The Saint of Compassion

When most people think of brainwashing or hypnosis, they imagine some kind of mobile app—no matter how cold and haughty the empress or how sharp-tongued the schemer, one glance at the phone screen is all it takes for them to stick out their tongues and act like fools, before descending into… indescribable developments.

But for Luo You—

A simple tap of her finger on the other party’s forehead was enough.

A soft, green light bloomed like sprouting seeds, etching an exquisite and symmetrical sigil onto the snowman’s brow.

The moment the pattern was complete, the little snowman’s arms drooped limply, its eyes going vacant and unfocused.

Hypnosis: complete.

With the boost of her crimson Authority and her insight that saw through all truths, Luo You confirmed that the snowman had no possibility of feigning submission—it had become a mindless puppet that would obey any command.

“From now on, answer whatever I ask.”

“Yes…”

“What is the Third Relic?”

The snowman opened its mouth, hesitated for half a second, and said, “I’m not exactly sure what it is, but the power you’re using now… comes from the Third Relic.”

Was it referring to the Divinity Particles?

Luo You continued, “What’s the origin of the Third Relic? If it’s the third, then are there First, Second, Fourth Relics as well?”

“Unknown.”

“Then how are you so sure that the power I’m using is from the Third Relic?”

“Because I once encountered someone in the Sea of Realms who gave off a similar aura to yours. Later, I learned from others that this was the power of the Third Relic.”

“The Sea of Realms!”

Luo You’s pupils contracted slightly.

A place brimming with unfathomable mysteries and unspeakable dangers. It’s said anything could exist there—heaven, earth, all living things—but no one had ever ventured deep and returned. Only shallow exploration was possible.

And in that enigmatic realm… someone with power akin to hers existed?

“Tell me about that person.”

“He was clad in white armor from head to toe. Wherever he went, radiant white light followed. Even the endless waves of dimensional chaos couldn’t dim his brilliance. I backed away the moment I sensed him nearby.”

“……”

Luo You furrowed her brow.

Even Dimensional Beasts of the Light-Rending level retreated before this person?

Just how powerful was he?

Though now that she thought about it—she wasn’t even certain the snowman before her was Light-Rending level to begin with.

She glanced at the snowman again.

No matter how she looked, it didn’t resemble something of that tier. Besides, the Light-Rending beast was supposed to have been sealed inside the Sea of Realms—it couldn’t possibly be here.

“What’s your identity? And what do you mean by calling Light-Rending-level Dimensional Beasts ‘defective products’?”

“I…”

“I’ll answer that.”

Another voice cut in.

From behind the icy door beneath the frozen surface, a new figure emerged, stepping into the open.

Facing Luo You directly.

She wasn’t surprised.

Looking up, she said, “Ah, Little Tangerine.”

It was the streamer who had mysteriously vanished mid-broadcast just moments ago—Little Tangerine.

“More precisely, Magical Girl Litia. I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time, Elera.”

Litia looked at her with a gaze full of complications, as if tangled in unresolved memories.

“I don’t believe I ever slept with you.”

Luo You’s mind whirred rapidly.

Yes, she was certain—she hadn’t met Litia before, much less bedded her.

Unless…

Unless this Litia was appearing in her untransformed state. Some magical girls changed so drastically after transforming that failing to recognize them was perfectly reasonable.

But the name Litia…

It rang a bell.

Litia—once ranked seventh among the Ten Seats. Known across the world as the Saint of Compassion. Died four years ago during the purge in the Nine Abyss Sea.

That’s right!

She had slept with this magical girl!

Just… ten years ago.

Back then, Litia was far from Ten Seat level—easily subdued, and thus left no deep impression on Luo You.

“Looks like you remember now.”

Litia smiled faintly, as if letting go of something.

“And what are you now?”

Luo You didn’t mince words.

“Still clinging to regrets after death? Oh—I get it. You’re another one of those magical grudge widows, right? Still dreaming of a romantic death pact with me?”

G-Grudge widow…?

Litia parted her lips slightly, a hint of sorrow flashing in her eyes.

“I linger only because of residual Sea of Realms matter in this place. I can’t go into details—it involves the Zero-Rank spell the Magical Alliance cast that day.”

Luo You’s expression turned serious.

The Zero-Rank spell.

In terms of sheer weight, it was equivalent to nuclear weapons in human society—the Magical Alliance’s ultimate deterrent.

Even she would instinctively flee at its presence. That level of force simply wasn’t something individuals could resist—it triggered biological fear.

But that only made Luo You more interested in using Litia as a breakthrough point.

The Zero-Rank spell… was too big a threat. Unless she understood it, she’d never have peace of mind.

