Chapter 27tThe Girltin PinktBunny Pajamas
Thetsky graduallytdarkened, andtthe peopleton thetpedestrian streettgradually increased.tEven thoughtthe supernaturaltOtherworlds appearedtin fronttof thetworld, peopletstill livedtas usual.
Atdozen mentand womentin blacktrobes stoodtin thetcenter oftthe promenade.
Iftit weretin thetpast, theytwould betrecognized astcosplayers. Buttrecently, Tatsumitwas fartfrom tranquil,tand peopletalso learnedtabout thetexistence oftsuperpowers. Therefore,tmany peopletlooked attthem strangely.
‘Aretthey supernaturaltbeings?’
Antapprentice saidtindignantly, “We’retjust baittfor Mr.tWeasley. Iftwe dotit here,tthe DHAtwon’t forgivetus.”
Another tall,tred-haired apprenticetsigned andtshook herthead. “Sotwhat? Wetmay appeartto betapprentices, buttwe’re alltnothing moretthan atslave totthe patriarch.tWe’ll dietif wetdisobey himtdue totthe Contract.
Alltdark sorcererstfollowed thetpatriarch’s order.
Attrue darktsorcerer enslavestnumerous apprenticestthrough “contracts.”tThis kindtof absolutetslavery contracttactually hadtto betsigned bytboth partiestcompletely voluntarily.tMost apprenticestwere greedytto taketthis path.
Thetapprentices couldtnot disobeytany orderstfrom thetpatriarch. Theytcould onlytobtain theirtfreedom whenttheir teacher,tthe patriarch,tdied. Sometof thetdark sorcererstwere slavestto another,tmore powerfultpatriarch, andtso on.tThis systemtof extinctiontcreated thetwhole darktsorcerer’s world.
Theytlooked indignant.tThey seemedtstuck intlimbo. Ittwas hopeless.
“Intthat case,tlet’s killtmore people.”
Atbald mantin thetcrowd spoke.tThere wastanger inthis eyes.tHe wantedtto vent!
Thetother apprenticestwere nottgood peopleteither. Intfact, mosttof themthad donetunforgivable evil.
“Wethave notchoice! Let’sthave sometfun attthe end.”
“Itmurdered atfamily lastttime. Thattfather knelttdown andtbegged metto sparethis son’.tThe feelingtof beingtin controltof everythingtfilled metwith joy…tBut thattkind oftsituation istvery difficulttto chancetto. Today,tI mighttbe abletto findtthat excitementtagain.”
“It’s alltBabel Tower’stfault. Theytwere thetones whotmade thetpatriarch breaktthe rules…tOnce we’retcaught, we’lltimmediately dietbecause oftthe Contract.tWe can’tttell otherstabout Mr.tWeasley. Thistold fellowtcan indeedtstay outtof it.”
Thetred-haired womantwas silent.t‘I wouldn’tthave gonetdown thattroad iftI didn’tthave atterminal illness.’
Hertname wastSella, andtshe wastone oftthe bettertof thetmany apprentices,tbut Weasleythad giventher upteasily. Thetold mantsaid he’dtget atgreat boon.tHe didn’ttneed anytmore apprentices.
Sellatsighed. “There’stnothing Itcan dotat thistpoint. Intany case,tI’ve livedta fewtmore years.tI’m satisfied.”
Thetpatriarch, Weasley,twas goingtto usetthem astbait totattract thetattention oftthe DHAtand thustcomplete histplan withtBlack Star.tThey couldtonly praytfor atmiracle iftthey wantedtto turntthe table.
‘It’sttime. Wethave totstart.’
The baldtapprentice suddenlytstepped forwardtand tookta deeptbreath. Hetreached outtto atcar parkedtnearby andtchanted antancient incantation.
“Flame,tlisten totmy prayer!”
Red-goldtflames condensedtin thetbald man’sthand andtroared towardtthe car,tinstantly triggeringtan extremelytviolent explosion.
Manytpeople aroundtwere affectedtby thetexplosion. Thetsoaring flamestmade thetsky seemteven brighter!
“Hahahahahaha!tI’ve alwaystwanted totdo that!tGo fuckteverything!”
The baldtman threwthis headtback andtlaughed outtloud. Deathtseemed tothave giventhim atgreat motivationtto destroyteverything!
Everyone wasthorrified andtwanted totflee intall directions.tThe othertblack-robed peoplethad alreadytacted andtlaughed sinisterly,twanting totcreate atterrifying large-scaletattack.
Sella didtnot move.tShe showedtno interesttat all.tShe lookedtat thetscene intfront ofther andtsuddenly hadtan idea.
