Gospel of Blood

Charlotte knew that Nice had many secrets.

However, given that he had been overall obedient since being bound as a contract servant, she hadn’t delved too deeply. After all, everyone had secrets, even she had things she didn’t want others to know.

But seeing the black cat’s guilty look and evasive demeanor, Charlotte’s face darkened.

After all, hiding something and hiding so much you don’t know where to start are two different things.

Charlotte looked at Nice quietly, with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Oh? From the sound of it, you have a lot to hide from me?”

“Spill it, what have you been hiding?”

Nice became even more nervous.

“Uh, Master, you must be joking. How could I be hiding anything from you…”

Nice instinctively denied it, but seeing Charlotte’s calm and deep gaze, he swallowed his words and said awkwardly.

“Alright, maybe… um… there are a couple of things I haven’t reported due to various irresistible reasons…”

“Oh? A couple of things?”

“Uh… maybe three or four things?”

Nice’s eyes darted around.

Charlotte: …

She squinted at the black cat, whose eyes were rolling, and her smile gradually faded.

Noticing the change in Charlotte’s expression, Nice became even more apprehensive.

“Just a few! Just a few! Master, there really are only a few things I haven’t told you!”

“Well then, tell me what your ‘few’ hidden things are.”

Charlotte said calmly.

“Uh… beautiful, dignified, powerful, and benevolent Master, if I confess, will you… forgive me?”

The black cat clung to Charlotte’s leg, trying to act cute with big, watery eyes.

Seeing the chubby Nice trying to act cute with a voice like an old man’s, Charlotte shuddered, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

She quickly pulled her leg out of Nice’s embrace and said with a look of disdain.

“Alright, stop acting cute. If you keep it up, I’ll have nightmares tonight. Confess honestly, and I won’t punish you if your attitude is sincere.”

“Really? You really won’t punish me?”

Nice instantly perked up.

Charlotte: …

This fat cat… besides the faceless statue mentioned in Albrecht’s memory, could it be hiding anything else?

She squinted at the black cat, saying meaningfully.

“That depends on your performance.”

Seeing Charlotte’s attitude that he wouldn’t be able to leave without a confession, Nice sighed.

“Alright, I’ll confess…”

While cautiously observing Charlotte’s expression, he tentatively said,

“Uh… I shouldn’t have peeked at the maids while they bathed, or snuck into the maids’ changing room?”

Charlotte: …

This guy… was he really once a Legendary figure?

She looked at Nice in disbelief, unsure of how to respond.

“And?”

She asked with a stern face.

Nice swallowed and said nervously.

“Uh… I shouldn’t have hidden the maids’ laundry or used magic to disguise myself as another cat to snuggle into the maids’ laps…”

Charlotte: …

She didn’t know whether to acknowledge his self-awareness of his lecherous reputation among the maids or to be disgusted by his lack of shame.

But this wasn’t what she wanted to ask Nice about.

“And?”

Charlotte continued.

Nice looked at her cautiously, chuckled dryly, and said in an even smaller voice.

“Uh… I shouldn’t have secretly collected your worn clothes, or hidden your stockings…”

Crack

The teacup in Charlotte’s hand shattered.

Forget it.

Just destroy him.

She thought, ready to skin and bone this guy to feed to the dogs.

Seeing Charlotte’s face turn black, Nice quickly said,

“I’ve changed! I’ve changed! That was all a long time ago! I’ve reformed!”

Charlotte took a deep breath, telling herself not to get angry, but her eyes were already icy with murderous intent.

Still, she remained calm. It was clear Nice was using these perverted acts to distract her from the real issues, like the faceless statue, which he hadn’t mentioned at all.

Obviously, he was doing it on purpose, trying to fool her.

But she was truly angry.

No wonder her clothes seemed to get damaged more often when she first arrived in the territory—it was all his doing! This was supposed to be the most talented Legendary Mage in human history… yet he was just a Legendary Pervert! It seemed he had too much free time and needed more work to burn off his fat!

Charlotte gave Nice a cold look, deciding to properly discipline this lecherous cat.

“I wasn’t asking about those things.”

She calmed herself and said coldly.

Then, Charlotte gave Nice a meaningful look.

“Don’t you have anything to tell me about the Ancient Temple and the Faceless Statue?”

Nice froze.

He smiled awkwardly.

“Master, I’m not sure what you mean, I…”

His attempt to dodge the question was cut short.

He felt Charlotte’s increasing pressure and the mark of the servant contract in his soul beginning to light up.

“It seems I’ve been too gentle with you. I should ask your soul directly.”

Charlotte sighed.

Feeling the contract’s power, Nice panicked and quickly said,

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Master! Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you everything!”

“Then tell me what you know about the Ancient Temple and the Faceless Statue, and their whereabouts.”

Charlotte said.

The Ancient Temple and the Faceless Statue were left by the True Ancestor of Blood in history. Even among the bloodbornes, their purpose was highly debated.

Albrecht’s memory mentioned many views among the

Bloodbornes, but regardless of the perspective, the handling of discovered temples and statues was consistent.

Temples had to be destroyed or the enshrined God changed, while statues were sealed or offered to their respective princes.

In short… they had to erase all traces of the True Ancestor of Blood.

In contrast, bloodborne’s attitude towards the Ancient Temple and the Faceless Statue was one of destruction and sealing, not in-depth study.

However, Albrecht’s memory mentioned that the Legendary Mage Nicholas was very interested in these things and even took a statue when he disappeared.

“The Ancient Temple and the Faceless Statue… weren’t those your creations? You should know more about things involving mythic power than I do.”

Nice said.

Charlotte shook her head.

