Chapter 273: Bluff

Just then, the red beam of light overhead flickered.

Billy didn’t hesitate anymore. In a flash, he shot forward, seemingly deciding to charge straight through the blood tide.

However, Saul noticed that he was flying along the red line above the water’s surface. He must’ve planned to reach the vicinity of the city gate first, then make a quick dash through the blood sea to minimize contact with it.

Saul couldn’t fly. Although Little Algae could carry him, the rising water level meant that almost no buildings nearby remained unsubmerged.

If he wanted to cross, he’d have to swim for part of the way. But his magic might not last long under the constant attack of the curse.

The floating debris on the water was all broken and small, not enough to support his weight.

The rooftop above was still burning, and chunks of broken tiles and stones fell into the sea of blood, sending up plumes of black smoke.

The red guiding light flashed again, as if the open gate truly was about to shut.

Gritting his teeth, Saul was just about to leap out when—suddenly—the diary flew out once more.

September 1, Year 316 of the Lunar Calendar

What is the truest lie in this world?

When you finally struggle your way through the gate of hope, only to realize that freedom is so fleeting.

Turns out, the crimson sea isn’t letting you leave.

It’s showing you hope—

Only so that you can fully understand despair.

When your corpse floats in the sea of blood,

Staring up at the crimson sky and the dancing butterflies,

Perhaps only then, in that serenity—

Will you taste what death feels like.

Bitter, isn’t it.

Saul pulled his foot back, looked toward the rapidly departing Billy, and then silently turned to Penny.

Penny gazed back at him with those bright, starry eyes, as clean and pure as a real child.

Seeing him stop, she tilted her head and said, “Brother Saul, why aren’t you going? The light’s about to vanish.”

When Saul didn’t move, Penny got up and walked over, seemingly trying to take his hand, but Saul evaded her.

“Are you staying to keep me company, Brother Saul? That’s so sweet of you.”

More waves surged in through the windows. Saul knew he didn’t have much time left.

He had to find out from Penny the real way to leave the town—fast.

The diary hadn’t said entering the town meant certain death, so there had to be a way out.

“What’s the real method to leave this town? Did you lie just to bury us with you, or do you simply want to watch supposedly strong wizard apprentices collapse in despair?”

“…Little Nightmare Butterfly?”

Penny’s outstretched hand froze in midair.

For a moment, the only sound in the clock tower was the crackle of burning wood.

Angela, lying weakly on the floor, reached out her left hand toward Saul, as if begging for help.

But Saul, focused on Penny, didn’t notice her. Penny, however, did and marched over in a huff, stepping hard on Angela’s outstretched hand.

“Didn’t you see I was talking to Brother Saul? What are you dead people trying to interrupt?”

Saul turned and looked at the frail Angela, saying nothing.

When Billy had pulled that gray stone from Angela’s body and tossed her aside, everyone knew she was done for.

Only she still clung to false hope.

At that moment, the red light above them was completely extinguished.

But the diary didn’t issue any crisis warnings.

Saul, whose heart had just seized up in panic, felt reassured and managed to maintain his calm.

Penny, looking disappointed that Saul hadn’t panicked, pouted and asked, “How did you figure it out?”

Of course Saul wasn’t going to say it was because the diary mentioned butterflies and because he’d gotten the cocoon from her. He’d only been bluffing.

Seeing him stay silent, Penny understood he didn’t want to explain.

“Fine. I did lie to you. I can’t get out myself—why would I kindly show you the way? Do I look like some kind of good person?”

At that moment, Angela stopped moving entirely.

Her gaze blank, she lay motionless. But then her magic flared—an intense burst of power repelled the encroaching blood waves from the tower’s top level for a moment.

At the same time, the blast of power also extinguished the flames above, revealing the scorched roof.

A moment later, Saul narrowed his eyes and saw Angela’s soul.

As a student specializing in dark magic, Angela’s soul was shockingly fragile—covered in tiny cracks like a shattered piece of glass.

Penny apparently had the ability to see soul too. Her starry eyes sparkled as she leaned soul and gently blew at Angela’s soul like she was blowing out a candle.

Whoosh—

Angela’s fragile soul instantly scattered into ash, vanishing without a trace.

“What did Billy plant in her body?” Saul frowned. “It seemed fine while she was alive, but everything erupted after her death. He studies toxic magic—did he develop a new poison that can harm the soul?”

Chilled by the thought, Saul resolved to ask Keli about Billy in detail once he got back.

“So boring,” Penny grumbled, rubbing her face irritably as Saul continued to wait for her answer, “This cursed town is my prison. You saw that crystal ball, right? I’m like someone trapped inside it. It looks like there are exits everywhere, but I just can’t get out.”

She curled up on the ground, looking as though she might cry.

“Drop the act. If you really don’t want to communicate, maybe I can change someone to communicate with. I think the person who trapped you here should be willing to cooperate with me to capture you, right?”

Penny bit her lower lip and suddenly shot to her feet.

“He doesn’t need your help!” she snapped, her smile vanishing, “I’m going to die—completely. I don’t even know why that guy just cursed me and kept sending people in to die with me. But no matter what, I’m dying. So why should I care about you?”

“For the cocoon you gave me? Don’t you care about your own child?”

Saul had no idea whether the cocoon really came from her, but that didn’t stop him from bluffing.

Penny scoffed, “Who cares about a dead egg? I gave it to you to play with.”

“It’s not dead.”

“What?”

“I took it back to the Wizard Tower, and it gave me plenty of trouble. I had to dig it out and seal it up, afraid it might hatch the next day.”

Thankfully, it was an unhatched cocoon.

If it had been a fully grown Nightmare Butterfly, he wouldn’t have stood a chance.

The diary had warned Saul: if the cocoon wasn’t sealed, it was only a matter of time before it hatched.

Judging by Penny’s reaction, she hadn’t known it was still alive.

Most creatures have a strong instinct to reproduce. Saul wasn’t sure if Nightmare Butterflies were the same, since many beings in the wizarding world defied typical logic—living or non-living, survival and continuation came first.

Still, this Nightmare Butterfly was trapped and constantly going on about dying. If she wasn’t lying, then a living cocoon should mean a lot to her.

Penny’s silver eyes locked onto Saul, “I don’t believe you. Wizards are the best liars. I want to see it for myself.”

Behind her, two pairs of silver butterfly wings unfurled.

The moment Saul saw those wings, he knew she really was dying.

They were dull in color, the edges frayed with deep gashes. There were gruesome puncture wounds across the middle of the scales.

Butterfly wings don’t bleed—so all the damage was plainly visible. The Nightmare Butterfly was seriously, thoroughly injured.

Like a withered yellow leaf, clinging to the tip of a tree branch in the dead of winter.

(End of Chapter)

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