Coveted After Becoming a Monster [Quick Transmigration] 87

87: World Two

“…Time stood still, all was chaos, earth and sky were one. God cleaved the dark age, and the myriad races were born.”

“The mighty dragons slumber in the abysses of the sea, never to be seen.”

“The lazy but talented dwarves can only be persuaded to part with their longswords for the richest of wines.”

“The free and beautiful elves dance upon the tips of leaves, praying for God’s gaze, while the greedy and wicked demons feast upon humankind…”

Fingertips brushed across the harp, and the low chant continued.

The song drifted over the vast, boundless plains and fell upon the sparkling waters of the River El.

“Hallelujah, blessed by God. God loves the world. God granted humanity wisdom to cultivate grain and brew wine, to trade with elves and dwarves, to build city-states and establish kingdoms, and to fight against the demon race.”

“Hallelujah, blessed by God. The world reveres God. The Holy See serves God, offering the sweetest wine. Temples are like stars, a river of stars spread along the River El.”

“Hallelujah, blessed by God. God loves the world. God chose the Holy See as His spokesperson, bestowing magic upon humanity to preside over good and evil in the mortal realm.”

“The good are granted God’s gifts, the wicked are met with God’s punishment…”

The song traveled farther, carried by the ceaseless flow of the River El, and settled upon the white jade statues that stood tall in the city-states and temples.

The statues were towering and majestic, their shoulders and heads hidden in the gloomy clouds. Only their six unfurled wings were visible. The right hand held a sword, the left a scale, representing punishment and judgment.

And at the foot of one such statue, a trial had just concluded.

The crowd below was a sea of people, bustling and jostling. Their expressions were a mix of cheers, awe, and surprise as they craned their necks to look up.

A gray-haired cardinal in a red robe held the book of law, announcing word by word, “Deacon Michael has defied God’s will, indulging in pleasure and carrying on an illicit affair with the acolyte Olivia…”

With every word the cardinal spoke, the two figures kneeling on the ground trembled, their faces frighteningly pale as they murmured prayers, “Hallelujah, blessed by God, forgive my sins, cleanse my soul…”

Before he could continue, a nearby bishop roared, “You still have the gall to ask for God’s forgiveness!”

The words fell like thunder, making Michael’s face turn even paler. He prostrated himself on the ground and cried, “I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to!”

The woman beside him trembled, desperately kowtowing toward another direction. “Your Excellency, the Saintess! Your Excellency, the Saintess!” she pleaded frantically.

“Please, Your Excellency, forgive Olivia! No, you don’t have to forgive me, but please, Your Excellency, forgive the child in my womb! She is innocent, she is innocent!”

Her desperate words fell, and the chattering crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into an even greater clamor.

“What?! Olivia is pregnant?”

“Even if she’s pregnant, it’s a bastard child! As the Saintess’s closest attendant, how dare she have an affair with a deacon of the Holy See!”

“But… but she has served Her Excellency the Saintess for many years. Even if she has no merits, she has worked hard…”

“Hmph! It is her blessing to serve the Saintess. How dare she betray the Saintess and do such a thing, and even carry a bastard child.”

“Hallelujah, the child is innocent.”

The arguments continued. Even the bishops on the stage exchanged hesitant glances. The cardinal in red opened his mouth but didn’t continue speaking.

Olivia, however, continued to kowtow toward the center of the stage, repeating over and over, “Your Excellency, the child is innocent. I beg Your Excellency for mercy, forgive this poor child.”

Seeing this, Michael also began to kowtow in that direction, shouting, “Your Excellency the Saintess, I beg for your mercy! Olivia and I will repent daily before the statue of God and reflect on our sins. We only ask that you spare our family of three.”

The public opinion in the crowd seemed to shift slightly at this. The calls for punishment subsided, and people began to loudly chant, “Hallelujah.”

A girl caught in the crowd was jostled and nearly fell. Someone pushed her, and she barely managed to stay on her feet, only to be shoved in another direction before she could even see what was in front of her.

In the pushing and shoving, the hood of her linen robe slipped back a little, revealing messy, upturned pink hair that swayed from side to side with her movements.

“Don’t push! What are you pushing for!”

She couldn’t help but cry out, her voice full of annoyance and impatience.

Perhaps her fierce words had an effect, as the people on either side of her finally settled down a bit, though the chatter continued unabated.

“Although Olivia is guilty, the child in her womb is indeed innocent.”

“God loves the world. How can a newborn infant be punished?”

The linen hood slipped further up, revealing a pair of clear, azure eyes, as translucent as sapphires. She shot a fierce glare at the speakers and cursed, “Does being pregnant absolve them of the sin of their affair?!”

“If that’s the case, then everyone should just go get pregnant!”

The slightly immature girlish voice was particularly distinct amidst the din.

The surrounding people all turned to look at her.

The girl showed no sign of fear, glaring back at the others defiantly.

Because of the hood and her deliberately disheveled hair, her face wasn’t clearly visible, but one could still make out the exquisite contours of her features. Her slightly prominent canine teeth, far from detracting from her delicate beauty, added a touch of fierce playfulness.

For some reason, the people who had been ready to argue with her suddenly felt a daze and found their anger dissipating.

But Li An didn’t notice. She was still shouting in her mind.

System? System-buddy?

Seriously, is this system of yours even reliable?

