Chapter 8, The Sinner

Is it out of fear? Adam analyzed the other party's psychology, as the other species were considered natural-born sinners, and merely existing was a sin

Is it the alien species that endures pain to worship? Adam was well aware of the consequences of alien worship, as it was a complete rejection, as if a rebellion had erupted within his body, causing intense pain to the alien species

For instance, one tends to forget the names of those they look down upon. Adam is one of those whose name has not been remembered; even after spending two days together, Alva instructed him to do numerous tasks but still never truly called Adam by his name.

Although he was very reluctant to go to the slum he referred to as the "Toxic Fog Zone," Adam nonetheless set foot here once again

The child, unaware of the nature of suffering, day after day, could not ultimately suppress his curiosity and ventured into the underground cave, whereupon suffering descended upon the earth

If that is the case, one would instead expose oneself

The shepherd's father advised him not to go to the underground cave, lest he bring suffering upon the earth

The son walks on fertile land, bending down to find the wheat ears hanging low, reaching out to pluck sweet fruits, and countless cattle and sheep roam in the valley

If one can detect that this person is of a different kind through the innate keen sense of smell of a werewolf, then the church may have also discovered the abnormalities of this worshiper through other means

Therefore, Adam referred to the slum as the Toxic Fog Zone

"One must not act in haste..." Adam said to himself, yet what he faced most urgently at this moment was indeed time

However, caution is still required. Although it is a great opportunity, Adam does not intend to act recklessly

It must be said that the popular education conducted by the Holy Word Church is quite commendable. Periodically, monks visit every household to explain the "Divine Word" and, at the same time, teach children to read.

To take on another form to bear the sin, therefore the other species is considered inherently guilty. Thus, regardless of the external appearance of the other species, once a monk discovers it, they mostly choose to kill it, returning it to dust

The area of the slums is somewhat better, as there are some public toilets built by the Holy Tianyin Kingdom. The residents of the slums do not concern themselves with such matters, and they directly dispose of their waste onto the streets, mixed with various types of manure, which is compacted by the wheels of vehicles, forming a new layer of road

The dark spirit, hidden from the light, spoke to the person, saying, "Suffering has been unleashed, and the sins brought by suffering will cling to you. Only by transforming into another form can you escape from sin"

In the afternoon, Alva's measurement work seemed to be reaching its conclusion, and Adam, following behind, noticed another matter.

Today, Adam was permitted to read some books here at the church after exploring for the entire morning.

Adam has a clear understanding of this, but he would never regret it or feel any pangs of conscience.

The ritual of worship was no different, yet Adam noticed that during all of this, a scent of sweat emanated from the worshippers, mingled with a familiar odor.

With the capture of the shaman, the fear of the other species, which no longer had any means of concealment, grew even more intense. However, unlike the werewolves who attacked the execution ground, whose beliefs were completely shattered and who were resolutely facing death.

Moreover, after the threshold has been raised, those capable of entering the seminary are either wealthy merchants or nobles, and both of these groups do not hold commoners in high regard. Their essence determines their attitude towards the common people

Moreover, even if it is not a test, one must clarify whether the members of the church have noticed this person's abnormalities

The Holy Sound Church's attitude towards aberrations is one of total extermination, yet there will always be some individuals who are exceptions. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that this aberration before us is yet another test from the Church

Therefore, it is necessary to create an air of mystery in the early stages, concealing one's true self and maximizing others' apprehension towards oneself

The person arrived at the church in the afternoon, and the smell of sweat on him, in addition to the scent of the potion, also carried a hint of the toxic fog area. Judging by his attire, it was evident that his family background was not particularly affluent

When you gather a large number of people, even if others possess greater individual strength, they will still hesitate to take action. This will unconsciously create a force that restricts the opponent, allowing you to become a member of this power.

To exist is to bear sin

However, the relationship between the Church of the Divine Tears and various major churches is not very good, and some churches even do not recognize it as an orthodox church, dismissing it as a cult

This can also be inferred from the economic situation of another werewolf; potions are not cheap. Adam recalled the werewolf who stormed the pyre; that individual worked fairly diligently, yet remained impoverished and could not afford to marry. Previously, there had been gossip among the neighbors about that person's gambling habits.

After completing all of this, covering one's ears and reciting the divine words, one walks towards the idol and exits through the door beneath the idol's hand

Unfortunately, the scent of that person's sweat still betrayed him, carrying the same odor as that of the shaman and the werewolf from that day, suggesting that he too had likely consumed a potion to mask his abnormalities

Perhaps it is due to the increased threshold of the seminary that there are fewer and fewer monks willing to explain things to every household. For those monks, having spent a considerable amount of money to enter the seminary and acquire knowledge, they feel it is unfair to impart that knowledge to others for free, even if it is just a superficial understanding.

As long as this gap is opened, using it as a signboard to consolidate my own power, I will be able to subdue more foreign species. The saying that many hands make light work is not just talk.

Such individuals fundamentally lack faith; everything they believe in is centered around themselves, and their purposes are solely to serve their own interests. Adam remembered the scent of that man: "As long as one grasps this person's lifeline, one can control this person"

A rich and intense odor wafted through the entire block, as Adam stood at the entrance, raising his head as if he could see a gigantic yellow-green monster hovering in mid-air, grinning menacingly at him

Although Alva did not show it, Adam actually understood that this teacher also had opinions about him

That believer of a different kind is clearly not the type of devout follower who truly wishes to worship God and dedicate everything to Him. The reason he now comes before the statue to worship is merely out of fear of death

The person he acknowledged was Vra. Adam did not feel insulted by this; after all, he had sought this opportunity through unscrupulous means

The next son, believing the words of the demon spirit, transformed into another appearance, making this guise hideously unattractive to attract sin, so that his true form could remain distant from that sin

After Alva observed the last wall that needed painting, he announced a holiday and allowed Adam to go wherever he wished

However, this kind of pain is adaptable; as long as it occurs frequently enough, it is likely that afterward, one will only experience general soreness and sweating, without fainting or exhibiting any further abnormalities

Of course, it is also possible to have the characteristics of a reckless person, disregarding everything and relying solely on personal strength to determine victory or defeat

Due to the renovation work of the church, some believers' baptismal services were held in the side hall. Adam observed that there was one congregant who was different from the others

In fact, most of that person's money was likely spent on medicine. From this analogy, it can also indirectly support the notion that the economic situation of today's alien worshiper is not very good

Public health in this era has deteriorated to an extreme degree, with many people believing that water is an unclean substance, resulting in them rarely bathing throughout their lives

In the prolonged struggle, there are indeed those among the different species who have chosen to abandon resistance; they acknowledge their own sins and are willing to begin atoning for them.

That night, Adam transformed into a werewolf once again, leaping out from the attic, pursuing the information he had gathered during the day, and began searching for his target

Thus, this person, while anxiously attending church services, does not cease the consumption of potions

Similar to ordinary believers, that devotee's manner of worship was extremely formal. Entering through the main door, they purified their hands, face, and ears, then sat quietly to cleanse their mind. Subsequently, they knelt in front of the statue, covering their eyes with both hands, attentively listening to the sacred sound

Adam set down the book in his hands, as that particular passage elucidated the origins of werewolves, these extraordinary beings

Following the divine words, they became ascetics, yearning day after day for God's forgiveness. These beings of different kinds gained the recognition of some human monks and established the Church of Divine Tears

Adam was eating a pickled pancake, leaning against the bookshelf, reading another copy of "The Divine Word," while Master Alva was sleeping in the distance, snoring in his chair