Chapter 108: Just Because I Glanced at You Once More in the Crowd (23)

After several adjustments, with internal and external forces working in tandem, Herbert's physical body smoothly stepped into the early stage of the high rank.

It took a total of nine days — one-twentieth of the half-year the Archbishop had anticipated!

A full twenty times the speed!

This was a staggering figure that would make even the Archbishop widen his eyes — something he would never dare imagine, no matter how highly he regarded Herbert's potential.

In this world, apart from the God-blessed Favored Ones, no one could accomplish such a miracle.

Then, was this truly a divine manifestation, a holy miracle?

No, this was science.

A little control of variables, a little scientific inference, a little statistical analysis — and in the end, the optimal solution was selected.

Studying math, physics, and chemistry well might not truly let you walk the world without fear.

But without studying math, physics, and chemistry, life is surely full of magic everywhere!

"Although this world really does have magic, that said."

Herbert shook his head and prepared to step into the barrier before him — the passage leading to the Aurora Sanctuary in the fifth zone.

Previously, this waypoint had been occupied by the lava giant Flora had transformed into during her frenzy, and after she passed out it happened to block the way, hindering Herbert's progress in clearing his prison.

And now, he could finally continue pushing the map.

But just as Herbert was charging forward in high spirits, ready to discuss the finer points of cultivation with the young lady on the next floor, he was called to a halt by Nie Nasha: 【"I suggest you wait a moment."】

"Hmm?"

【"I think you don't need to be in such a hurry right now. The one inside is not someone you can deal with in your current state."】

Herbert's footsteps paused, and he raised a brow in some puzzlement: "What, is she very dangerous?"

【"For you, she's quite dangerous~"】

"Even though I've officially entered the high rank?"

【"Even so."】

Herbert frowned and fell silent.

He didn't think Nie Nasha would deceive him about something like this.

If the danger weren't great, She would absolutely wait until he went in and suffered before speaking up to mock him like a brat.

The fact that She proactively offered a warning in advance meant only one thing — the existence inside was likely truly very dangerous to him right now.

"Can you block it?"

【"Me? Heh! What kind of question is that? Looking down on me?"】

The jester god gave a disdainful snort, feeling this was a provocation.

Would I be afraid of her?

【"Go in! Right now! You must go in! Let's see whether I can block it or not!"】

Herbert pouted inwardly.

See, getting worked up again.

I was just asking, and you went and lost your composure.

"Then I'll go take a look."

Herbert thought it over and decided to go poke the bear just a little.

"Just go in and take a look, light up a waypoint, and at worst I'll just retreat straight out."

Then, the bravely advancing Herbert really did just take one look… not figuratively — literally, physically, one look.

He saw an eyeball!

In the pure-white space, a half-open enormous golden eye hung high in the sky, with six pairs of black wings floating around it, casting down an aura of solemn slaughter.

!!!

The instant he saw it, countless layered, overlapping singing voices rang out in Herbert's mind.

(Holy!)

(Holy!)

(It is One, and it is All!)

It was a hymn!

But listening closely, the lyrics were utterly blasphemous and depraved — denouncing the corruption of Heaven, cursing the hypocrisy of the good gods…

What the hell is this thing!!?

Before his throat could react, Herbert's body moved on its own, shoving open the great door and bolting back into the Endless Labyrinth.

And in the next instant after his departure, that lifeless eyeball slowly turned, looking toward the spot where he had been standing.

Hmm—

A hoarse voice, layered with countless overlapping tones and tinged with confusion and bewilderment, echoed endlessly through the space above.

In the end, those countless voices gradually merged into one.

"Favored One?"

……

"Holy… ptooey, what the hell was that?"

Herbert, who had narrowly escaped with his life, had his brows knit tightly together; he could still feel his head buzzing, as if someone inside were singing blasphemous hymns.

Holy!

【"Didn't you figure it out?"】

Nie Nasha, in a splendid mood, admired the sight of Herbert being put in his place and teased: 【"It's an angel~"】

Two shadow tentacles folded over each other, as if triumphantly crossing arms.

"Heh heh, just a fallen angel who willingly betrayed the gods~ Not my match at all!"

"... Is that the fallen angel?"

Herbert muttered, trying hard to recall what he had seen and heard on the fifth floor with the Archbishop—nothing came back to him.

The memory existed, but everything he had seen and heard at the time was veiled in a layer of hazy shadow, and he simply couldn't recall the details.

The only possible clue was that when entering and leaving the fifth floor, the Archbishop had patted his own shoulder twice.

"Blurring that memory—was that a form of protection for me?"

In other words, that creature's mere gaze is enough to harm me?

"Mm, it really is SAN-dropping."

But speaking of grinding, the giant eyeball with wings wasn't actually that scary on its own, but her built-in full-form three-dimensional surround-sound BGM really is brainwashing...

After thinking for a while, Herbert decided to shelve the matter for now.

The teleport point in the fifth area had been activated anyway; once his strength was sufficient in the future, he could just teleport directly.

The momentary setback didn't change Herbert's mindset in the slightest.

"Since I can't clear it in the short term, I'll just leave her alone for now and continue pushing forward according to the original plan."

"My current strength..."

Herbert narrowed his eyes, calculated the cards he had on hand, and nodded very, very lightly.

"It's already enough!"

"The stage has been set; now we just wait for the actors to deliver themselves to our door... heh heh."

His gaze was deep; he murmured softly, as if conversing with an intimate friend.

"You'd better not disappoint me."

Year 3017 of the Faith Era, October 1st.

Night of the full moon.

Blood moon.

The usually bright, pure full moon was stained with an eerie crimson, like a ghastly eyeball gazing down upon the earth from the heavens.

This was the night when evil powers surged, a grand carnival for the claws and fangs lurking in the darkness.

They crawled out from graveyards, flew out from ancient castles, crawled out from dark sewers and emerged from the wilderness, dancing beneath the blood moon's glow.

A blood moon night was destined to be lively.

But none of this had anything to do with the Mist Monastery.

The crimson moonlight spilled down, painting the ancient monastery's exterior in an eerie, terrifying hue, but it could not truly change it.

This was a place watched over by the gods, and a place guarded by them as well.

Within this ancient structure, time itself seemed to have long since come to a standstill.

No matter how the years passed or dynasties changed, this place had never altered, no different from a thousand years ago.

It stood silently, as silent as the ascetic monks who had secluded themselves here, fulfilling the promises they had once made.

But tonight, this ancient building was about to receive a group of special guests.

A group of uninvited visitors, brimming with malice, carrying schemes and blood on their persons.

They came here together, intending to break this ancient silence and drag this place into the night's revelry as well.

(End of chapter)