Chapter 73: The Boiling Crowd of Vias

Chapter 73: The Boiling Crowd of Vias

Yi Wenni was arrested, along with all members of the Awakening Association.

As students of Vias Music Academy, they were no match for the violent might of the city guard station, Vias’s enforcement arm.

They didn’t even think to resist. When the city guards stormed in like wolves, they panicked completely and surrendered without a fight.

In the end, they were just a group of powerless idealists.

"Let us go! We’re not evil god believers! Please believe us!"

"We didn’t hold any worship, truly!"

"We’re students of the Music Academy—you have no right to arrest us!"

"That was the internet! We… we were just learning magic!"

Only after being shackled with god-restraining shackles did the members of the Awakening Association snap out of their daze. They struggled, shouted, and pleaded their innocence.

But the city guards had seen too many believers seduced by evil gods and heard too many pleas and threats. Their hearts had long been tempered to steel, unmoved by such cries.

They dragged Yi Wenni and the others out of the courtyard roughly, shoving them toward the city guard station.

Dozens of heavy-armored knights on unicorn horses flanked Yi Wenni on both sides. Chains in their hands stretched from all directions, ensuring there was no escape.

Pulled along by the knights, Yi Wenni and her peers stumbled down the familiar streets, their faces etched with terror.

More and more residents gathered.

"What happened?"

"I heard they’re all heretics corrupted by an evil god!"

"Gods, how terrifying!"

"Daring to disrespect the Music Goddess? Serves them right!"

"Kill them all!"

Upon learning the "truth," the crowd was furious, shouting and roaring.

Some even picked up whatever was at hand and hurled it at them.

In an instant, Yi Wenni and the others were reduced to utter wretchedness, their hearts gripped by sheer terror.

They tried to explain, but no one listened—their voices drowned out by the clamor.

The heavy-armored knights coldly yanked the chains, forcing them to stagger forward.

This humiliating parade nearly shattered the pride Yi Wenni and the others held as students of the Music Academy.

After what felt like an eternity, the knights suddenly halted, and the boiling crowd gradually quieted.

A group of divine music instructors in song robes had blocked the city guards’ path.

"Sir Kane, what crime have my students committed to deserve such humiliation?" the lead instructor, Shalin, demanded coldly.

"Humiliation? They held secret worship for an evil god—is that not an insult to Her Highness the Music Goddess?" The leader of the heavy-armored knights, Kane, replied with indifference.

"We didn’t worship any evil god!"

Finally seizing a chance to speak, Yi Wenni and the others instinctively cried out.

"That was the internet! It wasn’t worship, and we don’t believe in it! We… we just wanted to log on, learn magic, and contribute to Vias!" one member of the Awakening Association shouted.

"Hahaha, listen! Listen! They’ve already been corrupted by the evil god! Has the Music Goddess not taught you? The evil god always dangles sweet bait to lure you—knowledge, power, wealth—just like a child using grain to trap birds. And you call yourselves students of the Music Academy? You’re nothing but a bunch of fools!" Knight Kane roared furiously.

"The Internet God hasn’t tempted us with power. He merely made magical knowledge public! If you don’t believe it, you can log in and see for yourselves!"

"The Internet God isn’t an evil god! Everyone in the Keville Empire uses the internet—why can’t we?"

"That’s right! They study magic, Battle Aura, even have mentors teaching online. Everyone there can learn magic—why can’t we?"

The long march through the streets had already filled the Awakening Association members with pent-up frustration.

Now that they finally had a chance to speak, they desperately tried to explain.

"Lies! Silence!" Kane bellowed.

The more the Awakening Association spoke, the more he saw it as proof of their corruption by the evil god.

In truth, he didn’t even need to discern what they were saying. To him, using divine techniques not of the Music Goddess was already blasphemy—a betrayal of the Goddess!

Even the divine music instructor from the Music Academy shook his head in disappointment.

The crowd erupted in jeers and curses.

And then there was the hysterical weeping—a mother of one of the Awakening Association members.

Clang!

The chains tightened again, and Yi Wenni and the others were about to be dragged away.

Suddenly, Yi Wenni shouted, "The internet has the Music Sanctuary! It’s a power unique to Her Highness the Music Goddess! She must have already acknowledged the Internet God!"

The moment her voice rang out, the chaotic street fell silent.

"What did you say?"

Not just the crowd—even the Awakening Association members looked stunned.

Yi Wenni bit her lower lip. She wasn’t entirely sure herself.

