"Even if you try to test me like this, I won't react. As you said, becoming like this, being betrayed—has, to some extent, something to do with me."

Doro unexpectedly didn't get angry: "Though it is related to me, I don't feel I've done anything wrong. Charlette said it was because I didn't choose anything, because I didn't take on the responsibilities a Hero should have. From her perspective, this might be true. Of course, it might also be her self-justification... a way to make herself feel better, a rationalization for her betrayal."

"Oh~ I didn't probe in any way~ If Mr. Doro insists on thinking so, I can't help it. However, it seems Mr. Doro has gained some insights, has some of his own thoughts?"

"I do have some, but I haven't completely thought them through yet. I need to reflect further, so for now, I won't tell you."

Mohe seemed somewhat surprised, she regarded Doro meaningfully: "Mr. Doro's remarks sound like as soon as you have a thought, you'll definitely let me know. I'm quite pleased~"

"That's indeed the case. You've told me a lot of things, and what I tell you is just some of my thoughts. To say the least, I'm the one who's gained more."

There's something off, this Hero is completely strange.

Did I recently do something to increase his favorability? Why does his attitude towards me seem to change suddenly? He should be somewhat wary of me anyway. This way of speaking makes it sound like we're old friends — not that it's impossible… but something feels wrong.

"After expelling the impurities from Lisidorwei's body, she'll enter a near-death state. Of course, due to her nature and my everlasting presence, she won't truly die." Mohe shifted the topic, her gaze returning to Lisidorwei, soaking in a large bathtub at the center of the room.

Initially, the bathtub was filled with a transparent liquid, but now it had been dyed black as ink by the so-called 'impurities'.

"Actually, when I resurrected Rose, I intentionally made the ritual fail to summon some kind of 'punishment'. Failure in prayer to the gods invites something inexplicable. In human understanding, those things might seem bizarre—there are descriptions among humans too, right? You usually call them 'ominous'."

Doro seemed to remember something.

"Those who are not truly loyal to the gods, who deceive the gods with a false heart, will suffer divine punishment, thereby staining themselves with ominousness..." Doro recalled some sayings from the White Church.

Mohe chuckled: "This concerns ancient history, I don't know if you're interested. It's the history before humans. So actually knowing or not knowing doesn't much affect anything."

The ancient Demon King seemed to be reminiscing: "You can consider this ominousness as a curse, though fundamentally different from a curse. It's the remnants of some failures. But indeed, it's quite useful."

She stepped forward to the bathtub, with magic glowing at her fingertips, as Lisidorwei floated out of the bathtub by the pull of her power.

"After all, these things have an almost eternal nature, existing from the history before humans until now. They continue to manifest." She moved Lisidorwei, placing her on something akin to an altar.

"Ah! Not having recovered my horns is quite troublesome. If Mr. Doro had retrieved my horns, I wouldn't have to bother with all these flashy things, I could just create a new life. Like now, it took nearly a month just to prepare the materials. And I still have to use a ritual for assistance, it's quite embarrassing, might even bring divine observation again. This is terrible."

Doro only asked: "Won't this affect your operation?"

"...A really cold-hearted man! I'm the one busy running around, and you're only concerned about Lisidorwei? Speaking of which... Mr. Doro, it's rare that Lisidorwei is undergoing a deep transformation, look at her figure... I can assure she won't wake up midway, doesn't that make you want to do something to her?"

"Are you asking me to do such things to a sleeping girl? Even if I'm a scumbag, an inept old man, I wouldn't do such things, right?"

Mohe smirked: "Why not? Lisidorwei likes you anyway, if she knew you did such a thing, she'd probably feel happy instead. What's the impact anyway? It's a matter of mutual consent, isn't there no right or wrong in such a case?"

Doro just stood there without speaking, neither leaving nor approaching.

"...Alright. You've probably seen altars like this before, Mr. Doro. In the understanding of the White Church, altars are modeled after the Divine Throne. The so-called Divine Throne is traditionally thought to be the manifestation of divine power, like a king sitting on a throne—that itself is akin to emulating the Divine Throne. Anyone seated upon the throne is king... it's a more symbolic significance. Accordingly, the altar adopts that part of the symbolic meaning."

Mohe briefly explained the principles of her set-up altar: "Typically, after setting up an altar, the chances of a successful spellcasting increase significantly. After all, the claims about the altar are correct—why would humans know to create altars? Naturally, I taught them."

"...?"

Doro was momentarily stunned.

"It's not entirely appropriate to say I taught it. It's because I once did it, and then it was learned from me, eventually spreading among humans, ultimately becoming one of the factors leading to my death... It's quite ironic." Mohe sighed, "On the foundation of such an altar, as the fourth generation Vampire, Lisidorwei needs to embody powers completely different from before."

At this point, Mohe rubbed her brow: "My intention was to have you guys obtain something akin to a dragon, akin to a Phoenix, akin to the King of Sea Serpents, akin to Unicorn's blood—such blood of mythical creatures to use as a base... but considering and reconsidering..."

"Give me a drop of your blood."

Doro didn't hesitate much, a drop of crimson blood flowed from his fingertip, hovering to Mohe's side.

Then, a drop of golden blood flowed from Mohe's fingertip: "In this world, what blood compares to the Hero's and the Demon King's?"

The golden and red blood intertwined at this moment, seemingly mixing, yet distinctly separate.

"Using something similar to Alchemy, with our high-quality blood as a base, like a mill you watched grinding wheat? To exist within Lisidorwei's body such a thing, allowing her to grind anything impure, thus making absorption easier. Addressing her inherent flaw. So, the materials prepared overall were for these two drops of blood."

Mohe took out a bottle containing a milky white liquid.

"After collecting so many materials, the final Alchemy result is this."

She tossed the bottle to Doro: "Use the liquid in this bottle to wipe Lisidorwei, apply it all over her body—just the surface, don't apply it to strange places... I can only trust you with this, I need to handle the ominousness, since still relying on the power of ominousness."

Doro confirmed Mohe was serious.

He didn't believe Mohe indeed had no alternative solution, nor that this process must occur now. Yet, Mohe was leading this ritual, an amateur like Doro couldn't point fingers. Thus, he took the bottle and approached the altar, pouring out the fog-like liquid to carefully apply to Lisidorwei.

Chanting rose from behind him, he knew Mohe had begun chanting prayers to the gods, intending another 'certain defeat' prayer, seeking something from it to attach to the two drops of blood.

However, honestly, although, although—Doro over many years had witnessed quite a few amorous events, today's situation was somewhat different.

Mohe's earlier words resurfaced in Doro's mind.

"Even if you do something, she'd only be happy."

Really?

Is that truly the case?

This girl named Lisidorwei, if he were to do something to her, would she not be angry?

He wanted to smack himself, back at eighteen, full of youthful vigor, he never had such base thoughts, how in middle age, becoming ostensibly steadier, did he have such ideas continually emerging from his heart?

Did Mohe do something manipulative? After all, the Demon King seems to have the ability to feed on others' emotions—did she somehow consume his restraint or something?

No, no, shifting blame to others is a very contemptible act, Doro has to admit a fact. He seemingly had grown more despicable than in the past.

Has his years of decadence eroded even his bottom line?

He struggled against his thoughts.

Mohe didn't have time to deal with Doro's thoughts. She had to confirm the anomaly in divine perception during Rose's resurrection—whether it was accidental, or if indeed someone or something was observing her.

"Great, almighty, merciful deity!"

Mohe clasped her hands, with a devout expression: "Your most loyal disciple, at this moment, offers prayers to you, seeks you, prays for your glory, prays for your mercy! Please descend the pure white light!"

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