Hate me, Miss Witch!

[Blasphemer]

[Rarity: Purple (Upgradable)]

[Titleholder: Shiayar Egutt]

[You once desecrated an awakened ancient god.]

[Title Attribute 1: When equipped, depending on the amount of Divinity contained within hostile units, you and your Pet Beasts will inflict 5% to 50% additional damage to them.]

[Title Attribute 2: When equipped, you will more easily attract the hostility and hatred of Fabled Creatures, Zealots, and the like.]

[Note: One need not kill a god to be called a Godslayer; killing an incarnation counts as well... Just as a Dragon Slayer hasn't necessarily defeated a pureblood giant dragon; perhaps they only killed a large lizard with a trace of dragon blood.]

...

[Historical Legend Rank — The Forgotten by the Ages]

[Owner: Shiayar Egutt]

[Belonging to: Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden/Western Continent]

[In the relentless flow of years, the people of the entire Western Continent have forgotten that chapter buried under the dust, as well as the person it concerned. But if it were not for his existence, perhaps the fate of that young girl, that dukedom, and even the entire human civilization on the Western Continent would have taken a completely different course, and the outcome for countless beings would have been turned upside down.

Historical Legend Rank—this is the honor bestowed upon those heroes who have once stood at the turning point of human history.]

...

Shiayar fell silent as he stared at the two information panels that appeared in his mind.

The title "Blasphemer" was easy to understand.

Simply put, equipping this title would grant him and his Pet Beasts a buff for "special attacks against divine beings," along with a taunting effect.

Crude yet practical.

Normally, he definitely couldn't equip this title. Otherwise, he might be apprehended by a patrolling Order of Paladins one day and taken to the Holy See's tribunal.

However, at a critical moment, if he encountered any evil followers, incarnations of Evil Gods, or similar threats, this title would be very useful.

A maximum 50% special attack bonus—it was almost too good to be true.

However, the real reason for Shiayar's silence was the subsequent Historical Legend Rank.

"The honor bestowed upon heroes who have once stood at the turning point of human history."

Oh, System, System.

What exactly are you trying to imply?

...

"This must be the place. Truly the most luxurious hotel in the entire Black Lily District."

The carriage stopped, and the driver voiced his sincere admiration.

Enola handed him a pitch-black mask, while she herself put on one with cat ears.

Shiayar took the mask and placed it on his face.

The carriage stopped outside a lavish building, where a white-gloved attendant came forward and respectfully opened the carriage door.

Enola blinked, took Shiayar's hand, and stepped out of the carriage. An umbrella quickly appeared above them, shielding them from the rain.

"Your attire, it's so reminiscent of the latest illustrated novel published by the Royal Book Society."

Seeing Shiayar and Enola in black trench coats and masks, the attendant couldn't help but voice his heartfelt admiration.

"Oh, what illustrated novel?" Shiayar closed the system interface in his mind and inquired.

"'The Royal Heart-stealing Eccentric Thieves.'"

"Your outfits are exactly like the main characters in it."

"Truly an enviable pair of eccentric thieving lovers."

"That's quite a coincidence," Shiayar nodded.

He had recently spent a fortune to power up for the final act of the Azure Garden Dukedom's Echo of History. Using his greatly enhanced spiritual power, he had also taken the opportunity to plagiarize a host of works from his previous life, which should now be ready for publication.

He hadn't expected to run into a fan of his books already.

Shiayar noticed that Enola, who was holding his hand, quickened her pace noticeably upon hearing his conversation with the attendant.

"You have a way with words. Go on."

"Is that so? Then I shall say a bit more," the attendant said, pleasantly surprised. "But if you ask me, the male protagonist in it is a bit too dull.

"He's surrounded by so many charming and delightful women, yet he chooses to focus solely on his childhood friend, the main heroine. I think that protagonist should have just gone for all of them and achieved a grand harem ending, sailing 'nine ships' at once!"

As a result, Enola's previously light and cheerful steps faltered, and her grip on Shiayar's hand tightened subtly but firmly.

"Never mind. If you don't know what to say, it's best to say less."

...

Dark Night Garden.

Ostensibly, it was a luxurious hotel renowned throughout the Black Lily District and indeed the entire Empire Capital.

But in the shadows, it was one of the Empire Capital strongholds of the Dark Shadow Council—the king of the Western Continent's gray world.

Countless Transcendents came and went daily, and intelligence transactions worth hundreds of thousands of Rhine gold coins occurred within its walls.

However, at this moment, the Dark Shadow Council manager responsible for receiving their most elite clients felt utterly exasperated.

He had been standing by, watching these two highest-level clients of the Council feast lavishly at the table before him for over two hours.

Dark Night Garden was, ostensibly, a hotel. However, the high-level clients who came here were usually in a rush to trade intelligence or, at best, to issue clandestine commissions, their every word and action befitting a secret agent rendezvous.

Who actually came here to *dine*? And for two hours straight, no less, ordering all the rarest and most expensive dishes until the kitchen's supplies ran low?

