She looked completely like an ordinary human.
The spherical Nol tried hard to widen his eyes to discern Avra Alva's condition. This avatar had virtually no attack power, and just deploying [Creator] exhausted his mana.
As it turned out, Avra Alva was a genuine, ordinary human. She had no special magical fluctuations and possessed no remarkable magical talents, just like any pedestrian you might see on the street.
[Her body also has no issues.] The white furball squeezed Nol. [Looking at her muscles and the details of her movements, she definitely hasn't undergone any special training.]
Nol shook his body, lost in thought.
Star Stealer Sol controlled Old Duke Alva to indirectly control the Alva Merchant Group. The Old Duke himself became a Supplement White Demon. When necessary, Star Stealer Sol could even use the duke's body for combat.
Miss Avra, on the other hand, was entirely different. She was flawlessly normal to a maddening degree.
It can't really be a "true love fairy tale", right?
[I'll go upstairs and take a look.] Nol gently tugged at the white furball.
[I'll come too, since Painter will keep track of the information for us.] Teest poked the black furball. [You want to check on their kids? Huff, I hope it's not really a 'crystallization of love'. I'd feel sorry for that woman.]
[It's not impossible that she knows the truth and really likes Star Stealer Sol.] Nol mused, [Just like you, who knows I'm a monster.]
[That's different. I'm inherently abnormal,] Teest replied proudly, then suddenly fell silent, stiffening a bit.
Teest probably realized the delicacy of this comparison, and Nol suppressed a smile.
Taking advantage of Enbillick's inattention, the two furballs jumped out of the pocket and quickly blended into the shadows. Nol bounced up the carpeted steps, rushing into the second floor with Teest.
Colette Alva and Moore Alva each had their own room, with doors decorated with childish toys and nameplates.
Besides the dried flowers and specimens sticking around, Colette's doorplate was adorned with a tacky ornament made from wine bottle corks, colored glass, and shells. Moore's doorplate was mostly strange stones, forming crude picture frames that framed childishly drawn pictures.
The content of the drawings was much the same—red sun, green grass, a two-story house, and four little people holding hands and smiling.
[Dad, mom, sister, and me.]
[Everyone is very happy.]
The handwriting on the drawings was as immature and rough as the artwork itself.
The black furball quietly stopped in the shadows. From this angle, the doors to the children's rooms seemed like the main entrance to a cathedral. Looking at the two closed doors, a sour feeling suddenly rose in his heart.
Teest wasn't hindered by these warm decorations at all. The white furball bounced several times in the hallway, then lightly landed in front of Nol.
[The doors aren't locked. Let's go in.]
They first chose Moore Alva's room.
The room was small, and the decor was equally ordinary. It was clear that the toys and books in the room were expensive but practical. The Golden Sword family obviously didn't plan to prepare pointless luxuries for their children just to show off.
Nol gently touched the desk, where colored pencils were scattered. They were pressing down on an unfinished drawing.
The drawing was of a little person wielding a long sword, facing a dark monster.
The word "Daddy" was simply written at the bottom of the drawing.
Next to the pencils was fresh lemon water with honey, and the chair was prepared with a sturdy, soft cushion. Every detail was considerate, as if this family was destined for a bright future.
Nol turned around to look at the bed next to the desk.
Moore Alva had light golden hair very similar to Enbillick's. He was deeply asleep, his cheeks rosy, with a few freckles scattered across his nose, and the colors of pencils still on his fingertips.
The black furball floated to his side, gently leaning on it.
[How is it?] Teest curiously moved back and forth.
This time, Nol was silent for a very long time.
[He's not human… He's never been human.] Finally, he concluded with some difficulty.
With such close inspection, he couldn't be mistaken.
Moore Alva was a mixture of carefully disguised magic. He wasn't even a Supplement Demon. At least those had a past as humans.
Moore Alva was a hybrid artificially born from Avra Alva's flesh and blood mixed with clay and magical materials. Star Stealer Sol didn't have the power of creation. Considering the child's age, he was likely born through the power of the system—
The system was the authority of the God of Creation, naturally capable of generating "special life".
[His attributes are very average. His lifespan is about the same as humans and he has no special abilities.]
