Shadow of the Evil God

Gou Zi told him that the bad environment and the pervasive smell in the room were actually intentional, and were the interim results of the mages' research on human psychological fear.

Only then did Cesar realize that the chaos of the place was actually a form of expression. The young witch had put considerable effort into constructing this scene, depicting a superstitious fear. She used situational cues to influence the mood, and combined with Cesar's current appearance, she conveyed the idea that the entire room was filled with death and contagion.

The room they were hiding in had been searched numerous times during that time. Most of the time, upon seeing the horrific conditions within, the searchers would cover their noses and retreat, unwilling to stay even a moment longer. Occasionally, a more responsible searcher would take a few more steps inside, or else, after a cursory glance, they would flee in panic. From their expressions, it was clear they were worried Cesar might pass on his unknown illness to them.

Yes, Cesar looked and smelled like any miner with a serious illness, part of Lower Neuen's long-standing but uncared-for legacy, where miners of all kinds of illnesses piled up around here to die.

Perhaps because there really is a god of plague in this world, people have a fairly complete understanding of disease.

It's well known that Lower Noien has a densely populated district called Dogkeng, named for its sunken terrain resembling a prone dog. North of Dogkeng lies a tunnel, and deeper within it lies a massive underground coal and iron mine. Miners toil tirelessly every day, striving to generate more wealth and tax revenue for the lord of Noien.

The successive noble families of Noien were originally garrison families in a cold and harsh frontier. Since the discovery of coal and iron mines, they have prospered, accumulating immense wealth. The local castles, once barren, were gradually adorned with precious ancient paintings and tapestries, sculptures and ornaments by masters, and even inexplicably stained glass windows to let in light.

I believe that as long as their descendants are not too wasteful, their ancestral property can benefit the family for many generations.

However, if someone sets their sights on the so-called rituals of the True God, things take a different turn. Finances are the biggest dilemma facing the ambitious Earl of Thane. Such rituals aren't simply performed by sacrificing a few unfortunate souls; they require vast and expensive materials, which can only be purchased from greedy mages.

Just one or two rituals would have been fine, but this Count Thane was clearly addicted. His frequency was like the gambling games of Cesar's past life. Periodically, he would invest vast sums of money in exchange for one insanely bizarre object after another, along with catalysts for the path of the human race. These items filled the castle's basement, and the dog was one of them, as was the path within him.

As for Cesar, he was obviously a thief who stole the treasures that his master had piled up in the room but had not had time to use.

By the time he recovered, Cesar had already mastered the language of this world—at least the language of the Kingdom of Domini in the Confederation. He hadn't communicated with the young witch yet, but he had spoken to each of the sacrifices eaten by the dog, including nobles, traveling merchants, and local civilians.

He'd been awake so little these past few days, and the witch had left home so early, supposedly to find a way out of town, that her time had coincided with his waking hours. However, today she'd returned quite quickly. It was still daytime when she opened the door, and a few dim beams of light shone through the cracks in the door and window onto the dirty stone floor, reflecting the vast expanse of dust.

This place is always pitch dark.

With the few rays of sunlight, Cesar could barely see the witch's face. She was wearing a gray miner's uniform.

It seemed too wide and looked like fog in the dust.

This girl was younger than he thought, only about sixteen or seventeen. She was too thin, with a small jaw and pale skin.

She was pale, her expression gloomy, her hair tangled over her forehead, her thin, uncurved eyebrows barely visible. Her pale blue eyes were unusually dark, already tinged with the grayish stain of sleep deprivation. Her flaxen, bleached hair, dry and matted, was covered in soot, and combined with her equally pale lips, she looked half-dead.

The witch stared at him, her expression indescribable, as if a ghost were cursing a living being. "I heard you've learned our language... Is that true? In just these few days?"

"Perhaps," Cesar said, "but what else can I do in a few days besides learning your language?"

She seemed to want to bite her nails, but seeing her nails covered in soot, she held back. "That's very disturbing. Do you know why? You learn languages ​​so quickly. I always feel that your mind and spirit have changed."

"Even before I drifted here, I was already very good at learning different languages," Cesar explained. Of course, this was only partly true. Another part was that, even with the Faceless Ones as a perfect language reference, he felt he was learning new languages ​​at an abnormally fast rate. Perhaps this meant something had changed in his thinking and mental structure.

"I'll take it as an excuse," she muttered, "and..."

"I think we should ask each other questions," he said first. "It's about building trust between us, don't you think?"

The witch grunted, then said, "What do you want to ask?"

Cesar pointed at the Faceless One, whose face, like a flower, flared in the sunlight. Its behavior was truly incomprehensible. "Did you know she was the Faceless One in the castle gardens?" he asked.

"Of course I know."

