Chapter 140

"Priest!"

"Take my brother back!"

Without a second thought, Edmond rushed forward and embraced Faria. In his utter disarray, he heeded the words of Abigail the Shadow and took Faria back to the Dungeon.

"What on earth is going on..., Your Excellency Abigail..."

After placing Favia on the bed, Edmond asked the shadow beside him, remembering that this was the Priest's dark side, a being who also existed like a sister, and had two names, preferring Abigail to Favia...

Although he felt that Favia was more like a family member's name.

"... Let your brother tell you when he wakes up. Honestly, someone like you could just say it, whether you believe it or not, but you have to show it off like this..." Abigail, holding Favia's hand, her expression vanished as words swirled across her face, "This is really infuriating..."

"... terribly sorry."

The shadow's aura was tinged with Wrath, a fact Edmond knew all too well. He also understood why Faria couldn't escape—it was due to this curse-like phenomenon found in Magecraft.

In the silent stillness, Edmond saw the Priest's whole body begin to convulse and tremble violently, foaming at the mouth, tossing and turning, his face colder and paler than marble, weaker and more powerless than a reed underfoot.

At this moment, the gray-haired youth understood why the Priest had shown his own powerlessness, and he felt very distressed about it.

He lowered his head and couldn't help but murmur.

"Asshole..."

When Edmond saw the Priest he revered showing such a vulnerable side, he felt a fire burning inside him with nowhere to vent it.

It was both directed at himself and at the person who had put the Priest in such a predicament.

At that moment, a memory suddenly flashed through Edmond's mind.

That was a conversation between Abigail and Faria during a break, which could also be described as a teaching.

"Even if life is all good things, you can still feel pain without realizing it."

Why? If everything were good, wouldn't people not feel any pain?

"People feel like they're surrounded by light when everything is going well, but when everything is in chaos, they feel depressed and shed tears because no one wants to fall to that point, and no one wants to admit defeat. Therefore, they keep pursuing success."

Even if it is the brightest light, even if it is the best thing of happiness, too much of it will only bring pain. Anything in excess will have the same outcome, or rather, pain is born alongside happiness, and pain such as misfortune lies on the other side of happiness.

But from another perspective, the view from the bottom of the valley is not entirely dark; if you stand up firmly on the ground, hope shines there.

"Yes, Edmond, even in this death trap, there will still be light shining somewhere."

Speaking of which, Edmond clearly remembered Priest Faria saying that Magecraft were generally depraved individuals, but Edmond didn't know if he was right.

Before he was imprisoned, he was too far removed from the mysterious world; after being wrongly imprisoned in the Château d'If, he was too close to Faria; and he was too far removed from what Faria described as the daily life of Magecraft and the Magecraft himself, making it impossible to make a judgment.

However, Edmond, who was educated by Favia, also knew that people are different because the specifications of their brains are not exactly the same. Therefore, even if the input information is the same, the output cognition will not be the same.

Even if you see the same things, the same colors, and hear the same things, you may not necessarily have the same feelings.

That's true of everything in the world.

Not limited to Magecraft, not limited to non-human beings, the world is connected by misunderstandings, misidentifications, disagreements, and misinterpretations.

Priest Faria was his mentor; although Magecraft, he was an extremely kind person at heart.

Edmond Dantès held this view.

"Well then, please listen carefully to the question I'm leaving you with today. This question is a bit special, so don't rush to answer it. Reply to me when you have your Answer."

"Okay, please go ahead."

"Do you suffer because your name is Edmond Dantès, or because you are Edmond Dantès?"

After a while, when Favia opened his eyes, he realized that Abigail and Edmond were beside him.

"That's why I can't get out. You could say I'm cursed. I have a disease called 'Catalepsy,' and it will flare up as soon as I leave this Dungeon."

Favia explained the situation calmly.

"Is it because of those three guys who framed you, Priest?"

