The Strange Adventures of Hearn the Believer

"Well, I don't deny that." Qingzi, whose sore spot of lacking elegance had been touched, cleared her throat as if a little embarrassed. In her awkwardness, she habitually tucked her dark red hair behind her ear and then defended herself, "But I will also take the time to read books. After all, even if I don't look like one, I am still a spellcaster who needs to learn."

"So why did you drag me out at this hour?" Seeing that the atmosphere had been set off, Xin Nu chose to get to the point, "We've already come quite a distance."

“With you here, going back would only be a matter of a moment. I brought you out for another reason,” Qingzi said seriously.

"You scared me to death! I thought you were really unable to contain your loneliness and wanted to drag me into the woods. Speaking of which, haven't we been meeting alone a lot lately? If this continues, Pandora and the others will misunderstand." The believer first breathed a sigh of relief, then patted her chest as if she were quite frightened.

"First of all, I don't even acknowledge that this kind of setting, full of purposeful topics and lacking any sense of romance, is a rendezvous. Secondly, are you even listening to me anymore?" Aoko said through gritted teeth, barely suppressing the anger raging within her.

"So, in other words, situations where we chat about meaningless topics that neither of us understands fall into this category, um, you say?" The woman suddenly realized and slapped her palm, but immediately corrected herself and said seriously.

The reason for changing his tune stemmed from the fist that Aoko had raised in front of him.

"Cough." Qingzi closed her eyes as if deliberately trying to cover up some incident, and cleared her throat intentionally. When she opened her eyes again, her expression was as usual.

"Believer, why didn't you tell me beforehand that the child had signed a contract with the Shadow Saint?"

"Because I only just found out myself," the believer replied frankly.

"Really?" Aoko seemed skeptical of this claim.

"Really, you find it unbelievable too, don't you? Why would such a young child encounter the messiah of the devils? I don't understand the intricacies of it either. It can't simply be attributed to her luck or misfortune, can it?"

Having said that, the believer shrugged helplessly before continuing.

"Actually, during this time, I have also collected a lot of information from various sources. The child's surname should not be a coincidence. She and Salome Reinhardt are probably the last royal blood of the Rhine. In that case, her bloodline, etc., the Crown of the Sky."

The next moment, both Nobunaga and Aoko realized a point they had previously overlooked.

“That’s right. If the Lord of Light really did bestow his crown upon the Rhine royal family as rumored, to maintain the rule of the Sons of Earth in the Third Age, then among the descendants of that woman, there must be someone who holds the first crown at the top of the Tree of Life.” Qingzi recalled the rumors circulating outside over the years, as well as the many documents she had consulted to understand her own situation, and said in a deep voice, “The fundamental reason why the Lord of Light bestowed the crown was that the dualistic law was challenged by the rising Shadow Son. In the late Second Age, the Sons of Earth were almost unable to maintain their hegemonic position in the world of Thranheim, which in turn affected the competition for leadership of the Upper Realm among the fifteen Primordial Sons of Fire outside of the Proxy War. At that time, when no one knew that the Shadow Son had already been born, the Lord of Light, who ruled the seven seats of Mount Paradise, would naturally believe that even if he bestowed the crown, he would not be afraid to face the Seven Lords of Hell.”

"That's true, but the fact that it's taken off one's head suggests it wasn't such a big deal after all," the believer thought differently. "Aren't crowns mostly symbolic rather than practical?"

“Believer, that’s not something in a symbolic sense.”

After hearing the woman's words, Aoko rolled her eyes at him and then began to explain.

It is worth mentioning that, in the eyes of the believer, her action was full of girlish charm, but she herself seemed completely unaware of it.

"My believer, do you still remember the structure of the Kabbalah Tree of Life? Even in the mysticism of the lower world, you will learn about it."

“Of course, Pandora asked me before. From bottom to top, they are [Kingdom], [Foundation], [Glory], [Victory], [Beauty], [Severity], [Compassion], [Understanding], [Wisdom]... and [Crown]. Ten rings, twenty-two paths, each ring has a guardian angel. I've already met the guardian angel of [Kingdom], Elijah, or rather Olivia Reinhardt, the sister of that Far Eastern princess. She perished at sea with a five-headed dragon that descended from the astral plane.” After a moment’s thought, the believer told Aoko about her previous experience at sea.

