Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

"Thank you."

Ariana made no mention of last night's concert, acting as if nothing had happened.

"How's the course going?"

“Very good, Mr. Dragon taught very well. I learned my first spell and I’m leaving get out of class early.”

Ariana nodded, and seemed to let out a comfortable hum through her nose.

"Very good. If you have any questions about the course, feel free to ask me anytime."

"Ok."

"Mr. Dragon is generally a kind person, as long as certain aspects are not touched."

Lyle deeply understood this statement, as long as it didn't involve animals.

"Um, I'm a little curious, what are Miss Ariana's desires? Are they related to music? Something like fame?"

“No, liking to be praised is Beatrice’s idea, my desire, and I can tell you that too.”

"Ah."

"I'm curious."

"Ok?"

"It's just curiosity. I really enjoy new things. Of course, that doesn't mean I hate old things, but my liking for them might be less intense compared to new things."

"I like to experience different things and feel new things. If the doctor could drink this cup of tea, he might be able to feel that compared to yesterday, I added a little condensed milk to it, and maybe the taste would be even better."

"I like to use different combinations, I like novelty, and I enjoy it."

Ariana stood up.

They started spinning around under the crystal chandelier in the center of the main hall.

Wearing a bright yellow dress and a sparkling diamond necklace, she looked like a blooming primrose.

Very beautiful, extremely beautiful.

Their enthusiasm seemed to have waned.

Ariana returned to Lyle's side, looking at the marble floor under the crystal chandelier, as if a version of herself was still dancing there.

"I like novelty, I like surprises, and I like the unexpected."

"I like you, newcomer."

Chapter Twenty-Five: Talent

If the goddess you subconsciously imagines confesses her love to you in a very beautiful atmosphere, how would you feel?

Dreamlike, blissful.

There's also the unreality that comes with regaining rationality, and the disappointment of returning to reality.

Lyle is a self-aware man. He recognizes his own weakness but does not change it. This mentality prompts him to learn a skill.

That is compromise.

Compromise with setbacks, compromise with power, compromise with life.

Furthermore, he found an excuse for himself in his heart to make his submission seem less humiliating.

This seemingly hopeless person hadn't left himself no way out; it was a door of hope, a locked door, and this door could only be opened from the outside, requiring someone to open it for him.

Building one's confidence on the approval of others is cowardly. But it is also a miracle, because you will release a personality that has been suppressing itself, giving it only a word of encouragement.

However, in reality, such people usually don't get to wait for the one who opens the door, and instead drift through their lives in a daze, carrying with them that vague and unrealistic desire to be needed.

Lyle realized Ariana's true meaning: she simply enjoyed the novelty of the experience. It wasn't romantic love, nor even the affection of friendship; it was simply the liking for an object, and this feeling would be worn away by time.

"Thank you, Ariana."

Clearly, Ariana is no ordinary goddess.

Am I really that unattractive?

Suddenly, Ariana's aggrieved words reached Lyle's ears, sounding somewhat unreal to him.

Why would you think that?

"Because what you've witnessed is actually just my talent. Sometimes I think that without this talent, my appearance might be mediocre, or even ugly. Isn't your reaction to me just that? You don't seem to feel anything at all."

Lyle felt lost and confused, as if the beautiful white swan was crying out about its own ugliness like the ugly duckling.

"Is Ariana actually a very insecure person?"

"My only self-awareness is my singing voice, which I can be proud of."

No, no, no, how could you have such a distorted perception? You think there's something wrong with you, but you think Karthus is good.

"Ariana, I still don't understand what talent is. Is it a concept, or something more concrete?"

"Talent, a divinely bestowed authority. On the mystical side, it is the instinctive cognition of humankind, divided into three parts: the ego, the id, and the true self. The ego is one's own will and senses; the id is outward expression and objective impressions; the true self is existence, unchangeable and indelible. The ego is determined by oneself, the id by the outside world, and the true self by God. God created humankind and taught them planting, animal husbandry, weaving... From birth, a person's destiny is already determined, and this information is inscribed in their true self, which is talent."

"He is a seed, your root, but what kind of fruit will grow is up to you."

"Some seeds have already sprouted, while others are still yearning for soil. The true self marks its uniqueness; in this world, no two leaves are the same."

In other words, talent is a part of oneself.

"Yes."

"Can that talent be stripped away, that is, completely destroyed?"

"Some can be controlled, some cannot, but they will not be abandoned, not even in death."

Lyle was starting to understand. In other words, talent was actually part of the body, like a limb, and Ariana was complaining that her beauty overshadowed her inner charm.

That sounds a bit like she's whining for no reason, and to others it would seem like she's deliberately showing off, even though Lyle knows she's just nitpicking.

