Chapter 103: Attempt
Dong dong dong, someone knocked on the door outside the Church.
Nyx frowned.
It was already late at night, and it was raining heavily. Would someone really come to the Church at this hour?
Dong dong dong, the person outside continued to knock calmly and steadily.
Nyx thought for a moment, then stood up and picked up the Divine Word Manuscript.
"The Lord says, the evil hiding in the shadows cannot harm My servants."
He bestowed a Blessing upon himself.
However, with his current level of Faith and piety, casting this Divine Word was somewhat taxing.
After taking a deep breath to adjust himself, he finally spoke.
"Who is it? Why are you coming to the Church so late?" he said as he approached the Main Gate.
"It’s me. I heard you were here, so I came to visit." A familiar voice, long unheard, came from outside the door.
Nyx was stunned, then a look of joy appeared on his face as he quickly ran over and opened the door.
It was a middle-aged man dressed in black. Though it was pouring outside, his hair and clothes were completely dry.
"Oscar Brian, you rascal, I didn’t expect you to show up here." Nyx laughed and opened his arms wide.
"Hahaha, someone from a family came to the Guild and wanted to invite a scholar for an Enlightenment Ritual." Oscar said while hugging Nyx.
"I figured you would be here, so I accepted the commission." He let go of Nyx.
"But when I arrived, I discovered that the family had already disappeared." As he said this, Nyx’s smile stiffened.
"Later, I asked some of the survivors in the village, and they all said the family was killed because they offended the Church."
Oscar looked at Nyx.
"And you, Senior Scholar Nyx, have now become a Priest of the Church." Though his tone sounded like a reproach, his face still wore a smile.
"Oh, come on in." Nyx shook his head.
After entering, Oscar glanced at the small cross placed on the Lord’s Throne.
"I’m not blaming you. Scholars are free to choose what they want to do."
"But I hope you understand what you’re doing."
"Mystery is dangerous. When I was just an apprentice, you especially warned me not to let my guard down against any Mystery."
"But now, you seem to be actively embracing Mystery."
Oscar looked at Nyx.
Nyx closed the door and sat on the pew in the Small Church.
"I did warn you like that, but you later voluntarily studied magic."
"I studied it to better explore those Curses," Oscar said.
"Those things are dangerous, and learning magic allows me to better avoid danger."
"But you already have the title of Baron and are a registered Knight," Nyx said. "You’re already strong enough as you are."
"Studying magic on top of that just makes it more likely for Mystery to come knocking on your door."
Oscar chuckled.
"Isn’t that even better?"
"If it comes knocking, it’s easier for me to research it."
Nyx shook his head. "You’re underestimating Mystery."
"Hahahaha, but it seems I was the one who started asking you questions first," Oscar laughed. "You once told me not to answer a question with another question."
Nyx fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"I just want to explore new possibilities."
"New possibilities?" Oscar asked. "You mean this Church?"
"You can take a look first." Nyx handed the Divine Word Manuscript in his hand to Oscar.
"A book?" Oscar took it.
The Church fell into silence, and Nyx started feeling a bit sleepy.
He sighed inwardly—so this was what getting older felt like.
Oscar read quickly. By the time Nyx dozed off for a moment, he had already finished reading.
"So that’s it. Rewritten Truth, huh?" Oscar closed the Divine Word Manuscript.
"You’re older than me, so you should know the Guild had attempted this before, but ultimately failed and ended up afflicted with four Curses," he said.
"But I also trust your wisdom. So, you saw the Rewritten Truth? And verified it?"
Nyx stretched and said, "Although I’ve only made a few small things, I believe it’s possible."
As he spoke, Nyx took out a roll of bandages.
"This is?" Oscar took it and sensed the aura of Mystery on it.
"Healing Bandages," Nyx said. "Before this, I used to compound Healing Potions, but with my current state, creating a Healing Potion is too exhausting."
"So I improved the process a bit, diluting a Healing Potion to make Healing Bandages."
"These can help warriors’ wounds heal."
"They won’t die from infection after stitching up their wounds."
"Although the effect is inferior to Healing Potions, they’re easier to use."
Oscar held the bandages and looked at Nyx.
"This miraculous?"
Nyx said nothing and simply gestured for Oscar to try it himself.
Oscar then drew a short dagger from his waist and made a cut on his own hand.
"You only needed to make a small cut, you know."
"If it’s as miraculous as you say, of course I have to test it properly." Oscar looked like he felt no pain.
"Then try not cutting off the pain sensation with magic."
"I’m not the kind of person who courts pain for no reason." Oscar smiled and wrapped the wound on his palm with the bandages.
"How does it feel?" Nyx asked.
"…Hmm, the bleeding stopped, and it’s healing slowly." Oscar closed his eyes and seriously felt the wound on his palm.
He opened his eyes, somewhat curious. "By tonight, the wound should be healed. Truly miraculous."
"It’s already comparable to a Second-Tier Magical Item."
"Second-Tier?"
"That’s a system I constructed for classification," Oscar said.
"You’re still doing that pointless stuff." Nyx shook his head.
"At least this way, you understand better when I explain it, don’t you?"
"Yes, that’s true. But when the Curse descends, your classification system will become a burden."
"Then I’ll just use it myself. I never intended to spread it." Oscar smiled and raised his hand.
"This is the result of the Rewritten Truth?"
"Yes. For now, only those in the Church can produce it." Nyx stood up as he spoke.
"I’ve written down the method and stored it in the Great Church."
"But there are no new Priests yet, so it hasn’t been tested for mass production."
After speaking, Nyx walked into the study and came out with a book.
"You can compare it to the Divine Word Manuscript." he said.
"I certainly will. But I also want to try making it." Oscar took the book.
"…I don’t recommend you try," Nyx paused and shook his head.
"A Junior Scholar represents curiosity and fearlessness, doesn’t he?" Oscar said with a smile.
Oscar Brian, Junior Scholar of the Scholar’s Guild of Greenwood City.