Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

"Miss Pompey meant that this cross seemed to be an invitation to some kind of grand ceremony, but she left in such a hurry that she didn't explain it clearly. It's probably related to your identity as a Purifier."

After thanking Mr. Garrett and carefully putting away the cross, Lyle returned to his cabin after confirming that there were no other arrangements.

……

Lyle was the first person to appear at the Cup of Extravagance. Before the sun had set, he sat alone in the velvet chair in the main hall, across the table from Ariana's usual spot.

The Cup of Extravagance was quiet during the day, the sunlight blocked by the curtains, leaving only a small patch of light on the beautiful marble floor. Lyle only then noticed this: although the Cup of Extravagance was dominated by the brilliance of crystal glass at night, it itself did not receive much sunlight; the sunlight was repulsed.

Ariana was a lich, and so were the Gentleman and the Dragon. This magnificent chamber was adorned with the wealth of the dead, and so was the entire Andrei. A brief chill ran through him, but Lyle quickly dispelled it.

Everyone at the Cup of Extravagance and even the entire Andre Academy expressed their goodwill towards him, even if their methods were clumsy and carried the unique humor of the dead. Recalling his conversations with the Andre members, he finally understood their subtle meaning. A belated sense of absurdity lingered in his heart, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up beneath the mask.

Lyle leaned back naturally against the soft chair back. The magic of Andre and everyone's kindness made his fear and discomfort about death seem insignificant. He had long since become a part of Andre, as a living person.

What's more, there's Ariana here. The first time I saw her in the moonlight, the unforgettable sound of her singing, the scenes from the Cup of Extravagance all lingered in my mind, and finally, the only thing I saw in the darkness was a ghostly blue flame.

As night deepened, Mr. Dragon and Mr. Gentleman arrived at the clubroom one after the other, both showing slight surprise at Lyle's early arrival. Mr. Dragon, a very busy man, exchanged a few words before leaving alone. Mr. Gentleman, however, sat on the balcony, picked up the flute he used as a wand, and began to play melodious, sorrowful notes.

"The gentleman seems to be in a good mood today."

Upon hearing Lyle's voice, the gentleman gazed into the unseen distance. "This is a tune from my hometown."

"The gentleman's hometown is..."

"It's gone. Now it's just a different city with the same name..."

……

After waiting all night, midnight arrived, but Ariana was still nowhere to be seen at the Cup of Extravagance. He had indeed been too hasty; she was probably still recovering from her injuries, and he wondered how serious they were—damage to the soul sounded terrible.

Helpless, Lyle even considered praying to the gods, only to laugh at his own strange idea. But speaking of gods, one must mention the Holy Light.

He seemed to have one more chance to pray to Sister Elian. Although the pent-up frustration in his heart had almost been erased, Lyle still stepped out of the Cup of Extravagance. He didn't want to be defeated by the secret hidden in his heart. He was a human, while the Andrei were liches.

Even with the howling of the evening wind in the corridor, and even knowing that Andre Castle was actually worse than a dead city, Lyle remained calm.

Standing before the familiar white door, which seemed newly installed, even the wooden door exuded a warm energy. Had Mr. Raymond blessed the door?

Lyle gently pushed open the door and quickly found the figure praying on the bench in the empty chapel, as well as Mr. Raymond making a flashbang on the pulpit.

"The Plague Doctor!" Mr. Raymond was so excited when he saw the visitor that the golden sphere in his hand exploded, and a visible ripple of holy light began to spread outwards, turning everything it touched into a golden color.

Seeing this, Lyle politely closed the door again.

"Come in and have a seat." A thick, golden arm grabbed Lyle as he turned around and "warmly" "invited" him inside.

Lyle looked at the pure and kind senior in front of him and greeted him politely.

"Anle, Mr. Raymond."

"Alright, alright, Plague Doctor, you've finally decided to abandon the darkness and embrace the light? Come on, sign this, and you're mine. From now on, at Andre Academy, you can beat up whomever you want. And I said, if your screams aren't loud enough, start over!"

Lyle dodged the club application form that was practically plastered on his face. "Actually, I came here to see Ms. Elian. I have some troubles and hope to confide in her."

Raymond glanced at Elian, who was now sitting upright and was the Golden Knight.

“If it’s a problem, the nun is indeed better at soothing the soul than I am,” Mr. Raymond asked again. “Is it really a problem that force can’t solve? Plague Doctor, you should know that force can solve many things, and my force can solve many, many sources of trouble.”

