Marika's self-destruction revealed a similarity between her and Yorinobu Arasaka—they were both staunch idealists.
What these individuals pursued was not power or desire, but rather the beliefs and ideals deep within their hearts.
As a member of the Numen, a minority among humans, Marika must have suffered racial discrimination and exclusion during her upbringing.
This caused her to endure many hardships, but it was precisely those trials that forged her resilient character.
Therefore, when she committed such an extreme act, it was not surprising to those who truly understood her.
However, the beings of the Lands Between were unable to comprehend her actions and found it difficult to accept such a reality.
In the eyes of the public, Marika was the unattainable Eternal Queen, the creator of the Golden Order, and the sole deity of the Lands Between.
How could such an existence choose to destroy her own power, tear apart her own forces with her own hands, and even bear to kill her eldest son?
These events were simply too bizarre; even the bards of the continent would not dare fabricate such absurd and fantastical tales.
After all, according to common sense, living beings are driven by endless greed. No matter how much they obtain, they are never satisfied.
Marika's actions completely violated this fundamental biological logic, surpassing the limits of ordinary self-interest.
However, people like this, regardless of their original intentions, are usually regarded as lunatics by normal humans.
Yet the beings of the Lands Between did not believe Marika could be insane, so they naturally used the limited clues available to construct the entire logic of the story themselves.
Thus, the Gloam-Eyed Queen, who was highly feared by the Erdtree, naturally became the mastermind behind all events.
In terms of identity, the Gloam-Eyed Queen once competed with Marika for the position of godhood, only to fail and lose everything. The hatred between the two sides was already irreconcilable.
More importantly, the Golden Order and the Law of Death are two completely opposing laws.
The Golden Order promises eternity, endless life, and everlasting existence.
The Law of Death promises death and emphasizes that death is the ultimate destination of all life.
Therefore, only when the Golden Order collapses can the Law of Death return to the Lands Between.
As for ability, as the creator of Destined Death, the Gloam-Eyed Queen possessed a terrifying power that even Queen Marika feared.
Marika had even specifically removed that power from the Golden Order.
Thus, the motive existed, the ability was sufficient, and coupled with the recent shattering of the Elden Ring and the reappearance of the Gloam-Eyed Queen,
if one were to say that the Gloam-Eyed Queen was not the mastermind, who would believe it?
For the people of the Golden Dynasty and Caria, this was something they could understand even if they thought with their buttocks.
At the same time, they were deeply shocked by the methods of the Gloam-Eyed Queen.
Had the Erdtree not exposed her existence, perhaps everyone would still be manipulated by her.
It was precisely because of this that the Carian Knight was so wary of the Gloam-Eyed Queen and unwilling to become her enemy.
He even repeatedly urged the Gloam-Eyed Queen to leave this place because he genuinely feared that her presence would bring catastrophe to Caria.
No matter what the truth was, and regardless of whether the Gloam-Eyed Queen intended to attack them,
the mere existence of the Gloam-Eyed Queen itself was already an enormous threat.
Now, all the demigods and inhabitants of the Lands Between firmly believed that the Gloam-Eyed Queen was responsible for Godwyn's death and the destruction of the Elden Ring.
Therefore, amid the stalemate between the demigods, even if only to compete for legitimacy and prestige, they would inevitably target the Gloam-Eyed Queen first.
After all, the excuse of "avenging a brother" was simply too perfect.
Thus, the Gloam-Eyed Queen was destined to become the primary target of the demigods' united assault.
If she continued to remain in Liurnia, it would undoubtedly bring an unpredictable disaster to this land.
Just look at the Royal Capital, Leyndell, now. It was already utterly unrecognizable: mountains had been flattened, plains had become canyons, and even the rivers had changed course.
Compared to the core battlefields of the Shattering War, the internal conflict among Liurnia's sorcerers was nothing more than a minor skirmish.
As for those so-called Academy faction traitors, any demigod could slaughter them effortlessly, just as the Gloam-Eyed Queen was doing now.
The Carian Knight Moongrum merely needed to personally guard the Grand Library, and not a single Academy faction sorcerer dared attempt a breakthrough, which clearly showed how outwardly fierce but inwardly weak these people truly were.
If it were not for the magical barriers and seals of Raya Lucaria Academy completely isolating the inside from the outside,
this group of inexperienced Academy faction members would never have been qualified to contend against the Carian royal family.
After all, they even relied on mercenary groups like the Cuckoo Knights to fight for them, making the Academy faction's true nature self-evident.
The Gloam-Eyed Queen did not bother explaining Moongrum's misunderstanding.
Some things cannot simply be ignored just because one refuses to admit them.
The person framing you understands better than anyone that you are innocent, but if they don't make you take the blame, then they themselves will have to bear it. Better a dead friend than a dead priest.
The Gloam-Eyed Queen did not believe that Marika had not deliberately guided this entire matter.
After all, the Gloam-Eyed Queen was the only outsider among the Empyreans of the Lands Between, while the rest of the demigods and Empyreans were all Marika's children.
Although Marika could easily abandon or kill her children for the sake of her ideals, she still retained some degree of maternal affection toward them.
…
…
"Then do you intend to become my enemy?"
The Gloam-Eyed Queen calmly looked at the Carian Knight as her dusk-colored eyes slowly opened and the pressure of death spread outward.
Moongrum fell silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head.
"No. I do not wish to be your enemy. However, as a loyal knight, I must uphold my beliefs and responsibilities. If you attempt to harm the Queen, I will resist with my life."
The Gloam-Eyed Queen nodded slightly, indicating that she understood his position.
"It seems there is no need for conflict between us for now. I will not disturb Queen Rennala's research, but I also require the knowledge within the Grand Library."
As the Gloam-Eyed Queen spoke, black-and-red death flames suddenly ignited at her fingertip. As the flames dissipated, a butterfly with dusk-colored wings slowly fluttered down into the Carian Knight's hand.
"The Death Goddess Butterfly is my eye. Take it into the Grand Library. This is my reward for your loyalty!"
The meaning behind the Gloam-Eyed Queen's words was very clear. She appreciated Moongrum's character and therefore did not wish to kill him, effectively giving him face.
However, this Death Goddess Butterfly was also a step the Gloam-Eyed Queen had given the Carian Knight, and he had no choice but to accept it.
Moongrum looked at the Gloam-Eyed Queen, and a trace of relief flashed through his eyes as he nodded.
"I hope so."
Afterward, the Gloam-Eyed Queen departed with Smarag, leaving Moongrum standing silently in place, watching their retreating figures.
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