Volume 8, Chapter 41 – The Deranged Queen

“Me!”

“Me!”

At first it was just one, then as if infected, all the Venexes surrounding Fia and Lucitine started calling out, as if afraid that a moment’s hesitation would let someone else get ahead.

Don’t you all have any sense of the atmosphere when you lie? Aren’t you afraid of death?

The moment this question surfaced in her mind, Fia answered it herself. First of all, this was the immortal sanctuary. More importantly, these Queens of Death simply couldn’t feel pain. Death wasn’t a terrifying thing to them.

While calming Lucitine down, Fia put on a serious expression and turned to face the numerous Venexes. Perhaps because she’d been in the immortal sanctuary for a while, her visible range had expanded from less than two meters to being able to clearly see within ten meters. And within this ten-meter range stood over thirty Venexes.

The Queen of Death had been replaced over a hundred generations by the time it reached Lucitine. This wasn’t all of the Venexes.

“All of you, calm down. I’d like to give you living bodies too, but Lucitine said that replaced memories can’t return to a body. At the very least, no such magic exists. No matter how much you beg, you can’t change that fact.”

Fia’s words made all the Venexes pause, their expressions darkening. This stirred Fia’s pity, and she spoke the next key sentence.

“However, since you were able to develop the replacement magic that strips memories from bodies, if you work a little harder, you might be able to develop a magic that reattaches memories to bodies. If you can figure it out, I can create a body for each of you. No need to fight over it. The prerequisite is you have to tell me where the original Venex is. There’s something I need to know.”

“Reattach memories to bodies? But we no longer have souls. We’re just pure memory entities.”

“Wash a dead soul clean and you can use it. Although adaptability is a problem, so many people die every day, we’re bound to find a suitable one.”

While one Venex was thinking, another with a more lively personality answered. Her words stirred up huge waves among the Venexes, and everyone quickly started discussing the feasibility. “Washing a soul clean” meant clearing the memories from the soul of a deceased person, turning it into a blank soul. Then the Venex could attach her memories to it and control it to slip into the body Fia created.

It sounded like murder, but these souls were already from the deceased. Even if the Venexes didn’t clear their memories, those memories would disappear along with the soul in something called the reincarnation ceremony. Fia pretended not to hear. As for the concept of reincarnation, judging from Lucitine’s attitude when she mentioned it, it didn’t seem as simple as souls dying and then being reborn.

The discussion continued for a while without reaching a conclusion. Lucitine finally couldn’t take it anymore.

“You can continue discussing after we leave. First, tell us where the first Venex is?”

“Ah, right. Can’t keep you waiting forever. That gloomy woman is still in her usual place at the far end. Just keep walking straight and you’ll see her.”

The viper Venex cast a friendly look at Fia, even throwing a wink, her tone exceptionally sweet and soft.

“Little Fia is here for the first time. Lucitine didn’t have time to tell you the rules. The further in you go, the older ‘I’ get, and the weaker the emotions. I’m the queen who was replaced three years ago, so I’m at the outermost edge, and my emotions are relatively rich.”

It felt like a prison hierarchy—the boss living in the most comfortable spot, while newcomers had to bed down on the floor.

As if reading Fia’s thoughts, the viper Venex pressed a finger to her cheek and added playfully.

“It’s not strength that determines who stays at the edge. It’s that we don’t get along personality-wise. The old fossils inside have lived too long; they’re almost emotionless. Getting along with them is very uncomfortable. Those of us who were recently replaced still have some emotions left, so we huddle together.”

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“That said, when no one visits, everyone just stares blankly anyway. After hundreds or thousands of years, everything that could be said has been said long ago—down to the color of underwear worn each day. Only when Venex, no, now we should call her Lucitine, only when she comes do we talk a little. Even though what she brings back are things we’ve all experienced, it still counts as a bit of rare freshness. The undead world is just too boring.”

With that, the viper Venex put one hand on her chest, deliberately emphasizing her wineglass-holding bosom, and said with interest.

“You’re the first outsider to step into the sanctuary in ten thousand years. Not only can you, as a living person, withstand the death energy of the kingdom of the dead, you can even move freely in the sanctuary. When I first came in, I could barely stand. No wonder you’re someone who can resist Chaos magic head-on.”

“Ah~ah~ Such a pity I retired too early. If I’d held on for another three years, I could have met you too, Fia. Then I could have clung to Little Fia every day, used my mature feminine charm to make Little Fia forget all those fiancées. With such a cute elf lady right here, and you only make such feeble attempts—Lucitine, you’re really wasting a godsend.”

So going without underwear was Lucitine’s personal habit, not common to all Venexes.

Fia’s understanding of Lucitine deepened by another level.

“Wait, how do you know my name is Fia? And about my fight with Chaos?”

