Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength

"So—sir, you entered Kulpis at dusk today. Why then come to my church at midnight?"

Seeing Il beginning a more detailed examination of the patient, Hopkins cast a glance at Dominic's face.

But the question asked by the old priest.

Indeed, it was a question that made Dominic both happy and afraid.

How should he answer?

Once he opens his mouth now, will his life be judged?

Perhaps he, too, would resign himself to the fate of becoming a test subject, like the person lying in front of him?

"..."

"I... I don't want to die!"

Driven by strong fear, the most desired thought in his heart slipped out of Dominic's mouth directly.

It was at this moment that Dominic suddenly realized—

He could now speak and had even regained his ability to move!

"What? You don't want to die?" For Dominic's current response, the old priest Hopkins was rather speechless, "As long as you are not here to cause trouble in Kulpis, why would I take your life? Moreover, Mr. Ronald wouldn't allow such a thing either."

Muttering inexplicably for a few moments, Hopkins quickly steered the topic back on track:

"Alright, now answer my question properly."

"Your identity and your purpose here, as long as you clarify these. Believe me, you won't have any trouble walking out of here."

As he spoke, it seemed that some magic power was revealed in Hopkins' eyes, making Dominic feel that this old man could see through all the lies in the world.

Moreover, at this point in the conversation, Dominic had no choice but to believe it.

So he responded straightforwardly:

"Priest, I'm Dominic, sent by Queen Dantrian to Black Mountain Town for the subsequent management of urban planning and development. I came here tonight, just wanting to pay a visit to Mr. Ronald and get acquainted with such an important figure in advance."

"Really! I truly have no malicious intent! Please, you must discern clearly!"

"Dominic... Her Majesty the Queen..."

Upon hearing Dominic's reply, Hopkins immediately looked at Il, who was performing cranial surgery on the patient. This essentially non-human creature was completely indifferent to Dominic's state, focusing intently on the task at hand.

"Hey! Monster?"

"From your tone just now, it sounds like you've met this Dominic, right?"

"Ah, yes, yes!" Il nodded while performing the surgery. At the same time, this guy even managed to spare a moment to smile at Dominic, "Actually, I think some of the plants I've cultivated are quite suitable for sale after mutation, so I've always wanted to communicate commercially with humans about it."

"Tonight, while checking those slope protection plants by the roadside, I happened to see this guy, so I greeted him."

"Huh?!"

If not for the patient currently undergoing brain examination by Il, Hopkins would have wanted to slap this damned monster on the head!

But human life is of paramount importance, so he held back the anger in his heart.

"What damned scheme do you have this time, you wretched monster?"

Il's reaction was extremely innocent!

"What do you mean by 'damned scheme'? You buy; I sell. Normal trade. Isn't this a rule you humans always use? Why are you begrudging me for not abiding by human laws now?"

Living in Kulpis for several months, Hopkins had completely figured out Il's temperament.

So, he paid no heed to the other's defense, simply and directly stating:

"Then just tell me, what plants do you intend to sell to Mr. Dominic?"

"An herb that makes people happy!"

"It's an independent breed I specially cultivated, extracted from the purple mouse-tail flower."

Il answered without hesitation.

And after saying this, she even seemed a bit happy, extending an invitation to Hopkins:

"If you don't believe it, you can try it too. The feeling is truly marvelous!"

"If humans experience this supreme exquisite joy, I believe they would do anything to obtain this herb!"

Upon hearing this invitation, Hopkins opened his old eyes wide.

Dominic, standing beside him, saw it clearly. A vertical pupil with a burning flame appeared in the old priest's eyes, and even the room's temperature rose accordingly. On the old priest's hand, a golden ring he wore also emerged with beautiful, unfamiliar text under the heat.

"You monster, you're selling drugs again?"

The next second, Hopkins shouted in anger.

But Il, on the other hand, responded righteously:

"But from what I understand, don't you humans also extract money from your own kind in the same way? There's no fundamental difference between the two. Why do you only take issue with me?"

"..."

Hopkins was thus stumped by Il's question.

If he were an unreasonable person, he could, of course, directly vent his anger at the monster in front of him.

But Hopkins was not like this.

So faced with Il's retort, the old priest sighed with a dejected expression, the glowing ring on his finger also returning to its usual form.

"Forget it, just continue examining this guy's body."

"I'll go outside to check on the other patients. I sure don't want it to be such that when the church door opens tomorrow morning, people see four big mushroom men standing there drooling and laughing silly, with yellow spores emanating from their bodies."

As he returned to the chapel, Hopkins made sure to glance at Dominic once.

To this noble sent by the queen to Black Mountain Town, he merely whispered a reminder to "take care of yourself," and then turned to leave.

"..."

At this point, all the pressure returned to Dominic.

Watching Il meticulously doing the brain surgery on the patient, he didn't dare speak to him, or even move his position, for fear of making any dangerous moves.

He stood there nervously for quite a while, only daring to turn cautiously when he heard someone walking from outside the church:

"Ro...Ronald?"

In an instant, Dominic's previously dead eyes lit up.

He seemed to see a hero, breaking through layers of difficulties, coming to his rescue!

Under the influence of such intense emotions, Dominic couldn't help but fall to his knees, wrapping his arms around Ronald's legs.

"I... I didn't see anything, and I know nothing!"

"Please, let me go back!"

"..."

"Huh?"

Faced with Dominic's reaction, Ronald, who came to check on the situation, was also momentarily stunned.

Finally, he looked over at Il, who was still examining the patient's brain changes, and recalled the complaints from Hopkins a moment ago, only then understanding what the unlucky Dominic had gone through in Kulpis.

So Ronald quickly lifted Dominic off the ground, almost carrying him out of the church.

"Mr. Dominic, you should rest early."

"Although there was indeed no danger, your experience in Kulpis might have been a bit too overwhelming for you..."