Chapter 152: The Priest's Nightmare

The following sessions were dedicated to discussions, during which Mulan invited other attending professors to help answer related questions. Naturally, the trainees would have preferred Mulan to provide all the answers, but after all, there was only one Professor Jon斯特.

Even more absurdly, some professors would actively inquire of Mulan about certain minute details.

When the classes in the First Hall concluded for the day, it also marked the moment when the refinement plan for the Black Castle truly crossed over the core stage outlined in Mulan's report.

Mulan walked out of the First Hall alongside the gathered professors, and everyone once again looked at him with renewed respect. This young Radiant Knight hardly seemed like a Radiant Knight at all, consistently capable of accomplishing unexpected feats.

The musician remarked half-jokingly and half-seriously to Mulan that he could actually be more than just a Radiant Knight; in a sense, he could even forge a path in education.

Upon leaving the First Hall, Mulan had a brief eye contact with the alchemist Alofa. Although the latter appeared extremely restrained and probably seemed entirely normal to outsiders, Mulan could perceive a faint undercurrent of yearning and even greed.

So much so that Mulan hastily excused himself under the flimsiest of pretexts. He indeed needed to make a trip to the royal palace, but along the way, his thoughts remained consumed by Alofa.

"What on earth is this old pervert thinking? What could possibly be so special about my blood?"

Mulan pondered continuously inside the carriage, even pinching his finger to draw a single droplet of blood for closer inspection.

Yet, gazing through the carriage window light at the crystal-clear droplet of blood on his fingertip, it possessed nothing more than exceptionally high vitality. From the awakening of the physical body to the birth of magic, the flesh and blood of any transcendent being underwent evolution and enhancement, and Mulan believed he should be no different in this regard.

Mulan narrowed his eyes. Perhaps he should change his approach. Seeking out Alofa directly to demand answers was far too dangerous, and he would likely gain no genuine information anyway. However, just because he could not do it himself did not mean someone else couldn't.

Alchemists were arrogant and conceited, especially senior alchemists, for whom ordinary people rarely caught their eye—even general transcendent beings were treated similarly. But another alchemist would be a different story.

Matt was intentionally avoiding Mulan, but the peace he enjoyed was not because he could truly evade Mulan, but simply because Mulan granted him that space.

In reality, Mulan was well aware of the various proposals Matt had submitted to the royal family, including the establishment of an independent private alchemical workshop.

Two hours later, inside the Digo Royal Palace, Queen Nischelyre reviewed Mulan's report once more and finally could not help but clench her fists in excitement.

"Well done, Mulan!"

"It is merely my duty as a subject!"

Mulan lowered his head slightly in a humble bow. The queen swept her long dress, strode rapidly to the window, and reached out toward the distant horizon.

"If the Black Castle can cultivate a hundred transcendent beings each year, no force in the south will be able to halt the rise of the empire!"

"Your Majesty's vision is my objective, and I believe this is not our limit!"

The queen turned her gaze back to Mulan, and then toward the councilors standing nearby. Grandor shook his head with a smile.

「Even if you, Jon斯特, possess such confidence, supplying the resources for the empire will still be a tremendous challenge. After all, the conditions required for transcendent beings to advance are bizarre and varied.」

Mulan smiled without speaking. In truth, based on his own estimations, an entity of the Digo Empire's scale still possessed considerable potential.

"Oh, right, Your Majesty, I hope to have that alchemist transferred to the Black Castle. The current Black Castle is in dire need of alchemists, especially those who are capable of communication."

Mulan's veiled criticism was glaringly obvious.

If the queen had harbored any hesitation previously—having considered Matt's proposal to establish an exclusive ancient alchemy service solely for the royal family and granting him a secluded, safe research facility—the results Mulan had just delivered ensured that Matt's ultimate destination was now confined to a single option: Mulan's proposal to research and concurrently teach at the Black Castle.

"Granted."

"Furthermore, that student suspected of possessing the talent of a Realm Weaver requires focused cultivation. I will arrange the relevant materials concerning realms for you."

"Understood."

......

"Achoo—"

Matt sneezed violently, pulled out a handkerchief, and blew his nose hard. Just then, Chris walked into the room.

"Oh? Catch a cold? Is winter in Digo really that biting?"

Matt glanced sidelong at his scantily clad sister.

"It doesn't seem all that cold to you. Do you find this kind of game amusing?"

Matt was referring to how his sister had infatuated several young nobles in the imperial capital, sparking fierce rivalries among them.

Chris shrugged.

