Chapter 737: Opinion |
After having the messenger dispatched to deliver the letter, Lumian sat at his desk, gazing at the dark curtains that seeped in the crimson moonlight, patiently awaiting Madam Magician's arrival.
After an indeterminate period of time, a resplendent starlight emerged from the dark room, coalescing into the figure of Magician.
She had changed into a brownish-yellow cotton dress with white trimmings.
"Good evening, Madam Magician," Lumian said with a glance around. "I have something important to discuss."
Magician grasped his meaning and immediately condensed the surrounding darkness into an illusory glass barrier, curling up to block out the infiltration of the crimson moonlight and the sounds from outside.
"What's so important?" Madam Magician inquired once secrecy was ensured.
Lumian conjured a blazing white flame to use as a chandelier. After a few moments of silence, he said, "I've confirmed the origins of the lizard-like elf."
"It's not an evil god from outside the barrier?" Madam Magician wore a thoughtful expression.
Lumian's lips curled into a slight smile. "An evil god in a way, but one not from outside the barrier."
Lumian recounted in his deep voice his pact with Penitent Baynfel and the corresponding negative effects. He described seeing the True Creator idol and a lizard-like elf in the secret cathedral of the Aurora Order, as well as the illusory scene suspected to be a divine kingdom.
Madam Magician didn't interrupt him, listening attentively. Then, she let out a long sigh and said, "In fact, I had suspected that the lizard-like elf was related to Him, but whether it was the Spectator pathway's Mythical Creature form or the Hanged Man pathway's Mythical Creature form, they were clearly different from that elf. Nothing similar had manifested in the past five to six years. Additionally, the two experts at decrypting and deciphering dreams were more inclined to believe that the elf came from an evil god outside the barrier. This led me to abandon that guess.
"From the looks of it, that entity had been involved in Cordu's catastrophe for a long time.
"That's the only explanation that's complete. How could He, who's been listening and watching, not notice such a major incident that has been unfolding for so long and involves members of the Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society? How could He not take advantage of the situation?"
"What does He want?" Lumian's expression subtly contorted.
Magician stared at Lumian for a few seconds before sighing again.
"I can only confirm one goal. That is to create a Beyonder capable of rapid digestion and rapid advancement along the Hunter pathway.
"Think about it. It's been just over half a year since you became a Hunter. You're already a Sequence 5 Beyonder, and your Reaper potion has been greatly digested. Perhaps in two to three months, you can consider breaking through to godhood and advancing to Sequence 4, becoming a demigod.
"On this 'journey,' whether it was the fake Angel status brought about by sealing Termiboros, the obtained boons of the Inevitability pathway, or some tempering and digestion opportunities filled with calculated arrangements, they all contributed significantly to your growth.
"He wants a Red Priest and is pushing for a decisive battle between the Red Priest and the Primordial Demoness.
"I was worried that your advancement might be going too smoothly, but now it seems that a price has already been exacted for what fate bestowed, and a deposit has been paid."
Under the blazing white flames, Lumian spoke in a deep, raspy voice, "I'd rather remain an ordinary person."
Madam Magician shook her head with a complex smile.
"As the apocalypse approaches, with Aurore's background and condition, even if no catastrophe had occurred in Cordu, it's inevitable that you'll encounter one eventually. Have you forgotten the helplessness and pain of being an ordinary person in that catastrophe?"
Lumian clenched his fists involuntarily and lowered his head. "I-I just don't want to obtain power this way."
Madam Magician didn't dwell on the topic and said, "He definitely has ulterior motives. For example, a humanoid Sealed Artifact like you can effectively gather evil god influences around you wherever you go, exposing their schemes in advance and giving us more time to deal with them."
Lumian remained silent and didn't respond.
Madam Magician glanced at him and asked with an obvious sigh, "What's your next move?"
Lumian's body trembled slightly, as if he couldn't suppress his emotions.
Gritting his teeth, he said, "I want to punch Him!"
Upon saying this, Lumian's eyes turned bloodshot.
To be honest, he had never harbored a firm desire to seek revenge on a deity. His original plan was to eliminate the key members of April Fool's and the Sanson family of the Sinners organization. Then, he would work hard to become an Angel and extract most of Termiboros's strength. Then, he would release the weak Angel of Inevitability and kill Him.
He knew that the source of Cordu's catastrophe was actually the entity known as Inevitability. However, due to the vast disparity between them and his natural fear of deities, he had only occasionally cursed and spoken harsh words. He hadn't truly put the other party on his revenge list.