“As long as we contact Lucitine, we share memories. From that perspective, Lucitine is also looking out for us poor wretches who don’t know the wonder of being alive. We all perceived Lucitine’s memories at the same time, which is why we came running, unable to restrain ourselves from feeling fond of you, Fia, even falling for you. As for the other Venexes who didn’t come, they’ve severed their connection with us themselves. Those ones, especially the first, are just dead things bearing the name Venex. Them not wanting to connect with us is fine by me; I can’t be bothered with them either—after sharing memories, their detachment gets shared with us too. It’s irritating.”

By the end, the viper Venex even clicked her tongue in displeasure.

She said she couldn’t be bothered with them, but actually she felt looked down upon by her predecessors and was quite unhappy about it. Fia could read that thought from the viper Venex’s expression.

“Don’t say that. In a few thousand years, we’ll become like them too.”

“Might as well let Fia use holy magic to purify them, send them on their way, spare them the suffering.”

“Hmph, that’s because they didn’t receive Lucitine’s memories. If they tasted sweetness, knew the feeling of a racing heart, they’d definitely come pouncing like mad dogs with red eyes.”

Talk if you’re going to talk, but stop pressing your body against my face.

Faced with the sexual harassment from the numerous Venexes, Fia couldn’t help but roll her eyes. If it weren’t for the Venexes being older sisters, putting her in the benefiting position, if they were kids like Tilulu, she’d be resisting fiercely, telling them to stay away.

“Shameless.”

Lucitine cursed with a dark expression, then forcefully gripped Fia’s wrist, ignoring the Venexes’ regretful sighs, and led Fia deeper in. Although they too could walk deeper, out of dissatisfaction with their past selves, they didn’t follow.

Along the way, Fia saw many pink memory entities identical in appearance to Lucitine. They floated silently in the air, completely unresponsive to Lucitine and Fia.

Eerily quiet.

Feeling Lucitine’s grip on her wrist growing tighter, as if from tension, Fia asked softly.

“Lucitine doesn’t come here often?”

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“Mm. My view is the same as my predecessor’s. I don’t like the atmosphere deeper in. Especially the first one. She’s been closing off her connection with me from the beginning. No one knows what she experienced. Even when asked, her attitude towards us is like we’re outsiders.”

“I see…”

“We’re here.”

Whether affected by the other Venexes’ emotions, or inherently disliking her first self, Lucitine’s expression and tone became stiff. She led Fia quickly forward a few steps to a pink soul no different from the other Venexes. Since the first Venex was completely unresponsive, Lucitine forcefully shook the scales sword. The crisp ringing it emitted finally made the first Venex open her eyes.

At that moment, a sense of vicissitude so profound it instinctively made one hold their breath spread from the first Venex. It was worth mentioning that although the first Venex opened her eyes, Fia felt she was staring into the void, not looking at anyone.

“What is it?”

Her voice carried no emotional fluctuation, like a cold machine.

“A friend of mine wants to ask you some questions. Her strength is enough to eliminate Chaos. You’d better not use that irritating tone.”

Hearing that Chaos could be eliminated, the first Venex finally showed a slight change in expression, but that was all. Her eyes still stared into the void.

This was the reaction of someone who had lost all desires, even forgotten who they were, only supported by obsession.

Fia observed quietly. With her memory spanning human history, she had seen expressions like the first Venex’s. Few could maintain sanity over ten thousand years. Ten thousand years was too long; even extreme obsessions would have their edges worn smooth, forgetting who they were, only mechanically repeating what they had pursued in life, while actually having forgotten why they pursued it. More like a rusty machine than a machine itself. The Venex before her was exactly that. Her expression and reaction were identical to the old fossils in the Human Alliance who had lived for tens of thousands of years and refused to die.

Even if asked, she couldn’t give a clear answer.

With a “just in case” attitude, Fia voiced her questions.

First, whether the first Venex came from another world, why she could use demon language, and second, what her relationship with Tartaros was.

“…”

Silence lasted half a minute.

The first Venex showed no reaction at all, as if she hadn’t heard Fia’s questions. Even when Lucitine shook the scales sword, producing crisp ringing, her expression didn’t change. Only her eyes staring into the void proved she hadn’t sunk into slumber.

Lucitine grew impatient. She let out a long breath and took Fia’s hand again.

“She won’t answer us. Let’s go. We shouldn’t have come to her in the first place. Sorry I couldn’t help. It’s always been Fia helping me, but when Fia needs me, I’m useless.”

“You can’t blame Lucitine. You told me from the start not to expect anything. I’m the one who insisted on coming.”

Facing the embarrassed, head-lowered Lucitine, Fia comforted her.

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Unfortunately, her words had the opposite effect, making Lucitine feel even more guilty for not being able to help. She made some kind of decision, withdrew the foot she had started to step forward with, and turned sharply, facing the first Venex directly with sharp eyes.

“Although I’m a later comer, there’s no hierarchy between us. You are me, and I am you. So don’t blame me for being rude.”

“Lucitine, what are you doing?”

“This one has closed off her connection with me. I’m going to use some special means.”

