Xialuote looked at the Dagger of Verdict presented before her with a touch of surprise.
She had told quite a few lies and kept no small number of secrets lately—her identity as a transmigrator, her covert trip to the underground exchange, her evasiveness toward her father, and gravest of all, directly causing two deaths. Now, faced with holding a Sealed Artifact that would "judge the sins within the wielder's heart," a natural hesitation sprang up within her.
Still, even the lie-detecting holy canon hadn't caught her biggest secret, so this Grade 3 Sealed Artifact might not work either... Comforting herself with the thought, Xialuote realized that an opportunity for a test like this was rare indeed. With a trace of curiosity, she reached out and took it.
The newly fitted leather sheath, styled after the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, felt slightly warm to the touch. Gripping the hilt, she made sure her spirituality gave no warning of danger before slowly unsheathing the dagger.
The blade was visibly different from what she remembered. It was no longer a pure, solid black, but had taken on a weathered, frosted gray. Its edges even looked somewhat dull, hardly resembling a lethal weapon capable of piercing a human heart with ease.
Xialuote held it loosely, prepared to drop it at the first sign of trouble. But after holding her breath for nearly half a minute, until she finally had to breathe, not a trace of the "remorse" Weiyefu had spoken of surfaced.
She looked at Weiyefu in confusion.
Weiyefu looked back at her with equal puzzlement.
"Am I supposed to feel uncomfortable?" Xialuote finally couldn't help asking.
Weiyefu didn't answer immediately. Instead, she reached out, taking "3-1452" by pinching the hilt with her slender, fair fingers.
For the first few seconds, her expression remained unchanged. But soon, Xialuote noticed her brow knit slightly and her lips tighten, as if a profound disgust was welling up from deep within her—directed at none other than herself.
In less than twenty seconds, Weiyefu set the dagger back on the table. Pressing her other hand against the Sun Holy Emblem on her chest, she began reciting a low prayer.
Only after finishing several lines confessing her sins and praising the Sun did the expression on her face return to normal.
The negative effect is actually that potent—even a Sequence 7 Sun Priest couldn't hold it for half a minute... Clergy who are prone to self-reflection and constantly feel guilty wouldn't be able to use this dagger at all... Watching this unfold, Xialuote had an inkling of what was happening.
Weiyefu exhaled deeply several times and said, "Every Purifier has tried to wield it. Their reactions varied, but none could fight normally in that state."
"Is there no way to counter this negative effect?" Xialuote pressed.
"Some speculated that holding it continuously might cause that extra complacency to offset the guilt, but no one was willing to test it. On the contrary, several imprisoned criminals showed far less severe reactions when holding it briefly."
Yet criminals could never be allowed to use Church Sealed Artifacts, and I'd bet those prisoners include the captured cultists or detained wild Extraordinaries—give them a weapon, and the first thing they'd do is turn it on the Purifiers... Xialuote pondered before probing cautiously, "So... is this weapon going to be assigned to me?"
If she could keep a Sealed Artifact with manageable side effects by her side, her ability to protect herself would instantly jump a tier. As for its tendency to attract shadow creatures, Xialuote figured that carrying holy water with her could resolve that issue.
Unfortunately, Weiyefu mercilessly shattered her illusion.
"The use of a Grade 3 Sealed Artifact requires an application by a captain, and it can only be deployed during official operations involving three or more people. Allowing you to carry it last time was because you needed to approach Zhuli'an to dispel his suspicions, and holding it provided self-defense. Long-term assignment to a peripheral member violates regulations. However..."
Xialuote had already lowered her eyes in disappointment, but at that final word, she looked up at Weiyefu with renewed anticipation.
"...This Sealed Artifact has only recently transformed, and the official documentation is still being compiled. For instance, the precise onset time of the side effects, the probability of summoning shadow creatures... all of these require someone brave enough to test them.
"Since you show no obvious side effects when holding it, you may temporarily assist in compiling this information."
Isn't that just lending it to me...? Xialuote understood immediately. Yet she could tell that what truly interested Weiyefu wasn't merely the test results, but why Xialuote could hold the Sealed Artifact without experiencing the slightest discomfort.
To confirm her suspicion, she simply asked outright, "Madam Weiyefu, what you really want to know is why I don't feel that sense of guilt, isn't it?"
The Purifier nodded candidly.
So her guilt earlier wasn't from lying... Xialuote thought for a moment before choosing her words carefully: "Perhaps it's because the situations where I committed 'crimes' all fell under self-defense. Aidian wanted to kidnap me, Zhuli'an wanted to kill me, and the Extraordinary who lost control by the stream at the hunting ground attacked first. So even though I grievously wounded or killed them, in my heart, I never considered it a sin."
Weiyefu looked at the dagger on the table, thoughtful.
"Yet under such circumstances, an ordinary person could hardly be entirely devoid of guilt. Many believers come to confession simply because they threw a punch during an argument, even when the other party struck first," she said in an inquiring tone.
This reminded Xialuote of the sense of satisfaction—as if delivering a verdict—she had felt when Zhuli'an collapsed, and she looked away with a twinge of guilt.
"Perhaps it relates to the unique nature of an 'Arbiter,'" Weiyefu continued. "Or perhaps in matters like this, you are more firmly convinced that what you did was right?"
Sounds like she's saying my moral compass is low. Still, since transmigrating, I truly have felt a lack of reality about everything happening in this world... Xialuote muttered silently to herself, unwilling to argue the point with her.
