Chapter 1083: The Children of [Birth]

The Children of 【Birth】

【Memory】 left.

It came quickly, and it left quickly.

What was puzzling was that It left on Its own, and did not take Cheng Shi with It, nor did It drive Cheng Shi away.

One should know that Cheng Shi was now standing in Its archive — in the past, even the little tricksters would be chased out the moment they poked their heads into the archive — yet now It had simply "left behind" Cheng Shi like this. Is that right?

Something's off! Very off!

Cheng Shi froze on the spot and thought for a long time, only to conclude that this was the other party fishing for a violation — waiting for him to make a move, then arresting him on the spot and turning him into an 【Existence】 prisoner just like Aphlos.

So he didn't dare move rashly, and just stood there quietly, waiting for 【Memory】 to reappear and, to his great disappointment, send him back.

But no matter how long he waited, there was no reaction from his surroundings, which plunged Cheng Shi into thought once more.

Was It serious?

What did this mean — It didn't mind him wandering around in Its archive?

Was It that kind-hearted?

Absolutely impossible.

Don't forget, the words "there is no kindness without reason in this world" came straight from 【Memory】's mouth, so how could It suddenly loosen Its restrictions on a follower of 【Fraud】?

Even if It truly tacitly allowed him to walk within 【Memory】's archive, there had to be some other purpose!

Was It waiting for him to show a flaw, so It could find the details of this memory?

Or perhaps this rival of 【Fraud】 wanted him to "voluntarily" go decode this vanished memory for It?

Did It even know that during eternal imprisonment one could preserve one's own memories?

Cheng Shi's brain was nearly smoking from thinking, and he still couldn't come up with an answer, but as time stretched on, he began to lean toward the latter — that 【Memory】 was trading retreat for space, trying to find something from him.

If that was the case, then there was no need to worry about this being some kind of entrapment.

After all, since he was already here, not taking a look around would be a disservice to the fright he'd received today, so he began to tiptoe carefully around the archive.

The vast majority of the exhibits were still impossible to see clearly, but some of the major historical events he had lived through could be vaguely made out in broad strokes.

The exhibits in this archive were beyond counting; mortals simply could not imagine whether this archive had an end at all. Cheng Shi even suspected that what was collected here might be the memories of more than one world — even the memories of parallel worlds deduced by 【Time】 might be stored here.

After all, for the gods, everything beneath the starry sky was still within Their grasp.

As he wandered, Cheng Shi suddenly spotted an extraordinarily clear exhibit.

His pupils contracted, his footsteps halted, and he stared at the lifelike 【Divine Pillar】 before him, falling into a daze.

Wait — what was the meaning of 【Memory】 hanging a portrait of a 【Divine Pillar】 in Its own archive?

Just as he was thinking this, the 【Divine Pillar】 within the exhibit suddenly twisted, and without any warning shattered the exhibit's seal, knocked Cheng Shi to the ground, swept him up, and dragged him back. In the blink of an eye, Cheng Shi vanished from 【Memory】's archive with a thoroughly bewildered look.

Today's void was a lively one, and the person standing in the void was a restless one.

Perhaps no mortal had ever experienced what it felt like to be lashed by the 【Divine Pillar】 of 【Birth】, but now Cheng Shi had.

He knelt bowed on the ground, staring at the swaying, enormous 【Divine Pillar】 before him, unable to speak for a long while.

Good thing the Sage wasn't present, or today she would have gotten her wish.

But why 【Birth】!?

Why was It hiding in 【Memory】's archive to ambush him!

What was the purpose of It summoning him?

Had It also discovered that he was missing a segment of memory!?

【Birth】, however terrifying, was not like 【Memory】 — the latter was lethal, but the former only caused pregnancy.

So after weathering the initial awkwardness, Cheng Shi once again assumed the image of a shrewd master at paying audience to gods. He raised his head and began showering the 【Divine Pillar】 with praise.

"Praise the great god of 【Birth】, may You......"

But before he could finish, the 【Divine Pillar】 lashed the surrounding void and let out a hoarse howl — It looked somewhat impatient.

"Child — where —"

"?"

Cheng Shi blinked, the picture of innocence.

"What child? Which child?

Which of Your children has gone missing again?

Don't worry, finding children — that's my specialty.