“Now that you’ve witnessed the Rhine descendant who can transform from flesh and blood into the guardian angel of the [Kingdom] Ring, it’s not hard to imagine the power represented by the Crown of the Sky at the top of the Tree of Life, right? You should know that the [Kingdom] Ring is actually the limit of power that most of the lower worlds can reach, while the Crown of the Sky is the crown that the Lord of Light manifested when he ascended to the [Crown] Ring at the top of the Tree of Life. Now do you understand how precious that little girl in your team is? Even if there’s only a 50% chance.” Aoko seemed reluctant to use the adjective “precious,” but for now, she did.

“Yes, I fully understand what you mean by how precious Pandora Reinhardt’s life is,” the believer nodded.

“If there’s a 50% chance she really possesses the Crown of the Sky, then it wouldn’t be so far-fetched for her to be involved with the Shadow Prince in Thranheim, the burial place of the Lord of Light. After all, the Shadow Prince disappeared again after the Lord of Light fell. This is the final battlefield, so it’s understandable that some traces would be left behind.” Qingzi quickly combined the two’s deductions and made a summary.

“However, I still maintain my opinion. Something that can be taken off like a hat and lent to someone for an entire era is definitely not very valuable to its owner. You underestimate the Lord of Glory. I always felt that He wouldn’t be so weakened just because He lost a hat,” the believer added with a smile.

"The white-haired people of Mount Hatian would never agree with such a statement. They still firmly believe that the Lord of Radiance lost some of his power because he bestowed the crown upon the Son of Earth, which is why he was killed by the Son of Shadow."

"Are they really that obsessed? Are they out of their minds?"

"Maybe it really is. Anyway, unless the Lord of Light comes back from the dead and fights the Shadow Prince again, both sides will either be cuckolded or not, and only when a winner is decided will this controversy disappear. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. Even if it were, the Upper Realm can't withstand that kind of turmoil. At Lilith's Crimson Wedding, it wasn't just the Lord of Light who died, but also the two seats of Mount Paradise. So the overall situation in the Upper Realm right now is that the devils have the upper hand, after all, the top is seven against five."

"Hmm? Does the Shadow Saint also have a hat?" the believer suddenly asked in surprise.

"Tsk, of course. As one of only two children of the Primordial Source to advance to the Crown Ring or higher at the top of the Tree of Life, the Shadow Saint naturally possesses a crown corresponding to the Crown of the Sky, called the Crown of the Abyss." Qingzi clicked her tongue as if blaming him for only realizing it now, as if he had let her explanation down, and her expression returned to its usual slightly unhappy look.

The believer was very perceptive to this change in emotion, so he immediately changed his words.

"Okay, I think we can stop talking about hats now. That world of supreme gods is too far removed from us. Let's be more down-to-earth."

“That’s true. Let’s not talk about things that are so far away. We need to decide on our future strategy.” Aoko also felt that the topic was too grand and lost its reality. So, the seemingly abstract topic finally came down to earth. “Then there’s only one question—where did Little Pandora’s original body, the body of the Child of Earth, go?”

“It’s probably in that ice cave to the north,” the believer replied belatedly. “I once possessed a corpse through necromancy and went to Silver Ridge. At that time, Yu Yi and I found a negative in the workshop of an unlucky dead man who was researching flying machines. The negative was a snapshot of the crew’s daily life during the development of the flying machine. She was actually in it, but she was just a little kid. No wonder I felt that this girl looked familiar ever since I met Pandora in the Sea of ​​Trees. It turns out I had seen her before.”

"You're so slow to realize things..." Qingzi felt she was about to give him a good thrashing, but before she could act, she suddenly caught a crucial piece of information and exclaimed in surprise, "Wait, you brought Yu Yi with you?"

"Yeah, when we first started crossing the desert, if it weren't for Yu Yi arguing with me, I would have been bored to death long ago."

Aoko naturally recognized the mythical fox that had been accompanying Shinjo, so she immediately asked curiously, "Where is Hagoromo now? I've been with you for so many days and I haven't seen her show up."

“Emmmmmmmmmmmmmm”

When asked about this, the believer rested her chin on her thumb, closed her eyes, and thought for a long time before finally opening her eyes, pounding her palms, and smiling wryly.

"I forgot."

""

Upon hearing this answer, Aoko was initially furious, looking like she was about to explode with anger, as if she were asking, "Are you kidding me?" But then she seemed to realize something about the answer, and her expression turned into a complex mix of emotions. Even the way she looked at Shinjo became one of pity, like that of someone caring for a mentally challenged child.