"That's none of my business. I never said I liked them, and as you know, anyone who tries to get too close to me or becomes utterly captivated by me tends to inherit a bout of misfortune. I can only express my deepest condolences for whatever happens to them."

As she spoke, Chris admired the gemstone necklace wrapped around her wrist.

"......"

Matt was utterly speechless.

Then, Chris's expression turned serious.

"By the way, I heard a while ago that Jon斯特 threw over three hundred Black Castle trainees into the hospital, but now I've been asking around and there's been no news whatsoever. Those young noble heirs also seem strangely quiet; their elders appear to have stopped pressuring the queen."

"That suggests the situation has grown rather subtle."

Matt fell into deep thought. His feelings toward Mulan were extraordinarily complex; on one hand, he feared Mulan, yet on the other, he constantly monitored him without any malicious intent.

......

At night, within the Digo Great Cathedral, a considerable number of clerical personnel, including the Archbishop, had gathered. These clerics came not only from the Great Cathedral itself, but also represented various cathedrals, both large and small, scattered across the entire expanse of Digo.

Though it appeared to be a routine gathering, the agenda was anything but ordinary. They were already aware that a dangerous heretic had surfaced in Digo and that it must be thoroughly purified.

The cathedral priests filed out of the Great Cathedral one after another, many bearing grim expressions. A demon—a demon born from within the sanctuary itself—was wreaking havoc in Digo, and the repercussions were catastrophic.

Early in the morning, Bondy presided over the prayers for the believers with a melancholy expression. The Archbishop and the others all insisted that Taylor was a heretic, a blasphemous demon, yet judging from the fragments left behind, that person's faith had actually remained steadfast throughout, albeit agonizingly painful.

That was a person who needed help, not "purification."

However, as Bondy's gaze drifted outward out of habit, a figure in a corner caused his eyes to narrow. It was not because of anything unusual inside the Great Cathedral, but rather through the window, where he spotted a dark shadow lingering on the distant street.

Ah, perhaps that person hadn't failed to appear; maybe they had simply been waiting outside the cathedral all along.

A wave of agitation stirred within Bondy. He forced himself to patiently complete the prayer, then seized a quiet moment to slip out of the cathedral through a side door. He told no one, determined to make contact with that person first. Reason told him this was wrong, yet he did so regardless; the haunting dreams regarding that individual had been plaguing him for days.

In the shadows of the street opposite the Great Cathedral, a figure turned and walked away. Taylor wove through the pedestrians on the street, hurrying in pursuit. Every time it seemed he was about to catch up, the shadow would vanish, only to be spotted further away moments later.

Even more absurdly, this game of flight and pursuit eventually led them to the desolate outskirts of the city, culminating at a deserted building where the figure finally stopped and stepped inside.

Bondy panted lightly, looking up at the structure. It appeared to be an abandoned cathedral.

Were there abandoned cathedrals in Digo? Without time for hesitation, Bondy stepped inside. Thank the heavens, the figure had not left, but was instead standing with lowered head within the shadows cast by a shattered statue of the Holy Light.

"Father Taylor?"

Bondy called out. The figure in the shadows remained motionless. When Bondy took two steps closer, the person in the shadows slowly raised their head.

"Hiss......"

It was a ruined visage, exaggeratedly worse than someone disfigured by sulfuric acid; in places, bone and muscle had fused together into a twisted, agonizing mass. One of their pupils was rotted, the other ash-white, rendering the face more terrifying than that of a corpse.

"Taylor? Such a distant name, as if a million years have passed......"

"You—how did you become like this?"

"Young priest, I am looking for someone. Can you help me find him?"

Taylor's voice was hoarse and low, and every single word seemed to cost him immense agony.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Who am I looking for? Ah, yes, who am I looking for? Who? Who is it, who am I looking for? Ah—"

Taylor looked completely bewildered, posing the questions in rapid succession. His voice grew louder and louder until it culminated in a piercing scream that shattered the remaining glass fragments in the old cathedral and forced Bondy to cover his ears.

"He has beheld the true Holy Light. He has listened to the genuine voice of God. And he is the one who turned me into this! This is the place he came from. I must find him, I must demand of him why he harmed me, why, ah—!"

Taylor's entire body expanded from the shadows, every muscle appearing to transform into horrific, writhing worms.

"Ah—!"

Bondy jolted awake from terror, his body trembling slightly. Looking down, he saw the Holy Gospel open on the desk; he had fallen asleep right in his own room.

How could a devout cathedral priest possibly experience such a nightmare?