EnCoffin Me Chapter 118
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 118 Reversal (2)
Ever since that lunch, Alexio hadn't felt at ease. The endless exams made his vision blur, and each test paper seemed stranger than the last. By the end, he simply lowered his head onto the desk and gave up entirely.
The priest beside him kept asking him questions one after another.
“So, this paper, are you turning it in blank?”
Alexio turned his head slightly and gave a numb nod.
The priest quickly put away the paper. The questions had all been carefully designed by the Holy Temple, most of them presented hypothetical scenarios, asking Alexio how he would respond. Several other children, who had fought their way through the competition, were also taking the exam. From among these children, one particularly exceptional hunter would be chosen.
A destined hunter, whose life's sole target would be the third-generation prince, Lucius.
“He turned in a blank paper this time,” the priest said in a low voice. “He was also the only candidate to make that choice.”
Alexio had performed impressively throughout the various aptitude tests. His way of thinking was markedly different from the other children, often doing things in unexpected ways. Now he even directly submitted a blank test. However, the examiners were not angry at all. After a brief exchange of opinions, they gave Alexio's blank paper an unprecedentedly high score.
He was simply too interesting, a type that would definitely catch the vampires' attention.
“Is it confirmed?”
“Yes. The bishops agreed as well.”
The priests let out a sigh of relief. It meant the multi-day exam had finally come to an end, the final candidate had emerged, and their plan could now move forward.
Alexio felt genuinely suffocated. He had tried his best to underperform, but why had he still been chosen in the end? The Holy Temple gave him no explanation. One of the priests took his measurements and scheduled classes to begin in a few days.
“Classes start in a few days?” Alexio's eyes widened. “No break at all?”
The priest looked at him kindly but firmly.
“You carry a great mission. From today onward, you no longer live for yourself. The glory of our goddess, Galotti, now shines upon you. Under this light, you will give everything, solely to kill that third-generation vampire.”
Alexio: ???
A tortoise chanting scriptures.
(T/N: this is like saying “blah blah blah” when you don't want to listen)
He actually tried to escape in the middle of the night, but was caught and stared blankly at the exasperated priest. The priest couldn't believe someone would abandon a sacred mission by crawling through a dog hole!
No wonder he had been carefully selected as the most unusual and interesting candidate. It'd be a miracle if the vampire wasn't intrigued by such an unconventional mindset!
Dawn was already breaking over the horizon. The priest, face tight with disapproval, decided to punish Alexio for running away. He didn't allow him to catch up on sleep. Instead, he directly took him to change into the new probationary hunter's uniform, and escorted him straight to the classroom under close supervision. The Holy Temple had placed high hopes on this plan and had invested heavily in it. Several bishops were even brought in specifically to teach this child. Once they arrived, the priest turned to give Alexio a final reminder.
“You must show respect to your teachers.”
Alexio was completely absorbed in playing with the gold chain on his uniform.
“I'll pick you up at noon and in the evening for meals and rest. During the rest of the time, the bishops will teach you without reservation.”
Alexio flicked the edge of his cloak absentmindedly.
“Also, you're required to keep a daily journal to record your learning progress and emotional changes. The Holy Temple will review it from time to time.”
This time, Alexio finally looked up and gave the priest a look of pure disdain.
Reading someone else's diary. How sick.
The priest looked at the skillful and utterly undignified eye-roll, the deep rose-colored eyes, almost like those of dark creatures, and the messy, unruly black hair. At last, he covered his face in sorrow.
He didn't look like a future saint at all. Not. At. All.
Forced to comply, Alexio reluctantly attended a full month of classes, and spent that entire month drawing turtles in his journal. When the Holy Temple's senior officials came to review the diary, the priest was on the verge of tears. No matter how much he threatened or coaxed, Alexio remained completely unfazed. Over the course of that month, the only noticeable improvement was Alexio's rapidly advancing watercolor turtle sketches. There was no sign of progress in any other area.
“I deeply apologize. This child… this child…” the priest said, choking up. “I have failed to live up to the glory of our god. But I pray for guidance, what must I do to bring this future saint back on the right path?”
“Don't worry,” the bishop replied gently. “Alexio has learned at least one percent of what we taught him. That's already impressive.”
The priest looked at the bishop's unusually prominent dark circles under his eyes in shock.
So one percent was already cause for celebration?
“Besides, Alexio's performance in actual combat has been outstanding.”
This time, even the priest had to nod in approval. Alexio's combat skills spoke for themselves. It seemed he was born to thrive in conflict, with a keen instinct for battle that was unparalleled even in the Holy Temple's history. Over the past month, Alexio had changed three combat instructors. His current teacher was a veteran hunter who had seen real battle, and reportedly, there was little more left to teach him.
“It's enough,” the bishop said slowly, though the dark circles under his eyes made him look worn and inscrutable. “As long as he achieves the final goal, the process doesn't matter. Besides, once the tattoo and wedge are implanted, he'll be more obedient.”
