Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c60

Witch’s Night: Chapter 60 Yes, Saint Illusion

“Clang, clang, clang…”

The heavy, loud clanging of metal against the floor sounded incredibly abrupt in the solemn and quiet Noah Church Cathedral.

Dozens of clergy were on the second floor of the cathedral, nervously preparing for this important Holy Communion, the first in many years to be attended by a Saint, and some guests who arrived early were chatting softly.

This unusual sound of footsteps startled them all. Looking up towards the staircase, they saw a Holy Knight in mithril heavy armor, holding a silver-white figure in their arms.

A small pink head popped out from beside the mithril armor, a panicked expression on her little face.

“The cathedral’s interior is complex, it’s easy to get lost.”

Guinevere put Luo Yan down, her movements a bit rough.

But it wasn’t a big deal for Luo Yan. She jumped lightly, landing steadily on the ground, along with Cecilia.

“Actually… I know the way, you didn’t have to trouble yourself.”

Luo Yan took the top hat Guinevere handed back. She originally intended to put it back on, but she noticed that her carefully tied hair had come loose, so she could only hold the hat in her hand.

Because her hair couldn’t be cut, it had been constantly growing while she was in Ghost Town, reaching below her knees when she left.

Such long hair was naturally cumbersome, but Luo Yan rarely went out, and when she did, she always tied it up in advance, so this rarely happened.

Due to the commotion Guinevere caused, almost everyone on the second floor was attracted by them, the most eye-catching being Luo Yan, whose back was to everyone. Her striking silver hair made it difficult to look away.

But the clergy quickly noticed the Holy Knight beside the silver-haired figure and subconsciously looked at the knight’s helmet.

Seeing the gray hair peeking out from behind the helmet, they all showed terrified expressions.

Then all the clergy quietly moved away from her, some even trying to lower their bodies, afraid that Guinevere would notice them.

Just then, the breathless Anna finally caught up. As soon as she walked out of the staircase, she saw countless gazes focused on her, so scared that she almost turned back.

Mainly because Luo Yan and the others had just caused quite a commotion, so Anna, who appeared immediately after, naturally became the center of attention.

“If I caused you any trouble, I apologize.”

Guinevere said sullenly, but her tone was still cold and indifferent, and Luo Yan could imagine her expressionless face behind the helmet.

Saint Illusion probably didn’t do it on purpose… Luo Yan thought, still believing that Guinevere was Illusion’s persona.

Because there were only a few people in this world who knew about and could break through her “Envy” distortion field. Either they didn’t know about it, or they didn’t have the ability to break through it. Saint Illusion was the most likely candidate.

Moreover, she even said the classic line, “I am not a Saint, I am xx…”

However, this was the venue for Holy Communion.

Because of Guinevere, the clergy didn’t dare to approach Luo Yan and the others, and the other guests were all important figures with status and wouldn’t blatantly stare at Luo Yan.

So the gazes on them only lasted for a few moments before shifting away.

Luo Yan’s stunning beauty and unique attire (cross-dressing) were indeed attractive, but not enough to make these important figures lose their composure.

Moreover, someone with Luo Yan’s appearance, accompanied by a Holy Knight, definitely had a high status in Noah. To speculate boldly, she might even be the illegitimate daughter of a Saint.

Therefore, regardless of how much attention these people paid in secret, at least for now, Luo Yan no longer felt like she was being stared at.

“This way, everyone, I’ll take you to your seats.”

Guinevere extended her hand, seemingly intending to pick Luo Yan up in a princess carry again, making her take a step back in fright.

But that wasn’t the case; Guinevere was just gesturing “this way.”

After saying that, Guinevere paused, looked at Luo Yan seriously, and said,

“Miss Luo Yan, your seat is rather special, it’s best not to wander around, it’s a rule.”

“Special… alright, I’m used to it.”

Luo Yan sighed softly. Although she was invited by Illusion to this Holy Communion, Noah probably didn’t want the dangerous her wandering around, in case something unexpected happened.

So they would probably arrange an inconspicuous seat for her, and she would spend the night quietly at Holy Communion, until the banquet ended and everyone dispersed.

That was fine too.

After all, she had already encountered this countless times in Yan City and Lannister. Even if Luo Yan didn’t want to get used to it, she already was.

…….

Even as a replica of a replica, the current Noah Church Cathedral still had a long history, its layout basically following the Old Era design.

However, the second floor was the only exception. Unlike other churches, it didn’t have various confessionals, prayer rooms, or other such chambers, but a single, spacious hall.

This hall wasn’t usually open to the public, only during Holy Communion.

The form of Holy Communion, after years of development, was almost the same as an ordinary noble banquet, but without the dances and music, replaced by pre-meal baptism and prayer.

Absolute solemnity and reverence had to be maintained in the church, even loud noises were punishable, let alone other activities.

Of course, Holy Communion wasn’t just about eating. One of the reasons it was so highly anticipated was that the Twelve Saints, whom even Noah citizens might never see in their lifetime, would attend in person.

But unfortunately, after the War of the Witch of Absolute Death, the Saints no longer had the time to participate in secular affairs, and thus didn’t appear at Holy Communion, at most sending a token of their presence at the Pope’s invitation.

That is, having Illusion or Shadow record a message, saying a few words of blessing.

—From this, it was already obvious that it wasn’t that they didn’t have time to participate, but that these two Saints weren’t interested in such secular affairs and were just making excuses.

However, with the Ten Cities Council about to convene, even if Illusion wasn’t interested, she had to shoulder her responsibilities as a Saint and participate in this Holy Communion, which could be considered a “mini Ten Cities Council.”

An inconspicuous, petite figure walked step by step towards the Noah Church Cathedral. The flowers and plants along the way bloomed as she passed, and withered trees sprouted new buds.