"Maybe so, or maybe it's because I'm Faria. In any case, I can't leave here anymore. You think I'm digging this hole because I'm looking for something to do."

"... I see, I understand now."

Edmond looked at Favia in silence for a long time, then, with a solemn expression, extended his hand to him and told him, word by word,

"I swear by the blood of Christ, as long as you live, I will never leave you...!"

Then, after saying that, Edmond seemed to realize something, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his whole body trembled slightly.

"Thank you." Favia extended her other hand to push Edmond's hand away and said softly, "The reason I did this is because there is something extremely important I need to tell you."

"But... okay."

In fact, when Edmond touched the Priest's incredibly cold hand, his mind went blank for a long time before he realized that the hand was paralyzed because of the illness he had just suffered.

But seeing Favia's serious expression, he could only put the question aside for now and listen to what Faria had to say next.

"Within the Holy Church lies a dark treasure."

Edmond knows that the Holy Church is the former name of the Church world before its split, and also the dark side of the current united Church, that is, the power of the mysterious side, which is an enemy of the Mage's Association. His Teacher, Faria, was once a member of it, but was framed by three people of high position.

"The mysteries hidden within the Church will ultimately illuminate the Future of humanity. To prevent their loss, I have seized them and concealed them. From this moment forward, I entrust them to you."

Christ Mountain, the secret treasure of the Savior Mountain, the mystery hidden deep in the abyss of the cave, the Fourteenth Stone of the King of Death, which brought humanity back to life.

"Words cannot describe it; the secrets of imagination are first knowledge, second treasure, and this is the third, and the last thing entrusted to you, Edmond Dantès."

After Favia finished speaking, Edmond said firmly:

"I don't need that kind of thing, Priest. I will stay by your side."

Edmond actually knew the location of Christ Mountain and often passed by it, even visiting it once. It was only twenty-five miles from Pianosa, between the Corsica and Elba Island.

That island is still a deserted place. It looks like a large, cone-shaped rock, which seems to have been pushed to the surface by an underwater volcanic eruption many years ago.

Although he wasn't sure if it was the Christ Mountain Priest had mentioned, the name was indeed exactly the same.

Although Edmond could tell from Faria's words that these things were valuable, he didn't care.

It was Faria who saved his life.

It was Faria who let Edmond know that he could survive.

This also allowed Faria to inform Edmond of his injustice.

Faria, who was standing before him, who made Edmond aware of everything.

Therefore, Edmond went on to say:

"I have sworn to be with you, Priest, forever. My true wealth is not that so-called secret treasure."

Priest, what is most precious to me is not what you entrusted to me under the gloomy rocks of Monte Cristo Island, but the time I have spent with you. You have taught me all sorts of knowledge, and you have a profound understanding of them, which is why you were able to put them into my mind and enable me to master them.

This is my true wealth, Priest Faria; for this alone, I have enough.

These are my true treasures, the real treasures that belong to me, and all of this was given to me by you.

Trust me, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to cure your curse!

The Sailors's unhesitating reply from the port of Marseille silenced Favia, who stared at the faint light outside the small window.

After a long silence, he sighed deeply, seemingly ignoring Edmond's words, and continued speaking to himself.

"Within the Holy Church, which displays omnipotent and Dharma, there exists an evil that, to ordinary people, is a terrifying supernatural being, and on a fantastical level, is proof of the transference of souls, a genius beyond his time, a being who constantly changes Flesh, who spares no effort to explore the world, and whose evil power is constantly amplified by his thirst for knowledge. In simpler terms, this evil is someone who relentlessly pursues a higher level of existence at all times."

That is, one of the people who framed me, Dead Apostle named Taratallon, Edmond. In any case, you must pay attention to him and be careful of him.

Why did Favia say that?

Perhaps it was to avoid the possibility that the Count of Monte Cristo might be injured because of him in the future.

