Miss Witch’s Devotion Has Gone… Twisted-Chapter 98: Return

The Stern Family had been raided, but a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Those people still lived much better than ordinary folks, yet a huge gap remained in their hearts. Because of this, quite a few had committed suicide these past few days.
This wasn't the most crucial part. However arrogant they were before, now they had to pay it back. Getting beaten up on the street was a minor issue. If they truly got separated in some unregulated area, the people there might just add an extra course to their meal.
Yes, an extra course. Eating people wasn't some niche practice here. The blessings of the God of Plague allowed them to be unaffected by prion diseases. Moreover, they had little moral bottom line to begin with, and with the added influence of the Slaanesh authority, that's what made them like this.
People in this world placed great importance on bloodline. Helen was Edmund's granddaughter, and also one of his few descendants. That's why he doted on her so much, to the extent that even after the family was raided, he didn't let the angry mob tear Helen apart. There were still many people protecting her.
Actually, to this day, they still hadn't figured out one thing. They still believed the downfall of the Stern Family was because the kingdom and the Church couldn't tolerate them, completely unaware that the root cause was actually provoking Loren.
"No need to rush, there's enough for everyone..."
Helen crouched on the ground, scattering cat food from her hand for the stray cats.
Stray cats only dared to live in the wealthy districts. If other people who couldn't get enough to eat saw them, they'd directly become an extra course. However, in the past, anyone who dared to eat cats would be arrested by Helen, which led to the stray cats multiplying greatly.
There was still no light in Helen's eyes, but she managed a smile, stroking the stray cats' fur.
"Actually, I really hate one kind of storyline."
A girl dressed in a black robe suddenly stood before Helen. Helen looked up and saw the girl's spiraling twin-tails.
"A person steeped in sin, who has killed who knows how many people, but just because they feed some stray cats by the roadside, many people think they are kind-hearted, as if all their previous actions are wiped clean.
"That's not how this debt is settled. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. No one can forgive others on behalf of the victims."
Helen was destined to be unable to answer these words. Blood dripped onto the stray cats. Helen clutched her own neck. She wanted to say something, but each breath caused more blood to spurt out. In the end, she fell silently among the pile of stray cats.
"Death settles all debts. I forgive you now."
Far away in the inn, Loren took out his little grudge notebook, tore out Helen's page, and lit it on the oil lamp.
...
The matters of the Bardo Kingdom had come to an end. Loren had also written a hymn for the Plague Church, but the effect wasn't particularly strong, the reason being it was interrupted by Helen.
At the same time, Loren also received one-tenth of the Stern Family's wealth. This was one-tenth of the wealth of the largest family in a medium-sized kingdom. Even if it was only money, it was no small sum. After layers of interest exchanges, even the King didn't get as much as Loren.
"You will forever be Bardo's most honored guest, and my eternal friend."
At the time of parting, the King not only prepared the highest-class train for Loren, but even personally saw him off.
"Loren, look over there."
Just as Loren and the King were chatting and laughing, Laila pointed to a pile of garbage in the corner.
There was a human head there, just like the one Loren saw on the street that day. The eyes were gouged out, some brain matter had spilled, as if something had been inserted into the eye sockets and stirred.
His front teeth had also been pulled out. Beside the head were bones with bits of shredded meat stuck to them.
Loren recognized this person. It was that fat man who, when they first arrived in Bardo, said the air of the Bardo Kingdom was sweet.
His type was indeed what could be described as a 'delicious-looking meal' in the Bardo Kingdom. One wonders if he was satisfied with this ending.
"I look forward to our next meeting."
After seeing Loren onto the train, the King drew the Plague Rainbow over his chest.
"May our friendship last forever."
Loren also returned the salute to the King, but what he drew over his chest was the Bountiful Church's Sprout of New Life.
Although I wrote a hymn for the Plague Church and am friends with the King of Bardo, I am a member of the Bountiful Church. This has never changed, and no one can say anything about Loren.
After the train door closed, Loren started laughing. He really couldn't help it. Any person who knew that the entire carriage next to them was filled with treasures for them wouldn't be able to hold back their laughter.
The special train the King prepared for Loren wasn't just coal-powered;
it also used magic. Therefore, both its speed and comfort far surpassed ordinary trains.
There were no outsiders in the carriage, and Laila very naturally followed Loren aboard.
"Why did you follow along too?"
Ever since finding out Laila was a woman, Naclis had always been somewhat cold towards her. However, Laila didn't care. She didn't care about the opinions of anyone other than Loren.
"I just happen to be traveling to the Gedlan Kingdom, is that not allowed?"
Laila very naturally put her arm around Loren's neck, but due to the height difference, the gesture was quite awkward. Finally, in a fit of anger, Laila sat on Loren's lap.
"You..."
Such an action was undoubtedly a provocation to Naclis, but she didn't dare say anything.
"Um... I'm sleepy..."
Just as Naclis and Laila were locked in a stalemate, Anna gently tugged on the corner of Laila's clothes. She usually liked to sleep lying on Loren's lap.
Looking into Anna's large, watery eyes, Laila still gave up her spot.
Under Naclis's envious gaze, Anna lay on Loren's lap, enjoying his stroking.
"I want it too!"
Laila grabbed Loren's hand and placed it on top of her own head.
"..."
Bro, you've changed. You weren't this clingy and dependent before.
The train sped along the railway tracks, passing through a stretch of wilderness. When the green outside grew more abundant, Loren knew he had entered the territory of the God of Bountiful Harvest.
This trip had been quite fruitful for Loren. Those treasures were just incidental. The most important things were still 'Judgment' and 'Requiem'. With these two items, Loren no longer had to worry about his attack power being insufficient. If he had had this back then, he could have killed Eldrin during the first ambush.
By now, the Sin-Burning Flames had also been fully deciphered by Loren and directly taught to the witches. Although they might not necessarily be able to cast it, learning it was better than not knowing it at all.
When getting off the train, the Scarecrows of the Bountiful Church were already waiting for Loren at the station. They tacitly didn't ask about Loren's experiences. Such a big matter couldn't possibly be hidden from the Bountiful Church. They knew the Plague Church's hymn wasn't the complete version, while the Bountiful Church's was. That was enough.
Loren giving the hymn to the Plague Church wasn't simply to exchange for some benefits. He genuinely wanted to strengthen the power of the God of Plague. If, when the Divine War came, the God of Plague and the God of Bountiful Harvest could fight to a mutual standstill, that would be best for Loren.