It was not hard to understand why the Truth Society, as a religious sect, had a Day of Worship.
To make believers worship, a god naturally had to display its dazzling radiance and spread its magnificent doctrine.
However, unlike the Church of Blossoms' weekly worship, the Truth Society's Day of Worship was generally held once a month. The time was uncertain, the location unknown, and everything was announced through parchment.
Yeah. It really had the style of an underground organization.
Of course, since it could make believers worship such a shady "True Lord," its Day of Worship naturally had its own unique traits.
"What are they?"
Iris looked at Linton expectantly.
Ever since she had started following Linton, she had only grown more curious about the world.
But this time, Linton did not respond as he usually did by telling her strange little stories. Instead, he shook his head.
"I can't say it."
"Huh??" Iris looked at him as though he were trash, and then she got smacked on the head.
"What exactly is going through that little head of yours?" Linton withdrew his hand and carefully chose his words. "Not being able to say it doesn't mean what I'm thinking is filthy, nor does it mean I don't want to tell you. I literally cannot say it."
"Before the Truth Society's Day of Worship begins, everyone enters a state of immersion, as though falling into a dream. After waking up, they might remember fragmented images, but they can never piece them together into a complete story."
Iris rubbed her head and shot him a glare. "Then what's the point of worship? You can't even meet that so-called True Lord."
Linton smiled faintly. "Do you find living tiring?"
"What a philosophical question. Probably, yes."
"Your family relationships may be chaotic, but you have more than enough materially. Yet across this continent, there are countless families worse off than yours, families in far poorer financial circumstances. Bearing such immense pressure, they have to find some way to relax—gambling, drinking themselves senseless, or other ways of numbing their minds."
"But all of those require money or some other form of support. So is there a way to relax that costs almost nothing?"
Iris immediately understood. "Dreams. In dreams, you are the master. You can do anything, and every problem you could never solve before is easily resolved."
"Exactly." Linton continued, "Although they forget most of what happened in the dream, their hearts are already satisfied when they wake. Besides, if someone successfully retains a particular image from the dream in their memory, that person will receive an unexpected reward."
"You've had moments when something was happening and you suddenly felt as though you could foresee what would happen next, right?"
"I have," Iris said. "I remember when I was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard as a child, I suddenly had a feeling that my swordsmanship instructor would enter through the front gate. So I ran over to welcome him, but it was only an illusion. He never came."
"When that happens, perhaps your brain has unconsciously pieced together an image from countless bits of information, which gives you a powerful sense of déjà vu. But if you dreamed of that scene during the Truth Society's Day of Worship, and still remembered it after waking..." Linton narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice distant. "Then your instructor might be very happy that you came to greet him."
"Prophecy?"
Iris's expression instantly became as ugly as if she had seen a ghost, and she could not help crying out, "Impossible! How could anyone possibly do something like that?!"
It was no wonder Iris was shocked.
The Calvi Continent was a world with gods. Whether the land of Blossoms or other nations, all were countries founded by gods.
Because gods were transcendent beings, people believed that everything happening in the world was the will of the gods: flowers blooming and withering were divine arrangements, sunrise and sunset the alternation of divine radiance.
Everything, everything was guided by the gods, and anyone who tried to predict what would happen next would be seen as—
—Blaspheming the gods!
"My god! How much nerve would it take to do something so insane? That 'True Lord' must be some abyssal demon god!!"
Linton shrugged. "Who knows? I've never seen it, anyway."
"Sigh." Iris's face darkened, as unpleasant as if she had eaten cilantro for a month straight.
Ever since childhood, everyone had taught her to respect the Lord of Blossoms and be grateful for the prosperous life she had bestowed upon people.
She had never, and never dared to, imagine that one day she would have to blaspheme the gods!
"What rotten luck." Wearing a bitter expression, Iris packed up the things on the table. "When are we leaving?"
Linton froze when he heard her words. "You're going too?"
"Huh?" Iris suddenly turned around, accidentally knocking over the candy on the table.
The candies scattered across the floor with a clatter, but the doll girl only stared fixedly at the necromancer, no emotion visible in her eyes.
