Witch Troupe and the Undead

"What you're talking about are the foundation gods. They don't need human faith, nor do they spread faith, and they don't even care about anything in the world. They are like the foundation of the world. It's meaningless for you to say this. Hmm, it sounds like you heard this from those great demons?" The goddess understood almost instantly where Roach and the others' knowledge came from.

"That knowledge is useless. When a demon becomes a god, it is no longer a demon. To give an analogy, it's like your body turning into fertilizer—is it still you?"

"Don't flowers only turn into fertilizer when they die?" Roach asked curiously.

"Who said that? I can turn you into fertilizer right now!" The goddess rubbed her fingers together, clearly annoyed, as if she was about to unleash a divine lightning strike on Roach.

"Oh, I think I understand." Roach felt it was better not to argue with this dangerous being. Besides, he did understand the goddess's analogy. The difference between a demon and a god was like the process of transforming from one kind of creature into another.

"Actually, you can use insects as an example."

"Caterpillars and butterflies are not the same thing in your eyes, but in my eyes they are the same thing," the goddess waved her hand dismissively.

“If you do not know how ‘God’ was born, then this knowledge cannot be given to you; if you know how ‘God’ was born, then you do not need to seek this knowledge from me.”

"Also, once you've found the book you're looking for, leave. Don't make a scene here."

"No, no, no, we actually have many questions, such as... how did this place become like this?"

"..."

"..."

Black hair writhed on the ground like snakes, and finally the goddess's gaze lingered on Livia's face for a few seconds. "So, you still want to hear the story, right?"

"Mmm!" Livia had already obediently straightened her skirt, hugged her knees and sat down, with a row of books under her bottom that she had repaired in appearance but not in content.

The others also sat down. After all, listening to a genuine deity tell a story was a truly legendary experience. Didn't you see that even the little witch sat down with an excited expression?

"Oh, it was just a summoning error, no, it should be called a scam." The goddess glanced at Livia, and Roach felt that her attitude was not like she was telling a story to them, but more like she was giving someone an anti-fraud speech.

“Explaining the whole story would take a lot of time, and you wouldn’t understand those complicated rituals anyway. Plus, some of the knowledge itself is harmful to you.” As she spoke, she glanced at the little witch again.

"In short, through a certain ritual, one can summon the will of God and create a physical body that can live on forever through the ritual of incarnation. However, the summoned consciousness is not complete; it is only a part of it, or a small fragment of God's long and special form of existence."

"Usually, the purpose of this kind of summoning is to protect, eliminate powerful enemies, or seal them away; however, there is another purpose: to form a contract."

"They signed a pact with me, offering the life and soul of the entire capital in exchange for three wishes. Their first wish was to attain eternity, so I gave them knowledge of a ritual. Their second wish was to seal the capital, so I gave them a ritual powerful enough to seal the entire capital and provided the power for that ritual."

"Then the third wish wouldn't be for you to guard the core here, would it?"

"...If they've used up all three wishes, why would I let you in to make yours?" The goddess looked at Alessina with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot, and the latter could only shrug.

"There was no third wish. They needed my power to provide the seal, so they didn't make a third wish and sealed the library."

So here comes the trouble. According to the contract, she must fulfill three wishes and three requests of the mortals. But now, after the mortals make two wishes, they get stuck on the third wish and can't fulfill it. As a result, she can't fulfill the wishes and has to stay here. She can't even leave this library, otherwise she would be in breach of contract.

Are the consequences of breach of contract severe?

"To be precise, it is impossible to break the contract." The goddess shook her head. The covenant between God and man is not guaranteed by any third party, but by the consensus between God and man. If she breaks the contract, whether by taking advantage of loopholes or playing word games, as long as she believes that she has broken the contract, the power of faith will strike her hard along the bond.

The difference between gods and humans is that gods cannot lie; they are the perfect form of spirit and flesh. Mortals can find eight hundred excuses to convince themselves that this is not a breach of contract, but gods and demons cannot.

"Can it only be a Luster?"

“Of course!” The young goddess sat down in the chair with a helpless expression, then looked down at her surroundings.

At the very front was Livia, sitting with her knees drawn up to her chest, like a little girl listening to a story in front of an elder. Next to her was Roche, sitting cross-legged. Behind her was Vilandera, holding a notebook with a curious expression. Finally, there was Alessina, arms crossed, leaning against the door, her mind completely blank.

