"Miss Mary."
Painter—School Sister Holly elegantly sipped her tea. "It has been eight years since we last heard from you. The last time was when you had just been promoted to a knight in the Second Brigade."
He smiled, and his tone was filled with a touch of sentimentality. What was more terrifying was that he sounded sincere. Nol glanced at Painter out of the corner of his eye, wondering how he managed to do it.
Knight Marion was slightly startled, her expression softening. "Yes, it has been eight years, Sister. In fact, I still miss the cookies you used to make."
"The secret was the cinnamon from Inato and a bit of orange peel. I remember you liked half the sugar." Painter smiled, eyes narrowing. "If I had known you liked them so much, I would have given you the recipe. But it's not too late now. It's perfect with winter tea."
"Haha, you remember so clearly." Knight Marion's cheeks flushed slightly. "Could it be because…"
"You and Odette sneaking into the kitchen for a midnight snack, arguing over whether to take savory croissants or sweet cookies." Painter smiled, changing his address naturally*. "I was the one who separated you, and at that time, you only took the cookies with half the sugar."
*Clarity: He started using the informal form of you (你). Note: Whenever you see something mentioned like this, just know that oftentimes they switch forms of address (formal and informal). In this case, switching to informal shows a more friendly closeness (as it's a more casual address). Since I don't want to keep making T/N of this whenever this happens, just keep this in mind going forward. You can tell, based on the context, which form is being switched to when it's mentioned.
The knight's dignified face drifted, and her ears started to redden.
Painter smiled more broadly. "It's all in the past."
Nol took a deep breath inwardly, respecting the masterful digger of embarrassing histories.
"How nostalgic," Painter continued. "You always didn't get along with Odette, and when you found out she stayed in the Fini Empire to become a priest, you cried for a long time… Do you still keep in touch?"
"We-we occasionally write letters."
"If convenient, please send her my regards." Painter took another sip of tea. "Children are amazing. That tomboy Odette became a gentle and dignified minister, and you cut off your beautiful long hair… I almost didn't recognize you when I first saw you."
Marion opened her mouth, looking helplessly at Eugene—she couldn't take the lead in the conversation in front of Painter. Mr. Eugene remained unmoved.
"Eleven years ago, you also led us on a tough mountain pilgrimage." Marion continued bravely, "Heather caught a severe cold, and we camped in the uninhabited snowy plains for two weeks. At that time, I thought it was a great hardship. Only after joining the Investigation Knights did I understand your intentions—the training in the snowy mountains, I got first place in the group."
Painter raised his eyes, showing a reminiscent expression. "If possible, I wouldn't want you to suffer like that… Haa, maybe it's because I'm getting older. I remember it was Heather's twin sister, Hil, who got sick."
"But one thing I won't forget is that you never used to eat snow carrots, but during our time camping in the snow, you quietly ate the snow carrots Odette found without a single complaint."
"Maybe I remembered wrong. I always mix up Heather and Hil." Marion smiled sheepishly. "Anyway, the leader told me the situation. Now I'm responsible for the investigation of sacrificial offerings for the Oracle Sacrifice. I'll do my best to help you!"
She looked at Eugene again, nodding imperceptibly. "I have another meeting at noon. I'll come back to talk with you in detail tonight."
"Go ahead, child," Painter said warmly. "Be safe."
"Yes, Sister Holly."
Nol couldn't help but whisper to Teest telepathically, [This isn't something that can be faked, right?]
Teest: [Details like these are the most prone to mistakes. If it were really a disguise, the old fox should avoid such topics.]
Nol felt conflicted. Painter had defected from the church twenty-one years ago. And eleven years ago, Painter was only in his thirties.
The identity of "Sister Holly", if it was Painter from the start… Did he quickly adopt a nun's identity after defecting? What for? A hobby?
His gaze towards Painter gradually became subtle.
"I'll step out for a moment too." Eugene nodded in acknowledgment. "I hope you can forgive my intrusion. I didn't mean to offend you."
"Given the Oracle Sacrifice, your caution is very necessary. If it makes you feel at ease, you can verify my identity," Painter said elegantly, sitting with his hands clasped on his lap. "Besides, I'm also pleased to see Mary again."
The two looked at each other calmly, one openly admitting to probing, the other accepting the probe.
This identity confirmation ultimately ended in Painter's victory. Nol breathed a sigh of relief. How to put it… Even in such matters, experience still counted.
"When did you start, Mr. Nun?"
Not long after Eugene left, Teest bared his fangs.
"Well… The second year after I defected, I just happened to get a suitable identity." Painter's face remained calm. "A Temple position is quite convenient. Besides educating novice nuns, a school nun can travel alone for pilgrimage. At that time, the Temple was chasing me across the continent, so this disguise was the best."
Indeed, the Temple would never guess that the young and promising Pope would return to the Temple in drag right after fleeing, brazenly roaming around.
