Chapter 3: The Madman of Truth (Please Continue Reading)

The interview process went even more smoothly than Ron had expected. It wasn't that there was no challenge, but rather that there was absolutely no pressure.

By simply presenting his credentials as a mage apprentice, the beautiful and generous Miss Talia approved his employment. The young man could hardly imagine that in this vast royal capital, such a fool—no, such a kind person—could still exist.

"Ah, praise the God of Holy Light!"

Although Ron did not worship this deity, he still offered a sincere tribute in his heart. Outside the window, the golden and crimson moons hung high, the stars obscured by filthy alchemical exhaust, as the night fell silently like a shy young girl.

Seeing that it was late, Talia did not send Ron home through the night, but instead arranged a guest room for him in her villa. This caused Ron’s favorability toward the filial and generous Miss Talia to rise to a new level, second only to his landlady, who had allowed him to fall four months behind on his rent.

"Doing good deeds really does bring good luck."

In the guest room, the blond youth held a golden crystal no larger than a thumb. The crystal was irregularly shaped, with hair-thin magical patterns shimmering inside. If one looked closely, these patterns faintly formed the shape of a sharp longsword. This was the "canned" knowledge of the Saint Sword Technique that Talia had promised.

Receiving such a benefit before even starting work made Ron feel the high expectations and esteem his employer held for him. As someone who knew how to repay kindness, Ron resolved to give his all to keep this job.

"It seems it's time to reveal my identity as a magic genius!"

Holding the golden crystal, the blond youth sat cross-legged on the soft white bed, his deep blue eyes filled with seriousness. A so-called genius is composed of nine parts sweat, one part talent, and... ninety parts cheat code.

[You are practicing the Saint Sword Technique. Your proficiency in Saint Sword Technique +1.]
[Saint Sword Technique (Novice 1/100) Note: Because you harbor a deep hatred for evil, you deal triple damage to dark creatures when using the Saint Sword Technique.]

Within a few minutes, Ron had learned this offensive first-tier spell through his own efforts. Looking at the prompt that popped up on his interface, especially noting that the remark on the Saint Sword Technique hadn't changed in any unexpected way, the youth breathed a long sigh of relief.

"The rest is just leveling up and grinding proficiency!" A look of satisfaction appeared on Ron's handsome face.

To improve his magical level, repetitive practice was unavoidable. Of course, this method yielded little proficiency, and by comparison, Ron preferred doing good deeds in line with the path of the Holy Light. Both methods increased proficiency, but the latter was far more cost-effective. However, in the dead of night, there were no conditions for Ron to perform acts of charity. Furthermore, for some reason, after learning the Saint Sword Technique, Ron felt an urge to wield a sword. Who didn't dream of being a swordsman in their childhood?

He acted immediately. The youth climbed off the bed, tucked his blond hair behind his ears, and drew the longsword Talia had prepared for him. His deep blue eyes suddenly became razor-sharp. He closed his eyes, reviewing the key points of the Saint Sword Technique and the corresponding swordsmanship techniques in his mind.

Suddenly, Ron flicked his wrist. Mana surged within his body, rapidly pouring into the longsword in his right hand.

*Hum—*

At that moment, the Holy Light elements resonated with Ron once more. He felt it—the warmth and trust of the Holy Light, urging him to use the sword to perform more good deeds and eradicate the world's filth and darkness.

"Rest assured, Mr. Ancestor, I will certainly help you fulfill your dream of joining the Templar Order!"

In an instant, Ron opened his eyes and raised a revolver, wrapped in sacred golden patterns, pointing it straight ahead.

"Saint Swor—"

Wait, where did the revolver come from!?

He stared in astonishment at the firearm gripped in his right hand, frozen in place.

[You are practicing the Saint Sword Technique. Your proficiency in Saint Sword Technique +1.]
[Saint Sword Technique (Novice 2/100) Note: Because you harbor a deep hatred for evil, you deal triple damage to dark creatures when using the Saint Sword Technique.]

"Damn it! I knew it!"

Seeing the prompt on his interface, especially that seemingly serious remark, Ron finally realized what had happened.

"Triple damage to dark creatures... what kind of Saint Sword Technique is this!"

At that moment, Ron felt as if the sky were collapsing. With his broken interface turning the technique into this monstrosity, how could he possibly teach Mr. Ancestor? Was he supposed to let the man learn this version of the Saint Sword Technique and then, during his interview with the Templar Order, tell those stuffy, traditional knights: "My lord, the times have changed"?

He would definitely be beaten to death!

***

"Teacher, the guest has been settled."

In a pitch-black chamber, Talia Ancestor lifted her skirt and performed a perfect, standard bow, even though no one could see her movements there.

"Beth, there is no need for such tedious, useless things in front of me."

A voice of indeterminate gender came from the darkness. When she heard the name "Beth," Talia’s beautiful face suddenly tightened. She was silent for a few seconds before emphasizing, "Teacher, I am Talia Ancestor."

A cold laugh drifted from the darkness.

"Is that so? You think that by wearing the skin of this merchant's daughter, you have truly become a member of the upper class?"

The voice from the depths of the chamber drew closer, cruelly tearing at "Talia’s" psychological defenses. Before she could retort, a pale, bloodless hand reached out and gripped her well-maintained cheek.

"Look, people never truly recognize themselves. I still remember three years ago, when you tricked the owner of this body onto my operating table, begging me to remove her brain and flesh nerves, and finally replace them with your own brain..."

"Tsk, the more authentic you were in your previous wretched state, the more hypocritical you are now."

The pale hand rubbed her cheek, then transitioned to a caress, smoothing back the chestnut hair to completely cover the fine surgical scars beneath the thick locks.

"Do you think it was thanks to anyone else that you were able to enter the Society of Enlightenment and receive the gaze of the Lord of Enlightenment?"

As he spoke, the hand moved to her delicate ear. In the darkness, the girl's body trembled slightly, as if she had already foreseen what was to come.

"Teacher... no..." Her voice trembled as if pleading, but the owner of the hand had no intention of letting her off so easily.

"Beth, my good student, everything has a price. Your brain and this body are still not perfectly compatible. You need me to train your body's coordination."

The voice in the darkness grew excited, to the point of sounding somewhat perverted.

*Slap, slap, slap...*

Suspicious sounds echoed quietly in the chamber, turning into a miserable wail a few minutes later.

"How did I lose again!!!"

The magic crystal voice-activated lights in the chamber suddenly flared to life, illuminating rows of murky glass jars on shelves, connected by flesh and nerves, each containing a brain that twitched slightly. "Talia" and her teacher sat at opposite ends of a table in front of the jars.

On the table, black pieces had forced the remaining white pieces into a dead end. It appeared to be a tense and thrilling game of Kingdom Ludo!

"This body is reaching its end as well." The middle-aged man tossed his pieces aside, his gaze fixed gloomily on his student. "Beth, there isn't much time left. Bring the guest here tonight. He needs us to perform a circumcision on him, to strip away the instinctive desires of the flesh!"

"The world misunderstands us too much; they would rather believe the Holy See, which has been manipulating their brains, than seek the truth for themselves."

"I want to see if a body gifted with Holy Light can carry the soul of an 'Evil One' like me!"

"Talia" was already accustomed to her mentor's cryptic ramblings, merely frowning as she said, "Teacher, this guest will certainly satisfy you, but our materials seem to be running low..."

"Then go and get some!" the man said. "We are being watched. Remember to be careful and stay disguised!"

A mentor caring for his student—what a heartwarming scene.