Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3154: Chapter 3155: Black Sheep Confession Song

The irritation in Uriel’s eyes was almost fleeting. If it weren’t for them repeatedly examining it, piece by piece, they might not have noticed it.

However, their meticulous work also brought them rewards.

Because of discovering this detail, they developed some new thoughts.

Why did Uriel feel irritable when hearing religious music? Is it because of a dislike for religion?

If that’s the case, does his preference for the final Chapter stem from the fact that the merchant bypassed religious enforcement and still achieved his goal?

According to this inference, the "exhilaration" he likes might not be a single type of exhilaration, but a composite one—discontent with religion, and yet achieving goals under religious interference?

Thinking of this, Brody and Guy reached a consensus.

The scores they choose next need to have elements of exhilaration, whether bright or dark, but most importantly, the core of the score must be a rebellion against religion.

Under these conditions, the three scores they were previously debating were disqualified and excluded.

Through a new selection, they finally chose "Black Sheep Confession Song."

The creator of "Black Sheep Confession Song" was a priest from the Duchy of Yorgis, who spent the first half of his life in a monastery, carefree. Later, he was assigned to the edge city of the Xitu Church to spread the gospel, and became a pastor at the church here to enlighten the congregants.

The congregants trusted him, willing to confide their inner troubles, and over the years, he spread the gospel of the Xitu Church to the very borders, even the subordinate villages had believers.

Outsiders perceived it as an honor for him. But he himself didn’t think so... because he was already trapped in a prison of the heart.

Over these years, he heard various evils and witnessed various injustices.

He has been angry, hated, and even considered helping the suffering congregants; but as he delved deeper, he discovered that most of the causes of the congregants’ suffering were the oppression of greed, and in the Duchy of Yorgis, the Xitu Church was the greatest authority, and the Lord of the Sky Xitu was the only divine.

Even though the congregants were not directly oppressed by the Xitu Church members, the collusion between the Xitu Church and some local power institutions became an invisible accomplice.

In fact, if it weren’t for the Xitu Church granting these people authority, how would the congregants suffer?

The priest, once innocent as white paper, began to see cracks in his inner mountain of faith amidst years of confessions of sins.

Colleagues at the monastery brought him love and hope, but in reality, the colleagues are filthy like the bugs in the underground water channel, silently slapping him countless times.

He was conflicted and torn; why did the Xitu Church he loved become like this?

If he was someone with rich grassroots experience, he might have self-introspection under broad knowledge and deduced one truth... Under any circumstance, absolute light is impossible, for the concept of light was born for darkness.

But he was not.

He encountered the darkest side with the purest and most flawless heart. This caused an unexpected upheaval within him, revealing a whirlpool of contradictions, thoroughly locking himself in the prison of the heart.

He could enlighten the congregants, but couldn’t enlighten himself.

Of course, he, trapped in the prison of the heart, could still walk out.

If he breaks free with light, he remains a priest; but if he walks out with darkness, what would he become?

The chance to break free soon came.

A believer less than ten years old died in front of him.

A noble wearing the Xitu Church’s honor medal killed this innocent and lovely believer... as if he were himself in the past, the most cherished believer.

At this moment, he abandoned the light and broke out of the prison of the heart with a stance of darkness.

He became what the Xitu Church called the Black Sheep Demon wearing human skin.

He started a series of revenges, avenging the noble, and then all those he deemed worthy of revenge. Finally, he turned his gaze to... the Cathedral of the Sky of the Xitu Church.

Flames burned down this millennium-old cathedral.

Countless priests were burned to death, and the circular symbol representing "Under the sky, the land of light" was eradicated.

The one who set the fire was the one dubbed the greatest betrayer of the Xitu Church.

However, he did not ascend to the heretic judgment court of the Xitu Church.

Because, in the great fire at the Cathedral of the Sky, he was burned to ashes.

Under the cover of flames and smoke, amidst the collapsing rubble, in the cries of blood and wailing, he wore a bright red priest’s robe and played the final tune in the hymn chamber, a tune he composed himself.

