Blackberry Kennit, at the age of twenty-six.

He once walked along the winding rivers of his youth, trying to find the old grandma who gave him bread. He had stepped into the forest, chasing the singing of the Nightingale. He also piloted an airship, trying to find his Angel.

Yet, ten years have passed. Ever since the war began.

The Angel did not come.

Once, a daring person shouted at him, saying that the Supreme Mage is male. So he ordered the execution of this commoner.

...Angel, oh Angel.

What has halted your steps, is Heaven's affairs too busy? Can you take me away, let me follow you up to Heaven?

Blackberry recalled her eyes from his childhood, like precious black gemstones. No matter how many years he grew, her appearance remained young. She must be an Angel from Heaven, to not scorn such a monster like him who could induce diseases. She distinctly said—"Whether a sword is good or evil depends on the one who wields it, not the sword itself."

He has now saved so many... so many...

But she did not come.

Blackberry Kennit stood at the Abyss of Netherworld, his whole body stained with blood, wearing the Evil Ghost Mask—this is what the Angel taught him if someone belittled him for his youth, make them ignore appearance and face fear.

He had worn the mask for too long now.

So long that... sometimes he would believe he is the "Tyrant" as people say.

He gripped the Eye of the Old Days in his pocket.

...This is what he found in these recent years. Since he found it, his wars have been invincible. The Eye of the Old Days often whispers what he should do.

[You shouldn't have come; this is obviously a trap. The Supreme Mage would not be caught by the Church.] The Eye of the Old Days sighed.

"Even with a thousandth of a chance, I would still come. I can't bear her to die." Blackberry said.

[For someone so wise, why are you confused now? Don't you know, if you die, it would be an irrecoverable disaster?] The voice said.

"...I'm tired." Blackberry said.

He didn't explain further.

The more he fought, the more he found ignorance had seeped deep into people's hearts. Even if he used his ability to exacerbate diseases in battles, it gradually became fighting violence with violence. Many people would rather spit blood and die in front of him than curse a Witch.

...Then how is he, who exacerbates diseases, different from the rumored Witches who spread plagues?

Blackberry was often confused.

Every time he exacerbated a disease, he could feel an additional accumulation of fluids in his body, as if others' diseases flowed into him. He grew weaker, these dark forces like a time bomb would explode instantly after his death.

——By then, he would become the true Source of Plagues.

Gradually he discovered, his very ability was itself a huge trap. Human life is limited, while the Deity's life is infinite, and he overextends his life fighting on the battlefield... once his life ends.

It would usher in darkness a thousandfold.

Even if he wished to persist for a few more years, yet... he understood it was a desperate measure.

[Are you going to end it?] The voice said.

"I have already entrusted state affairs to my subordinates. These years I traveled around by airship, intentionally training them." Blackberry suddenly smiled.

His smile was like childhood, Xiao Xi's pure smile.

"I have lit the fire."

"Since this battle, people have realized the unreliability of Faith. They have also realized that the plague is likely not from the Witches, but spread by others."

"More and more people begin to abolish Execution by Fire, even if temporarily enlightened, they have tasted the benefits of justice."

"All I needed to do was raise the torch, make it bright for two or three seconds."

"I have accomplished it."

"War is a means, not an end. My goal was never to unify the World, a completely unified World holds no benefit. What I wanted to awaken was always their thoughts, let them realize there are no Witches in this World, Execution by Fire only burns the innocent."

"In these ten years, I have done it."

"To wait for the Angel, I endured the pain and lived on. Now after ten years, I finally understand... the Angel will not care for human affairs, to her I might just be a small passerby, I shouldn't expect her to still remember me."

"Let it end here."

"The World does not need a dictator, the Great Emperor has completed the task of enlightenment, it's time to step down."

[...] The Eye of the Old Days said no more.

Footsteps approached, under the embrace of Knights, the Goddess raised her sword.

At this moment, through the mask's eyeholes, Blackberry saw this generation's Goddess—ah, he recognized her.

