When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 689: Chapter 78 Eat Date Pills Chapter 689: Chapter 78 Eat Date Pills After the other elves had left, Sherlock and Lily came over with the Grey Saintess.

Upon seeing the fruits that Aiwass was holding, Sherlock’s eyebrows quirked up, “Interesting.”

Although he did not know exactly what had happened, he had a rough idea of what had just transpired.

Cardinal Matilda carefully picked up a fruit and placed it in her mouth.

She chewed slowly and thoughtfully, unconsciously furrowing her brow.

“Is it very sour?”

Aiwass asked, observing her expression.

Driven by a subtle psychology, he was quite concerned about the taste of the fruit that had grown on his body.

He had never imagined he would have the self-perception of a laying hen…

A situation that had never crossed Aiwass’s mind before.

“…It’s alright.”

Cardinal Matilda opened her eyes, somewhat surprised, “The taste is quite good…

in fact, remarkably so.

It starts off a bit sour when you first put it in your mouth, then it turns into a slightly astringent sweetness.

There’s also an odd fragrance…

leaving a lingering scent on the lips and teeth after eating it.”

Her eyes are usually narrow, appearing very gentle, as if she were always smiling.

But Aiwass had never been able to clearly see the color of her eyes—only now could he see that she had deep blue eyes similar to her hair color.

“I don’t think it would taste bad.”

Aiwass breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a light laugh.

However, this confirmed to Aiwass that the fruit could likely be used to trigger the Shepherd’s Nurturing.

It had triggered the Dedication entry, so it could be considered a form of sacrifice.

[Sacrifice of Flesh (Purple): You are proficient in the art of self-sacrifice.

Now, you will become even more so.]

It made sense to call it a sacrifice.

After all, when Aiwass pulled the object from his eye socket, there was a moment of soul-tearing agony.

It felt as if a flesh bud had grown deep into his bones, and then he directly ripped it out…

The growth of it was fueled by drawing nutrients from the soul.

Fortunately, Aiwass possessed the entry called Soul of Dissolution, which allowed his soul to regenerate and was amorphous, so tearing it out caused him less harm.

“Let me try one.”

Sherlock unceremoniously picked up a fruit and popped it into his mouth, somewhat surprised by the pleasant taste.

“You said it was a date?

The flavor is faintly similar, but the texture isn’t.

Too soft, somewhat like a cherry.”

Sherlock pondered, “As for the taste, it’s only slightly sour initially.

That is probably due to the skin.

The flesh on the inside is cloyingly sweet, and as for the texture…”

As he spoke, he picked up another fruit and ate it.

“…a bit like blood?”

He added uncertainly, “Seems to have a sting to it.”

“No pit?”

Aiwass was somewhat astonished to see Sherlock not spitting anything out.

He inquired further, “Any other reactions?

Like vitality being replenished, or desires becoming stronger, something like that…”

The black air that twined around the fruit made him curious.

But Sherlock shook his head, “Just a normal fruit, I don’t feel any different.”

—That wasn’t right.

How could this be a normal fruit?

The Fruit of Sin Thorn, grown from a dream, nourished by a soul…

“Neither did I.”

Cardinal Matilda also replied.

Yet, she was clearly intrigued, “It’s the first time in a thousand years that a bishop did not burst into flames during their elevation ceremony but received a bunch of peculiar dates instead.

I’ve overseen the Department of Sanctity for a long time and have never witnessed such a phenomenon.”

“…May I take some to keep?”

“It’s fine.”@@novelbin@@

Aiwass said, handing a dozen pill-like red fruits to Cardinal Matilda.

He warned, “Although I don’t know if they have any special effects, they probably shouldn’t be eaten in excess.

After all, they grew from a Sin Thorn.”

“…Sin Thorn?”

The most astonished was the Pure White Saintess.

After all, she had more interaction with the Eternal Pope, who was wrapped in Sin Thorns.

She looked at Aiwass, “So Sin Thorns…

actually bear fruit?”

“I don’t know about that.”

Aiwass shook his head innocently.

He truly didn’t know—he wasn’t even sure what Sin Thorns were.

The only thing he could confirm at that point was that the “Paradox of Illumination” the Candle Master had spoken to him about was actually asking whether he wanted to revert to being a Torchbearer.

As Aiwass met the requirements for both Torchbearer and Illuminator, he chose to be an Illuminator.

If he had progressed to the Fifth Power Level, there would have been no turning back…

so the Candle Master specifically checked in to see if Aiwass had deliberately made this choice or out of ignorance had chosen the wrong path.

—The boss Candle Master even gave me a chance to reconsider; I’m really moved to tears.

Aiwass felt a touch of emotion in his heart.

By that logic, it seemed that all future Illuminators might end up growing fruit during their elevation ceremonies…

but that might not necessarily be the case.

Aiwass was a bit impulsive at the time, so when his eyes were itching, he simply pulled out the Sin Thorn.

