Just became an evil god and was summoned by the saint

Although they were listening while the two were talking, they did not interrupt their meditation.

After the time was up and the others left, Celia and Benovia left together and went to a resting place outside the Forbidden Forest.

“Say what you have to say,” Celia said, looking at Benovia.

Benovia pondered for a moment and said, "Ainars's Puppet Heart is very peculiar. Anyone who touches it will lose consciousness. They are still alive, but cannot be awakened. They can clearly feel their life slipping away. Do you know how this happens?"

Celia didn't speak, pretending to ponder before looking at Ross in her mind.

Ross smiled faintly and said, "It's alright, go ahead and tell me. Even if you don't, it won't be long before Benovia finds out what happened in Southern City and starts to connect the dots."

Upon receiving the reply, Celia said, "There is only one possibility for this situation: the Puppet Heart is extremely rare and contains a power that can impact the soul. When a person touches it, it will impact their soul. A soul that has not been strengthened will be shattered under the impact of the Puppet Heart. Without repair and treatment, life will gradually be lost until death."

She paused, then looked at Benovia: "So when you took Ainars's Puppet Heart the night before last, you had your people pick it up directly, and then they were affected?"

Benovia nodded, then shook her head: "She's not one of my people. I was just asking, and by the way, is there any possibility of self-healing?"

"There is no possibility of self-healing. Even Phil is helpless in this situation."

“Then I’m relieved.” Benovia smiled.

Celia sensed that Benovia was going to use this trait for evil purposes, and she couldn't help but remind her, "Benovia, don't let your kind nature be lost."

Benovia smiled and said, "How could that be? I have always been kind to good people, but to be kind to bad people is to be an accomplice to evil, which is wicked."

Celia nodded.

She agrees with this view.

True kindness is being kind to those who are inclined to do good.

Being kind to evil people is not kindness; it's fueling evil and is no different from being a heretic.

Benovia asked, "Is there a treatment for this condition?"

After a moment's thought, Celia said, "Yes, healing the other person's soul will restore them."

“Healing the soul…” Benovia blinked. “Since Celia knows so much about this, I guess Celia has a way to heal the soul?”

Celia rolled her eyes. "Yes, I can help with treatment if you need it, but it won't be free."

"One last question."

"explain."

"Can that Puppet Heart be installed on a puppet? If so, I'd like to buy it from Enarse."

Celia was silent for a moment, then shook her head: "I don't recommend you do that."

Celia wasn't sure if the 'Puppet Heart' could be used on a puppet, but the cases of Enars and the previous 'Puppet' were enough to suggest that it was best not to use the 'Puppet Heart' that way.

Celia had long sensed that the puppet heart was strange.

Why is it different from other Puppet Hearts?

That strange power...

She had always had a question, but she didn't know what it was.

It wasn't until Jonathan mentioned "divinity" in the ancient castle labyrinth ruins that she had a flash of inspiration and came up with a bold idea, though she was still unsure.

Is the heart of the puppet the divine essence of a god?

Or perhaps, that strange puppet heart was actually the divine essence of a god, but it took the shape of a puppet heart.

How the Puppet Heart was formed remains a mystery.

If it's the divine nature of a god...

Celia thought that wasn't right either.

There are so many sorcerers in the world, and even if most of them use artificial puppet hearts, the number of natural puppet hearts is still countless times greater than the number of gods.

Lacking relevant information, Celia only had a bold idea and dared not be sure.

However, that strange puppet heart might actually be a 'divine essence,' which is more likely. Even though Ross has never confirmed it himself, Celia doesn't dare to make a direct conclusion either.

Let's just consider it a legendary deity.

It can destroy a person's soul, which is quite fitting...

Celia thought to herself.

"So it's not possible after all?" Benovia asked thoughtfully.

“You were there, so you should know about Aina’s situation. If you insist on using her, I won’t stop you.”

"Then forget it. My current one is fine, it's enough for me until I reach level six."

"..."

After chatting for a while, the two said goodbye and went to class.

At that moment, Ross's voice entered Celia's mind: "Celia, when you get back, draw the summoning circle that Jonathan gave you and give it to Benovia."

Celia paused for a moment, then said with a wronged expression, "Okay."

That puppet heart...

I unexpectedly got writer's block after finishing the short story...

Chapter 280 Divine Essence Stolen? It Was part of the plan!

Even if Celia sensed it and guessed it, Ross wouldn't tell her that the Heart of the Puppet was a god.

Even though Celia is now completely corrupted by this evil god, and even though she has learned about the actions of the god-king Zeudin from Jonathan, she still retains her faith in the gods.

The collapse of faith should be gradual; it shouldn't be destroyed all at once, or it will break people.

Celia now suspects that the Puppet Heart given to Benovia is a divine essence, while the others are Puppet Hearts.

This guess will help her transition smoothly and gradually accept it, which is great.

At the same time, it is also very reasonable.

Although he, this evil god, is not mysterious at all to Celia, other gods are still very mysterious and majestic to Celia. It's hard to accept that the divine status of gods could be so easily taken and put into a puppet.

