It was raining.

Karon stood by the billiard table in his sleepwear, a glass of ice water in hand as he stared out at the curtain of rain.

The view was, in truth, quite beautiful.

He glanced at the book he had been reading that afternoon, now face down on the coffee table, York City in the Rain.

It was the work of a realist author. The protagonist was a child laborer. At first, he loved rainy days, thinking of the rain as free-flowing notes of music. Later, he grew numb to them. Endless, high-intensity labor robbed him of any sense of weather. Along with it went holidays, and even the distinction between day and night. In the end, after his mother died of illness, he howled in the mud under a torrential downpour.

The author depicted a cold York City. In the rain, grime washed down from the towering buildings. Those standing above enjoyed a sense of “freshness” and “tranquility,” but the filth did not just vanish. It flowed downward, pooling at the feet of those below, becoming the mire they were forced to struggle through.

Karon felt that this perfectly matched his current state.

His bedroom had a heating system similar to underfloor heating. With the window open, the cold wind blowing in neatly offset the excess warmth indoors. When the rain could not wet your hair or soak your shoes, of course you would find it beautiful.

“Want some fruit?” Eunice entered carrying a plate of fruit. She was wearing a long white dress.

“Sure.” Karon stepped down from the billiard platform to sit on the sofa. The apple had been peeled and sliced, toothpicks inserted. He took a bite. It was sweet.

“Were you reading this book?” Eunice noticed York City in the Rain.

“Yes. The family library has a very rich collection.”

“I really like books like this,” Eunice said with a smile. “I read the words while trying to build the scenes in my mind, then emotionally resonate with them. Every time, I gain something from it.”

“That’s exactly what books and words are for,” Karon agreed, taking another slice of apple. “They give you a direction, then you turn your head and look at that landscape yourself.”

He remembered that back in Swillen, Eunice had once given him Diary of Delirium, a novel blending realism and absurdity.

“Sometimes, though, I find that there are emotions I just can’t truly resonate with,” she continued.

“That’s natural. Everyone’s life experiences are different, which means their needs are different, and also that the emotional resonance they arrive at will differ, too. Reality determines consciousness.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Meow. At that moment, Pu’er hopped onto the sofa Eunice was sitting on. The woman reached out and pulled the cat into her arms.

Pu’er did not resist. Being held by her many-times-removed niece, she rested her head on Eunice’s thigh, facing Karon.

He ate his third slice of apple as Pu’er, being gently stroked by Eunice, stretched out a paw and began lifting the hem of the young woman’s skirt.

Pu’er lifted it higher and higher, until the thigh was exposed.

The cat blinked at Karon. His gaze shifted to Eunice’s leg. The slightest bit more would have been excessive, while the slightest bit less would have been insufficient. It hovered on the edge of perfection.

Eunice noticed that the pet cat had lifted her skirt far too high. When she instinctively tried to lower it, she realized that Karon, sitting across from her, was staring intently at her leg. There was no attempt to look away when he saw that she noticed his attention, and for a moment, Eunice was the one who felt too embarrassed to pull her skirt back down.

“They’re beautiful,” Karon said.

Eunice bit her lip. The gesture carried a trace of flustered uncertainty, yet was naturally alluring.

Ding... ding...

Eunice lowered her skirt and sat upright. Pu’er jumped off the sofa, ran to the nightstand beside the bed, and pressed the bell.

The door opened, revealing Borg. “Young Master, Mr. Bede has sent word that the performance hall has been renovated according to your specified requirements, and has also been filled with water. He asks that you go and inspect it.”

“I understand.” Karon stood up.

Borg stepped inside to fetch Karon’s clothes, since the young master was still in his sleepwear, but the moment that just one foot crossed the threshold, Borg’s other foot pivoted, spinning him around in place. He swayed twice and only barely steadied himself. With that, he closed the bedroom door.

Eunice showed no sign of any sort of shyness. She simply stood and opened the wardrobe. “What should you wear?”

“Anything is fine.”

“That won’t do,” Eunice said. “Father said it will be three days, right?”

“Yes.”

“Do you need a change of clothes?”

“No need. This isn’t a trip.” It was no secret among the core members of the Allen family that Karon was about to undergo purification. The sudden renovation of the long-abandoned performance hall was not something that could be concealed.

“Can things be sent during that time? Probably not.” Eunice sounded worried.

“You don’t need to worry. I’m just going to do what I should be doing. Strictly speaking, this is a mortal receiving guidance from a god.”

Karon removed his sleepwear and put on the clothes Eunice had pulled out for him.Throughout the process, neither of them showed the slightest bit of awkwardness.