Nol continued with complex feelings, [In fact, his physical condition is worse than that of a normal child—Star Stealer Sol can't completely control the system. He only managed to create a half-finished product. Without regular repairs, this child's body would collapse.]
The black furball gently rubbed the child's hand.
[This isn't a 'weapon' meant for combat.]
[It doesn't seem to be the so-called 'crystallization of love' either.]
Teest inwardly clicked his tongue. [If he really wanted to have offspring with that woman, he should have added his own flesh and blood, right? In the end, he only used human flesh and clay.]
Just like a clay doll used for playing house.
No, more precisely, a clay doll specially prepared for Avra Alva.
Sunlight spilled into the cozy room. Fairy tale books and animal toys lay on the plush carpet. The cookie jar reflected a warm light, faintly emitting the scent of chocolate cookies.
A carefree childhood; an enlightened and happy family. This might be the perfect world a child could have.
[Let's go and check the other one.] Nol found everything in front of him unbearable.
Colette Avra's situation was similar to her brother's, another fragile humanoid creature made of blood and clay.
She was completely unaware of such reality, hiding a ribbon-tied diary under the bookshelf. Inside a tin cookie box, she kept carefully folded stars and diligently saved gold wheels and silver hooks. They were dazzling under the afternoon sun, with unknown wishes hidden within the box.
If they hadn't investigated the two children and directly defeated Star Stealer Sol, the children would quickly deteriorate and die.
Seeing the second room, even Teest wasn't so lighthearted anymore. He didn't bounce around the room but stayed honestly by Nol's side.
[What is this? A family game?] His thoughts sharpened. [Or is it that the guy is afraid the animal locked in the cage will become depressed, so he specifically added two toys?]
Nol couldn't deny it.
Considering "Golden Sword" wasn't often at home, these two children were undoubtedly prepared for Avra Alva. Compared to the attitude towards a lover, Star Stealer Sol's actions were more like meticulously keeping a pet.
Just as Nol was about to speak, he suddenly felt a chill behind him. Before he could react, the white furball bit his fur, dragging him two meters away—
Where they were just standing, a curious white kitten appeared. The cat had golden pupils and snow-white long fur, looking a bit like an animalized Teest.
"Meow." It clumsily stretched out its paw, curiously pouncing towards the two furballs.
Beside the sleeping girl, another black spherical object unfolded. A green-eyed little black cat stretched and followed the movements of the two furballs with its eyes. At the moment, the two furballs were using divine power to firmly stick to the corner of the ceiling.
Nol: "...."
The coloring of the two kittens was too subtle that he really couldn't help but think more about it.
The two kittens tumbled on the bed, but Colette Avra remained deeply asleep, her eyelids not moving at all. For a second, Nol suddenly felt a sense of nausea as if he were in a dollhouse.
This place was like a miniature Tahe. Dominated, played with, perfectly mixed with perfection and falsehood.
Suddenly, footsteps approached the door.
Nol immediately bounced towards the black cat, hiding under the soft belly fur of the kitten. Teest hid under the long fur on the chest of the white cat, both blending perfectly into the cat's fur, staring at the door together.
The door opened, and Avra walked into the room. She bent down in front of the bed, lovingly stroking her daughter's hair.
"It's time to get up, my little darling," she said softly, her voice almost overflowing with laughter.
"Mommy." Colette opened her eyes, showing a sweet smile. "Is the jam pie ready?"
"It's still a bit hot." Avra sat on the edge of the bed. "Tonight, an uncle will dine here. Do you want to join?"
"No, it's so boring to listen to daddy talk business, and we can only have dessert after dinner." The little girl puffed her cheeks. "I want to eat jam pies with Moore!"
"Okay, I'll add a bottle of juice." Avra kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Mommy is the best!"
...
Once back in Painter's pocket, Nol and Teest exchanged words, quickly explaining the current situation. Painter's mind was filled with telepathic voices, experiencing a stereo effect reminiscent of Earth.
[Okay, I got it, the children are fake, but they're unaware of the situation. Avra Alva is the core of this family, and she appears to be an ordinary human for now.]
