The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 39: Holy Water Ceremony
Dear Yam,
I wish you good health and all the best.

Your Roland has settled in the metropolis.

The weather here is mostly cloudy, damp, cold, and foggy. Everyone is in a hurry, taking long steps.

It took me many days to get used to it (like clearing dust from my nostrils).

As you know, I don't have many friends. But here, it seems that luck has turned.

I met the boastful boy leader, the sickly shoemaker princess, the thin man whose mother was a pastry chef (and other friends who I didn’t have the time to pay more attention to, for which I feel a little ashamed).

Are you okay?

The weekly salary my uncle gave me was pretty good (including food and lodging, so I had no money to spend). Working with herbs every day, I wasn't exposed to anything dangerous, as you worry.

By the way, the lady who took me away was also very caring towards me.

With her help, I can earn a lot of extra income every week by sewing (enclosed is a rose I sewn by hand for you).

I'm doing well, and I hope you are doing well too.

Like you said.

We have nothing in our pockets, but hope.

I sincerely hope that you can also fulfill these hopes in the near future.

I have taped two ten-pound notes to the inside of this letter (I'm afraid you've already noticed) and I hope this helps you in your life.

of course.

This is nothing compared to what you have done for me.

Finally, I look forward to your reply.

I wish you health, beauty and happiness every year.

——Roland Collins who loves you forever.

…………

……

Not to mention whether Roland decided to embark on this journey, those special ritual objects alone were enough to give him a headache.

Before that, he still had to go into the foggy forest every night to spend time with the interesting but extremely dangerous fairy girl - she did not answer Roland's various strange questions, and at the same time, she remained silent about his inquiries about the price.

Fortunately, he can already 'see'.

After finding out whether Roland could read, the Inquisition allowed him to read some of its books on a limited basis.

Some basic knowledge about ghosts and aliens, as well as a few "universal rituals" that apprentices can use.

……

"The First Drop of Grace (Holy Water Configuration)"

「Type: Small ceremony (general)」

"Ritual"

"Clear water without night/Sunlight shines directly for seven days/Faith/A drop of mercury"

Prayers

"I long for and am never satisfied with that little light..."

"Until you are drowned in it and burned by the flames."

"Effect"

"A small amount of curse protection, stabilize the mind, and calm the emotions."

"Causes damage to negative creatures (ghosts, zombies, etc.)"

"Note: Each ceremony (seven days) / one standard share"

……

The Great Mysteries (the Great Ceremony) need no further elaboration.

Then there are the ‘little rituals’ – as Fernandez mentioned earlier, the opposite of the big rituals that are exclusive and can only be used by people who are not on the same path:

Almost, almost every apprentice and ritualist can master and use the small rituals through learning.

They come from various sects and circulate among ritualists.

The effect is not as good as a grand ceremony, but it is practical enough.

Someone also wrote a line of small words in blue ink below this ceremony.

'It doesn't work on xenomorphs. I tried to trick an ignorant cultist into saying the prayer - he quickly turned into a roast...'

It's full of bad words, and I don't know who wrote it.

Made with deep well water and a drop of mercury placed in the test tube, the whole test tube will shine as brightly as the burning sun.

The small test tube containing the dim light spots was taken off the window hinge, plugged with a wooden stopper, placed in its own small closet, and wrapped in cotton trousers to avoid contact with the "night".

He had five more ready-made ones in the inside pocket of his coat.

Roland never failed to make it, and the finished product seemed to be "even more brilliant" than the description -

What's even more interesting is that after the ceremony one day, he was surprised to find that not only the test tube in the ceremony turned into golden holy water, but even the one that was "idle" on the windowsill beside, waiting for the next cycle to be transformed, also turned into holy water. ...

"Secret Sound of Book Pages"

"Your eyes will unconsciously distort each ritual, making them occasionally more powerful."

……

What a surprise.

Puxiu Collins was sitting on a stool in the middle of the room, twisting a herb root in his hand and watching the industrious little bee from Collins's family climbing up and down.

"What on earth have you been doing these days, Roland?"

The old man breathed unhappily through his nostrils.

Ever since he became a member of the black crows, he has been acting mysterious all the time.

Either he would fiddle with some strange glass jars, or ask William to get him a jar of water from somewhere, or he would lie on the table, motionless for half an hour, mumbling to himself...

Although Roland refused the "remuneration" he paid him every week from that day on, this...

It's too creepy.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Just a few little things, uncle."

"You'd better not blow up my pharmacy with your 'little thing'." Old Collins said in a bad tone: "You will get married sooner or later. Are you really going to be with that black crow? How many years older is she than you? How much dowry is there? I don't think it's decent. If people know about it, who will bless you..."

"I will, I will."
-
you shut up.

Roland finished his work and pulled a chair to sit in front of his uncle.

"Ms. Enid doesn't treat me any differently, Uncle. She treats everyone the same."

"Well, I see there are workhouses in the East End," said Priscilla Collins sarcastically, "why not let that lady who 'didn't take good care of you' go there and spend some money?"

"You don't have to do anything, just stay at home all day, and you can earn at least ten shillings a week."

"Roland, don't tell me she has too much money and nowhere to spend it."

He put on an 'I knew this a long time ago' expression and looked at Roland.

Ten shillings?
Ok…

"How did you know?"

"Look, look, you're using 'you' now—" Puxiu Collins snorted and pointed at his forehead with his index finger:

"You are such a cunning little creature, you bring all those West End ladies here all the time - if you can't make ten, will you give me three shillings? At least, at least put ten shillings in your pocket every week."

"If you ask me, there might be more..."

"Is my guess right?"

"Actually... it's one pound~"

Roland tightened his lips.

"If you can't hold it anymore, stop holding it."
-
I can.

"You are absolutely right..." Roland looked ashamed and lowered his head: "My weekly salary is indeed eleven shillings, thanks to Ms. Enid's kindness."

Old Collins slammed the table and said with a firm expression: "What did I say?"

"I think the cost of board and lodging can be raised..."

"I'd rather you didn't do this job." He squinted at him and interrupted Roland. "You can save it for yourself. After all, you are a descendant of the Collins family. Don't go to dirty places for me. If I find out that you have any 'lust mark' on your body, get out."

"Also, my fortune will not be left to you, so don't expect to spend all your money lavishly and keep my shop in mind."

Roland placed his hands neatly on his knees and nodded obediently.

"I understand, uncle."

The old man muttered: "...Besides, it would be a great shame for you to spend money on your face..."

"I told him he couldn't take things seriously."
-
The same to you.

"Oh, by the way, you asked me to find out before..."

Roland blinked and said, "Ghost, or rather, spirit. I found out about it."

"Very few people will wander the world as ghosts after death. This kind of 'creature' is a condensation of certain emotions and obsessions, and the probability of its appearance is very small."

"Uncle, according to what you said, after so many years, your son died of illness. It's unlikely... I mean, he might have been successfully reincarnated, or ascended to heaven, or even chosen by the Father of All Things to be blessed forever in Eden."

Paul Collins opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

His eyes widened, and he didn't know where to put his hands. He threw down the broken leaves in his hands, rubbed them together, and felt extremely uneasy.

After a while, he managed to force a smile.

"I was thinking, maybe that magical trick can let me see him again..." He stood up slowly, wiped the herbal residue on the table into his palm, and lowered his head: "I'm just asking, just asking casually. Why don't you come back for dinner today... Heaven is good... Reincarnation is good, both are good..."

Roland was silent.

(End of this chapter)