This tune was the one banned by the Duchy of Yorgis—"Black Sheep Confession Song."

This piece was about him, especially the final performance in the flames, incorporating his myriad past experiences, passionate and high-pitched, seeming to be a self-confession, or perhaps accusing the sky as the black sheep, declaring it the true sinner.

"’Black Sheep Confession Song’ has both the solemnity of religion, the intensity of rebellion, and the grandeur of questioning the sky. In our view, this piece might truly reach the inner heart of the decision-maker," Guy said.

Only when Uriel’s heart is breached will he be more emotionally affected during decision-making, granting higher positions.

This was Guy and Brody’s opinion and the reason for choosing "Black Sheep Confession Song."

On the other side, after listening to their explanation, Angel made no comment.

Whether their choice of "Black Sheep Confession Song" was the most suitable, Angel temporarily didn’t know, but the link between Uriel and religion is more likely.

Who is Uriel? A master musician from the West Continent Wizard World, Xu Continent, and the Dusman Empire.

And the most famous point of the Dusman Empire is the Church of Radiance.

This is a country where religious power is greater than imperial power.

From this point, the Dusman Empire is somewhat similar to the Duchy of Yorgis in the Southern Domain, both are religiously governed nations.

In the Dusman Empire, where the Church of Radiance is pervasive, the power layers are intertwined with the church internally; it would not make sense for Uriel, as a music master, not to have some association with the church.

And in the instance, Uriel’s residence was so impoverished—could it truly be persecution by the Church of Radiance?

This might explain the irritation when Uriel hears religious music?

The answer remains unknown, but personally, Angel believes, regardless of the outcome, "Black Sheep Confession Song" will become that brick to elicit the jade.

Angel: "I’ll take ’Black Sheep’s Lament’ for now. After today’s seating, if we don’t reach the top three seats, I will still record the illusion during seating for your analysis."

"There are only three days left, I hope no one gets complacent."

With that, Angel nodded towards Broi and Guy and disappeared into the Wilderness of Dreams.

...

Heart Space.

Luigi got the ’Black Sheep’s Lament’ and after hearing the story behind it from Angel, his expression became very serious.

The difficulty of performing ’Black Sheep’s Lament’ isn’t high, but to make Uriel empathize, it’s essential to recreate the final echo of the story’s priest.

How to use notes to build such an atmosphere and lead listeners into an intensely resonant musical environment is a true test for the performer.

It’s fair to say this score presents emotional challenges far greater than technical ones, unlike the scores Luigi received before.

Even with his master-level technique, he may not be able to perfectly express the emotion in a short time.

"I need more time to practice," Luigi said solemnly.

Angel: "...Do you mean you’re not planning to attend the multi-clan routine gathering?"

Even though Laplace, Glaipnir, and others went, Luigi, as a Temporal Body, could still use Mind Sharing to sync with the gathering. But merely synchronizing through Mind Sharing is different from actually attending.

Moreover, of Laplace’s Temporal Bodies, only Luigi is interested in art and scores. Even if other Temporal Bodies share visual information, they won’t diligently seek scores for Luigi...even if they helped find them, they wouldn’t understand.

Luigi wants to find excellent scores, and he must go himself.

Luigi: "No, I will go. However, before going, I intend to visit Pipi Castle."

"Pipi Castle?" Angel frowned, recalling that Shark Scale mentioned before that the Pi Luoxiu Clan resides in Pipi Castle...However, other tribes in the Daylight Mirror Domain prefer to refer to Pipi Castle as "Deceptive Castle."

"Yes, I need to visit Pipi Castle to see a friend."

Angel: "But isn’t this multi-clan routine gathering supported by the Pi Luoxiu Clan? You could see them directly at the gathering."

Luigi shook his head: "This gathering is supported by the Pi Luoxiu Clan, but held in the Crystal City, the Crystal Eye Clan’s base camp. My friend lives in Pipi Castle, and from what I understand, it won’t attend the gathering."

