Chapter 618: New Year's Gifts for Each
Chapter 618: New Year's Gifts for Each
Celebrating the New Year is an annual grand event in human society, and it indeed seems more interesting than ordinary days.
On a secluded island, the cold and ruthless wind stirred ripples across the sea, while a small chapel stood rooted on the island, unmoved by the fierce winds.
Inside the chapel, silver candlesticks were lit, making the entire chapel exceptionally bright.
Adam, dressed in ordinary priestly attire, was gazing through the stained glass windows, looking at the New Year celebrations taking place on the mainland.
Although he had witnessed countless such events over the years, this time, it stirred a slight ripple in his heart.
He speculated that it might be due to his fusion with the True Creator, influenced by the human side of that entity.
Even though the fusion was brief and they separated, with Adam temporarily taking the lead, the human side of the True Creator had slightly affected him.
Family reunions during the New Year, appearing harmonious and joyful, often reveal the ugly side of human nature when faced with real interests. Sometimes, they don't even need the lure of interests to start conflicts.
Just like the eight archangels under him, the divine side deemed them untrustworthy, certain they would betray at crucial moments, while the human side chose to trust their loyalty.
In the end, he could only taste the bitterness of betrayal in a cold, dark world.
What does it mean to be the True Creator?
Human nature is not something real; it's a fictional concept, formed by various moral beliefs.
Adam pondered quietly, then glanced at the island beneath his feet, where the True Creator was resting on the other side.
Was he saddened by the matter of Ouroboros?
Human nature is indeed fragile, easily shattered.
Just like that being among the stars.
Everything he valued was his fatal weakness. The reason he remained unharmed was that the day of life-and-death struggle had not yet arrived.
As Adam was about to withdraw his gaze, a red light flashed from afar and landed outside the window in front of him.
Medici, an unexpected visitor.
They exchanged glances through the window, and Adam opened the chapel door. After Medici entered, he placed the items he was carrying on a table in the corner of the chapel.
There was grilled sausage, pan-fried fish, braised ribs, a bottle of wine, and two glasses.
Adam merely watched calmly, neither stopping nor showing any intention to sit.
"Try some," Medici poured a glass of wine for Adam, "You've become increasingly detached from worldly affairs, like a stone statue in the chapel, devoid of warmth."
"Consuming worldly affairs doesn't equate to warmth, nor does isolation mean transcendence," Adam replied calmly, "I'm simply not interested in these things."
"In the New Year, every family celebrates reunion. I just couldn't bear to see you alone in this empty chapel."
Medici poured himself a glass of wine, smiled, and said, "Do you know what ordinary people call someone like you?"
"A solitary person, and it's not a good term. It's colder than this winter season."
"I remember when we used to fight against foreign deities, you would join us around the campfire to celebrate victories in advance, and you once hosted the eight archangels in the palace."
"They're gone now, but I'm still here, and I won't leave again."
"Unless you ask me to."
Medici continued speaking, pushing the filled glass of wine closer to Adam.
He raised his own glass, looked at the red wine, and said with ease, "The stars once said you owed him a Conqueror's extraordinary trait. With your personality, you wouldn't default, nor leave a possible flaw for the stars."
"In the human world, people always give a New Year's gift to those close to them."
"I've prepared a gift as well."
Medici finished his wine, then took a wooden box from his pocket, opened it on the table, revealing a red glow—an extraordinary trait of a Conqueror.
Adam continued to watch the scene calmly.
...
Sooner or later, this broken lamp will be sunk into the sea!
Gadriya, standing behind Bernadette, thought silently.
She couldn't stand the broken lamp speaking condescendingly to the queen, especially with that attitude, which was infuriating.
"New year, new atmosphere, Bernadette. Considering your decent treatment of me over the years, I don't mind giving you a little help after I return to the stars."
The lamp god's tone grew more arrogant, and the entire wishing lamp floated up.
"It seems you've had too much to drink tonight and need to sober up."
Bernadette's eyes flashed with cold light, and before the lamp god could react, she sealed him back into the wishing lamp and threw it onto the candlestick, lighting it up neatly.
"Now it's quiet."
Bernadette glanced at Hastur, sitting at the head of the table, and seeing no displeasure on his face, only a slight smile, she understood that the Hastur sitting here tonight was just Hastur.
"The dishes from Intis suit my taste. Audrey, Sharon, you can try them too," Hastur invited them to join the feast with a smile.
As the host of the evening, Bernadette also invited Fors andCattleya to sit.
Initially, Fors was tense, but after drinking some wine, she gradually relaxed.
Especially after Audrey whispered a few words in her ear, she became even more at ease.
She stood up, raised her glass, and solemnly addressed Hastur, "Mr. Hastur, thank you for all the help you've given me and Hugh."
Hastur nodded with a smile, and Fors drank her glass of wine, feeling a sense of relief.
The banquet continued until past two in the morning, when Hastur opened a portal to let Audrey, Sharon, Susie, and Aizara return.
Bernadette also letCattleya and the others go to rest.
She knew that Hastur's visit to the Rossede Islands tonight was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
For instance, the lamp god's behavior tonight was likely due to some promise, probably permission from the stars to return to the sky.
Late at night, the Rossede Islands remained lively, with people here enjoying festivals more than those in Backlund, reveling in the festivities.
Bernadette stood on the open-air balcony of the highest level of the fairy tale castle, under the starry sky, overlooking the Starsea Kingdom she had painstakingly established.
When Hastur arrived, she turned to gaze at him and asked, "Are you the stars or Hastur now?"
"Sometimes there's no need to distinguish between the two. I don't have separate divine and human sides."
"Such a statement is troubling."
"That's not my problem to worry about."
Bernadette withdrew her gaze and, with a businesslike attitude, said, "What brings the stars here tonight?"
"I suddenly want to hunt the Hidden Sage," Hastur said with a smile, "Are you interested?"
He had fully digested the Sequence 3 ENLIGHTENED MASTER and was ready to ascend to Sequence 2. He already had plans for the necessary Sequence 2 extraordinary trait and had the Church of the Yellow ROB help him investigate it.
The Moss Ascetic Order, which worships the Hidden Sage, has a Sequence 2 angel acting as the spokesperson for the Hidden Sage, who is also the de facto leader of the order, similar to a pope in a church.
Notably, this spokesperson was originally a demon from the Blood Cult, who later joined the Hidden Sage and, with his knowledge, gradually ascended to Sequence 2 as the Blood Duke.
Bernadette likely had deeper insights into the Moss Ascetic Order.
Moreover, the Hidden Sage was also eyeing her, making them destined adversaries.
"Is this a New Year's blessing from the stars?" Bernadette was in a good mood, a faint smile appearing on her usually elegant and noble face.
"You can also consider it a New Year's gift from Mr. Hastur to a friend."
"What a precious gift," Bernadette remarked, "I don't have a gift of equal value in return."
"You can think of it as a New Year's red envelope from an elder to a junior."
An elder to a junior?
A New Year's red envelope?
Wait, something seems off about this statement!
Bernadette was momentarily stunned, her intuition telling her that the stars' words were not just a simple joke, but likely concealed some unknown secret.