"No need for you to trouble yourself, Mr. Raymond." The source of my troubles is myself.

Raymond took a step back, indicating his non-participation.

Elian finished his prayer, patted the spot beside him, and gestured for Lyle to sit down. A series of holy lights began to emanate from Lyle; regardless of their power, their cleansing effect was particularly suitable for psychological healing.

Lyle felt the warmth of the holy light, a mixture of gentle sunlight and a soft breeze.

“My troubles stem from my identity, as you know, Ms. Elian.”

Chapter 187 Immortal Justice

“Tell me your troubles in detail, Plague Doctor. Before the Holy Light, you need not hold back. Both I and Mr. Raymond are qualified practitioners of the Holy Light.”

"You should know the purpose of the confessional. Open your heart, Plague Doctor, and we will listen to your troubles. And we assure you, your secrets will only be revealed in the light of this chapel."

Lyle withdrew from the warm atmosphere, feeling offended, but quickly recovered and turned his gaze naturally to Mr. Raymond.

Raymond, seeing the Plague Doctor's gaze turn towards him, let out a hearty smile from beneath his golden armor.

“Don’t mind what Elian says, Plague Doctor. If it’s really a secret that’s hard to talk about, I can actually avoid it and go find a few societies to experiment with my new divine magic.” Mr. Raymond didn’t care at all about Lyle’s resistance to him.

"No need, Mr. Raymond. I was being petty and judging you by my own standards. I think my secret is no big deal to you."

Lyle did feel relieved after being relieved of the burden of keeping the secret.

"I am actually a human being, a living, breathing human being, who came to Andre Academy by some twist of fate."

“Is that so?” Mr. Raymond was silent for a few seconds. He took off his helmet, revealing a human skull that looked like it was cast in gold, with golden flames rising in its eye sockets, the intense fire almost bursting out. His jaw opened and closed, letting out a hearty laugh. “Hahaha, isn’t that a good thing, Mr. Plague Doctor? You’re still alive. What could be more exhilarating than being alive? You shouldn’t be bothered by this.”

"So Mr. Raymond is also a lich?"

"Yes, Andrei Lich Academy, everyone here is similar, except for you."

"This is the reason for my troubles. I love Andre Academy very much and trust and rely on everyone there. But you are liches, the dead. This separation between life and death has caused me a lot of inner turmoil..."

“Andre is not suitable for you, Plague Doctor. Andre is not suitable for all living beings.”

Lyle smiled as he looked at Mr. Raymond's two flames. "Mr. Raymond, Ms. Elian has said the same thing to me."

“Elian is right, Plague Doctor. The dead have their world, and the living have theirs. You shouldn’t waste your precious and limited life on a bunch of dead people. It should be the color of life, not the dark gray of death. Even if you really love it here, it’s not too late to come here after you’ve lived a peaceful life. This world has its own rules.”

Lyle listened attentively to Mr. Raymond's sincere yet stern advice.

“Andre is not gray, Mr. Raymond, and the outside world is not colorful either. I have gained everything I could in Andre: respected elders, sincere friends, and... unforgettable love.”

Lyle dusted off his clothes and stood up. “I’m sorry, Mr. Raymond, I’m afraid I can’t take your advice, although I’m certain you’re right. But compared to what I’m asking for, the barrier of death is really minor. I choose to stay in Andrei and keep my identity a secret. Elian, thank you so much. It has really made me feel much better to have these thoughts out in the open.”

Raymond stared at Lyle's retreating figure in silence. After a long while, he finally spoke.

"Plague Doctor, you've told me your secret. In exchange, I'll tell you mine."

“In my lifetime I was a powerful crusader who participated in the war of conquest against the heretics. When I was alive, the war was drawing to a close with the support of my brothers and sisters. We had won, and what awaited us was unparalleled glory and praise.”

"But I died."

"The war of conquest ended in failure, and the blessings of the Holy Light did not ultimately descend upon every human being. When I was first resurrected, I was filled with loss and confusion. I had no idea what caused my death, only that I had lost everything I loved. I became an enemy of the Holy Light, and even my only brother who had walked with me had fallen into darkness."

"When I was immersed in loneliness, it was the Dean who encouraged me."