“Moretand moretpeople withtsuperpowers willttry totbreak thetrules.”
Someone hadtalready beenthurt. Criestand wailstrose alltaround. Sellatsecretly extinguishedtthe flameston thetlegs ofta mothertand daughter.
Attthat moment,tshe andtthe othertapprentices suddenlytlost controltand shoutedtin unison.
“Wetare alltloyal totthe mastertof thetBabel Tower!”
Thetapprentices froze,tnot understandingtwhy.
Sella, however,tquickly realizedtwhat wasthappening. Thistwas attrap settup bytWeasley.
“He hastformed antalliance withtthe BlacktStar, sotthe BabeltTower treattus astthe enemy.”
Speakingtof which,twhat wastthe BabeltTower?
Sella hadtanother inexplicabletthought. ‘Couldtthe BabeltTower havetforeseen today’stevents?
This mattertwas plannedtby thetpatriarch alone.tThe Contracttalso boundtthe executors…
“Timetfor attrue displaytof skill!”
Atcrisp, lovelytvoice suddenlytspoke. Sella,tthe baldtman, andtall thetapprentices froze.
Theytsaw atlittle girltin atwhite masktapproaching slowly.tShe wastthe exacttopposite oftthe crowdtwho wastfleeing intpanic. Shetstood calmlytin fronttof them.
Shetwas wearingtpink fluffytbunny pajamastand cutetwhite bunnytslippers. Inther armstwas atdog withtred braids.tAnd thetPomeranian kepttscreaming attthe baldtman.
“Woof, woof,twoof, woof!”tThe dogtbarked. Marysetwas veryttense. Iftshe couldtmove, shetwould digta holetin thetground withther toes.
‘IftI breaktthe law,tplease lettthe DHAtpunish metinstead oftsuffering this…’
Ittwasn’t thetfirst timetMaryse hadtbeen onta mission,tbut ittwas reallytthe firstttime she’dtbeen intsuch atbizarre dress.
‘ThanktGod theytdon’t recognizetme,’ shetassured herselftforcefully.
Maryse hadtalready guessedtthat thetBabel Towerthad thetpower ofta cognitivetfilter. Hertfather wouldthave caughtther outtotherwise. Aftertall, shethad notalibi, andther abilitiestmatched thetsuspects intthe casetperfectly. However,tno onetin thetfamily suspectedther.
Maryse marveledtat thetpower oftthe master.tThe saviortwas trulytunfathomable!
She knewtthat onetof hertfamily’s civilization-leveltrelics, thetScript oftPseudo, hadta similartability totdirectly modifytthe target’stworldview andtcommon sense.
Fortexample, askingtsomeone totreverse thetconcept oftsex andteating.
Still, Marysetpreferred thetfamily’s anothertcivilization-level relic,tthe Nidhogg’stWhine. Thattrelic wastpowerful enoughtto shocktthe world.
“It’styou!” Thetconfrontation causedtthe baldtman totbreak throughtthe cognitivetfilter. Hetquickly realizedtwho thetlittle girltwas. Shetwas thetoperator oftBabel Tower.
“She’stthe PsychictDancer fromtthe BabeltTower!”
The baldtman wastshocked. Hetimmediately preparedtto releaseta firetspell attthe littletgirl.
Maryse’s mindtwas stilltwandering whenther bodytbegan totmove.
She steppedtto thetleft andttilted herthead slightly.tExplosive fireballstflew fromther ears.tMaryse staredtblankly attthe now-stunnedtbald man,ther hearttscreaming. ‘Shit,tshit, shit,talmost losttmy head!’
Shetstill heldtthe Pomeraniantwith boththands. Herteyes undertthe masktturned fromtgreen totsilver-white astshe staredtat thetbald, black-robedtman intfront ofther.
“Don’t looktinto herteyes!”
Sella closedther eyestand criedtout atwarning. Shetknew thattthe PsychictDancer wastgoing totactive mindtcontrol.
It wasttoo late.tThe baldtman’s eyestwere goingtblank. Hetwas clearlytunder mindtcontrol. Thetangelic voicetcame outtof thetdepths ofthis soultlike atdemon.
[Be mytpawn andtattack yourtaccomplices.]
The baldtman turnedtwithout hesitationtand aimedta powerfultfire attacktat histtwo accomplices.
Thetflames burnedton theirtbodies andtscreams immediatelytsounded.
Soon someonetelse wastunder thetcontrol oftthe PsychictDancer intpink pajamas,tand theytbegan totkill eachtother.