Who knew—maybe those magical grudge widows were only daring enough to hunt her down because they had access to it?

“Don’t bother. I won’t tell you.”

Litia saw through her thoughts.

“You can’t torture it out of me either—I don’t even have a physical form anymore.”

“Even if I wanted to know, I wouldn’t use force.”

Luo You was honest.

She wasn’t some unforgivable scum.

Litia was already dead.

They had once… shared a night.

She wouldn’t cross that line.

But using gentler methods—that was still on the table.

Luo You asked bluntly, “Tell me the truth—are you like the rest of them? Did you fall for me over time too?”

“…Maybe.”

Litia’s answer was unexpectedly direct—like someone who’d come to terms with everything after death.

“I became a magical girl because my entire family was killed by Dimensional Beasts. You were the first person I… got that close to. Maybe part of me really does belong to you.”

“Uh… That’s pretty straightforward.”

That line hit Luo You like a fastball to the face.

A magical girl she once casually slept with… was now confessing?

The feeling was weird.

But Litia… wasn’t like the others.

She had something different.

[No wonder they called her the Saint of Compassion,] Luo You thought.

Still, she had to push forward. She needed closure.

“To be honest, I’m being targeted by a bunch of magical girls I once… favored.”

“Serves you right.”

“You’re not wrong. I’m not afraid of them, but if they can use a Zero-Rank spell… I might get serious. And if people get hurt or killed—”

“Impossible.”

Litia shook her head.

“Zero-Rank spells aren’t something you can just throw around without paying a price. The Alliance wouldn’t allow it—it would upset the balance with the Extranormal Organizations.”

“You’d be better off giving them an explanation rather than fighting back.”

“You know that’s impossible.”

Luo You shook her head as well.

She slept with them—so what?

What kind of explanation were they expecting?

By normal magical girl defeat standards, they were lucky to be alive! All she did was share a night—what was there to explain? (serious tone)

“Let’s talk business. What’s this snowman’s deal?”

She pointed at the snowman.

“It’s the… well, ‘crystallization of the best among the defective products’ born from that Light-Rending-level Dimensional Beast.”

Litia patted the snowman’s head.

“It’s not wrong to say Light-Rending-levels are defective. You should know—Dimensional Beasts don’t have any intelligence before reaching King-level.”

“Right. They only start gaining minimal intelligence at King-level. At Dragon-level, they’re about on par with humans.”

Luo You perked up. What came next might challenge her understanding.

“Elera, have you ever seen a Light-Rending-level yourself?”

“No.”

“I have.”

Litia paused.

“It was no different from a lower-tier beast—just a mindless animal.”

“But it was too powerful.”

“No intelligence, but still a walking apocalypse. I saw it with my own eyes. I tested it with my own body. That thing… is not something humanity can resist in its current state.”

Luo You glanced sideways.

If that were true… wasn’t the snowman in front of her a massive threat?

But first, a more curious contradiction needed exploring.

“If Dragon-levels are the peak of intelligence, why do Light-Rending-levels regress back into beasts?”

She directed the question at the snowman, whose dim eyes began to regain clarity—the hypnosis was wearing off.

It answered, “It wasn’t my choice. As long as I’m in the Sea of Realms, I’ll grow stronger by default. I can’t stop it—not by will alone.”

Luo You’s breath caught.

If word of that got out, how many people would lose sleep from sheer terror?

Just by existing in the Sea of Realms—even if you did nothing—you would passively grow stronger?

Until you reached Light-Rending-level?

That’s no different from “breathe ten thousand times and become a saint.” Even gacha games weren’t this broken!

Luo You asked, “Is this just you, or are all Sea of Realms creatures like this?”

“Not sure. The Sea of Realms is too vast. I haven’t met another who reached Light-Rending like me.”

But Luo You was already convinced.

Most likely, they were all the same.

The Sea of Realms was that vast—and Dimensional Beasts wanted to leave it and enter the human world?

Maybe they already sensed the danger. Maybe they were trying to escape—trying to avoid becoming Light-Rending-level and self-destructing.

The snowman added, “At first, I didn’t even know this place existed. I stumbled in by instinct alone. Then your people attacked and sealed my body beyond the Sea of Realms. That’s when I broke free.”

“Free from the shell that bound you… and born anew, with sentience.”

Luo You looked at the snowman again.

The blood-red in its long hair faded, revealing pristine silver like freshly fallen snow.

“Well then. Time to kill it.”

“Wait, wait, wait!”

Litia lunged forward to block her path.

“You’ve misunderstood!”

“This thing killed you. Why are you protecting it? Let me kill it for revenge.”

“No—it’s the opposite! I brought you here to entrust it to you!”