The priest was silent for a moment before nodding in agreement, and the bishop smiled slightly.
“The tattoo will be done by the end of the month. As for the wedge, to avoid damaging his eyesight, it can wait another two years.”
Alexio was totally oblivious. He was busy eating the seafood baked rice the instructor had made, watching him demonstrate flipping the pan, occasionally letting out small ‘ooh’s of surprise.
Cooking instructor: ...
Felt like a monkey performing acrobatics.
“Have you learned it yet?” the instructor wiped his sweat. “By the end of the month, you need to make a seafood baked rice that's at least edible.”
“…But what does this have to do with hunting vampires?”
Alexio asked the question from his soul.
He accepted training for combat. He could even understand learning about the continent's customs and culture. But why did a hunter also need to learn painting, cooking, and other strange subjects? Weren't these more like bridal training courses?
“Br-bridal training courses?!” The cooking instructor was shocked. “Why would you think that? This is all preparation for killing evil vampires!”
“…Poisoning the food?”
“I'll apply to add a toxicology class for you.”
“! ! !”
Alexio was depressed, but after a month of effort, his cooking instructor gravely informed him that he temporarily wouldn't need to study toxicology, and also requested the cancellation of related demolition subjects.
Because Alexio had already picked up those skills during cooking lessons.
A month passed in a flash, though for some teachers, it might have felt suffocatingly long. Alexio completed his flower arrangement, executing it in his signature untamed style while his instructor watched with tearful eyes. As soon as the bell rang, he happily dropped the flowers and dashed off to the cafeteria.
He was terrible at everything except eating.
The priest covered his face but still dutifully informed Alexio, who was eating.
“No class this afternoon?!” Alexio exclaimed happily. “Great! Can I go out?”
“Not until your training is complete. The outside world is too dangerous,” the priest refused. “Now that the vampires know about you, you must stay hidden deep inside the Holy Temple. Please... stop eating and listen for a moment, okay?”
Alexio, stubbornly clamping his teeth on the spoon, became expressionless after being denied permission to leave, looking very uncooperative.
“This afternoon you will receive your tattoo.” The priest endured. “There can be no mistakes. If something goes wrong, you'll be locked up in the detention room again. I'm guessing you don't like that place, right?”
Alexio's expression immediately turned icy. He stared at the priest, his red eyes exerting immense pressure before slowly shifting his gaze away.
“I will accept the tattoo.”
He wasn't stupid. Even when he pushed boundaries, he stayed within the Holy Temple's bottom line. One punishment was enough for him to remember. This wasn't food he wanted to endure every day.
The tattoo Alexio was about to receive was the prestigious thorny cross. Not every hunter was qualified to bear it. Most had only a simple cross. But Alexio didn't see it as an honor. To him, it was like branding livestock.
He hated the feeling and absolutely did not want to get the tattoo.
Months of training had proved effective, at least in correcting Alexio's sloppy manners. He knelt on one knee before the statue of the goddess, his cloak embroidered with golden thorns pooled on the floor. He unbuttoned his uniform beneath, exposing his right shoulder.
In the fierce daylight, the statue's eyes were mercifully downcast, its shadow falling over Alexio. Nearby, the bishop picked up the needle and ink, ready to begin the tattooing.
But the next moment, the bishop's eyes widened slowly. He immediately set down the tools and knelt beside Alexio. Everyone in the chapel followed suit. Such a widespread movement naturally caught Alexio's attention. Surprised, he looked up to see what was happening.
【I bless you.】
The goddess' fingertip touched his bare shoulder. The thorny cross began to spread and grow. There was no blood or pain during the process, only endless gentleness and blessing.
【My glory is with you.】
The goddess departed. After a brief daze, Alexio felt a strange power welling up inside him. He didn't yet know how to use it, so he looked at the bishop beside him.
The bishop was nearly in tears. Although he didn't understand why the goddess favored Alexio, in the Holy Temple's eyes, one more blessed by the goddess meant one more powerful warrior.
“Child, you have received divine favor.”
*
“Here it is. It took some effort to get it, and it seems a bit cold now.”
Cravenson kept his head lowered as he presented the seafood baked rice to the third-generation vampire he served. He found it somewhat ridiculous himself but forced himself not to think too much and simply handed over the dish.
“So this is… the craft my destined one has learned for me?” Lucius examined the plate of seafood baked rice. It didn't look particularly beautiful, but it was presentable. He looked at the dish through a filter of anticipation, feeling deeply satisfied.
The Holy Temple's bridal training courses were indeed impressive.
He casually conjured a fork from the shadow, indifferent to whether the food was cold, just intending to try the skill prepared for him.
He took only one bite.
“Your Highness! Your Highness! Please stay strong! Quickly spit it out!”
No!
Lucius forced it down, then stared seriously at the dish.
The hunter trained by the Holy Temple was truly extraordinary.
What a sophisticated method of assassination!