Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 851 - 792: The Dark Art of Revenge

"We experience negative emotional feedback resulting from what we lose—the more precious the thing is, the more excruciating the departure. The oppressed heart erupts with greater power, and the flames of revenge shall burn vigorously. The Angel of Fire absorbed such emotions, distilling the concept of [Revenge] from the darkness."

Aryan placed his hands flat on his thighs, shifting his gaze from Lyle’s face to the stained glass windows.

"To understand His Excellency George’s mental state, one need only know about his life story; he harbors a bizarre and paranoid protective desire for his own legion. It’s not an all-encompassing protection; rather, it’s a guardianship that skirts the line of death, with the Angel of Fire’s behavior being eccentric, flamboyant, and rebellious. Yet, his legion has never suffered casualties. Perhaps it’s his character trait to rather strip his own power to protect those under his command that made His Excellency George detest the agony of life and death separation."

"The concept [Revenge] hasn’t been activated, making the conditions for its execution quite clear. For Mr. Dark, who has almost lost everything, what hasn’t he lost."

"The condition for activating [Revenge], is the death of a member under George Edmond’s command."

"Each fallen knight will drive the Fallen Angel into greater madness."

"According to His Excellency Raymond’s speculation, the execution effect of the concept [Revenge] will significantly boost the power of the survivors, especially in terms of attack power, with each personnel’s death. Lyle, it’s not hard to understand George’s actions, the Literary Society should fall within his legion’s scope."

Lyle suddenly remembered that every time the Literary Society clashed with Mr. Raymond, the overacted death scenes of its members would always provoke Mr. Dark’s chuunibyou response. Consequently, his power was also shaped into a theatrical effect. He truly did gain strength from the fall of his subordinates.

"That is to say, Mr. Dark inviting me to join the Literary Society, was to regard me as a backup hidden resource." How dark indeed.

"No, that would be a normal person’s way of thinking. But His Excellency Saint George... Amen." Aryan clasped her hands in a sincere prayer of confession, and Lyle had already grasped her meaning.

The absolute coddling of Mr. Dark, the execution mechanism of concept [Revenge], the president of the Literary Society’s thought process, Mr. Raymond’s concerns, and the current status of the ones who lay dormant... The chaotic thoughts tangled together, yet Lyle managed to unravel clear clues from this disorderly ball of yarn.

"A concept that executes upon death or injury, a concept that doesn’t wholly depend on the host..." Lyle opened his mouth wide, speaking in unison with Aryan to provide an answer.

"He will initiate [Revenge] through his own death."

"Mr. Dark is preparing to sacrifice himself to bolster the entire legion!"

Lyle cursed in his heart, his next breath wanting to instinctively deny it. To think of self-sacrifice, could that be a maneuver conceived by a human? He looked toward Aryan, hoping the nun would immediately refute his speculation.

But Aryan spoke softly, "Sacrifice is, after all, one of the noblest virtues." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

There was no mistake; the reason that could break Mr. Raymond’s composure was his brother again being reckless with life, treating it as nothing, even though it was his own, and it was his second life.

Lyle remembered his own cold treatment towards Mr. Dark, and a sense of guilt welled up inside him.

"He lured you into joining like a cunning merchant, not seeking anything from you. Instead, he’s planning to cook himself, and offer you a share of the spoils."

A sense of eccentricity, Mr. Dark’s another facet, linking virtue with the president of the Literary Society—all of it clashed in Lyle’s mind, leaving him with goosebumps, as his fragmentary values propped up his thoughts to continue questioning.

"In that case, everything done by the Literary Society harbors deep meanings. Mr. Dark’s delusion of ruling over Andrey is simply to expand the effect range of the concept [Revenge]."

This time, Aryan gave Lyle the denial he sought.

"That’s not quite it; those whom His Excellency George counts as his subordinates are not likely to be from the realms of power, His Excellency George initially only cared about the Inquisitor Legion and the three leaders of the Crusaders; he showed little regard for the Cardinal and the Pope. The brothers His Excellency George treasures are those he chose himself, their standards of selection; we cannot judge."

"To gain the favor of an angel is no easy feat. Under normal circumstances..."

Her gaze hinted at something, and Lyle at least discerned jealousy and pity in it, how murky the eyes.

Lyle turned his head and walked towards the church’s main entrance, unhurried.

"I’ll help look for Mr. Dark’s whereabouts, though his actions stem from curiosity, I can’t stand coerced goodwill."

Aryan watched Lyle’s retreating figure, then turned back to resume her prayers.

"His Excellency Raymond and the Literary Society are more anxious than we are; you needn’t worry too much about that. Lyle, what’s more important is you; be prepared, Saint Heir, you are the result of multi-faceted cooperation, our trump card."

Lyle sniffled, leaving the chapel without the saturation of holy light, the scent of blood on his robe growing more pungent.

"Even so, I still don’t know what more I could possibly do."

[You needn’t do anything; our end is forged from daily accumulation.]

"A bad omen?"

[Long time no see, Lyle.]

"What does that mean?"

[What was sown in the past, now you reap. You’ve done quite a few things, Lyle. The union of the Liches, the rise of the dragon, now the companions we have assembled, are all choices of your heart.]

"But, the research I did was all about improving living standards, mundane stuff."

[No worries, they were already capable fighters.]