Upon touching the crown, Shao Ci's vision blurred for a moment, and then he found himself in a peculiar space.
"What is this...?" Shao Ci pressed his forehead, feeling a slight ache, while gazing bewildered at the surroundings.
He now stood in a garden where numerous flowers bloomed, and even the sensation of a gentle breeze on his face felt remarkably real. However, Shao Ci couldn't shake the sense of impending danger; this place didn't seem as peaceful as it appeared.
It seemed the crown indeed harbored a curse, but what exactly was this curse?
Reluctant to leave recklessly, Shao Ci felt his forehead growing more painful the longer he stayed. It was evident he couldn't linger.
Following a small path, Shao Ci walked forward. The flowers around him gradually diminished, and soon he reached the outskirts of a city.
The architecture of this city differed markedly from structures Shao Ci had encountered on other continents; it bore some resemblance to ruins, perhaps reminiscent of the underground ruins from before.
Upon entering, he immediately saw many people bustling about the city. These passersby had vague features, as if pixelated, completely ignoring Shao Ci.
Growing increasingly uneasy, Shao Ci diligently observed his surroundings, tuning into the conversations around him.
"Are you also attending today's sacrificial ceremony?"
"Yes, how could we miss such a grand event? It hasn't been held for over a dozen years."
Shao Ci perked up his ears, realizing that these people's words might hold the key to breaking free from this strange curse.
"I heard this time the offering is the prince."
"Pah, isn't he just a child born of a heretic? Can he truly be considered a sacrifice? He's tarnishing the noble bloodline of His Majesty the King."
"That wicked sorceress deceived His Majesty and bore this impure child. Using him as a sacrifice should surely please the gods even more."
...
...
The tone of the crowd was filled with joy, but Shao Ci's complexion grew increasingly grim.
From their words, he had already pieced together what might be happening in this place.
After all, in the past, this continent also had religions worshipping other gods, considered heretical. These heretics seemed to possess some peculiar methods themselves.
The king of this country had gone against public opinion, developing a relationship with a heretic called the witch. However, after giving birth to a child, he abruptly turned hostile and executed the witch.
From the conversations, Shao Ci inferred that the child had survived, but the situation was dire.
He was allowed to live, but not because he was the king's child; it was for the sacrificial ceremony that had been prepared for over a dozen years.
Shao Ci: "..." He felt like he had guessed why this country had met its demise.
If he was not mistaken, that child was probably the key to this curse. Being the son of a witch, he likely possessed some extremely formidable power.
What should he do to break free from this curse? Save the child from the sacrificial ceremony or eliminate him?
After much deliberation, Shao Ci decided to go to the scene of the sacrifice.
Since most of the people in the city were heading in that direction, Shao Ci quickly found the place of sacrifice.
It was an open space, densely packed with people.
In the center of the open space, there was a massive crucifix with a bound teenager hanging from it. His head drooped wearily, and long, unkempt black hair veiled his face. His slender, pale hands were pierced by sharp nails, fixed onto the crucifix, surrounded by blood that had turned black.
Amidst the lively cheers around him, Shao Ci felt a chilling coldness. Even standing outside the crowd, this chill remained vivid.
After a moment of hesitation, Shao Ci made up his mind.
Regardless of whether this teenager was an antagonist or not, given the current situation, he only wanted to rescue him.
Shao Ci walked straight toward the scene. Those who had been ignoring him suddenly seemed to notice his presence, casting puzzled and questioning glances at him. Some even tried to physically restrain him.
Of course, these individuals with inferior combat abilities couldn't hinder Shao Ci in the slightest. Before long, he entered the center of the open space.
Approaching the young man, he seemed to stir.
"I'm here to save you," Shao Ci said, reaching out to touch the wounds on the youth's hands. While contemplating how to rescue the teenager, the young man lifted his head.
At that moment, Shao Ci was utterly stunned.
The youth's face was as pale as paper, remarkably beautiful, and his eyes, like red crystals, gazed fixedly at Shao Ci.
That wasn't the biggest point; the biggest point was that he bore a striking resemblance to someone Shao Ci knew.
"Yu-yuvens?" Shao Ci instinctively blurted out that name.
However, the perplexity in the young man's eyes made Shao Ci realize that he was not currently called by that name.
Not only did they share a similar appearance, but the birthplace also aligned. Shao Ci couldn't believe that this youth had no connection to Yuvens.
Initially torn about whether his actions were right, Shao Ci now felt certain – he must save this person.
"Do you even know what you're doing?!" An angry voice resonated from the crowd.
"That guy is the son of a witch, a demon with filthy blood! Are you really going to let him go?"
