Chapter 34: The Sinner’s Sacrifice

Feng Ling poured her heart into her performance, drawing the villagers’ fury entirely upon herself.

Yet, she showed no fear. She moved her hands and body, deliberately fanning their rage and ensuring it fixated on her.

Akuma was laboriously condensing the magic barrier; it was clear she was very tired.

Meanwhile, Mo Ya’s gaze was fixed on the small girl before him. The girl’s earlier plea resurfaced in his memory, and he quietly clenched his fists.

Had he made a mistake? Should he not have told her such a cruel truth? For once, Mo Ya felt lost and helpless.

Those were useless emotions he had long since discarded.

“That… can you do one last favor for me, Mo Ya?”

“What?”

“I want this village to truly be free.” Feng Ling’s upturned face held a faint trace of determination.

“Think about it, if I just leave without a word, the villagers will still live in fear and dread, won’t they? They won’t be able to find true freedom that way.”

“Mm…”

“That won’t do. Negative emotions will intensify the power of the Corroding Swarm. If they remain afraid, the Corroded Realm connection point generated by the villagers won’t disappear. One day, the Corroding Swarm will erupt…”

Feng Ling released Mo Ya’s tightly clasped hand and moved in front of him. “So, I want to become the sinner in their hearts, to use my departure to eliminate their worries.”

Mo Ya was a Corroded — Feng Ling knew this. Yet, despite that, she still chose to rely on him.

It was as if he were her older brother. If she had had his companionship from the start, would she still be the way she was now?

Thinking such thoughts was pointless. She took a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks until her face resembled a round, fleshy ball. Then, she slowly exhaled, releasing the fear within her along with the breath.

“As long as I become the sinner, as long as I receive punishment, the Corroding Swarm will be resolved.”

“You…”

“You’ll help me, right?” She returned to Mo Ya’s side, grasping his arm, which was crisscrossed with scars from battle.

“Brother.”

“I am not your brother.”

Outside the protective barrier, the villagers’ attacks continued. Now, the time had come.

Mo Ya stepped in front of the performing Feng Ling, shielding her body. In that instant, the usual weakness and helplessness in her eyes were fully revealed.

“I am an intern mage from the Magic Academy, and I hereby declare. The Calamity Witch has been… apprehended, and will now be sent to the academy for disposition.”

This was the first long sentence Mo Ya had ever uttered, yet his tone conveyed an unquestionable authority.

Akuma even felt that the person behind her was like one of those powerful figures from a noble family, exuding an indescribable pressure.

Of course, Mo Ya’s words were pure fabrication, but they were enough to intimidate the villagers.

“You are free now, no longer under the curse’s influence.”

Mo Ya’s voice, full of the air of an authority figure, caused many villagers to drop their weapons and collapse onto the ground.

For them, freedom from the curse, living without fear, and not losing their loved ones was everything.

Nothing could satisfy them more. In fact, they secretly rejoiced in their hearts that it wasn’t themselves or their family who had died, but others.

Therefore, Mo Ya’s words did not satisfy all the villagers. Many still stood, crashing against the protective barrier.

For them, nothing was more sorrowful than losing loved ones. But this was merely futile, for they had no power.

They lacked the strength to change their current situation. Eventually, they too realized this, and the frequency of their pounding slowed. They all collapsed onto the ground.

Watching this scene, Mo Ya was filled with emotion. Was this the consequence of lacking power?

He had had enough of powerlessness; he would never become one of these villagers, never.

Mo Ya shielded Feng Ling in his shadow and slowly left the grief-stricken village.

“Don’t just leave on your own, hey… quickly tell me what’s going on.”

Akuma followed behind him, catching up with him in small steps.

Before long, the village’s wounds would fully scab over, returning to how they once were.

For people always had to move forward. Time would soften grief, and one day, upon reflection, perhaps only the old scars would remain visible.

The carriage wheels rolled, speeding away from the town. Uncharacteristically, Mo Ya did not lie on the roof. Instead, he sat inside the carriage, holding Feng Ling.

The girl in his arms slept peacefully, soft breaths escaping her small nostrils, with faint tear stains on her face.

Mo Ya quietly looked at the road ahead, a winding path stretching into the distance.

Akuma was driving the carriage, returning along the path they had taken earlier. His memory was truly remarkable, Mo Ya thought with a hint of surprise.

“Hey, dead last, what should we do next? Are we really taking her to the academy?”

“Mm…”

“The academy won’t agree, right? She’s only nine, after all.”

“Who knows? But it’s better than doing nothing, isn’t it? Going to the Magic Academy is this girl’s purest wish.” Mo Ya said, withdrawing his gaze from the distance. “Just like your yearning for the sea.”

“What? I can’t believe you still remember that! You’re just dead last, you know.”

Mo Ya did not directly answer her question. He slowly set Feng Ling down, made a comfortable spot for her to sleep, and then came to Akuma’s side.

“Do you want to go?”

The simple words filled Akuma with warmth. Nevertheless, he closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Maybe next time…”

“I see.”

Akuma cracked the whip, accelerating the horses’ pace.

“You know, you might actually have a talent for being an older brother.”

“Nonsense.” Mo Ya turned his head, no longer looking at Akuma.

“Oh, my, could it be you’re shy? How lame, haha!”

Akuma laughed. In that moment… Mo Ya felt a fleeting illusion. The one laughing in front of him wasn’t the boy from his dorm, but more like a girl’s laughter. He even saw her long hair fluttering.

‘An illusion, perhaps…’ Mo Ya leaped, flipping onto the carriage roof. Yet, the doubts in his heart continued to grow. What was this familiar feeling about Akuma?

But his thoughts quickly ceased, his attention captivated by the brilliant rainbow in the sky.

“It didn’t even rain… Well, whatever.”

Yes, people always had to move forward. Because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to see such a rainbow.

“Surprisingly beautiful… is it an illusion?”

He smiled, closing his eyes.

‘Feeling a bit sleepy.’