"Then why did you come with us?"

"I've been wanting to get rid of Corini for a long time, but I've never had the opportunity or the right accomplice."

"Uh…suitable accomplices? Me and her?"

"What could be more suitable than an outlander with no origins or roots? And you even stole the Faceless One the Count had left for his own use. While you too are questionable, at least you're more reliable than those locals who worship who knows what."

Cesar observed the little witch's expression for a while and found that her eyes were full of nervousness and rejection of others.

Most of the intelligent creatures in this world have their own gods to believe in, but she believes that those who worship gods don't believe in them at all.

In the eyes of Corini, Ferriers and even Sean, or in their interpretation of the world, the alien god Anarik, who plays the role of ending all things, is the only true God. He is an uncreated god who has always existed and is the origin of everything in the world today.

This statement actually has a rather pointed tone, Cesar thought. According to the secular memories Gouzi had acquired, within the current religious system, merchants, nobles, and commoners alike all viewed Anarkli as a bizarre, alien god with no means of communication. More generally, they viewed Anarkli as a demon destined to bring an end to all things, much like the world-destroying black dragon Nidhogg in Norse mythology.

In contrast, in Corini's interpretation, the gods commonly worshipped today—those personal gods who share a common kinship like the gods of polytheism—are actually demons and ancient spirits. Their existence deceives the living, and their faith destroys the freedom of the human soul.

It seems that even in a world where God really exists, different groups' interpretations of the world are still full of contradictions.

Most people believe that the gods listen to their prayers. They are moved by acts of piety, and can exchange their devotion in this world for the eternal life of their souls in the afterlife. And not just humans, but all intelligent creatures use piety and devotion to uphold the authority of the gods.

As for the lineage of Korini, even now exiled to the wilderness, they still hold on to their own ideas. They believe that people are just bowing down like slaves, begging for gifts from ancient demons and ancient spirits.

Cesar didn't have any idea of ​​drawing any conclusions. He just felt that people interpreted the world in different ways, and he couldn't assume that someone's statement was more true and credible just because they were closer to him.

It wasn't necessarily true what the secular world said, nor was it necessarily true what the sorcerer said. But Cesar had already fallen into the trap of following Analik, and many things were no longer his decision. Whether it was a world-destroying black dragon symbolizing disaster and despair, or the origin of all things, it made no difference to a mere stranger like him.

Regardless of the interpretation, Analik will not listen to prayers. It will only be dragged into reality by some crazy believers, causing extremely terrifying disasters.

"From what you said, it seems that you don't trust me either." Cesar turned the topic to her.

"I don't trust anyone." The young witch stared at him. Although her words were sharp, her tone did not seem to be threatening him, but rather she was looking for reasons to trust him. "However, I

I understand the path you've taken so rashly. If you don't want to go completely insane one day, or die like a rag in the arms of your Faceless One from excessive blood loss, being eaten bit by bit by it, you have to listen to me, do you understand?"

She was right. Even though she was just a lame

But once this guy is gone, it would be extremely difficult for him to find another guy who knows Analik.

He should have gained her trust to a greater extent.

"You mean, she'll eat me in the end?" Cesar turned to the Faceless One calmly. He saw her pursed her cheeks and gave him an ambiguous smile.

"That's what the knowledge we've passed down says," the little witch tried to recall. "Analik doesn't need you, but it will. Your soul and body will eventually become part of it, and it will return to where it came from. As for what will happen after that, the text doesn't say, and I don't know. Perhaps it will eventually return to Analik, just like a drop of rain eventually falls back into the sea. I guess so."

Listening to wizards, nobles, commoners, and traveling merchants talk about their respective views on the world is quite similar to when Cesar visited various parts of the world in the past and listened to the townspeople tell their own creation myths.

Considering the existence of witchcraft, he chose to believe the parts that made sense. This world had no fewer creation myths than his own, and the paradoxical superstitions were just as numerous and exaggerated. Maintaining skepticism until proven beyond a reasonable doubt would always help him discover the truth.

......

Some time later, as the cold night gradually descended, the two men sat in silence, listening to the whistles of the miners leaving the mines outside the window. Soon, the miners streamed across the crowded cobblestone streets, returning in groups to their homes. The cold night wind gathered, lashing the walls like a whip, creating a whistling sound.

The room was already narrow, and now with three people crammed in, the space became even smaller. It felt more like a dirty doghouse than a bedroom.

The first floor of the inn housed an offal shop, specializing in cheap offal from hunters to make offal. The miners of Noyen had a strong taste for delicious food, and business was so good that the owner and his family bought someone else's house and rented it out. To accommodate more people, the owner forcibly partitioned off the otherwise well-designed layout with wooden planks, creating who knows how many cramped rooms that weren't meant for human habitation.

