Chapter 2255: Whisper - Prejudice

Chapter 2255: Chapter 2255: Whisper - Prejudice

Upon hearing the priest say this, Shard finally smiled and sighed in relief:

"It’s the [Prejudice] that influenced you, you mentioned the influence of such relics is inevitable. Don’t worry too much, haven’t you already identified the problem? I’ve been helping you gather those bones all along, partly to ensure you use that power correctly, and now it seems my task has been accomplished quite well."

The Old Cleric sighed once more:

"You don’t seem affected by [Prejudice]."

"Who says I’m not affected? If it truly had no impact on me, I might have used a gentler approach to stop all this when in town, rather than taking it outside to confront each other."

Though at the Seventh Ring level, Shard defeated the Four Rings old cleric without feeling proud, both parties treated each other with restraint, so there’s no need to dwell further:

"It’s good that you’re okay now, pay attention to this aspect in the future, and avoid such relics that subtly influence the mind; it’s probably what you fear the most now."

The priest nodded without saying more. Then Shard turned to look at the still unconscious Vincent Taylor, shaking his head with some regret:

"My friend Miss Beyas, who works at the church, is away on a business trip, and I can’t leave this person for her to handle. Now that everyone at the Jasmine Opera Troupe knows we took him away, it’s not easy to hand him over to the church in a reasonable manner."

"Leave it to me, I have a trusted Circle Sorcerer friend at Dawn Chapel who can pass Taylor to the church."

The priest bent down and took a potion resembling tree bark from his pocket and fed it to the other party:

"An amnesia potion, after drinking it, it’s akin to severe inebriation, he’ll forget certain things, so there’s no need to worry he’ll reveal our secrets... but the church might deal with him by execution."

"In this dangerous world... how the church handles things is not our concern, we just do what we can."

Shard bent down, lifted him, and hoisted him onto his shoulder:

"Let’s go, head back now, we still have time for lunch together. And we have a meeting at the doctor’s this afternoon, speaking of which, the doctor and I are planning something big tomorrow, so today’s afternoon meeting may not be long."

Priest Augustus nodded, not asking what the two planned to do, and they walked off the woodland clearing side by side, the priest suddenly said:

"Detective, perhaps more than me, more than that First Angel, you are most suited to guide people to Death."

"Priest, please spare me, am I not busy enough as it is?"

"Detective, do you genuinely have no prejudice against anyone in your heart?"

Evidently, he didn’t believe Shard’s earlier statement, truly thinking Shard wasn’t affected by [Prejudice].

Their silhouettes gradually faded, Shard laughed and answered the priest’s question:

"You know my background, since I awakened last summer, I’ve known this world for less than a year and even mastered such powerful abilities... You know what I’ve done. Let me put it this way, I certainly harbor prejudice in my heart, I equally hold prejudice against everyone in this world, and I equally ridicule everyone outside of myself."

The wind blew dried fallen leaves behind the two, thick steam mist was gathering. Though clock chimes and steam whistle sounded, Shard’s voice remained clear, and the priest understood Shard’s meaning.

"Priest, see if I inherently hold [Prejudice] towards everyone, then what effect could more [Prejudice] have on me?"

[Outlander, you’ve perceived the "Whisper," and you have a sense of "Prejudice."]

In the sparse sunlight of the woodland, a vast brass ring appeared, its rapidly spinning Ring of Fate infused with black iron spiritual light. This was Shard’s third perception of "Prejudice" related indications in Tobesk (note), everything naturally falls into place.

[Civilization’s growth is accompanied by Prejudice, the nature of wise beings cannot escape from it. If the prejudice in human hearts is a mountain, the world you see is the tallest peak. Ridicule, hate, loathe, complain, none of these matter, I whisper in your ear, witnessing together, this twilight dusk world.]

"This truly is a story about prejudice."

[Outlander, you’ve listened to your inner voice, you learned the "Whisper" of "Prejudice."]

On the Ring of Fate, black iron spiritual light ultimately converged as one, [Desire] guided Shard here precisely for this:

[Outlander, you engraved the Black Iron Whisper Spirit Rune - Prejudice, your Great Sin Chains have been enhanced.]

