Chapter 219 - 219 Probing

219 Probing

Lumians eyes locked with Louis Lund, who occupied the drivers seat of the carriage, and received a confirmation nod.

Drawing a deep breath, Lumian strode toward the four-wheeled carriage, crouched down, and entered it.

He grasped the gravity of the situation.

Madame Pualis, cautious and aware, refrained from responding through letters. Instead, she concealed herself near 9 Rue des Pavs, antic.i.p.ating Lumians arrival for the reply. This strategy effectively minimized the risk of being trailed and cornered.

In the blink of an eye, Lumians attention was seized by a familiar figure.

Adorned in a meticulously tailored black corset dress and a slightly mischievous ladys round hat, she exuded an elusive allure. Her untamed brows, lively brown eyes, and moist lips radiated a sense of allure. A cascade of brown hair, half-up and half-down, graced her shoulders. Although informal, her elegance, immaculateness, and enchantment remained undeniable. She was none other than Pualis de Roquefort, the wife of Cordus administrator.

Long time no see, Madame Pualis greeted him with a smile, yet her eyes emitted a frigid glare, sending s.h.i.+vers down ones spine.

Simultaneously, Lumian observed a s.h.i.+ft in his surroundings.

The carriage vanished, leaving him stranded in a desolate wilderness.

There was nothing before him, and Madame Pualis had vanished into thin air.

Just as Lumian marveled at this bewildering turn of events, a colossal, irregular shadow emerged on the ground.

Instinctively, he raised his gaze, met by a reflection of brown feathers.

Each plume rivaled the size of his head, a.s.sembling into a pair of wings that seemed to obscure the heavens.

These wings belonged to Madame Pualis herself, who grew in stature, hovering in mid-air. Her feet transformed into avian talons, glistening with a chilling gleam.

A majestic, ethereal voice resounded.

You should have been buried with Cordu!

Lumians heart constricted. Gripping his revolver, he swiftly pivoted and sprinted toward the edge of the wilderness.

If the visions within this dream held even an ounce of truth, he could escape Paramita once he reached its limits!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Lumian maneuvered in a curved path, firing rounds into the air. This const.i.tuted his sole means of long-range a.s.sault.

Despite her immense size, Madame Pualis displayed remarkable dexterity. The gusts generated by her flapping wings disrupted the bullets trajectory, enabling her to deftly reposition herself.

An ear-splitting screech emanated from her throat.

Ahead of Lumian, the earth beneath the wilderness upheaved, soil cascading away, unveiling yet another monstrous ent.i.ty.

A repugnant odor filled the air as the pythons entire body writhed with yellow pus and deformed worms.

Bloodshot eyes glared condescendingly at Lumian. Translucent silkworms squirmed in and out of its hollowed eye sockets.

The serpents gaze landed condescendingly on Lumian before it lunged over, its maw open wide, its yellowed fangs aimed at the living prey.

Lumians head spun from the putrid stench that permeated the air. With haste, he withdrew a sheet of drawing paper from his s.h.i.+rt and unfolded it.

A vibrant, golden-red sun adorned its surface.

Instantly, the surroundings grew warmer, and the sky, once obscured by Madame Pualis, brightened.

The long-deceased python averted its gaze from Lumian, seemingly unwilling to face the suns brilliance.

Yet, its attacks merely slowed rather than ceased.

Seizing the opportunity, Lumian pivoted, clutching the drawing, and darted off in another direction.

Hovering mid-air, Madame Pualis parted her lips, uttering a sinister phrase unintelligible to Lumian.

An immediate weakness washed over Lumian, diminis.h.i.+ng his running speed, as if a grave illness had befallen him, leaving him yet to convalesce.

Right on the heels of that, Madame Pualis raised her head, emitting a sharp, pained howl.

At that moment, Lumian perceived an ethereal shattering sound.

It reverberated within his soul and body, casting a veil of darkness over his vision, propelling him toward the threshold of death.

Had it not been for Hunter, Provoker, Dancer, and Alms Monk fortifying his const.i.tution from various angles, Lumian might have succ.u.mbed to his enfeebled state.

Clutching onto his last vestiges of reason, Lumian endured the agonizing pain, mustering his dwindling strength to reach into his pocket and brush Mr. Ks finger.

In an instant, he felt the refres.h.i.+ng touch of raindrops nouris.h.i.+ng his body and soul.

His injuries swiftly mended at a visible pace, while the surrounding wilderness gradually dissolved into illusion until it vanished entirely.

Lumian caught sight of Madame Pualis seated opposite him in the carriage.

The chill had evaporated from her gaze, replaced by a sneering mockery.

With your feeble strength, you aspire to seek revenge against Guillaume Bnet?

When I departed Cordu Village, he gained a new boon after driving away us believers in the Great Mother. He now stands on par with a Sequence 5 Fate Appropriator. In the future, he may even procure the corresponding potion for consumption.