"Esteemed guest, do you think we could perhaps proceed to...?"

The Dark Shadow Council manager was sweating profusely, but Shiayar interrupted him as soon as he spoke, "Don't rush. Can't you see we're still eating?"

"By the way, I recall that your organization provides complimentary meals for high-level clients, correct?"

"That is indeed correct, but..." The manager's words trailed off.

An expression of surprise flashed across his face. He then nodded respectfully, turned, and left.

...

Beside Shiayar, Enola, usually the epitome of grace, was currently devouring her food like a whirlwind. Suddenly, her body tensed. A silver glint was about to erupt from her eyes, accompanied by her sharp aura, but Shiayar quickly restrained her.

Shiayar picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth.

Then, he looked towards the faint shadow cast by the table and chairs under the bright beams of the magic-guided spotlight.

The shadow spread and morphed, gradually weaving itself into an ethereal human figure.

Soon, the indistinct figure woven from shadows gradually sharpened.

She was a young woman in a dark, classical gown. Between her ink-black tresses, a pair of subtle protrusions could be seen. Her layered clothing, though not overly elaborate, was adorned with specks of starlight, resembling the night sky itself.

Her form was somewhat translucent, with ripples emanating outwards. Her face, as if veiled by layers of fine gauze, was indistinct yet exceptionally beautiful.

Shiayar gazed intently at the young woman in the black gown before him. Her face, as if shrouded in night, was difficult to discern clearly.

"You are stronger than that Peak 5-Ring manager from earlier, and you hold a higher status."

"Furthermore, this is likely not your true body, but an avatar woven from shadows... Your actual body isn't in the Empire Capital, perhaps not even within the Empire's borders."

"A Peak 6-Ring, Titled Rank, and also employing a high-rank Extraordinary Item... A high-ranking member of the Dark Shadow Council..."

"Or are you... the 'Queen of the Night'?"

A chuckle, like the chiming of silver bells, came from the young woman across the table.

"That's all information at the 'Knell of the Saint' to 'Deathbringer Angel Level.'"

"Answering those questions... would exhaust all your remaining credits with the Council."

"In that case, forget it." Shiayar shook his head, pushing his empty plate and cutlery aside.

"Oh? Not eating anymore?"

The young woman in black seemed slightly disappointed. She propped her chin on her hands, her eyes, veiled by shadow, fixed on Shiayar.

Her gaze possessed the unique clarity of a young girl, yet it also seemed to carry the weight of ages past.

It held scrutiny... and also a hint of unnoticed nostalgia.

"Actually, you can eat for as long as you like. If the kitchen runs out of ingredients, I can have headquarters send more through a secret channel."

A secret channel—

Is it referring to the Dark Shadow Council's internal teleportation array corridor?

Holding Enola's hand, Shiayar felt the agitation stirred by her Intuition gradually calming under the soothing touch of their skin contact.

"No," he shook his head. "With you here, neither of us can eat properly."

"That truly is a pity. I was hoping to see the great hero who saved the Empire Capital concentrating on his meal..."

The young woman in black sighed regretfully.

"Then, let's begin the transaction." Shiayar nodded. He then slowly stated,

"First, I want to know about all contact between the Ashes Cult and the Twilight Cult over the past few hundred years. A general chronicle will suffice."

"Certainly." The young woman, still resting her chin on one hand and gazing at Shiayar, waved her other hand in the air. "'Knell of the Saint' level. Valued at one thousand five hundred Rhine gold coins."

"After this deduction, you will have a balance of two thousand Rhine gold coins' worth of credit with the Dark Shadow Council."

The next moment, from the thin veil of night, a plain-looking book materialized as if sketched into existence on white paper with a pencil.

It then landed in front of Shiayar.

It was as if it had abruptly appeared from one plane onto another.

Shiayar's expression remained unchanged as he picked up the book and began to read.

The first entry in the book detailed the Ashes Cult's riot at St. Roland Academy a few months prior.

Because Shiayar had requested a "general chronicle," specific key details were obscured. It only stated that the students and faculty of St. Roland Academy, along with the Military Department, had foiled the Ashes Cult's conspiracy.

Shiayar's gaze swept over the book, flipping through the pages chronologically.

Then, his eyes fixed on a particular page.

「Holy Calendar Year 350」

「The Twilight Cult, led by several cult leaders, disrupted one of the Ashes Cult's fire sacrifice rituals, slaughtered more than half of their thousand followers, and converted the rest using contaminants.」

「In the decades that followed, the two cults engaged in numerous fierce battles. Many factions from the Lost Realm, including other evil cults, attempted to mediate, but to no avail.」

「The Twilight Cult claimed that the Ashes Cult had violated the tacit agreement among evil cults and sabotaged their plans for Twilight's resurgence. However, the Ashes Cult consistently denied any involvement and refused to admit fault.」

「The conflict between the two thus intensified, worsening over time until they became irreconcilably hostile.」

「[This piece of intelligence contains logical discrepancies and requires further verification.]」