I am a mindless machine.

"Hmm... I can sense a very strong Machine Race soul aura on you. It seems you absorbed more than just a little bit; you plundered it completely after rendering it incapacitated. Well then, would you be willing to tell me the details of what happened?"

Godorn reopened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. The difficulty of dealing with the Machine Race was universally acknowledged; it was generally best to avoid them if possible. Yet this girl had not only provoked them, but had actually subdued them. Only this could explain the intense soul aura emanating from her.

As for the suspicion that the girl herself is a Machina disguised as a vampire? No, that's absolutely impossible. Everyone knows that Machina are a race devoid of emotion, and all their actions are passive and resigned. It's simply impossible for her to infiltrate Yelenochini alone and come to see him.

"With the help of the setting sun, I was able to obtain blood from a disconnected machine-type individual without any resistance. This liquid is used by them to cleanse the black ash, but because it flows throughout the body, it has the same effect on vampires."

Unsure whether the other party could discern lies like the beastmen in an environment where they were completely under the other party's control, the girl spoke sentences composed of correct facts that contained inducement.

"An individual whose connection was severed... Indeed, if that's the case, then they wouldn't have been surrounded by other Machine Races. Also, you said that girl helped you... Undeniably, if it was her ability, it's certainly possible to leave the opponent unable to react after being attacked..." Godorn stroked his chin, pondering. Judging from the girl's expression and physical condition, there was no sign of her lying. But something still seemed off...

"If you still have doubts, please try this."

As if to verify her words, Yun You interrupted Godorn's thoughts, then took a bottle from the pocket of her white robe, shook the clear, colorless liquid inside, and respectfully handed it to Godorn.

"Oh? You had something else prepared? It seems you've come up with everything for this meeting." Godorn praised Yun You again, then with a flick of his hand, the bottle that was originally in the girl's hand appeared in his, having been tricked into moving through space. He opened the cap and drank it down as if he wasn't worried at all that the girl might have tampered with it.

"This is—!" After tasting the liquid, Godorn showed an expression of surprise as if he had drunk a century-old wine. He was obviously not aware that the liquid would taste so good. "This taste is truly amazing. The purity has reached the level of a Forest Elf Triple Spellcaster. If even the extracted blood is so delicious, the taste of the blood of the Machine Race itself is really something to look forward to."

For vampires, blood-sucking is merely a formality; the important thing is the process of obtaining souls through their teeth. Therefore, actions like cutting wounds and bleeding out can only obtain the minimum level of energy and cannot lead to evolution.

Understanding the implication in Godorn's words, Yun You wasn't surprised. Now that she had presented something that would interest him, meaning she had regained some control of the conversation, she decided to press her advantage: "Regarding the current location of that machine-type creature, if you wish to know, I would certainly be happy to provide it, but—"

"I understand. That's your main reason for coming to see me, isn't it? Whatever you want, just don't go overboard—a title, honors, wealth, power—I can't say I can offer everything, but I should be able to satisfy you," Godorn said generously. Of course, such a promise exceeded the value of the machine-blooded creature, so his main purpose was something else entirely. He continued, "And my condition is that you will work for me from now on, serving my purposes!"

Although he didn't yet know Yunyou's actual abilities, Godorn trusted his centuries-old intuition. He could tell from the girl's every move that she was no ordinary person.

The girl fell silent after hearing this, lowering her eyes as if considering what request to make. After all, the man before her was the de facto leader of the vast vampire race; his promises were practically absolute.

After a long while, she finally opened her eyes again. She looked at Godorn with clear, pure eyes, clearly having made her decision.

"Lord Godorn, I have only one request. I hope you will grant it."

A crisp sound rang out, and for some reason, Xiyang, who had been standing by and struggling with her racing heart, suddenly had a very bad feeling—she realized that the situation seemed somewhat familiar.

Wait, wait, no way? It can't be!

If it weren't for the concern that speaking now might disrupt Yun You's plans, Xi Yang might have stopped the girl from continuing, driven by a very ominous intuition. Whatever she was saying, it just felt very bad!

So, under Godorn's tacit gaze, the girl continued speaking expressionlessly and earnestly, recounting the important decision she had made after careful consideration.

"I hope you will allow me to marry your daughter, Xiyang. I promise I will make her happy, Father-in-law."

Chapter Thirty-Two: Calculation...Mistake

"Eh ...

The sunset exploded in an instant.

Her face, which had been pale with fear, turned bright red, and her hands waved wildly and erratically. If this were an animation, there would probably be a "pop!" steam effect above her head right now.

"Are you... serious?" Not only was Sunset surprised, but even Godorn hadn't expected Yunyou to make such an extraordinary request. However, unlike Sunset, he didn't care much about gender. After all, vampires have a minimum lifespan of over two hundred years. In such a long time, gender is no longer an insurmountable barrier. Only true feelings are eternal.

What astonished him was that Yun You would say such a thing at such an important occasion. You should know that if Yun You had shown such qualities, if the girl had such a wish, let alone betrothal, he would have knocked Xi Yang unconscious, wrapped him up, and given him to her directly! What could be a cheaper deal in the world than exchanging a piece of trash that is completely useless to the entire race for the full support of a high-quality talent?

