Ailian looked at Mr. Raymond standing in front of her, arms crossed, complaining about that group of shameless Liches. It was a pity she hadn’t applied for a Flesh Disguise yet, otherwise she would have shown an expression of helplessness.

"Your Excellency Raymond, in the end, did you disperse that group of Liches trying to follow you?"

"I was really angry! I was angry, I took it out on them, it was only fair!" said Mr. Raymond, raising his fist high and slamming it down towards the podium in front of him. In the last moment, it landed on Raymond’s own right hand, and he saved his podium.

Listening to Raymond’s words, Ailian felt like she was watching a child making excuses, even though he himself seemed to think it was completely justified.

I believe the Bishop Lords who nurtured Your Excellency must have shaped the Head of the Holy Light to be always going forward, never lost in confusion. But, perhaps Your Excellency Raymond was just too rigid.

"Your Excellency Raymond, you must rarely encounter setbacks."

"Ailian, in face of difficulties, we must be resolute, and strive for victory," said Raymond, speaking of high ideals righteously, then his tone relaxed.

"Setbacks, do you think there’s anything my strength can’t solve?" Raymond said naturally, speaking of the reality that succumbs to power. "Usually, I can conquer them with my personal charm."

Ailian found that meeting Your Excellency Raymond was so fortunate for both of them, a stroke of luck for each other.

Nuns, the motherly figures within the Holy Light, the most accomplished preachers. They don’t take the stage like Priests but imprint the Lord’s gospel into everyone’s heart with their dawn-like eyes, their bud-like smiles, their breeze-like voices.

Ailian never thought that one day she would have to counsel her own Bishop Lord.

She crossed her arms over her chest in a prayerful gesture. Approaching Raymond’s side, she looked up slightly, gazing at his face.

"Your Excellency Raymond, to us, you are like the sun. The sun does not hide its light. The sun shines its rays equally upon everyone."

"But they are Liches, enemies of all living beings."

Ailian reached out her palm and placed it on Raymond’s chestplate, lightly patting, "Yes, Lord Raymond, you’re right. But in this world, there are no eternal enemies, no eternal evils. Do you remember your own words? Liches, too, have aspects worth admiring. If you can see their strengths, why can’t you accept them, just like Andrey accepted you?"

"You used the power of the Holy Light to make food, and had them follow you. The Holy Light is no longer their enemy."

"But those damned creatures prefer to be cooks over becoming Paladins! Where is the Holy Light in their eyes?"

"The Holy Light is our faith, Your Excellency Raymond. We give willingly, and the Holy Light grants its blessings."

"To demand from others before giving—that’s not faith, that’s commerce. The power of the Holy Light knows no hierarchy of high or low, noble or ignoble, it’s just that we’ve placed it on a high shelf. Your Excellency Raymond, this situation should now change, in your hands."

Raymond remained silent.

Outside the Church, those Impostors yearning to learn cooking continued to pray. They sat kneeling at the church doors, looking at the sliver of light streaming through the cracks.

"Are we going to keep waiting like this? I mean, look, Lord Raymond shattered a few of us. Maybe he doesn’t plan to teach us today."

Someone quickly countered his words.

"For a chef, the most important qualities are patience and an unwavering spirit to delve deep into the craft. I believe our sincerity will surely bring change."

Rumble, rumble...

An earthquake-like tremor occurred beneath their feet.

But as the Impostors turned their gaze toward the door, they found that the commotion did not come from inside but from behind them.

They had not awaited the arrival of light.

But darkness came.

"Feed... Reproduce... Hail the darkness..."

In the darkness, bloated giant mushrooms appeared in the vision of the Impostors.

Mr. Dark swiftly ordered a halt, moving to the front of the line.

He looked at the group of Impostors kneeling on the ground, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Ah-ha! I get it. You all are the Holy Light’s executioners, eh! But got your legs broken by Raymond and thrown outside!"

Mr. Dark spread his arms wide.

"Don’t worry, my friends! Your ally has arrived! I, the darkness! Today I shall grant you justice!"

"Come, join my Dark Mushroom Troupe!!!"

The Impostor dodged the arms of the Mushroom People, which were covered in spores with an unhealthy, sickly green hue.

"I know who you are, Mr. Dark! You are an adversary of His Excellency Raymond! We will not consort with you!"

Mr. Dark was momentarily dumbfounded.

He scratched his head.

"Raymond’s followers? Liches? A new breed? I’m saying, following that big dumb oaf, what are you all after?"

The Impostor burst into a furious rage.

"I won’t allow you to insult our God of Food! The way of culinary arts cannot be defiled!"

Mr. Dark laughed even harder.

"Hahahaha, the cooks of Holy Light. You lot really are the cream of the Liches."

"Enough talk, how about joining the Literary Club? I’ll waive the test for you!"

"You are all Impostors, tormented by hunger, I bet, join my Dark Mushroom Troupe. Your hunger will be forever satisfied."

The Impostor carefully observed the Mushroom People, their pallid complexions, the murky pus around their mouths. Before their eyes, a Mushroom Person ate a Lich, then spat him out, and as spores proliferated and devoured him, the Lich was transformed into a rigid Mushroom Person.

The Mushroom People had forsaken the pursuit of delicious flavors, combining hunger and spore propagation to become ever-feeding, ever-destroying monsters.

This was the exact opposite of what the Impostors aspired to; they endured hunger fervently to devote themselves to the study of gourmet food, waiting for the joy of flavors to burst in their mouths.

The Impostors stood up, straightened their spines, and pointed directly at the darkness.

"We, the Radiant Culinary Society, will never stoop to join forces with your Dark Mushroom Troupe. On the contrary, one of us must shatter for our own pursuits!"

"Gourmet food is the true path!"

"Raymond above all! Gourmet food above all!"

Mr. Dark let out a sinister, cackling laugh.

"If you are so deluded, then don’t blame me."

"Dark Legion! Tear these fools apart! Devour their flesh, expand my legion! Before the Church of Holy Light, let’s show the power of darkness once again!"

"Holy Light! Will fall!!"

"Roar!!!"

At the command, the Mushroom People surged towards the Impostors like a tidal wave.

The outcome was nearly instant.

As soon as the spores of the Mushroom People touched the skin of the Impostors, caps quickly appeared on their flesh, beginning to gnaw at it.

And the attacks of the Impostors, be it magic or elemental forces, were almost evenly matched with the regenerative abilities of the mushrooms.

The Impostors had no choice but to shed their Flesh Disguises before being completely devoured. Although their Lich forms were capable of battle, their willpower’s pursuit of gourmet food was slowly fading with their disappearing hunger.

Everything seemed about to come to an end. Watching this scene unfold, every member of the Culinary Arts Club felt the pressure mounting.

They were waiting.

For a leader.

The church doors slowly opened.

Light shone generously behind the Liches.

"George, you buffoon, did your brain die along with you?"

"After being beaten by me so many times, haven’t you learned anything?"

Raymond, the God of Light’s Culinary, stood with the Radiant Culinary Society.