Beating Instances through Words Left by the Dead

Chapter 104: Chapter 102: Hidden Side Quest: Artificial God

The illusion that just appeared before Wu Chang’s eyes recreated the scene at Count’s Manor that day.

After killing Erin, the townspeople, whose jealousy had dissipated, were plunged into endless remorse and self-blame.

At this moment, Ebert said something to the townspeople, successfully redirecting their anger toward Count Jermaine.

Ebert’s words were nothing more than telling the townspeople that it was all Jermaine pushing things from behind; they were merely being used.

Whether the words were reasonable didn’t matter; it was more important that the townspeople were willing to believe.

This is the essence of religion—psychological comfort. As long as someone important tells you they’ve pardoned you on behalf of the Lord, everything can be treated as if nothing happened.

Otherwise, why would indulgences have thrived for nearly a thousand years, and various derivatives still be prevalent today, sustaining various environmental and human rights organizations?

A suitable scapegoat, for the townspeople, is undoubtedly the best indulgence.

Under a mysterious resonance of emotions, all accumulated feelings erupted.

People picked up weapons, gathered together, broke into the Count’s Manor that they didn’t even dare to look at before, and dragged Jermaine out for public execution.

Because of this, Jermaine didn’t wait for the seven Inner Worlds to mature and produce the Proof of Original Sin but died under the statue, transforming into the Divine Envoy of Arrogance.

”The player has completed the main task two: Investigate the count’s disappearance and find the truth.”

”Since the player has collected all seven Proofs of Original Sin and successfully uncovered all truths, the player can end the instance early and leave the Peaceful Town.”

Without a hint of hesitation, Wu Chang chose ’no’.

Ha, spending all this time, finally reaching the moment of harvest, and wanting him to leave? No way!

The completion notification of the second main task confirmed that the illusion was not a fabrication by the Divine Envoy but something that actually happened.

But tracing back through the illusion’s information, an unavoidable silhouette reappeared.

It was Ebert once again.

As the least noticeable guy on the island, how does it feel like he’s involved in every important plot point,

It’s a good thing I got rid of this old weirdo on a whim; who knows what else he might have done.

Just as he was contemplating the next move, a voice interrupted his train of thought.

”Mr. Sekos, what just happened?” Erin asked in confusion.

Revived from the dead, maybe her soul was damaged after the original sin was stripped away, she could sense something happened just now, but couldn’t determine what.

Wu Chang said indifferently, ”Just squashed a bug, nothing to care about. The main event is still ahead tonight.”

He pointed to the roof, asking, ”Can you see what’s up there?”

Erin shook her head.

”Then stay down here for now. Once I handle her affairs, you’ll be liberated.”

Wu Chang picked up a stick and drew a circle on the ground.

”Soon it’ll be dangerous outside. I’ve drawn this circle, stronger than an iron wall, ensuring that monsters and demons can’t approach. But if you step out of the circle, you’ll certainly meet your doom. Remember, remember.”

After speaking, whether Erin understood or not, he turned and headed for the main roof.

He reached the rooftop, cautiously approaching the enormous faceless nun before him.

Earlier, he deliberately lowered his will, letting the murmuring prayers enter his mind, which brought a cue.

”A hidden side quest triggered.”

”Hidden Side Quest: Place the seven Proofs of Original Sin into the Artificial Holy Statue to complete the Fallen Holy Statue, summon the Artificial God, and witness the immortal. Task failure has no penalty, accept the task?”

Another hidden side quest.

Compared to the hidden side quests brought by the Perfectionism title, the prerequisites for completing the Artificial Holy Statue have all been fulfilled. Just insert the Proofs of Original Sin to complete the task and claim the reward.

It could be said that it’s practically a free reward.

If it were at the beginning of the instance, he would have accepted without hesitation.

But now, having already discerned the truth, he hesitated instead.

Forget it, take it step by step.

He shook his head and walked to the faceless nun.

The faceless nun was like a puppet awaiting orders, standing still with no intention to attack.

Of course, it could also be because Wu Chang inherited the identity of the Arrogant Divine Envoy, causing her to automatically identify him as an ally.

With Wu Chang’s inspiration, he saw inside the huge nun a hexagram, with an empty hole at each of the six points and the central area.

Seven holes correspond to the seven Proofs of Original Sin.

Following the sequence of the Seven Deadly Sins in religion, Wu Chang filled the seven holes with the Proofs of Original Sin.

The first was the Proof of Lust.

Wu Chang stated that this is how religion states it; he wasn’t acting out of personal interest.

As the Proof of Lust was placed in the hole, the faceless nun’s cold flesh gained a bit of bodily texture, appearing more like a living being.

Below her waist, the rough root-like lower body transformed into smooth, long legs, plump and white as jade.

The only problem was that the nun’s lower body had hundreds or even thousands of root-like legs.

Though the white legs were beautiful, having hundreds of them suddenly appear was less about beauty and more about not losing one’s sanity.

Even someone like Wu Chang, who has seen dorm fourth’s collection, with over 80 points in will, found it hard to handle.

While contemplating whether to pull out the Proof of Lust or trim the legs to just two, the nun tactfully reverted her legs back to roots, saving him considerable effort.

With the Proof of Lust completed, a sixth of a golden halo appeared atop the nun’s head.

The halo’s shape was similar to the light wheels atop the heads of angels in mythology.

Wu Chang had a premonition that this was the Holy Mark formerly residing in Erin’s body.

He continued by taking out the Proof of Gluttony, placing it inside the faceless nun.

The nun’s body trembled, soon after the back of her nun’s habit tore open, revealing wings similar to those of a Golden Flying Fish.

Wu Chang: ”...”

Seriously, whose brilliant idea was it to replace angel wings with fish fins?

Even though they’re both wings and can fly, I understand finding suitable wings is hard, but isn’t this solution a bit rash?

It’s not just a low-cost version, this is downright skimping.

Forget it, let’s say it’s due to eating Golden Flying Fish.

He glanced at the nun with now a third-completed halo above her head and inserted the Proof of Greed into her.

The nun’s body began to emit a faint glow, and the half-completed halo had wisps of black mist on its surface.

With the fourth Proof of Sloth inserted into the nun.

The nun’s tense body suddenly relaxed, with the halo now two-thirds complete, turning entirely light black.

The addition of the fifth Proof of Fury and the sixth Proof of Envy made the nun, aside from still being faceless, overall look human-like.

If observed closely with inspiration, one could sense fury, jealousy, greed, and anticipation from her blank face.

The halo above the nun’s head was now completely restored, unlike the golden halo representing God, nor like the red or white halo representing angels and saints.

At this moment, the halo above her head was purely black.

The light was dim and restrained, seemingly constrained by something, temporarily unable to spread outward.

Wu Chang took out the final Proof of Arrogance, as the greatest sin, the Proof of Arrogance undoubtedly occupied the central position.

By placing it into the center of the hexagram inside the faceless nun, the Artificial Holy Statue would be complete, and he could claim the reward.

He took a deep breath, slowly bringing the Proof of Arrogance closer to the faceless nun.

The faceless nun exhibited immense desire, causing her previously void face to conjure features in her wrath.

That was none other than Count Jermaine’s face.

”I told you, if I see you in Count’s Manor, you’ll face dire consequences! You must have your head pulled off, and your face beaten up!”