“Divine treasure?”

The Mercury Trojan Horse suddenly pulled out a small knife. As Tamashi looked over, she cut off her own hand and tossed it into the bonfire. Her flesh melted like snow in the flames, and as the tongues of fire rose, the night seemed to halt its advance.

“It’s the treasure of the deity,” she said calmly. “You’ve been here for just a day. What impressions do you have of Senlo?”

Harvey replied, “Maggots emerging from decaying corpses. To put it nicely, it’s as if new buds sprout from old, withered branches.”

Igor added, “The environment here is extremely harsh, with external threats like the Choking Green of the night, as well as internal strife from clashes between different Demi-God ideologies.”

“A chaotic Kingdom of wasteland,” Ashe said. “You once seemed to have a glorious era. I can’t understand how you ended up like this. It’s already 1668, yet you’re still stuck in an era of war.”

“A very accurate assessment,” the Mercury Trojan Horse remarked. “For Senlo, cult holy wars are inevitable, as the ideals of the Demi-Gods are often vast, targeting even the entire Senlo populace. For instance, the Fire Cat’s ideal of ‘allowing ordinary people to wield spirits’ requires unifying Senlo first to gather everyone’s strength to tackle obstacles.”

“Senlo once had four divine eras. Starting with the Fire Cat Divine Era, sorcerers realized that holy wars were a brutal and inefficient method of competition. To address this, they created a new system of competition using the Silent Spiral: the divine fire system.”

“Through the divine fire system, they could select the Demi-God of the next era with minimal intensity, allowing the smooth transition from the Fire Cat Divine Era to the Gray Fox Divine Era. However, when the Gray Fox Divine Era encountered the ‘cataclysm,’ the divine fire system was scattered, causing Senlo to regress to the era of cult holy wars.”

She paused. “The divine treasure sought by the New Tactile Sense is precisely the divine fire system.”

Ashe blinked. “Didn’t you say the divine fire system was scattered?”

“It was scattered, which means it can naturally be picked up and reassembled. Many cults are secretly gathering intelligence on the divine fire system, but the technology is too profound. Even if a cult finds parts, they don’t know how to reconstruct it,” the Mercury Trojan Horse explained. “The Tribulation Fire Temple collected the most parts, and when the New Tactile Sense destroyed the Tribulation Fire Temple, they took those parts as well.”

“Furthermore, no matter how complex a system is, it was created by sorcerers themselves. The successors may not necessarily be inferior to their predecessors. She believes she has the ability to recreate the divine fire system.”

Igor commented, “But she isn’t a Demi-God… Even if she reassembles the divine fire system and immediately sacrifices herself to become a Demi-God, how does that benefit her?”

“First, every candle peerage values their ideal more than their own life. If they are certain their ideal will be realized after their death, no candle peerage would hesitate,” the Mercury Trojan Horse stated. “Secondly… the ‘cataclysm’ of the Gray Fox Divine Era is rumored to have been caused by a Demi-God.”

Igor frowned. “The Demi-God’s ideal caused the cataclysm?”

“No,” replied the Mercury Trojan Horse. “It was just the Demi-God, simply the Demi-God.”

Harvey asked, “The Demi-God developed self-awareness?”

“Demi-Gods inherently have self-awareness; otherwise, they wouldn’t have ideals,” the Mercury Trojan Horse said. “But ordinary Demi-Gods mostly only have ‘instinct.’ However, those recognized by the divine fire system seem to retain the memory and thought from their lifetime, meaning they have a personality, or rather, deity status.”

“So that woman wants to use the divine fire system to turn herself into a Demi-God with a personality?” Ashe asked. “Sure, seeing someone who harmed us so much soar to success is infuriating, but it doesn’t really endanger us, apart from raising our blood pressure.” ṛÃ𝐍ÔBÊs

“First, once a Demi-God is recognized by the divine fire system, all other Demi-Gods in Senlo will perish,” the Mercury Trojan Horse explained. “The sorcerers of the Fire Cat Divine Era reportedly sealed numerous destructive Miracles in the Virtual Realm.”

“Secondly,” she smiled, “do you know what her ideal is?”

Ashe said, “I suppose it can’t be worse than turning the entire world into the undead.”

“I’m not interested in turning the world into the undead either,” Harvey said flatly. “I must emphasize again, the Necromancy Sect’s goal is not to create death but to transform the cherished aspects of the living into immortality.”