The cellar originally had two levels. The owner and his family used the second basement level for storing offal, but separated the first basement level to serve as guest rooms. From time to time, a foul smell would seep in from downstairs. Cesar's bed was placed against the inner wall, with another bed placed underneath it, very close to it. This was the bed the witch had recently slept in.

Originally, Cesar's awakening times were far apart from hers, and the other party had been somewhat accommodating due to his unconsciousness. Now that they were both awake, he could only sit or sleep with his legs curled up. If he stretched his legs out, it would either be his calves resting on the witch's, or the witch's calves resting on his. Mentally, they were still strangers, and physically, it would be uncomfortable.

Now, seeing this guy wrapped in a filthy blanket, leaning against the wall sickly, his face pale and gloomy, Cesar felt that her idea of ​​running away was more of an impulse, and she probably hadn't thought about what to do in the future. At that time, she thought that running away would give her freedom, but now she had to live on her own, she suddenly felt troubled, began to grope in the dark, and her heart was full of confusion.

So what was he, a criminal who had kidnapped someone else's child? Actually, she was only sixteen or seventeen, so it wasn't entirely wrong to say so.

Before discussing leaving the city, could he become a psychological counselor? Although he could indeed do that.

"Cesar." Cesar thought for a moment and broke the silence with a self-introduction.

"Fi...Firs," she muttered.

"I heard Gouzi said your name is Ferriers." He expressed surprise.

"Why do you call the Faceless One that name?"

"It's someone I remember," Cesar said. "Anyway, that's what the miners in the downtown area call each other, right? Gouzi, Baizi, Jiuzhi, Sanshu... What about you?"

"I didn't want the name Corinne gave me, so I made up my own."

Cesar shrugged, his reasoning sounding quite casual. "I just named myself a few days ago, but I haven't decided on a last name yet."

"But isn't Cesar the name of a dead man?"

"I figured the dead no longer needed the name the world had imposed on them, so I picked it up and used it for my own use. Pretty convenient, isn't it?"

"Is that so..." Firth stared at him blankly for a moment before saying, "Do you think names are just trash you throw away and pick up anywhere?"

"My family elders always gave too much meaning to names and surnames. I felt that these traditions and customs weighed too heavily on me and affected my life, so I threw them all away and went out to live my own life," said Cesar.

"That's what it sounds like..." Firth said. His answer was exactly what she wanted, even though he was indeed that kind of person. "So what do you want to do next?" she asked.

"I think after I escape the city, I should first go to the heart of the United Kingdom to find a way out," Cesar said, "at least away from the border areas."

Chapter 8: The Origin Society Mage

“You used to be in the civilized world

Have you ever lived?" The little witch's eyes sparkled.

Cesar nodded and said, "I've traveled around the world, lived in various cities, and interacted with all kinds of people, and I got along well with them all."

"I only have experience communicating with animals in the wilderness," said Firth.

When Cesar thought she liked small animals, she added, "Usually before slaughtering and bleeding. The blood from living animals is of better quality, so I have to calm them down and tell them not to struggle too much and affect my ceremony."

"You wizards..."

Hearing this, Phils opened her eyes wide and cast an annoyed look at him, as if insulted by him. Cesar was unable to understand for a moment.

"Is there anything wrong with calling her that?" Cesar asked, as he always called her that in his mind.

"I'm not some weirdo who has no school or theoretical system, and who only mysteriously prays for rain or brews poisonous soups."

"Okay, so what do you think you are?"

Firth took a deep breath. "I think," she said, more seriously than usual, "even though our line of wizards has fallen to this point, and even though Corini doesn't care about being called a witch, I still consider myself a wizard. I have my own school and theoretical system. Our old school of magic was called, uh... the Soholi School."

Cesar thought that the only members of the Soholi School were probably her and Corini. Even the name of the school had been buried in a pile of old papers, and it would take her some time to recall it. She still insisted on using this title, and it seemed that she was very eager to be recognized as a mage.

"In your opinion, what does the title of mage mean?"

"Let me put it this way. If you just want to be a country sorcerer, using a puppet to stab villains, and when you're broke, you might even accept a few chickens as payment to help one villager curse another, causing that villager to have a backache the next day and be unable to get out of bed to plow the fields, then you're harmless to everyone, and no one will care about you. However, if you truly want to master something, to study the nature of creation, then you're a mage, with, uh..."

"Extraordinary Mission?"

“A mission to study the nature of creation,” she added.

"Like, telling animals not to struggle too much when they're being slaughtered?" Cesar said, half-jokingly.

"No, this is the entry-level technique for the Compulsion Spell!" Firth pointed out immediately. "Do you understand the history and origins of the Compulsion Spell? Do you know how many different uses it has?"

