Miss Witch’s Devotion Has Gone… Twisted

”Pseudohumans will, without anyone noticing, replace humans and infiltrate everywhere.

”But disguise is still disguise. They can hardly be called life. They have no emotions. What they can do is mimic people’s feelings.

”Take this pseudohuman, for example. He only knows that those infected by the Rainbow Plague are deranged, but he doesn’t know they’re cowardly, as if he were an imperfect program.

”That’s also why I asked that question earlier. He only knows he must support minority groups, so when he answered there was a code conflict... you can think of it as an internal tug-of-war.”

Loren briefly explained what pseudohumans were. Even Loren found them troublesome.

”Pseudohumans’ disguises will inevitably have flaws. After all, they can’t fully understand the person they are replacing.”

”I’m heading home first. Contact me if anything happens. Right now I’m very worried about the children’s safety.”

Loren glanced at them through the Abyssal Gaze Eye and confirmed they were safe for now, but the Eyeward wouldn’t necessarily be reliable in every situation. What if they were attacked while his attention was elsewhere? Even a one-in-a-million chance looked catastrophic to Loren.

After Loren left, Clemens finally took out a cigarette and lit one for himself.

He was under tremendous pressure. The Nofica Theocracy had sent him to Gedlan as bishop, and he immediately ran into so many problems.The Blackened situation had only just been resolved, the Royal Capital had not fully recovered, the Rainbow Plague then struck, followed by a small country being massacred, and now pseudohumans had appeared...

One cigarette after another was smoked away. When Clemens reached into his pocket he found it empty, and only then realized cigarette butts were scattered everywhere.

”Thank goodness for Master Mentor...”

Loren’s help was his only comfort. Without Loren, Clemens truly did not know what to do.

He couldn’t handle the Rainbow Plague, could not fight back against the Canaan Kingdom, and could not even detect pseudohumans.

...

”Welcome home, Master.”

Seraphina was feeding birds by the doorway again. Today even more crows had gathered at Loren’s doorstep.

She even seemed to know how to train birds. These crows behaved well; only a few stood at a distance watching.

”Go on inside first, I have something to say.”

”Yes, Master.”

Seraphina rose, and the birds perched on her flew away at once.

”By the way, you received a letter. I already fetched it for you.”

”Thank you.”

Loren didn’t chat much with Seraphina and went straight into the house. In the parlor Corolla and Flossie were cleaning, Anna was slumped on the sofa snacking, Starnight circled the room, and everyone else was in their own rooms.

”Seraphina, call the others down. I have something to say...”

While Seraphina went to summon the others, Loren opened the letter she had retrieved. The familiar handwriting was inside.

”Dear Luo Tianyi, I have received your new song. It’s well written, but... you didn’t write the lyrics, did you?”

The letter was indeed from Cecelia, and her handwriting grew increasingly messy toward the end:

”Are you pulling a fast one on me? Why are you doing this to me! Why! Why!

”I can give you all my earnings. I can do anything for you. Please don’t ignore me... I’m begging you...”

”...”

Loren hadn’t expected Cecelia to actually notice that he hadn’t written the lyrics this time.

Although Loren had copied songs of different styles, the lyrics he rewrote to fit this world did carry his personal touch, so Cecelia recognizing that showed how well she understood him.

To be honest, Loren was touched.

Having reached this point, Loren didn’t intend to trick her. He planned to write a proper song for her.

But there was also something very important: Loren had to write a letter to the King of Bardo. He might as well send it together.

”Dear Rex, when I first heard of Bardo Kingdom’s plight, I felt deep sympathy for its people. Such hatred cannot be washed away by time, and no doubt they are constantly ready for revenge, wanting to return their country’s humiliation a hundredfold.

”The Canaan Kingdom acted with no humanity. Previously they slaughtered a nation that worshipped the God of Bountiful Harvest, a deed that enraged both men and gods. Some unknown righteous fighters struck back, somehow severely damaging the Canaan military, and tragedies occurred within Canaan itself.

”The Bountiful Church is deeply saddened and thus decided to provide aid through you...”

At that point, Rex — the King of Bardo — should understand the situation. Loren trusted he would seize the opportunity.

By the time Loren finished the letter, everyone had gathered in the parlor.

”Listen. These are dangerous times. Make sure to carry the talismans I gave you...”

Loren explained pseudohumans to them. While he spoke, Seraphina sealed the letter Loren had just written, affixed a stamp, and waited for Loren to fill in the address.

He felt reassured by Seraphina’s thoughtfulness.

”In short, do not leave the house for now. Live off our stock. If you need groceries, have someone else deliver them. Do not go out alone.

”Sleep near others at night. If anything feels wrong, shout loudly.”

Loren was extremely wary of pseudohumans. There were few threats that frightened him so deeply.

”Also, Seraphina, this is for you.”

Loren handed an Abyssal Gaze Eye to Seraphina, and she received it with solemn hands.

”Wear this. Normally, the three of you should stay together...”

Every additional Eyeward increased Loren’s burden, so he only gave one to the three maids.

He trusted Seraphina the most, so he entrusted the Abyssal Gaze Eye to her.

Seraphina put it on immediately. The gem reflected Mirrorheart’s face sitting opposite her; Mirrorheart’s expression remained cold.

After finishing his instructions, Loren dismissed everyone to their tasks.

The maids went to cook. Flossie, who couldn’t cook well, assisted; Mirrorheart and Seraphina were primary cooks.

Loren returned to his bedroom to begin writing a song for Cecelia.

”Master Mentor...”

Not long after Loren entered, Naclis pushed the door open a crack. From the slit he showed half her face, and only after Loren responded did she come all the way in.

”Sit.”

Loren freed a corner of the table for Naclis. That spot had almost become her personal seat.

”Are you afraid of pseudohumans?”

”Yes.”

In front of Loren, Naclis calmly spoke her true feelings.