Chapter 334: Mirror Fiend
’I... really should have listened to Sparkle.’
Not that it would have changed anything, but knowing that Mordret was a murderous psycho would have been nice.
How did Mordret create Reflections? It was unlikely that he did so in the same way Sunny would create Shadows. Actually, assuming that he didn’t have restrictions placed on what he could kill, why did Mordret need to kill so many individuals? Sunny was limited in his options, as he only grew stronger by killing those of equal Rank or higher.
So, he guessed that the Prince of Nothing either shared that trait, or had... another use for such a slaughter.
His somber thoughts were interrupted by Dan Heng, who spoke again after remaining silent for a while:
"Just as he was about to kill me, I noticed a fluctuation in my soul. At the same time, Mordret’s strength dropped, as if he ran out of Essence. He seemed surprised when he was suddenly kicked out of my Soul Sea. While the priestesses dealt with his body, I traced back the source of the fluctuation. That’s how I found this strange worm, which seemed to be controlled by someone."
She shrugged.
"All I had to do was sever the transmission of Soul Essence, and replace it with my own."
Sunny blinked. It seemed like that strange parasite wrapped around Dan Heng’s soul was the same as the worm she had shown them.
’...How the hell did he tame the worm anyways?’
Despite how simple Dan Heng made it sound, Sunny had no idea what a ’transmission’ of Soul Essence would even look like. Sure, he could generally detect it thanks to the enhanced Blood Weave, but how could he possibly replace a ’transmission’ with his own?
Dan Heng continued:
"In any case, destroying Mordret’s body was not too hard. He appeared wearing the body of the priestess who had been first sent to find him, anyway. But, of course, doing so was useless, because he could just take another. In the chaos of the battle, I couldn’t explain what dire powers the enemy possessed to the forces of the Night Temple. And, more than that..."
She sighed.
"After feasting on the souls of the town’s inhabitants, the creatures became much more powerful. Mordret was not bound by the necessity to stay hidden anymore, as well. His attacks grew much more frequent and devastating, and the number of his victims started to grow with chilling speed. The more people he killed, the more dangerous he became. He was not invincible, of course... among the Awakened serving the Night Temple, there were a lot of those who possessed means to contain him. He knew that, though."
She paused for a moment, her face growing solemn.
"...Eventually, people — those who were still alive, at least — became so terrified that they left their homes and fled to the Night Temple, hoping that the High Priestess would protect them. The army and the priestesses grew desperate, as well. We begged the One in the North to intervene. She was a Transcendent, and an oracle without an equal, after all... and despite her indifference, my lady promised to face the creature herself. That day, people were so relieved that they held a grand celebration."
The corner of Dan Heng’s lips twitched.
"Then, she called for me, and told me to tell her friend, Noctis, that she was dead. That they were all dead, and that it was better that way. And now... I’m here, and from what I could tell, my lady was dead."
Dan Heng’s gaze looked at her audience, before sighing.
"...Any questions?"
Immediately, six arms rose up — four of them were Sunny’s.
"...You first, March."
The scrawny child looked the beautiful priestess up and down, her nose scrunching up in disbelief.
"Why are you a woman? And a pretty one, at that. The world is so unfair..."
Dan Heng’s brow twitched as she averted her gaze.
"I guessed that it has to do with how my real body works. Since it lacks a specific function, I assume the Nightmare Spell was unable to differentiate between male and female..."
One of Sunny’s arms fell to his side. Dan Heng sent him a cautious look, before turning to Veliona.
She sneered.
"You should have just killed him better."
Dan Heng blinked.
"That’s not a question... and it’s not that simple—"
Another one of Sunny’s hands fell back to his side, causing Dan Heng to narrow her gaze.
"...You had four questions? And those two happened to ask them first? I’m somewhat concerned about the last two."
Sunny flashed an indignant expression.
"What are you talking about? I have two questions. And their questions were very informative, actually."
Dan Heng seemed to want to say something, if the horrified look on her face was any indication. In the end, she relented, sliding her face into her palms.
"Just... ask."
Sunny cleared his throat, putting on the grave demeanor of a scholar about to pose a vital philosophical question.
"...Alright. First question."
He pointed one of his hands directly at Dan Heng.
"...So... now that you’re a woman, do you... see men differently?"
The room went quiet.
Dan Heng stared at him with a flat expression, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"...No."
Sunny blinked, feeling disappointed.
"...Really? Not even a little?"
"...No."
Veliona burst out laughing, March tilted her head in open curiosity, and Dan Heng’s jaw tightened ever so slightly.
Sunny, meanwhile, kept his face straight, though his thoughts were far less innocent.
’...What? Perfectly valid question. For science. Totally not because I wanted to know if she now looks at me and thinks... things. Nope. Not me.’
It was a shame. Sunny himself had done some... interesting things with men in the nightmares he had been subjected to, so he was somewhat hopeful that Dan Heng would experience such a change.
One of Sunny’s arms drooped back to his side.
"...Second question."
Dan Heng gave him a wary look, as though she already regretted giving him the chance.
"...Did the Night Temple have public baths? And if so..."
He leaned in just slightly, voice lowering as though sharing some scholarly curiosity.
"...Did you use them?"
Dan Heng’s face froze. A long silence followed, broken only by Veliona’s snicker.
"...No."
Sunny nodded gravely, as though he’d just confirmed some critical piece of intelligence.
"...I see. That answers... a lot."
"...Answers what?"
Dan Heng’s voice was dangerously flat.
Sunny didn’t respond, his lips twitching as though hiding some great and terrible wisdom. Another of his arms fell idly to his side.
Veliona was already covering her mouth with one hand, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. March tilted her head, looking baffled.
"...What’s so funny about baths?"
Dan Heng dragged a hand down her face.
"...Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Inwardly, Sunny pumped a fist into the air.
’Even though he had the chance, he didn’t infiltrate the woman’s bath... he’s gay! Uh... was gay?’