Chapter 574
“Moriarty Style”
When promoted to Cardinal, there’s no need to wear clothes of prescribed colors and styles like ordinary Bishops and Archbishops.
Although Eivass hasn’t fully mastered High-Tier Divine Arts, the two most difficult steps have been completed: his body is ready, and the Lord of Scales and Feathers has made the initial arrangements. The crack on Eivass’s chest is a testament to this power.
To draw an analogy, the first step is like laying network cables in an apartment complex and pre-wiring the house. The second step is like bringing over the optical modem and other equipment and getting it all set up. Now, all that’s needed is to pay the bill and wait for the central server of the Lord of Scales and Feathers to confirm the permissions, and the connection will be established.
Since it’s reached this stage, it’s about time to prepare the clothes in advance. After all, custom orders take time.
The location, shape, and size of the sin marks – or rather, “holy marks” – on each Cardinal differ.
Furthermore, not all forms of sin marks have this strange crystallization… At least Cardinal Matilda doesn’t.
“What exactly is the significance of this crystallization?”
Before deciding on the color, Eivass confirmed with Cardinal Cyril, “I lack adaptability for the Path, yet the Lord of Scales and Feathers bestowed this jewel upon me…”
At the time, he’d mistaken it for an externally attached gemstone decoration, only to discover it had grown on his skin.
Is this some form of localized amberization?
“It’s precisely because you severely lack adaptability that you were equipped with a Path Crystallization,” Cardinal Cyril shook his head. “Power cannot appear out of thin air; it must have a vessel. Storing incompatible Path Power within oneself could disrupt one’s spirit and even lead to a loss of control and madness. The degraded versions of High-Tier Divine Arts often cause madness or loss of control after ‘invoking a god’ because they lack this configuration.
“When you normally use Divine Arts to petition Paths you don’t master, the power descends through rituals. Although High-Tier Divine Arts skip this step, a process is still necessary. Even if the will of the Lord of Scales and Feathers descends into your body, you still lack adaptability. Are you supposed to guide adaptability into yourself? That’s impossible.
“…I see.”
Eivass began to understand.
After all, in the original storyline, Master Janis went mad because of the abnormal Path Power within her that didn’t belong to her.
She even possessed the talent and adaptability for the Twilight Path, but lacking the corresponding level, she lost control when it was introduced. The “Path Crystallization” configured in High-Tier Divine Arts is meant to prevent such situations.
Eivass had a peculiar association—
In that case, wouldn’t he become a human staff for the Lord of Scales and Feathers?
Instead of channeling adaptability into Eivass’s body, the Lord of Scales and Feathers directly transferred it into this Path Crystallization. When the Lord of Scales and Feathers descends, they would activate their permissions to draw power from it and then transfer it back after use.
That Path Crystallization would solely serve as a vessel for carrying power, akin to the gemstone embedded in the tip of a staff.
“For myself, Cardinal Matilda, and others, we directly channel power through our own bodies because our High-Tier Divine Arts are compatible with the Paths we’ve mastered, and we don’t wield power beyond our limits,” Cardinal Cyril added.
As he spoke, he briefly opened his clasped hands, turning them to show Eivass. His sin mark imprints were on his palms. Since they weren’t covered by the Cardinal’s robes, his attire had no cutouts.
Upon hearing this, Eivass realized something. “For someone like me… aren’t there many?”
“Indeed, there are not many. So, would you like green? However, as far as I know, one Cardinal uses green… It’s best to avoid it to increase distinguishability.” Cardinal Cyril clasped his hands together again, returning to his previous composed demeanor.
“No, I’ll use black.” Eivass thought carefully, briefly recalling the appearance of the Lord of Scales and Feathers, and replied decisively.
The Lord of Scales and Feathers wore a black suit, and the River of [Survival] was also pitch black. Although he didn’t know why they chose emerald green as the symbolic gemstone for the Path Adaptation, Eivass believed black was closer to the essence of the Lord of Scales and Feathers.
If everyone wears black, it’ll be like a company uniform!
The old elf was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, pondering, “Primarily black? That’s quite unusual…”
Eivass felt a bit confused. “Unusual? I think black is very versatile.”
“Because the Sin Thorns are black. Black clothing makes it difficult to display the Sin Thorns.”
“…Then, based on black, let’s use golden patterns for decoration… or white gold. Just like my hair.” Eivass provided somewhat rough requirements like a client. “I remember, you have to expose the sin thorns on your body, right? But mine are on my chest. I want the exposed part not to be too large… and it’s best not to impede vigorous movements.”
Saying this, he plucked a few strands of his hair.
The wind automatically blew, lifting the hair Eivass held and carrying it into a corner. A delicate box in the corner of the room opened automatically. After Eivass’s hair fell inside, it closed again.
“How long will it take?”
“I’ll urge the tailor as quickly as possible. It should be ready in three to four days. At the latest, it will arrive before March 2nd… it won’t delay your inauguration as a Cardinal.” Cardinal Cyril gave a definite answer.
The old elf asked curiously, “What was your assessment?”
“An Ascension Ritual with increased difficulty class… Is that considered simple or difficult?”