When she had opened the internet earlier, she thought she had seen an update—a new feature with an icon labeled "Music Sanctuary."

But then the city guard station had stormed in, interrupting her observation.

"How is that possible?"

"Her Highness the Music Goddess has always remained aloof from worldly conflicts. Why would she acknowledge another god?"

The crowd was dumbfounded, refusing to believe it.

"Absolute nonsense!"

Kane snarled and yanked the chain violently. With a sharp clatter, Yi Wenni was pulled to the ground.

Her hands bound, she fell face-first, blood smearing across her face.

Her nose throbbed with pain and sourness, warm liquid gushing out, choking her with ragged, beast-like gasps.

But the physical agony was nothing compared to the torment in her heart.

Through her crimson-stained vision, she saw the countless accusing, cursing faces of the crowd. Despair and indignation welled up inside her, mingled with bitter mockery.

Ajef was right—these people were nothing but frogs at the bottom of a well, thinking the world was only as big as the mouth of their well!

They believed the Music Goddess was supreme, never realizing the Internet God didn’t need her acknowledgment at all!

If she could, in her next life, she truly wished to be a subject of the Internet God.

Without leaving home, one can roam the vast world, freely voice all grievances, and even pursue any power they desire—even if it belongs to the divine techniques of other gods.

"Lady Bailier!"

A cry of surprise suddenly rose from the crowd.

The jeering stopped.

Yi Wenni, lying on the ground, watched as the crowd automatically parted to either side, and Bailier, the head maid clad in divine robes, stepped forward.

She bent down to help Yi Wenni up, and under the astonished gazes of the onlookers, the god-restraining shackles silently slipped away.

Kane and his men immediately paled!

Bailier gently wiped the blood from beneath Yi Wenni’s nose, cupped her face, and said softly, "Don’t blame Lord Kane. He is the Music Goddess’s most loyal sword—naturally, he must point his blade at all Outer Gods!"

"You were lucky this time. Remember, not all gods are as benevolent as Her Highness the Music Goddess and the Internet God. Don’t be deceived by temporary bait."

Yi Wenni was stunned.

Kane furrowed his brows.

Countless citizens exchanged bewildered glances.

Bailier turned around, her voice suddenly solemn as she proclaimed:

"The Internet God is great and merciful, wise and brave. Her Highness the Music Goddess has decided to form an alliance of mutual support with the Internet God. From this day forth, to see the Internet God is to see the Music Goddess!"

As her words fell, everyone was dumbfounded.

"Lady Bailier, is... is what you’re saying true?" Kane’s face was filled with disbelief.

In the centuries since Vias was founded, never had the Music Goddess acknowledged another god. Bailier’s sudden announcement left everyone shocked—and suspicious.

Kane even wondered if Bailier had been bewitched by an evil god!

"If Lord Kane doubts my words, you need only log into the internet and see for yourself! The Music Goddess has already established the Music Sanctuary there. From now on, whether emperor or commoner, everyone can enjoy the beauty of music, the mercy of divine music, and the radiance of Her Highness—spreading across Azerai!"

Bailier’s face was fervent.

[Under the warm sun, I welcome the fragrance]

[Whose girl is this]

"What is that sound?"

"Who’s singing?"

"No—is that an orchestra playing?"

A slightly hoarse, smoky voice suddenly rose among the crowd, drawing startled looks from all directions.

"The Music Sanctuary really exists!"

A cry of delight erupted from the crowd.

Only then did everyone notice that Yi Wenni had, at some point, opened the internet. A translucent virtual screen unfolded before her, and the singing accompanied by an orchestra was coming from it.

The sight left the crowd stunned!

Unnoticed, countless other virtual screens had lit up among the spectators, and all kinds of songs began to drift through the air.

Unbeknownst to all, the internet had already silently infiltrated Vias.

"This is incredible! How can this thing sing?"

"Right? Is there really an orchestra playing just for us?"

"Heavens, Her Highness the Music Goddess has bestowed a miracle!"

"Is this the internet?"

"Goodness, there’s even magic knowledge on here?!"

"Look! There’s even a Forum for Vias!"

The people of Vias were in an uproar.

Countless people crowded around those who had accessed the internet, gazing at the unprecedented and utterly novel screens, momentarily overwhelmed by the flood of information.

Unbeknownst to the boiling excitement in Vias, the people of Keville—being the first generation of internet users—were even more ecstatic!

For this sudden update to the internet had brought about an immense transformation.