Little Pink Starfish

Atwell had already turned red-named—Bix Magic Cube was clearly very serious about this.

Pei Sen recalled that Bix Magic Cube’s goal had always been to help players integrate more deeply into the world. Whether it was through quests or other means, the game system consistently encouraged players to immerse themselves in the world. But if the Light Church truly went through with its plan—rallying every power across the continent of Yarik to label and hunt players as heretical beings—that would completely contradict Bix Magic Cube’s core purpose.

“So really, they’ve only got themselves to blame. The Light Church had this coming.”

In the original timeline, the Light Church had committed many atrocities to rise to power. A religious organization full of zealots could never gain dominance simply by “saving a few people.” That kind of rise was built on bloody slaughter and brutal persecution. And to maintain the faith they gained through deception, there was no way it could be done peacefully.

“Although… does this mean the priest class is going to vanish from the game?” Pei Sen mused. “Whatever. Bix Magic Cube never really needed healers. Even when the priest class existed, barely anyone played it. And there’s another profession in a future world that can act as a part-time healer anyway.”

In fact, priests had always been the least popular class in the game—dead last in terms of player numbers. Now it seemed they might be removed entirely.

Pei Sen quietly drew his staff. Since he stood behind Atwell, the man couldn’t see what he was doing. The door behind him was closed, and only Eagle—sitting directly opposite—could see him clearly.

But Eagle didn’t react at all. He didn’t even blink, let alone glance at Pei Sen. His gaze never wavered. So Atwell remained completely unaware, still talking casually about the Seed of Light and other Church matters.

Atwell was totally relaxed. Who would be on guard in this setting? They were inside Red Maple Castle—in Eagle’s study, no less!

The castle was the most heavily guarded place in the entire Frost Maple Territory, and Eagle’s study wasn’t open to just anyone. At this moment, there were only three people inside: him, Eagle, and Pei Sen.

Even someone as clever and cautious as Atwell wouldn’t think to be on alert here.

Pei Sen cast a silent spell—a fairly difficult technique among mages, but not for a veteran like him.

Of all spell types, ice magic was one of the best for control. The frost spread in an instant, freezing Atwell solid before he could even cry out. Only shock flashed across his face before he was completely immobilized.

Eagle rested his chin on his hand, calmly watching as Pei Sen pulled a sword from his storage ring and, without hesitation, plunged it into Atwell’s body—right before the disbelieving priest’s eyes.

“You know,” Pei Sen said quietly, “back in Esmia’s palace, when the young master was trapped inside that stone slab, you stood behind the priest and smiled at me—saying bullshit like, ‘As long as the Seed of Light awakens, the young master will be fine.’ You didn’t believe that crap yourself, did you? You just said it to sound nice.”

He knew no one at the time truly believed Eagle could awaken the Seed. Not even Atwell. That made his false smile and empty words especially disgusting.

“I really wanted to kill you right then, Atwell.”

Back then, though, Pei Sen didn’t have the means.

Even with the game system at his back, Pei Sen rarely killed indiscriminately. Ever since he began to suspect this was a real world and not just a game, he avoided killing as much as possible—even when censorship systems were still active.

Unless he was in a dungeon instance, where there were no rules. Only there would he go all-out without restraint.

He cherished life—yes, even the lives of these so-called NPCs.

Even now, that mindset hadn’t changed much. Normally, he didn’t hurt people lightly, let alone kill them.

But this time, there was no censorship system. The sensation of the sword piercing Atwell’s body was all too real, so real that Pei Sen’s hands and heart trembled.

He smiled bitterly. Clearly, he wasn’t the type of protagonist you’d find in a novel—some ruthless chosen one who kills without hesitation. Raised in peacetime, he still had emotional barriers against acts like this.

Sure, in a game it was easier. Or when censored. But now, this uncensored realism was overwhelming.

Still—

Pei Sen knew he had to adapt. No matter what, he was already here. Even if Bix Magic Cube claimed he might return one day, who knew when—or if—that would actually happen.

