The Protagonists Keep Adding Scenes For Me | Chapter 43 | The Gift of Insight | Novela.app

Chapter 44 - The Gift of Insight This reaction was telling. The System casually traced another string of lilies of the valley onto a fallen leaf with a flicker of spiritual flame. His gaze swept across the empty seats in the corner of the tavern, eventually settling on a cloth bag made of the same coarse material as the hooded man’s cloak. At the bar, the man had finally regained some semblance of composure, though he was now feverishly questioning the bartender. A patron who had just entered the tavern hurried forward to grab the man’s arm, seemingly trying to talk him down from his agitation. Withdrawing his gaze, the System nudged the cloth bag slightly. Inside, he discovered a collection of weathered relics: tarnished silver ornaments, tattered book pages, and a broken blade—objects that bore the heavy, silent weight of passing years. The bartender had mentioned Beita, and coupled with the hooded man’s visceral reaction... *A remnant of the fallen kingdom of Beita?* The System twirled the thin stem of the leaf between his fingers, a faint, inscrutable smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He tucked the leaf—now etched with the forbidden floral emblem—gently into the bag. It was a small gesture, a mere spark cast into a pile of dry tinder. *** Leaving the tavern, the System waited before the towering, ivory-white doors of the cathedral. The sun hung low on the horizon, its bruised orange light slowly retreating from the pristine stone of the holy structure. [Mu Ran: !] [Mu Ran: My bracelet changed color again! Do you have any idea why? (Attached_Image.jpg)] The System relayed the events of the tavern and shared his deductions. [System: Since we have the latitude to interfere with the plot, we might as well follow our inclinations.] [System: For instance, is there anything about this world that you find particularly distasteful?] [Mu Ran: Hmm? Me? I’ve been to worlds with absolute theocracies or monarchies before, but there’s something uniquely suffocating about this one. (Sad_Cat_Sigh.jpg)] [Mu Ran: The lives of ordinary people are dictated by the clergy from a position of condescending authority. There’s no freedom, no way out. Meanwhile, the nobles use the convenience of "prophecy" to manufacture opportunities for themselves and flatten any obstacles in their path...] [Mu Ran: I wonder what else we’ll find. I have a feeling that if we keep digging, we’ll find that the "fortuitous encounters" the nobles brag about are actually stolen from unsuspecting commoners.] People moved in and out of the cathedral with docile, placid expressions, appearing perfectly content with their lot in life. But the System’s senses were sharper; he could hear the discordant symphony of voices rising from the confessionals. A youthful voice, cracked with suppressed longing, spoke of the bitterness of being "common," pleading for the gods to grant him a single glance. A woman wept over the misfortunes of her life, begging for the divine right to escape her misery. An old man lamented a lifetime of mediocrity, haunted by the ghosts of missed possibilities. Yet, they did not dare to rebel. They would not fight. They could not even conceive of the notion of change. To them, these sufferings were merely the "predestined" threads of a fate woven by the gods. The System’s azure eyes, cold and tranquil, stared at the thick white walls. It was as if he could look right through the stone to see the silent struggle and agony reflected in the eyes of those trapped in the dark, cramped confessionals. He was weighing a specific possibility. [System: Shall we try to redirect the plotline of this world?] Mu Ran was momentarily stunned by the audacity of the suggestion, but hesitation quickly turned into excitement. [Mu Ran: Oh! ...You’re right! Our experimental progress was sabotaged anyway, and our performance rating is likely to hit rock bottom. We might as well try to fulfill the requirements of the Plot Department that Yun Luo mentioned!] Then, remembering Yun Luo’s vague instructions and the unpredictable shifts of the chain prop, his mood dipped. [Mu Ran: But wait... the last few times, the effects were just things we stumbled into by accident...] [Mu Ran: If we try to act it out on purpose, I’m not sure I’ll know what to do. qwq] [System: There is no need for artifice. We will simply continue as we have been.] Having decided to intervene in the main narrative, the two exchanged their current findings. The protagonist, Erwin, was confirmed to be one of the "Twins," making the prophecy surrounding them the central pivot of the plot. [Mu Ran: I saw his brother by the waterfall earlier. I suspect he’s shadowing him in secret. They’re bound to cross paths