Fortunately, Weiyefu had merely voiced her puzzlement. Placing the Sealed Artifact back into the small chest that seemed to isolate its negative effects, she looked at Xialuote again.
"In any case, this matter is settled for now. However, I must submit an application to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Telier explaining why you are assisting in documenting the artifact's properties and side effects."
"Understood."
Xialuote was in no hurry. She knew the mail coach from Suxite to Telier took a full three days. Even if both sides processed everything with utmost speed, receiving a reply from the Purifier headquarters would take at least a week. What was more, judging by how busy the Inquisition's clerical staff was, non-urgent matters sitting around for days or even a week was likely the norm...
However, she noticed a peculiar look in Weiyefu's eyes, as if observing a compliant test subject. That reminded her of another matter she had yet to report.
Moerwan Dulang's familiarity with Fourth Epoch antiquities and curses, the way he had looked at her, and her suspicion that he might be an Extraordinary... Strictly speaking, as a peripheral member, she ought to have proactively reported all of this to Weiyefu.
Yet speaking up might put her in danger, or cause the little group behind Suxite Weekly to disband. And if she said nothing, Mr. Dulang, having lived in Suxite for decades, was unlikely to do anything harmful... Xialuote knew this was shirking responsibility—a purely selfish thought.
Yet strangely enough, she felt no guilt over it whatsoever.
***
On the evening of Sunday, April 13, Xialuote arrived in a carriage before an expansive, luxurious manor in Bo'ersi District.
It stood not far from the Municipal Hall, surrounded by Saint Palace Hospital, the Suxite Grand Theater, and a Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun where Purifiers were quite likely stationed—the very heart of the entire city. That Viscount Deliluose could own an expansive urban estate with its own private garden on such prime land was proof enough of the family's local wealth and influence.
It was certainly vastly superior to the Baron Suolun family living in their ancestral mansion.
Even before stepping down from the carriage, Xialuote noticed that the road here had been specially maintained. The flagstones were smooth and clean, so that the carriage wheels barely jolted as they rolled over them. Numerous four-wheeled carriages bearing aristocratic coats of arms were already parked on both sides of the street. Servants darted between them, ushering guests down, while dedicated staff promptly cleared away horse droppings so as not to spoil the guests' moods.
Bo'ersi District was already far cleaner than the Old City and the Dock District, yet the area surrounding the viscount's residence was exceptionally pristine. The spring air of April had coaxed the foliage in the garden to unfurl, and neatly trimmed hedges alongside freshly blooming flowers made for a thoroughly pleasant scene in the sunset.
Just maintaining this street and the manor must cost a hundred thousand feierjin a year... Xialuote wished she could poke her head out the window to admire this rare scene, free from the era's usual filth and chaos, but noticing Madam Dailiya Peili staring at her from across the carriage, she had no choice but to drop the idea.
Once coming of age, even though her father remained her legal guardian, an unmarried daughter attending formal social events could no longer ride in the same carriage as the male elder of the household like a child. Thus, today she rode with this elder woman who doubled as her etiquette instructor, while Lawuer Suolun took another carriage.
Originally, that seat should have belonged to her mother, or at least a married elder sister. Alas... A flicker of sorrow crossed Xialuote's mind, but she quickly composed herself and alighted once the carriage came to a steady halt.
Today, she wore an exquisite gown prepared for her debut into society. Intricate patterns were embroidered onto yellow silk, with delicate lace trimming the cuffs and hem. The waistline was pulled tighter and higher than usual, accentuating a figure far more developed than that of ordinary girls her age. The neckline followed the prevailing trend—a low square cut showcasing her fair skin—while her auburn hair was braided and pinned up behind her head, revealing the slender curve of her neck.
Reuniting with her father, the three ascended the carpeted steps into the grand central hall. Gold leaf was inlaid along the walls, chandeliers cascaded tiers of candlelight, and exquisitely sculpted reliefs flanked the staircase opposite the main entrance. Several footmen in livery stood on either side, guiding guests toward the second floor.
Aristocrats who worship the Eternal Blazing Sun really do seem to love adorning their facades with gold. Then again, it might just be a respectable excuse to flaunt their wealth... Xialuote silently judged the viscount's lavish ostentation while maintaining an unhurried pace and a serene smile.
Soon, Lawuer led her before Viscount and Viscountess Deliluose, who were greeting guests at the entrance.
"This is my daughter, Xialuote."
"Miss Suolun, happy birthday, and congratulations on your formal entrance into Suxite's high society."
"Thank you, Your Lordship."
Similar exchanges repeated again and again. One by one, Xialuote curtsied and exchanged pleasantries with the barons, viscounts, ladies, and misses. In such a social gathering, Dailiya's presence quickly proved invaluable; she would softly remind Xialuote whenever she forgot someone's identity, and deftly divert the conversation whenever a young man showed excessive interest, giving Xialuote—whose smile was growing increasingly stiff—a chance to catch her breath.
Just then, she noticed a gaze lingering steadily upon her and looked toward the far end of the grand hall in curiosity.
There stood Baron and Baroness Lai'ang Gusitafu, accompanied by a young man who was equally dressed to the nines.
Clad in a dark formal suit, wearing a powdered wig, and holding a tricorn hat in hand, Luosaier Gusitafu took advantage of the moment his parents were conversing with others to sneakily wink at her.
Chapter 46