Perhaps some people already know, but Celia is still very weak, so it's best not to think too much about it.

The sea god's divine status is different; touching it would shatter one's soul, which fits everyone's fantasy of a god, is very reasonable, and doesn't diminish the god's prestige.

Ross said he wanted Celia to draw the runes for the summoning circle for Benovia, and Celia was already quite certain that the Puppet Heart was the Divine Essence, but Ross just wouldn't say it.

You can guess whatever you want, think whatever you want, but I won't tell you directly.

There was nothing Celia could do about it, so after school she went back to her dormitory, angrily took out a piece of draft paper, and drew the runes on it.

After finishing the drawing, she asked, "Lord Ross, do you need me to help her set up a summoning circle?"

Ross chuckled. "You can go if you want."

Celia had only mentioned it casually.

But seeing that Ross did not object, she suddenly had a thought.

Mr. Jonathan said that the summoning circle requires a 'divine essence', so if I set it up myself, wouldn't that confirm whether the puppet heart is a 'divine essence'?

Although Celia was very reluctant, she eventually succumbed to temptation.

"Let me set it up. I have some experience with magic arrays and runes."

"Sure, but wait until she reaches level three. It's useless to take it now."

"OK."

……

Benovia's Secret Hut.

The girl looked at the box placed under the statue; inside the box was the heart of the magic puppet.

"This Puppet Heart would grant an ordinary first-tier mage the ability to slaughter third-tier mages and puppets. My older brothers and sisters are probably very interested; I wonder if they'll come to steal it..."

Benovia has no intention of protecting this puppet heart.

She thought of the Puppet Heart lying quietly in the dust, and the sudden appearance of other princes and princesses in the guard who tried to take it for themselves.

That person who acted on their own was completely brainless; they're probably receiving treatment somewhere now, or perhaps they're already dead.

Benovia ignored the other person's situation and didn't care.

She had only one thought:

"The gods guided me to obtain this Puppet Heart; there must be a reason for it. Just like when I tried to take it, someone else got it before me, letting me know the consequences of touching the Puppet Heart..."

In this situation, anyone who dares to take it is defying the gods—courting death.

Benovia chose to place it under the statue, waiting for the next time the god would give her guidance in a dream, so that she would know what to do.

After gazing for a moment, Benovia, as was her custom, prayed to the gods before leaving to go back to sleep.

The small hut where the statue of the deity was enshrined fell silent.

until late at night.

A ghostly shadow entered the cabin and appeared in front of the box.

He picked up the box and disappeared into the shadows once more.

Everything happened quietly, and no one knew.

Far away on the other side of Shining City, inside the Deville family manor.

Earl Deville, the head of the Deville family, narrowed his eyes as he looked at the box in front of him.

"Open."

"Yes."

The shadow mage opened the box, revealing a deep blue fragment of divine essence inside.

The Shadow Mage said, "My Lord, this Puppet Heart cannot be touched directly. Please be careful."

"Ah."

Count Deville nodded, not daring to reach inside and take the contents, even though he was a fourth-tier mage, much stronger than those first and second-tier mages who were courting death.

"That girl killed my child with this?"

No one dared to speak.

Because no one dared to offend Earl de Verde.

The pain of losing his son has pushed him to the brink of madness.

There was silence.

"With only first-tier strength, he could easily kill Norsen, who was at third tier..."

Count Deville summoned his puppet, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"You killed my child and you think you can live? You won't live, and neither will the people behind you!"

Beside him, the butler couldn't help but whisper, "Your Excellency, please reconsider. Although Princess Benovia has appeared, it's all too mysterious. Perhaps it wasn't Princess Benovia who ordered it, but someone else..."

Count Deville said calmly, "I know, which is why I haven't taken any action yet. But this thing that killed my child, even if it offends the royal family, I will get my hands on it. If it can give me strength comparable to a sixth-tier... what's wrong with killing a prince?"

With that, he turned and sat down in the main seat, saying calmly, "Let's begin."

The others in the room immediately summoned their puppets and, with Count Deville's authorization, began to disassemble Count Deville's puppets, remove the puppet heart inside, and then reattach the puppet heart.

A surge of mysterious power immediately entered Count Deville's body through the link between the puppet and the sorcerer.

……

An endless abyss, a sealed land.

Ethel, the sea goddess who was dawdling, raised an eyebrow, looked at Ross, and said sarcastically, "The divine essence you gave away has been placed in a magic puppet. It seems it has been stolen. Heh heh."

Ross wasn't surprised, as if he already knew, and chuckled: "Good thing you stole it. You haven't finished doing what you promised Celia yet."

Ethel was very displeased with Ross's appearance.

"Do you think you have everything under your control? Be careful, something unexpected might happen and kill your divine contract girl. Let's see what you do then."

Ross chuckled again: "That's easy. Just wait a thousand years. In those thousand years, you can also help me build a huge complex here as the core of the new pantheon."