True Form

When the two archbishops, Yuri and Magnan, regained consciousness, Gawain stopped communicating directly with Daniel and once more became an inconspicuous, harmless Outworld Wanderer quietly listening from the sidelines.

In a way, he felt that he, the "extra person" who had accompanied The Sleeper throughout their operation yet remained unknown to them, might be the most terrifying element in this bizarre place...

Meanwhile, Daniel learned from Archbishop Yuri what he had experienced while recalibrating his mind.

"You're saying... you saw a projection of the Upper Narrator deep within your memories?" Daniel's expression was exceptionally grave as he stared into Yuri's eyes. "And the part of your memories representing your 'latent self' has begun praising the Upper Narrator?"

Archbishop Yuri nodded grimly, while Magnan beside him added, "I encountered something similar too—damn it, I went back decades, to when I was still a priest in the God of War Church. The church was packed with people, and then suddenly, everyone began praying to the Upper Narrator... I swear, from the time I abandoned my faith in the God of War and became a Nightmare Mentor until now, even the most terrifying nightmare I've ever woven was only this bad!!"

Listening to the two archbishops recount their experiences, Gawain realized that both of them had become Sleeper priests through "conversion" midway through their lives. One had once been a Typhon noble, the other a priest of the God of War Church, but they had clearly severed all ties with their pasts and risen into The Sleeper's upper ranks through their own strength and long years of loyalty.

That was quite similar to Daniel's experience—before becoming a Dark Priest, he had been a High Rank Mage who left the Typhon Mage Association, and he too had become a Sleeper through "conversion."

"Now I