The excessive intensity of the Purification Ritual left Wood somewhat exhausted, his voice becoming fragmented; he was only barely keeping up with the Boss's pace through sheer sense of responsibility, but even so, he still—
Boss, why.. why is my body stained with filth? Because I am not a Catholic? To me.. is the Catholic Faith, Faith Power, something that pollutes the body and mind.. Ngh.. ah..
Your thinking is partially correct, but also partially very incorrect.
Master whispered, biting Wood's earlobe.
The Mortal Realm is the noisy, bustling world filled with life that you and I inhabit at this moment, while death is a world of absolute tranquility, devoid of both life and heat.. The Mortal Realm and death are not closely linked; there is a vast chasm between the two—the souls of the deceased live in that chasm for a long time, until they eventually dissipate, vanish, return to death..
“Hmm?”
Wood listened in fascination, even forgetting to blink.
.. The gap between the Mortal Realm and Death has different names in different mythologies—the Underworld, the Land of the Dead, the Netherworld, Hell.. Atheists do not recognize an afterlife, but they believe that humans experience two deaths: the first is the death of the body, the second death occurs when the last person on Earth who remembers you vanishes. The death of the body is not the end of life; oblivion is—therefore, in their perception, the gap between the Mortal Realm and Death is 'the process of the deceased being gradually forgotten'..
The religions and sciences of all civilizations aim for 'immortality' as their ultimate goal, or rather, to figure out why life must die and how one might eventually conquer Death. However, no matter how hard a civilization strives, all living things move toward Death—when Death arrives, all things have no choice but to accept it..
“But it is also because of this absolute fear of the unknown and of Death that civilizations gave birth to gods—whether they are abstract natural concepts born purely from human imagination or gods created with great historical heroes as archetypes, the essence of all gods is a combination of human imagination and longing—as long as there is even one person left in the world who remembers Them, They exist—and furthermore, the more living beings participate in this collective imagination—the so-called believers—the more powerful Their power becomes.”
Th-th-that God.. what is God?
Wood braced himself against the impact and asked tremblingly.
God is the most powerful imagined entity on Earth with the most people currently participating in Him.
Master lowered his head, delving even deeper into the Purification.
Almost all religions love to compile religious scriptures, build massive structures, paint murals, carve stone statues. Aside from spreading doctrines, these things serve a more important purpose—unifying the thoughts of the individual beings participating in this vast collective imagination, ensuring that all believers' perceptions of the gods are kept within a controlled range.
So that's how it is.. But why do the gods created by imagination, by imagination, possess power? They can even..
When humans first observed microscopic electron fluctuations, some proposed the hypothesis that ghosts might be a type of microwave that humans are not yet capable of observing, that only when the microwaves constituting a ghost completely dissipate does life truly end in Death. Biological science has also proven that thought, or rather the human soul, originates from the interaction of brainwaves.. Since the electron microwaves that constitute the soul are also matter, they can naturally exert an influence on the Mortal Realm.
“.. Boss, what you're saying is too profound; I don't understand it at all.”
Wood spoke truthfully, his body gradually becoming immersed in the pleasure brought by the Purification.
The man offered no further explanation, instead engaging in repeated, intertwining motions with absolute tenderness until they both felt the pleasure of satisfaction. Only then did he raise his right hand to gently stroke the cheek of Wood, whose mind had long since been clouded with bliss.
“Are you awake?”
Of course.. I've been awake the whole time..
"Wood" opened his eyes, lightning flickering within them.
Long time no see.
Certain?
Every time we met before, my consciousness was blurred, but this time, I am certain that my will is clear..
Then—
Master propped himself up. "What are your thoughts on what happened during the day?"
Every child has a few invisible friends during their childhood.
Just that?
Fine.
Wood" let out a breath, his voice turning into an absolute, rational coldness stripped of all emotion: "Something is buried there, something primal based on the very concept of life.. They must be found as soon as possible, otherwise.. otherwise..
Or what will happen?
“It.. it will..”
Wood's voice began to tremble with intense pain as he gripped Master's shoulders tightly—his veins even bulged on the backs of his hands from the excessive force.
—He will find me! He is looking for 'me'! He has always been looking for 'me'! He is going to drag me back, drag me back to that dark and hopeless cage! Ah—ah!
Amidst the near-convulsive struggle, the lightning in Wood's eyes gradually dissipated, returning to its everyday green, tinged with a hint of bewilderment and emptiness.
—I, I was just now.. ah!
Realizing that he had left three scratch marks on each of the Boss's shoulders due to his inability to control his emotions, Wood stammered in terror, "I—I didn't mean to.. I just.. it's because you're too powerful, Boss, you've pushed me to my absolute limit, I don't know how I.. I.."
It's fine.
The man lowered his head and bit his earlobe: "Help me apply the medicine later, while you're at it.. mm.."
“That.. that's too.. too..”
Wood's cheeks flushed crimson instantly, yet his body betrayed him by showing anticipation, adopting a cooperative posture.
So—you actually quite enjoy this, don't you?
The man spoke mockingly, then began another round of deep Purification.
..
..
Ngh.. Ah!
In the office, Wood, still immersed in the sweet intimacy of last night, couldn't help but let out a moan. Suddenly realizing that his colleague Louis was standing before him holding a coffee cup, his face instantly flushed crimson. "When.. when did you get here?"
