Is Iver Tasty?

Iver, holding the Sun Scepter, followed Matilda into the depths of the Holy Order Department.

He walked on the deep red carpet and for a moment felt like a star walking the red carpet.

On either side of the red carpet, spectators slowly entered. They were almost all elves, and despite the large number of them, they remained very polite and quiet, making no noise whatsoever. After quite some time, Iver finally spotted Sherlock, Lily, and Pure White standing at the very front.

As the crowd stopped entering, Matilda led Iver to the end of the road.

There was a rough, dark gold metallic mural, reflecting the light under the flames. It looked like bronze, or perhaps gold. The patterns inside were raised, giving it a very three-dimensional appearance.

The visuals are simple and easy to understand.

Two women and one man, three beings clearly elves, knelt before the candle keeper. The crimson stag covered in sin thorns was all too easy to spot—its enormous antlers all pointed to the sky, each branch like a candle flame illuminating the darkness.

The entire image is irregular... or rather, the image reflected in this mural is just a small area illuminated by the light of the stag.

Iver's gaze inevitably fell upon the mural.

Matilda raised her hands as if in praise of the sun.

She solemnly praised the mural, saying, "We beseech the candle keeper!"

The next moment, all the candles in the room went out instantly and were then lit at the same time.

It was no longer the still, unmoving red candlelight that had appeared moments before, as quiet as a still image.

Instead, it was an incredibly delicate, pure white radiance—

These candle flames were exceptionally thin, like vertical pupils.

The room, which was originally somewhat dim, was suddenly as bright as day.

"I solemnly call upon you, exalted Fire Thief! God of the Sacred Number Three, God of Thorns Binding the Body, God of Burning Body Chasing Darkness — the Candle Holder's Buck!"

The next moment, the candle flame that Iver was gazing at, and the whole world before him, crashed into him from afar like a speeding dump truck!

In an instant, Iver's vision was engulfed by the rapidly enlarging pure white flames.

The surroundings became extremely quiet in an instant, and Iver seemed to appear in a pure white space.

After only a brief hesitation, Iver suddenly realized what was happening.

Yes, he has been here.

When he first learned the Sacrificial Fire Art in the St. Genevieve Chapel, he saw the candle keeper in the fire by visualizing the flames.

Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances...

In that pure white, bright world, a majestic and beautiful stag slowly walked in.

Its entire body was a pure red, while its antlers were a deeper red. At the tip of each antler burned a ball of white flame. Even though the surrounding space was white, the color and shape of those flames could still be seen—it was light within light, white within white.

Black thorns of sin entwined His body. These thorns pierced His skin, causing Him to bleed fiery red blood. As He walked, the blood dripped from His hooves onto the ground, creating eternal, undying red flame footprints in the pure white space.

When he was promoted for the first time, Iver couldn't even see what the candle keeper looked like.

Now, Iver was instantly overwhelmed by the breathtaking beauty and sacredness of it.

He was deprived of the ability to speak and move, and he stood frozen in place.

Si Zhu slowly walked over and lowered his head to lick Iver's arm.

Iver looked down and realized that the crystal snake scales on his forearm were slowly disappearing.

That was the discomfort that Iver experienced when he was tainted by the power of the Ring Angel. Even after Iver completed his advancement, it didn't dissipate... because it was a distortion of Iver's soul itself, much like cancer in the body.

Now, under the caress of the Candle God, the influence from the Ring Angel has completely subsided.

As it completely disappeared, Iver was suddenly overwhelmed with a strange sense of emotion—a feeling akin to finishing the college entrance exam, as if something weighing on his heart had vanished. He felt a sense of lightness wash over him, and even the heavy backpack on his back seemed less daunting.

You will burn to ashes.

A gentle, deep voice sounded in Iver's ear.

Or perhaps, it will spread its wings and soar high, illuminating the heavens and the earth.

The candle keeper's voice was warm and bright, and it was inexplicably moving and reassuring to listen to.

He gave the impression of a gentle father, a reliable older brother, or a stern yet approachable teacher. Although, strictly speaking, Iver no longer remembered what his father's voice sounded like, he still had that feeling.

"I will... burn?"

"Iver murmured."

This is the Paradox of Illumination: light reveals, yet it is also blinding. Those with intact eyes cannot see light, except for light itself. Will you burn?

The candle maker replied in this way.

—I didn't understand.

Iver thought sullenly.

Iver dared not interpret what these riddle-makers were trying to say. If he misunderstood, it was better not to try at all.

However, seemingly aware that Iver hadn't understood, the candle keeper explained further:

There are only two paths to pursuing the light—becoming fire yourself and seeing no light.

You have chosen the latter; now is the time to seal the windows.

Iver understood.

Because Iver chose the latter of the two advanced classes, Torchbearer or Illuminator, he has now reached the stage of physical modification.