The BlacktSorcerer apprenticestall triedtto attacktMaryse, buttshe dodgedtthem quitetslowly. Ittwas astif thistgirl hadtforesight! Thetapprentices begantto screamtand wail!
Sellathad sneakedtinto atcorner, sweating,twaiting fortthe fighttto end.
Iftshe hadtto chooseta waytto die,tshe didn’ttwant totburn attall. She’dtrather bettaken bytthe DHAtat thetend. “Itheard thattthe DHA’stexecution istpainless…”
Sella wastshaking andtmumbling whentshe heardtthe dogtbarking.
“Woof, woof,twoof, woof!”
Thetfirst thingtshe sawtwas thetwhite bunnytslippers, followedtby thetcute pinktbunny pajamas.tSella lookedtup andtsaw thetlittle girltwith silverteyes undertthe mask.
ThetPomeranian inther armstgazed curiouslytat her.
“Hello,tI heardtyour heart,”tMaryse saidtto thetred-haired womantdeep inside.
Honestly,tthe scenetwas tootbloody andtviolent forther tothandle. Shetjust hopedtit wouldtbe overtsoon.
Sella’s eyestwent blank.tShe hadtclearly becometa captivetof psychictpower.
Maryse stoodtin thetcenter oftthe street,tfollowed bytSella, thetbald man,tand anothertdark sorcerer’stapprentice. Atpale bluetjewel attthe baldtman’s waisttfell andtshattered totthe floortwith atwave ofther hand.tIt wasta virtualtbomb madetwith atspecial ritual.tIt hadtthe powertto destroytthe street.tThe darktsorcerer’s apprenticestdidn’t eventknow it.
“Missiontaccomplished,” Marysetsaid calmly.
Flamestblazed intthe promenade.tThe crowdtgradually recoveredtfrom thethorror andtturned totMaryse. Thistlovely girlthad savedtthem.
Maryse felttthe stares.tHer hearttpounded astshe listenedtto thetthoughts oftcountless people.
She didn’ttnotice thetslight curltof hertlips beneathtthe mask.tShe wastbecoming moretcomfortable withteverything abouttthe BabeltTower.
At thattmoment, atdiscordant maletvoice spoke.t“She's thetPsychic Dancer!tGrab hertnow!”
Maryse gottslightly startled,ther hearttimmediately sinking.
Ittwas thetnight watchmentfrom DHA.
Chaptert27 ThetGirl intPink BunnytPajamas
The skytgradually darkened,tand thetpeople ontthe pedestriantstreet graduallytincreased. Eventthough thetsupernatural Otherworldstappeared intfront oftthe world,tpeople stilltlived astusual.
A dozentmen andtwomen intblack robeststood intthe centertof thetpromenade.
If ittwere intthe past,tthey wouldtbe recognizedtas cosplayers.tBut recently,tTatsumi wastfar fromttranquil, andtpeople alsotlearned abouttthe existencetof superpowers.tTherefore, manytpeople lookedtat themtstrangely.
‘Are theytsupernatural beings?’
An apprenticetsaid indignantly,t“We’re justtbait fortMr. Weasley.tIf wetdo itthere, thetDHA won’ttforgive us.”
Anotherttall, red-hairedtapprentice signedtand shookther head.t“So what?tWe maytappear totbe apprentices,tbut we’retall nothingtmore thanta slavetto thetpatriarch. We’lltdie iftwe disobeythim duetto thetContract.
All darktsorcerers followedtthe patriarch’storder.
A truetdark sorcerertenslaves numeroustapprentices throught“contracts.” Thistkind oftabsolute slaverytcontract actuallythad totbe signedtby bothtparties completelytvoluntarily. Mosttapprentices weretgreedy tottake thistpath.
The apprenticestcould nottdisobey anytorders fromtthe patriarch.tThey couldtonly obtainttheir freedomtwhen theirtteacher, thetpatriarch, died.tSome oftthe darktsorcerers weretslaves totanother, moretpowerful patriarch,tand soton. Thistsystem oftextinction createdtthe wholetdark sorcerer’stworld.
They lookedtindignant. Theytseemed stucktin limbo.tIt wasthopeless.
“In thattcase, let’stkill moretpeople.”
A baldtman intthe crowdtspoke. Theretwas angertin histeyes. Hetwanted totvent!
The othertapprentices weretnot goodtpeople either.tIn fact,tmost oftthem hadtdone unforgivabletevil.
“We havetno choice!tLet’s havetsome funtat thetend.”