Without waiting for Fia’s answer, Lucitine directly thrust the scales sword into the first Venex’s chest. Memory entities had no defensive power; the sword easily pierced through the Venex. At the same time, extremely bright blue ripples appeared on the scales sword. These azure lights flowed from Lucitine’s hand towards the Venex. Fia wanted to stop Lucitine, but the Venex’s gradually focusing eyes made her stop.

This was the immortal sanctuary. The Venex wouldn’t die. She had to trust Lucitine’s judgment.

After ten short seconds, Lucitine withdrew the scales sword. Sweat appeared on her forehead, her breathing became disordered, as if she had consumed a massive amount of magic power. Correspondingly, the Venex opposite her trembled violently. Fia had seen this reaction before—it was how the other Venexes looked when Lucitine shared memories with them on the way in. Receiving a massive amount of sensory stimulation in a short time, their minds couldn’t adapt, manifesting as violent trembling of the memory entity.

“Uh… ugh… th… this feeling? Impossible… how can this be… I’m alive?”

As if subjected to a massive shock, although the Venex’s eyes regained focus, her whole body curled up as if struck heavily. She was incoherent, her tone deranged, speaking fragments that couldn’t be understood. Then, her pink soul rapidly transformed into an ominous dark red. When she raised her head again, her whole being was enveloped in deep and intense hatred.

“She’s radiating hostility towards us. Lucitine, what did you do?”

“Forcefully shared my memories with her. I thought it would increase her favorable impression towards Fia, make her willing to answer… Seems I messed up.”

“What do we do now?”

Both Fia and Lucitine had already entered combat readiness. They quietly put distance between themselves and the first Venex, wanting to see how she would react. Until the Venex’s dangerous red eyes suddenly glared at them.

“Chaos… unforgivable!”

A voice filled with hatred rang through the pure white space. The first Venex raised both hands high, assuming a posture of condensing magic power. This action triggered a chain reaction in the pure white world. The other Venexes floating motionlessly around turned into ominous dark red, one after another. As if infected by the first Venex’s emotions, they followed her in radiating hostility.

“They’ve gone mad.”

“Don’t be afraid. They’re just memory entities without magic power.” Not losing her cool, Lucitine narrowed her eyes, warning all the approaching Venexes. “I’ll give you one chance. Stop right there!”

“Die!”

Without hesitation, all the Venexes pounced towards Lucitine and Fia like mad.

Lucitine showed no mercy. She gripped the scales sword’s hilt tightly and slashed through the air at all the Venexes rushing her. In an instant, a giant arc-shaped blade spread outwards. Highly condensed death energy even dimmed the white light of the sanctuary somewhat. The blade made no sound as it struck the pouncing memory entities. Then, the memory entities emitted a soft “poof” and all turned into clouds of dark red powder and disappeared. Including the first Venex, not a single Venex escaped death.

“Asking for trouble.”

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Withdrawing the scales sword, Lucitine’s voice was filled with anger. She took a deep breath to adjust her emotions, then turned to Fia.

“Sorry, there was an accident. These Venexes had already closed themselves off from others; they shouldn’t have been able to be infected by emotions. But for some reason, they were influenced by the first.”

“Lucitine wasn’t affected?”

“No. These memory entities are just memories without magic power. No matter how many come, they’re no match for me. They’ll resurrect after a while and calm down. Then I’ll make them apologize. Actually mistaking us for Chaos—ridiculous.”

Lucitine’s tone was filled with contempt. She glanced at the empty pure white world, then took Fia’s hand and headed back the way they came. It was worth noting that even the peripheral Venexes had become as unresponsive as those with severed senses, including the viper Venex. Their eyes were vacant, quietly suspended in the air, ignoring Fia and Lucitine completely. It was eerie enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

After reaching the outside world, Lucitine made a request that Fia had anticipated.

“Fia, I want to ask you to help me eliminate the Chaos under the anthill. If you can help me, from now on, whatever you ask of the undead, I will spare no effort.”

Extremely seriously, Lucitine, rising from the lake bottom, gazed into Fia’s eyes and spoke with determination, word by word.

Fia’s answer was very simple.

“Not now.”

“Why?”

Lucitine frowned. Taking advantage of Lucitine’s distraction, Fia uttered a simple word to her.

“[Mind Blast].”

Bang.

The spreading invisible air wave struck Lucitine. Lucitine’s eyes flew wide in surprise. She wanted to say something, but her living body didn’t allow her to react. Eventually, her body went limp.

Fia, taking advantage of the situation, caught Lucitine’s soft body and directly activated teleportation magic.

Her reason for doing this was simple. Not only had Lucitine’s emotions changed too quickly, unlike herself, but also when Lucitine gazed at her, there was clearly a hint of red in her eyes—very close to the deep color of the first Venex when she went mad.

Probably affected by emotional synchronization, infected by the mad Venexes. The reason she immediately asked to eliminate Chaos upon coming out was also probably due to the Venexes’ obsessive hatred of Chaos.

In any case, first take Lucitine to the world of the living to rest. Hopefully, there were no complications.