“So…” a small vein bulged on the goddess’s forehead, “you really just came here to hear a story, right?”

“Ah, yes, yes, yes.” Roach nodded vigorously. “I’m actually very interested in the story of the Luster Dynasty, such as its history, culture, and legends.”

What could be more credible firsthand historical research material than interrogating the parties involved directly? If I organize it all up, maybe I could even earn the title of historian in this world.

"Hmph~" The goddess let out a haughty snort, "I have no interest in such things!" After saying that, she opened one eye and glanced at Livia, "But, since I'm bored anyway, I might as well chat about the past to pass the time."

"Um, name?" Livia asked, raising her hand.

"Hmph~ Hmph~, I can't tell you God's name..." She then muttered, "Who wants to be dragged down and locked up again?"

"Hey, what are you recording?"

"The names of gods and demons have some similarities?" Livia held up her notebook and pointed to the text on it.

"Who told you that?!"

"..." A small finger pointed at the goddess.

"Hiss~~~" The goddess gasped, her long black hair on the ground twisting unnaturally. "These are completely different things, okay? Don't record weird and strange knowledge!"

“She’s panicking, it seems she really is,” Roach whispered in Livia’s ear.

"And you, don't think I won't notice just because you're whispering. This is my miniature divine realm, I know every thought you have..." Then the goddess's face darkened, "You really want to?"

"Oh, it seems to be true. Quickly write it down, quickly write it down." To test whether she could do it, Roach specifically thought about how this guy's clothes were so torn that he was practically naked. If the angle was adjusted, even those two rubies would probably be visible.

"Hmm, hmm!" The blonde witch wrote furiously.

"In short, I cannot tell you my name, but you may know my divine name. I am the embodiment of night and tranquility, the guide to the final destination of all living beings in the mortal world."

“The name is too long,” Livia said, looking at the other person with a troubled expression.

"..."

"Then just write down any name you like," the Goddess of Night said earnestly. "Anyway, I don't need anyone to pray to me. Speaking of prayers, does the Church of the Night still exist?"

“Never heard of it,” Roach and Livia shook their heads, while Vilandella looked thoughtful.

"The Church of the Night? No, at least not within the Empire. There is a church called 'Mother of the Night' in the Kingdom of Rada, which was later absorbed by the Church of the Moon Mother because their doctrines are very similar. Both emphasize motherhood and inclusiveness, as well as love for children and women. Oh, and the relationship between night and the moon is indeed very close."

"..." The Goddess of the Night's expression was extremely unpleasant. In Luo Qi's memory, the only time he had seen such an unpleasant expression was when his graduate student was cheated on by her best friend back on Earth.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry, don't be angry!" The goddess rubbed her chest hard, but she looked like she was about to explode with anger. It has to be said that Luo Qi could not see any maternal or tolerant characteristics in this goddess. Instead, she had the restlessness, irritability and erratic thinking that matched her age and appearance.

"So, the Church of the Night no longer exists on the Luster Plains, right?"

"Correct!"

"So, no one knows about doctrines like mystery, tranquility, and hidden protection?"

"Never heard of that. Oh, the characteristic of mystery... I seem to remember that... a certain holy master's appearance included wisdom and mystery."

"Holy Lord? Oh, that one, what wisdom does he have?" "Don't write that down." Vilandella hurriedly stopped the little witch from writing that down, otherwise the Church of Light would really launch a witch hunt against them.

"So let's start by asking from a religious perspective? In other words, the Church of the Night was also part of the official beliefs of the Kingdom of Luster in the past?" Otherwise, it would have been impossible to bring down this deity, which shows that the Church of the Night had a fairly widespread belief in this country.

"And what about the goddess of desire?"

"Who?"

"The Church of Luster, the Goddess of Desire?"

"Isn't Luster only home to the Church of the Night?" The goddess looked suspicious. When did her sanctuary become the site of invasion by other wild gods she had never even heard of?

“Ah, but aren’t there many things related to desire and great sins on the Ruins of Luster…” Vilandella’s mouth was covered by Roach. He had figured it out, while this dragon girl might not have quite caught up yet. But without even looking, he understood, which meant that the goddess understood.