"Yes, I'm serious about that decision. Because your daughter is so adorable, I was deeply moved from the first time I met her... umm?"

"Lord Yu, please shut up!"

Just as Yu was about to repeat her theory, Xiyang rushed up with her eyes darting around and covered her mouth tightly with her small hand. "What a joke! I won't accept public shaming! And why can this guy so calmly say such embarrassing things?! Are all machine-type characters like this?!"

However, although that's what he thought, by now the sunset had figured out what the girl's plan was. The greatest danger (Yu's identity) had been directly exposed through her manipulation, and the strong Machine-type aura emanating from her body had also been explained. As for why she made that request, it was probably...

Just as Xiyang had predicted, after breaking free of her grasp, Yunyou didn't continue with what she had been told earlier. Instead, she said, "So, Lord Godorn... we've only just returned to Yelenochini when we heard about your misunderstanding. According to Xiyang, she may have taken an important item from you."

Asking for it directly would arouse suspicion, but it's different if it's done indirectly.

"I see, I understand now." Godorn nodded, understanding what Yun You and the others wanted. He took a small box from his black coat and handed it to Yun You using the same method as before. Actually, he hadn't known this thing had survived; he thought it had perished in the terrifying heavenly strike, like his wife. He'd discovered it by chance when he went to check on the Sunset family after deciding to demolish their house. So, out of sentimentality, he took it back. "Then you can have it."

Although his passion wasn't as great as his enthusiasm for clan affairs, he truly loved his wife. He loved that gentle and virtuous woman.

But compared to that, acquiring talent is a higher priority. Ensuring the survival of the entire race is more important than personal feelings.

"Thank you, sir." Yun You accepted the box, and from the radiant expression on Xi Yang's face beside her, she understood that this was the target item. So, she gracefully bowed to Godorn in accordance with noble etiquette, then took Xi Yang's hand and slowly retreated, saying, "Then, let's go and deliver the hidden machine-type creature to you, sir."

...

...

"Wow, it actually worked..."

Stepping back out of the castle, the bustling city echoed with the sounds of people chatting. Two rows of neatly arranged streetlights, emitting a soft, pale glow, illuminated the sun's resurrected face. The girl patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. In her pocket now lay the small black box that held the most precious thing in her heart.

She truly believed she was going to die inside the castle. But to her utter surprise, the girl resolved the situation with such nonchalance.

There was no fighting, no danger; it was all resolved by relying on a few lies.

"Don't waste time, the crisis isn't over yet. We need to get out of Yerenocini first."

Yunyou took Xiyang's hand and walked quickly towards the exit. Although she still spoke in that unhurried tone, the urgency she expressed made Xiyang quicken his pace.

"Our victory will be achieved once we leave this place."

A crime is only established when it is exposed. The girl's words to Godorn convey the same idea—she had obtained the most important objective of her trip, so once she left the city, she would never return.

Godorn was so willing to let the two of them leave the castle for two reasons. First, he wanted to demonstrate his magnanimity, hoping to achieve the effect of "a loyal friend would die for a friend." Second, he knew perfectly well that as long as Yun You was a vampire, she would never leave the city of Yelenochini—like the saying goes, "You can run away, but you can't hide." This place was a joyous paradise for all vampires. He believed Yun You wouldn't abandon this place where she could have everything, and instead choose the foolish decision of living on a perilous battlefield simply because she didn't want to serve under him.

Of course, if she really makes that choice, then running away wouldn't be a problem, in fact, it would be best if she ran away... Godorn doesn't want to have a mentally challenged employee under his command.

This is the consequence of incomplete knowledge and understanding. No matter how great a leader or how intelligent a sage is, if the premise is wrong, it is impossible to arrive at the correct answer.

Moreover, Yun You's final request meant absolutely nothing to him. Even if Yun You had escaped, his only loss from beginning to end was the relic he had retrieved by chance. With such a minor cost, Yun You was certain that Godorn would not organize anyone to hunt her down.

Because that doesn't conform to the principle of cost-effectiveness, let alone in such a context of resource scarcity.

This is the best result obtained after calculation based on the machine type.

They practically ran and walked, and soon they saw the gate that would allow them to leave. They were on the verge of successfully escaping this place...

"Wait... Lord Yu, something seems wrong."

But then, the setting sun frowned deeply. In a voice tinged with unease and fear, it said, "The elemental components in the air... are strange. Yes, very strange."

She had relaxed her guard because of surviving the ordeal, but now she sensed something was wrong because of her innate talent.

"It's almost like..." An eerie light began to gleam in the setting sun's eyes. Patterns several times more complex than the previous ones emerged, intertwining and merging. She was analyzing the situation as quickly as possible, but as the process progressed rapidly, her expression grew increasingly grave. An ominous premonition lingered in her heart.

It was just like that earth-shattering illusion from before.

"..." The moment Yun You heard Xi Yang's words, she prepared for battle. No longer concealing her speed, she scooped Xi Yang up and sprinted towards the gate. The other vampires along the way glanced at their strange behavior, but after confirming it wasn't a kidnapping, they turned back and went about their business. These days, what couple doesn't have a little romance? Maybe this is some unique new way to play.