Faria didn't have time to tell Edmund that Taratalon was a Dead Apostle, which led Edmund to initially believe that Taratalon was just a church member who could use magic. After Edmund killed Braga, Taratalon discovered this, which led to the death of Captain Morrel's child, who was Edmund's benefactor. Taratalon was defeated in their first encounter and later killed Concheta, who was with Edmund.

Conchetta is the cousin of Giovanni Bertuccio, the butler in the original novel "The Count of Monte Cristo".

"Edmond, the reason I entrusted the Monte Cristo Treasure to you is that I hope you can help me."

"Is it to avenge you, Priest? Rest assured, if the opportunity arises, I will certainly—"

Edmond believed that the Priest must share his deep hatred for those who framed them for their own selfish desires, and therefore such a request should not be refused.

He was going to do this all along, and those who framed the Priest were his enemies.

But to Edmond's surprise, Favia shook her head.

"It's not to avenge me, but to protect something for me."

"What... is it?"

"You saw that child just now, the one named Fran."

Edmond, who had just met her, would naturally not forget Frankenstein, who thought Faria was her Grandpa.

"She's in a bit of trouble. Could you help me deal with that guy named Alessandro Cagliostro? Oh, and her father is James Moriarty. You could also get to know him. By the way, you've met him before, haven't you?"

"Hmm." Edmond nodded. "Before I met the Priest, I asked him to help me see if I could make a request to the higher-ups, but at that time I didn't know Villefort's true nature and placed my hopes on him... I suppose Mr. Moriarty was powerless to help me."

At this moment, Edmond, who had been taught by Favia, already knew the weapon called justice. Even though it was so dirty and so unjust at the moment, it did not change because of the cries of the unfortunate, nor did it waver because of the contempt of the superior. It simply swayed in the hands of the user.

"Speaking of which, Edmond, you mean you want to stay with me forever?"

Suddenly, Favia said with a smile.

"Um?"

Edmond didn't understand what Favia meant and blinked.

Perhaps it was his amusing expression that made Favia laugh, his shoulders shaking. His overly cheerful demeanor made him feel as if he'd fallen into a trap.

"Then let me put it another way: if I die, you won't have to keep this Vow anymore."

Edmond was startled by Favia's words.

"No, Priest, you won't die. As long as you don't go up to the Dungeon, things won't be like before..."

"Then I'll take your good wishes, but that day will come eventually."

"No, it won't..."

"Haha, don't worry, even if that day comes, Edmond, you'll still be smiling until the very end, you know? Until the very end."

"... Why?"

Favia paused for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Although it may sound irresponsible and annoying, it's better to say it anyway."

He said,

"Because I am your Teacher, even after I die, I will stay by your side and accompany you through thick and thin."

Therefore, everyone in the world is an enemy, but I am also your Teacher. I am by your side, fighting alongside you.

I will stay with you, never leaving your side. Even if one day you grow tired of me, please remember that I am your Teacher.

This sentence was like a song, leaving Edmond speechless.

Then, Favia laughed loudly:

"Let your life, steeped in despair, burn brightly in an era where darkness reigns supreme. That might sound naive, but Edmond, perhaps you still lack the necessary experience."

But I believe that one day you will become a student I will be incredibly proud of, Edmond Dantès.

224: February 28, 1829 (8k)

From that day on, their lives at the Château d'If remained largely unchanged; they continued digging for the opportunity that would allow them to meet— Cave.

After all, to avoid having nothing to do, one always needs to find something to do.

Despite Edmond's statement that he didn't need the Monte Cristo Treasure, Favia, whose right arm and leg had become numb and immobile over time, forced Edmond to memorize its Monte Cristo Treasure.

Sometimes she would even spend an entire hour teaching Edmond how to behave after gaining his freedom, and she would say that if Edmond had the chance, he could go and see if there was still a shipyard in Britain, and if so, he might be able to offer some help.

During this period, time did not pass quickly, but it was at least not unbearable.

"Brother, what are you writing?"