"Don't waste time talking. This guy must be a heretic too, or how else could he do such terrifying things!"
"Yeah, just sacrifice him too."
Voices like these in the crowd grew louder.
Shao Ci paid no attention, simply extending his hand to summon a protective magic shield around them. He wouldn't care about what these background characters had to say.
"Is it okay..." The youth's voice was somewhat hoarse. "Are you really going to save me? I'm the son of a witch, you know."
"Of course, it's okay. I don't care about things like witches. It's all irrelevant," Shao Ci cautiously observed the nails deeply piercing the youth's wrists, considering how to use magic to minimize the pain for the young man.
Before Shao Ci could use any magic, flames erupted from the crucifix, instantly enveloping the youth. Cheers erupted from the onlookers.
Startled, Shao Ci tried to stop it but found himself unable to reach the other side, as if blocked in a different space.
He could only step back a few paces, looking at the scene with a reluctant expression.
However, the youth engulfed in flames didn't show any signs of pain. He simply closed his eyes gently.
In the next moment, the sky darkened instantly. Sunlight was covered by dark clouds, and a cold wind blew. Suddenly, screams erupted from the crowd.
Surprised, Shao Ci turned around to see black mist spreading across the square, engulfing everyone it touched. The skin of those touched by the mist was instantly corroded.
"It's that monster!" "It's him!" "Kill him quickly... Ahhh!”
This is simply a hellish scene. Shao Ci's heart chilled, hastily using defensive magic to shield himself. But this sight felt somewhat familiar, reminding him of the imagery he witnessed in Yuvens dream, right before meeting him.
Shao Ci quickly turned to look at the crucifix in the middle, but all he could see was a cocoon made of pitch-black threads.
Inside it was filled with a formidable power, sending shivers down anyone on the outside.
In the next instant, the cocoon burst open, and the youth, reborn, stepped out. His face bore an indifferent and icy demeanor. When his blood-red eyes met Shao Ci's, a hint of a smile appeared.
"You're not from here," he spoke with certainty.
Shao Ci tried to step back but found himself bound by the mist. "Yes."
"I quite like you," the youth approached slowly, staring into Shao Ci's eyes, his words icy. "But I really dislike your eyes."
Shao Ci was taken aback.
He had confirmed that the youth before him was likely the past Yvain. Yet, the Yuvensfrom the past seemed even more intense in character. He wasn't sure how to respond at the moment.
Everyone in this square, including himself, was probably caught in a nightmare.
After the human body was burned, was it Yuvens who truly obtained his power? Those humans who thought they could destroy him by burning his body ended up sacrificing their own lives.
But now, how could he escape this curse that felt like an illusion?
"You seem to be looking at others through me." The youth's tone carried a hint of disgust. "I really dislike this feeling."
Shao Ci replied, "No, it's not like that." He swore on his integrity that this statement was true.
"It doesn't matter. As long as I erase the person you truly care about from this world, that should be enough, right?" The youth smiled faintly, embracing Shao Ci.
In the instant their bodies touched, Shao Ci felt a moment of dizziness. If this continued, something very unpleasant seemed about to happen. Shao Ci had a strong premonition that he had to interrupt what the youth was doing right now. So, he directly lowered his head and kissed him forcefully. After all, it was just an illusion, and , it doesn't matter here at all.
The youth looked at Shao Ci in astonishment.
Honestly, seeing this surprised expression on a face so similar to Yuvens, Shao Ci felt unexpectedly pleased.
The dizzy feeling vanished instantly, and the youth seemed a bit unwilling. In the end, he whispered, "Someone like you is too wasteful to stay here."
"If you want to leave, just follow this path."
Following the youth's guidance, Shao Ci walked through a road into the black mist. Upon regaining consciousness, he found himself back in the treasury, his hand still in the posture of touching the crown.
In the illusion, it seemed like a long time had passed, but in reality, it was just a breath's time.
"Is the curse over like this?" Shao Ci couldn't believe it himself and quickly picked up the crown.
Now, this crown held no more mysterious attraction for him; it was just an ordinary decoration.
In fact, the illusion was not a curse that could be easily overcome. It concealed murderous intent, and any slight misstep could lead to a fatal crisis.
For instance, if he approached strangers inside the illusion, they would discover that he wasn't from their world, triggering danger. Shao Ci's cautious behavior inside the illusion helped him avoid many dangers.
However, the most dangerous element in the illusion was undoubtedly the youth. Even though he was just a part of the illusion, his danger level wasn't much different from his real self. If Shao Ci couldn't gain his favor, no matter what he did inside the illusion, he would eventually die when the illusion reached its climax.
