Volume 1 Chapter 696

Chapter 696: Who Isn’t a Riddle Now!

Maria Diana’s soul disintegrated right before Lolth’s eyes.

Yet she could do nothing to prevent it.

Lolth wasn’t omnipotent – this soul-level disintegration resulting in "death" remained beyond her power to reverse.

After all, she wasn’t a "goddess".

Though she might have once wielded "divine authority", Lolth could reasonably surmise…

Her dominion likely didn’t encompass the power to resurrect the dead.

Moreover, everything occurred with startling rapidity.

None could have anticipated Maria Diana’s self-destructive resolve… executed with such finality.

This wasn’t some impulsive decision – the massive accumulation of "curse energy" within her soul revealed the Golden Peacock’s Regent Queen had predetermined her demise from the very beginning.

Observing the contorted smile growing increasingly manic across her counterpart’s features, Lolth felt not only helplessness but genuine bewilderment.

What twisted thoughts occupied this woman’s mind?

Maria Diana’s psyche and motivations… they defied comprehension.

Even as Maria Diana’s lifeless form collapsed to the ground, gradually cooling, Lolth found no answers.

Yet certain truths emerged from the dying woman’s words and reactions.

Dorothy’s mother had indeed departed… long before this moment.

With Maria Diana’s current passing…

The last of this child’s direct blood relatives in this world had vanished.

In essence, Dorothy stood truly alone now.

Lolth turned to the girl beside her, gently resting a hand on her head.

"I’m sorry… This outcome surprises even me…"

The words came softly.

Dorothy clasped the hand atop her hair, shaking her head.

"I always knew it would end this way, teacher…"

"Still… thank you for letting me see it through."

As the girl spoke, Lolth gave a faint nod.

Dorothy lifted her gaze to meet her mentor’s eyes.

"The ‘past’ holds no meaning, teacher…"

"What matters more…"

"What secrets are you keeping?"

Her piercing stare remained fixed on Lolth.

"The Demon God of Hell… your sister’s appearance here… and…" A slight hesitation. "That claim you made to my aunt about being her ‘ancestor’."

"What is all this about?"

Dorothy inquired calmly but earnestly.

Lolth froze.

She’d been so preoccupied with posturing before Maria Diana that she’d completely forgotten Dorothy could hear every word clearly.

Still…

These matters ultimately needed to be revealed to Dorothy.

With a sigh, Lolth prepared to recount everything she knew from the beginning.

Yet…

Just as someone drew breath to speak.

"Allow me to explain, Miss Dorothy – or perhaps I should say… my future sister-in-law."

An ordinary voice interjected.

Both women looked up to see Xiletor standing not far from them, having emerged from the Gate of Hell with sword in hand. Her attire had changed to a plain black linen tunic.

Xiletor regarded Dorothy with tranquil eyes.

"Regarding this matter, your ‘teacher’ – my sister – only recently discovered the truth herself. Before your relationship became official."

As these words fell, Lolth’s face altered dramatically.

"Xiletor, goddammit! That thing in my mind really was synced with you!"

Xiletor chuckled at Lolth’s outburst.

"My foolish sister, do you not understand? My avatar remains part of me. You can usually distinguish my true voice, yet you’ll believe any clone’s words?"

"Cease your interruptions – I’m clarifying matters for your benefit."

When Xiletor paused, Lolth glanced at Dorothy and pressed her lips together.

Xiletor resumed speaking.

"The situation is both complex and simple…"

"To summarize – I am your ancestor."

"The Golden Peacock’s founder, the warrior Trish Diana of House Diana, was my lover three millennia past. When we parted ways, she already carried my child."

"Therefore, you and my sister – your current paramour Lolthlinda – are technically blood relations."

As Xiletor concluded dispassionately, Lolth stared fixedly at her feet.

"Well… though I did learn later, I’ve known for some time. I simply couldn’t find the right way to tell you."

At Lolth’s mumbled confession, Dorothy blinked in astonishment.

"But… does this truly matter?"

"Teacher and I aren’t direct relatives. Our connection’s so distant that no kingdom or church would forbid our union, correct?"

The human woman regarded the two succubi solemnly awaiting her response. Contrary to their grave expressions, Dorothy wore a thoroughly perplexed expression.

"After all this time, it turns out your sister and our ancestor were the couple. I almost mistook you, Teacher Lolth, as the lover of our ancestor Trish Diana… I even contemplated the possibility of being Trish Diana’s reincarnation myself."

"Moreover, aren’t you succubi? Shouldn’t incestuous marriages be commonplace among your kind?"

As Dorothy spoke, Lolth and Xiletor locked eyes in mutual astonishment.

Xiletor silently raised her thumb toward Lolth.

"Magnificent! That’s my baby sister – your unconventional perspective never disappoints."

She then turned the approving gesture toward Dorothy.

"And you! Truly worthy of being my descendant! Splendid!"

Xiletor’s enthusiastic praise prompted Dorothy to purse her lips. Though this braided woman before her lacked any regal bearing she’d associate with an ancestor, and behaved far too eccentrically…

The undeniable truth remained – this being had joined forces with Teacher Lolth to slay a Hell Demon God. Moreover, Dorothy could instinctively verify their blood relation to Teacher Lolth.

"Regardless, Teacher Lolth couldn’t have known about your involvement with our ancestor… She likely didn’t even exist during that period!"

"Therefore, by any logical measure, Teacher Lolth bears no responsibility here."

Xiletor’s cheerful expression froze at Dorothy’s conclusion.

"Ah… Well…"

The same being who’d nonchalantly dispatched a Hell Demon God now squirmed uncomfortably.

"It’s… complicated. These matters aren’t so… black and white."

