Chapter 49: You Are a Genius
Fragments of the stone pillar were scattered everywhere. The Holy Maiden stood before the broken pillar, showing no joy over the Archbishop’s death, remaining quietly in place.
Through the Holy Maiden’s healing and the recovery items he had consumed, Su Xiao’s injuries had stabilized somewhat. But it wasn’t enough. The Blacksmith’s combat strength was formidable—at the very least, he was on the same tier as the Immortal Man, possibly even stronger than Qis.
For the three-day limit of the assessment mission, Su Xiao planned to spend one day recovering. Once his injuries were mostly healed, he would open the church doors.
Baha and Bubu Wang were searching the inner side of the church, checking if the Archbishop had left behind any valuable items.
Half an hour later, Bubu Wang and Baha emerged from the corridor. Baha found half a holy spear, and Bubu Wang found a tattered, worn-out book.
The remaining half of the holy spear likely belonged to the Holy Maiden. The front half was nowhere to be found. As for this back half, the Holy Maiden held it in her arms for a moment before handing it to Su Xiao with both hands.
“Lord Bai Ye, you need it more than I do. Let it continue to fight.”
Su Xiao took the half-spear and glanced at the Holy Maiden. She rarely spoke on her own, but in her heart, she understood everything.
Putting away the holy spear, Su Xiao examined the old book in his hand. Opening it, he found it was actually a notebook—a stitched-together diary. The first few pages were made of rough paper, but later pages became increasingly fine. It recorded the Archbishop’s story and the changes in Doom Town. The contents read:
Frost Moon · Late Autumn: ‘I really am a genius. High temperatures cause water to evaporate—a very common phenomenon. But I’m going to call this gas ‘Hot White Flow.’ Hmm, that sounds weird. Or maybe ‘Hot Steam’? That sounds like cooking food. How about ‘Steam’? Yes, steam. I really am a genius, haha.’
Silver Winter · Early Winter: ‘Almost died. Just a little more, and I’d have said goodbye to this beautiful world. Steam ‘pressure buildup’ is very dangerous. I blew my grandmother’s soup pot all the way to the neighbor’s roof. There was… my grandmother’s sock up there too. What have I done.’
Silver Winter · Mid Winter: ‘This is the price. It’s been a month and a half since I last had my grandmother’s potato soup. I blew up the soup pot. I can feel the resentful gazes of my younger siblings. It’ll get better. With me here, everything will get better.’
Silver Winter · Late Winter: ‘Steam heating isn’t feasible. It was warm at first, but after the steam dissipated, it was colder than before. My grandmother’s nose is running. Gods bless, I hope she doesn’t get sick.’
Life Spring · Revival Season: ‘Grandmother is gone. The plague took everything. The shelter was quarantined. I’m alone again. I might die too. I can only record this with linen cloth and charcoal.’
Vengeance Season: ‘The plague wasn’t an accident. The town was attacked. I have to join the Redeemer Church. I’ll make those people pay. With my invention—steam explosions—I’ll make them pay.’
Vengeance Season: ‘Absurd. How could a god appear in the town? Every time I study steam science, I can’t help but question what gods even are. They, it seems, are some very ugly but powerful creatures. Why can’t I become a god? Forget it. That idea is as absurd as resurrecting my grandmother.’
Scorching Summer · Insect Chirping Season: ‘Too terrifying. Those people are too terrifying. I… I don’t dare to take revenge.’
Slaughter Season: ‘The strong will always be strong. The weak will only be bullied. I am Jobya Sayukok. Today, my beloved left me forever. Divine redemption? Laughable.’
Scorching Summer · Insect Chirping Season: ‘Successfully joined the Redeemer Church. What ugly creatures. So gods also have distinctions between good and evil. The kind goddess is dead. These idiots actually believe in an evil god—a kind of ancient god called an Evil God.’
Scorching Summer · Insect Chirping Season: ‘The Evil God is supreme!’
Scorching Summer · Insect Chirping Season: ‘Maybe I should have been a stage actor. That Evil God actually made me an Archbishop. It won’t live much longer. This is an opportunity. Replace it? Forget it. That’s too crazy.’
Destruction Season: ‘The town has a new name: Doom Town. Even the lord has to kneel outside the town, hoping I’ll grant him an audience. The Evil God is dead. Nothing can stop its power from spreading. Lately, I can feel Doom Town being peeled away.’
Destruction Season: ‘The lord sent his daughter here. Her eyes look just like yours, Soya. But she isn’t you. For the sake of these eyes, let her become the Holy Maiden. A pure, inviolable Holy Maiden.’
Destruction Season: ‘What ridiculous rumors. They actually call me the Redeemer. Alus Lake, Qiselman, the Holy Maiden, and a blacksmith—these people have potential. A pair of sisters might barely work. Let it be these people.’
Destruction Season: ‘I made the townspeople see hope. But with just a small mistake, they blamed me. What a bunch of laughable… ants. Strange, why do I have this thought? Why compare people to ants? Does the Evil God’s power erode consciousness? I seem to have forgotten something. That thing was called… Steam? Probably that name. Another name was… Grandfather? No, it should be a female name. Forget it. Unimportant memories.’
Destruction Season: ‘I am a god. But not perfect enough. That boy named Okaz is interesting. The plan starts with him. You will control the outside world, Okaz. I allow you to call yourself Emperor Okaz. Be proud, ant. You have received a god’s approval.’
Destruction Season: ‘The Holy Maiden is crying out, unwilling to accept the baptism. Her tear-filled eyes look very familiar. Forget it. She’s just a tool. Tools can’t have power. But why are these eyes so familiar? As a god, I actually feel a stabbing pain in my heart.’
God Season: ‘Just wait. Mortals’ curiosity about the unknown is easy to exploit. First, give them the secret patterns. Those useless steam sketches. Give them to them a few hundred years later. But who drew these sketches? In my memory, it was a young man. He once lived in the shelter and had a grandmother who loved him. Strange. I remember an ant’s affairs so clearly. But I, the Evil God Jobya Sayukok, acknowledge you. Unknown young man, you are a genius.’
The diary ended there. It recorded how a young man grew up—love, hatred, power—and ultimately became half an Evil God. At that point, the Archbishop had forgotten his beloved and forgotten that the young man who invented steam science was himself.
If the Evil God had never descended on the town, Su Xiao was certain that this world’s steam technology would have been extremely advanced. It might have even replaced electricity and oil with supernatural steam, creating a dazzling civilization. The Archbishop was undoubtedly a pioneer of his era.
Burning the notebook, Su Xiao leaned against the wall to rest. He needed a few hours of sleep before letting the Blacksmith in.
Unconsciously, Su Xiao fell asleep. When he woke up, he found the church had been cleaned. The scattered stones had been reassembled into pillars. The bodies of the Archbishop, Qis, and the Resentful Orphan had been buried in the baptismal pool beneath the altar. Soon, they would completely dissolve into the water.
Moving his left arm, the wound on his shoulder no longer hurt. Even if he couldn’t fight at full strength, a strategic retreat was still possible.
At Su Xiao’s signal, Amu removed the ice layer from the church door, unlocked the latch, and opened the door.
Rumble—
The two massive metal doors slowly opened. The Blacksmith stood outside, and behind him was a mountain of corpses—all monsters drawn by the fluctuation of Evil God power.
Drip. Drip.
Black-red blood dripped from the Blacksmith’s hand. He glanced at Amu and walked into the church. His eyes were no longer clouded.