Once dressed, Karon stood before the mirror and examined himself. He looked good. Refined. More importantly, the exhaustion from his conversation with Earl Rekar had fully recovered after a few days of rest.

Eunice stepped forward and gently hugged him. Karon returned her embrace and lightly kissed her forehead.

Standing on top of the nightstand, Pu’er yawned. Nearby, the golden retriever wagged its tail.

When Karon opened his arms and prepared to leave, he realized that Eunice was still clutching him. Only after a moment did she notice and let go.

“It’s just a purification,” Karon said softly.

Eunice shook her head. “No. After you finish this, you won’t be the same. That’s what I feel.”

“Perhaps.”

Pu’er saw Karon lean close to Eunice’s ear and whisper something. The woman’s face immediately flushed.

Karon left the bedroom. Pu’er leapt onto the golden retriever’s back, caught up to Karon, and jumped onto his shoulder.

“What did you just say to her?” the cat demanded.

“Nothing.”

“No. It had to be something.”

“Really, it was nothing.”

“You’re not being fair, Karon.”

“Mhmm.”

“I even lifted her skirt for you!”

“I could have done that myself without getting slapped.”

At the first floor entrance, Alfred was already holding an umbrella. Master Anderson stood on the steps with the core members of the family. “Young Master, everything has been arranged per your instructions. For the next three days, no one will be allowed to enter the performance hall. Daily meals will be delivered to the entrance by Mr. Alfred.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all.”

Karon exchanged brief looks with the rest of the family, then walked to the performance hall, accompanied by Alfred. “Young Master, Prince Henry came to the manor last night, wishing to see Miss Eunice. Anderson turned him away. The exchange grew tense, but the prince eventually left.”

“Oh.” Karon nodded.

Pu’er spoke up, “Ignore the Gloria family’s clowns. They’re just pampered pigs. Their threat is nothing compared to the Raphael family’s white-eyed wolves. The royal family has only managed to survive because they prefer to keep their degeneracy internal and don’t dare act externally.”

“I understand,” Karon replied.

After speaking with Earl Rekar, he had gained some genuine confidence. At least, the cliché of someone with power bullying him to steal his fiancée would not happen. If truly pushed, Kaorn would awaken Rekar, ignoring at any cost, and allow him to savor Queen Gloria the Third’s successor as he had her ancestor.

Even if the current queen, Gloria the Ninth, was ninety-five years old and had one foot in the grave already, that actually suited a man who would literally crawl out of one.

Alfred stopped at the entrance to the performance hall and looked at the golden retriever. “I’ll bring the meals here. You will fetch them.”

Woof. The dog raised a paw, and Alfred extended a hand to lightly tap it.

The demonkin then stepped back two paces to kneel on one knee before Karon. “Young Master, I am beyond excited. To witness your rise is the greatest honor fate has granted me.”

Karon glanced back at the line of Allen family members standing by the castle entrance. He suddenly felt like the first student from a village to attend university, carrying the hopes of everyone behind him. “Alfred, you’ve worked hard these days.”

“To serve at your side is the greatest honor of my life.”

“I’ll be relying on you in the days ahead.”

“I offer you everything.”

Karon turned and walked into the building, followed by the golden retriever.

The renovations had focused on the stage, which had been raised with concrete and the resulting pool filled with water. The seating remained intact, though electricity had been connected, allowing for the hall to be well illuminated.

“Did you used to come here with friends to watch performances?” Karon asked.

“No. I preferred coming alone, choosing any seat, and watching quietly. Even my father and siblings weren’t allowed.”

“I understand that kind of joy.”

“That’s not joy,” Pu’er corrected. “That’s enjoying solitude.”

“Mhmm.”

Steps led to the center of the pool, where a single chair stood.

Karon sat down, surveyed the water, and stirred it lightly with his hand.

“Feel anything different?” Pu’er asked.

“No.”

“You will after the purification. While it purifies you, the way you see the world will change.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“So am I.” Pu’er pointed to a small platform before Karon. It held a thick candle and a lighter. “Light it.”

Karon lit the candle. It would easily burn for three. “What’s the candle for?”

“Nothing. It adds to the ritual atmosphere.”

“Understood.”

“Stupid dog, come here.”

The golden retriever padded over.

“Get under the chair.” A cushion had been prepared there. The dog crawled under and laid down.

Pu’er jumped onto the platform with the candle, which put her level with Karon’s face. “Oh, Karon, move this platform closer. I can’t reach you.”

Karon pulled it closer until she told him to stop. Pu’er extended a paw and was easily able to press it to Karon’s brow. “All set.”

“Can we begin?”