And now, he wanted those damned deities to fall from heaven, like meteors streaking through the night sky!
Madam Magician looked at Lumian with a serious expression and asked, "Do you know what you mean by that?"
"I know," Lumian nodded slowly. "I've been waiting all day before requesting to meet you because I've been questioning myself seriously."
He had questioned himself again and again, sometimes in anger, sometimes in sorrow. When he calmed down a little, he questioned himself again.
Madam Magician regarded him with a familiar pity in her eyes.
This time, Lumian knew clearly what she was pitying.
A human yearning to punch a deity.
Lumian gazed back at the Major Arcana card holder, his gaze unwavering.
After a while, Magician nodded slightly and said, "You're telling me the target because you want me to provide effective advice on your idea and make it a little more feasible?
"Yes, my suggestion is that before Mr. Fool awakens to some extent, endure your impulses and work hard to improve yourself. Only by becoming a demigod can you have a chance to sit at that table of cards—of course, that depends on whether you appear there in the form of cards or chips. Don't be disheartened. It's the same for you, me, and the other demigods. Our will and choices can also play an important role at critical moments. We can also exploit the card players."
Lumian asked in a deep voice, "Will Mr. Fool—will he help me?"
Madam Magician nodded solemnly. "Yes."
Unknowingly, her eyes grew brighter. "Mr. Fool will protect us. All of us are willing to make sacrifices for this world, but we can't be sacrificed."
Lumian suddenly let out a sigh of relief, as if he had lost all strength. He couldn't stand steadily, and his body swayed slightly.
He had been suppressing his emotions with all his might until now.
Madam Magician looked at him and pondered for a moment before saying, "I must remind you that that entity should already be aware of your thoughts. This is because you displayed an abnormality in front of His idol.
"I'm not criticizing you; I'm just stating a fact. In that situation, even Clowns and Spectators would find it difficult to control their emotions and expressions, let alone an Ascetic like you."
"I know…" Lumian replied with difficulty.
Before Madam Magician exposed him, he had harbored a glimmer of hope.
Magician chuckled and said, "That's also a positive thing. The fact that you're still alive suggests that you're still useful to Him and can be used. You haven't repaid the full price that fate has exacted of you. As long as you don't give up on yourself or participate in actions that can disrupt His important plans, He will ignore your hatred. He might even continue to allow you to encounter opportunities and obtain things until you step onto the stage He has decided for you.
"It's frustrating, but that's the reality. In the eyes of an existence like Him, you are currently just a speck of dust. He can reduce you to dust at any time without worrying about your thoughts."
After a long silence, Lumian asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "You mean, before Mr. Fool awakens, I'm to make full use of that entity's arrangements?"
Magician nodded slightly and said, "Using an enemy's resources to strengthen yourself is also a way of seeking revenge. Of course, this requires greater caution and restraint. As I mentioned earlier, a price is always exacted for what fate has bestowed. You have to weigh whether you're willing to pay the corresponding price in the future."
Lumian looked down at the floor illuminated by the incandescent white light and said, "Okay."
He then asked, "When will Mr. Fool begin awakening?"
"No one knows," Madam Magician replied with a smile. "But there's no need to be disheartened by this answer. I foresee that we tarot card holders will play an important role in this matter. Let's work hard together."
"How do we?" Lumian pressed.
Madam Magician pondered for a moment and said, "First, focus on yourself. Then, wait patiently for the right opportunity."
The right opportunity? Lumian couldn't fathom how they, the Minor Arcana card holders, were involved in awakening Mr. Fool. All he could do was cautiously ask, "Madam, did you deliberately place Penitent on the messenger list?"
Without Baynfel's negative influence, he wouldn't have had a chance to see the lizard-like elf in the True Creator's hidden cathedral.
"Yes and no," Madam Magician replied. "I know he has a certain connection to that entity. I believe our collaboration with the Aurora Order is fragile. You were sent as an undercover agent, not a true member. You might encounter certain problems in the future, and there's a chance that he will bring about new possibilities. That's why I placed him on the messenger list to see if fate will allow you to choose him. I never expected this to unveil a very important mystery."
Lumian had long grown accustomed to Madam Magician's cryptic responses. He swiftly filtered through her thoughts.
He spoke in a deep voice, "Madam, I wish to explore Mr. Hanged Man's Blue Avenger soon."
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