Her face, as bright and charming as moonlight, was almost instantly flushed with a rosy hue, her breathing became exceptionally rapid, and her chest, as flat as a steel plate, began to heave violently.

"Damn it, what are you guys thinking? And those guys..." Even the goddess was a little embarrassed to say them.

"So, you are the same god?"

"No!" came the resolute voice. "Use your brain! What country would openly regard 'desire' as the foundation of its national spirit?!"

"Aren't all human nations like this? They just don't say it outright."

"Oh, if that's the case, then it makes sense." The goddess almost instantly regained her composure. It wasn't that her emotions changed too quickly, but rather that as a deity, she could indeed trace the corresponding facts and phenomena behind those words in an instant. So, once she confirmed that everyone was equally ashamed—no, ashamed of their divine status—she didn't care anymore.

"One of the doctrines of the Church of the Night is concealment and inclusion. Concealment represents the protection of personal private behavior, while inclusion represents the acceptance of personal private interests. Just like the night, no matter what you do or where you are, you will eventually melt into the night."

The Goddess of Night had a strange expression as she spoke. It was very odd for her to personally explain the core doctrines of her church to tourists who were not believers; it felt like she was hawking her wares at a market.

"Then it's no wonder that later scholars believed it was the goddess of desire and the Church of Great Sin." After all, the line between sin and ordinary desire is not so clear in the eyes of ordinary people, and the Church of the Night pays special attention to privacy and tolerance, so under such doctrine, all sorts of monsters and demons naturally exist.

Like the Great Sin Magic, it is not inherently evil, but because the line between it and evil is not clear enough, it will eventually slide uncontrollably into the abyss—like a smooth and wet mountain path without railings, in which case it is only a matter of time before someone falls off the cliff.

Because the darkness of night can conceal many sins and perverse desires, the development of its church deviated from this foundation, ultimately manifesting in relics, records, stone carvings, and even various rituals, leading later generations to mistakenly believe it to be a church of desire.

Furthermore, there is another possibility: that the capital of Luster fell overnight, but a country does not perish overnight. So, if the goddess herself is stuck in a glitch and is suffering in a prison, what will happen to the church? What will happen to the churches of the night in other regions?

Either they believe they have been abandoned by God, and the sacrificial rituals they hold naturally become more and more extreme and bloody, and the doctrines inevitably deviate in this direction.

Moreover, for those who already have such tendencies, when the Church of the Night itself has doctrines of tolerance and privacy, their actions under the protection of the night tend to become increasingly perverse. It's just that this time, there may be no goddess or proper priest to correct them.

Therefore, the records and ruins built and left behind during the period between the Royal Capital Incident and the country's demise due to the rampant use of sinful magic, which led to despair or simply loss of faith and extravagant indulgence, naturally present such a distorted state.

"Sure enough, history, even if you ask the person involved, still has many ambiguous aspects," Roach sighed, "even if the person involved is a god."

"Hmm~" The goddess's talkativeness became less pronounced. After Roach thought of this guess, she also realized it. The thought that it was because she was locked up here doing nothing that her believers and people went astray in the chaos made her face show an indescribable sadness and lament. Only at this moment did the four people, including Alessina, see a bit of true divinity in her.

"And then, what else would you like to know?"

"Oh, wait a minute~" Roach pulled out a thick notebook filled with information and questions about the Luster Dynasty. "That's all the questions I have."

"..."

"So you've come here to take my lessons, haven't you?" The goddess looked at Roach with a cold smile.

"This is an academy. Is there anything wrong with having a class here?" The witch next to her nodded vigorously. This is an academy, and there's even a proper god you can ask questions here. Is there anything wrong with having a class here? Besides, it's in the library's stacks.

"Alright!" Suddenly, Roach's hand was empty. The Goddess of Night solemnly held the book that had appeared in her hand. With a light tap of her finger, countless words squeezed out from between the lines Roach had written, pushing the original question to the top and bottom lines. The number of pages in the book also increased rapidly, eventually becoming a terrifying brick at least 25 centimeters thick.

"Okay, here's the textbook, take it and look at it." She tossed the book back into Roach's hands. "Does anyone else have any questions?" Although she seemed impatient, everyone could tell that this goddess was in a pretty good mood.