However, even so, this obsession only made the goddess more vivid and dreamlike. There was no reason needed; the charm brought by that talent needed no reason.

"Ariana, is this amazing charm your talent?"

"The inscription on the stone tablet reveals the Demon Throat, meaning that the main function of this talent is actually in the realm of sound."

So at that time, my body was actually reacting in a way that sounded like I wanted to die.

I can't believe that's the consequence of such an exceptional singing voice.

If these charms are merely incidental, then what would a truly bewitching appearance look like—so beautiful that one glance is enough to kill you?

I really envy that ability.

"Ariana, so you're saying that everyone actually has their own unique talent?"

"Yes, the possibility of plural forms cannot be ruled out, but this is something that everyone has."

"Then, what is the gentleman's talent?"

"The Eye of the Soul. A gentleman can notice the smallest details of every intelligent being. He can judge the good or evil of other people's souls, which is why gentlemen are often the test subjects for recruitment."

Now I understand why Mr. Gentleman is so popular; he's practically a walking, talking "good guy" card.

If you're friends with him, then you're a good person; if you don't get along with him, then it's definitely your problem.

Recalling the past when the gentleman had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation with him, Lyle felt smug about being a good person.

"And what about Mr. Dragon?"

"Immortal and indestructible. His body cannot be altered, destroyed, or pulverized by anything. Even if Mr. Dragon is crushed to the point of being nothing but a handful of dust, he can restore himself to his original form at any time if he wishes, and the repair takes only an instant."

Mr. Dragon is a bit abnormal. What kind of person is like? With such god-like tank talent, plus his physique that's almost three meters tall, he's a born war god. How did he become a necromancer and animal lover?

Just as Lyle was feeling regretful, Ariana said quietly, "Mr. Dragon has a hobby of collecting his own bone fragments. He will disassemble parts of his body, and the empty parts will quickly grow new ones. If you have ever been to his living room, don't be surprised, the skeletons in there are all his own, even his skull."

Lyle shuddered, remembering Mr. Dragon's words, "Mr. Plague Doctor doesn't need to worry about materials at all, just use my thigh bone."

"May I ask about Mr. Dragon's staff..."

"It really is his own thigh bone. He polished it himself. He even recommended it to me and the gentleman. He used his own bone material."

Perhaps, the gentleman is the most normal person here.

Finally, Lyle asked the question he most wanted to know, "What about my talent?"

Ariana looked at Lyle and said, "The Plague Doctor's talent probably hasn't awakened yet. Indeed, some people aren't born with it, and that makes up a significant portion of them."

"Is there a way to awaken?" Lyle was filled with intense longing, a desire that even surpassed his obsession with wealth. The reason lay in the true self. On the mystical side, talent seemed to be defined as God's opinion of you. Lyle desperately wanted to know how God viewed him.

"The ability to awaken talents in the Plague Doctor category is indeed possessed by Andrei. However, the Executive Committee has ruled that talents are not essential. Many people in Andrei have not awakened their talents, yet they are still outstanding. The non-essential nature of talents means that if you want to actively develop them, you will need to pay a considerable price."

"Is this ceremony very expensive?" Lyle wondered how long he would have to work at the Cup of Extravagance to save up a large sum of money.

"It's not expensive in the way you think. Most people in Andrei have forgotten the desire for money. Our concept of currency is very low. Most of them just collect as decorations."

"Therefore, magic academies that offer talent awakening as a paid service will require you to prepare the ritual materials yourself, are not responsible for the results, and charge you 120,000 Oliviers, or the spellcasting materials they happen to need."

Oh no, so this is what you meant by not loving money? Aren't prices in Andre too high? Because everyone treats gold coins like marbles, the actual purchasing power of gold coins has decreased. Lyle feels that his idea is doomed.

Ariana seemed to notice his disappointment. "If you really want to perform the ceremony, the cost can be covered by the Cup of Extravagance. You just need to write an IOU. However, you will need to find the missing materials yourself, since it is your responsibility."

Lyle heard a heavenly voice, "Okay." It's just a contract of servitude, right? I'll sign it. More debts are never a burden; one more is all I need!

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Public Security Bureau

Not long after, Lyle took his leave. It was still late at night outside, which meant he had four hours to sleep before his duties as sheriff began.

Before going to sleep, I hid the séance manual that Mr. Dragon had given me in the cabinet, reviewed the incantation for reviving the dead several times, and thought that if I found some five-petaled nightshade, I could complete the ritual on my own. I also had a staff.

Lyle wrote down the tasks in his mind's memo and drifted off to sleep.

……

Honestly, waking up and opening the door to see Ralph's zombie face is a terrible life experience.

"The sheriff's time is very valuable. (Don't oversleep next time.)"