"Being completely identical is impossible."
Aya Tokoyogi reminded him calmly:
"Though the exact reasons are unclear, Top Tier Class holders are usually singular in number."
"I've obtained some materials from True Hell that explain Top Tier Classes."
"The only scenario where multiple individuals can advance into the same Top Tier Class is when the 'symbol' occupied by that Class is inherently pluralistic."
"From my understanding, this likely means the Class itself spans multiple domains, with even its advancement rituals being different."
"It's like how the Spirit Class branches into ten different directions when developing into Demigod Rank. Do you grasp what I mean?"
As she spoke, Tokoyogi Aye glanced sideways at Tohka Yatogami, who was happily eating nearby.
Luo Shu indeed received her intended message:
"So you're saying the Witch Class held by Satella has multiple developmental possibilities at the Demigod stage, and Echidna chose a different path from Satella, hence requiring a different advancement ritual?"
"Essentially." Aya Tokoyogi nodded slightly before narrowing her eyes: "Perhaps the constant factor is the transformation of life forms."
"The vengeful spirit manifestation might just be one expression."
"Unfortunately, I don't know Satella's specific Class or ritual details; otherwise, we could interpret more."
"Her Class name is 'Witch of Envy', and the ritual involves: interrupting a Hero Rank individual's advancement to Demigod at the moment of success, causing their permanent demotion from Demigod Rank."
Hearing this, Aya Tokoyogi looked slightly startled at Luo Shu's confident explanation.
With a faint smile, Luo Shu added: "Information obtained by chance, but I believe it's mostly accurate."
After pausing to organise his thoughts, he continued:
"From what I understand, the Witch of Envy likely killed 'Satella' – effectively herself – then possessed Emilia's body, completing her advancement through this loophole."
"Other methods might exist, but her post-advancement state was so unstable that seizing Emilia's body became necessary."
Upon hearing this, C.C. couldn't resist commenting:
"You call this 'information obtained by chance'?"
This level of detail was practically eyewitness testimony! How could he claim it was merely chance?
"Indeed, even handsome men can be deceitful."
Luo Shu ignored C.C.'s muttering. While he appreciated her calling him handsome, the accusation of dishonesty was unacceptable – he was an exceptionally truthful man:
"Based on Emilia's situation, let's make a bold conjecture."
"The Witch Class that Echidna obtained, I'll tentatively call it the Witch of Greed."
"Her ritual conditions must involve transforming into a vengeful spirit entity and, like the Witch of Envy, she would become a being driven by some extreme emotion."
This was evident in the Witch of Envy's ritual.
Not only did she have to kill a Demigod, but it had to be right after their promotion, and she had to strip them of their level permanently.
Isn't that the very essence of envy?
If that's the case, the Witch of Greed's ritual would likely also manifest an intensely extreme desire.
Based on Luo Shu's understanding of Echidna, the one thing that woman lacked least was an extreme thirst for knowledge—her insatiable craving for learning.
And the greatest enemy of knowledge, something that constantly renews itself...
"Is death..." Luo Shu arrived at the answer intuitively. "Echidna's ritual requirement was probably to overcome physical death through sheer thirst for knowledge."
"Her ritual is already complete."
"It was completed the moment La Folia killed her, the instant she successfully transformed into a vengeful spirit."
"That's why she could so easily seize the pureblood demon's body from the Onmyou Agency—because by then, she had already preliminarily attained the power of a Demigod."
Realising this, even Luo Shu couldn't help but feel surprised:
"Did she deliberately steal a demon's body to mislead us, making us think she was following the traditional Witch Class path?"
Hearing this, Aya Tokoyogi seemed unable to hold back, her face cold as she said:
"The Witch Class—I only developed it less than a year ago."
How could something less than a year old be considered a traditional path?
Ignoring Aya Tokoyogi's resentment, Luo Shu stroked his chin thoughtfully:
"This is a bit troublesome. The ritual is already in its completed form, and the promotion might have succeeded, just missing one crucial element."
"Is it her body?"
Luo Shu thought of Echidna's physical body, forcibly left behind in the Hidden Management Department.
While a complete body isn't strictly necessary for Demigod promotion, it's still an important condition.
In other words, Echidna lacks the element of transforming her own body into a Demigod's.
So, the current Echidna is essentially a bodyless Demigod...
"She needs a body... one strong enough to support her power and help her fully complete the promotion."
Thinking this, Luo Shu murmured:
"Just like Satella, who was forced to possess Emilia, Echidna is probably preparing to take over a suitable body as well."
"Echidna must still be in Tokyo. In her current state, she can't possibly manage cross-country movements—attacking the Onmyou Agency in Kyoto was likely her limit."
At this thought, Luo Shu's face twitched, and he couldn't help but say:
"She's still hiding in Kyoto, planning to possess a suitable vessel there?"
"Considering compatibility—female, with strong desires, capable of bearing her Demigod power, and within the entire population of Kyoto, or even those who passed through Kyoto that day..."
"That's a massive undertaking."
After hearing Luo Shu's words, C.C. couldn't help but sigh.
Even with these conditions, locating the target among Kyoto's population of several million in Japan—especially without a household registration system—was no easy task.
However, compared to these challenges, Luo Shu's ability to guess the conditions was somewhat absurd.
At this thought, C.C. glanced sideways at Luo Shu, her gaze filled with subtlety.
Though she wanted to dismiss it as mere speculation, considering this man was a Demigod—one who had subdued Aya Tokoyogi—even his guesses might not be simple conjecture. Could it be guided by some Demigod Rank ability?
Something akin to the Fate Concept?
As C.C. pondered, Luo Shu suddenly smiled.
"A massive undertaking is still a massive undertaking, but having clues is always good. Besides, who says a big job can't be simplified?"
Aya Tokoyogi looked surprised. "You have a solution?"
"Of course."
Three minutes later, in the third-floor lounge.
Luo Shu placed a note scribbled with his earlier conjectures in front of Nia Honjo, who was holding a beer can and chopsticks, mid-bite into a snack. Under the girl's bewildered stare, he said calmly,
"Use Raziel to investigate quickly. These conditions should be enough to narrow down the target, right?"
"Can I at least finish my meal—"
Nia tried to resist, but when she met Luo Shu's 'kind and gentle' gaze, she fell silent.
Gulp.
She swallowed hard, set down her beer and chopsticks, and wordlessly pulled out Raziel.