That may be true, but...

"Who are you going to see? And why now?"

Just as Luigi was about to answer Angel’s inquiry, an elderly voice interrupted: "Luigi is likely going to see Baba Ragon."

Angel turned around, seeing it was Glaipnir, leaning on her staff, entering from the Heart Space door. Accompanying her were the Rabbit Girl and Laplace.

The Rabbit Girl saw Angel and shyly ran over, whispering a thank you in his ear.

After logging off from the Crystal Origin of Dreams, she saw those gigantic Rabbit Mansions at Rabbit Mountain and her eyes lit up. She absolutely adored the Rabbit Mansions!

Moreover, Angel had set up illusions in every room of the Rabbit Mansions—rabbit dolls, rabbit beds, rabbit lamps, even rabbit cartoons...The first time she saw rabbit cartoons in the Shadow Box, her heart was almost leaping out, how could images be this entertaining and adorable!

The illusions were equipped with all sorts of fun and useful items, as long as the energy continued, the illusion wouldn’t stop.

Such a wonderful place right at Rabbit Mountain, how could she be unhappy?

Thus, upon seeing Angel, her first move was to express her gratitude.

Angel accepted her thanks frankly, and informed the Rabbit Girl that if she wanted to see other types of Shadow Boxes, she could find him.

After placating the Rabbit Girl, Angel turned his gaze back to Luigi.

Luigi nodded: "Yes, Glaipnir’s right, I’m going to see Baba Ragon. It’s a friend I met during a performance at Everstanding King City, but now it’s at Pipi Castle studying inventions and generally doesn’t leave."

Luigi also shared his reason for visiting Baba Ragon.

Baba Ragon owns a Secret Treasure from the Demonic Ghosts within the Mirror—Shok’s Ghost House.

Inside the Ghost House, one can slightly alter their Time Sense.

Simply put, time flow inside the Ghost House is different from outside, of course that’s merely the effect, the true situation is yet to be discussed.

"You intend to practice ’Black Sheep’s Lament’ through this Ghost House?" Angel immediately understood Luigi’s plan upon hearing the Ghost House’s effects.

Luigi nodded without hesitation: "Exactly, if all goes well, I only need to stay two hours in the Ghost House to practice ’Black Sheep’s Lament.’ Also, thanks to the time difference of the Ghost House, I don’t need to worry about missing the gathering."

If the Ghost House’s effect is truly that effective, Luigi’s plan would be perfect—enabling him both to practice and attend the gathering to select new scores.

Angel: "Then you’re going now?"

"I’m going now, but..." Luigi paused, looking at Angel with hopeful eyes: "Could you accompany me?"

Angel: "???"

You’re going to practice a score and want me to go along? It’s not a real ghost house...Besides, even if it were, would you be scared?

Luigi, somewhat embarrassed, said: "To elicit the stirring emotions within ’Black Sheep’s Lament’, immersion is required. I thought your illusions were quite realistic, maybe you could simulate the oppressive environment the author faced, allowing me to quickly enter that mood."

Angel: "..." Oh, he wants him to be a backdrop creator.

After thinking it over, Angel realized it’s not disruptive, and he could also sightsee within Pipi Castle, so he nodded and agreed to Luigi’s request.

Just as Angel nodded, Laplace, who hadn’t spoken, suddenly said: "If you’re inviting Angel to Shok’s Ghost House, it’s best to clarify the situation beforehand. Otherwise, if Angel declines at the scene, don’t come crying to us for help."

Angel cast a puzzled glance at Luigi, wondering what the catch was according to Laplace’s hint.

Luigi scratched his disheveled hair, faced with Angel’s confused look, he grinned sheepishly: "It’s nothing...just that upon entering the Ghost House, there will be some Mirror Ghosts attacking..."

"Mirror Ghosts attacking?" Angel paused in surprise: "Why?"

Luigi’s voice grew faint: "Well, it’s a ghost house, there must be a ghost or two..."

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