Chapter 88: Chapter 64: Entering the Dream (Part 1)
They hadn’t anticipated Sopea would break through to Tier Six so soon. Nearly all the rooms were rented out; only one would be free at six o’clock tonight. But it wasn’t six yet, and they couldn’t just forcibly kick the person out. They’d get reported.
"You’ve misunderstood."
"I mean, I don’t need an empty room," Sopea said.
The room’s only purpose was to provide a quiet environment, making it convenient for Sean to fall asleep.
But he wasn’t Koni. It didn’t have to be this troublesome.
It was safe to say that Elise and the others knew nothing of his true power.
He was terrifyingly strong now.
Having broken through from Tier Five to Tier Six, he had completely mastered the highest technique of Dream Mysticism: hypnosis.
If his success rate for hypnotizing someone was only 50% before, it was now a full 100%. He no longer even needed Dream Potions.
Whenever he pleased, he could make anyone drop at a moment’s notice and enter any dream he chose.
He hadn’t had a chance to go to the church to pray during his recent seclusion. Since Sean happened to be acting as the Priest, he could kill two birds with one stone. Saving time was better for everyone.
As for the line...
The Dawn Council managed the town. Surely they had that much privilege.
"Lead the way," Sopea said coolly.
Despite telling them to lead the way, he walked out in front, head held high and hands clasped behind his back, looking for all the world like an old cadre on an inspection tour.
Kate and the others were left speechless.
’I really want to go up and land a couple of punches on that old bastard.’
Meanwhile...
Inside the church’s Confession Room.
Afternoon sunlight seeped through the arched stained-glass windows, casting a checkered pattern of light and shadow on the empty pews and floor. At the end of the central aisle stood a small wooden booth shaped like a clock tower. An exquisite Iris Flower was carved on its top, and its front had a window covered by a dark purple curtain, giving it a solemn and dignified air.
A portrait of a man hung on the side walls, said to be the earthly incarnation of the "Master." In the painting, the man was closing his eyes as he touched a follower’s forehead, exuding a certain air of majesty.
Sean was inside this small wooden booth, still unaware that Sopea had arrived. He remained focused on hearing a parishioner’s confession.
Although he was only a part-time Priest, he had promised Elvire and Elise. Loving the job was a bit of a stretch, but taking it seriously was something Sean could definitely do.
Besides, the job wasn’t as boring as he’d imagined. In fact, in a way, it was pretty interesting.
This was because the people who came to this church weren’t just Wizards from Alola Town. There were also some out-of-town "tourists." They believed the farther they were from home, the less psychological burden they felt confessing. As a result, people mostly told the truth, and you could never guess the bizarre things they had done.
For example—
The previous confessor had just left, and another man came in.
"Honorable Priest, please forgive me. I’ve come to confess... I’ve made a mistake."
He began by lowering his head, his voice full of remorse.
"A few days ago, I divorced my wife. We had been in love for seven years, and I was devastated... My life for two suddenly became a life for one. I’m not used to it. Every night, I feel so empty, so lonely."
"Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. I couldn’t help myself and drank a lot. I wanted to talk to someone, so I went to a friend’s house. My friend’s wife is very beautiful, but it seems they’ve been having problems too. They’ve been sleeping in separate rooms lately, and yesterday was no different."
"My friend had a few more drinks with me, then quickly went to his room to rest. I know he can’t hold his liquor; after a whole bottle of gin, he’d be dead to the world. I looked at his wife’s bedroom, and an evil thought sprouted uncontrollably in my mind."
"...I swear, Priest, I was just so drunk. Otherwise, I would never have pushed open that sinful door."
"This morning, when his wife woke up and realized what happened last night, she cried hysterically. She called me a shameless bastard, saying her husband had always considered me his best friend, yet I would do something like this behind his back."
The man said, filled with shame, "I never thought I was that kind of person. I really deserve to die."
Hearing this, Sean’s eyes narrowed. He realized this wasn’t so simple. His gaze fell upon the man through the curtain as he asked, "So you assaulted your friend’s wife?"
’That’s a jailable offense.’
