"Be cautious! You shouldn't have just listened to him! The people in Maple Leaf Town have only lost some memories, so there's no real danger for us to go along!"
"We should just charge in together! Who cares about that bullshit wild god? Take my hammer first!"
Enzo cursed, but he didn't pound the tree anymore. He just scratched his messy hair in frustration, "If there's still no movement by dawn... I'll..."
He didn't say anything else, but just spat fiercely and looked anxiously at the maple forest shrouded in sweet shadows again.
…
Time flows slowly in the dead silence.
The skewers of meat on the campfire have been roasted to a golden and charred aroma. The perfect amount of fat wraps around each piece of meat, exuding the most original and tempting aroma.
Mark checked it carefully to make sure it was cooked perfectly and the meat was tender and juicy.
I think it should meet the standards of the so-called sacrifice mentioned by the proprietress in the town.
Midnight.
Mark took a deep breath and suppressed the throbbing in his heart and the faint sense of anticipation.
He picked up a skewer of perfectly grilled meat and walked towards the "Sugar Heart Stone" that was emitting a dreamy, colorful halo.
One step, two steps... the distance shortens silently.
The moment he gently placed the skewer of barbecued meat, which exuded the aroma of everyday life, in the center of the mirror-like amber stone surface—
Something strange happened suddenly!
There was no earth-shattering noise, no dazzling burst of light.
The surrounding scene was like a calm water surface into which a stone was thrown, suddenly twisting and rippling!
The sweet aroma of maple syrup, so rich that it was almost suffocating, suddenly increased tenfold, a hundredfold!
It was no longer a sense of smell, but it seemed to have turned into a sticky golden liquid, squeezing in from all directions, trying to drown people.
The moonlight disappeared.
No, it was the moonlight that was completely distorted and dyed with strong colors!
The sky above was no longer a deep dark blue, but had turned into a dome flowing with a honey-like golden red color.
Countless "stars" sparkling with colorful light seem to be dotted with solidified maple syrup crystals, slowly rotating and flowing with strands of sticky light bands.
The ancient maple trees that originally existed around now became hazy and huge.
Their branches seem to be made of flowing translucent amber and molten gold, and their leaves are huge maple syrup flakes with colorful halos on the edges.
It sways gently in the invisible wind, making a crisp yet hollow "ding dong" sound like a wind chime.
The air was filled with a lazy scent of extreme happiness and satisfaction, as if one was in a cradle woven of syrup and sweet dreams from which one would never wake.
Mark felt as if his thoughts had become sticky and slow.
An urge to let go of everything and indulge in it arises spontaneously.
He bit the tip of his tongue hard. The severe pain and the smell of blood instantly sobered him up, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
Monica held Xiao Mu and stood by the campfire. The light of the campfire seemed dim and out of place in this dreamy world.
In her wine-red pupils, the identification array was spinning, combining, and breaking at an unprecedented speed, trying to analyze this scene that subverted her cognition.
Little Mu twisted restlessly in her arms, making a tiny and sharp "mumu" sound, and his three pairs of wings were fully spread out.
The white holy light, colorful black light, and gray-blue necromancy magic on the body surface are overflowing with light, as if instinctively resisting this sweet erosion.
And in the center of this strange world composed of solidified sweetness and illusory happiness, behind the "Sugar Heart Stone" that seems to be the core of the entire space.
A figure slowly condensed and emerged from the flowing golden-red light.
He was wearing an old-fashioned, somewhat bleached, but exceptionally neat dark grey clergyman's robe.
Signs of wear and tear are clearly visible on the cuffs and collar.
His face looked to be in his forties, with a gentle and slightly tired smile, and fine lines at the corners of his eyes, as if carved from years of smiling.
He held no scriptures nor weapons in his hands. He just stood there quietly, emitting a peaceful aura that made one feel at ease and even wanted to get close to him.
His eyes fell on the skewer of barbecued meat on the stone platform that was still steaming, then he slowly raised his eyes and looked at Mark, who was facing a formidable enemy. The smile on his lips seemed to deepen a little.
"A guest from afar." His voice was gentle and mellow, like aged maple syrup, with a strange soothing power. "Thank you for bringing... your 'thought'. The heat is just right."
The moonlight outlined his clear silhouette and also illuminated his deep eyes, which seemed to carry endless years yet were as clear as a child's.
Mark’s heart sank suddenly, and his hand was already on the cross necklace.
This seemingly kind priest in front of me must be the Bishop Roning Feng in the notes, who had his ideals shattered and eventually sacrificed himself in despair!
Mark's hand tightly grasped the cold cross necklace. With the cross necklace given by the mysterious existence, he thought that this "wild god" who lived in a corner could not do anything to him.
The very existence of Ronin Feng in front of him was a blasphemy against the teachings of Holy Light, much more so than that of him, a heretic who was merely devoted to a mysterious existence.
Ronin's "happiness" is a poisonous honey built on deprivation, forgetfulness and soul castration, which is simply digging up the roots of the Church of Holy Light.
After all, if believers forget even the basics of religion, no church can accept that!
Luo Ning Feng seemed to be oblivious to the tense hostility and vigilance in Mark and Monica.
The face with the eternal gentle smile turned to Mark, and the voice was still as mellow as aged syrup:
"Cleric, you have come here from afar, late at night. Are you eager to glimpse the secret of 'happiness', or... do you also want to embrace this sweet gift like the townspeople and acquire the skills of a 'cook'?"
His eyes swept over the trainee judge badge on Mark's chest, as if he was looking at a lost lamb who was about to be led back to the right path.
Mark forced himself to suppress his disgust for that mask-like smile and maintain his composure.
He glanced at the skewer of barbecued meat on the stone platform, which still exuded an enticing meaty aroma, which was incompatible with the dreamy and sweet surroundings.
Decided to tell the truth, at least the truth about the purpose of coming to Maple Leaf Town:
"I first heard that there was a place in Maple Leaf Town that could grant 'chef' skills, so I came here for this very reason."
He paused, his tone filled with a hint of disdain that was difficult to conceal:
"But a 'maple syrup chef'? With all due respect, Your Excellency, I'm not a big fan of sweets. I can tolerate them occasionally. But if all dishes are topped with 'maple syrup', I doubt the quality of the profession you can offer. This profession... I'm afraid it's not suitable for me."
The air seemed to stagnate for a moment.
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