Shalti would never forget that night.
The revered human druid opened his broad robe, revealing a waist and abdomen covered in tentacles, split open by a gaping maw. He calmly confessed his crimes to them. "The essence of mutation lies in chaotic arcane energy, but mutation itself has no concept of good or evil. People may grow an extra kidney or ten eyes, yet their bodily structure can gradually stabilize amid collapse, eventually reaching a delicate balance—
"In other words, life infected by the plague will survive. It may even gain tremendous physical capabilities from it. Extra tentacles, stronger hands and feet—those tentacles can even whip dents into steel plates, helping us with our daily work.
"It will not hurt you, nor will it twist your mind. Aside from looking like a bloody mess and being unpleasant to look at, it has no side effects.
"So I do not believe it is a curse, an evil that ought to be eradicated.
"Mutation itself is more like an inevitable change born from the world's development. Like—
"The evolution of species.
"Perhaps by people's current standards of beauty, it looks terrifying and ugly.
"But as time passes, once people gradually adapt to and accept its existence, perhaps they will discover its endearing qualities."
Ronan spread his arms, as though embracing this natural evolution.
Shalti looked at her companions. Their expressions varied, but not one of them was willing to agree with him.
Black Snake rubbed the edge of his blade, his mouth twitching in revulsion. "I don't want to grow two tentacles, and I especially don't want to climb into bed with those flesh monsters."
Falto kept drawing the Holy Emblem over his chest. "Even if it does not drive people mad, such a thing cannot be called life." Perhaps it had