Chapter 95: Praise for Confessing Your Conscience
Chapter 95: Praise for Confessing Your Conscience
There are exactly two markets in Zone Six.
One is on the street with the tavern where the entrance to Hideout of the Stealthy Ghoul Pack appears.
The other lies inside Cultist Town, an infamous facility widely regarded as the most repulsive place in Pletika.
It was the Harmony Church’s warm consideration for cultists who were required to remain within residential districts. However, when the market separation plan was announced, other residents welcomed it instead—saying it gave those gloomy types one fewer excuse to wander outside.
“It’s quiet again today.”
The market of Cultist Town was deserted even in broad daylight.
The only visitors were the occasional cultist or a paladin belonging to Spear of Order.
Kori, the food vendor, sat idly scratching his back.
“Ah, I wish I could open a stall in the markets of Zone Three or Zone Five.”
“If you want to go, then just go.”
The vegetable vendor across from him spoke bluntly.
“But Zone Five would never accept you. You’re human. And Zone Three only permits merchants with a certain amount of experience, so you wouldn’t qualify there either.”
“Just wait a little. The owner of Zone Three might change soon.”
“Well… there are rumors that the Gray Wolf Guild is in real danger this time. Something about all their internal information leaking?”
The Gray Wolf Guild had held the position of zone administrator for sixteen years thanks to the overwhelming combat strength and leadership of Guild Master Targon, one of the Twelve Heroes.
But this time the Mysteries of their main guild members had all been exposed.
The prevailing opinion was that if other guilds prepared proper countermeasures, even Targon would struggle.
“Still, you never know. I heard Targon has contacted ‘that guy.’”
“That guy who?”
“…Who else.”
The vegetable vendor cut off the yellowing tip of a green onion and wrinkled his nose.
“Kar the Golden Crow.”
“….”
Kori knew that name far too well.
A rising explorer who had unearthed Hidden Pieces from multiple labyrinths at an astonishing pace and even discovered the concealed clear condition of Sanctuary of Restful Purification.
Since Valentin, the vice commander of Spear of Order, talked about him daily, there was almost no one in Zone Six who didn’t know his achievements.
“He’s truly impressive…”
“He’s definitely an explorer who’ll make a big name for himself…”
The two merchants burst into awkward laughter almost simultaneously.
“He’s terrifying, isn’t he?”
“…Don’t even mention it. Every time he walks by, my heart nearly stops.”
His appearance had absolutely no flaws.
Naturally so—he was a half-elf.
But his emotionless expression, combined with the bizarre behavior he occasionally displayed with that beautiful face, sent chills down their spines every time they saw him.
It felt similar to the instinctive rejection one felt when seeing an undead that had just risen.
“Come to think of it, it should be about time he shows up again…”
Kori turned his gaze toward the street as he spoke—and suddenly stiffened.
At the far end of the market street.
Two explorers radiating a frightening aura were walking side by side.
Kar the Golden Crow, the most promising rising explorer in Zone Six.
And beside him, a demon whose entire upper body—including the face—was wrapped in bandages.
“Merchant Kori.”
Kar approached with steady footsteps and spoke.
“…Ah—yes, yes!”
Startled out of his wits, Kori didn’t even question how the stranger knew his name despite them never introducing themselves.
“How may I help you, sir!”
“I have one question. It’s important.”
What sort of question required such a terrifying atmosphere?
What if he asks what I think of the evil god he worships?!
Kori felt his vision spinning already when Kar asked in a cold, expressionless voice:
“Do you happen to know where cotton candy is sold?”
Bartimir and I walked through the market eating cotton candy.
“Delicious.”
Bartimir, who had followed me simply because he had nothing else to do, spoke with his mouth stuffed full.
“But this place is boring. I thought it would be a dangerously thrilling place where you could become a living sacrifice at any moment.”
“That’s an outrageous misunderstanding. That only happens occasionally.”
As we walked side by side, the few people around gradually retreated toward the sides of the road.
“Why does everyone panic and run away whenever they see us?”
“I’m not sure either. It’s always been like this. Even though I’ve lived here quite a while, not once have passing cultists greeted me warmly.”
I even waved cheerfully every time.
Yet everyone ignored me.
Feeling a bit disappointed, we moved deeper inside.
The farther we walked, the more visitors appeared.
“Outlaw fingers for sale!”
“Oh. Perfect.”
“Perfect…?”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re not collecting fingers, are you?”
“Of course not. They’re ingredients for offerings to the evil gods.”
Even if I was a cultist, I didn’t indulge in human body parts.
I had collected the heads of outlaws who attacked during exploration before, but that was merely a lighthearted hobby—like collecting bottle caps.
“Thank you for your purchase!”
After buying two bags of fingers, we continued forward and soon reached the first destination.
A shop run by a vampire dressed entirely in black.
Beside the counter stood a sign with the shop’s name scribbled on it.
[Fresh Vampire Body Shop (Legal!)]
“Welcome…”
The vampire shop owner whispered in a chilly voice.
It was hard to hear, but I chose to understand.
After all, it would be tyrannical to demand a louder voice from a pitiful weak race like vampires—just as it would be for half-elves or demons.
“You’ve come at just the right time…”
The owner slightly opened a coffin placed behind the counter.
Inside lay a pale vampire with both hands folded over the chest.
“This one’s mind faded just yesterday. Worth eight hundred gold. Twenty percent of the proceeds will go to the family. Hehehe…”
Vampires are an immortal race boasting overwhelming survivability.