"You're having a tough time these days, really. Seeing you like this makes all the anger I've been holding in for years suddenly seem insignificant."

"What are you doing? You're looking at me like I'm a puppy. Watch out or I'll bite you." The woman felt uncomfortable under that gaze, as if she had suddenly become three times smaller. In short, she was very uncomfortable, so she immediately bared her teeth and said.

"Believer."

"Ok?"

Suddenly my name was called.

Aoko withdrew her pitying gaze, took two steps closer, stood in front of Shinonome with her arms crossed, tilted her head slightly, and then asked Shinonome a question that she also missed in a tone that Shinonome found quite nostalgic.

"The compassionate fool or the ruthless wise man, which would you choose?"

"Huh? What? Once when I was seven, once when I was seventeen, and this is the third time now."

"Stop rambling, give me an answer."

"Just like before, I am who I am, unique. Why should I choose something else?"

The believer's reply was concise and to the point, and even his tone was devoid of emotion, as if the question was not a question at all for him. The answer was so obvious that it lacked any sense of reality.

However, this unrealistic answer was met with a warm and gentle smile from Aoko, who was right next to him.

At this moment, it was as if she had finally confirmed something, untied some knot in her heart, and could no longer have any worries. She could completely relax and calmly show a smile to the old friend in front of her who was no longer a stranger.

For the believer, this smile is also one that evokes fond memories. The weight of time behind it is far greater than that of an "old friend," enough to trace back to that winter a hundred years ago.

"gone back."

Just as he subconsciously wanted to continue indulging in this nostalgic atmosphere/memory, Aoko turned around at the right moment, and just like when she came, grabbed his right hand and led him forward on the way home.

At this moment, Shinju was happy to experience the novelty of being led around. He walked behind Aoko at a slightly slower pace, so that a slight pulling sensation would be felt from his right hand, which was being held tightly. This feeling of being connected, somewhere between estrangement and burden, was inexplicably reassuring.

"Qingzi, why did you suddenly start rambling incoherently? Does being deliberately mysterious make you feel good?"

"Stop being so self-satisfied. That nonsensical topic is just the first section of the magic incantation. There are still second, third, fourth, and even fifth sections to come. In short, you are still a long way from being a master."

"Okay, then, Aoko-sensei, when will I be able to graduate from my apprenticeship?"

"I don't know. Your talent in the Demonic Path used to be the worst kind. It was sharp and thorny, like a hedgehog. You might never be able to graduate and could only be an apprentice."

"Hmm, but it sounds like that might be a good idea."

"That won't do! Anyway, my reputation will be damaged because of this, so you'd better work hard and try to graduate as soon as possible."

"Okay, I'll try to do it, but to be honest, I really have no clue how."

"Let's start by practicing the first section."

"Huh? Haven't I already started doing that? Section 1."

""

On the way back, the believer still looked up at the starry sky that required effort to see, her feet sinking into the soft soil. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her, and she seemed to have figured something out. She began to ask questions aimlessly.

Aoko, on the other hand, answered each question seriously, just like a real spell chanting teacher.

However, perhaps because she was in charge of leading the way, she never looked back on the way back to the camp.

Chapter 114 The Benevolence of a Healer

The next day, the weather was fine and sunny, with clear skies and light clouds, a rare warm and sunny day in winter.

In the morning, Mr. Hearn stared at the dense canopy of trees, so green it was almost black, and his lips twitched. It took him a long time to swallow the curse word.

Yonglin, who was standing to the side, also looked up at the dark dome, and then smiled understandingly as if she had been used to it for a long time.

“Mr. Hern, the forest isn’t all so cold and gloomy. If I remember correctly, Mistaril is located in a wide, open valley with a few trees.”

The believer briefly indicated that he was alright and there was no need to worry, then composed herself and continued on her way.

I vaguely remember some Far Eastern sage saying that there were originally no roads in this world, but as more people walked on them, they naturally became roads.

Mr. Hearn wholeheartedly agreed at that moment.

A moment ago, Yonglin misunderstood. Mr. Hearn's current mental state had nothing to do with the dome of the forest or the shabby road conditions. If it weren't for the atmosphere within the team, he could have easily floated away openly.

In other words, he was actually secretly drifting along the way.

This was also the assignment he gave to Pandora, stemming from their first lesson that night at the cocktail party.

The basic applications of the Prometheus particles that this girl had previously mastered were quite brutal, just as Mr. Hearn had initially described her as an excellent killing machine.