It could be said that no one who fell victim to the curse in the past had survived. Shao Ci, with his nonchalant approach, turned out to be the only one who easily passed through.
Anlaise looked at Shao Ci with some astonishment, seemingly surprised that he could break free from the curse so easily.
Shao Ci glanced at Anlaise and said, "Sorry, I'm leaving. Thanks for your help these past few days.”
Now, from such a distance, Anlaise posed no real threat to Shao Ci, especially since he was about to teleport away.
"You want to leave?" Anlaise's expression turned cold, and he spoke, "Anyone who enters this underground palace will be cursed. Even if you can't be controlled, the curse still exists within you."
Shao Ci: "Is that so..."
"Only if you stay here will the curse not take effect." Anlaise took a few steps forward, saying, "I've lived here since birth. I've encountered many humans who came for the treasures. Are you here for these treasures too?"
Judging by Shao Ci's expression, Anlaise had an ominous premonition and quickly continued, "As long as you stay, all these things... will be yours. If you feel lonely, I can also let other humans in... Please, stay..."
Shao Ci turned away with some reluctance. He was never good at dealing with this type of person. "I have something important to do, so I have to leave."
As the words fell, the countdown for teleportation ended. His figure disappeared from the throne, along with the crown.
Anlaise looked somewhat lost, gazing at the spot where Shao Ci had been. He spoke softly, "As long as the curse is here, one day, you will return."
"I'll... wait for that day."
---
In his sight was an endless desert.
Shao Ci: "...!"
Damn, this system must be doing it on purpose! After being able to teleport, it still insisted on sending him back to this damn desert!
"Annoying." Shao Ci summoned Yuvens without a second thought.
However, after the previous events, he couldn't help but take a few more glances at Yuvens, especially focusing on his beautiful face.
Yuvens approached, possessing Shao Ci. "Great hero, do you really like my face so much?"
"N-no..." Shao Ci said, "I just find it very peculiar."
Unexpectedly, even with the different origin of this Yuvens, he still managed to develop such a personality. Shao Ci wondered what kind of life he had led before.
"The hero's attitude seems to imply something." Yuvens could see what Shao Ci was thinking, and his eyes seemed to carry a hint of sadness. "When I came here, I figured I probably couldn't keep it a secret."
"I didn't mean to..." Shao Ci thought that bringing up Yuvens past might have upset him and quickly added, "At that time, there was no other choice.”
"Oh, having my dark history exposed like that, even I feel a bit embarrassed." Yuvens sighed and hugged Shao Ci again. "So, shouldn't the great hero comfort me a bit? For example, with a kiss?"
Shao Ci immediately understood that Yuvens earlier display was an act, and he responded with a touch of annoyance, "...No."
"You're truly heartless." Yuvens said, "Clearly, you gave that child a kiss in the illusion, right?"
"You... you know?" Shao Ci looked surprised.
"Because that child is somewhat a part of me as well." Yvain explained, "So, I can sense what happened... but, I'm quite jealous. The great hero is so gentle with him, it's excessive."
Shao Ci: "..." Hey, you said that child is part of you, what's there to be jealous about?
Although not pleased with the previous events, Yuvens obediently continued his journey towards populated areas while Shao Ci tried to shift his attention by talking about other things.
Yuvens understood what Shao Ci was doing and wasn't bothered by past matters.
Since birth, Yuvens was well aware that he wasn't entirely human. He never regarded himself as part of the human race, regardless of how they treated him.
Even when others shunned or feared him, Yuvens seemed indifferent. When he was eventually chosen as a sacrifice and brought to the point of killing everyone in the city, it was nothing more than an entertaining game for him, a means of ending his boredom.
Never did he imagine that one day he would form a contract with a human.
Thinking about this, Yuvens realized Shao Ci on his back had already fallen asleep, and he couldn't help but smile, moving even more carefully.
---
This time, the system teleported them to the edge of the desert. Soon, they found a town, and upon learning Shao Ci was a hero, the people generously lent him the use of a teleportation array, allowing him to return to the Holy Capital as quickly as possible.
After all, the desert area was extremely remote, and if he were to travel back by carriage, it would likely take several months.
Back at the temple, before Shao Ci could even take a break, he was shocked to hear news that Wendel had been captured. Not only that, but he was already imprisoned, awaiting the Pope's judgment in a few days.
"This is bad," Shao Ci fretted in his room. "I must find a way to get Wendel out..."
The storyline had deviated significantly from the original, and Shao Ci couldn't help but sigh.
Even if rescuing Wendel meant becoming an enemy of the Holy Capital, he no longer cared about the city's legacy. Following Wendel was the most prudent course of action.