At twenty years old, he once piloted an airship over a beautiful town. There was a girl in a thick cotton coat, leisurely walking in the streets. Back then, he would take out a leaf whistle, wearing the mask, and play a tune for her with the Minstrel's identity.

The Goddess' family was destroyed. It seems that beautiful town was also destroyed in the flames of war he personally brewed.

He ruined her life.

"..."

He ruined the lives of so many.

He saved the afterlife of so many.

When future generations judge Emperor Kennit, will they acknowledge his achievement in awakening thoughts or condemn the brutality of his initiated wars?

He himself didn't know if he was black or white.

So he spread his arms, laughed wildly.

"Oh, Angel! Oh, Angel! Oh, Angel——!"

"I have completed your trial! So many have awakened from ignorance, I did it, can you——can you meet me——"

He called to the sky, eyes red. Like a bird about to soar into the sky. He shredded his throat and yelled, even if he knew she couldn't hear.

He completed the trial given by the Angel.

He awakened the people, got them to begin abolishing Witch trials, got them to start standing on their own.

...Angel, the words you told me when I was twelve, I have remembered to this day.

...

["A change from the bottom up requires massive blood and sacrifice, countless people will die in war. But a reform from the top down, if the upper class is strong enough, may succeed. I will attempt to change this situation, end the Witch hunts, and bring a new day to the World." Blackberry said.]

["This is not an easy task." Su Ming'an said.]

[Blackberry's eyes were bright and sharp, like a newly unsheathed blade edge. He placed one hand on his chest and bowed to Su Ming'an: "Angel, this is the trial you gave me... I will not retreat."]

...

...Angel, I did it.

Am I well-behaved?

"Blackberry Kennit! You arbitrarily exacerbated diseases, using diseases to kill people—irrefutable evidence, the Church declares you a Witch! Judgment will be passed on you! Do you plead guilty?" The Goddess drew a cross with both hands, shouting at him.

She was just following protocol by asking, actually, no one would plead guilty.

Blackberry curved his eyes.

He spread his arms, laughed loudly, the voice was sharp like a knife.

"I confess—I am a Witch!"

"I am the Witch! These years of plague—it was all my doing! You all saw it with your own eyes! As soon as I reached out, plagues erupted, it was all me!"

"Who else but I could achieve this extent? You finally discovered I am the Witch, haha, hahaha——"

The Goddess was stunned.

Even the Knights and Priests showed surprise.

They didn't expect... this exalted and proud Emperor Kennit, the leader among men... would confess to these sins.

This would surely make him nailed in disgrace after death.

"So he really is a Witch, so all these years of war were for his own desires." The Priests murmured with contempt.

"He should be killed!"

"Judgment——"

The Goddess raised her sword blade.

Her eyes were full of tears.

The Goddess was never in control of her fate. She realized why the Great Emperor Kennit admitted his guilt, but she could not stop, for the Goddess must execute the Witch.

"Judging you—"

To personally execute such a demon, to taint his achievements with darkness, to be condemned as a tyrant in history books—his ending was obvious.

He would not have a good reputation.

People would only remember the name "Witch."

"Judging your crime—!!"

Under the shrieks, everything ceased to be.

...

The Witch Age, Year 342.

The Witch died.

...

Blackberry smiled and closed his eyes.

...Angel.

If Heaven had a voice, could you hear my heart's voice? Do you regret saving me in the past? Why did you not take me away in the end?

He actually held onto a glimmer of hope, thinking that if he actively sought death, the Angel would hear his voice and gently lift him away from the world with her wings.

However.

Until the very last moment.

The Angel did not come.

...

The light and flames descended. The young girl would never know she was executing the Minstrel she once liked. His flute playing was beautiful, and when she had not yet suffered hardship, it secretly made her heart flutter. However, as the flames of war spread, her happiness was lost, and the iron-like forces under the Minstrel's command destroyed her home.

Then she personally executed him.

The Witch fell into the abyss.

His body shattered, and the Royal Medal soared high, breaking the "mask" that had covered his twenty-six years.

He suddenly felt free and laughed aloud.

...He completed the trial the Angel gave him, and he could finally rest.

