After work, start to speedrun the other world-Chapter 411 - 153: Before the Gate of Sealing_2

"As long as you give your teacher enough time," Xi Mu picked up the wine bottle on the table and poured himself a glass, "then the teacher will eventually be able to catch up with the footsteps of the Witch of Death."

"You have quite a lot of confidence in your teacher," the Corpse Witch chuckled softly, then raised her hand and pointed nearby, "Someone has come to bring you a gift."

Xi Mu looked in the direction she indicated and saw Shark Girl Kaschte dragging a despondent painter with a rope, forcefully pulling him along.

"What is this?"

"He is a follower of the God of Beauty and Art, quite famous in the Country of Art." Shark Girl Kaschte yanked the rope in her hand forcefully, and the painter staggered forward a few steps, nearly falling to the ground.

"Why did you capture him?" Xi Mu asked, his expression odd, and then saw Shark Girl Kaschte say as a matter of course:

"Of course, to paint for you." She sat down next to Ahtal, happily explaining, "Since you have become a demon, you should have a portrait that allows people to admire you."

"That’s not necessary," Xi Mu glanced at the despairing painter, this guy really was quite... unlucky.

However, Shark Girl Kaschte was quite persistent:

"Lord Ahtel, please do not decline!"

"Very well." Xi Mu sighed, "But don’t kill him afterwards, remember to give him some money."

"...Alright." Shark Girl Kaschte hesitated, then quickly agreed, it was just a matter of giving the painter some money afterward.

For her, this was not difficult.

"I apologize, Kaschte was just a bit rough in her approach," Xi Mu smiled at the painter, "but please don’t be scared, she is a good girl."

Painter: "..."

Do you want to listen to what you are even saying, this Shark Girl treating him like a dog, if she is a good girl, he’d bite his tongue and commit suicide on the spot.

But that was just a thought in his mind, still daring not to speak it aloud.

Being alive now and getting some money afterward was already an unexpectedly good outcome.

"Start painting," Shark Girl Kaschte shuffled her little butt closer to Ahtal.

The painter sighed deeply, took out his painting board and paints, and included both Ahtal and Shark Girl Kaschte in the painting.

Logically speaking he should have painted Ahtal alone, but since Shark Girl Kaschte moved close to Ahtal, he dared not exclude her.

Otherwise, he might end up dead afterward.

After a while.

Finished painting.

"Very well painted," Xi Mu looked at the painting and admired, "Truly worthy of being a renowned master."

You don’t even know my name, do you?

The painter thought so, but nevertheless, he squeezed out a smile, not caring whether Ahtal knew his name or not, presently, he only cared about escaping this den of demons fast.

This place was swarming with cultists, enough to scare someone to death.

"Make one for me and Ahtal too," the Corpse Witch suddenly spoke up, causing the painter’s expression to freeze.

...

...

The banquet ended.

Xi Mu walked along the dim hallway, came to a door crack revealing light, and knocked on the door which then opened automatically.

"Witch of Death, are you not interested in the banquet?" he stepped into the room, only to see the Witch of Death elegantly sitting in a chair by the window, holding a steaming cup of red tea in one hand.

"If I were to appear at the banquet," the Witch of Death explained, "they wouldn’t be able to have fun."

"Then allow me to join you for a small gathering," Xi Mu conjured two bottles of wine, sat down opposite the Witch of Death, and poured a glass for both himself and the Witch of Death.

"That should be permissible."

"..." the Witch of Death nodded slightly, picked up the wine glass on the table, and gently clinked it with Ahtal before drinking down the contents.

"By the way, Lord Witch of Death." Xi Mu began to discuss serious matters, "I have learned from Eden the way to defeat the God of Omniscience."

The Witch of Death calmly asked, "What is the method?"

"To defeat the God of Omniscience," Xi Mu lowered his head, obscuring his expression, "one simply needs to burn the Tree of Omniscience."

The atmosphere suddenly fell into silence.

The Witch of Death certainly knew the cost of burning the Tree of Omniscience—it would inevitably mean the death of the All-Knowing Saintess, and she also knew that Ahtal had a good relationship with the All-Knowing Saintess.

"There are two people in this world who have the ability to burn the Tree of Omniscience; one is the sealed Flame Giant Surter," Xi Mu explained with an unsettlingly calm voice, "and the other is me, only those infected by Ash Fire before becoming a demon, and who live to become one, are qualified to burn the Tree of Omniscience."

The Witch of Death gave Ahtal a deep look and calmly asked, "Then what do you plan to do?"

Xi Mu poured himself a glass of wine, drank it in one gulp, and then queried the Witch of Death, "Lord Witch of Death, what do you think I should do?"

"Ahtal, don’t throw this decision onto me," the Witch of Death gently shook her head, "You must make a choice you won’t regret."

Xi Mu subconsciously asked, "Even if this world is burned to ash?"

"Even if this world is burned to ash it is fine," the Witch of Death replied unexpectedly calm, "if this is truly your own choice, and you are willing to bear the consequences, then there is no problem."

She herself was a rather willful being; if she were in the same situation as Ahtal, she wouldn’t hesitate at all, she wouldn’t consider burning the tree from the start but would try to find a way to solve the problem.

If the world were burned to ashes because of this, she wouldn’t regret her choice.

Because it was her own decision.

As for not choosing to burn the tree, thus involving those around her, it would not be a reason for her to choose to sacrifice important people.

So she could respect Ahtal’s choice and aim to defeat the God of Omniscience without burning the tree... no, without killing the All-Knowing Saintess.

"If we don’t burn the tree, then everyone might die." Xi Mu’s expression was still conflicted, clearly grappling with the issue of choosing between the majority and the minority.

Seeing this, the Witch of Death sighed slightly, her cold expression subtly softened as she poured another glass of wine for Ahtal.

"The world does not merely consist of extreme choices," she advised, "you really should think about finding a third option."

Xi Mu asked, "What if there are only two options?"

"Then you must bear your own choice," the Witch of Death sighed, "If you truly feel pain over your decision, then I can choose on your behalf."

Xi Mu asked, "Would Lord Witch of Death make such a choice?"

"Try to find a third option," the Witch of Death said with a gentle voice, "The Goddess of Life granted humanity wisdom not to force you to choose between two, but to solve problems."

"That really puts one at ease," Xi Mu exhaled deeply, seemingly having made his choice.

In fact, if players really followed the Witch of Death’s train of thought in handling matters, they could indeed successfully resolve the dilemma of choosing between two options.

However, it’s unfortunate that he had already made his decision.

...

...

The following day.

The lowest level of the underground world.

Before a massive sealed iron door.

"Partner, the being sealed within is the legendary Flame Giant Surter," Xi Mu touched the iron door lightly.

The little pony beside him looked around somewhat anxiously, very aware of the renown of the Flame Giant Surter.

That was a being capable of destroying the world.

"Ahtal, do you really intend to release the Flame Giant Surter?" asked the little pony with a voice full of concern, having learned the situation from Ahtal about how he decided to resolve the dilemma by planning to kill the Flame Giant Surter.

"If we don’t kill the Flame Giant Surter, then we would have to kill Eden instead," Xi Mu turned his head and asked his partner, "Partner, what would you choose?"