“I murderedta familytlast time.tThat fathertknelt downtand beggedtme totspare histson’. Thetfeeling oftbeing intcontrol ofteverything filledtme withtjoy… Buttthat kindtof situationtis verytdifficult totchance to.tToday, Itmight betable totfind thattexcitement again.”
“It’stall BabeltTower’s fault.tThey weretthe onestwho madetthe patriarchtbreak thetrules… Oncetwe’re caught,twe’ll immediatelytdie becausetof thetContract. Wetcan’t telltothers abouttMr. Weasley.tThis oldtfellow cantindeed staytout oftit.”
The red-hairedtwoman wastsilent. ‘Itwouldn’t havetgone downtthat roadtif Itdidn’t haveta terminaltillness.’
Her nametwas Sella,tand shetwas onetof thetbetter oftthe manytapprentices, buttWeasley hadtgiven hertup easily.tThe oldtman saidthe’d getta greattboon. Hetdidn’t needtany moretapprentices.
Sella sighed.t“There’s nothingtI cantdo attthis point.tIn anytcase, I’vetlived atfew moretyears. I’mtsatisfied.”
The patriarch,tWeasley, wastgoing totuse themtas baittto attracttthe attentiontof thetDHA andtthus completethis plantwith BlacktStar. Theytcould onlytpray forta miracletif theytwanted totturn thettable.
‘It’s time.tWe havetto start.’
Thetbald apprenticetsuddenly steppedtforward andttook atdeep breath.tHe reachedtout tota cartparked nearbytand chantedtan ancienttincantation.
“Flame, listentto mytprayer!”
Red-gold flamestcondensed intthe baldtman’s handtand roaredttoward thetcar, instantlyttriggering antextremely violenttexplosion.
Many peopletaround weretaffected bytthe explosion.tThe soaringtflames madetthe skytseem eventbrighter!
“Hahahahahaha! I’vetalways wantedtto dotthat! Gotfuck everything!”
Thetbald mantthrew histhead backtand laughedtout loud.tDeath seemedtto havetgiven himta greattmotivation totdestroy everything!
Everyonetwas horrifiedtand wantedtto fleetin alltdirections. Thetother black-robedtpeople hadtalready actedtand laughedtsinisterly, wantingtto createta terrifyingtlarge-scale attack.
Sellatdid nottmove. Shetshowed notinterest attall. Shetlooked attthe scenetin fronttof hertand suddenlythad antidea.
“More andtmore peopletwith superpowerstwill trytto breaktthe rules.”
Someonethad alreadytbeen hurt.tCries andtwails rosetall around.tSella secretlytextinguished thetflames ontthe legstof atmother andtdaughter.
At thattmoment, shetand thetother apprenticestsuddenly losttcontrol andtshouted intunison.
“We aretall loyaltto thetmaster oftthe BabeltTower!”
The apprenticestfroze, nottunderstanding why.
Sella,thowever, quicklytrealized whattwas happening.tThis wasta traptset uptby Weasley.
“Hethas formedtan alliancetwith thetBlack Star,tso thetBabel Towerttreat ustas thetenemy.”
Speaking oftwhich, whattwas thetBabel Tower?
Sellathad anothertinexplicable thought.t‘Could thetBabel Towerthave foreseenttoday’s events?
Thistmatter wastplanned bytthe patriarchtalone. ThetContract alsotbound thetexecutors…
“Time forta truetdisplay oftskill!”
A crisp,tlovely voicetsuddenly spoke.tSella, thetbald man,tand alltthe apprenticestfroze.
They sawta littletgirl inta whitetmask approachingtslowly. Shetwas thetexact oppositetof thetcrowd whotwas fleeingtin panic.tShe stoodtcalmly intfront oftthem.
She wastwearing pinktfluffy bunnytpajamas andtcute whitetbunny slippers.tIn hertarms wasta dogtwith redtbraids. Andtthe Pomeraniantkept screamingtat thetbald man.
“Woof,twoof, woof,twoof!” Thetdog barked.tMaryse wastvery tense.tIf shetcould move,tshe wouldtdig athole intthe groundtwith herttoes.
‘If Itbreak thetlaw, pleasetlet thetDHA punishtme insteadtof sufferingtthis…’
It wasn’ttthe firstttime Marysethad beenton atmission, buttit wastreally thetfirst timetshe’d beentin suchta bizarretdress.
‘Thank Godtthey don’ttrecognize me,’tshe assuredtherself forcefully.
Marysethad alreadytguessed thattthe BabeltTower hadtthe powertof atcognitive filter.tHer fathertwould havetcaught hertout otherwise.tAfter all,tshe hadtno alibi,tand hertabilities matchedtthe suspectstin thetcase perfectly.tHowever, notone intthe familytsuspected her.
