Some things were "lodging" inside Villanther.
Or, to put it more neutrally, she was "carrying" something.
Murphy had discovered this secret some time ago. At first, it was because embracing Villanther had given him twice the attribute feedback and an outrageously powerful life-saving talent. Later, Snakelet Mannis had given him a warning. After repeatedly observing the lewd boss, Lord Yvette, Murphy had confirmed that the Shadow Elf's god had been by his side even before the Black Calamity began.
If he had discovered the truth a few months earlier, the vampire would probably have jumped out of his skin.
But now? This was nothing.
After personally saving one god and grinding another to dust, Murphy's understanding of the concept of "gods" had been revised. He realized that in this world, "god" was merely a conceptual term for powerful, higher beings.
The word itself didn't mean they possessed some omnipotent divinity. Once he realized these beings couldn't destroy the world with a single glance, and couldn't even leave the subspace as they pleased, Murphy had grown bolder.
He still respected the gods, but he no longer feared them.
After all, the vampire had the right to be arrogant. The Creator had left behind the Scepter of God, which could still be fired forty-three times. It made Murphy feel like a ruler sitting atop a nuclear arsenal, with enough leverage to negotiate with any faction or individual.
Still, the Spider Lady was a rather peculiar being.
Compared with Murphy's more or less direct encounters with other gods, this deity had been by his side for months without making any active contact. The closest she had come was using Villanther to foresee that Murphy would face mortal danger, then sending him a Bottle of Rebirth.
This passive, unhurried "observation" had forced Murphy to