Nol looked at Painter expressionlessly. It was a bit inappropriate to think that this guy had always been guiding young girls in the guise of a nun…
"To be clear, I've always maintained a sense of distance." Painter cleared his throat. "Even with those kids, I would live next door, just like now."
"Oh, is that so?" Teest raised his eyebrows. "Then you could've been a praying nun—also able to travel for pilgrimage, without having to babysit."
Painter's smile dimmed for a moment. "Our doctrine needs change." He lowered his gaze. "No one is born a zealot… Even if those kids are destined to become zealots, I hope they receive better guidance."
"School Nun Holly Artis and the Guidance Monk Tinder Green have been identities This Villain used for nearly twenty years. If you hear these names next time, please spare me."
"That famous commoner monk Tinder Green?" Teest clicked his tongue. "You're really busy."
Then, with malice, he hummed, "Interesting, I remember Tinder Green never taught Eugene Malloy. You left the most dangerous bomb unchecked, yet have time to educate irrelevant people?"
Painter put down his teacup, pretending not to hear this question. "It's time to discuss serious matters, gentlemen."
"Since Eugene sent Marion, we can enter the team through the Investigation Knight's connections. On Fischer's side, we can have him turn a blind eye…"
The three quietly discussed the plan.
Surrounded by soundproof magic, Knight Saint Bernard slept, snoring away—while Knight Marion and Sister Holly reminisced about the past, this thick-furred knight slept by the fireplace.
...
Knight Eugene returned to the inn. He was still dressed like a simple local, his golden-brown hair dyed the common dark brown of the area. Paired with his deliberately subdued posture, the dark color added a somewhat gloomy temperament to him.
Sister Holly's identity had been confirmed by Marion, and the details they talked about were indeed hard to fake. Yet, he felt an inexplicable unease every time he saw Sister Holly's pale green eyes, reminding him of someone else. It was absurd, but also strikingly similar. Not just the eyes.
When he knocked on the door again, Sister Holly was nowhere to be seen. Teesti and Noli were watching the snow on the balcony, while Knight Saint Bernard was curled up by the fireplace, snoring loudly.
"You're back." Sister Noli smiled—a serene and beautiful nun who always seemed a bit nervous when she spoke to him. But considering they were young and knew he was the captain of the Investigation Knights, it was normal for Eugene to think they felt nervous around him.
"Miss Holly is in the kitchen. She said she wanted to bake some cookies for Sister Mary. You can come look for her later." Teesti, as usual, clung to Noli's arm. Her golden hair wound around the other's sleeve, like some kind of climbing plant.
Noli's close friend, the fragile and timid Sister Teesti, a naive daughter of a wealthy merchant family, spoke with a soft accent typical of lower nobility. Yet, whenever he caught sight of those golden eyes, he sensed a subtle mockery hidden within. When he tried to look closer, she would shyly avert her gaze.
"I can wait here," Eugene said. "I'd like to try the warm cookies too."
Here it comes again. Eugene sharply noticed a hint of disdain in Sister Teesti's fleeting glance.
"There's stewed apple juice on the table." Noli patted the back of Teesti's hand and politely said, "You can have some to warm up."
Holding the steaming juice, Eugene walked towards the balcony.
It was getting late. Snowflakes like goose feathers fell from the pitch-black sky, quickly covering the streets with snow. The buildings of Ice Rock City, primarily in shades of gray and black, were now hidden in shadows, making the golden lights particularly striking.
It was as if the heavens and earth had reversed, with the snow drifting towards the stars.
Eugene sipped the juice, which was sweet and refreshing. There was certainly a good amount of honey added.
Two meters away.
'…Damn,' Nol thought.
With such a large presence as Eugene nearby, he and Teest couldn't freely chat. If they did talk, it would have to be about things young nuns would discuss. Even if they used telepathy, they would still appear silent on the surface. No matter how he thought about it, the atmosphere was awkward.
Teest clearly didn't want to talk to Eugene, so he had to find a topic to casually chat about.
"You're very polite to the beastmen." Nol glanced at the sleeping Knight Saint Bernard. "The knights I've met before are… Well, quite rigid." Theoretically, the Temple wasn't friendly towards non-human races, with some being designated as "monsters" by the Temple. Zealots, especially, would keep a distance from non-human races.
Eugene was quite different in this aspect. Curiosity was inevitable. Nol was very interested—was this a contradiction of "Anstis's Chosen One" or…
Eugene turned his head. "You really are like Marion. She was curious too."
"The Holy Scriptures mention that humans are the most vibrant race on this earth, favored by the Goddess of Life," Teest muttered aptly.
Eugene pursed his lips.
"…Don't take the Holy Scriptures at face value." A voice floated from distant memories.
It was also a day with heavy snow. How old was he then—three? Four?