When other people transmigrate, they at least get a script or some kind of reward. How come all I get is a bunch of static, none of the important stuff, a whole lot of electronic noise, and a memory wipe as punishment?

System? Dear Your Excellency System? Don’t go!

If it’s really not working out, can we switch identities?

A noble, a CEO, a rich heir? If that’s not possible, I’ll even take being a scummy Alpha. If worse comes to worst… if worse comes to worst, let’s just be an octopus.

What kind of decent system would make a succubus save a saintess?!

Li An shouted and complained in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more miserable and angry she became, and the more fiercely she glared at the people around her.

It wasn’t her fault she was so angry. She had blinked, and suddenly she was here. Then, a static-filled electronic voice had appeared in her head, falling silent before it could explain anything clearly. Who wouldn’t be angry?

Perhaps she looked too ferocious, because the people who had turned to look at her didn’t dare to argue and turned away after a few glances.

Under her hood, Li An secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t dare wipe the sweat from her forehead, only muttering under her breath, “What kind of system is this?”

But complaining was one thing; facing reality was the urgent matter at hand.

According to the system’s previous voice, she knew she was a “quick transmigrator” who had to travel between different planes to carry out missions assigned by the system.

However, due to multiple failed missions, she had been punished by the main god. Her original memories were erased, and only after completing a punishment mission could she regain them and return to her original world.

This world was different from the others. It was home to various magical races, with humans being one of the most ordinary and weakest.

Fortunately, with God’s blessing, humans were granted wondrous magic, which allowed them to survive on this continent.

Therefore, the people here believed in God and established the Holy See. Divine authority was higher than royal authority, the Holy See was superior to the royal family, and the Holy See’s divine decrees were above the law. Even the royalty of various kingdoms had to believe in God and obey the Holy See.

Thus, the Holy See held the supreme position in human society, and everyone considered it an honor to join.

But Li An, who had already joined the Holy See, felt no excitement, only a sense of impending doom.

Because her identity was not a god, not even a human, but a member of the demon race, which had been at odds with humans for years.

And the weakest, most powerless kind of demon at that: a succubus.

A spy sent by the demons into the human Holy See.

The lowest-ranking acolyte in the Holy See.

To sum it up: a little spy who could be cannon fodder anywhere.

Li An’s lips twitched. She wanted to laugh but couldn’t. Tears almost welled up in her eyes.

It’s okay, Li An, it’s okay.

No matter how bitter life is, no matter how tired you are, you have to tell yourself not to give up, to be strong.

Bodhisattva… no, that’s not right. God… not that God either. The god here, that six-winged bird god, likes strong and brave children.

As her thoughts reached this point, Li An, with tears in her eyes, looked up at the white jade statue in the center.

For some reason, looking at those wings, Li An’s hands inexplicably started to itch. She had a strong urge to pluck them.

Do succubi hate bird-people?

The thought flashed through her mind, and Li An silently recited “Amen”—no, that’s not right, ptooey, ptooey, ptooey—”Hallelujah.” God loves the world and also loves succubi. He wouldn’t get angry and punish her just because she wanted to pluck His wings.

God couldn’t be that petty.

Li An nodded emphatically. Before she could calm down, she felt her hood being poked by a sharp corner. Startled, she quickly slapped her head, pushing back the horn that had emerged due to her emotional turmoil.

This place was full of people, and on the stage were a bunch of bishops and a saintess. If she was exposed, she was dead for sure.

Li An took a deep breath, forcibly calming her emotions before raising her head to look up.

It seemed they had reached a stalemate.

The bishops looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

After all, this involved an attendant who had served the Saintess for many years and was now with child.

Perhaps seeing a glimmer of hope, the two people’s pleas grew louder.

“Your Excellency the Saintess, the child… the child is innocent! Even if you must punish me, I beg you to let me give birth to the child first.”

Olivia prostrated herself on the ground, weeping. “I beg you, for the sake of the many years I have served you with all my heart, please spare my child.”

At these words, a wavering expression appeared on the bishop’s face. He looked hesitantly toward the center and asked tentatively, “Your Excellency, what do you think…”

Seeing him speak, Michael also hurriedly pleaded with him, “Teacher, I beg you, Teacher, save me!”

“It was Olivia who seduced me first! It wasn’t my initiative, Teacher!”

At these words, a look of despair and pain crossed Olivia’s face. She cursed at Michael, “How could you say that?! It was clearly you who deliberately tempted and deceived me first!”

“I did not!” Michael interrupted loudly, his eyes wide with anger as he roared, “It was you! It’s all your fault!”

“Teacher, save me!”

The discussions in the crowd below grew louder.

“So he’s Bishop Evan’s student. No wonder he could get to know Her Excellency the Saintess’s handmaiden.”

“It seems these two won’t die. Although an affair between an attendant and a deacon is a grave sin, they are both people of status, and now there’s a child…”

Before the sentence was finished, a voice finally came from the center, which had been silent for a long time.

The voice was extremely cold and indifferent, yet it was not the arrogance of someone looking down from on high. It was more like the clarity of a spring falling on a round stone, devoid of any emotion. It spoke, word by word, “Deacon Michael and Attendant Olivia have defied God’s will.”

“According to the law, they shall be expelled from the Holy See, and all traces of them in the mortal world shall be erased.”

“I, as the spokesperson for the Archangel Michael, will now judge and execute the crimes of Olivia and Michael.”