“Didn’t bring The Light of Order?”

“No need. I’ve memorized most of it.”

“What a devout believer. If I were the God of Order, I’d be tempted to favor you.”

“You have quite the prelude,” Karon chuckled. “Why not hire a troupe to warm up the crowd?”

“That’s on you. I imagined that after I returned and you became family head, you’d hire a troupe so I could relive it once. Instead, you approved a renovation without even asking.”

“I’ll ask next time.”

“There won’t be a next time. The only thing I still care about here is that painting in the study.”

“After purification, this place can be restored. The design actually fits...”

“Artistic expression?” Pu’er asked, eyes lighting up.

“Funeral use.”

“...”

“We could raise this spot into a bier platform. The acoustics suit mournful piano music. Plenty of space for mourners.”

“So you want to move the Immers family business here?”

Karon shook his head. “The Allen family lacks credits from orthodox churches.”

At home, a Package B could make Aunt Mary dance with joy, but here, such income meant nothing.

“It’s not impossible,” Pu’er said. “Common folk pay in rupi or rels, but don’t those with credits also die?”

The cat, having lived in the Immers household for a century, immediately continued, “There’s actually a huge market, though you’d first need a crematorium to refine the corpses and collect the spiritual materials. After the funeral, the body is processed, with useful items packaged for the family.”

“That’s an excellent idea,” Karon said. “Compared to this, the family’s three workshops are low-margin.”

“Yes. The credits will let the family buy special materials and services from churches. A positive cycle.”

Woof! Woof! Woof! The dog barked thrice.

“Almost forgot about our business,” Pu’er said. “Let’s begin purification.”

Karon straightened.

“Now answer me, my Young Master Karon: are you ready to open the door to another world?”

“Ready.”

Pu’er pressed her paw to Karon’s brow. The dog closed its eyes.

“Begin reciting The Light of Order silently.”

Karon began.

“Empty yourself. Follow my guidance.”

A faint white glow appeared on Pu’er’s paw. “Do you see it?”

“Yes. A white point.”

“Focus on it. Follow it. Trust it. When the time comes, I’ll ask which god you wish to see. Answer loudly.”

Karon completely immersed himself. A faint black sheen appeared on his body. The water in the pool began to evaporate.

Pu’er withdrew her paw. Karon appeared to be asleep. The purification had begun. “Stupid... dog...”

The golden retriever opened its eyes. Within them burned hatred and malice. This was the gaze of the heretical god. The black sheen on Karon surged. Water roared toward him, creating a vortex.

“Tsk tsk,” Pu’er clicked her tongue. “It seems our dog god has a history with the God of Order. This reaction is even stronger than expected.”

Pu’er licked her lips and leaned against the thick candle, her tail upraised. As she gnawed on her own tail, she muttered, “Tiz, this must be part of your calculations. Don’t tell me you didn’t account for this. Hmph!

“Our stupid dog has done quite well already. Karon’s level of purification is already several thousand times that of an ordinary purified, but it still isn’t enough. Not enough. Still not enough.

“My little Karon... I want you, through this purification, to become someone who blinds the eyes of the God of Order. I want the completion of your purification to create a miracle in the church’s history, because, after all, we already possess a true miracle.

“Back then, profit-drunk lunatics in my family actually tried to use it to forcibly transform my family’s faith system into a church system. Completely insane! But now...

“Now it finally has a proper use.”

Still muttering, still biting her tail, Pu’er peeled open the very tip of it. There was no spray of blood, no mangled flesh, and the cat showed no sign of pain.

Beneath the soft fur at the tip of her tail was a crystalline structure. It fused seamlessly with the tail itself, as though it had grown there. Embedded in the crystal was a single, translucent index finger.

It was a finger of the God of Light.

Pu’er lifted her tail. The exposed crystal, and the finger sealed within it, pressed directly against Karon’s brow.

Pu’er opened her mouth. “Karon, you—”

Before she could finish speaking, the crystal erupted with a blinding white light. The finger within flushed with color, as though blood had returned to it. It pressed down of its own will, driving into Karon’s brow. His skin could be seen becoming indented beneath the pressure. The contact was unmistakable.

Beneath the chair, the golden retriever, which had moments ago radiated a malignant presence, instantly collapsed. Its head slammed to the floor and foam spilled from its mouth as it started to convulse.

Pu’er’s body shuddered violently, her limbs locked in place. Her unfinished question remained frozen on her tongue. She had been forcibly sealed mid-utterance.

A voice filled the theater hall. It was majestic, sacred, and unquestionable. It did not echo, it simply existed.

“Order,” the voice said slowly. “Show yourself!”