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Chapter 131: Lanchi Starts to Play Mind Games
Chapter 131: Lanchi Starts to Play Mind Games
In the Lichtensteins Castle, at the Basic Level Chapel.
A solemn silence engulfed the lofty chapel, its antique domed stained glass casting a vibrant and mysterious light throughout the lofty space.
The priest, clad in a white robe and crowned with a silver diadem, stood alone at the altar with a solemn expression, his eyes tightly shut.
The afternoon sunlight, filtering through the clouds, bathed the chapel and its occupants in a golden glow.
The priest was surrounded by reverent silence, disturbed only by the faint tolling of the chapel bells carried in on the gentle breeze.
The chapel had been tidied, and the remains of Cardinal Caligula, the castle's former owner, had been laid to rest outside. The priest offered a prayer for the departed.
The priest slowly raised his hand.
"Merciful Goddess, please wash away the sorrow, pain, and confusion of the deceased. Grant them peace, release them from their chains, and guide them to a serene and luminous heaven, where they may find happiness in their next life."
His deep and resonant voice echoed off the chapel walls, like a warm embrace.
His words were filled with respect for the departed and comfort for the living.
After the priest's prayer, the secular clamor and chaos seemed to fade away.
A long moment passed.
"Is this the power of divine magic?"
The young master of the Cambela Kingdom's merchant guild, unable to contain his curiosity, looked up and saw the faint light feathers drifting from Cardinal Caligula's tomb outside the window. He couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
By performing this prayer to liberate the departed soul, one could prevent a powerful soul from becoming a vengeful spirit, as well as stop evil necromancers from enslaving the dead or probing their memories.
Due to the swift progress of the investigation and the disappearance of the detective from the map, the group found themselves without a clear goal for the afternoon.
The pressure was now squarely on the traitors.
While the traitors initially had five days to find the witch and the werewolf, that time had now been drastically shortened to just two days.
At the priest's suggestion, they had laid Cardinal Caligula's body to rest.
Even though this world was not real, the shadow world, as a projection of history, indicated that there had indeed been a great cleric who sacrificed himself for human freedom. It was only right to give him a proper burial.
Additionally, they wanted to prevent any traitors with necromancy abilities from obtaining critical information from Cardinal Caligula's remains about the period before the shadow world began.
And so, in the chapel's main hall, the group once again found themselves gathered together, much like they had in the morning—sparse and silent.
No one knew what else they could do besides wait for the traitors' turn.
However, the atmosphere was not as oppressive as it had been earlier.
There were still a few hours until nightfall, when the two traitorous bloodlords would awaken and the traitors could use their vampire abilities, posing a significant threat to all the challengers.
"What do you all think is the probability that the two traitors are resurrectionists?"
Lanchi, standing in a corner, suddenly posed this question, capturing everyone's attention.
His focused gaze suggested that he had been eager to hear others' opinions on the matter.
"There's a very high probability. We can almost assume that anyone with a motive to bring about an apocalyptic calamity is a resurrectionist, and a particularly despicable one at that."
The merchant guild young master was the first to respond, his conviction evident.
"According to statistics from the Shadow World Association of the Southern Continent, in 98.2% of shadow worlds where challengers face off, those who desire to bring about an apocalyptic calamity turn out to be resurrectionists."
His words surprised those gathered in the chapel.
So, the heir to the great merchant guild actually knew a thing or two.
"I see," Lanchi nodded slowly, glancing at Hepburn. Their eyes met briefly.
They were even aware that the Resurrection Church had been deliberately targeting them.
As expected, when they were matched, there were quite a few resurrectionists participating in the shadow world at the same time.
Coupled with Hepburn's initial dual foreshadowing as an "actress," the probability that the merchant guild young master mentioned could be increased from 98.2% to 99.9%.
"Reverend, do you believe in the existence of the Goddess of Fate?"
Lanchi turned to the three clerics from the Northern Continent, his expression filled with curiosity.
This sudden change of topic left the other challengers perplexed once again.
"Although we have no way of knowing when the gods disappeared, becoming as much a part of the world's rules as the air we breathe, and although no one has ever laid eyes on a god...they still exist in another form. They simply cannot interfere in the mortal realm as they once did."
"That is why we clerics are able to wield divine magic; our existence is proof of their existence."
The cleric provided a gentle explanation, his tone warm and patient as he answered questions about the deities, a duty he held sacred.
"I see," Lanchi nodded, already familiar with the mechanics of divine magic and spell cards used by clerics, knowledge he had gained during his time in the South Ventina Borderlands. The beliefs of the clerics from the Northern Continent mirrored his own.
Given Lanchi's attributes, becoming a cleric would have been the optimal choice. Divine magic was a variant of spellcraft that harnessed the power of the gods, drawing upon the divine energy that permeated the world. Even without one's own magical power, divine magic could produce miraculous effects. The strength of these spells often depended on one's spiritual attributes and the depth of their faith.
However, Lanchi was a materialist who did not believe in the gods. Even if he became a cleric, his lack of faith would hinder the power of his divine magic. Thus, he chose a different path, that of a white mage, a healer.
"While one can use our divine magic and spell cards by worshipping any of the benevolent deities, each god bestows unique additional effects. These effects are aligned with the ancient legends depicted on the thirty-two original stone tablets. Perhaps, in a distant era beyond our knowledge, the gods walked among us."
The enthusiastic executioner added, "The reason why the Temples of the Northern and Southern Continents have the most clerics and followers of the Goddess of Fate is not because her additional effects are the strongest, but simply because she has the most sincere and devoted worshippers."
"She has the most myths surrounding her, such as the belief that the 'Goddess of Fate loves all creatures equally' and that 'she is the only deity who can still interfere in mortal affairs.' These stories persist to this day."
"There is even a legend that the Goddess of Fate's divinity lies in her ability to hear your prayers. The more devout and fervent your prayers, the more your voice will reach her, and the more she will be inclined to grant your wishes."
The three clerics of the Fate Goddess took turns explaining their faith to Lanchi.
In this world, swearing an oath to a deity was a solemn act, as it was believed that the gods would hear and judge these vows. One had to be careful when making such promises, as the consequences could be unpredictable, regardless of whether the gods still existed or had the power to interfere in mortal affairs.
There had been instances where high-ranking members of the Resurrection Church had pleaded for salvation from the Goddess of Fate, turning their backs on their original faith. It was unclear if these individuals had been Fate Goddess clerics in disguise all along, but each time, these seemingly blessed individuals dealt devastating blows to the Resurrection Church, leaving many to wonder if the Goddess of Fate was interfering in their destiny.
This was the reason for the bitter enmity between the Fate Goddess Church and the Resurrection Church.
"I understand. Thank you for your explanations," Lanchi replied politely, expressing his gratitude without indicating any intention to convert. He turned his gaze back to the others in the chapel.
The group wondered what was going through his mind.
Then, with everyone's attention on him, Lanchi raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and proclaimed in a clear voice, "Please join me in praising the great Goddess of Fate. If I am a heretic, a venomous betrayer, then let my destiny be guided towards the destruction of the Resurrection Church!"
"......?"
The challengers looked at Lanchi, confusion furrowing their brows.
Soon enough, some of them began to understand his intention.
While Lanchi's vow might not necessarily come true, as fate was a fickle thing, there was an unwritten rule within the Resurrection Church:
Those who were explicitly tied to the Goddess of Fate through cause and effect rarely rose to high-ranking positions.
The Resurrection Church feared nothing more than the unseen influence of the Goddess of Fate.
By making this vow, Lanchi was effectively dooming any potential traitors among them!
(End of Chapter)
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