Moreover, he had a reliable item for escaping custody – the teleportation scroll that the Pope's envoy had given him upon his return. It allowed instant teleportation and was a lifesaver.
Later, Shao Ci received the Pope's summons. He handed over the crown he obtained from the underground ruins. The onlookers were even more excited than the one directly involved.
With only one task left, all four missions would be completed. The new Hero could finally confront the Demon King.
However, the Pope didn't immediately reveal the next task to Shao Ci. Instead, he instructed him to rest, mirroring the previous scenario.
Shao Ci nodded, but his mind was preoccupied with Wendel's situation.
As Shao Ci walked away, the Pope's icy blue eyes darkened. He turned to his subordinate and inquired, "How is that matter progressing?"
"It's almost handled," the subordinate replied respectfully. "We'll resolve it before the trial."
"Good," nodded the Pope.
Wanting to bring Wendel out wasn't a particularly challenging task.
The lower part of the floating Holy Capital was cone-shaped, serving as a prison for numerous captives. The dungeon walls were made of extremely resilient material, with anti-magic properties. No matter how powerful a mage was, inside, they became powerless.
Rescuing from the prison itself was impossible. Fortunately, Shao Ci was now a renowned Hero, and just by virtue of his face, he smoothly arrived at the dungeon entrance without anyone daring to obstruct him.
Shao Ci's previously good relationship with Wendel had been suppressed. Few people in the current Holy Capital knew about it since news of a strong connection between a Hero and an assassin would be troublesome.
"Hero," the guards greeted Shao Ci respectfully, saluting him as he descended the long staircase towards the dungeon.
Once inside the prison's domain, Shao Ci felt a peculiar force suppressing his magical abilities. Without trying, he knew he couldn't use magic now.
Passing by cells containing heinous criminals, Shao Ci paid no attention. His focus was solely on a cell not far away.
Inside that cell was Wendel.
Wendel appeared extremely fatigued, his face pallid. He had his eyes slightly closed, and both hands were bound by strangely shaped chains – a device capable of suppressing physical strength.
In the absence of magic and strength, Wendel's condition was undoubtedly grim. Yet, even so, he maintained the handsome and gentle appearance of the knight Shao Ci knew.
Shao Ci struggled to contain the impulse to rush towards him.
For him, Wendel, who had spent a long time together with him in this world, was different from others. Wendel wouldn't have ended up like this if it weren't for him.
Originally endowed with a protagonist's aura, as the destined Son of Fate with fortune on his side, Wendel should have always shone brilliantly, rather than being confined in a dungeon in such a disheveled state.
“I came here by order of the Pope。” Shao Ci spoke, maintaining a forced composure. Thanks to the system's acting assistance, the guards wouldn't detect any flaws. "He ordered me to take this prisoner for immediate interrogation."
Perhaps the acting was too convincing, as the guards, not suspecting that a Hero would engage in such deeds, believed Shao Ci without hesitation.
"If it's the command of His Holiness, you can take this prisoner out for questioning. However, we have no way to unlock these chains," one guard respectfully stated.
"It's fine; I'll have His Holiness send someone to unlock them later," Shao Ci replied with a calm expression. "It's just that I, alone, might struggle to carry this prisoner."
Despite being a Hero for quite some time, Shao Ci still felt a bit embarrassed admitting his lack of physical strength each time. As a Hero, his stamina seemed surprisingly lacking.
"We're enough for the job!" The two guards promptly offered, lifting Wendel onto their shoulders, walking alongside Shao Ci towards the exit.
Their appearance, coupled with Wendel's protagonist aura, easily convinced the guards above, who readily allowed them to leave.
Once outside, Shao Ci felt an immediate sense of relief. Smiling as he escorted the two guards back, his expression suddenly paled, and his heart raced.
Engaging in such actions was undoubtedly a challenge to his psychological endurance.
Ignoring many concerns, Shao Ci tightened his grip on Wendel, tearing open the teleportation scroll.
Similar to the system's teleportation, this scroll didn't instantly transport them upon tearing. It created a massive magic circle beneath them, ripping through the surrounding space to transport them to a specific location on the continent.
----------
Before the empty cell, the guards knelt in fear, confessing everything that had transpired.
"So, you just let the assassin of the former Pope go like that?" The face of the red-robed high priest turned extremely unpleasant.
"Because it was the command of the Great Hero, we..." Realizing they had been deceived, the guards wished they could just end their lives.
"Shut up," the elderly red-robed high priest snapped angrily. "This is no ordinary criminal. Without the Pope's command, how dare you—"
"That's enough." The silver-haired Pope next to him spoke lightly.