Eugene Malloy received a very special oracle shortly after birth, which the Malloy family treasured. Servants had to observe for over a year before being assigned to care for Eugene.
Eugene had a perfect childhood. Education about faith was gradual, waiting until he grew a bit older before sending him to the best theological school in Bissus, the Holy Land.
But under this protection, in the garden at the end of winter, Eugene met a stranger.
A tall, thin, redhead young man wearing a wooden mask carved with the emblem of the Goddess of Life. Through the holes in the mask, a pair of pale green eyes shone like new sprouts in spring.
"Good morning, child." The stranger greeted with a smile. "I am an envoy of Lady Tilia, here to guide you."
Eugene didn't believe him. He immediately told his parents, and the Malloy household searched for a long time without finding any trace. Thus, Eugene's parents concluded—either their child had an imaginary friend, or he really saw an envoy. Either way, Eugene was safe.
So, only when Eugene was alone in the garden would the strange envoy appear. After countless unsuccessful calls for his parents, Eugene had to endure this peculiar fellow.
The man always wore the emblem mask, sitting on the branches of a short tree, telling him all sorts of interesting anecdotes. Those stories were fascinating, and over time, young Eugene couldn't hate this "envoy" anymore.
Only one problem remained—the many principles the man spoke of differed from what his parents taught him.
"Humans are the most vibrant race on this earth, favored by the Goddess of Life," young Eugene stated seriously. "Non-human races have mixed beliefs and cannot be trusted…"
"The Holy Scriptures are written by humans. Don't take it at face value," the man said with a smile. "The lives of all races are worthy of praise."
Eugene: "..."
Eugene: "But you're also human. Why should I believe you?"
"Because I'm an envoy," the man said mysteriously. "I know your oracle. You're special, so the Goddess specially sent me to guide you."
"The Goddess is kind and friendly. But humans, for their own sake, often do things that aren't so glorious… like consolidating faith with arrogance and harm, exchanging the glory of the Goddess for wealth. Child, you need to learn to distinguish."
'That's so hard,' Eugene thought. It was very different from what his family taught him.
Seeing Eugene's face wrinkle into a frown, the man laughed loudly.
"If a stranger walks past you with his nose in the air, ready to burst out and scold you non-stop, commanding you around if you do anything not to his liking, would you like him?"
"No…"
"Would you agree with what he believes in?"
"No!" Eugene stood tall.
"Then remember this point well," the envoy said, his deep wine-red hair slightly shaking beside the mask. "Believe me, many adults can't remember this."
Eugene: "You mean…"
"Don't be bound by rules and traditions. Think for yourself," the envoy whispered. "Understand the core doctrines. The Goddess of Life is kind. She is the source of all life. Her followers naturally should be kind to others."
"Child, trust your own judgment. Believe in your own God."
"I'll remember," young Eugene said. "Can you tell a story now?"
"Today, let's talk about the beastmen." The envoy's voice was full of laughter. "They are a group of fluffy good knights, living in the snow of harsh winters. Let me start with the compliments they would like…"
This "imaginary friend" accompanied him from when he could speak and walk, all the way until he was twelve—when he left for the Holy Land Bissus.
Their parting was unremarkable, without any forewarning. The envoy's disappearance was as sudden as his arrival. No matter how long Eugene stood in the garden by himself, he never appeared again.
…And when Eugene learned about Godfrey Painter in the theological school in Bissus, he realized why the "envoy" no longer appeared. At one glance, he recognized the hair color and eyes of the person in the painting.
Just a little bit more, Eugene thought. Just a little bit more, and he would've truly believed that man was an envoy. Even in Bissus's best school, the instructors weren't as wise and humorous, nor did they have such unique insights as that man.
Godfrey Painter. The defected Pope, the greatest disgrace in the history of the Temple of Life.
Just because of recognizing him as a godfather, the Malloy family couldn't raise their heads in public for over a decade.
Perhaps the man's abrupt visit was just for some godfather responsibility or a ridiculous compensation mentality. Eugene hated his mockery, but those words were etched in his soul. No matter how hard he tried to detest the man, he had to admit, Painter was right.
…So there was only one solution left.
Eugene pulled his thoughts back from the memories, stretching out a hand to catch the large snowflakes sticking together.
"God is merciful," he said. "Human words are insufficient to bear God's wisdom. The Holy Scripture is a tool for understanding God, not the truth. I will act according to my own understanding and love God with my own understanding."
"This is different from what I've heard about the Malloy family," Sister Noli said. "Your thoughts are very special."
"This isn't my own idea." Eugene closed his fingers, the snowflake melting in his glove. "Just someone's opinion."
Nol could probably guess who that "someone" was. Mr. Painter certainly wouldn't let Eugene, this ticking time bomb, go unchecked.
