Chapter 78: The Witch’s Mask
Seeing such results, Adela asked with some doubt,
"Your Highness, since you possess an authority that can be called a miracle, why do you still want me to make the prosthetics?"
Sylvia did not answer immediately. She first raised her head to gaze at the ceiling at a forty-five-degree angle for a while, then looked at Loruze, who also seemed about to speak but hesitated, gesturing for him to ask his question.
Seeing this, Loruze’s equally puzzled voice followed:
"Your Grace, my Lord’s authority seems to have a certain overlap with the Earth Mother God?"
After hearing the two questions, Sylvia shook her head. While resuming her forty-five-degree gaze at the ceiling, she began to explain:
"It is not the same."
"The essence of the Earth Mother God’s authority is life itself, whereas the essence of the authority of Lust is imitation."
"To simulate, to construct, and ultimately to turn it into reality."
"This is why I had you make two prosthetic limbs—"
"Ahem, my craftsmanship is honestly not very good. I was worried the limbs I shaped for him would not quite resemble those of a human."
"……"
"……"
"……"
"……"
At once, the room fell into silence.
Then Sylvia looked at Loruze and arranged the next task:
"Investigate the underground drainage passages of the City of Alova. Mm… do not enter them at night. The moment you notice anything abnormal, retreat immediately and report to me."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Even without receiving the order, Loruze had intended to investigate the anomalies in the sewers, so he bowed respectfully.
After that, Sylvia turned to Kakilis, who stood in an odd posture because his limbs were still somewhat uncoordinated.
"You did very well. Rest for three days first."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
Seeing this, the gray-haired puppet’s gaze fell upon Adela.
"How is the repair work on those two items?"
"The half-face mask has been completed, but I still haven’t decided how to handle the diamond—surely I can’t make it into another necklace."
"A brooch."
Sylvia spoke calmly:
"In a while, bring that mask over, then assist Loruze in investigating the sewers."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
This young noble lady, who should have become a personal maid, had somehow joined the official security force after turning into a craftsman.
Watching the three of them leave, Sylvia returned to her seat and sat down.
She did not immediately resume weaving the path of the Sinner but instead gazed toward the door, somewhat lost in thought.
In truth, when she had just arrived at this cathedral and discovered that the interior was filled with unclean faith, she had not felt the slightest goodwill toward the clergy, including those knights.
Even though she herself was an Outer God, even though she also tempted the clergy here to change their faith again.
At that time, she had already branded these people as degenerates and depraved in character, treating them merely as tools.
But as time passed, she realized she had been wrong at the start.
Although they had betrayed the Radiance, they had never betrayed their mission.
Just as Kakilis and Loruze had said, they were a group of guardians, and their actions were indeed worthy of such a title.
At the same time, she recalled what Loruze had said when explaining why he had turned away from the Radiance.
A divine kingdom upon the earth, where the border demons no longer entered reality.
Of course, she could not forget that behind their deeds lay ambition and desire as well.
Thinking of this, she slowly leaned back against the chair, lightly tapping her fingers on the tabletop.
A few seconds later, she turned her head to look at Lakdevo, who had once again crouched on the back of the chair, and she asked:
"You, give me an introduction to this world’s talisman crafting system."
After spending a long time together, she did not bother to hide the fact that she was unfamiliar with the extraordinary system of this world.
For this, her identity provided the most reasonable explanation.
Hearing his master’s request, Lakdevo tilted his head, organized his words, and began to speak:
"Respected Master, in our world, there are two methods of crafting talismans:
"The first relies on one’s own spirituality to engrave the corresponding symbolic sigils onto metals, gemstones, or even spiritual materials.
"The second uses external forces—such as the power of a god, or the power of a forbidden object—to complete the crafting. But this method usually requires the aid of a ritual."
"And the rate at which a crafted talisman’s extraordinary power decays is directly related to the technique and the materials selected."
To this, Sylvia nodded, then continued:
"Organize for me a record of engraving processes and required materials for talismans related to the domain of the God of Death and… escaping—no, that word isn’t quite accurate. It should be those related to self-preservation."
"Mm… I’ll add one more requirement: only the ones you are able to draw with your rank."
"Yes, Master!"
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Sylvia looked toward the doorway and saw Adela walking in, holding an exquisite box.
With a signal from Sylvia, the young lady placed the box on the table and opened the lid, revealing a black mask resting on velvet fabric.
At this moment, it looked entirely different from before.
The layered black gauze and the fragments of gemstones scattered across it created a profound, starry-night-like mystery.
At the same time, the asymmetrical style added greatly to the mask’s design.
"Not bad."
Sylvia picked up the half-face mask and gave a simple evaluation.
"As expected of Ms. Tuya’s granddaughter."
Camonel Tuya was not only the most famous puppeteer in the Kingdom of Ulpus but also a top-class fashion designer.
Focusing her attention once more on the mask, a brilliant starlight flickered briefly at her fingertip before sinking into it.
In the next second, the mask began to swallow the surrounding light, while the gemstone fragments on it began to shimmer.
This change made it even more mysterious and profound.
When Sylvia pressed the mask onto her face, her thoughts instantly emptied.
The mild mental disarray caused by overwork and aimless speculation completely settled at that moment, replaced by pure reason and clarity.
At the same time, one after another, occult sigils swept through her mind, then began to reassemble themselves into spell models.
These spell models aggregated again, weaving continuously, expanding without end, extending further and further.
Hmm? Interesting.
A glimmer of light flashed across Sylvia’s deep purple eyes, and the corners of her lips lifted in that moment.
A few seconds later, she took off the mask, feeling a pang in her mind.
It was the warning sign that her spirituality was about to be depleted.
"Very good."
She gave this assessment, then placed the mask on the table.
It was not only an excellent casting tool but also a weapon that could accelerate the weaving of spells and even the weaving of an extraordinary path.
Just now, the progress of weaving the Sinner path had advanced by a large margin.
So this was a witch renowned for her spells? Truly worthy of the title Great One who deconstructs the world.
Although, after wearing this mask, her appearance seemed a bit strange.
She looked both like some gourmet from her homeland and also like some gentleman from a certain website.
"……"
Never mind, no one in this world knew these references… probably?
Surely that God of Industry and Machinery was not so bored…