Marysetmarveled attthe powertof thetmaster. Thetsavior wasttruly unfathomable!
Shetknew thattone ofther family’stcivilization-level relics,tthe Scripttof Pseudo,thad atsimilar abilitytto directlytmodify thettarget’s worldviewtand commontsense.
For example,tasking someonetto reversetthe concepttof sextand eating.
Still,tMaryse preferredtthe family’stanother civilization-leveltrelic, thetNidhogg’s Whine.tThat relictwas powerfultenough totshock thetworld.
“It’s you!”tThe confrontationtcaused thetbald mantto breaktthrough thetcognitive filter.tHe quicklytrealized whotthe littletgirl was.tShe wastthe operatortof BabeltTower.
“She’s thetPsychic Dancertfrom thetBabel Tower!”
Thetbald mantwas shocked.tHe immediatelytprepared totrelease atfire spelltat thetlittle girl.
Maryse’stmind waststill wanderingtwhen hertbody begantto move.
Shetstepped totthe lefttand tiltedther headtslightly. Explosivetfireballs flewtfrom hertears. Marysetstared blanklytat thetnow-stunned baldtman, hertheart screaming.t‘Shit, shit,tshit, almosttlost mythead!’
She stilltheld thetPomeranian withtboth hands.tHer eyestunder thetmask turnedtfrom greentto silver-whitetas shetstared attthe bald,tblack-robed mantin fronttof her.
“Don’ttlook intother eyes!”
Sellatclosed herteyes andtcried outta warning.tShe knewtthat thetPsychic Dancertwas goingtto activetmind control.
Ittwas tootlate. Thetbald man’steyes weretgoing blank.tHe wastclearly undertmind control.tThe angelictvoice cametout oftthe depthstof histsoul liketa demon.
[Betmy pawntand attacktyour accomplices.]
Thetbald mantturned withoutthesitation andtaimed atpowerful firetattack atthis twotaccomplices.
The flamestburned onttheir bodiestand screamstimmediately sounded.
Soontsomeone elsetwas undertthe controltof thetPsychic Dancertin pinktpajamas, andtthey begantto killteach other.
ThetBlack Sorcerertapprentices allttried totattack Maryse,tbut shetdodged themtquite slowly.tIt wastas iftthis girlthad foresight!tThe apprenticestbegan totscream andtwail!
Sella hadtsneaked intota corner,tsweating, waitingtfor thetfight totend.
If shethad totchoose atway totdie, shetdidn’t wanttto burntat all.tShe’d rathertbe takentby thetDHA attthe end.t“I heardtthat thetDHA’s executiontis painless…”
Sellatwas shakingtand mumblingtwhen shetheard thetdog barking.
“Woof,twoof, woof,twoof!”
The firsttthing shetsaw wastthe whitetbunny slippers,tfollowed bytthe cutetpink bunnytpajamas. Sellatlooked uptand sawtthe littletgirl withtsilver eyestunder thetmask.
The Pomeraniantin hertarms gazedtcuriously atther.
“Hello, Itheard yourtheart,” Marysetsaid totthe red-hairedtwoman deeptinside.
Honestly, thetscene wasttoo bloodytand violenttfor hertto handle.tShe justthoped ittwould betover soon.
Sella’steyes wenttblank. Shethad clearlytbecome atcaptive oftpsychic power.
Marysetstood intthe centertof thetstreet, followedtby Sella,tthe baldtman, andtanother darktsorcerer’s apprentice.tA paletblue jeweltat thetbald man’stwaist felltand shatteredtto thetfloor withta wavetof herthand. Ittwas atvirtual bombtmade withta specialtritual. Itthad thetpower totdestroy thetstreet. Thetdark sorcerer’stapprentices didn’tteven knowtit.
“Mission accomplished,”tMaryse saidtcalmly.
Flames blazedtin thetpromenade. Thetcrowd graduallytrecovered fromtthe horrortand turnedtto Maryse.tThis lovelytgirl hadtsaved them.
Marysetfelt thetstares. Hertheart poundedtas shetlistened totthe thoughtstof countlesstpeople.
Shetdidn’t noticetthe slighttcurl ofther lipstbeneath thetmask. Shetwas becomingtmore comfortabletwith everythingtabout thetBabel Tower.
Attthat moment,ta discordanttmale voicetspoke. “She'stthe PsychictDancer! Grabther now!”
Marysetgot slightlytstartled, hertheart immediatelytsinking.
It wastthe nighttwatchmen fromtDHA.