The Eye of the Old Days floated up, its voice hoarse: [Blackberry, you weren't a Witch, were you.]

Witches never existed.

It was merely that when those in power wanted someone dead, they became a "Witch."

It was never specific to any one person; it was simply a tool of human government.

Blackberry coughed up blood but said nothing, just smiled. He had known this all along, which is why he admitted to being the Witch.

—In myths, a Witch would spread plague, and he possessed similar abilities.

—In myths, a Witch's temperament was cruel, and he had shown a brutal side.

In the end, the Witch died.

There were no more Witches in the world.

The Eye of the Old Days spoke in a low, raspy voice: [You're going to die. Do you have any last wishes? Over the years, you collected many negative emotions. Although you lack Energy and Authority, you can't become a god, but I can grant a wish for your rebirth.]

"..."

Blackberry's Divine Wisdom gradually faded; his lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.

He had long decided on his final wish.

In the next life... I wish to have a face similar to the Angel's.

No matter how the Angel's appearance changes in future generations, when I meet him/her again, I want him/her to recognize me at a glance.

I don't want riches or glory in future generations, nor do I want to live a life of pleasure. He knew the Eye of the Old Days was a divine relic that could easily grant these, but his request was simple.

He only wanted to see the Angel again. Even if it meant reincarnation... he wanted to see her.

The Angel's appearance was not fixed, yet as long as he always looked like the Angel, he should surely find the Angel again in future generations... no matter how many years, how many years...

Thus, the Eye of the Old Days covered his face.

In those final moments, he felt his features change. He gently touched his face, eyebrows, nose bridge, lips...

Ah.

So that's what the Angel looks like; the Angel really is male, those mobs weren't lying...

Blackberry finally opened his lips and asked:

Can I know... what my name... will be in future lives...?

The Eye of the Old Days paused for a moment.

"In Steam Age, Year 512, you were named Xiao Hei. You built an airship and always watched over the Angel from above."

"In Louyue Era, Year 622, you were named Xiao Jingsan. You worked tirelessly on an island to nurture life similar to save the Angel."

"In the present, Year 830, you were named Hei Que. You also did much for the Angel."

Blackberry's eyes curved.

Such beautiful names.

It's as if they were chosen personally by the Angel.

...Then, long into the future, they... will surely... live well... together...

If the opportunity arises, he still wishes to endure hardships for the Angel...

...through countless lifetimes.

And with this thought.

At twenty-six years old, Blackberry Kennit closed his eyes forever.

...

Afterward, the Kennit Empire was divided among forty-two subordinates, who tacitly refrained from disturbing each other, forming various kingdoms, cities... Yate City, Luohe City... Burg Castle.

After the execution of Witch Blackberry Kennit, the plague continued to spread. After his death, people finally realized that Witches did not exist and ceased the Witch executions.

The grand Witch executions that lasted for over a hundred years ended with Blackberry's death. Thereafter, due to the justice that was encouraged during the Kennit Empire's reign, no one was condemned as a Witch. The world then transitioned into the Industrial Steam Age.

The name of Tyrant Kennit was erased by the Deities, and no one remembered what he once did.

Only occasionally, someone would pass by a ruined relic. It is said to be the relic left by sorcerers from a century ago. In front of the tomb, there are many white morning glory flowers, and there is an inconspicuous grave inscribed with the ordinary name "Blackberry Xili."

A mother would point at the stained tombstone and tell her child:

"This here is the Witch's name."

"What is a Witch?" the child asked innocently.

"A Witch is a villain, it's said he killed many people. After he died, the Witch executions ended, and the plague ended too, luckily he died..."

The mother took the child's hand and slowly walked away from the abandoned relic.

Amongst the grove of stone tablets, a white flower bloomed, facing the wind like a gentle smile...

The child looked back.

He blinked, seemingly seeing a beautiful big sister wearing a Shrine Maiden hat, standing by the small tombstone, placing down a golden yellow banana...

A gust of wind blew.

The big sister disappeared.

Only a golden yellow banana lay quietly beside the small tombstone.

The pear blossoms nearby bloomed into thousands upon thousands, hanging on the branches.

...

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