He was keen to train the girl, teaching her some elegant/slacking-off uses of "Prometheus particles" to make life more comfortable and convenient.

The Prometheus particle sounds both mysterious and grand.

Mr. Hearn would unconsciously feel a sore throat whenever he uttered that charlatan-like name.

It's like an old friend who's been with him for many years, going through thick and thin with him, slaying one foolish demon after another. So many years have passed, yet he's never thought of giving his old friend a name.

One day, a young girl who didn't know him accidentally pieced together a low-budget version of the old man from some scraps of his old friend, and even gave it a mysterious name.

As the original owner of the old companion, seeing all this, I always felt that something was strange.

Are you angry?

No, not at all.

Since the young girl has won the favor of the Shadow Saint, it is only natural that she would receive a low-end version of the little old man as a bonus.

It's just some meaningless sentimentality.

I still remember those years living in the countryside of the Far East. When he first held that pale blue radiance in his palm, a kind elder he knew asked him if he wanted to use that blue color as part of his name, just as she had done.

At that time, he made up an excuse that "the colors clash with the other party's, which is not convenient" to decline.

On the one hand, he cherished the name his mother had given him, which evoked complex emotions in him; on the other hand, he was very clear that the blue glow emanating from his palm was merely a clumsy imitation of the initial power he remembered when he was still weak. It was essentially a fake that had the form but no meaning, and at best, it could only scare away some villains with ulterior motives.

In order not to betray that initial kindness from outsiders that he remembered, he decided then and there that he would only be qualified to name that radiant green light after he had fully matured and was able to stand on his own.

Twelve years have passed since then. He has long since forged his own path, and the shimmering blue in his hand has been imbued with a unique inner meaning, leaving only the original color as a memento.

There are so many people, but so little time.

Before the age of eighteen, Mr. Hearn devoted himself entirely to the cause of slaying demons and monsters, with no other thoughts.

The matter of naming the old buddy was naturally long forgotten.

So much so that it has been delayed for over a hundred years until now.

Back to the present, in the eyes of the believer Hearn, the Prometheus particle driven by the girl named Pandora Reinhardt was probably something like that.

Clumsy imitation, a mere imitation of the form, a craft devoid of any personal mark.

Moreover, they are not skilled enough.

Mr. Hearn glanced briefly at Pandora, who was struggling to maintain both the spherical observation net with a radius of 300 meters and the stealthy movement of her journey, and made a silent assessment in his mind.

For some reason, he stayed up all night last night, sent the girls to rest in the magic artifact, and stuffed Yonglin into the tree hole.

Just as Pandora had previously observed about him, for the current believer, all biological activities were more about mental discipline than material necessity. Staying up all night wouldn't negatively affect his mental state, but it would greatly conserve the energy of Deedlit and Eirin.

The secret to his sleepless nights was naturally attributed to one of the sorcerer's ten thousand little secrets. This excuse was indeed useful and convincing. Before he stuffed Eirin into the tree hole, the white fox was still blinking its bright eyes with envy.

However, a faint sense of anxiety had lingered in his heart since the moment dawn broke, refusing to dissipate and without any reason.

Unlike before, Mr. Hearn left the girls behind and walked along listlessly, his arm around Yonglin's shoulder, vaguely using the white fox as a cane.

Yonglin felt both angry and amused. She thought to herself, "Mr. Hern, you were so stubborn and stayed up all night to save face. Now you look like a dead dog riding on a colorful cloud. Who can you blame?"

However, thinking back to how she had actually believed his sorcerer's nonsense and gone to sleep for a night without a care in the world, the kind-hearted Eirin felt quite guilty. She hadn't realized that Mr. Hearn was just pretending to be strong and had always carried the burden for the team along the way. Mr. Hearn was also responsible for his current state of despair, so Eirin didn't feel any guilt about being used as a crutch.

Anyway, Mr. Hearn's luggage wasn't as heavy as it used to be. After solving the team's sleep and luggage storage problems, Mr. Hearn was so tired that he could barely walk. What was wrong with leaning on someone who had a good night's sleep?

After all, there are only two men in the whole team, Yong-rin and Mr. Hearn!

Thinking of this, Yonglin straightened her chest, completely disregarding Mr. Hern who was half-hanging on her left side, and walked with wild, protective steps, firmly on the road of overcoming obstacles.

They even had the leisure to take Mr. Hearn's pulse.

This skill was learned from several doctors from the Gozanlong people he met during a shipwreck night while he was idly loitering in the clouds.