Aiwass opened his eyes after a long absence and returned to the material world.
His pupils were filled with golden and red brilliance, and the divine radiance made his calm face look compassionate.
"Matilda..."
Aiwass said softly.
At this moment, the blue-haired cardinal on the thirteenth floor immediately responded: "I'm here, Your Majesty. The ceremony has been prepared for you, you just need to change your clothes and lie on the bed.
"...But are you sure you really don't need an escort? We can match you with at least three promoters to ensure your promotion is successful..."
"Having Aleister accompany me is enough."
Aiwass's voice was gentle and calm.
His lowered eyes were filled with radiance that could not be blocked even with his eyes closed.
The pope, wearing a black and red robe, replied seriously: "This is a new moon ceremony. Strictly speaking, there are no so-called 'teammates'. Even if we enter the promotion ceremony together, we may receive conflicting tasks or have to be in a different situation."
state of hostility.
"At that time, how should I face these helpers? This is a four-to-five promotion ceremony. It would be okay if it fails, but if it dies... it will most likely bring death in reality. How can I watch it?
Are they going to die like this?"
"...Your Majesty," Cardinal Matilda looked serious at this moment, "you must know that their mission should be like this. Dedicating yourself to something greater is our lifelong pursuit. If their death can replace your
As they rise to a higher position, they must be happy to witness this scene.
"The position of the Pope cannot be lost, Your Majesty. No matter what, nothing can happen to you here, otherwise problems will follow for the entire Theocracy - even if you think about it this way. Just think of it for everyone in the Theocracy.
, can’t we let those people contribute to their sacred mission?”
Dedicating others to others is itself a choice on the path of dedication.
The core of the path of devotion is to "benefit others", but it does not necessarily require "harming oneself". This is also the reason why there are so many crazy people on the path of devotion.
"If you even do something like this during the New Moon Ceremony, you might be considered cheating."
Aiwass smiled indifferently: "Besides, you also said that dedicating yourself to others is the pursuit of devotees... If you send someone to be promoted with me, how can you be sure that I won't
Why don’t you dedicate yourself to help him get promoted? I’m probably much deeper on the path of dedication than he is.”
Cardinal Matilda rubbed her forehead with a headache: "Then why don't you just wait for next month's full moon ceremony? Isn't that good? Even if you include Aleister, who must win, we can give you another match.
Four elites. Even I can go there myself..."
"Well, I've thought about it too."
Aiwass replied: "I did the math, and the winning rate will indeed be much higher in that case."
Cardinal Matilda suddenly became energetic: "So——"
"——Because of this, I refuse."
Aiwass said without hesitation: "Because that would be equivalent to us depriving the remaining three people of the possibility of victory. This is not fair, and it is even more unjust."
"You are the greatest justice in the world, Your Majesty."
"But what if one of the people there is more talented and has a better future than me? Even if one person is removed, what if we meet two? Just before the ceremony begins, erase their futures. Even their lives?
"According to the rules of devotees, I should dedicate those close to me for others, that is, let you make way for others... But I don't want to do that, because giving up my friends will also make me heartache. I don't want to lose anyone. .”
Having said this, Aiwass opened his eyes again, and two rays of light illuminated the entire space the moment he opened his eyes: "Before I separated from Aleister, I might agree with this idea. For the sake of 'the greatest The sum of good, sacrifice is necessary. At that time, I even specially found some teammates, just to achieve a greater winning rate at this time..."
"But now, I refuse this behavior. I was promoted together with Aleister because I was accompanying her, not because she was here to help me. If a sacrifice is needed, it should only be me.
"So I will only be promoted together with Aleister and choose the New Moon Ceremony... At least this way, we will not encounter too many people gathering in the New Moon Ceremony. And if we encounter one, we must sacrifice one person In this situation, I can also give up myself to let Aleister rise to a higher level.
"-Don't worry, Matilda. At least I'll come back alive.
"In other words, even if I die... it will never affect the Theocracy. I have made complete preparations..."
