After work, start to speedrun the other world-Chapter 531 - 209 Changed Belief

At dawn.

At the edge of the mountains, a sliver of white light spilled out, like a knife honed to perfection, slicing through the darkness engulfing the world.

"Pestilence, are you planning to go watch the duel?" Xi Mu put down his spoon and asked the sleepy Pestilence Witch nearby.

Today was the date of the duel between the false Ahtal and Greis, drawing a large audience, and even attracting the attention of the gods.

However.

"I have no interest in duels," yawned the Pestilence Witch, her gaze landing on the Goddess of Plague sitting across the table, "You should go with someone who is interested in duels instead." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The Goddess of Plague was momentarily taken aback by her words, but then explained with a smile, "I’m not really interested in the duel itself; I’m just interested in the human spirit that is revealed during the process."

"Those who are interested in duels always use that kind of rhetoric," the Pestilence Witch rolled her eyes, her voice completely lacking in respect for the Goddess of Plague.

But this was hardly unexpected.

In the backstory of the Pestilence Witch, she was originally a saintly figure, highly proficient in various healing magics, with a Talent that was breathtaking. Unfortunately, she lived during a time of plague, helplessly watching as friends died from the disease, powerless to help them.

Because of this, the Pestilence Witch dedicated herself to researching healing magic and the plague, hoping to find a way to counter its effects.

However, in her constant research and attempts at salvation, the Pestilence Witch realized her healing... had no meaning. Even if she found a cure for the plague, the disease within people’s bodies would immediately mutate, rendering her efforts useless, proving that there was no way to save anyone.

This was a force of conceptual nature, not something that could be solved through research.

Therefore, the Pestilence Witch’s research focus shifted. From how to cure the plague, she turned to how to gain the power to confront the "disease" concept itself.

And naturally, she succeeded in acquiring the power to fight disease, and due to her obsession with the concept of illness and her in-depth understanding of the plague, she became known as the Pestilence Witch.

From a healer who saved lives to a witch who bestowed disease.

However, with her manipulation of the "disease" concept, the Pestilence Witch truly possessed the ability to prevent people from becoming ill, theoretically resolving the crisis of the plague at its root.

But after saving several countries, the Pestilence Witch was persecuted by an alliance formed by the church. Her crime? Depriving people of their freedom to die and condemning those who could have gone to Hell to continue suffering in the living world.

That led to a drastic change in the Pestilence Witch after she arrived at the Hall of Valor post-death. Her mentality shifted from wanting to save those suffering from disease to being indifferent to their fate, adopting a philosophy of living purely for herself.

This is why the Pestilence Witch has become so cautious; she now lives solely for her own sake, refusing to forsake her life for some lofty ideal.

As long as she can live well, that is enough.

"Then, stay here," said Xi Mu, not insisting on her company. He supported himself on the table and rose to his feet, addressing the Pestilence Witch:

"Don’t go out carelessly; you might run into danger." Having said that, he left the residence with the Goddess of Plague.

Was that supposed to suggest that there would be no danger if she didn’t leave the house?

The Pestilence Witch watched the two depart. Although she had no intention of leaving the residence, she knew she was a target for the Avatar Witch. Was what Ahtal said a hint that there would be no danger as long as she stayed within the confines of the residence?

...

...

The duel arena.

Xi Mu settled into a seat in the spectator stands, when the Goddess of Plague passed him a bag filled with biscuits of different shapes and flavors.

The duel was about to begin.

"Have you heard?" came a discussion from nearby, a man with green, cock’s comb hair speaking to his friend with a large red pompadour:

"After Ahtal successfully rescued the princess, he even helped her reclaim her kingdom and pulled out the Sword of Light, which can only be drawn by a truly righteous person. But the price he paid was contracting the fire of Sulter."

A look of regret appeared on his face.

"That man’s days are numbered."

"It’s just a possible future, after all." The man with the large red pompadour rolled his eyes, explaining to his brother:

"When the prophecy clearly warns, the direction of fate shifts, and the original tragedy can never play out."

The man with the green cock’s comb hair thought for a moment, then slapped his friend’s shoulder, saying:

"I heard that Princess Letixia was spotted at Lionheart Castle."

"Looking for her hero?" The man with the red pompadour showed a curious expression, only to see his brother shake his head, his expression quite complicated.

"I heard that Princess Letixia, with a group of people, blocked the door of that self-proclaimed Ahtal, and they beat that guy until he was kneeling and begging for mercy."

"Suddenly, the ticket seems a bit pricey," the man with the red pompadour twitched his mouth, starting to regret having paid a high price for the ticket.

At that, the green-haired man shook his head, laughing with a hint of arrogance: "That Princess Letixia is just a princess from a small country after all, it is simply impossible for her to have come to Lionheart Castle so quickly."

Though he was just a lowly dish-washer in Lionheart Castle, he took pride in being a member of it. As for the remote and backward Iris Flower Kingdom, he didn’t hold it in high regard.

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