sooner or later.] The fall of Beita was inextricably linked to the Twins. The chain prop had changed color twice—both times following contact with the man suspected of being a Beita remnant. However, Erwin seemingly had no connection to a kingdom that had been wiped off the map a century ago. [Mu Ran: Is Beita a key point too? Hmm...] The information was currently fragmented. While everything seemed to focus on the Twins, the actual connective tissue was missing. The original version of the divine prophecy was carved into the highest wall of the Royal Capital. If they could decipher the true text, they might find the missing link. According to Joan, she was not yet permitted to study the language of the gods. Whenever she was led past the Great Wall by the priest, she could only gaze longingly at the shimmering golden glyphs. For the System, however, this was no obstacle. His internal language modules allowed him to comprehend any script in this world, provided he could get close enough to the Sacred Wall. [Mu Ran: I’m so jealous! I wish I had the ability to read every language in these small worlds.] The System decided to find a way to embed himself within the Rhine family’s clerical delegation. Their destination was the Royal Capital, which provided the perfect opportunity to interpret the true prophecy. [Mu Ran: Then I’ll handle the observation of the protagonists. I feel like you’re always the one running around while I’m just coasting. qwq] The System’s reply was instantaneous. [System: The World Consciousness only monitors abnormal fluctuations within the protagonist group. If we are to change the plot through the World Consciousness itself, we must work through them.] [System: Your role is critical.] [System: I have always relied on you.] After a brief pause, the System hesitantly added an emoji. (Cat_Patting_Head.gif) Mu Ran, who had been feeling a bit "emo" about his contribution, was immediately cheered up. [Mu Ran: Hehe, I’ll do my best!] [Mu Ran: I’ll make sure I can coordinate with you perfectly when the time comes!] *** "...Eleven, twelve?" Su, overseeing the headcount of the clerical team, knit her brows in a sharp frown. "Why is there an extra person?" The steward hurried to explain, his voice hushed with awe. "A last-minute addition. Oh, truly, he is the most Divine Son-like individual I have ever laid eyes upon..." Su’s expression remained frigid. "We only require eleven clerics. We don’t need to squeeze in extras. Which commoner is so desperate for status that they’ve shoved their child onto us? Tell him to get lost!" The steward flailed his hands in panic. "No, no... it was the Priest. The moment he saw the boy, he felt he absolutely had to participate in this pilgrimage..." Su sneered. "Oh? Is he the Priest’s illegitimate son, then?" The steward turned pale. "No, no... you shouldn't speak of that lord in such a way... the Priest is above such baseless suspicion..." Su noted the shift in his tone. "It seems you have more respect for this gate-crasher than for me." She arched an eyebrow. "Fine. I’m curious now. Bring him here." A youth draped in a pristine white cloak stepped forward with measured, graceful strides. "Enough with the theatrics." Su took one look at the boy’s aura and the delicate features visible beneath the shadow of his hood and felt a flicker of begrudging approval. Her curiosity regarding his power, however, remained. "To join this team, one must possess at least an Elemental Spirit Form. Even the weakest among us has a Slime base. What is yours?" The youth extended his hand. Resting in his palm was a small, white fluffball, sleeping soundly on its back with its paws in the air. The creature’s short fur was fine and distinct, shimmering with a faint golden luster under the sunlight. Its soft tail was tucked between the youth’s fingers like a plump, overflowing glutinous rice ball. It looked incredibly soft, a masterpiece of fluff. Staring at the peacefully slumbering rabbit, Su fell silent for a moment. She turned to the steward, her voice skeptical. "People have tried to bluff their way through with cute pets before, but I didn't think you'd actually fall for it this time." The steward protested, "It’s not a pet! This *is* the young lord’s Spirit Form! We had the same reaction at first, but it truly is extraordinary... it’s almost like the ones the Holy Sons in the Royal Cathedral possess..." As he spoke, a look of yearning crossed his face. Realizing he had overstepped, he braced himself for Su’s inevitable mockery. But Su did not mock him. She had seen the meticulously cultivated Holy Sons in the Great Cathedral. Her eyes flickered with a new light, and her tone suddenly softened as she addressed the youth. "Where are you from?" she asked, her voice turning honeyed. "Would you be interested