He seemed to take a casual and risky action, but it was actually deliberate.

Since the Candle Master was right in front of him, if there were any danger, the Candle Master certainly wouldn’t stand by and watch him get into trouble.

——If he didn’t take risks before the adults, would he take risks when he was alone?

But if he hadn’t pulled it out at that moment, it might have grown into Sin Thorn or even flowers on his eyes, you never really know.

“To grow flowers…”

Upon this thought, Aiwass paused for a moment.

Then it dawned on him.

He remembered.

In the game, the professional portrait of the Illuminator featured a white-haired girl whose side bangs covered one eye, and from between the tightly clenched fingers around her fingers, like knuckle bones, peeked two white blossoms.

Initially, Aiwass had thought it was just a simple artistic composition.

After all, there were no skills related to flowers among the Illuminator’s abilities.

There was also a possibility that because Aiwass had given one-third of his soul to Isabel, it hadn’t received enough nourishment to turn into white flowers…

So, Aiwass resolved —— next time, he wouldn’t tear it off first; he would let the Sin Thorn grow to see what it would become if it continued to develop.

“I want to try it.”

The Grey Saintess made up her mind and picked up a berry to put it in her mouth.

But after only two chews, she suddenly froze.

She appeared to feel some pain, abruptly covering her eyes, which were wrapped in white ribbons.

Her body couldn’t stop trembling.

Aiwass immediately tensed, “Your Highness, the Holy Maiden?”

——Could it be that the Fruit of Sin Thorn reacted with the amberficate in some way?

Others might not know, but he knew.

Grey’s eyes had undergone amberfication and she had already lost normal sight.

“…

No, I’m fine.”

Grey quickly raised her hand, enduring the pain and trying to soothe herself, but even Aiwass could hear her voice was trembling.

However, without waiting for her own pain to subside, she immediately made a request to Aiwass, “Archbishop Moriarty…

no, Aiwass.

If you can get similar fruits later, could you prioritize giving them to me?

Whatever you ask, I’ll do my best to help you.”

In her calm voice, for the first time, Aiwass heard a hint of urgency.

And hearing this, Aiwass paused for a moment, inwardly relieved.

…It seems there was indeed a reaction.

But it seems to be something good.

Apparently, the thing has a special healing effect on amberfication.

I knew it, this thing has to have some efficacy…

“Of course,” Aiwass smiled, “all these are for you.”

After all, the others had no use for them.

Rather than that, it was not particularly suitable for other Elves to discover the effects of these things.

First of all, to produce the “Fruit of Sin Thorn,” one must be an Illuminator of the Fourth Power Level.

Second, one must have the trait of the Soul of Dissolution; otherwise, the first time it was physically torn off, the soul might have been damaged…

And Aiwass also did not know whether it needed “Sacrifice of Flesh” to concentrate and enhance the medicinal effect.

As it stood, Aiwass was the only one who could continue to produce it.

And in the Holy Nation, there were too many Elves undergoing amberfication.

Considering Pure White’s reaction, it seemed that it wasn’t a miraculous medicine that could cure immediately upon consumption.

Even if Aiwass were thrown into a juicer, not many people could be saved.

If this secret were to be exposed, it could be somewhat dangerous.

Although most Elves possess the desire for Dedication, that is not all of them; and even if they have a desire for Dedication, it does not mean they are one hundred percent good people —— sacrificing others for the sake of others is also a form of Dedication.

For safety’s sake, it would be better to hand them all over to Pure White.

If Pure White can remove the symptoms of amberfication before the Pope’s succession ceremony in March, perhaps the disaster of the Holy Nation could be lifted, right?

Even if it’s only treating the symptoms…

it’s still a good thing.

Cardinal Matilda was also contemplative.

She was obviously aware of Grey’s secret of amberfication, and thus she quickly realized something from the Saintess’s reaction.

“Then I’ll give these to you first, Pure White.”

As she spoke, she carefully handed the handful of fruits she was holding to the Holy Maiden.

Grey thanked her, “Thank you, Cardinal Matilda.”

She then looked at Aiwass and bowed slightly, “Thank you very much, Aiwass…

If you encounter any trouble in the Holy Nation later, please be sure to come find me.”

The Grey Saintess’s attitude toward Aiwass had obviously changed.

Cardinal Matilda’s expression also became serious.

She narrowed her eyes and said earnestly to Aiwass, “Aiwass, it is best to keep this matter secret.

I will contact the Hall of Cardinals immediately, before then, don’t tell anyone else about this…

“If I’m not mistaken, you might become the benefactor of the entire Holy Nation, or even of all Elves.”

But upon witnessing the Cardinal Archbishop’s reaction, Sherlock furrowed his brow.

He looked at Aiwass with some concern, feeling that his friend who had recently become a new Archbishop seemed to have gotten involved in a troublesome situation.

He had only come to learn the Divine Arts, after all…

…Or is it that the trouble has always been here?

It was just waiting for him to arrive.