Free Web NovelChapter 919: Chapter 456: Reluctantly Accepting
Become its container?
Herbert didn’t even realize what this sentence truly meant at first...
But soon, he felt his breathing begin to quicken.
Container.
Bear it.
Become one with it.
It!
It!!
It!!!
Gulp!
In the silence, Herbert heard himself slowly swallowing a gulp, not knowing whether out of excitement or nervousness?
Hmm!!?
This abnormal change suddenly snapped him back to clarity, and he shook his head vigorously.
He suddenly realized he seemed to have been in a special state just now, his mind apparently influenced and beguiled by some invisible force.
No.
He shouldn’t be this excited.
At least, he shouldn’t appear so vulnerable just by mentioning it.
Influenced?
...Yes, influenced.
Herbert quickly adjusted his mindset, furrowing his brows slightly as he looked toward the Archbishop, and saw the Archbishop’s approving gaze.
"Very well, you certainly didn’t disappoint me, you can resist its beguiling power."
The elder didn’t feel he had done anything wrong, nodding with satisfaction and saying, "You may not have noticed yourself, but you do have a talent."
"Hmm?"
"Although you didn’t feel anything special upon coming here, actually, to others, this Holy Image has been constantly emitting an invisible beguiling power that secretly alters them."
"Eh?"
Herbert blinked unexpectedly, as indeed he hadn’t noticed this point.
Huh? So there’s this matter?
So this Fallen Holy Statue has been persistently emitting a fallen aura into the outside world?
How come I haven’t noticed at all!
Odd... but not really.
My dear Miss Harmonious God wouldn’t harm me.
Affecting others but sparing me, isn’t that quite normal?
Moreover, after understanding this, many previously unclear aspects became explained.
Why does the personnel guarding the Underground Sanctuary need periodic rotation?
Is it really merely due to worrying they’d feel bored from staying too long?
No.
It’s because, even for the Legendary, this beguiling power invisibly exists, gradually subtly influencing their inner thoughts.
Thus, they must periodically replace a guard, letting them return above ground to gradually shed this invisible influence.
Once everything is settled, they return underground to start a new round of supervision.
Herbert is a rare anomaly able to completely ignore the influence.
"The Monastery has been searching for people like you all along, your soul seems naturally resistant to respecting deities, with an innate ability to resist their beguilement."
The Archbishop spoke leisurely while looking at Herbert with a smile, a meaningful smile.
"Oh, right, it’s best not to mention your constitution to others... In this age, faithless individuals are deemed anomalies."
What era is it now?
The era of faith!
In this era, almost everyone possesses personal faith.
Even many are mere verbal shallow believers, but they still count as having personal faith.
Herbert could only remain silent about this.
His lack of veneration towards deities, is it due to innate constitution?
No.
In his view, the gods of this world, apart from a few rare exceptions, most are hardly recognized as true deities.
Just wielders of great power, that’s all.
So, this isn’t reason.
He merely despises these beings who don’t deserve to be called "deities".
But since the Archbishop misunderstood him as having such constitution, he wouldn’t overly explain.
After a period of silence, Herbert decided not to explain, shook his head, and asked, "Your Grace, what does your statement mean? How can I become its container?"
In the silent Holy Hall, the elder who had guarded the sealed artifact for over a millennium casually remarked, "Quite simply, take it away from here, keep it by your side."
Herbert looked at the half-human-high Holy Image, unsure how to respond.
Me? Carry it on me?
But he did not ask such a foolish question.
Since the Archbishop proposed it, there must be a solution, just slightly altering its form would suffice.
He seriously pondered for a moment and then asked, "If I take it from here, wouldn’t that affect others?"
If he had no means of protection, Herbert would become a walking human catastrophe, spreading chaos and madness everywhere.
...This doesn’t seem like a Paladin’s duty!
"Haha, don’t worry about such matters."
"Your body will be the container to house it, your soul the Holy Hall to restrain it, all the beguiling power will be borne by you alone."
"Until you collapse or die, it will not affect others."
The Archbishop casually spoke, saying words that made Herbert feel complicated, or rather... a warning.
"Conversely, you will face Its remaining will directly, possibly be beguiled by Its residual madness, or maybe lose yourself in Its power."
"What you felt just now was merely a momentary influence, but once you embrace this mission, you’ll battle against it every single moment."
"Either It prevails, or you conquer It."
And after explaining all the risks, the elder’s tone lightened again, chuckling, "Although this might be a bit dangerous, it truly is the best option for you."