The gate was almost in sight. The sunset's deduction was also nearing its conclusion: just as Godorn had suspected, she hadn't practiced illusion magic as frequently as before in the past ten years, instead focusing on minimizing its consumption. There was no way to make bricks without straw; even the most brilliant cook couldn't conjure energy from nothing.

She could easily handle the difficulties posed by ordinary vampires, so her reaction to high-level illusion magic became sluggish.

"Wait!—Could this be—"

Just before they were about to pass through the dark teleportation tunnel, Xiyang suddenly shouted, "Lord Yu! Stop! This door doesn't lead to the exit—"

But it was too late. Even though Yu reacted instantly and used the micro-propulsion system to slow down, the entrance in front of them suddenly generated a powerful attraction, sucking the two of them in.

The girl ultimately underestimated the machine race's complete calculations. Her memories were only at the level of an eighteen-year-old; even if she could predict almost everything based on her experience and current physical condition, it would only be a near miss. Even she couldn't be omniscient or omnipotent.

Her calculations lacked the most crucial element of unpredictability: the heart.

—The distance of the spatial gate... has been changed.

"I was wondering how that guy managed to attract someone as talented as you, so I used my control over the city a little to see how you two interacted."

It was still the same hall he had just left. The man, a smile playing on his lips, sat on the throne, elegantly sipping the blood vial he held lightly. "I didn't expect to discover something so extraordinary. Your eagerness to leave Yelenochini (the trap) so quickly—are you hiding some unspeakable secret? Although it might be a misunderstanding on my part—Miss Yunyou, please allow me to examine your body briefly?"

"Who knows, we might discover some unexpected surprises?"

For the first time, the city lord named Godorn left his throne. The murderous aura of a top hunter spread wildly throughout the hall, and the elves under his command began to boil like water. Stretching red lines eroded from his heart to his arms, weaving spells into magic that was about to take shape.

As he said, although he couldn't be sure what Yunyou and the others' true purpose was, there was always something fishy going on, and it wouldn't hurt to spend a little effort to clarify things.

As for whether such an action would offend Yun You? — Although it's troublesome, as long as the elves from the city's several strongholds are gathered, not only can memories be altered, but even personalities can be swapped. The essence of illusion magic is deception of the mind and soul. The reason we didn't do that before was simply because it wasn't necessary.

"[Oversight]... Sunset, I apologize, it seems the plan needs to be slightly altered."

Yun You didn't hesitate and instantly understood that Godorn was serious this time. So she dispelled the disguise magic on her body, revealing a body full of mechanical parts. The tail, which served as the acquisition device, hung low to the ground, gleaming.

Chapter Thirty-Three: This is the Place of Endless Illusion

"Oh? So you're finally willing to show your true colors? It seems that your so-called delinked Mech is you..."

"【Dian Kai】—【Pseudo-Dian? Yan Long Xiao】—"

Without a word, Yun You activated the skill among her existing devices that could inflict the maximum damage in the shortest amount of time. Her right hand instantly transformed into a cannon barrel, aimed at Godorn who was speaking with ease, and she murmured in an extremely calm voice.

Although such an action would instantly expose the fact that one is in enemy territory, as long as one is fast enough, there is no problem!

My only goal is to escape from here!

A thin blue line shot into the sky, and the remains of the corrupted world appeared behind Yun You in an explosion-like manner. The intense wind pressure tore her white hair into disarray—the thin line then exploded with a deafening roar. In an instant, the roaring beam of light pierced through Godorn's body.

The endless light easily pierced through the castle walls—blasting through the entire western wall of the castle! If Yun You hadn't shot the light towards the sky, the entire terrain of Yelenochini would undoubtedly have been altered.

Only now did Yun You belatedly realize that, according to the original work, the moment this "pseudo-canon" was recorded was the moment Riku's village was destroyed, which was also the day the male and female protagonists first met. And this skill was recorded six years before Yun You's connection was severed. So, calculating it this way...

No, those things are not important at all right now.

Yun You quickly forgot about the pile of data, took the hand of the still-dazed Xi Yang, and pushed her drive system to its limit, flying out of the castle. The sky above Yerenocini was indeed illusory, but it was certainly the closest place to the outside world. If she could reach there—

"Tsk tsk, this is really dangerous. So many elves gathered right away."

A mocking click of the tongue rang out, and the man who should have been vaporized by that devastating shot remained unharmed in his original spot, even his black overcoat was completely intact.

Following Godorn's words, the castle was restored to its original state.

Could this entire castle be just a projection, a hoax? But the energy required to maintain those lights and stone walls should be... no. Yun You revised her earlier guess in her mind.

"[Speculation] From the very first sentence you uttered...was the world already replaced?"

Moreover, not only that, but even the Yanlong Roar I used... was probably just something I thought I had already used.

Yun Youfei quickly tried to analyze the composition of the surrounding spirits in order to determine the next strategy.

But Godorn’s next actions coldly and ruthlessly told her that all of this was in vain.