He was as real as anyone in this world now. He couldn’t spend the rest of his life avoiding fights.

The system was still with him. He still had a player panel. And when he entered the Qinghun era later, he’d be facing even uglier, scarier monsters. What would he do then—panic and run?

No way.

That’s why Pei Sen didn’t hesitate. He didn’t just kill Atwell—he did it with a clean, lethal thrust of his sword.

After that one instance of vomiting from shock, he found himself calmer than expected.

No matter how gentle he seemed on the outside, Pei Sen had always wanted to be resilient. Everything he achieved in life, he’d done on his own.

Weakness was a luxury he could never afford.

Eagle sighed, mildly annoyed. “Pei Sen, you stained my carpet.”

Pei Sen looked at the blood dripping down and forced a small smile. “Don’t worry, young master. I’ll clean it up.”

He tried hard to hide his unease—but Eagle, of course, saw through it immediately.

The tall young man stood and walked over. Truthfully, Eagle was a bit surprised. “Pei Sen, are you okay?” He glanced at Atwell’s corpse, eyes narrowing slightly. “Was that your first time personally killing someone?”

Not exactly. When Pei Sen had first come to Frost Maple Territory, he’d incinerated a few mages from Bavin’s faction using scrolls. Still, he muttered, “It’s nothing. I’ll be fine soon.”

Eagle gave Atwell’s body a glance and didn’t press further. He chuckled, “If you’re feeling down, I can let you lean on me, you know.” He patted his not-so-broad chest, thinking Pei Sen’s rare moment of vulnerability was unexpectedly charming.

To be honest, Pei Sen’s reaction this time wasn’t that intense. Maybe after a few more kills, he’d get used to it completely.

He picked up his staff and used the Disintegrate spell to erase all traces of the corpse—a favorite clean-up tool for seasoned mage players. Far better than fire or acid. Any remaining residue was wiped clean with Cleanse. No mess, no trace.

True to his word, the carpet was spotless when he finished—completely restored, as if nothing had ever happened.

Still, knowing Eagle’s personality, he’d probably replace it anyway.

Since they’d already made a move, the other priest in the castle didn’t survive the day either—quietly disposed of.

Eagle smiled and said, “Weren’t you the one telling me not to be so stubborn? To focus on resolving the danger of the Seed of Light first? What changed?”

Pei Sen calmly replied, “I just realized the Light Church isn’t that impressive after all. There’s no reason for you to bow to them. That so-called Light Church—there’s nothing light about it. As for solving the danger of the Seed, you don’t need to worry. Once we take the Holy City, it’ll be a non-issue.”

Eagle stared at him, shocked. Take the Holy City?

“You think I’m joking?” Pei Sen raised an eyebrow—even he knew it sounded bold.

Eagle’s gaze softened. “No, I just thought… you really do care about me, don’t you, Pei Sen?”

The quest may have been issued by Bix Magic Cube, but from Eagle’s perspective, it was Pei Sen who had decided to make enemies of the Church for his sake.

Because recently, it had been Eagle resisting the Church’s influence—while Pei Sen urged a more pragmatic approach. But now, after Atwell’s scheme with Wendell, Pei Sen had snapped and decided to destroy the Light Church entirely.

That kind of decisiveness… was intense.

So much so that Aken, Sadin, and Ichabod were all stunned when they heard the news.

“Attack the Light Church?” Aken blinked. The Church’s territory wasn’t vast, but their Holy City sat in the barren lands of the far north. Still, they maintained diplomatic ties with almost every power across Yarik—thanks to their valuable divine arts and useful holy water.

No one had ever seriously considered wiping them out—because they never seemed like a threat.

Pei Sen had read their scriptures before. Frankly, the doctrines were so crude that anyone remotely educated wouldn’t believe a word. But maybe that was intentional.