The one who illuminates need not burn his life to become a torch. And as the one who illuminates, he cannot gaze at the light for too long.

If Iver understood correctly, he needed to sacrifice at least one eye. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to advance further.

"I choose... my right eye."

Iver replied in this way.

If you don't care about the convenience of daily life, sacrificing both eyes will definitely give you a super powerful buff. That's how the Dedication Path: the more you give up, the more you gain.

The candle lily gently licked Iver's right eye.

There was no pain—just a feeling of warmth, and then Iver felt his vision disappear in his right eye.

The next moment, Iver felt a damp touch.

He reached out to touch it, but was suddenly pricked.

Iver hissed softly, feeling blood trickling from his right eye. He reached out and yanked it out, discovering it was a black sin thorn.

—The beans he ate earlier really did turn into thorns of sin.

After being ripped off by Iver, the black sin thorn quickly withered. As it withered, small red fruits began to form. Eventually, the black sin thorn turned to ashes, leaving only a small handful of red fruits, about thirty or so the size of pomegranate seeds, in Iver's palm.

"Is this... a sour jujube?"

Iver said in astonishment.

Iver knew that the thorny branches would bear dates.

... But now he can grow dates too?

He instinctively sensed that the thorns growing from his eyes in his dream were unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. In other words, he would grow a small bunch of these sour dates every now and then.

"So, can I eat this? Is it tasty? How do I eat it?" These thoughts popped into Iver's mind as he clutched the sour jujube.

He subconsciously opened his eyes, only to find that his right eye was not completely blind—his right eye clearly saw the dates shining with a red Dedication Radiance, and a faint black aura.

It seems to be a True Sight.

As Iver thought this, the surrounding white space rapidly receded.

In a daze, he reappeared at the coronation ceremony.

The ceremony was now drawing to a close. The Sun Scepter in his hand had left his grasp and was now in Cardinal Matilda's hands, and he was holding a handful of red fruit with his hands clasped together.

A stream of blood slowly flowed from his right eye, and his once Deep Blue pupil turned into a dull amber color.

Cardinal Matilda solemnly placed the candles on the papal crown and lit them.

One large candle and two small candles. The same size as Bishop Mathers. These candles were made from giant trees, capable of burning long and emitting a steady light.

Cardinal Matilda then placed the papal crown on Iver's head and gently touched it with her Sun Scepter.

Golden light rippled through the space like waves.

Iver's two heterochromatic eyes simultaneously ignited with a bright Vermillion light.

His golden ceremonial cloak moved without wind, and the inscriptions on his scarf-like golden shoulder straps lit up one by one, shining brightly. Even the inscription "Offering of Wings of Freedom" on Iver's back was activated and ignited with light.

As the flames of the crown above Iver's head ignited and then died out, the light on Iver's body gradually faded away.

Verification complete.

All the onlookers bowed respectfully to Iver, and then dispersed in San San.

They had witnessed the promotion of the new archbishop and were clearly very pleased. Pure White nodded to Iver, and Sherlock and Lily clapped happily.

"Congratulations, Archbishop Moriarty."

Cardinal Matilda smiled and nodded to Iver: "The ceremony is all over. I'll take you to your room in a bit. We'll meet again after some time when the study of Advanced Divine Arts officially begins."

She looked at the fruit that had suddenly appeared in Iver's hand with some curiosity, and asked politely, "By the way... what is this?"

"This should be a date," Iver replied.

The dates growing on my body—you probably don't have these.

Isn't that strange?

Iver thought to himself.

"It's a bit presumptuous of me... but may I try some?"

Cardinal Matilda said with some curiosity, "Of course, it's alright if it doesn't work. I can help you find some containers to store it."

This was the first time she had ever seen a bishop receive a handful of dates after being promoted.

Generally, the body is burned directly, leaving several scars. The holy oil applied beforehand is to prevent the flames from causing too much damage to the body, and also to protect the clothes—so that they don't burn to ashes in public.

As a result, Iver didn't catch a fever at all; instead, he lost an eye and ended up with a handful of dates in his hand.

... Is this a gift or compensation from the candle maker?

"—Please go ahead."

Without hesitation, Iver handed over the dates he was holding in both hands.

Perfect timing, he was looking for someone to test the effect on anyway.

Matilda is Cardinal Bishop of the Fifth Level. Even if this is inedible... those on the Dedication Path are thick-skinned and highly resistant, so they probably won't die from the poison.

Please feel free to try it, don't be shy.

Iver said enthusiastically.

Update complete, meow!

It's not noon anymore, so please don't wait up for the update... But I should still finish writing it before 6 PM, so you can wait for me tonight.

Ready to play The Last Era! I've been looking forward to it for so long! (Rubbing hands together)