“I am not clear about what happened in the past, and I currently don’t know what these things are used for.”

“So… you’ve lost all your memories related to your own mythic power, and they haven’t returned with your awakening.”

Nice murmured.

Charlotte didn’t know how to respond to this. She had always believed she was merely occupying someone else’s place, disguising herself as the True Ancestor through the Gospel of Blood.

However, after experiencing her “time travel” and reading the “Song of the Blood Moon”, she had learned more about history, and she became uncertain about some things.

She wouldn’t call it amnesia, she wasn’t a returning God. To Charlotte, it seemed more like a reversal of cause and effect.

Of course, there was no need to discuss this with outsiders since she couldn’t confirm her time travel theory. Unless she experienced another time travel when she advanced to the Blazing Sun tier, there would be no way to be sure.

As for Nice… let it be misunderstood.

“It seems that even being a God is not easy, finding your own past is a troublesome task.”

Nice muttered.

“So, what do you know?”

Charlotte asked.

Nice thought for a moment and said,

“Regarding the Ancient Temples and the Faceless Statues, I actually know very little. But… one thing I’m certain of is that although the bloodbornes see them as your means for a return, based on my research, your past self didn’t build those temples and statues for that purpose.”

“Of course, the statues do contain divine power, and their nature is unique enough to help you restore your power in a way, but that shouldn’t be their main purpose.”

“Based on my research… the primary purpose of the Ancient Temples and Faceless Statues seems to be constructing a giant magical array that covers the entire world.”

“A giant magical array covering the world?”

Charlotte looked surprised.

“Yes, a magical array that integrates magic collection and protection. If my judgment is correct, its ultimate goal should be to gather all the magic of Myria.”

Nice said.

Wow…

Gather all the magic in the world?

Charlotte’s eyelid twitched.

“So…”

Nice paused, glanced at Charlotte, and carefully chose his words.

“In my view, the Ancient Temples and Faceless Statues are more like attempts by you… um, the past True Ancestor of Blood, to achieve eternal rule over Myria and to go further, becoming a being above the Gods.”

To achieve eternal rule and become a being above the Gods…

Charlotte pondered.

This indeed aligns with some descriptions in the “Song of the Blood Moon.”

At least in the poem, the True Ancestor of Blood “devoured” the sun to advance further.

However, Charlotte felt this wasn’t something she would do. She considered herself quite laid-back and easily content. If there were no external threats, she could be a happy couch potato forever.

“You said you believe the Ancient Temples scattered across the world form a giant magical array. Have you found any evidence?”

Charlotte asked.

Nice instantly looked proud.

“Meow! Not only evidence! I even managed to reconstruct part of the array’s configuration and accurately deduce the locations of some Ancient Temples. Among the temples that have emerged, three were discovered through my deductions!”

“Of course, I’m not a true God, and reaching this point is nearly my limit. As for the rest, I can only say there might be a few more and their possible locations.”

Charlotte’s heart raced, her eyes lit up.

“Oh? Then… how many temples have you deduced? Where are the undiscovered ones most likely located?”

For other bloodbornes, faceless statues are media to summon Gods, but for Charlotte, they’re akin to “power banks” that replenish divine power.

Moreover, she could use the Faceless Statues to gradually perfect her divine persona.

In other words, besides expanding her forces and developing followers, searching for Ancient Temples and Faceless Statues was a strong way to boost her strength before the Divinity Descent Day.

“In total… there should be thirty-six. Twenty-two have been found, leaving fourteen. One should be within the Roman Duchy, but I can’t determine its exact location; as for the others, according to my simulated array configuration, three should be in Luna Island, Eastern Yunette, and Coria, respectively, three should be in the Far East, one in the Sun Empire, and for the remaining few, three should be in the sea, and four should be farther west, likely on the lost old continent.”

Nice mused.

Wow…

This deduction is quite precise, right?

Charlotte was slightly stunned.

Although it was just a rough location, knowing the general area provided direction.

However…

The old continent…

Charlotte recalled when she returned after her “time travel”, seeing a fragmented continent overseas as she overlooked Myria.

If she guessed right, that might be the legendary homeland of the elves, the old continent that was destroyed three thousand years ago.

The True Ancestor of Blood could travel quite a distance, even establishing temples on the old continent!

Of course, the old continent was too far away. Other places, such as the Sun Empire, Coria, and Eastern Yunette, were also distant.

But Nice’s mention of the Roman Duchy intrigued Charlotte.

“Is there also an undiscovered temple in the Roman Duchy?”

She asked, squinting.

“If the magic model is correct, yes.”

Nice replied.

Charlotte nodded slightly.

This might be an opportunity and an attempt.

If all went well, she could become the ruler of the Roman Duchy after helping the Nez Clan reclaim Starfall.

Then, perhaps she could find where the temple was hidden.

“Master, is there… anything else you want to ask?”

Nice asked cautiously, seeing Charlotte deep in thought. Charlotte looked at him.

Nice knew a lot, but he never spoke unless asked.

“One more thing, not counting the statues obtained by various forces, do you have… a statue here?”

Charlotte eyed the black cat and asked.

Nice froze.

He hesitated, then said awkwardly.

“Um… Master, I did have a statue here, but… I used it.”

“Used it?”

Charlotte was confused.

“What do you mean by used? Can you also absorb the blood divine power?”

She asked curiously.

“Uh… no, I can’t. I used the statue itself. As for the divine power inside, I made it into a divine spell scroll and used it up.”

Nice replied awkwardly.

Charlotte was even more curious.

“What did you use the statue for?”

Nice scratched his head.

“I used the statue to create a body, the one you see now…”

Charlotte: …