They only truly die when struck by one of their few weaknesses: failure to satisfy bloodlust, sunlight, silver, fire, garlic, holy water, sacred Mysteries, symbols of good-aligned religions, stakes, running water, entering a home without permission, and so on.
However, if they live too long, eventually their minds collapse, leaving the body alive while the consciousness fades away.
In such cases, they donate their bodies to cultists like this, helping support their families.
“I envy vampires. Even in death they make money.”
“I don’t. Half-elves can become preserved specimens for admiring beauty, so in terms of corpse utility we’re about equal.”
“Wow!”
“…Ugh. What strange customers.”
The shop owner waved his hand dismissively.
I paid the eight hundred gold.
Almost the entire thousand gold given by the Harmony Church disappeared—but it was worth it.
“Perform the ritual inside. The tent itself is covered with sacred Mysteries suppressing evil god energy, so finish quickly…”
“Thank you.”
Inside the narrow black tent, I created a temporary altar using Full-Moon Slayer and swiftly prepared the ritual.
“Thank you for your noble donation, elder.”
I placed the body of the mindless vampire on the altar.
This time, I made no preparations.
No recipe name.
It would be disrespectful to someone who lived diligently and passed away peacefully.
“I present this offering to the One who gazes upon twisted truths and devours all knowledge of the world.”
Offering it as it was would suffice.
The Wise One particularly enjoyed ancient vampires who had lived for thousands of years.
So much so that although he normally demanded heads be removed like shrimp—claiming crude knowledge might seep in—he allowed old vampires to be offered intact.
“…Ah, please wait a moment.”
On second thought, this felt too plain.
If it remained this simple, he would surely complain.
“Bartimir?”
“What?”
I asked Bartimir for a little blood and collected it in an empty bottle.
Then I retrieved the vial containing my own blood and divided the fingers I bought earlier in half.
Drip, drip.
Half-elf blood on one side.
Demon blood on the other.
After carefully staining all the fingers red, I placed them into a bowl woven from spiderweb.
Two flavors to enjoy.
Finger tteokbokki.
“Lidni.”
I placed the finger tteokbokki beside the vampire elder and clasped my hands.
“Your meal is ready.”
—Caw!
The Blind Crow burst from my eye socket and immediately began devouring the vampire elder and the fingers.
Naturally, neither respect for the deceased nor table manners existed—blood and flesh splattered everywhere.
【Kar, my child!】
As I wiped the filthy floor, the voice of the great divine being echoed in my mind.
I quickly knelt on one knee.
“You called?”
【I cannot remember the last time I tasted such an old vampire! The knowledge, emotions, and memories contained within him are all delicacies!】
Lidni, who was always full of anger, delivered an oracle filled with happiness.
He seemed genuinely satisfied.
Whenever an evil god rejoiced after receiving an offering, a cultist inevitably felt as though they possessed the entire world.
Not because of deep faith.
For another reason entirely.
“It truly was an extraordinary ‘special meal,’ wasn’t it?”
【Indeed! Though the finger offering you prepared personally was slightly more delicious!】
Turning that into praise for me…!
As expected of the Wise One.
Admittedly, compared to his prime, the title “somewhat knowledgeable one” might now be more accurate—but his intellectual abilities still far surpassed any mortal intelligence.
【We cannot continue speaking long in your current location. Tell me quickly what you desire.】
Without hesitation, I spoke the name of a Mystery.
“I request Eye that Whispers Falsehood.”
The other half of Eye that Discerns Truth.
Together they formed an exquisite synergy.
Its tier always matched that of Eye that Discerns Truth.
《XD》
【Very well. Since you have presented a special meal, I cannot refuse. Take it!】
Crunch!
Suddenly my left eye twisted and collapsed.
Destruction and reconstruction.
Pain far beyond that of receiving ordinary Mysteries surged before my vision returned—and immediately a message appeared.
《Grand Welcome! : Eye that Whispers Falsehood has replaced your left eye. My partner has finally arrived! Praise the grace of the Wise One!》
Now both of my eyes were Mysteries.
As I rubbed my still-tingling left eye, Bartimir leaned close to my face.
“…I heard some cracking sounds. Are you okay?”
“As you can see, I’m fine. Let’s move on.”
The next shop we visited was one of the larger stalls in Cultist Town’s market.
[Statues Always Grim]
Crackle!
Sue’je burst into laughter at the ridiculous shop name.
A dragonblood merchant hurried forward.
“Welcome! Tell me what kind of statue you’re looking for and I’ll fetch it immediately.”
“May I look around first?”
“Of course! Please come in!”
I slowly examined the statues displayed throughout the tent.
It didn’t take long to find what I wanted.
A statue with a wolf’s head, horse legs, a serpent tail, and the torso of an undead.
All of those elements twisted together into an oddly neat form.
“…Are you sure you want that one?”
The dragonblood shopkeeper scratched the scales on his arm.
“I mean, I don’t mind since I still get paid. But honestly, that one is placed there to rip people off. You seem like a rather noble customer, so I’m telling you. Heh…”
“Thank you for your honest confession.”
“But I’m not lowering the price.”
“That’s fine.”
Without hesitation, I handed over one gold and fifty silver.
This was an item difficult to obtain unless you visited this shop precisely at this time.
Holding the statue I purchased for roughly triple its original price, I examined it closely.
Truth wriggled slightly in protest before displaying text.
《A worthless idol created to worship Okail, the Herald of Cataclysmic Genesis….》
The time had come for me to become a quadruple cultist.