Which of Your heralds has once again awakened in history? Do You need me to bring them back for You?"

"Lucia —"

"The Holy Voice of Birth?" Cheng Shi was startled. "She's not in Tusnat anymore?"

Upon hearing this place-name, the 【Divine Pillar】 grew visibly more agitated. It lashed out at its surroundings again and said resentfully:

"【Fraud】 deceived Me —

I entrusted authority to It — yet It never brought Lucia — back —"

"???"

No, wait a moment!

This sounded like the Trickster God had struck some kind of deal with 【Birth】, promising to bring Lucia back for It, but it looked like the Trickster God had gone back on Its word — It took 【Birth】's authority but didn't do the work?

Good grief, You really dare to swindle even Your patron, Lord Trickster!

Aren't You afraid 【Birth】 will retaliate by making a few little 【Nothings】 appear?

But...... what authority did They trade?

Cheng Shi was suddenly seized by interest; his curiosity surged tenfold. His eyes rolled, and he said with the utmost deference:

"Um...... great 【Birth】, if I may report:"

I really am a 【Void】 Walker, that's true, but at the end of the day I'm still a mere mortal. My Lord's actions were His own doing, and have nothing to do with His believers. I hope you won't take it out on me.

But then again, I am still His believer. Although having a patron like this gives me quite a headache too, in order to maintain the peace and stability of the cosmos, I sometimes have no choice but to clean up some messes on His behalf.

Don't be hasty. The premise for me to help you is that you first tell me what happened. Only once I understand everything can I do my best to make amends and soothe your wounded spirit.

So... if it's alright, could you tell me about the transaction between you two?

Just the basics will do. I'm not here for gossip — I simply want to help."

【God Pillar】, unable to contain Himself, spoke in concise, cutting words:

"He hid away My child — in exchange for the 【Truth】 Authority —

I agreed — but Lucia never returned — she remains in that 【Truth】 Kingdom —

He deceived Me — *crack* —"

A sharp whip-crack exploded right beside Cheng Shi's ear, like thunder striking the crown of his head, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

But what truly made Cheng Shi's head spin was not 【Birth】's fury, but the enormous amount of information packed into those few brief sentences.

First, 【Birth】 still retains the memories of the Covenant Assembly — no, to put it more precisely, He even still holds the 【Truth】 Authority that the Covenant Assembly had disposed of!

This not only means He hasn't lost His memory, but also implies that the 【Covenant】's disposal of the 【Truth】 Authority seems to have been preserved as well!!

How is that possible?!

If the 【Truth】 Authority is out there, then doesn't that mean 【Truth】... failed to resurrect from the world reset?!

But if He didn't resurrect, then who added those 20 points for me?

Surely it wasn't the 【Covenant】 acting on His behalf?!

Second, that chaos god really plays a good game!

I was just saying — when the trial players were rescued back then, why was Hu Xuan the only one missing? I assumed her identity as an Envoy candidate would let her keep herself safe, so the chaos god simply didn't bother with her. But looking at it now, it's not that He didn't bother — He straight up locked her up!

Well, well, well — turns out He was scheming against 【Birth】 even before the Covenant Assembly had begun!

Hats off to the chaos god. Even without knowing what changes the Covenant Assembly would bring, preparing a contingency in advance is never wrong.

【Birth】 doesn't covet the 【Truth】 Authority, so when faced with the "robber's" ransom demand, He agreed without hesitation.

And 【Fraud】 really is something else — He sent Hu Xuan back, but didn't send Lucia back?

That's not right. Before the trial ended, Hu Xuan had clearly mentioned Lucia, which means Lucia was already free long ago — so this transaction should have been considered complete.

If it was complete, why is 【Birth】 still angry?

Cheng Shi furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then suddenly froze. He blinked and asked 【Birth】:

"Great God 【Birth】, let me confirm something with You:

What You understood as 'sending the child back' means that the Ch... 【Fraud】 needed to send Lucia, who was far away in Tusnat, back to Your side. But now Lucia has, of her own choice, remained outside, so...

You feel that 【Fraud】 did not complete the transaction — is that right!?"

"Precisely so —!!!"

"..."

Well then...

To bring a "rebellious" child home, He gave away the 【Authority】.

Gotta say, being Your child is pretty blessed, alright.