in joining my personal squad?" *** "So, it can be interpreted that way..." A young apprentice wearing a beret hurried away, his face alight with inspiration. "What a marvelous insight! I feel I finally understand these scriptures. Thank you!" A Saintess clutching a golden tome nodded fervently, her expression one of deep agitation and excitement. "Fine, I admit you have some talent. Make sure you maintain this level of dedication!" An old scholar with a long white beard left the carriage, looking thoroughly satisfied. ... A few days later. Su pulled back the carriage curtain, interrupting the conversation between the two inside with a beaming smile. "Alright, alright. It’s time to let our little Ryan have some rest." The System closed the book in his lap and gave a polite nod to his interlocutor. The man rose, bowed deeply to the System with profound respect, and departed, lost in thought. Su stepped into the carriage and drew the curtains, unable to hide the joy written across her face. The wisest decision she had made during this journey was inviting this youth into her fold! Though she carried the prestige of the Rhine family name, she still needed the validation of the high clergy in other cities. Had she relied on her own mediocre scholarship, she would have been stumped by the very first round of questioning from those stubborn old men. *Hah, if that girl Joan were here, she’d probably handle this with ease, wouldn't she?* Su thought. *But that fool chose to join a nameless, ragtag team instead. Those strangers probably don't even have Slime spirits. Without a Great Family to back them, they’ll be relegated to the lowest rank upon their return.* *What a waste of talent and effort.* Unlike her... Su gazed at the youth’s cool, pale profile, her smile deepening. She couldn't believe she had stumbled upon such a treasure in a place like this. Not only did he possess a high-tier Beast-type Spirit Form, but he also possessed a level of talent that invited envy. To be honest, if she hadn't been raised in the Church, she might truly believe he was a Divine Son possessed by a god. After only a few days of study, his grasp of theological theory already rivaled her own. In the past few days of clerical inquiries, he had actually managed to persuade those rigid, pedantic old scholars! More than one of her unfortunate peers had come crawling to her, eyes wide with wonder, asking why so many churches were falling over themselves to endorse her team. As Su’s pride grew, so did her possessiveness. She eventually ordered the youth to remain within the carriage, allowing others to speak with him only under her direct supervision. She wasn't worried about him rebelling. After all, the rabbit form of his spirit suggested a gentle, submissive nature. Moreover, he seemed interested only in discussing dogma. Though she occasionally felt a strange, fleeting sense of danger when meeting those deep blue eyes, she chose to ignore it. "Tomorrow, we may encounter the delegation from the Royal Capital. Those church scholars are more troublesome than any you've met. Are you prepared?" The System lowered his eyes, his voice calm and steady. "To be able to exchange thoughts on the sacred teachings with more people is a blessing." He reached out to scratch the head of the somewhat listless rabbit in his lap. When he looked up at Su, the smile in his eyes was like a drop of water on the surface of glass—ethereal yet piercingly clear. "I am looking forward to it." Su was momentarily captivated by that flash of azure. Her gaze lost focus, and she could only nod dumbly. *The Royal Capital...* The System pinched the rabbit’s tail, his thoughts drifting. It was time to deal with that noble girl who was dragging out the experimental progress. "Tomorrow," the System said softly, "it is time for me to appear before everyone. Don't you agree?" Su nodded slowly, her voice a dazed whisper. "Yes... that is how it should be." ... For some reason, Su felt as though she had been in a trance for a long time. She blinked, snapping back to reality. The youth before her was quietly leafing through a book. *Had I... just been talking about the Royal Capital?* *Right! Since it’s the Royal Capital’s team, I should introduce Ryan to them!* Su thought excitedly. She opened her mouth to give the order: "Ryan, tomorrow..." *** Mu Ran followed the protagonist’s party. After a change in their route, they finally arrived at the town where the "divine miracle" was said to exist. A relentless blizzard raged across the sky, sounding like the roar of a demon. Through the dim, oppressive air, Mu Ran saw children in thin, tattered clothes huddled together for warmth outside a corner shop. And further off, in the shadows, lay the small, frozen remains of those who hadn't survived the night.