"Feeling lost and aimless? Experiencing the cold and sorrow after death? Why not come to me? I'm planning to open a lich academy to accept lost souls with nothing to do. You are one too, child. My academy will accept all power, including your Holy Light. Doesn't that sound amazing? I don't quite understand the mindset of you preachers, but if the power of the Holy Light can transcend death and spread among liches, your Holy Light would be happy too."

"What also invigorates me, along with the Dean, is my own strength." Mr. Raymond opened his palm, and in his palm, a holy flame was burning fiercely.

“My teacher once taught me that the Holy Light is revelation, the manifestation of power for everyone who has a responsibility.”

"I firmly believe in this statement. My life is dedicated to justice, and my holy light will burn brightly for the sake of humanity."

"After my death, I looked at the Holy Light that I still held in my hands. I understood my responsibility, that my justice still existed, and that my broken body could still burn for justice."

“I have joined the Andre Academy. Merlock Raymond is dead, but Mr. Raymond will continue to burn.”

"I will demonstrate the justice of the Holy Light at Andre Academy."

Lyle interrupted Mr. Raymond.

“Mr. Raymond, isn’t there a gentler way to demonstrate the justice of the Holy Light, instead of beating up the Andrei members?”

Raymond shook his head.

"The doctor who fights the epidemic, my justice is the justice of humanity."

"Can't you feel it? Those strange magical researches and powers that Andrei is constantly developing. Those dangerous powers even trouble me."

"Can you imagine? When these terrifying powers are exposed to the world along with Andre Academy, especially in the hands of a group of liches who regard life as worthless, it will be a catastrophe for humanity."

"Therefore, I will continue to grow stronger, stronger than everyone else. I will become the true terror of Andre Academy, letting those liches obsessed with research know that above them there is still a man named Raymond, whose holy light hurts terribly, and whose holy light still suppresses them. I am the final barrier to stop Andre from harming humanity."

“I will personally visit every organization that is considered a threat to humanity, and I will ravage every member of every organization marked by the Salvation Society. The holy light above their heads will never be extinguished.”

"I will uphold the justice of the Holy Light and suppress all the power of Andrei until eternal annihilation."

"This is my justice, Raymond's justice."

Chapter 188 Nia's Favor

The holy flame within Mr. Raymond's golden skull was like two blazing suns, casting its holy and majestic light upon Lyle.

Perhaps every silly person is just a clever person in disguise in real life.

In Lyle's eyes, the righteous Mr. Raymond became tall and mighty, just like his status as the pinnacle of combat power.

“Plague Doctor, you are human, so you are one of those I want to protect.” Mr. Raymond extended his palm. “Please show me your Ring of Andrei, Plague Doctor, I beg you.”

Lyle smiled, looking at his rejuvenated senior, and extended his ringed hand. "This baptism ceremony is much simpler than I imagined. Thank you, Senior Raymond."

"Simple?" Endless light erupted from Raymond's body. When Lyle opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in golden clouds. The phantom of an angel sang in the hall, and the grand sound of bells rang out in the distance. Ten wings unfolded behind Raymond, and golden chains binding his wings were connected to the clouds behind him, just like the god before him, carrying the entire world on his back.

A feeling of joy that brought me to tears welled up inside me, and I was moved by witnessing a miracle.

"I, Raymond, Guide of the Holy Light, swear in the Light to share my glory with my successor, the Plague Doctor, the Pure One. The Holy Light will guide your path, and no attempt to harm you will be permitted. No unless, no but, I have said so."

A ray of light pierced through the clouds, and the illusory sun finally revealed its true form. The first ray of sunlight transformed into a golden thread, imprinting itself on Lyle's Ring of Andrei, parallel to the scholar's blue magical trace.

The miracle faded, and all was silent. Lyle looked at Mr. Raymond, who still maintained his solemn demeanor. It was just leaving his contact information for a ride-hailing service, why all this fuss?

They say one thing in their hearts and another in their words.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Raymond."

Raymond's skull looked at Lyle, two balls of holy flame flickered, and he pulled out a piece of paper that was dyed golden by holy light.

"Since you are so grateful to me, Mr. Plague Doctor, why don't you sign the application to join the society?"

That's moral blackmail, isn't it? You give them a taste of sweetness first, then force them to spend.

Well, it was definitely worth the price, although Lyle's respect for Raymond started to fluctuate.

Lyle signed his name on the application for the Order of the Holy Light.

"Lyle Bouler? Lyle?"