The research project on hungering flesh has reached a conclusion. The process went extremely smoothly, and perhaps the subsequent rebellion also signifies a kind of success. None of this could be separated from the professor’s assistance and one’s own meticulous efforts.

In addition to that, Lyle still remembered some additional help. For example, the crown embedded on top of his head.

Andrei’s Crown of the Lich.

As per tradition, at the end of the research, he should return the crown to Mr. Dean. However, Lyle still remembered his promise, and he intended to find a way to create an opportunity for the Lich Crown to meet Raymond.

The first obstacle was the Dean, an elder father figure.

Lyle chose to be straightforward, as this method had the highest success rate thus far.

"Mr. Dean, while I was wearing the Lich Crown, I found a way to unleash its full power," Lyle said.

"Oh~" Mr. Dean drew out the note, rising in pitch, which to some extent showed his interest. He looked at Lyle, and somehow, Lyle felt an increase in pressure.

But Lyle continued, despite the difficulty.

"The Lich Crown is a Divine Artifact that can communicate. I made a deal with it, satisfying one of its desires, and in return, it will provide all the power needed for my experiments. Mr. Dean, I believe this trick can be widely promoted in the upcoming academic gathering."

"And what is its desire?" Mr. Dean, not distracted by the rosy scenario painted by Lyle, directly addressed the crux of the matter.

Maybe the Dean already knew the answer, Lyle said helplessly.

"It wishes to meet Mr. Raymond," Lyle continued, making one last plea. "This is our agreement, Mr. Dean. Please allow me to take it to meet Mr. Raymond. The Lich Crown has its own will, and if we do not satisfy it, I fear the future experiments may be affected."

Mr. Dean sat back in his gem-studded chair, showing no sign of dissatisfaction. In fact, Lyle’s worst guess was a Dean in a furious outburst, casting a bone-crushing spell on him, turning him into a lich.

But that did not happen. Mr. Dean remained calm, like a Prophet who knew what was to come.

"Considering what you’ve done with Andrei’s Crown of the Lich, Dr. Plague, I grant your request," Mr. Dean said, looking at the radiant crown. "Though nothing will change. Raymond will not accept the Lich Crown, and it will still return to my side. Before that, trouble yourself with one more journey, Dr. Plague."

In the end, Lyle left the Dean’s office with a puzzled face, cradling the Lich Crown, which shone like a fountain of magic, visibly excited.

Why would Mr. Raymond not accept the Lich Crown? Although the Lich Crown could only contribute to knowledge enhancement, okay, it was more than just that. Why would Mr. Raymond give up such an artifact that was already loyal to him?

Full of questions, Lyle arrived at the gates of the Church of Holy Light.

The corridor outside the church, clean after the rebellion, was the tidiest corridor Lyle had seen. While other parts were bustling with magical reconstruction, here there was only the quiet of a gentle breeze.

Just as Lyle was about to knock on the door, it opened automatically.

A figure in strange white garments, a lich, exited from within.

Wait? A lich? From inside the Church of Holy Light? Came out whole?

Lyle’s mind was filled with stupefaction, and he numbly exchanged courtesies with the unfamiliar lich before parting ways.

The interior of the church was still radiant as though time had stopped. Mr. Raymond stood on the pulpit, and upon seeing Lyle, vaulted down to land in front of him.

Mr. Raymond, brimming with enthusiasm, raised a sprout of sacred light.

"Lyle, wouldn’t you like to return to the embrace of the sacred light? The power of the sacred light has increased yet again!" With behavior resembling that of a person luring a primary school student, Raymond did not present the image of a proud top-tier combatant in front of Lyle. Could this be considered ’gap moe’?

"Mr. Raymond, I have something I’d like to show you."

Undeterred by Lyle’s polite refusal, Raymond maintained his sunlight-like passion. "Alright, let’s see what issue you need my counsel on. If you’ve come to seek my advice, it must be something rather tricky, but don’t worry, I’ll help you solve it."

"It’s not a tricky thing," Lyle took the Crown of the Lich out of his pocket, the reason for initially concealing the crown was mainly to create a sense of surprise. Just like now, the flashy brilliance on the surface of the Crown of the Lich had disappeared, leaving only the faint glow and the subtle breath of a Divine Artifact. If it were only a first glance, one might think it was a high-end Divine Artifact. Unfortunately, Lyle had long learned of the crown’s sycophantic nature from the headmaster’s memories.

This guy was acting coy in front of Mr. Raymond, a crafty crown.

"This is..."

Mr. Raymond’s deep voice interrupted the flowery introduction Lyle had prepared.

"Andrei’s Crown of the Lich. I know this."

Lyle and the Crown of the Lich were both taken aback, as the crown burst out a small burst of magical fireworks before quickly hiding it. It must be very happy now, realizing that it still made an impression in the heart of its idol.

"That makes things much easier, Mr. Raymond. The headmaster asked me to hand over the crown to you." Of course, the headmaster had never said such a thing. It was all for the happiness of the Crown of the Lich. What’s that? What about the crown? Go ask Raymond for it. Sorry, headmaster, clinging to Raymond’s coattails is a joyous thing, and it was Raymond who did it—I couldn’t stop it.

Raymond picked up the crown with one hand, and as it got closer to his helmet, Lyle could even feel the crown’s eagerness; at any moment, it might not be able to help itself from jumping onto Raymond’s head.

"Please put it on, Mr. Raymond, the Crown of the Lich is a conscious Divine Artifact; in fact, a long time ago, it already chose you."

Raymond looked at the crown that was constantly glowing in his palm and, after a brief gaze,

"So it means that the Crown of the Lich will follow my commands, right?"

The Crown of the Lich enthusiastically responded to Raymond, as if to prove itself, delicate magical threads wove around the tips of the crown’s gems, and the crown’s surface even began to display Raymond’s name. Even the pale blue magical radiance was forcefully changed to the golden yellow of sacred light. The Crown of the Lich was really working hard.

"I see, it is indeed a useful Divine Artifact."

Lyle and the Crown of the Lich both smiled, the agreement was complete.

"Crown of the Lich, then as your master, I command you." Raymond placed the Crown of the Lich on Lyle’s head, "From now on you will be Lyle’s personal belonging and serve the Purifier!"

???

A puzzled Lyle removed the Crown of the Lich from his head.

The Crown of the Lich hovered in Lyle’s hand, slowly turning the gem-encrusted side toward Lyle.

Lyle could even guess what it wanted to express.

How is this different from the script?