[Gluttony], [Greed], [Sloth], [Rage], [Coldly], [Pride], [Prejudice], the seven Spirit Runes subtly resonate on the Ring of Fate, and each enhances because of the existence of the others. "Prejudice" is Shard’s "Original Sin," so there’s no need for a ceremony to add new runes to the [Great Sin Chain].

Shard and Priest Augustus’s figures gradually receded, Miracle-Dragon, Enlightenment - Flesh, Whisper - Red Butterfly, Whisper - Prejudice, still lacking the Ascension Words Rune and the silver "Desecration" Spirit Rune for Shard to ascend to Eight Rings.

After returning to the city, the priest went to handle Vincent Taylor, while Shard first went home to bring Mia out. They met at the entrance of the Dawn Chapel at around eleven-thirty, then went to a nearby restaurant for lunch before heading to Dr. Schneider’s psychological clinic together.

With plenty of time, they walked through the city. Since the matters at Green Lake concluded, although Shard had chatted with the priest several times, they hadn’t had such detailed discussion. Along the way, they talked about their recent respective matters and discussed recent troubles encountered.

The priest mentioned the Year-End Festival, while Shard talked about his adventures in Moon Bay.

Timing it well, they arrived at the doctor’s place just in time. Luviya also arrived around the same time, and she also asked leave for Dorothy:

"Dorothy went to the countryside for inspiration, or you could understand it as she went to help Shard with things. She should be back tomorrow or the day after, it won’t affect the exam on Sunday."

"Remembering the exam is important."

Dr. Schneider nodded without saying much, knowing that Shard was engaged in very important matters.

This day’s group study meeting, indeed, wasn’t long, the most important news being the doctor’s announcement of the meeting’s suspension next Saturday and directly gathering at Shard’s place Sunday morning to prepare for the exam.

Before the brief study meeting concluded, Priest Augustus unexpectedly announced something:

"After the Year-End Festival and the exam at the end of the month, I intend to travel to another place."

"Hmm? Why? Is there something to handle abroad?"

The doctor asked puzzledly, Luviya and Shard were also unclear about what the priest meant.

Priest Augustus wiped his pipe, speaking slowly:

"In the morning, Shard and I encountered some matters. No, it’s already resolved, doesn’t require your assistance.

I just suddenly realized that I still have some mental issues. I want to go out alone, see the stories of other places. I won’t be gone for particularly long, no need for you to worry about me."

Shard then understood the priest’s thoughts, while the doctor asked again:

"I see... Where do you plan to go then?"

The priest glanced up at Shard:

"Moon Bay, where Shard is currently adventuring. I won’t meet with Shard, just want to see a city filled with wealth and sin, glimpse the lives of people I might have overlooked, and see stories that could reignite the warmth in my soul."

Dr. Schneider looked at Shard, Shard expressed indifference, Luviya didn’t seem inclined to comment on the matter, so the doctor had to cough gently:

"Alright then, though I don’t know what you encountered, my treatment seems indeed to have some problems... Priest, is taking leave from the church easy? Also, when do you plan to depart? We can see you off at the train station."

"No need to worry about the leave, an old cleric like me can take leave whenever I want. You also need not see me off, the day I depart, I’ll quietly leave with my luggage. When you see me again, I’ll have returned to normal."

Seeing the other three’s expressions were somewhat negative, he smiled and comforted:

"No need to be sentimental, I’m just going out for relaxation, will be back in at most a month, might even meet our detective in Moon Bay. And anyway, departure won’t be until after next Sunday, with Luisa not around, it’s not time for farewells yet. After the exam, it’s not too late for you to bid me departure with somber faces."

With Priest Augustus’s intention to take a break at Moon Bay City already spoken, no one could persuade otherwise. His decision was firm, and Shard and Dr. Schneider considered that allowing the priest to travel, get some distraction from the simultaneous pressures of the Year-End Festival and exam week could be beneficial.

The doctor’s concern was only about Priest Augustus choosing Moon Bay, although the priest’s arrival would already mean the demon matters were solved at Moon Bay, he knew Shard’s issues surely remained unsolved.

After this day’s study meeting finished, the priest and Luviya left first, while Shard stayed behind to discuss the priest’s situation with the doctor. Of course, the primary discussion was about their arrangement for tomorrow. Incidentally, the doctor had already obtained from Old John by noon the relic enabling him to perform Spatial Leap, but considering evening wasn’t suitable for action, they postponed the action to the next morning:

"See, this is it."