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Chapter 79 Part 5 – Alisa and ‘Mother’. What will the intertwined Ouroboros bring about in the future?

By the time ‘Mother’ came to her senses, Alisa was already right under her nose.

Even with ‘Mother’s’ ultra-perception ability, she had no idea when Alisa had approached her. And that was the best proof of the authenticity of the name of the technique that Alisa mentioned afterwards. The ground, air, and light refused to give ‘Mother’ any information about Alisa’s movements. Right now, in this place, Alisa was the absolute master. All things in nature were enslaved to her.

「Ahahaha, that’s right. It’s the only technique that your master didn’t teach you. …… The ‘Scythe Fangs’.」

Alisa laughed as she placed her hand on ‘Mother’s’ stomach.

Her words and a tremendous impact pierced through ‘Mother’. ‘Mother’ was blown backwards like a rocket. A thunderous sound followed a beat later. With the whites of her eyes showing, ‘Mother’ convulsed as she mowed down the trees of the forest. She had fainted. Unable to guard herself in time, all the power of the demon’s bullets was returned to her. But before she hit the ground, her eyes snapped open and she had regained her consciousness. She put her hand in her mouth to push back her internal organs that were about to be pushed out, kicked the tree trunk with a bang, and rushed over to Alisa. Her movements made it seem as if she had not received the slightest bit of damage. She, too, was a monster.

‘Mother’ grabbed Alisa by both shoulders. Alisa was late in her reaction, as there was no animosity from ‘Mother’. She looked at ‘Mother’s’ hands, which were covered with saliva and gastric juice, with a look of disgust on her face. Without caring about Alisa’s reaction, ‘Mother’ picked Alisa up in her arms and jumped up and down on the spot while gasping for air.

「I can’t believe I can see ‘Scythe Fangs’ again!! It’s like a dream!! How amazing!! As expected of my Alisa-chan!! Come on, show me again!! Fight me right now!!」

It’s not an act. ‘Mother’ was a crazy being, but her enthusiasm for combat arts was real. As ‘Mother’ tried to move from overenthusiastically rubbing their cheeks together to kissing her, Alisa pushed both of her arms out to refuse.

「…… Equivalent exchange is the basis for everything. For example, a forbidden technique for a forbidden book. If you publish the part of the Holy Church’s Book of True History that describes the Light Bat Tribe, I’ll show you the ‘Scythe Fangs’ once again.」

「The Book of True History? Light Bat Tribe? Ohh, you want to clear their names?」

‘Mother’ immediately understood what Alisa meant. Then she indicated that she had read the secret and forbidden book of the Holy Church. It was also proof that ‘Mother’ was one of the top leaders of the Holy Church.

「…… Even if it’s Alisa-chan’s request, that’s going to be a bit difficult. It would require the permission of all the bishops and cardinals in order to publish it to the public. By just revealing the existence of that book, other kingdoms would come to snatch it. If the history of a kingdom that claims to be so great is found to be a downright lie, the authority of the royal family would be blown out from under their feet. Its danger is even greater than the Ruby of the True Emperor. All of the bishops and cardinals will certainly shake their heads and refuse.」

「…… Ahahaha, I have a way. A way that only you, who thoroughly knows the ins and outs of the Holy Church, can do.」

‘Mother’ frowned at Alisa’s words.

「Are you telling me to go back from the fortune teller ‘Mother’ to Saint Angela and stand at the top of the Holy Church?」

「In the ancient times, there must have been times when the saint also served as the leader of the church. It’s fine if you can’t do it. I just won’t show you the ‘Scythe Fangs’ again.」

‘Mother’ gently lowered Alisa to the ground and sighed.