Two minutes ago.
Louis pretended not to notice Wood's embarrassment.
Th-that..
Wood's cheeks grew even hotter as he asked with feigned composure, "Do you.. have something to discuss with me?"
Just a small matter.
Louis pulled out a document: "This is the catalog of historical records for the Madonna Convent and Orphanage in New York that you asked me to investigate."
You need a catalog? This many?!
Wood was stunned.
This Convent and Orphanage was completed before the Declaration of Independence was issued, nearly three hundred years of time have left behind a vast amount of recorded information. In my personal opinion, the content with the greatest theological and occult value within these records is the Three Manifestations of Archangel Gabriel.
The Three Manifestations of Archangel Gabriel?
Wood sat up straight instantly.
“According to records, the Archangel's first manifestation occurred in 1727, when New York was still a British colony, England was a Protestant nation. After news of the Archangel's manifestation slaying a Demon reached Europe, the Roman Catholic Church granted special permission to build the Madonna Convent here. It just so happened that King George II of England had just ascended the throne; this German Elector's concern for his homeland, Hanover, far exceeded his concern for England, therefore he did not react to the Roman Catholic Church's religiously provocative actions.”
The Second Manifestation occurred in the sixty-sixth year after the convent was completed, which was 1793. In that year, two significant events occurred in the world: first, the French Revolution, where King Louis XVI ascended the guillotine; and second, Mister Washington delivered his inaugural speech, proclaiming the birth of America.
The Third Manifestation was in 1860, less than a year before the outbreak of the American Civil War. Sister Nelly, who served as the Principal, saw Archangel Gabriel in a dream. After waking, she announced the expansion of the Convent and, during the American Civil War, adopted a large number of children who had lost their parents due to the war. From then on, the Madonna Convent also served as an Orphanage.
.. In other words, every time Archangel Gabriel manifests, it heralds a major event in the world?
Wood asked with great interest.
Louis showed a troubled expression: "In the Bible, Archangel Gabriel is the Archangel who delivered divine messages to the Virgin Mary.."
Yes, we all know that. Even now, the Small Chapel within the Convent is decorated with a Gargoyle, which was once a Unicorn Demon slain by Gabriel three hundred years ago.
Wood was somewhat dismissive, completely failing to notice Louis's expression gradually turning into one of terror.
.. Wood, you don't understand what I mean.
Louis said haltingly, "The records of the Three Manifestations of Gabriel in the Madonna Convent are completely different from the traditional records of Gabriel. Not only that, but the intervals between the Two Manifestations both happen to be close to the number sixty-six.."
It's not six hundred and sixty-six, so why are you so panicked?
Wood could not understand Louis's anxiety at all.
Louis felt helpless; he could only place the documents on Wood's desk and left with a heavy sigh.
Wood watched him leave, then picked up Little Anubis from the side. "Little Anubis, what do you think he was trying to tell me?"
His meaning was clear—the Gabriel of the Three Manifestations was likely not the true Archangel Gabriel, but a Demon posing as Gabriel.
Little Anubis looked at Wood as if he were an idiot.
Wood: ".. Oh."
[Is that all? Just an "oh"?]
Then what kind of expression should I make?
Wood lifted the little black dog. "Even though I am just an ordinary human, everyone around me is non-human, even of Demon-level existence—I mean, in Christian concepts, you, as a pagan deity, are a Demon—so, even if the Archangel Gabriel who manifested is actually a Demon in disguise, I don't feel any fear at all; in fact, I'm even a bit excited~"
[Excited? Why?]
Little Anubis looked at Wood with confusion.
Wood: "Because—the feeling of being needed by everyone, of becoming a superhero who saves the world, is truly addictive! And—"
And what? You don't actually believe Master's rhetoric, do you?
Little Anubis showed a look of disdain.
Hmm? What did you say? Say that again?
Wood felt an inexplicable sense of vigilance.
Author's Note:
----------------------
Note 1: Prior to 1929, the Pope was the actual ruler of the Papal States (754–1929), with Rome as its capital, known as the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1870, the Kingdom of Italy successfully entered Rome, the Pope retreated to Vatican Castle. In 1929, the two sides reached a reconciliation: the Church recognized the unification of Italy, with Rome becoming the capital of Italy. The Kingdom of Italy recognized Vatican Castle as the independent Vatican City.
Note 2: Gabriel and the Madonna
Gospel of Luke: In the sixth month, Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin who was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, who was of the lineage of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!"
Archangel Gabriel holding a lily while delivering God's will to the Madonna has become a common subject in Christian paintings.
Thanks to readers "a", "Bai Yu", "Hua Guan", "Haike", "Ruo Yue Liang Mei Lai", "Liu Nainai Mai Niunai", "Gu Lu Gu Lu", "Shi Yi", "Ri Yue Tao San Huan", "Li Yu", "Yang Yi Fei ing.", "Yuan Zhong Ren De Yi Yu Zhong Li", "Gu Lu Gu Lu", "Sui Wei Jun Ge", "moonlit", Irrigation Nutrient Solution
Chapter 19 Gabriel and Gargoyle (6)
.. Hey! You haven't realized that guy Master has ill intentions toward you yet? Even though he has.. yet he always.. I suspect that guy is plotting against you!
Scheming against me? Do I have anything on me worth his schemes?