No Definitive Answer

"Then what do you think, master?"

After listening to Li Lin's conjecture, Angela narrowed her eyes, seeming to be thinking, yet also seeming to be studying the man before her.

"Why are you so certain the gods did not intervene in this war? From your account, the Magic Empire was powerful enough to stand as an equal with the gods. Wouldn't those gods have acted against them out of jealousy or because they were a threat? I have read quite a few novels about such things online. In them, the gods eliminate potential threats and anyone who might stand in their way. Although those novels are merely the products of idle human fantasies mixed with selfish desires, there may be some truth to them."

"That's impossible."

Li Lin shook his head firmly.

"Arcane mages were very familiar with the gods, so if any god had intervened, we would certainly have sensed their power. And for certain reasons, we can be sure the gods would not intervene. After all, in any war, there are bound to be prisoners. We captured quite a few people and interrogated them for information. If there really had been fanatical believers among them, we would have learned of it. But in fact, none of the information we obtained showed any sign of the gods. Although some people claimed to have received divine revelations, the arcane mages had plenty of ways to determine whether a god had actually contacted them. Besides, some gods' interests were closely tied to the Magic Empire. Our defeat was certainly not something they wanted to see."

"Although you say so, and I do not believe you would lie, master..."

Angela watched Li Lin quietly and pointed out the most important issue.

"I have not seen a single one of those gods you mentioned who had close ties to the Magic Empire. Aside from that wretched couple we encountered earlier, I have not seen a single cleric from outside the Temple of Justice. Nor have I seen any temples to those gods along the way. I have not even seen a trace of a temple to the Goddess of Dawn, whom you said you knew well."

Exactly.

Angela's words were simple and clear, yet hard to accept.

Aside from temples to the God of Justice, they had seen no sign of any other temples in the cities they had passed through. Li Lin had long harbored suspicions and doubts. But he found the idea too absurd. Had the God of Justice really killed the other gods? Leaving aside how mad such a plan was and how unlikely it was to succeed, even the thought of it was incomprehensible.

What good would that do the God of Justice?

"So we can't jump to any conclusions yet."

He spoke to Angela.

"We must keep moving forward with our doubts."

"And then resolve them all."

A faint, cruel and smug smile appeared on Angela's face.

"As you wish."

After their brief discussion, Li Lin fell silent again. He understood that he was a native of this world, and therefore would always approach questions with preconceptions. Just as people from that world would always try to find answers through scientific research when confronted with mysterious phenomena, Li Lin would first draw on his own experiences and knowledge to make a judgment when faced with a question. That was why he needed Angela to help him analyze these issues from another perspective. She knew nothing about the Magic Empire, nor did she understand it, and she knew nothing at all about this world. Yet sometimes, it was precisely such ignorance that allowed one to see the real answer.

The mountain road was somewhat rugged, but the sturdy carriage rocked only slightly. The irregular swaying was like a gentle caress, almost enough to lull one to sleep. Li Lin stared at the scenery outside the window. He had a bad feeling, as though something were traveling alongside them, secretly watching them. At that thought, he closed his eyes.

"Something's wrong!"

Li Lin jolted in alarm. No longer concerned with concealing his power, he swept a hand forward. Magic runes quickly flashed into view, followed by a piercing scream. Several translucent figures darted out of the carriage. Their bodies were gaunt, and they looked like elderly women, but their pitch-black eye sockets were utterly lifeless. They held no desire for life, only deep submission and curses.

"Banshees!!"

The mounted knights had also been growing drowsy. In theory, they should have been fully alert while riding along such a dangerous road, but for some reason, they had completely overlooked that. Except for Duncan, who had escaped harm by remaining vigilant, almost everyone froze for a moment at the piercing scream. The horses were also somewhat panicked by the sudden fright, but they were well trained, and the paladins reacted quickly, soon calming them. Duncan, the first to respond, let out a shout and drew his longsword. Holy radiance instantly enveloped the knight, making him look sacred and inviolable.

"Begone, ghosts of death, evil tempters!"

He shouted, and the pure white light grew brighter still.

"In the name of the God of Justice, daughters of death, do not appear before us again!!"

At Duncan's furious shout, the banshees surrounding the carriages began to retreat, but they did not leave. They continued to circle nearby, seemingly unwilling to disperse.

"What happened?"

Mina and Fina also seemed to have come to their senses by then. They stepped out of the carriage and quickly spotted the banshees circling nearby, their faces turning pale at once.

Meanwhile, inside Li Lin's carriage, a different scene was unfolding.

"I've already told you why I came, guardian."

Li Lin held out a hand, fingers closing around empty air, and beneath his palm, a translucent banshee stared coldly at the human before her.

"Why are you still attacking us?"

"Humans... die... orders..."

The banshee struggled, trying and failing to escape Li Lin's grasp. Her answer, however, softened his gaze slightly.

"That order has been rescinded, guardian..."

He continued.

"Thank you for guarding this place all this time."

"..."

The banshee fell silent and stared at Li Lin, her withered eyes filled with emptiness. Then she spoke again, her voice still hoarse.

"...Payment..."

"Of course, I can give you that, as agreed. What do you want?"

The banshee fell silent again at Li Lin's question, and he said nothing either. They had abandoned spoken words and were communicating through thought instead.

I want those paladins, controller. I want their souls, their despairing souls.

You can have them, but not now.

Li Lin chose his words carefully as he answered.

I also want those two little girls...

No.

This time, Li Lin rejected the banshee's demand without hesitation.

They're my companion's toys. You can't have them.

Master, why waste words on her?

Angela's sweet, clear voice, just as vicious and perhaps a hundred times more evil than the banshee's, also joined the mental conversation.

Wouldn't it be best to simply destroy an ugly woman like her, old and withered until she's nothing but skin?

Perhaps she sensed Angela's power, or perhaps she believed she had already received sufficient payment. After watching the two of them for a moment, the banshee said nothing more and quickly vanished into the ring on Li Lin's finger. Perhaps even a banshee, who took pleasure in luring others to their deaths and bestowing despair, could easily sense the immense power of the two before her.

"Master, why did you help that old woman?"

Angela complained, somewhat displeased.

"It was my duty."

With that, Li Lin opened the carriage door. His expression turned grave for an instant, then returned to normal.

"Because... I was the one who summoned them back then."

When Li Lin stepped out of the carriage, the paladins and priests were in a standoff with the banshees. Although their holy power could keep the banshees from approaching, the paladins lacked any means of attacking at range and could not drive away the banshees circling in the distance. They could only stand there and stare. The two priests were praying in low voices, but that was not particularly helpful either.

The instant Li Lin opened the carriage door, the banshees seemed to receive new orders. They circled again, wailing, then flew away and returned to the endless void.

"Stay alert, all of you!"

Only after the banshees had vanished did Duncan let out a long breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, then shouted sternly. Clearly, Duncan was somewhat displeased with the paladins' response. Although the unusual circumstances had forced him to bring some inexperienced fledglings on the expedition, the situation had still made him furious.

"Stay alert and stop letting your minds wander! This is the capital of the Magic Empire, the heart of evil power! Even the roads here can be dangerous, and shadows can become the deadliest enemies! This isn't fighting wolves and bandits in the wilderness. Letting your guard down like that will only get you killed!"

Under his scolding, the paladins lowered their heads in shame. After all, they had nearly fallen victim to the banshees' magic. Had they continued onward in that half-asleep state, it was easy to foresee that they would have ended up in a bottomless abyss. Their despairing souls would also have become the banshees' sweetest food.

You'll only face death sooner or later anyway.

Li Lin looked at Duncan and answered his words in his heart.