This wasn’t her ability, but simply the life force emanating from her.

“…Was this phantom left in Moise’s room for too long? Her life force, even after such a long time, still possesses such power?”

Phantoms weren’t like Shadow’s shadow avatars, which could merge and separate at any time. Phantoms were real existences, or rather, a kind of real “illusion.”

If something didn’t actually exist, but could be seen, touched, interacted with, and influenced by the outside world…

Then, could this thing be considered truly existent?

Phantoms were such existences, bodies created by Illusion using her ability, real “illusions” that could carry her will.

However, creating these “illusions” was very difficult. Even for Illusion, creating a phantom in a short time was a difficult task, so she always created them in advance and stored them in various locations within the Sanctuary.

The phantom Illusion was currently using was stored in the former residence of another Saint, Moise, a Saint who possessed life force so powerful that she could even reverse life and death.

—Of course, only if the other party’s life force was still sufficient to continue living.

The miracles caused by Illusion attracted a lot of attention. Some devout Noah believers, upon witnessing such scenes, immediately prostrated themselves in worship, repeatedly calling it a manifestation of the Saint.

Illusion had seen this kind of worship far too many times in her hundreds of years of life. A look of indifference on her young face, she continued walking towards the church without stopping.

Many believers followed, forming a large procession.

Soon, the Church also noticed the anomaly. However, by the time the personnel sent to investigate arrived at the scene, Illusion had already reached the church entrance.

The two ordinary clergy had never seen such a scene before and nervously asked Illusion for her invitation, wondering inwardly whose child this was.

“Here.”

Illusion took out the invitation she had prepared beforehand, written by herself.

Even His Holiness could obtain the materials for the invitation; how could Illusion, who lived in the Sanctuary, not have them?

The reason she didn’t have the Pope issue it was partly because His Holiness didn’t seem to dare to write the name of a Saint, and partly because Illusion had a slight obsession with writing; she would only write invitations like this herself.

Seeing this kind of invitation, the clergy’s hearts skipped a beat, thinking that this must be the child of some important figure.

The three little girls before, suspected to be illegitimate daughters of Saints, holding this kind of invitation was already outrageous enough, and now there was another… little girl who looked even more like a Saint’s illegitimate daughter.

But after opening it, the clergy almost spat out their water. Why was the writing on this invitation so crooked? Shouldn’t it be personally signed by His Holiness?

After all, to avoid embarrassment when signing documents, every Pope practiced their calligraphy diligently, and the current Pope, Aslanmode VII, was even a renowned calligrapher who had won many calligraphy competitions.

The clergy glanced at the little girl with an indifferent expression in front of them, then at the crowd of worshipers behind her, and felt that this matter wasn’t simple.

…Could it be that she wasn’t an illegitimate daughter, but a child born from two Saints?

Just then, a commotion arose in the distant crowd. A figure in a white and gold robe was moving through the crowd, followed by the Church Guard, pushing aside the crowding believers and hurrying towards the Noah Church Cathedral.

It was Aslanmode VII, who had received the news.

It was normal for others not to know, but how could he, as the Pope, not know?

So many unusual things happening, a strange little girl, unfathomable strength, seemingly miraculous phenomena, and walking towards the Noah Church Cathedral…

This must be the arrival of a Saint!

Aslanmode VII knew very well how eccentric the Fourth Saint, “Illusion,” was. It was repeatedly emphasized in the diaries left by the previous Popes, especially regarding the Saint’s countless avatars, they had to abide by Saint Illusion’s “settings.”

Otherwise, it would anger Saint Illusion.

But… why was this avatar a little girl who looked so young?

Aslanmode VII signaled for the guards to stop, then quickly walked to the church entrance, stood respectfully at the doorway, bowed slightly, and said,

“…Have you arrived?”

Illusion turned to look at Aslanmode VII and nodded,

“You are… the current Pope, right? What etiquette should I observe when meeting you?”

It had been a long time since she walked around Noah, and after hundreds of years, Noah had changed drastically, Illusion didn’t know what ordinary people should do when encountering the Pope now.

What etiquette could you possibly observe with me…

Aslanmode VII broke out in a cold sweat. When he saw the renowned Saint Illusion, he felt that not immediately kowtowing three times and bowing nine times was already disrespectful, how could he dare to ask the Saint to observe etiquette with him…

This wasn’t the relatively easygoing Saint Shadow, but the Fourth Saint, Illusion, the Saint who survived the War of the Witch of Absolute Death unscathed, her terrifying strength unimaginable.

More than half of the Twelve Saints were killed or injured in the War of the Witch of Absolute Death, and the subsequent replenishment was quite hasty, the selection of Saint candidates rather crude, which led to the tragedy of Hamid slaughtering almost ninety percent of the Saint candidates.

The little girl, with a young but undeniably delicate face, stared at Aslanmode VII, her indifferent gaze making him unable to suppress his nervousness.

However, fortunately, with the help of many previous Popes, Aslanmode VII immediately recalled the “Eighteen Behaviors to Remember When Facing Saint Illusion” recorded in their diaries.

“May I ask… who are you?”

Aslanmode VII asked cautiously.

Illusion didn’t react yet, but the clergy next to him couldn’t hold back any longer.

Your Holiness, what are you doing…

Even if you didn’t recognize her, why were you so humble?

However, as if a switch had been flipped, Illusion, who had maintained an indifferent expression, suddenly became interested, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes,

“My name is Guinevere. I live in a small, three-story house in Cantar Parish. I have a younger sister, and my parents died young…”

Yes, it was indeed Saint Illusion.

“Yes, Saint Illusion.”

Aslanmode VII responded subconsciously, then he saw Illusion’s expression visibly darken, displeasure evident,

“I am not a Saint, I am Guinevere.”