This uncharacteristic evasion left Dorothy momentarily speechless.

"What… do you mean…?"

Xiletor rolled her eyes in opposite directions, mouth agape with drool dripping.

"Glu-glub… Bla-ahh…"

Lolth shot her sister a withering glare and sighed.

"Enough theatrics, you old hag. Start explaining properly – what’s wrong with me?"

"Why do my memories only span seventeen years?"

The direct question made Xiletor audibly slurp back her drool, eyes snapping back into focus.

"Well now… That’s an epic tale…"

Xiletor adopted a nostalgic, storytelling cadence.

"To comprehend this fully, we must journey back beyond the First Era, to when the Creation Goddess birthed our world-"

Lolth felt veins throbbing at her temples.

"By the abyss! You’re actually starting from the cosmic genesis?!"

She ruthlessly severed her sister’s dramatic narration.

"Scrap that. I’ll interrogate – you answer."

As Lolth spoke, Xiletor sighed.

"…Fine, then."

"First question – how old am I exactly?"

When Lolth posed this query, Xiletor moistened her lips with her tongue.

The conflicted gleam in Xiletor’s eyes suggested she still harbored thoughts of playful evasion, but after visible internal struggle, she answered earnestly.

"Well… it’s rather complicated to quantify."

"I can only confirm it’s certainly beyond three thousand years…"

At Xiletor’s words, Lolth released a weary breath.

"’Complicated to quantify,’ you say…"

The phrasing itself carried implicit meaning.

Clearly her circumstances held more complexity than she’d imagined.

"So the events three millennia past… truly involve me?"

"The Heroic Party… you as the ‘Sword Master,’ Trish Diana, that era’s Lady of Light, Great Sage Morning Star… and Yelixi Flavesima."

As Lolth recited these names, Xiletor exhaled slowly.

"Mmm… in certain respects, yes."

"We all share connections to those ancient events."

"But for precise details… you’ll need Kululu’s account."

Xiletor extended her hand sideways through empty air devoid of magical resonance.

Space rippled as she seized the nape of a suddenly materialized figure, hoisting the flailing form aloft.

"Aiyaya! This wasn’t the deal, you turtle-spawned Xiletor! You hatchling! You promised to handle this! Release me! I won’t face Lolth!!"

Xiletor dangled a petite, cat-like girl by her collar. The newcomer’s cotton-candy pink hair and scandalously minimal attire – sufficient to make Dorothy blush – immediately identified her.

"Kululu! You scheming vixen! You’ve been lurking here all along!"

Lolth’s voice dripped venom as she spoke.

Her furious gaze shifted between the conspirators.

"What inseparable comrades you make…"

"Colluding to deceive me… How many more secrets fester between you?"

Xiletor released her grip. The two exchanged glances and spoke in unison:

"We’ve hidden nothing…"

"All for your protection…"

Their eyes met again. Kululu buried her face in pale hands.

Here’s the polished English translation adhering to your guidelines:

"We’ve never shared a moment of understanding…"

Finally, she sighed and turned her gaze toward Lolth.

"Fine, fine—I’ll admit it. Xiletor and I withheld certain truths from you. But as we’ve said before… the time simply hadn’t come for you to know!"

As Kululu spoke, Lolth gestured toward Maria Diana.

"The hour has arrived—the ‘Cursed Demon God’ has granted you both cause and means to destroy Him. Now, honor your pledge."

At these words, Kululu exhaled heavily once more.

"Understood, understood. But… we cannot simply ‘tell’ you these things."

"You must witness them yourself."

Xiletor nodded in agreement.

"The stakes transcend mortal comprehension. Even granting you awareness violates every Plane Will across existence… as you’ll now perceive."

Xiletor’s voice deepened as she continued.

"Lolthlinda, your true nature is—"

Mid-sentence, Lolth sensed…

The fabric of reality itself quivered around her.

No—not merely her surroundings. Every law governing the mainland plane shifted imperceptibly in that heartbeat.

Divine Kingdoms across countless half-planes shuddered. The weight of infinite divine gazes pressed upon their location as the main plane’s collective will coalesced around Lolth and Xiletor—a crushing force opposing the revelation.

Kululu’s complexion turned ashen, her knees buckling.

"Must you provoke this, Xiletor?!"

Though maintaining composure, Xiletor’s pallor betrayed strain. She extended open palms toward Lolth.

"You witness it now, sister. This is why…"

"We cannot gift you knowledge—only the right to seek it yourself."

Lolth’s brow furrowed.

"What further trials await?"

"Reclaim your divine fragments. You’ve obtained the God of Light’s Divine Artifact. Next, you must secure divine authority, rebuild your Divine Kingdom… and ascend the Divine Throne."

Kululu’s voice rose in rhythmic cadence:

"Frost and lone wolf shall cherish hearth’s embrace."

"Through storm’s wrath, dreamer finds world’s edge."

"Where end and origin twine, your sapling’s shade awaits."

Lolth pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Riddles. Of course."

She recognized Kululu’s circumlocution as defense against the Plane Will’s scrutiny—yet irritation prickled nonetheless.

This time, however, Lolth came prepared.

"Very well. I grasp your meaning."

"Now, my own confession: I too concealed truths. While you, dear sister, hid Kululu… I’ve sheltered an ‘old acquaintance’ you should meet."

Xiletor’s eyes widened. She tensed to flee—too late.

"Kanor—!"

The door flew open at Lolth’s call.

"Ready, Teacher!" chirped the young girl’s voice.

Yet Kanor herself wasn’t the promised visitor. With a mischievous grin, the child removed her crescent pendant—revealing another presence that froze both Xiletor and Kululu in place.