If the Church’s doctrine had been perfect and compelling, it would’ve triggered backlash from rulers and nobles. By keeping it simplistic, they avoided suspicion and spread easily.

Ichabod hesitated. “Young master, are you sure about this?” Of the three, he was the most reluctant. “We’ve only just taken Barst Duchy. Our territory isn’t even stabilized yet.”

Aken, by contrast, looked excited. “So how are we doing this? The Bix race attacks first? Should we send in the Frost Maple Knights?”

Sadin, though surprised, didn’t care either way.

Ichabod was cautious, Aken eager, and Sadin indifferent.

Geographically, to reach the Light Church’s Holy City from Frost Maple Territory, they would pass through the Tulip Duchy—a weak, impoverished land caught between Esmia and Barst. That’s precisely why the Church had been able to claim territory there for its Holy City. Any stronger realm would’ve driven them out.

Aken’s plan: march through Tulip Duchy, annex it, then destroy the Holy City. Exciting, to say the least.

“The Bix race will take the lead,” Pei Sen added. “It might not be full war yet. The real challenge is the distance. So I plan to send a team ahead to build a teleportation array—and I need it to stay intact.”

Eagle looked at Sadin. “You want to go? I think you’d enjoy the danger.”

Sadin smiled serenely. “Of course, young master. I’ll go. Unless I die, no one will destroy that teleportation array.”

Since Burke Angre’s death, Sadin had seemed unshackled—but also aimless. Eagle saw through him easily. If he wanted to dance on the knife’s edge, to someday die in battle, Eagle would grant him that wish.

Sadin was a knight—a Sword Saint. He had his pride.

He could die in battle. But he would never die in cowardice.

Pei Sen nodded. He already knew how to organize player-side missions. He planned to gather some higher-level players to go with him to the area near the Holy City. There was a forest nearby still home to many players who had chosen to spawn there.

He would place the teleportation array deep in that forest, allowing players to travel directly from Frost Maple Territory to near the Holy City—a crucial step in completing this large-scale main quest.

“I’ll go with Pei Sen,” Eagle said quietly. “Aken, you stay behind and manage things here.”

“Aw, I have to stay?” Aken looked crestfallen.

Pei Sen looked at Eagle. “Young master, you—”

“I’m going, Pei Sen. The Seed of Light isn’t just about the danger in my body. I need to see the Holy City myself—to uncover more.”

Pei Sen hesitated. “But you could wait until the array is built and then teleport.”

Creating a people-carrying array wasn’t cheap. It involved deep magical knowledge, and if Pei Sen hadn’t gotten the Bofield ring, he wouldn’t have had the skill or confidence to attempt it.

But with Barst’s treasure hoards and rare magical resources, he could now pull it off.

“No. I’m going with you,” Eagle insisted. “Don’t forget—I’m not the same frail young master anymore. There are probably only a few old relics in the Holy City whose divine power surpasses mine now.”

Pei Sen sighed. It wasn’t about Eagle being weak—it was just… he was so delicate. Used to fine living. The road would be hard—he’d probably have trouble sleeping or eating.

Eagle was, after all, a classic noble.

Ichabod wanted to dissuade him, but upon seeing how grown-up Eagle looked now, he swallowed his words.

Pei Sen could say these things—but few others dared defy Eagle anymore.

And so the plan was set.

Aken left the room grumbling about his fate.

Then he spotted Pex the cat sneaking away. “Huh? What’s this cat doing here? Was it eavesdropping?”

…No way, right? A cat wouldn’t eavesdrop. Would it?

But Pex had been eavesdropping. As a shadowcat, its instincts were keen. It had sensed something bad brewing and crept over—only to be shocked.

Old master and young master were about to start more trouble? Tulip Duchy? The Holy City?

Couldn’t they just stay put in Red Maple Castle?! Always running around!

Well, no matter what happened…

The cat wasn’t going.

It decided right then and there to vanish until both troublemakers had left.

No way—absolutely no way—was it getting dragged into this again.