Chapter 32: The Light of the Apocalypse

The office door was slowly pulled open, and Dounia walked out backward.

“Goodbye, Instructor Latifah,” she said, as obedient as a student who had just been reprimanded.

Latifah had used the identity verification to put Dounia in her place.
After assigning the mission, Dounia was hastily shooed out by Latifah.

Apparently, even a villain like Latifah, who was also a follower of an evil god, felt uneasy when faced with a crafty and cunning Pleasure Follower.

Dounia pouted, seeming somewhat helpless.

‘The Pleasure Faction, disliked by both humans and dogs.’

‘But it’s understandable. Although they are the best collaborators and will give you considerable support during the honeymoon period of your cooperation, when they turn their goal of pleasure and amusement toward you… you’d better be careful.’

Dounia walked on the cold, smooth marble floor, thinking carefully.

“Alicia, the original protagonist, the delay of her train in the game was not described in detail, only briefly mentioned as ‘the Snow Country Express encountered an avalanche and was delayed for a week’.”

“I heard on the radio earlier that the avalanche this time only delayed her train by three days…”

“If all of this is directly related to me, does that mean that my going to the blacksmith’s shop with Adelle, luring out the warlock, and saving Linda delayed Latifah’s original schedule?”

Dounia narrowed her eyes, Latifah’s words from just now echoing in her ears.

“She is currently trapped on a Snow Country Express train, and thus has avoided the trap we set. You can find out the specific intelligence yourself.”

A bold hypothesis emerged in Dounia’s mind.

“Perhaps, Latifah has fought with Alicia head-on before? Right at the beginning of the story?”

Latifah’s path was clearly related to that giant bone dragon, and Alicia’s identity on the [BE] route happened to be the ‘Dragon Witch,’ and the attack spells she used were often centered around blood-red ‘slaughter.’

“Are they on the same path?” Dounia frowned.

She could feel a faint connection between these things, but she was still missing some key information.

For example, why did Latifah know Alicia’s movements?
Was she worth paying attention to at this time?

‘Others aren’t like me, who knows who the “female protagonist” is.’

‘She had to pay attention to what connected these two seemingly unrelated people.’

Dounia let out a light sigh and shook her head.

She noticed the guards’ gazes toward her had become somewhat more reverent.

“Mmm… is it because I just came out of Latifah’s office, so I’m most likely her apprentice? The [Psychology] department seems to have a very high status in the Bureau.”

Dounia yawned and walked downstairs alone.

She made her way to Area D and saw Julie, the guard, holding a newspaper and doing a crossword puzzle.

“Hey, Julie, is it black bread for dinner again?” Dounia’s cheeky voice sounded.

Dunn dunn dunn—

Like the sound of a phone running out of battery, Dounia’s sharp eyes noticed a small, faint dark cloud forming over Julie’s head, which then quickly dissipated.

[Malice +1]

Lilith timely provided a supplement.

Dounia blinked.

‘So this is “Malice Perception”?’

Julie smiled helplessly.
She knew the child before her was just a bit sharp-tongued and had no real malice.

[Malice -1]

“I’m already very satisfied just to have food to eat,” Julie said with a smile. “I heard you’ve become Instructor Latifah’s apprentice. I might have to address you as ‘Surveillance Officer’ soon.”

“Not at all,” Dounia said with a smile. “Becoming a Surveillance Officer isn’t that simple.”

“But I believe that with your talent and qualifications, it won’t be a problem at all,” Julie praised from the bottom of her heart.

After Dounia had shown her kindness before, Julie’s impression of Dounia was quite good.

Dounia then walked into her own room and took out Julie’s worn wallet.

“Here,” Dounia handed Julie’s wallet to her.

“What is this?”

“I’m an official Executioner now, with a fixed monthly salary.” Dounia placed her hands on her hips and proudly lifted her small head. “You still have a family to support, so I’ll be merciful and return it to you.”

Seeing Julie still hesitating, Dounia stuffed the wallet into Julie’s hand and said, her face a little red.

“Aren’t you going to say thank you?”

Julie blinked in surprise.

It seemed she had really misjudged her back then.
Dounia seemed to be a genuinely kind-hearted child.

Julie hesitated for a moment, fumbling in her pocket, and took out a small glass shard with a few inscriptions on it.

She had originally found it on the road and was planning to see if she could exchange it for some money to subsidize her family.

“Please accept this.”

“When you become a Surveillance Officer, I’ll still need you to look out for me,” Julie said with a smile.

This glass shard looked a bit mottled and had many impurities inside.
It was also about half the size of the one Hutchinson held.

Dounia pondered, looking at Julie, and suddenly found it a little funny.

‘Is this what you call a seasoned veteran of the workplace? Able to get the latest gossip immediately, and also knows how to do a favor when the opportunity arises… very smart.’

“Are you sure you want to give it to me? This small piece of glass can be exchanged for at least fifty silver coins, you know,” Dounia kindly reminded her.

A look of reluctance instantly appeared on Julie’s face, and her heart was immediately filled with conflict.

‘Fifty silver coins… if used sparingly, it would be enough for their family’s expenses for 3-5 months.’

But she gritted her teeth and pushed the glass shard forward.

‘Dounia’s character is trustworthy, and her magnanimity is great enough. She’s practically the light of the apocalypse! This will be her early investment… I just hope she will remember me!’

“Please, you must accept it.”

“Julie, oh Julie.” Dounia shook her head and chuckled, pinching the glass shard from Julie’s palm.

The moment it was in her hand, she could feel a warm current pass through her brain, and her spirit relaxed slightly.

“From today on, you’re with me,” Dounia lifted her head slightly. “If you need help with anything, just say so. Don’t go hungry by yourself anymore.”

A warm current flowed through Julie’s heart.

“Yes, my lord Surveillance Officer,” she said loudly.

Dounia couldn’t help but laugh.

She hadn’t even become a Surveillance Officer yet, and Julie was already calling her that.

‘If this were a game, she couldn’t imagine a guard being so “sensible” and quick on the uptake. I really can’t just treat them as NPCs…’

Dounia took out her magnetic card, swiped open the door, and walked into her room.

A warm and gentle orange-yellow light was already on, as if waiting for Dounia’s return.

She looked at her room with some emotion.

A few days ago, she was just a prisoner living in a dilapidated cell.

And now, she was an official Executioner, able to receive five gold coins a month, plus extra allowances…

Dounia kicked off her shoes and leaped onto the bed.

Hugging the soft quilt, the young girl curled into a ball, her slightly furrowed brow gradually smoothing out.

In the warm embrace, Dounia closed her eyes and fell into a boundless dreamland…

She didn’t know how long had passed when a muffled voice sounded by her ear.

“Nia… my lady…”

“Can… you… see…?”

“…instructions…”