Hearing this, Cesar frowned slightly, sat up, and looked at the bewildered Phils. She was indeed important, but her existence could cause many problems and troubles, and he couldn't predict the consequences of every problem.

He initially dismissed the soothing whispers, only realizing something was amiss when he heard the compulsion spell. Although she sounded like a little Kong Yiji and wanted to ask him how many ways there were to write the word "hui," the deceased noble's account indicated that this was a forbidden spell, its harmful effects immeasurable.

This spell's purpose is to force a living being to do something it's already incapable of doing. It begins by pacifying ignorant livestock, but later, the caster can compel humans to warp their minds and thoughts, like a river diverting its course, forcing the soul to change its course. It can sever love and courage, strip away kindness and dignity, turn a warrior into a coward, and even a saint into a depraved criminal, always believing these imposed thoughts are their own.

Cesar discovered that Phils did not understand how to conceal herself, at least not the necessity of concealing herself. This matter was actually very important, more important than the actual nature of the thing to be concealed.

She had very little experience of living in the civilized world. If they were going to travel together, he would urgently need to teach her how to disguise and conceal herself.

Cesar chose his words carefully. "Since you'll guide Analik for me, I should also help you gain a foothold in the civilized world. You don't want to wander aimlessly in the wilderness, do you? Steppe spies have infiltrated Upper Noyen. This borderland is very dangerous. Once we reach the heart of the Domini Kingdom, we'll at least have more buffer."

Firth nodded, as if convinced that the civilized world offered more opportunities than the wilderness. "If I could find a place to stay in Itris, I could get the materials that Corini refused to give me," she said.

The name confused Cesar deeply: "Which city is Itris? Is there anything special about it?"

"It's a very distant place," Firth said. "Back when the various kingdoms and federations were still a chaotic mess, several large schools of magic united and occupied the eastern coastal fortress of Itris. They built a nested ring of spires atop the city, floating 1.42 miles above it. Group 6#999:4:9361!999

That group calls themselves the Origin Society, and they're the de facto rulers of Itris. Many things flow out of Itris, and the materials the Count buys also come from the black market there."

Selling ritual materials capable of communicating with Analik to Noien truly raises questions about the morality of these mages. The Origin Society's self-proclaimed title also suggests superiority. Since they are superior, they no longer care about the moral precepts of inferiors.

"Does this 1.42 miles have any special significance?" he asked.

Phils blinked. Although she was just repeating the story told by Corini, she also said something more profound.

She was quite satisfied with what she did.

"The damage to the material world there exceeds its ability to heal itself." She said, "A lot of trauma accumulates near the spire, precision instruments will lose their accuracy, and secular human life will be disturbed, so the spire must be higher than people's

Living in higher places. However, the mages of the Origin Society will tell you that this is to make people look up to them, to ensure their authority as the de facto rulers of Itris... Did you know that they are the only ones in the entire Confederacy who still practice slavery? Those people rarely pay attention to the changing trends of the secular world.

Cesar pondered her words for a moment, then realized something more crucial. "Are you saying that your magic will harm the material world? That it will bring hatred and criticism from the secular world?" he asked.

"Remember what I said about the country sorcerers? No one cares about them, of course, but if you try to truly master something, to study the nature of creation, you're bound to cause harm to the material world. Those great schools of magic back then were the most notorious. If they hadn't been able to unite when the Confederation of Kingdoms was established, they might be..."

"Becoming like you guys."

"Well..." her voice became less confident, "maybe so."

"Your ancestors...were they also notorious, but simply failed to join the Alliance? Later, they were driven out of the secular world and suppressed by the Origin Society. Now, only you and Corini are left? Others call you wizards, believing you're always wandering around the world in exile, doing shady things?"

Phils was silent for a while. It seemed that she was not as open-minded as Corini and was unwilling to accept the name given to them by the world.

"Okay," he said, "I know what you mean. Let's not talk about this anymore. You said that the Origin Society doesn't care about the changes in the secular world's thoughts. Is that right?"

"Perhaps they believe they've made the most concessions, I guess. It's said that the city-state they rule remains the same as it was hundreds of years ago. But Itris always offers many things that can't be bought elsewhere, so it's still a trade center, gathering a lot of wealth and population."

This is because there are too many nobles like Sean who are obsessed with mysticism.

As for Fils, Cesar discovered that while she was a wizard, she was actually thinking about the civilized world and the changing trends of thought. She wondered if there had been a Renaissance there—at least a similar intellectual revolution. If there had been, it was likely that literary and artistic creations that followed this trend had spread to Upper Neuen. She didn't understand the specifics, but she felt a spiritual inspiration.

"Anyway, you just think it's better there than staying with Corini?" he asked.