Miss Witch’s Devotion Has Gone… Twisted

”What? They believe in me?”

This was something Loren hadn’t anticipated. Logically speaking, the believers of the Perpetual Observer outside of the Merfolk should have been wiped out by the Orthodox Gods long ago. How could there possibly be a village on some small island still worshiping him?

This place wasn’t even particularly remote, had no Protective Wards of any kind, and wasn’t even that far from the God of Light and Fire’s territory. There was no way it could have survived for long.

Of course, it was also possible that they had heard about Loren’s deeds and changed their faith. People on these small islands typically worshiped the Sea God, but switching faiths wasn’t something they found hard to accept.

If the Sea God was strong today, they’d believe in the Sea God; if the God of Light and Fire’s people showed up tomorrow, they’d believe in the God of Light and Fire; if the day after tomorrow they learned Loren had screwed over the God of Light and Fire, they’d simply switch to believing in the Perpetual Observer.

That was the most likely scenario, but out of curiosity, Loren still wanted to go check things out.

Even if they had temporarily changed faiths, the risk was still enormous. Believing in the Perpetual Observer meant making enemies of all the Orthodox Gods. Normal people wouldn’t do that.

”Let’s go take a look. Laila, grab the arrows I just made. We might even get a chance to test them out.”

”Alright.”

Laila acknowledged, and had Scarlett bring out a bow as well.These bows were no ordinary weapons either. Most of them had been used by nobles to bribe Loren back in the day.

At the time, Loren hadn’t paid them much attention and had simply told Scarlett to store them away. Now they were finally proving useful.

Given Loren’s standing, ordinary items weren’t even qualified to be gifted to him by nobles. Even a bow he casually pulled out was priceless beyond market value.

”Wait, I’m coming too!”

As Loren and the others stowed away the ghost ship and prepared to head toward the village, the Siren Younger Sister stumbled after Loren, catching up to him.

”What are you going for?”

”My ability might be able to help you...”

”Alright...”

Loren didn’t actually expect the Siren to be of any real help. Even if they genuinely needed to beguile someone, the Sun Card’s effect was far more powerful than anything the Siren could do.

To the point where Loren couldn’t even be bothered to record the Siren’s ability these days. It was completely useless.

But Loren didn’t crush her spirits either. If she wanted to tag along, then fine. This trip probably wouldn’t have any danger anyway.

Loren’s strength had grown so overwhelming now that anything below the level of an Angel wasn’t even worthy of a second glance from him.

Even if something was wrong in the village, Loren could just plow through it like a speed bump.

”...”

The Siren Older Sister hadn’t expected her younger sister to keep following Loren. Left with no choice, she followed along as well.

With two bird-people added to Loren’s party, he simply had Veronica disguise them. Their bird-like appearance stood out far too much here.

”We’re here...”

As soon as they approached the village, Loren spotted the statue in the center of the settlement.

It depicted a figure draped in a black robe, arms spread wide as if embracing the world.

The statue was carved with breathtaking lifelikeness, and the face was identical to Loren’s in every way.

”They really are your believers?”

Anna was somewhat astonished too. An inverted cross symbol would have been one thing, but having a statue of Loren right here, with his exact face carved onto it, was another matter entirely.

”I’m curious about that myself...”

Loren stepped forward and touched the statue. It was genuine stone, and being able to carve something like this was no simple feat.

Beyond the statue, the village was also covered with inverted cross symbols everywhere.

This was no longer simple opportunism. They were like Loren’s Fanatical Believers, just like how the believers of Light and Fire treated their god.

”Let’s just find someone to ask.”

Loren used the Hermit card to blur his appearance, and also temporarily took off his iconic black robe.

Everything about this village was utterly ordinary. People farming, people hunting, people fishing, children playing freely, just like any normal village.

The only thing wrong was that it was too harmonious. No conflicts whatsoever, and everyone was courteous and polite.

Loren directly stopped a person and asked:

”Hello, we’re passing travelers. May I ask what god your village believes in?”

Loren couldn’t be bothered with beating around the bush and asked outright.

If they attacked him directly, that would work out perfectly too. Loren could just interrogate them on the spot.

”We are all believers of Loren, the Perpetual Observer.”

As he spoke, the man traced an inverted cross over his chest.

Even though Loren had already suspected as much, hearing the definitive answer from their mouths still made him crack a little.

”Why do you believe in this god?”

Loren asked one more question. He couldn’t quite wrap his head around this one.

”We are believers of Loren, the Perpetual Observer. We have worshiped this deity since a very long time ago.”

The villager gave an answer that didn’t address the question at all, wearing a completely earnest expression.

Even Loren couldn’t miss that something was off by now.

”What kind of god is this Perpetual Observer?”

”He is the god of truth, reason, and continuation. He is the most merciful of all gods.”

”...”

These people even knew about the Perpetual Observer’s authority. Loren hadn’t mentioned it more than a few times. People in such a remote place shouldn’t know about that.

Unless they hadn’t learned about the Perpetual Observer because of Loren.

If there was anyone besides Loren’s group who knew about the Perpetual Observer, it would only be Gabriel.

Combined with the villagers’ bizarre behavior earlier, Loren could basically confirm it.

They were Pseudohumans.

”They’re Pseudohumans. I felt something was off from the start. A normal human society can’t possibly be this harmonious. This is also a method for identifying Pseudohumans.”

That was indeed a trick. Loren had studied it. If you ever encountered a family that was especially harmonious, chances were nine out of ten it was a Pseudohuman family.

They could only fake harmony. They couldn’t fake the complicated, hidden conflicts beneath the surface.

”Where is Gabriel?”

Since these Pseudohumans recognized Loren, that meant they weren’t ordinary Pseudohumans. Perhaps they even knew Gabriel’s whereabouts.

”We don’t know where He is.”

These Pseudohumans were telling the truth. They genuinely didn’t know where Gabriel was, but Loren picked up on other information:

”So, you’re saying you do know Gabriel?”

”Naturally.”

Loren hadn’t expected these Pseudohumans to be so straightforward, so he decided to be straightforward himself:

”I am the Perpetual Observer.”

Hearing this news, the Pseudohuman villagers weren’t particularly shocked. They simply called over the other villagers in a flat tone:

”Everyone, gather here! The Observer has arrived!”

Hearing his shout, all the villagers efficiently assembled at the spot. Anna instinctively tightened her grip on her weapon.

”None of you doubt my identity?”

”We already knew. We cannot lie in your presence, so I guessed that you were the Perpetual Observer. It’s just that you’ve now admitted it yourself.

”Our power originates from Gabriel, and Gabriel cannot lie to you. Neither can we.”