The man said, "No, I assaulted my friend."
Sean: "?"
"I already apologized to my friend’s wife, but no woman would forgive someone who stole her man... especially when that someone is also a man." The man’s face was full of self-reproach. "My friend now wants to divorce his wife to be with me, but I really don’t want to destroy their family."
Sean: "..."
’And here you are, being the nice guy.’
The man grew more sorrowful and helpless as he spoke. "Priest, tell me, what should I do?"
Sean: "..."
’Don’t rush me, I’m thinking.’
Sean had zero experience with this kind of thing, and it certainly wasn’t covered in the Priest’s manual Elise had given him. He had to improvise. After a moment’s thought, he began, "Do you see the portrait on the wall?"
The man nodded.
"The Master is also a man," Sean said. "Your love for men is simply a reflection of your love for the Master. It’s an expression of faith. Therefore, the Master won’t blame you. On the contrary, He’ll be happy that you’ve finally recognized your true self and have chosen to face Him with an open heart."
Man: "..."
’You can explain it that way?’
Sean continued, "Instead of asking for the Master’s forgiveness, you should be more concerned with the feelings of your friend and his wife. Go back and explain everything to them properly. I’m sure they will understand."
He seemed to have said everything, and yet he seemed to have said nothing at all.
The man, however, seemed greatly encouraged. He clenched his fists. "I get it. I know what I have to do."
"Good." Sean was pleased with the man’s insight. "Go drink the Holy Water," he said lightly.
"Thank you for your guidance, Priest." The man bowed gratefully and left the Confession Room.
’If only Elvire were this easy to fool,’ Sean thought.
After that man left, the next person to confess was a woman, holding a newspaper in her hand.
"Priest, I have sinned."
"I framed a professor."
Sean: "Hm?"
The woman explained: "It started like this. I heard this professor had made a breakthrough in his research in the field of material science, so I found an opportunity to interview him."
"He told me he might have discovered a new element not on the periodic table, which he was temporarily calling ’Shi.’ By soaking historical artifacts in a solution made from it, one could clearly see the traces of erosion left by time, helping archaeologists and historians better determine their age."
"I worked with him to draft a headline, but after he saw it, he accused me of taking things out of context, distorting the facts, and being irresponsible."
Sean asked, "What was the headline?"
The woman replied, "Major Discovery: Periodic Table to Be Updated! New Element Could Help Us Time Travel!"
Sean: "?"
’That’s more than taking things out of context.’
’You basically tore up the original book and wrote a completely new one.’
The woman said plaintively, "I know it deviates from the facts a little, but I was doing it for everyone’s benefit! A headline like that attracts more attention. I meet my sales targets, and he gains more fame."
"But that professor doesn’t understand marketing at all. He just wouldn’t agree, and he even started cursing at me. The things he said got nastier and nastier—not at all like a venerable old Scholar. I got so angry that I just went and put it in the paper."
Sean: "How did he curse at you?"
The woman imitated the old professor’s furious tone: "Fuck you! Get out of here! I do not the fuck wanna see you anymore! Go! Now!"
’You could tell the old professor was really angry.’
"And you? What do you mean by ’put it in the paper’?" Sean asked.
The woman passed the newspaper to him through the window.
Sean unfolded it. On an inside page, a bold headline was printed—
"Pure Young Reporter Viciously Raped by Old Professor, Then Kicked Out the Door"
Sean: "?"
’To be honest, I want to throw you out the door, too.’
This situation was probably hopeless. Barring any surprises, the professor would sue her soon, and she’d receive a summons from the Judicial Court. The only thing he could do was write down a number for her.
"This is the phone number of a lawyer friend of mine. He specializes in defending the guilty. He should be able to help you."
"Thank you, Priest! Thank you!" The woman was moved to tears.
"You’re welcome. The Master guided my hand. Your honesty has already earned His forgiveness," Sean said. "Go drink the Holy Water."
"Mhm!" The woman thanked him a few more times and quickly left the Confession Room.
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from the corner, its tone slightly mocking: "You’re even helping someone like that?"
...
