novelraw Chapter 376
Chapter 376
Luluwei tilted her head as well, feeling that what Kanzaki Rei had done wasn’t wrong.
If someone intended to kill you, what was wrong with defending yourself?
Even if the other party belonged to the Church of Life, that shouldn’t be an exception.
Reina Kiyomi responded with unusual seriousness, "It shouldn’t be like this."
"I feel like... if it were you before, you wouldn’t have killed them so decisively."
"Kanzaki Rei, could it be... that you’ve also been contaminated?"
Kanzaki Rei replied, "Reina Kiyomi, I’ve never liked people trying to kill me."
As she asked that question—
Kanzaki Rei also turned inward, observing his own mindscape.
Golden palaces, jade towers, vast clouds stretching endlessly—his mindscape resembled a grand celestial court, radiant and magnificent. There wasn’t the slightest trace of contamination.
If it had been murky like Luluwei’s, he might have doubted himself.
But right now, his mindscape was resplendent and pristine.
There wasn’t even the faintest resemblance to corruption.
And besides, his thoughts hadn’t changed at all. He hadn’t become wantonly cruel.
He even took the time to calmly explain himself before killing anyone.
Only if the other party refused to listen and chose to attack him would he retaliate.
Moreover...
He had already studied quite a few rituals and forging arts that required living sacrifices.
Yet he hadn’t gone around capturing people to experiment on.
If he were truly contaminated, he would have acted without restraint—killing indiscriminately, committing acts far more cruel.
Kanzaki Rei knew himself well.
Because he possessed far too much power...
If he were truly corrupted and free of all restraint, what he could do would be a hundred times more brutal than anything he’d done so far.
In fact, the entire Fallen Moon Island likely wouldn’t have a single survivor left.
Still, to be safe, Kanzaki Rei asked inwardly, "Ansu, do I look like I’ve been contaminated?"
Ansu chuckled. "You? Do you look like you’ve been contaminated in any way?"
’Contaminated? I can’t even tell where that idea comes from.’
’Though... he spared that little girl named Yelia back then, yet now he wiped out these self-proclaimed righteous ones without hesitation... His thinking really is hard to grasp.’
Mm. I’m definitely not contaminated.
Kanzaki Rei believed this firmly.
And somewhat helplessly, regardless of whether he actually was or not—he had to believe it.
Because if he started believing he was contaminated, that belief itself might gradually become reality.
"Don’t worry."
"I’m not contaminated. If I were, this entire Fallen Moon Island wouldn’t exist anymore."
"But the island is still intact."
"And if that were the case, I wouldn’t bother explaining anything to you..."
Kanzaki Rei spoke patiently to Reina Kiyomi.
"More importantly, we should get moving."
"The ship departs at 10 a.m. If we miss this one, we’ll have to wait another ten days."
If they really missed it—
Kanzaki Rei would have no choice but to leave them temporarily on Fallen Moon Island, because he still had to fulfill the ritual he’d promised Lottie.
Delaying his schedule wasn’t an option.
"But..."
Reina Kiyomi hesitated, then shook her head.
"Maybe you’re right."
"If something really did happen to you... I wouldn’t be able to stop you anyway."
As she spoke, her fists clenched slightly.
...
That day, Fallen Moon Island remained under heavy security. Yet when Kanzaki Rei and the others boarded the ship, not a single person recognized Luluwei’s identity.
By now, Kanzaki Rei had far too many methods at his disposal.
Just in terms of disguise alone, he had dozens.
The people of Fallen Moon Island had no way of seeing through his concealment.
He had already simulated the departure process three times in advance.
In the worst-case scenario, he would have had to kill everyone who tried to stop them and seize the ship by force.
But he wasn’t someone who killed indiscriminately.
In the end, they simply left under concealed identities.
And from that day on, a sinister legend remained behind on Fallen Moon Island...
...
During the voyage, aside from the endless sea, the only things visible were distant islands—tiny as black specks on the horizon.
Kanzaki Rei and the others had purchased luxury cabin tickets.
Over the past few days, the murky darkness in Luluwei’s mindscape had lightened slightly.
But if she wanted to fully recover, it would likely take years.
Fortunately, Luluwei hadn’t practiced any malicious methods of gaining power.
So even though she had been contaminated, her aggressive impulses weren’t particularly strong.
Instead, her contemplation of archery techniques—and perception—had deepened significantly...
Contamination was a severe affliction.
But at the same time, it could also serve as a means of growth.
Right now, Luluwei was single-mindedly focused on becoming stronger.
And by coincidence—
There was a familiar face on the ship.
That silver-haired catgirl—Shumi.
On the day Kanzaki Rei left, she had also planned to depart from Fallen Moon Island.
However, instead of returning to Mishirushu, she intended to head to the Hollow Vale for adventure.
That was also Kanzaki Rei’s destination for this voyage.
Even more coincidentally, Shumi happened to meet Luluwei at the stern, where she was practicing her archery.
After chatting for a while, they unexpectedly hit it off.
Over the past few days, they had become quite good friends.
Their relationship was somewhat like his with Kyoshū.
Although Shumi was a hunter, her insights into archery provided Luluwei with valuable inspiration.
And at Level 5, exchanging experiences and sharing insights with others was indeed important.
Kanzaki Rei didn’t interfere.
As for himself—
He had no intention of getting acquainted with Shumi. They had met in the Land of Oblivion before, but she had long since forgotten him.
During this voyage, Kanzaki Rei spent his days teaching Reina Kiyomi how to fight, as promised.
The rest of his time was devoted to crafting equipment and performing enchantments.
And within his future simulations, he used idle moments to research mental-type magic...
During the journey, black fog and massive waves occasionally appeared ahead.
Whenever that happened, the ship would stop and wait for a period of time.
After a total of nine days of sailing, they finally reached their destination—
The Hollow Vale.
From afar, a vast island came into view. And once it entered sight, it seemed to expand rapidly, frame by frame, growing larger in an instant...
As the Moon Sea vessel gradually slowed, it approached the shore.
Finally, it docked at the harbor.
Exhale—
A quick sweep of perception across the port revealed that, unlike Fallen Moon Island, the people here didn’t radiate hostility.
"We’re finally here... nya..."
Leaning over the railing, the silver-haired catgirl clung to it weakly, a bit of drool at the corner of her mouth.
...She actually got seasick?
And right at the moment the ship stopped?
That was absurd to a whole new level...