"Oh… sorry. It sounds like you love the god in your imagination," Sister Teesti murmured, leaning on Noli's shoulder. "The illusion 'someone' created for you."
"In the end, we all live in someone else's imagination. I think even God does, and Lady Tilia would understand all this." Eugene smiled again.
Nol's eyebrows twitched. Knight Eugene was always smiling, but this time, his smile seemed genuinely sincere.
"I will surpass his imagination," Eugene said, regardless of whether those two young nuns understood. "I will comprehend the true will of God. I will offer the purest love and devotion."
Alright, Mr. Painter's post-supervision was necessary. With Eugene's obsession, if he really became Anstis Chosen One, Fischer might not get the chance to be Pope.
"Thank you for your teachings." Nol tried to end the topic.
"What if the direction you want to surpass goes against your nature?" Teest suddenly said. "If you find you can't give the so-called pure love…"
Huh?
Nol looked at Teest somewhat surprised. The Mad Monk always sneered at religious topics. What's going on today?
…Wait, he understood. Teest must be testing this once Eternal Son's Chosen One, to see if Eugene had noticed anything unusual on the path of faith.
When it came to matters related to faith, indeed, Teest was more attentive. Mr. Xu, a young man true to his roots, sighed internally. He really couldn't understand the mindset of a zealot.
Eugene's smile deepened, his gaze resting on them, his dark green eyes shining with a peculiar light.
"If I believe it's love, then it is love. If I believe it's God's, then it is God's." He gently uttered the unusual words. "It definitely won't contradict my nature."
Nol: "….."
Sister Teesti smiled sweetly for the first time, letting go of Noli's arm. She lifted her skirt and curtsied. "Worthy of being the captain of the Fifth Brigade. Thank you for your teachings."
"Oh, what did you learn?" Eugene asked curiously.
Teest stared at the oblivious knight, smiling even brighter. "I've recently discovered that some things I thought were pure trash can actually be recycled and reused."
Eugene: "…?"
Nol: "..."
Such a strange conversation. For a moment, he even had the absurd thought, 'The Mad Monk is going to be led astray.'
...
That night.
After a brief discussion on the plan related to the sacrificial offerings, everyone returned to their rooms. Their overt objective was to "rescue Fischer", and Eugene didn't resist too much—had Mr. Eugene known that these three audacious beings planned to assassinate the old Pope, he wouldn't have been so lenient.
Nol, as usual, hugged Teest. Today's Teest was exceptionally well-behaved, so much so that Nol couldn't help but touch his forehead, fearing he might have caught a cold in the chill.
Although he knew that a False God wouldn't really catch a cold. But now, Teest seemed too fragile, and it worried him.
This was the mark left on Teest by the Eternal Church.
Had Painter not intervened, Eugene would have been seized by the Church first and transformed into a Supplement Demon. Having received an oracle shortly after his birth, Eugene might not even have memories of his family. What would happen to his family? Nol wasn't sure. Only that it wouldn't be anything good.
Yet, Eugene's fate changed, and he narrowly escaped hell. All the misfortune that hadn't happened yet, wouldn't happen.
Yet, Nol couldn't change the past that Teest was destined to have.
Had Teest been taken away by the Temple of Life, he surely would have had a better life. It was hard to say about loyalty, but Teest would undoubtedly become a powerful Investigation Knight, hunting Eternalists more openly and righteously.
Even if there were emotional deficiencies, he would have a warm family instead of a cold gold wheel.
Nol suddenly felt sad.
Those oracles that represented fate—did they merely record fate, or did they weave it? This time, he had to find out for sure.
With a sigh, Nol kissed the top of Teest's head.
"…What do you think about Eugene's ideas?" Suddenly, Teest spoke up in the darkness.
His face was buried in Nol's chest, and his breath was warm and moist.
"It's hard to say which is crazier compared to Painter," Nol replied with lingering fear, still stroking Teest's long hair.
Teest let out a long breath. "Hmm, at least he has the merit of half a bean."
'But Eugene's "love" was too fanatical,' Teest thought. He didn't agree, and obviously, Nol wouldn't like it either. However, the idea of "surpassing imagination" was indeed good. He could think along those lines.
He gently kissed Nol's collarbone.
Strangely, he didn't feel the usual mood of hunting a target or the tremble of a pilgrimage.
'It's warm,' he thought.
Teest quietly tightened his embrace.
Outside the window, the wind and snow howled. By the fireplace in Painter's room, Knight Saint Bernard slept soundly, his ears twitching now and then.
Painter himself, holding a cup of stewed apple juice, stood on the deserted balcony. In the boundless night, snowflakes flew above the cup, swallowed by the steaming heat.
"'He is destined to lead a long night. He is bound to die between canine teeth.'"
Painter looked towards the direction of the Eternal Church, raising his cup. "Old geezer, I have a good feeling… your prophecy has come to an end."