Was her earlier attack merely a test of my capabilities? Lumian harbored no surprise at the padres Sequence 5 status. After all, his contracted abilities far surpa.s.sed those of a Contractee, yet he clearly lacked G.o.dhood. That left only two possibilities: Sequence 6 or Sequence 5.

Considering Guillaume Bnets performance in the dream and his clash against Ryan, Leah, and Valentine, Lumian had long suspected him to be a Sequence 5 Fate Appropriator. Now, Madame Pualis had confirmed his suspicions.

What astonished him was that Recipients could consume potions to acquire additional abilities. However, they must choose the appropriate potion or a suitable alternative.

Lumian pondered for a moment, concluding that such occurrences were to be expected.

Beyonders themselves could receive boons; it was just that the process carried various complications.

Lumian met Madame Pualiss gaze and responded calmly, I still have time to grow, and theres a chance for me to become stronger. However, Guillaume Bnet has little hope of attaining G.o.dhood. He doesnt believe in the three ent.i.ties that the Great Mother is a part of. Ill catch up to him as soon as I can.

Unspoken by Lumian were his hopes of acquiring more formidable allies. Being an evil G.o.ds Blessed and having offended a follower of the Great Mother, Guillaume Bnet couldnt find many companions. They were likely wild Beyonders and Recipients who also believed in Inevitability.

Madame Pualis chuckled.

Confidence is a good trait. I admire young people like you who are full of confidence. Would you like to join me and wors.h.i.+p the Great Mother? By doing so, you can gain additional a.s.sistance. Apart from the power of the potion, you can also receive boons.

Id rather not become pregnant and have children, Lumian declined Madame Pualiss kind offer in a tactful manner.

Madame Pualis smiled and replied, It seems you havent yet experienced the holiness, preciousness, and joy of life and the wonders of new beginnings. Its something I only came to fully comprehend after giving birth.

But theres no need for you to refuse now. When you come to understand the greatness of the Mother, you can approach me anytime.

Lumian didnt wish to dwell on matters concerning the Great Mother, so he changed the subject.

I thought you got others to have children. I didnt expect you to have one yourself.

Madame Pualiss face glowed with a maternal radiance.

After becoming a Banshee, I had to bear a child myself in order to draw closer to the Great Mother.

Its hard to believe that you were once a man Lumian almost hesitated to meet Madame Pualiss gaze. He swiftly redirected the conversation with a casual question.

Did your child perish in the castle?

Yes, Madame Pualis sighed. His father killed him with his own hands. Regrettably, he was unaware that the child was his.

Who? Lumian blurted out.

Madame Pualis smiled.

Guillaume Bnet. Didnt you witness our affair? He didnt notice, but I knew you were hiding behind the altar. I even considered inviting you to join us.

I a.s.sumed your affair was merely symbolic Some of it was real? Lumian was taken aback as several images flickered in his mind:

Madame Pualis and the padre entangled in their nakedness.

Madame Pualis praising the padres audacity, forthrightness, and masculinity.

The padre having Saint Sith put up with the transgression

Noticing Lumians change in expression, Madame Pualis smiled and continued, After arriving in Cordu and familiarizing myself with the surroundings, the first thing I did was seduce Guillaume Bnet.

He held true authority as a clergyman and was the only means for Cordu to connect with the Eternal Blazing Sun Church. If I could bring him down and make him a believer of the Great Mother, combined with Bosts ident.i.ty, I could have truly established Cordu as my territory without arousing suspicion from the outside world.

Coincidentally, I also needed a child. So, I decided to put him to the test. Within a week, I secured his bloodline as a contingency plan. However, around July or August of last year, his att.i.tude suddenly changed, and he lost interest in the Great Mother. Unfortunately, I didnt even have the opportunity to let him bear a child for me to experience the wonders of life.

Last July or August? Lumian repeated.

Every year, shepherds returned to the mountains during May and June.

Yes, I remember it vividly, Madame Pualis chuckled. Later, that fool Louis Lund even attempted to seek his a.s.sistance.

Lumian furrowed his brow and asked, Why did the padres att.i.tude change all of a sudden?

Im not entirely sure. All I know is that during that time, some villagers were spreading distorted ideas about horoscopes, and they were reported to Guillaume Bnet. After interrogating those individuals, Guillaume Bnets demeanor gradually s.h.i.+fted. Madame Pualiss eyes seemed to reflect the sunlight dancing on a lakes surface.

Who were they? Lumian pressed.

Madame Pualis smiled in response. Nazlie and the otherspeople you are familiar with.

Lumian fell silent for a few seconds before speaking again, Where were you, and what were you doing when the padre and the others attacked the castle?

Pualis let out a brisk laugh.

So, you finally ask. You should have already guessed the answer, right?

She gazed at Lumian with a pained and twisted smile.

Aurore attacked me.