Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 738 - 681 Aryan’s Torture_2

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"Boring..."

"There’s Lyle..."

An explosion of Holy Light burst beside Aryan, causing her to squint her eyes. She could only sense that the King of the Crusaders had teleported beside her, and that a great power had protected the newspaper.

Aryan closed her eyes and lowered her head, feeling uneasy. Her own shadow was about to be ignited by joy. It was only right to give Archbishop Raymond a bit of face, letting him adjust his mood.

Although the joke was a bit outrageous, Mr. Raymond would surely forgive Lyle. After all, he was his beloved Purifier. Yes, Archbishop Raymond was a forgiving man.

Aryan awaited Raymond’s reaction, but she forgot that her position and thoughts were different from Raymond’s.

A moment later she lifted her head and saw Raymond standing silently in his original spot.

The nun felt uneasy inside. Archbishop Raymond’s reaction wasn’t quite right. Was he really angry? Lyle had gone too far this time with the teasing. It was best to coax him.

"Archbishop Raymond, don’t be dismayed. There is diversity in the human heart, and such errors are forgivable. Everyone makes mistakes..."

Raymond nodded and sighed.

"You’re right, Aryan. I really thought wrong. I haven’t been good enough to Lyle."

"You’re not wrong, but... huh?! What did you say?!!"

"I said, I haven’t been good enough to our Purifier. I haven’t paid enough attention to Lyle. I never would have imagined..." Raymond looked up despondently, his left hand covering his face, "I never thought Lyle would adore me this much."

Are you an idiot? Didn’t those Paladin bishops teach you to read between the lines at all? You actually believed that?!

Aryan was incredulous that Raymond had taken such an obvious act seriously.

"Um, Your Grace, you don’t actually believe that, do you?!"

"Why not believe it?" Raymond answered without hesitation.

"It’s obviously fake."

"How is it fake? If Lyle said it, it must be true!"

Hopeless, this leader is beyond saving.

"That’s not what Lyle said, it’s what the literary society said. The literary society is a bunch of trouble-making scoundrels. They’ve never told the truth."

Raymond shook his head.

"You’re wrong there, Aryan. No one is a villain for life. Even the scum of literature will have a day when they tell the truth. Look, they’ve told the truth today. Holy Light is forgiving; we must retain a glimmer of possibility for every soul waiting for redemption. You are too extreme, my sister."

You clearly didn’t say that before!!! Did you reserve any possibility when you were delivering warmth?!!

Aryan was very worried about the prospects of the Church of Holy Light. Her Archbishop seemed to have been poisoned by the idea of the Purifier.

"Archbishop Raymond, please put aside personal feelings and view this matter rationally. Think about it, it’s a joke, a deception, it’s fake."

Raymond extended his hand to stop Aryan. His gaze was filled with scrutiny, and was that a hint of hostility?!

"Fake? Are you saying the things Lyle spoke of didn’t happen? Those academic gatherings did take place. Don’t comfort me, Aryan. I was indeed too narrow-minded before, yes, I was wrong. I turned a blind eye to Lyle’s dedication. Before... I actually felt a slight displeasure with Lyle’s act of resurrecting the Giant Dragon. I am truly unforgivable. I’ve betrayed his ardent feelings! But I can’t keep deceiving myself; I’ve found my error and will make amends promptly! Absolutely! I will cherish this adoration! The bond with the Purifier is unbreakable!"

Aryan felt she was losing her mind. What to do, Raymond Mellock, Angel of Light, self-sabotaging himself. She really didn’t want such a leader at all; this Holy Light was tainted, the nun’s sense of mission was weeping.

"Archbishop Raymond, you... Lyle isn’t like that. He’s a normal boy... He... is a Spirit Summoner, a practitioner of Necromancy, the antithesis of Holy Light."

"Hmm, I understand. That’s the sacrifice Lyle made."

Sacrifice my foot! His Spinal Wheel shop is just short of opening in the church itself. He’s clearly enjoying himself, okay?!

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Aryan still wanted to struggle, but Raymond cut her off.

"Enough, Aryan, enough. You’re possessed. Can’t you face yourself properly? To belittle him because the Purifier is too noble-hearted, Aryan! I don’t remember you being like this. Has the darkness truly corrupted you? Stop it, the way you irrationally demean Lyle is both sad and pitiable."

I’m possessed? I... I’m so angry!! It should be me who feels pity for you, you... you goddamn Archbishop Raymond.

It’s hopeless, utterly hopeless. Aryan gave up on her leader and decided to watch indifferently. There’s no reasoning with him, can’t beat him in a fight. Raymond is just like a rogue, stubbornly insisting Lyle is the truth. Let it all be destroyed, the sooner the better.

Aryan was mentally exploding, hugging her arms and sulking on the side.

"Aryan, Aryan..."

"What is it, my steadfast, wise Archbishop Raymond."

"I want to be nicer to Lyle, what should I do?"

Aryan chuckled. She leaned back, her hands resting on the bench, with shadows roaming over her body like a hissing snake.

"How else can you be nice, considering how you’ve treated Lyle before, first as a free fighter, then offering everything you have, although he didn’t accept it. You want to be even nicer, hmm, that’s tough. It’s a pity you’re a man, otherwise offering yourself would be best."

"Oh. Then there’s nothing to pity." Raymond said expressionlessly.

The newspaper in Aryan’s hands fell to the ground, she was split open, her mental state completely shattered. Some rebellious nuns just felt their faith wobble, their reason was collapsing. What did Archbishop Raymond just say? What vile words did he speak, no, please no, the Holy Light will really be tainted!!!

"That... Archbishop Raymond... I... I didn’t understand what you just said, could you explain it to me? That... something about nothing to pity..."

"Ah, that. I meant there’s nothing to pity. I am a man, but you aren’t, Aryan..."

"Ah, that’s still okay... Hm? Hey hey hey?! Why is this about me!! No... it can’t be, Archbishop Raymond!!!"

Holy Light made Raymond look exceedingly tall.

"Nun Aryan, now the Holy Light has a great mission for you to accomplish. As a nun, bring warmth and care to the Purifier, Lyle."

Like hell I will! Am I supposed to have a group fight with Naslan!!

"Then I’m still a Dissenter, as a Dissenter can I bring pain and torture to the Purifier, Lyle?"

Aryan decided to drag someone else into the mess.

"Loveday!!! Archbishop Raymond, I think Loveday is more suitable for the mission of comforting the Purifier than I am!!!"

"Don’t joke, you’re not even the same species..."

"Do any of the Naslan sisters feature a human!!! Maybe they like that sort of thing!!! It’s perfect, absolutely!!!"

"Do you take me for a fool? The same sex repels, Loveday looks like a man no matter how you slice it, you’re male, aren’t you, Loveday."

Finally, the victim had a chance to speak for himself.

"Star Spirits are hermaphroditic in our juvenile stage. In adulthood, we differentiate into masculine or feminine forms and characteristics based on personal feeling. Technically speaking, Archbishop Raymond, I should be considered male..."

"Loveday! As your senior, this is kindly advice! I order you to show your feminine side immediately!"

"... Lady Aryan, I have long passed my adulthood, my physical structure is already fixed..."

"Holy Light is almighty!!! Change now!! Hurry up and change!!!"

"..." Loveday was at a loss, his gaze turning towards his leader for help.

Raymond looked at the somewhat pitiful Loveday and the somewhat crazy Aryan and sighed.

"Stop it, when will you two let me have peace of mind like Lyle."