Chapter 427

Chapter 427: Awakening

The reincarnator from the Deta Empire? If it’s a human race reincarnator, they’d still be just a little kid right now. It feels unlikely… So… could it be someone who reincarnated like me into a monster or another race?

Hmm, anyway, just follow Little Rainbow’s instructions.

“Come in first.”

Lin Yu stepped aside to let the two girls enter.

After they settled on the living room sofa, Lin Yu and Red Pupil soon understood the purpose of their return.

As long as Ji Qiao uses Miyoshi Mitsui’s Unique Skill on Merleau’s corpse, Merleau can be revived as an immortal Dead Spirit.

The Merleau revived this way won’t just return to his former state—he’ll instantly become a subordinate of the ant tribe.

Whatever happened to him will naturally become clear afterward.

…

“Ji Qiao is on her way. You haven’t eaten yet, so have some food first.”

Lin Yu went to the kitchen and soon returned with dishes.

After Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight finished their meal, Ji Qiao finally arrived at the villa.

“No time to waste. Bring out Merleau’s body.”

Red Pupil picked up the small Ji Qiao while speaking.

Stealth Seven nodded, walked to the center of the hall, and raised one hand horizontally.

Activating the skill “Magic Backpack,” Merleau’s corpse appeared on the floor moments later.

“Sister Ji Qiao, it’s up to you.”

“Oh…”

Though disliking the sensation of inhabiting a skeleton, the little ant nodded obediently. She extracted a skeleton from her Magic Backpack and leaped into its frame…

The skeleton lying on the floor suddenly glowed with red eyes, creaking as it stood upright.

Ji Qiao, now inhabiting the Mitsui skeleton, activated the Unique Skill – King of Dead Spirits on Merleau’s nearby corpse.

The skill succeeded.

Merleau’s status shifted from “Dead” to “Reviving,” while his race changed from human to Dead Spirit.

Though the target was Class A, the recent death meant the process shouldn’t take long.

He’ll likely be revived by tomorrow or the day after.

“Stay at the villa tonight. Little Rainbow isn’t short-handed anyway—a few extra days won’t matter.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Lin Yu’s nod, Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight suddenly looked exhilarated.

…

The next morning.

The old man lying on the floor suddenly opened his eyes and swiftly sat up.

Where is… this place?

Merleau touched his forehead and recoiled in shock upon feeling it.

His forehead… had been pierced through! Wh-what happened?!

Just as surprise struck him, memories from his lifetime surged violently… The old man clutched his head in agony with both hands.

After an indeterminate time, he emerged from the torment—only to turn deathly pale upon recalling his rampage through the palace after returning to the capital, slaughtering the king and numerous princes and princesses… His pupils dilated with disbelief, as if sinking into profound despair.

On the other side,

the moment Merleau revived and opened his eyes… Lin Yu and Ji Qiao both sensed a faint new presence in their minds.

The Dead Spirit transformation had succeeded; Merleau, like the resurrected Earth Dragons, had become a subordinate of the Ant Clan.

Realizing this, the white-haired girl embraced Ji Qiao beside her and descended the stairs with Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight, who remained drowsy after waking.

Red Pupil was already absent. With the ant swarm surpassing a million, the eldest daughter now managed considerably more duties and could no longer remain constantly at Lin Yu’s side.

The previous night, Stealth Seven and Stealth Eight—her two daughters—had accompanied Lin Yu to sleep.

Upon reaching the first floor, the women found Merleau standing frozen in the hall, his expression etched with despair.

“You’re awake. Have your memories returned?”

“You… all of you? Who are you?”

Lin Yu’s voice snapped the old man back to awareness.

“What is this place? Ah, yes—I should be dead… Defeated by my own student, then killed by a magic arrow through the forehead from some unknown assailant…”

“You did die. We simply revived you. This is the depths of Granville Monster Forest. As for us…”

Since he was now an ally, concealing the truth was unnecessary.

Lin Yu offered a concise explanation of the situation.

…

Revived by monsters… by Ant Clan monsters?

Not only were these strikingly beautiful women before him Ant Clan members—but even Magic Rainbow, his most accomplished student, was one?!

Impossible…

How could monsters achieve such feats??

“Don’t be astonished. Beyond being a monster, I am also a reincarnator.”

“Reincarnator?!”

Merleau jolted again.

Yet if she was a reincarnator, while still astounding, this outcome wasn’t entirely implausible…

“…So you infiltrated the kingdom in human form for the sake of other reincarnators?”

“Correct.”

The white-haired girl nodded, her tone icy as she spoke.

*As expected of the kingdom’s Chief Mage—instantly deducing our primary objective.*

But that wasn’t the focus now.

Lin Yu then briefly outlined his current Dead Spirit state and other relevant details.

Once he’d processed the information, she questioned why he’d transformed earlier and how he’d acquired the “Mark” status.

“Mark? No… I recall no such state. However… I suspect one person capable of this.”

Merleau’s face abruptly darkened.

“Though her true face was hidden, she was a little girl wearing a pink half-mask, her voice sweet yet unnervingly enchanting.”

“What did she do to you?”

“To my shame… I believe she brainwashed me.”

“Brainwashed?!”

“Yes. My memories remain blank for a long period after encountering her. From then on, only one thought consumed me: ‘Return to the palace. Assassinate the king. Slaughter every royal heir.’ Nothing else mattered—everything became expendable… Reflecting now, that state of demonic possession chills me to the bone.”

The old man’s fists trembled as he clenched them.

“Was that girl a reincarnator?”

“I… don’t know. I didn’t appraise her during our first meeting. After the brainwashing, it was impossible.”

“Hmm…”

*If the timeline holds… human reincarnators would now be over seven years old. Meaning… she very well could be one.*

*But if brainwashing is her Unique Skill—what then is the “Mark” state?*

Lin Yu pondered briefly before shaking her head, abandoning the thread.

“Narrate everything that occurred after your invitation to the Eastern Deta Empire. Omit nothing. Incidentally—who invited you to Deta Empire?”

“An imperial high official. Also a dear friend from my youthful travels across the continent.”

The old man paused, then added:

“Now that I reflect… it seems he too had been brainwashed.”