Guiding humankind—this duty established their position, understanding the distinction between good and evil.
But as humankind developed, the angels' wisdom ultimately began to run thin.
What could possibly eradicate the evil within human nature and allow humankind, demons, and even goblins to lead better lives?
The angels sought help from ancient beliefs, which were a convergence of the faith of countless angels throughout the ages and the crystallization of innumerable human beliefs.
The Gate of Heaven—and along with it, the epitome of all angelic wisdom, the spokesperson of God, the great Four-winged King.
Divine Wisdom provided the answer: as long as humankind also possessed the lineage of angels, they would inherently know where goodness lay.
However, although this answer was not incorrect, it faced many difficult challenges in implementation.
Even if a few half angels were born, this blessing ultimately could not be bestowed upon everyone.
Then, the head of the Great Priest at that time, the king's greatest work, the miracle of goodness, the Goblin Priest, presented a new answer after an audience with the king.
"I will serve as the sacrificial child, push open the gate of Heaven, and offer my all to the divine; this surely is the reason I am here."
Bearing countless commandments, the Great Priest, as a goblin yet possessing a faith deeper than anyone in Angel City, bathed in the radiance of the ritual, pushed open the never-before-opened Gate of Heaven in the presence of all.
It transformed into a feather dazzling with light, merging into the king's wings, turning one of them jet black.
The people cried, believing it to be the king's sorrow.
But the ritual was a success, and the king blessed the newborn, a child of angel and human, the first half angel was born.
Not only that, but several decades later, the children of half angels and humans were also born.
She still possessed a pure white single wing, born with magical power far surpassing ordinary people, without a trace of original sin,
and furthermore, her fertility rate after marrying humans was no different from that of ordinary people.
This meant that in less than a century, all newborns could possess those pure white wings.
The angels rejoiced, people wept with joy, and whether it was the Royal City in the clouds or the city-states on the land, they all offered blessings to this great rebirth.
But in the shadows, several human leaders and quite a few angels fell into silence.
—But is this really the right path?
[Final Replacement Object]
1-4. Magic Cloud Undercurrent
10. Great Success/Great Failure
From the Goblin Priest offering himself, slightly pushing open the Gate of Heaven, to the birth of the first half angel, and then the birth of descendants of half angels and humans...
Angel City's ancient and secretive history is reenacted before the Hero.
These scenes are but virtual illusions, not truly being there in the flesh.
Whether it was the solemnity when the Goblin Priest pushed the door or the joyous celebrations at the birth of the half angel, they are merely glimpsed through simple flashes, but even in that brief moment, the Hero can feel the weight of history.
This is by no means a simple illusion, but the actual past events that took place in the now-ruined Royal City.
The scenes play one by one, and the tone gradually changes.
The atmosphere no longer feels as filled with divinity, light, and joy as it did at the beginning, but it slowly becomes deep, secretive, and dark.
Several angels with broad pure white wings and humans clad in high-tier cleric robes gathered in a dimly lit, secluded underground palace, seemingly preparing to discuss something.
The Hero, intensely focused on the history presented by the mural, trying to unearth more clues, suddenly heard an impatient voice from another self.
"It's too boring, I don't want to watch anymore, let me out."
"...I find it interesting, grandpa would definitely be interested." The Hero hesitantly replied after a pause.
"When you start considering whether others might be interested, it proves that you're not wholeheartedly invested, indicating that you're not really that interested, so quickly let me out."
Listening to the twisted logic of another self, the Hero became suspicious in their heart.
"What mischief are you up to now?" This text is hosted at novèlfire.net
"Who wants to do anything bad, just think of me as scouting for you, alright? There's no mother guarding you now." The Depraved Hero clicked his tongue.
Although the Hero could forcibly leave the illusion any time, in this state, her sensing of the outside world was indeed dulled significantly, and the center of the Royal City clearly was not a safe place.
Thinking of this, the Hero hesitated for a moment, finally nodding in permission.
"Alright, but if I use a double now, the magic power fluctuations will be too big, and I'll be pulled out of the illusion."
"No problem, just let me use your body directly. Make sure your consciousness doesn't surface, and everything will be fine."
In reality, while bathing in the radiant magic of the murals, the Hero's eyes suddenly unfocused, and one of her eyes slowly dyed a deep blue color.
While the other eye still retained the emerald green, with dilated pupils unfocused.
Then, a wicked smile appeared on her face.
"The form of the Siren—I recall this magic resisted the curse (me) before? Heh, now I can use it whenever I wish."
Even without the Hero's permission, unable to even surface, the Depraved Hero still laughed arrogantly.
She closed the single emerald eye, scanning around with the deep blue eye.
"Very well, let me see..."
[Depraved Hero (Sea Witch) LV 55]