“Perhaps even worse,” the Mercury Trojan Horse said. “In simple terms, she believes that all Kingdoms are just a dream of the Divine Sovereign. What we call reality is merely an illusion that we are under while imprisoned by the Divine Sovereign; the Virtual Realm is our eternity.”

A dream?

Ashe, Igor, and Harvey were stunned. Even Tamashi couldn’t help but glance over, though he quickly turned away, slightly angling his head to watch them out of the corner of his eye.

“Her surface ideal is to pierce through all dreams, end all suffering, terminate all fates, and release all ‘prisoners’,” the Mercury Trojan Horse explained. “She likely has a deeper ideal, but I don’t know it.”

“…I never thought I could hear two different types of delusional fantasies from two evil ravens in one night,” Tamashi scoffed. “Rotten thoughts do indeed produce tedious excretions.”

Igor asked, “…Even with such a doomed ideal, would the divine fire system recognize it?”

“Do you think the Fire Cat’s ‘Allow ordinary people to wield spirits,’ the Circle Cicada’s ‘Immortality,’ or the Light Chaser’s ‘resurrection of the dead’ are inevitably successful ideals?” the Mercury Trojan Horse asked. “Besides…”

“What if she succeeds?”

They looked at the Mercury Trojan Horse, who remained calm. “Can you be certain that reality isn’t just a dream?”

Igor immediately responded, “For consensus propositions like this, it’s the responsibility of the skeptic to provide contrary evidence.”

“Why don’t Kingdoms interconnect? Why can only our souls enter the Virtual Realm, yet virtual realm passages can connect different Kingdoms? Why do we remain in the Virtual Realm after we die?” the Mercury Trojan Horse questioned. “These are just random reasons I thought of. Since she is steadfast in her ideals, she must have found more convincing evidence.”

“Even if reality is just a dream, that’s no reason to destroy it,” the Mercury Trojan Horse said, cutting off a piece of her forearm with a small knife and tossing it into the bonfire. “Just as you wouldn’t choose to walk into the night to test whether you’re part of the candle peerage, we don’t need to pin our hopes on an eternity after death. Life isn’t about what’s real or fake; it’s about happiness and regrets.”

“Moreover, even if her ideal doesn’t succeed, once all the Demi-Gods are gone, you’ll only survive in Senlo by following her. If you don’t, every person from Senlo you encounter will be your enemy. Right now, you might not have to follow a Demi-God, but during the era of the divine, not following meant being an evil heretic.”

“Not to mention, if she fully becomes the Tactile Sense, she could control the Four Pillars Cult. Then, how would you ever solve the Blood Seed issue with her?”

Ashe couldn’t help but ask, “Since you know how dangerous she is, why haven’t you taken care of her sooner?”

The Mercury Trojan Horse gestured to her own mercurial neck. “She defected from the Four Pillars Cult because I sent someone to assassinate her. This neck was broken as a result of my efforts. As for why I accepted her in the first place-well, I’ve never met her in person; our conversations were always remote. Plus…”

“Everyone has flaws. You were confident you could control everything, so you weren’t worried about her madness and only wanted to use her talents,” Igor said calmly. “That’s the way of using people, though this time, it backfired on you.”

“Wait a minute,” Ashe suddenly remembered something. “Is she both the Tactile Sense and a Demi-God?”

“There hasn’t been a precedent for that, but I don’t rule out the possibility,” the Mercury Trojan Horse replied. “However, when the fifth era of the divine arrives, the Four Pillars Cult will inevitably enter a period of dormancy.”

“Nice way to put it-just means they’ll crack down on you,” Ashe silently grumbled.

Through the Mercury Trojan Horse’s analysis, they understood the urgency of the three crises. The most immediate threat was the night; if it wasn’t resolved, Harvey would grow to resent Alice. Next was the Blood Seed issue; without solving it, they’d eventually be drained. Lastly, there was the divine treasure: if they didn’t destroy that person’s ideal, they would eventually become sacrificial offerings to it.

But…

“How does becoming the Tactile Sense help solve these crises?” Ashe asked, clearly puzzled. “Can the Four Pillars sense three wishes in me?”

The Mercury Trojan Horse gestured toward the night outside. “This camp was overrun not just because everyone died but also because the Four Pillars shifted their gaze away. Once you become the Tactile Sense, the camp’s statue will reactivate, naturally continuing to resist the night.”