As Aiwass said this, he took off his papal robes and put on the red archbishop's robes.
Promotion to the fourth level... Even if you wear priest robes, no one will believe it. It is better to just wear the clothes of an archbishop, which will make people believe in your calmness.
He slowly lay down on the soft bed, and the surrounding area of the bed had already been covered by a ritual array. There was no trace of uncleanness visible from here, and all the ritual requirements were completed by Cardinal Cyril below. The ritual array here is just a link.
This is not just for etiquette, but also to protect the Eternal Pope and the entire Eternal Theocracy - any item may constitute a ritual by coincidence, and ritual items make it easier to do this. Therefore, except for absolutely necessary items, any Unnecessary items will not be sent to the 22nd Circle.
Anyway, the Eternal Pope is basically in deep sleep all the time... He doesn't need to eat, drink or excrete.
The Pope is a tower, a link, a symbol, a scepter, an energy center... and a coat rack with the Holy Crown. But it cannot be a mortal with independent personality.
"All nine are available..."
Aiwass lay on the bed, closed his eyes and chanted in a low voice: "I am in it."
At this moment, Cardinal Cyril was presiding over this simplest and most common ceremony with utmost seriousness.
In Leipzig in the distance, Aleister also closed her eyes and leaned sideways on a soft sofa chair, supporting her chin with one hand. Under her body was a ritual circle made of blood, and ritual sacrifices were scattered around -
Dead seabirds, broken mirrors, deer hearts pierced by nails.
The melted wax figure of the philosopher, the bitter black salt soaked in blood, the flying squirrel tied to the cross.
The penis of a horse was knotted into an "8" with a nail pierced through it, and an oyster - a black pearl that was not his own was stuffed into it.
Finally, there was a venomous snake coiled at Aleister's feet.
The windows and lamps were covered with a layer of red cloth, and the room was filled with dark red light.
Accompanied by strong sleepiness, she whispered like a dream: "Except for me...
"——All eight will die."
As eight black-red flames ignited with a roar, the blood circle under her feet suddenly lit up with a strange brilliance.
Then, she was dragged deeper into the dream world.
Aleister opened his eyes and saw that the nine chairs were empty.
Above the dark red sky hung a dark waning moon.
Beneath him was a sea of black blood with a large amount of white foam rising and falling.
However, the light source here is not the dark red sky or the waning moon...
In the middle of the nine chairs, a bright and warm light was shining, turning the sea of blood at His feet, which appeared black due to the dim light, into a true red.
It was a sacred deer made of pure ruby.
He has a pure and dazzling red color, and his body is covered with black thorns. Those thorns pierced his skin, and the blood continued to flow downward, sinking into the sea of blood.
His huge crystal-red antlers are like candlesticks, burning with white and pure flames.
——That’s Si Zhu.
"Great Master Zhu... is this a promotion ceremony presided over by you?"
Aleister quickly said hello politely.
"I just came to see you, Aleister."
A warm and steady voice like a loving father sounded in the space: "Behave well...this ceremony may be very important to you."
When Si Zhu's voice fell, the shining red stag disappeared without a trace.
Only a stone statue of a young deer shorter than a human was left in place.
It has slender four legs and a very cute two-headed body. It has a small sharp horn on its head, its body is slender and strong, its pupils look as clear as a teddy bear, and there are a pair of flaming butterfly-like eyes on its back.
The huge flame butterfly wings, and at this moment the flames on the butterfly wings have solidified, forming a beautiful and very dynamic posture.
Aleister immediately recognized it... This is the Winged Fire. It likes to rescue those who are lost and in desperate situations, such as those who are lost in the snowy mountains or stranded on an isolated island due to a shipwreck.
, like an invisible "V" flame, carrying them to a safe place.
It was also the candle-wielding apostle that Aiwass often summoned when he was in the Theocracy. Whenever Aiwass brought something to Isabel, he would always have it sent to her.
Aleister suddenly felt a little ironic.
Because this will be the most cruel ceremony presided over by the most compassionate Pillar God...