With his mind buzzing, Painter maintained an impeccable smile on his face.
Across from him, Enbillick and Avra were affectionately preparing dinner. Painter couldn't help but narrow his eyes. His previous unease suddenly made sense—the scene before him felt more like a human playing with a pet than a husband and wife being intimate.
As a Pope who had seen all facets of life and was deeply revered, Painter could discern those subtle differences. But for Avra, born a slave, such distinctions were likely indiscernible.
[What do you two think?]
Painter stared at the steaming dishes before him.
[Personally, I believe that guy genuinely wouldn't fall in love with a human, nor would he keep a human as a pet for some twisted form of relief.]
[If this is some sort of observation experiment, focusing on just one person is incredibly inefficient.]
[That's true.] The black furball deflated as if melting.
Not a weapon, not a lover. All their speculations had hit a dead end. They wanted to confirm whether Avra was aware, without alarming Enbillick.
[I do have an idea.]
Teest looked at the shining silverware before him, his tone filled with the unique malice of the Mad Monk.
[Honey, I'm sure you'll oppose this, but please hear me out.]
The white furball picked up the melting black furball in the pocket, trying to restore it to its original shape.
[…To pull off this plan, I'll need both of your help.]
In less than half an hour, a lavish dinner appeared on the Alva family's table. Avra avoided the rich meats, specifically choosing easily digestible dishes like stewed eggs, meatballs, and jam pies for the children upstairs.
"The kids don't like listening to adults talk." She returned to her seat, stating frankly, "And they love to chat non-stop while eating. I thought you'd prefer a quieter environment."
To show respect, she made a point to speak each word slowly and poignantly.
"You're too kind. I wasn't fond of such occasions as a child either," Painter said with a smile.
"What a luxurious problem," Enbillick joked. "When I was young, I ran around the streets. Not to mention eating at the same table with adults, even snagging something from the table would get me kicked a few times."
As he spoke, he tore off a piece of onion bread and chewed loudly.
Facing the god he once worshiped, Painter suddenly found the taste in his mouth to be unpleasant.
The white furball rolled in his pocket. It was the former Mad Monk, now a local god. But what Painter would always remember was the youngest son of the Flama family, who had lost his name.
He remembered the five charred skulls in the courtyard of the Flama house. The loving and enlightened Flama couple gradually merged with the false couple before him.
The lay followers of the Temple of Life casually burning "heretics", the dungeons of the Eternal Church filled with young lives turned into monsters. The initiator of it all was kissing his human wife's forehead, smilingly claiming he had no faith.
How unappetizing.
Painter's fork pierced into the tender meat. The light red juice stained the white plate, resembling blood.
"I wonder how long the Temple will investigate this time. It's chaos everywhere lately." Enbillick continued pretentiously, "If you need, you can stay here longer—sorry, this involves the Demon King, and the Alva Merchant Group can't settle it."
"No need. I've already caused you enough trouble. One night is enough." Painter slowly sliced the steak, the silver knife smoothly cutting through the fibers.
"…Enbillick, have you ever considered retiring?"
Enbillick blinked. "Retiring?"
Painter continued, "Turbulent times are coming, and this Demon King isn't easy to deal with. The Drifting Mercenary Group is observing the situation. I can't abandon them."
"But it's different for you. Old Duke Alva valued you, so his successor will be doubly wary of you. You have a happy family. It might be better to find a safe place to hide—given your current wealth, you would have no worries for the rest of your life."
"Retiring—it's a good opportunity." At this point, Painter's voice softened, like a preacher.
Avra was persuaded by Painter, looking at her husband with eyes filled with hope.
"It sounds tempting." Enbillick laughed heartily. "Unfortunately, I can't stand the idea of 'someone despises me, but I can do nothing about them.' There's no 'living in harmony' in the business world, brother."
Avra's lips moved slightly, her expression dimming.
"That's true." Painter casually raised his dinner knife. "Indeed, the answer of a businessman."
With a flash of silver light, blood splattered. The gushing blood spurted everywhere, covering half of Avra's face.
Godfrey Painter had slit his throat with a gentle smile.
The author has something to say:
Soft furballs and iron-blooded old Painter (no