“It’s already very good, in fact, exceptionally good. The requirements are clear and not too troublesome.” Cardinal Cyril said with a wry smile. “When I made my contract with the Father of Snakes, he demanded that I ‘transcend my old self seven times.’ To complete this mission, I traveled the world for seventy years before finally fulfilling the requirement. I didn’t even realize I had completed the mission until the Father of Snakes summoned me into a dream. I had no idea which seven instances were the transcendences; the task left me utterly bewildered.
“The Candlemaster’s requirements were clearer: he asked me to help others and receive their gratitude three thousand times. Initially, I meticulously counted each instance, calculating daily how many more I needed. I was incredibly anxious during that time.
“But later, I suddenly had an epiphany – there was no need to record anything; I just needed to live normally. I enjoyed helping others anyway. So, I simply discarded my notebook… Decades later, by which time I had forgotten the exact count, I suddenly received the Candlemaster’s approval.”
“…It all sounds so drawn out.”
“No, some were actually short… For instance, Cardinal Matilda, and also the former Cardinal Loki.
“When Cardinal Matilda made her contract with Amber, Amber’s condition was to ‘erect a monument and record the legacies of those who solidified amber.’ So, she researched the lives of those who solidified amber. By the time she finished the ninth one, Amber’s approval was granted.
“As for the former Cardinal Loki… hehe, this matter was supposed to be a secret, but now it can be revealed.” Cardinal Cyril said meaningfully. “The Giant Kingdom of Arctos had already been defeated, and the Silver Crown Dragon had not yet ascended to the position of Pillar God. Loki survived because he had contacted the Holy Kingdom long before the city fell, betraying Arctos.
“But in the early stages of the war, as the ‘Wildfire Giant,’ he was a core combatant for Arctos. He killed many humans and many elves… He even ate humans and elves. Although he had merit, his sins were greater. He possessed the power of the Path of Devotion, but also the power of the Path of Power.
“So, the Candlemaster gave him an opportunity: to stand upon an altar that could continuously heal him, transform his sins into Sin Thorns, and ignite them with his own ‘wildfire.’
“Every second, he had to endure the equivalent of being burned alive once. Moreover, each execution had to be re-enacted by his own will. If his devotional heart wavered even once, the altar would not heal him, and he would perish completely, his soul lost.
“Loki accepted the trial mission. At that time, I personally witnessed a large number of Sin Thorns growing on Loki. He stood in place, repeatedly scorching his Sin Thorns with his wild fire power. His body, from ten meters tall to a towering giant, melted and collapsed to less than three meters.
“In just three hours, he effectively died and was reborn ten thousand eight hundred times… and each of these ten thousand eight hundred burnings was personally ignited by him. Not once did he harbor resentment.
“Hence, I forgave him, and the Candlemaster also forgave him. I believe the other witnesses felt the same, and everyone deeply trusted Loki. He thoroughly shed his giant form and, with the Candlemaster’s healing, was reborn. The berserk rage born with his giant’s blood was sealed as a result.”
That was “death without complaint” in its truest sense.
Because of this, Cardinal Loki gained the Candlemaster’s trust and became a Cardinal of the Eleventh Ring.
Eivass’s heart was suddenly filled with doubt—
Was this truly some sort of role-playing? If it were just a performance, could it be so sincere?
Fire tempering the heart…
Even Eivass himself dared not undertake a trial of that magnitude. He truly didn’t dare gamble on himself remaining unfaltering. And under the Candlemaster’s gaze, there was clearly no room for cheating.
This elven blood came from the Candlemaster’s approval.
This was not just a rebirth from old death, but an honor.
…Would such a person abandon this glory for the power of a “Perfect Being”?
Or perhaps… his current death is also part of a “dedication and atonement”?
If considered from this perspective, what did his death bring about?
Eivass fell into deep thought.
The Pure White Saintess would no longer be targeted by Controlled Fire, Cardinal Loki himself obtained the power of a Perfect Being, the Holy Kingdom might avoid further division and civil war, Eivass gained the experience needed to master High-Tier Divine Arts, and the Cardinal position of the Eleventh Ring was vacant… He gradually widened his eyes.
“—Everything will conclude peacefully in the [Moriarty Style].”
In his memory, Freya’s voice faintly echoed in Eivass’s ear.
Eivass had previously wondered whether this [Moriarty Style] referred to the Professor or Eivass himself…
But now, he realized… they had common ground. Because for both his foster father and Eivass, their planning style tended towards “making everyone benefit,” encouraging people to genuinely strive for themselves. And then the residual influence of this matter would benefit Eivass or Professor Moriarty.
And now, the death of Cardinal Loki benefited everyone—
If Eivass becoming a Cardinal was Cardinal Loki’s plan, then his plan must have extended beyond this step.
He wanted to promote ascendants to Cardinal and then to Pope, thereby disrupting the close ties between the Eternal Holy Kingdom and the Church of the Nine Pillars Gods… This would inevitably face fierce resistance from the Saintess. Because the Saintess’s side would not allow any Cardinal to control the Holy Kingdom; they were too extreme and would cause the Holy Kingdom to lose its neutrality.
But what if… Eivass were to take that position?
The position of Eternal Pope!
(End of Chapter)
