NOVEL NEXT Ch. 8
Chapter 8: Kill That Vile Inducer
“You have already touched the strings of this world, Miss Mel.”
Oliver nodded in approval, This is the eternal cycle.
Every god is trying to break this cycle, yet they are also unknowingly maintaining it, this is the deepest truth of the world.
Even between opposing gods, there exists a certain subtle balance.
“For example?”
I asked.
“For example, as believers of the Red Moon, we should follow our instincts, chase our desires, and offer sacrifices to the Red Moon.”
Oliver’s voice became solemn, but at the same time, we must remember that we are not fanatics, not those lunatics who would give up everything to please a god.
Therefore, even when following instinct, one needs to retain reason, even when chasing desire, one must know when to stop.
“I understand, thank you, Bishop Oliver.”
I nodded slightly.
“You’re welcome.”
Oliver shook his head, “Is there anything else you want to know, such as the sacrificial ritual of the Red Moon.”
“Sacrificial ritual?”
A trace of curiosity flashed in my eyes.
“On the night of every full moon, we will hold a sacrificial ritual, to please the Red Moon through sacrifice, and thus receive the Red Moon’s blessing.”
Oliver took another dark red tome from the bookshelf, a blood moon was drawn on its cover.
“First, the ritual requires preparing an offering, no need to elaborate on this point.”
Oliver opened the pages, pointing to the text on them.
There are no restrictions on the offerings, whether it's a tangible object or an abstract concept, for example, blood, life, or even soul.
Of course, some believers will choose to offer their acts of chasing desire and following instinct as a sacrifice to the Red Moon.
Hearing this, I remembered my sacrifice to the Red Moon last night.
Using the hunt of a heretic as an offering.
This seemed to be an abstract concept.
“Do different offerings have different effects?”
I asked.
“That’s right,” Oliver nodded, “Sacrifice blood, and the Red Moon will bestow healing, sacrifice life, and the Red Moon will bestow new life.”
“Healing and new birth....”
I once again remembered the bruise on my neck that had disappeared, and that feeling of being refreshed as if brand new when I looked in the mirror this morning.
“Then what about sacrificing a soul?”
“We do not advocate the sacrifice of souls.”
Oliver shook his head, “Because that goes against our doctrine.”
“Why?”
I was puzzled.
“Sacrifice a soul, and the Red Moon will bestow secrets——this is something only those who chase knowledge would do.”
“I see....”
I nodded lightly and continued to flip through the tome in my hands.
The pages recorded the details of various sacrificial rituals, some looked ordinary, some made my brows furrow slightly, and some were filled with a certain morbid sense of beauty.
“Of course, sacrifice does not necessarily have to harm others.”
Oliver added, “Self-sacrifice is the noblest form of depravity, by sacrificing a part of oneself, one can also gain the favor of the Red Moon.”
“For example?”
“For example, sacrificing one’s own blood, memories, emotions, sanity, etc.”
Oliver’s tone became deep, “The more precious the thing, the more abundant the return.”
“Dong dong dong——”
A knock on the door suddenly sounded from outside, interrupting the conversation between the two.
“It seems it’s about time, I still have a sermon today.”
Oliver closed the book and returned it to its original place.
“Would you like to come along, Miss Mel?”
“Can I not go?”
I didn't really want to go listen to some sermon.
“Of course, that’s your freedom.”
Oliver smiled, without any blame or dissatisfaction.
“Then, if there is anything else you want to know, you can come to me at any time.”
“Mm, thank you.”
I bowed slightly, Oliver gave a faint smile, then drew a symbol of a lunar wheel on his chest.
“This is the greeting etiquette of a Red Moon believer.”
He said.
So, I followed his example and drew a lunar wheel on my chest.
After leaving the church, I walked on the road home, my mind occupied with thoughts about the conversation I just had.
I actually wanted to ask about Shepherds, but Oliver had no time, and I didn't really want to stay in the church.
Walking on the road, as I passed by a pharmacy, the knowledge that had appeared in my mind after shepherding Jessica last night suddenly came to mind.
The formula for a healing potion.
I stood in front of the pharmacy, looking at the various bottles and jars displayed in the glass window, the formula that had suddenly appeared in my mind last night emerged clearly.
As if it had been branded deep within my mind.
“Perhaps I can prepare some medicine at home and just say it’s a formula the Bishop taught me.”
I mumbled to myself, then pushed open the pharmacy door.
As soon as I entered, a smell of various herbs mixed together assailed my nostrils, shelves were neatly lined with a dazzling array of medicines, and an old man was tidying something up behind the counter.
“Hello, I need some herbs.”
I walked to the counter and said, while sizing up the old man.
The old man did not have much filth entwined around him, considered a relatively clean type.
He seemed like a good person.
Hearing my words, the old man behind the counter looked up and smiled kindly, “Of course, little girl, what do you need?”
A pinch of rosemary, three leaves of St. John's wort, seven hawthorn berries soaked in holy water.
Also gentian, silverleaf, moonstone powder, blue butterfly wings, oh right, please give me five test tubes as well.
I recited the formula from my mind one by one.
Hearing this, the old man looked at me with some surprise, then nodded, and began to collect the materials in the store, putting them into separate paper bags.
During this time, he looked up at me a few times, seeming quite interested in this little girl.
“That will be one shilling and seven pence in total, little girl, are you an apothecary?”
“Running an errand for my family.”
I smiled, then took a silver coin and two copper coins from my wallet and placed them on the table.
“Just right.”
“Alright.”
The old man smiled and took the money, “Have a safe trip, little girl.”
After leaving the pharmacy, I stood at the entrance organizing the herbs I had just bought.
According to my calculations, these herbs should be enough to concoct three potions.
“Da da da——”
The church bell rang from a distance, reminding the girl that it was almost noon.
I looked up at the sky, the sunlight was hazy, which made me involuntarily think of the clear Red Moon from last night.
Continuing forward along the stone-paved road, my thoughts returned to the conversation in the church earlier.
About sacrifice, gods, cycles this information churned constantly in my mind.
“Shepherd, shepherding.... everyone’s method of shepherding seems to be different.”
I touched the cloth bag of herbs, “According to that woman.... Jessica, her method of shepherding seems much simpler than mine. Just chatting with others is enough.... why is it that I have to kill people....?”
The girl complained in a low voice.
While passing through a small alley, I noticed a beggar curled up in a corner, although the person looked ragged, his soul did not have much filth.
At the same time, a gentleman in a suit leaning on a cane walked past the beggar, and casually tossed a few pence inside.
The clear sound of metal hitting the ground awoke a certain existence curled up in the dark alley.
Those black fungal threads parasitic in the folds of the soul were now moving under the magnificent suit like living things.
This made me frown involuntarily.
Arriving at my doorstep, I stopped, and before pushing the door open, I gently drew a lunar wheel on my chest.
This action was already starting to feel natural, just as I was gradually accepting my identity as a Shepherd of the Red Moon.
“After lunch, I’ll try making the potion.”
With this thought, the girl eagerly pushed open the door to her home.
Just as she was about to enter, a whisper suddenly reached her ear.
(Kill that vile inducer)
(Lead the lost lamb back to the right path)
My steps paused, and just as I was still thinking about what had happened, my shoulder was suddenly patted lightly.
“Good afternoon, Mel!”