate the source.

 

However, looking at the elegant layout, exquisite decorations, and tidy environment of the room, it seemed impossible that anything like that could be here. After a brief moment of frowning, Miss White Fox suddenly realized something.

 

This wasn’t a smell, not exactly. It was more accurate to call it an aura—a malevolent aura that the world itself rejected.

 

Violet shifted her gaze toward the three—no, four—figures standing in the room.

 

The first to catch her eye was an elderly man with white hair, his eyes covered with a black cloth, holding an ancient abacus. He had the air of an otherworldly sage. Beside him stood a blonde girl, elegant and pure, whose mere presence radiated a light-like purity.

 

The Bright Light Saintess was indeed here.

 

In addition to them, there were two others, both of whom Violet recognized or had encountered before.

 

One was a man in a black raincoat, wearing a conical hat, exuding a calm and solemn aura. Although he wasn’t holding the long pole usually associated with him, these characteristics were enough to identify him—Mr. Ferryman, the oldest member of the Reaper’s Scythe team.

 

This middle-aged man, who was just as indifferent as ever and the most taciturn of the four members of the team, naturally noticed the White Fox lady who had just entered. However, he didn’t seem particularly surprised. He merely turned slightly and nodded in acknowledgment.

 

“What’s going on here?”

 

Violet stepped forward, and Mr. Diviner and the Bright Light Saintess also turned to look at her.

 

“Sigh…”

 

The elderly man simply stroked his beard in silence, sighing softly, a rare hint of gravity in his demeanor. Yuna, though she greeted the girl proactively, also wore an expression that was far from cheerful, clearly indicating that they were facing some difficulties.

 

“Praise the Goddess. As expected of Miss Dawn, you’ve found your way here so quickly. As you can see…”

 

Following her gaze, Violet finally directed her attention to the last figure in the room—a young man in gray robes, sitting cross-legged on what looked like a meditation cushion, his eyes closed and seven swords hanging at his waist.

 

This was someone Violet had encountered a few times before—codename 【Dead Soul】, the leader of the 【Reaper’s Scythe】 team.

 

It was clear now that he was the “problem” Yuna had referred to in her earlier message.

 

On this swordsman’s right arm, which had been exposed, there was a wound—a particularly strange wound.

 

A foul, malevolent aura emanated from it.

 

Ordinary wounds on a limb, as long as they weren’t poisoned, might result in nothing more than heavy bleeding. Even in the worst cases, it would only lead to a severed hand or foot.

 

But this wound on Mr. Dead Soul’s arm wasn’t bleeding at all. Instead, it looked as if some indelible black ink had been drawn on his skin, creating a bizarre and unsettling mark, almost like a macabre joke.

 

However, the reason it was called a wound was because something was indeed seeping out of it.

 

Perhaps an ordinary person wouldn’t be able to see it, but everyone present—the Diviner, Yuna, the Ferryman, and the newly arrived White Fox—had their eyes fixed on what was leaking from that wound. Their presence here was no coincidence.

 

What was seeping out was a 【soul】.

 

“Hmm, I see…”

 

“Miss Dawn, did you notice something?”

 

The Diviner withdrew his “gaze” from Mr. Dead Soul and turned his head. Although his eyes were covered with black cloth and appeared unable to see, Violet could still feel that he was “looking” at her.

 

The girl nodded slightly, not denying his silent inquiry.

 

“If you’re referring to the wound on his hand, I can indeed discern the problem. But first, shouldn’t you explain what exactly happened?”

 

According to the reports from Leila and Rene, when they saw Mr. Dead Soul yesterday, he seemed to be perfectly fine.

 

This suggests that the strange wound on his hand only appeared after he went off to pursue the Holy Knight Karina, who was possessed by the black-and-white mask. It’s likely that the wound was caused by her.

 

The timing also aligns with the sudden worsening of the city’s situation last night. Something must have happened after that.

 

“Hmm… Miss Dawn is correct. Although the situation is urgent, there should still be enough time for a brief explanation.”

 

With that, the Diviner took something out of his sleeve.

 

“Miss Dawn, please take a look.”

 

“Oh…?”

 

It was a strange, black-and-white mask with a bizarre, smiling face. The mask was round and about the same size as the 【Dominion of the Fox Mask】, large enough to completely cover a normal adult’s face.

 

The material of the mask was unusual, neither wood nor metal, but it reflected a glaze-like sheen. The eyes were narrowed into joyful curves, and the corners of the mouth were stretched unnaturally wide, almost covering half of the mask’s face.

 

At first glance, one might even get the unsettling impression that the mask was alive, and it was staring back at you. The sight of it instinctively sent a chill down the observer’s spine, filling them with a sense of dread and unease.