"But, Your Holiness, this matter..." The red-robed high priest looked worried, "Did the Great Hero really help release the criminal? Shouldn't we inform the outside world—"
"No need," the silver-haired Pope said. "The Great Hero has done nothing wrong."
"What?" The red-robed high priest widened his eyes, indignant. "Even if Your Holiness favors this Great Hero, we can't just let him go like this."
Unlike others who fervently idolized the Great Hero, the red-robed high priest understood that these heroes were merely chosen sacrifices. To truly defeat the Demon Lord, randomly selected individuals like this could never accomplish such a feat.
So, from the beginning, he harbored some disdain for the concept of the Great Hero. Faced with such an incident, his first thought was punishment, not preserving the hero's reputation.
"All of this is God's arrangement," declared the silver-haired Pope.
"But—" The red-robed high priest wanted to say more.
The ice-blue eyes of the silver-haired Pope coldly stared at the red-robed high priest. "Enough."
"Yes," the red-robed high priest felt a sudden surge of fear in his heart, no longer daring to utter another word.
While others remained unaware, he was well aware of the terrifying means possessed by the silver-haired Pope before him.
—-----
In the blink of an eye, several days had passed.
The Duke of the Varisso Grand Duchy was in a secluded villa within the forest.
To his surprise, Shao Ci had somehow teleported to a location not far from the Holy Capital. He even encountered Aljet, the son of the Grand Duke, whom he had met during the purification of dark elves.
Being a devoted fan of Shao Ci, Aljet arranged a place for him to stay and swore never to leak any information about him in this area. The condition was that Shao Ci occasionally provided guidance on magic.
Shao Ci had discreetly inquired about the situation in the Holy Capital. It seemed that, in order to maintain the Hero's reputation, they only mentioned that a prisoner had escaped without specifying the Hero's actions or the crimes committed by the escapee.
This vagueness left many people indifferent, as they didn't consider it a significant matter. However, the Holy Capital might have conveyed some messages to other temples secretly.
Now, Shao Ci faced a dilemma.
Since his escape, Wendel hadn't regained consciousness. Even after removing the chains on him, he remained in a deep slumber, unaffected by any healing abilities or divine arts that Shao Ci attempted.
"It's probably soul damage," Yuvens remarked indifferently. "It depends on luck. If lucky, he might awaken in a few months. I'd he's Unfortunate, then he might never wake up."
Seeing Wendel like this, Yuvens couldn't help feeling a bit pleased. He harbored no fondness for Wendel, who had captivated Shao Ci's attention since the past. Now, Yuvens silently hoped that it would be better if Wendel just died like this.
"Can anything be done?" Shao Ci's expression changed drastically. The unfolding events exceeded his imagination. Why would Wendel, the protagonist of a happy story, end up in such a pitiful state?
He wasn't afraid of Wendel dying, but if he remained in a coma like this, it wouldn't help the plot development.
Yuvens originally wanted to say no directly, but after he opened his mouth, he found that he could not lie to Shao Ci, so he could only say with a cold face: "Of course there are methods, but they are a bit dangerous... Hero, are you really willing to take risks for this person?”
Shao Ci looked very firm and said, "It's okay, just say them."
Seeing Shao Ci like this, Yuvens felt jealous again and said, "Just enter his dream world and use your magic, hero, to repair the damaged parts of his soul."
Shao Ci was a little surprised: "So simple?”
Yuvens observed the sleeping Wendel, his heart swirling with complex emotions.
"This is not a simple matter," Yuvens became unusually serious. "Entering someone else's consciousness is highly dangerous, especially since this guy is currently in a state of unconsciousness. The uncertainties within his consciousness realm are unpredictable. If you're not careful, even risking your life inside is possible."
"It's fine; I'll be okay," Shao Ci expressed confidence in his mental strength. Dealing with matters involving consciousness and souls didn't pose much challenge for him.
Seeing Shao Ci so determined to take the risk, Yuvens felt even more displeased, though he couldn't say anything overt. He said, "Alright, if you're certain, I'll send you in. However, I need to collect some payment first."
Understanding what Yuvens meant, after hesitating for a moment, Shao Ci leaned over and planted a kiss on Utinse's cheek.
Yuvens blushed slightly, recalling why Shao Ci did this, and his mood became more complicated. He said, "If Great Hero encounters any danger, I don't know how this person will react."
"Don't worry; I'll come back safely!" Shao Ci reassured quickly.
Even if he didn't believe in his own strength, he had to trust Wendel's protagonist halo... although now it seemed to have taken on a somewhat protagonist-suffering halo.