Startled by Iris's excessive reaction, Linton hurriedly explained, "What I mean is, your body hasn't recovered yet. Although the place where the Day of Worship is held isn't far from here, the road isn't safe. And you aren't a member of the Truth Society—"
"Oh, so it's because I'm useless." Iris interrupted Linton with a dry laugh, but neither her brows nor the corners of her eyes showed any sign that she was happy.
She bent down stiffly and picked up the candy that had fallen to the floor.
"Fine, I won't go. Who cares?"
"Would anyone really want to attend a worship service that blasphemes the gods? No way, no way?"
"I hope you don't run into any monsters listed in the danger files on the road. And if you do, don't get beaten to death. And if you get beaten to death, don't die without a complete corpse!"
"Stop, stop, stop." Linton slapped his forehead. "We'll go together. Together."
"Who wants to go with you?!" Iris forcefully smashed a piece of candy onto the table. Cracks immediately spread across its cloudy, colorful surface in all sorts of patterns.
"Anyway, you're done using me. Anyway, I can't protect you. Anyway, I'm not part of the Truth Society. Why bring me along? Go on, get out, get out!"
Amid the extreme emotional turmoil, Linton suddenly felt his connection with the doll girl weakening, her soul fluctuations gradually becoming unstable.
If this state continued, the summoning spell maintaining Iris's existence would lose its connection. There would no longer be anyone named "Iris Lizer" in this world.
"Iris." Linton placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, turned her around, and forced her to look at him. "I'm sorry. That was my fault."
"You did nothing wrong. It's all my fault." Iris continued to laugh dryly, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably. "I'm too weak. I'm too useless. I can't travel alongside you."
"Iris, look at me."
Iris reluctantly met Linton's gaze.
His eyes were beautiful, his pupils a deep black, like an endless sea filled with mystery, making one long to explore it.
"I'm sorry." His voice was as light as velvet, as soft as luxurious Eastern silk. "I'm used to being alone. I forgot long ago what it feels like to travel with someone. But I know how damned it is to ignore the feelings of a companion bound to my soul by a single thread, a companion I trust most of all. Especially when that companion is willing to give her life for me."
"Who's your companion?! Who said I was willing to give my life for you?!"
Iris's face suddenly flushed red, as though touched by the flames of anger in her heart.
She immediately turned away and shouted anxiously, "I'm just a doll! I can't bear a title like companion, and as for giving my life—how can you even say something so embarrassing?! You hold control over me. If you die, how could I possibly survive?!"
Although she looked furious, her soul fluctuations finally began to calm.
Linton let out a long breath and smiled as he rubbed her head. "Whatever. Get ready. We're leaving."
Iris slapped his hand away. "Who said I was going with you?"
"I'm a mage with no strength to even truss a chicken. If we run into any dangerous creatures recorded on the road, I won't have the slightest ability to resist. But I still want to live a few more years, so I'm counting on you, Miss Knight!"
"DON'T! CALL! ME! THAT!" Iris shouted, humiliated and furious, emphasizing every word.
"Let's go, let's go." Linton smiled as he put away the parchment, called to the girl, and headed out first.
"What an utterly despicable bastard!"
Iris viciously cursed under her breath, but her body honestly closed and put away the book. Then she picked up the paper bag of candy, found a broken piece, and tossed it into her mouth. She bit down, and the flavor of cheap saccharin immediately filled her mouth.
"One day, I'll be stronger than the peerless commander of the Knights Order, stronger than the great archmage renowned throughout the continent, stronger than anyone, stronger than any country!"
"—No one will ever abandon me again! Not even a world created by the gods can cast me aside a second time!!"
Outside the house, Linton caught a leaf drifting down from a tree, crushed it between his fingertips, and smiled softly.
"Such childish thoughts. Pretty cute... if only she didn't have such a fierce temper."
"Let's go."
Having sorted out her emotions, Iris came out of the room.
Linton nodded, and the two of them walked side by side toward the village entrance.
"Oh, right. What about the candy? Give me one. It's been a long time since I tasted anything sweet too."
"No!"
"Didn't you say it tasted bad?"
"Then I'm doing this for your own good. Why aren't you thanking me already?"
"Thank you. So can you take it out now?"
"I already said—"
"NO!"
Before you continue