「You’re saying such absurd things. That case happened during a time of emergency as a temporary decision for only a few days. There has never been an instance in the history of the Holy Church in which a priest was officially both the real head of the church and the symbolic saint.」

「Ahahaha, wouldn’t it be an honor to be the first? You should be grateful. If you can’t even do that much, you don’t deserve to see ‘Scythe Fangs’ once again.」

「Ufufufu, you tell me.」

‘Mother’ crouched down to meet Alisa’s eye level. Then she smiled wryly when she realized her own actions. It was not a conscious act, but an unconscious one. She thought that gesture was just like what a mother would do. It was something that did not suit her at all.

「…… Even though you are so small, why does Alisa-chan act so proud like a queen? Could it be running in the blood? That’s not cute at all. All right then. I’ll accept your terms. But don’t take lightly the significance of having the countless limbs of the Holy Church get attached to an existence like me. It would be the birth of a kingdom that spans continents whose king absolutely would never get killed.」

Although she was actually trying to hide that she’s embarrassed, ‘Mother’ wiped her blood-stained cheek while trying to convince herself that she had just said something that was typical of her. Beneath the blood appeared a skin without a single blemish.

「Ahahaha, at least it’s not my grandmother’s or father’s blood that makes me act so proud. It must be the fault of the other cursed blood. It causes me to love what I’m attracted to to the point of destroying it …… Regardless of the other person’s feelings, I want to monopolize their smiles, tears, and even their lives. Such a crazy bloodline.」

Alisa sarcastically said as she pretended to not notice the fluctuations in ‘Mother’s’ heart.

Because human-like considerations do not suit monsters.

‘Mother’ said in sympathy, 「That’s right. That’s who we are.」

「Ufufufu, we will always take what we desire. It is this kind of crazy desire that makes us strong. That’s the way it is with the true lineage of the true supreme ruler. We will defeat anyone who gets in our way, whether they be a God or the devil. I, too, will go to welcome Alisa-chan and the ‘Scythe Fangs’ once I have the entire Holy Church in my hands. Look forward to it ……」

「Welcome? Ahahaha, that’s funny. It’s not me, but your own death that you will welcome. A king who can’t be killed? I’ll kill you myself. When you see the ‘Scythe Fangs’ again, that’s when your life will be over.」

Alisa reached out with both hands to put them around ‘Mother’s’ neck and stood on her tiptoes.

「Ufufufufu, as expected of my princess. That makes my heart flutter more than a marriage proposal.」

‘Mother’ responded by bending her knees. The two hugged and kissed each other on the cheek like a loving mother and daughter. They giggled and whispered happily to each other.

「…… I should give Alisa-chan a reward. I was going to secretly grab the boys of the Seven Phantoms, kill them one by one, and make them inform you about what I say, but I’ve decided to not do that.」

「Ahahaha, I’m so grateful that I’m about to cry. In return, when I kill you, I’ll at least give you some time to say your last words.」

The laughter of the two crazy people echoed through the dark forest. It was menacing and resonant. The forest and the night were frightened. The birds without night vision flew out in unison from the treetops in terror, crashing here and there, shrieking, and falling down.

It was a battle between two wild dragons who giggled and clawed at each other, or rather, two ouroboros that gnawed at each other’s tails. But for these two very similar people, this may be the way of communication that suits them the most.

And then, Alisa muttered quietly in the depths of her heart, so as not to be noticed by ‘Mother’.

‘…… Now, Light Bat Tribe, take this. This is a token of gratitude for putting up a great fight. The rest is up to Scarlet …… With this, if she can persuade just one monster, the door to the Book of True History will open. But don’t let your guard down. Even though the number’s been narrowed down to just one person to persuade, this saint is tougher than any demon. You’ll have to face the darkness of the Holy Church itself. I expect you to struggle so as not to get killed.’

For the sake of Scarlet and the Light Bat Tribe, Alisa had single-handedly worked out a complex negotiation with the Holy Church that would normally have taken ten years to complete and would have been difficult. However, the danger level was increased by an order of magnitude. The true nature of ‘Mother’ is as ruthless as that of Alisa. One wrong move and Scarlet would be killed. Is this the path that leads to dawn? Or is it a path that leads to further darkness? The answer was still far beyond the night.