“As for the Blood Seed and the divine treasure, at their core, they’re problems caused by that person. You don’t need to solve the issues; you just need to deal with the person. Becoming the Tactile Sense means you can prevent her from controlling the Four Pillars Cult, and you can command the cult to pursue her.”

“Sounds like a risk-free venture,” Igor remarked. “But why recruit Ashe, an outsider, instead of someone closer to you?”

“Not everyone can become the Tactile Sense,” the Mercury Trojan Horse said. “Including you all, I’ve only encountered four people fit for it.”

“Then why-“

“Because if she becomes the Tactile Sense, she definitely wouldn’t spare me-she holds grudges,” the Mercury Trojan Horse explained. “With you, I at least have a chance to escape.”

While the answer might still be a lie, all pressing issues had been addressed, and the bonfire’s vicinity fell silent as everyone pondered.

“Indeed, I can’t pass up such an opportunity,” Igor suddenly announced. “Becoming the Tactile Sense not only grants near-divine abilities but also control over a cult poised to dominate this land… Ashe, you’re not planning to steal my opportunity, are you?”

With just a few words, the Con Artist had staked his claim on the opportunity as if any of Ashe’s intentions would be morally questionable. Yet at this point, Ashe struggled to sit up and looked beyond to Raven.

“Tamashi, did you know her before she became the Mercury Trojan Horse?”

“Yes.”

“What was she like before?”

“A cheerful, confident girl who loved pranks and laughter.”

“And afterward?”

Tamashi turned to meet Ashe’s gaze.

“My mentor was pierced through the throat by this very grey fox blade,” Tamashi pointed to the weapon on his elbow. “And many, many others-Arnoi, Ye Lu, Qieshu…”

Tamashi paused. “I killed them all with my own hands.”

“When I tried to assassinate Tanomoo, my mentor, my friends, my comrades, and my juniors were all controlled by her to surround and attack me.”

After speaking, Raven turned back to stare at the bonfire.

The Mercury Trojan Horse remained unfazed by these accusations, as if she were merely hearing someone else’s story.

“It seems becoming the Tactile Sense might lead to a dramatic change in personality,” Ashe noted. “Igor, I can barely handle you as you are now. If you become a hundred times more evil, I doubt I could pull you back. What about you, Harvey?”

Harvey replied, “I’ll try to be a hundred times more evil.”

“I forgot you’re not exactly a nice guy either…” Ashe muttered, rubbing his forehead. “But if it were me who became a hundred times more evil, it’d be easier to manage, right? After all, Igor, you still hold one of my wishes, and you’re a mental sorcerer.”

“The future me will be in your hands.”

Igor attempted to sit up, but Ashe gently pushed him back down.

“…Wait, was it my wish, or yours?” Igor asked with a puzzled expression.

Ashe’s lips curled into a sly smile. “That’s what’s called a sunk cost, Mr. Con Artist.”

“Mercury Trojan Horse, I’ve decided. Let it be me.”

“It was always meant to be you,” the Mercury Trojan Horse said calmly. “The Tactile Sense is not a test you pass by merely qualifying; it’s a competitive position.”

“If Igor is considered qualified, then you and that woman are exceptional. But only one Tactile Sense can exist in each Kingdom, meaning you’ll have to compete with her for the favor of the Four Pillars.”

“What a terrible way of putting it,” Ashe lamented.

Ashe chose to become the Tactile Sense not only out of a sense of adventure but also due to an underlying curiosity. He wasn’t a fool; every time he entered a new Kingdom, he encountered the Four Pillars Cult first. Aside from the influence of the Eternal Wanderer, his biggest suspicion was Heath.

Heath’s past was a tangled mess, and becoming the Tactile Sense might be the key to unraveling it. After all, running wasn’t a solution. He hoped to resolve all issues with his current body before finally confronting the sword Princess.

“What do I have to do?” Ashe asked.

“It’s simple. I’ll activate the potential within you, and all you need to do is call upon the Four Pillars,” the Mercury Trojan Horse instructed. “You know their names, right? Don’t forget to add their titles.”

Ashe nodded, clasping his hands together and chanting:

“O Supreme Lord of Myriad Glories.”

“Pure azure Lord of Wind, Rain, and Snow.”

“Eternal fiery heart of the undying wanderer.”

“Dreaming free spirit in every nook and cranny.”

“Great Four Pillars,” Ashe called out loudly, “Please heed my command!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay