Demon Bible

Chapter 88: The Wooden Bird's Flight

After stepping out of the prison, Das turned back and bowed slightly to Nemus once more, then put on the hat handed to him by the butler and slipped into the carriage.

"So, can you tell me who signed his release order?" Nemus asked.

Minor offenders could expiate their crimes and leave by paying a bail deposit, but there was a prerequisite: the signature of a relevant official.

Normally, Nemus would not need to concern himself with such matters, but the current situation was different.

These people had been arrested under Nemus's orders. If they were to be released, he naturally needed to be consulted.

This was not an official regulation, but rather an unspoken rule hidden beneath the surface.

"It... it was Priest Dong He." Facing the oppressive aura emanating from Nemus, the Intern Holy Knight guarding the prison had absolutely no strength to resist and immediately gave up the name of the person who signed the order.

Priest Dong He was one of the younger ones among the nine Iron Rank priests in the Tail Fin Town Church.

"It seems his youth is driving him to seize this opportunity, hoping to find a way to take another step forward?" Nemus was not surprised by this.

"Let's go. Get ready to depart. We are taking a trip to this so-called Old Bones Tavern," Nemus instructed Purr, then glanced at Krew standing to the side."This isn't official business, so do you want to tag along, Krew?" Nemus asked.

"I will do whatever Lord Nels commands, Krew..."

"I am asking you!" Nemus interrupted Krew. Ever since a Revelation indicated that Krew held a certain importance to him, Nemus had wanted to find an opportunity to discern Krew's true nature. "For the vast majority of their lives, people are just drifting with the tide."

"But you must be clear about what you truly want. Then, at the critical moment, you must possess the courage to swim against the current and walk toward what you desire!"

"It is just like a flower growing on a sheer cliff face—beautiful yet dangerous. Would you be willing to risk your life for this flower?"

"My Lord, your words are truly full of sagacity. I..." Krew slightly averted his gaze, wanting to say something to gloss over the question. He did not want to make a decision himself, but in the very next moment, he saw Nemus extending his hand.

Thin strings had inexplicably appeared in Nemus's grasp. The previously shattered construct bird had already been reassembled and now rested in his palm.

"Some people are like puppets. Because all their actions are controlled by others, they feel a sense of security." Nemus manipulated the strings, tugging at the wooden bird and bringing it to life.

"Some people are like birds. Even when locked in a cage, they constantly yearn to fly free." The wooden bird flapped its wings, hovering with a soft flutter.

"Do you think that when I let go of the strings, this bird will fly, or will it fall apart?" The wooden bird flew in front of Krew, seemingly waiting for his answer. "Or rather, what do you hope it will do?"

'The wooden bird is a construct, inherently requiring Mental Power as a core to drive it. This construct's core has already dissipated, so when the strings are released, it will inevitably fall apart.' As a priest who practiced a Meditation Method, Krew had a fairly decent understanding of constructs created by spellcasters, so he originally intended to give this logical answer.

Yet, as he looked at this eyeless wooden bird, the image that surfaced in Krew's mind was of it taking flight.

At this moment, Nemus seemed unwilling to wait for his answer and was about to release the strings. The flying bird looked as if it would immediately shatter as a result.

"I want to fly!" Instinctively, Krew blurted out his answer.

Nemus loosened his grip, and all the strings fell away. However, the wooden bird did not fall apart. Instead, it slowly and leisurely flew up on its own, then stumbled unsteadily before landing on Krew's shoulder.

The instant it landed, the wooden bird's structure began to shift, looking like it was on the verge of collapsing. Krew hurriedly injected his own Mental Power into it.

He then discovered that inside the wooden bird's body, there was a flower—an everlasting flower woven from the fine strings that pierced into its various components.

"Let's go. It is almost eight o'clock," Nemus's voice echoed.

"Yes, My Lord, I will go prepare immediately. Should we use horses, a carriage, or..." Krew once again entered his chatterbox state, only to be cut off by Nemus.

"A carriage."

[Precepts Updated] [Main Precept: Oath-keeping]

[Precept Feedback: New Trait Added — Solidification Enhancement: The durability of Qi Instruments is increased. Parasitic and bound entities are more secure, and the binding force of covenants is enhanced to a certain extent.]

[Feedback Analysis: An oath is not necessarily a formal covenant. It can perhaps also be a shared Cognition, as well as a mutual behavior aligned with that Cognition.]

Nemus and Krew had not forged a covenant, nor had they made any explicit agreements. However, the two of them seemed to have developed a tacit, shared Cognition. It was precisely because of this that the Oath-keeping Precept had been triggered.

"More feedback?" Nemus murmured as he looked at the newly emerged feedback analysis, a pleased smile gracing his face. This meant he had taken another step closer to fully developing his Divinity.

Krew's efficiency was extremely high. In no time at all, he fetched a carriage, and together they headed toward the so-called Old Bones Tavern.

The Old Bones Tavern was one of the very few taverns opened in the North District.

Unlike the South District, the people of the North District did not like going to taverns. They were more accustomed to visiting clubhouses and similar venues to attend banquets.

To them, the strangers found in taverns were far too noisy.

Nobles had to maintain a proper social distance from the lowly commoners.

However, Old Bones was different. This was a tavern opened by a retired Holy Knight.

That Holy Knight was of the Iron Rank. He had retired at the age of eighty before opening this establishment, and it had been running for twenty years since.

Because of his status and circle of interests, combined with the various rules he established for the tavern.

It gradually became a rare tavern in the North District with a thriving business.

When the carriage stopped at the entrance, Krew immediately noticed something unusual.

On normal days, the number of guests here was quite substantial. Some Church clerics would also frequent the place, making it rather difficult to find a spot to park a carriage.

Yet now, it seemed relatively quiet.

Several carriages, along with their drivers—who clearly did not look like simple men—were parked on the other side, their gazes locked onto their arrival.

After Purr stepped down from the carriage first, he also looked over. Within his icy gaze was a warning that practically spilled over.

The atmosphere in the area grew tense, as if a conflict was about to erupt simply from this mutual glaring.

But when Nemus stepped out, casting a faintly smiling glance their way, that aura resembling a terrifying monster made all the drivers unconsciously avert their eyes.

A jolt of shock subsequently ran through their hearts, and they didn't dare to look over again.

Nemus turned his head, looking toward the brightly lit signboard of the Old Bones Tavern, as well as Das, who was walking out the door with a look of joy to welcome him.

"Lord Nels, welcome, welcome! Today I was released from prison, so I booked the tavern to celebrate a little. I didn't expect you to come."

"Please, come in, come in."

"Since Lord Nels has newly arrived in Tail Fin Town, I can take this opportunity to host you properly!"

"Once certain things become customary, people gradually lose their ability to perceive the flaws in them," Nemus remarked, not answering Das's words directly.

"Just like this tavern."