Chapter 164 Caring for Empty Nest Elderly

"Finally, I'd like to know, what is the definition of a Luster? I mean, what is the definition of a Luster who makes a wish here? Is it bloodline?" Roach raised his hand, just like a student diligently following classroom rules.

“Well, not entirely. The Kingdom of Luster is also a multi-ethnic country, with at least four or five different ethnic groups living there,” the Goddess of Night said, tapping her chin with her index finger.

"Oh, so the newcomers who have just joined this country are also considered Luster people?"

“No, strictly speaking, only those born on this land are Luster people,” the goddess said earnestly. “This ritual is constructed with the earth’s veins. Only those born on this land and closely connected to it can perform this ritual and fulfill their final wish.”

"Hmm... In other words, people who move in from other places cannot be considered Luster people, at least in their own generation. Only the next generation can be considered Luster people. But judging from this, Livia should be considered a Luster person, right?"

“She can’t,” the goddess answered decisively. “Although she may have been born here, she has too many connections, like a tangled mess. She can handle other spells and rituals, but the requirements of this ritual field beneath my feet far exceed such a vague boundary.”

"I see. Then I have no further questions. Thank you for your answer."

"Humph~"

"Then we'll take our leave."

"Hmph~~" The goddess closed her eyes and waved her hand casually. "Go, go, don't come back and bother me again. When you leave, remember to close the door properly and stick the note I mentioned on the door."

"It's so noisy and annoying!"

As Luo Qi and his companions walked out, they muttered to each other, "See? This is the behavior of a typical lonely old man. He's obviously lonely to death, but he just can't bring himself to admit it and puts on a irritable face."

"Mmm~ Mmm!" Livia nodded seriously, "How pitiful~"

“Yeah, so pitiful~ He’s just like that old man next door~” Alessina chimed in, “He’s always getting angry with people, but he just can’t find anything to do, so he uses this method to attract other people’s attention.”

"That's right, that's right..." The goddess, who was listening intently with her ears perked up, blushed. "How many times have I said it? You're all here, no matter how softly you speak, I can hear you!"

"Oh~"

"Gestures won't work either! And what do you mean by 'lonely old person'? You're the one who's lonely! Besides, I'm not lonely at all, my days are very fulfilling!"

"Oh, oh, I see. Since you look so busy, you don't need to do the deliveries. Go ahead and get busy." Roach waved his hand. "See? That's what you call saying one thing but meaning another."

"You bastard, don't talk badly about people behind their backs!"

"We said it face to face, didn't we?"

"Ah!!!!" Amidst screams, hair swirled like waves, throwing the four people out of the door one by one, before the door slammed shut.

"I thought I was about to die~" Vilandella rubbed her buttocks and stood up. When her black hair curled up, it did have a strange sense of horror, as if a pitch-black night had descended, hiding countless unknown horrors.

“I told you, when it comes to elderly people living alone, if you agree with them, they’ll find fault with you in every way. They’ll either pick on you or think you’re just being perfunctory by saying you feel sorry for them.” Rod rubbed his wrist and pulled the little witch up from the ground.

"However, the fact that you're constantly going against him and making him furious is actually good for his mental and physical health. Believe it or not, this goddess is definitely keeping a record of us behind closed doors, preparing to give us a hard time next time we come back."

"Wouldn't that be terrible?" "No, she won't hurt us. At most, she'll just play a prank on us. So, next time, just act like it's nothing special."

“I understand, Master Roach. Where did you get this experience?” Vilandella didn’t quite understand, and the little witch tugged at the corner of his cloak.

"Of course, it comes from those old men in the academy. They study history and have real skills and academic level. They are all old and travel around all year round. Their children and wives are mostly not around. I have seen a lot of lonely old people like this." Luo Qi made an OK sign. "If you go against him all the time, the day you don't go, he will nag you about why you didn't come."

"So, shall we come again tomorrow?"

"It's too short. We should stay here for at least two or three days to rest. The books in the library are almost all gone, but there are still a few in the reading room, and I guess there are some more in the teaching building over there."

Although it exudes an aura of foolishness, there's someone in the team who perfectly complements this clear yet foolishness. That useless mermaid should come in handy; isn't this the true meaning of "like a fish in water"?