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After asking when he would start, Zeriav first gave Ronin a look and said:

“You need to be purified first. You will be handling religious artifacts on a regular basis after all.”

Ronin’s grin suddenly grew wide.

‘Ah, you think this already makes you slick, huh? Trying to purify me under the guise of becoming your assistant.’

He remembered the 12 Phases that he had watched Cermin do several times, in this very same room. Where he was made to strip, kneel and beg for forgiveness, and even be hit by beads until his back get wounded.

Trying to purify the daemon out of him. In this case, Zeriav will be trying to purify the demon himself.

But Ronin pretended to blink innocently with young Elur’s big doe eyes. “Purify me? What does that mean, Brother?”

Zeriav glared and just said. “You simply follow my instructions. That’s all you need to do.”

Ronin shrugged. “Alright.”

And he waited for these instructions with a bright smile, like a dutiful Boy Scout.

Zeriav went over to the center of the Temple of Rain, the sound of water from the beads surrounding them as he walked.

He then pointed at a spot.

“Kneel.” He said.

Ronin followed easily and knelt in this one word command.

It was a strange feeling, being the one commanded. He was used to commanding his prey all the time.

But to have someone else command you…..

It set a fire in his heart, burning with pure anger. But this anger also felt…. Good.

It was an anger that makes you crave it, that desire for retaliation. The desire to rebel and make mischief.

Making the person think they were in control when they’re not really.

“The first phase of purification…..” Zeriav told him as he looked down at him. “Is to admit your powerlessness to the forces of the dark.”

Powerlessness to the dark. Such a strange thing for the Lord of Darkness to admit.

But he guess he was powerless to himself, to his own instincts. That burst of temper that Fausforus has, making him irrational and unstable.

Ronin said genuinely. “I am weak to the forces of the dark. Give me strength.”

He lowered his head three times, though gently. Then, at the forth, he made a stronger hit, but still not enough to bring pain.

Zeriav’s heart went cold when he heard this. Everyone admits their powerlessness in different ways….

But it was completely similar to how Cermin does his first phase back then!

(Had he always been watching since the beginning? Watching our rituals? Then… He must be taunting me by showing that he does know this ritual already and just playing along.)

Zeriav gritted his teeth. (Fine. Let him play along and get overconfident. He’s ego shall be his weakness.)

Ronin simply look up to him after bowing. “What is the second, Brother Mondstein?”

“Believe the Gods will give you strength to fight off the dark.”

Ronin looked at the little statues around him. “Each and every god?”

“Yes.” Zeriav said. “Pay your respects to all of them.”

He turned to the 12 Highest Order Gods…..

And bowed to them, but grinning every time he bowed. His bow was nothing like Cermin’s reverence and it was full of mockery.

When it was time to bow towards the statue of Aurion…..

He simply did not bow, and made a half-hearted nod.

Zeriav could not bear his insolence, and pushed his head. “Bow, boy.”

Ronin did not say anything, only letting that tasteful anger in his heart. Zeriav had placed his fingers on his hair and grabbed on it a little, then let go before he can actually pull on them.

“The Third….. The Third phase is to surrender your will to the Gods as you see fit.”

Ronin copied Cermin’s actions again. Cermin’s interpretation was to take off his shirt and lay on the cold floor as his form of surrendering, and Ronin did the same.

Zeriav’s patience was being tested with his taunts as he stared at him laying half-naked on the floor using the body of a young boy as purely white as snow.

“The Fourth is have the courage to admit all your mistakes and impurities to yourself.”

Ronin closed his eyes, but he did not admit his sins to himself as he did.

He simply thought. ‘Hahaha, I wonder what he would feel like of I turn this around and make him do this silly ritual instead?’

“The Fifth is to admit to the Gods, to yourself, and to a witness what you have done wrong.”

Zeriav went down to lean in and listen to him confess his sins, or at least feign confessing them…

But Ronin instead grin, and said in his fake innocent tone. “Why are you leaning in, Brother?”

“I will hear you admit.” Zeriav said.

Ronin smirked wider. “But you never said I need to admit out loud, right? I simply need to confess to the Gods, to myself and to you about my wrongdoings….. But I can do them in my head, right?”

Zeriav had made wounds on his palm as his fingers dug into them from so much anger.

No matter. The next phases would purify him, everything before was just preparation.

But this circumstance doesn’t even require preparation. The demon must be banished, even if it was forcefully and against his will.

“The Sixth is to accept how the Gods will remove all your impurities, and not fear it.”

Ronin simply smiled below him, and said.

“I accept it. I do not fear it.”

For there really was nothing to be afraid of. This ritual will do nothing on him and be like child’s play.

Not to mention…

He thought of a rune inside his head.

Zeriav could not wait anymore, and took the large beads he will be throwing to Ronin.

“The Seventh is ask the Gods to purify you.”

He looked down at Ronin to have him say ‘Do it’ just like Cermin.

But he stayed laying there.

“Ask for it, boy.” Zeriav gritred his teeth and kneeled down beside him with his beads at hand, aiming for him.

As they were about to fall—-

“I don’t want it.” Ronin said with no fear or apprehension at all.

BAM!!!

The door burst open, and Sister Rozenaur came holding…

A purple Communucation Crystal.

“What is going on, Brother Mondstein!? What are you doing to the child, get away from him!”

Ronin had acted terribly afraid, and called out for help teary eyed. “Sister! Sister, I think Brother Mondstein was planing to hurt me!”

She pushed Zeriav out of the way and rushed to his side, hugging the shirtless boy close.

“H-He said he was going to purify me….. But then he took out those scary glass beads and aimed them….. Wouldn’t that make me bruised if it fell on me, then?” Ronin shook at her embrace, like a poor little frightened rabbit.

Marogold’s heart immediately felt crushed for the poor boy. “I will not let that happen. Brother Mondstein, explain yourself!”

Zeriav sat up. The large beads that was really more like a glass balls had shattered to pieces on the ground, the water inside them spilling.

The ritual was disrupted and failed.

And all because of Sister Rozenaur meddling!

He doesn’t want to hate her, but it was difficult not to after these turn of events.

“It is part of the ritual, Sister Rozenaur. A very important one, and you ruined it.” Zeriav said. “I need to purify that boy.”

“And what are you purifying him for!?” Sister Marigold exclaimed. “Elur is a Monk, he was already chosen here and passed the trials of purity!”

She added. “I have quite enough of purification rituals always resolving to violence and injuries! No more! From now on, I shall ask the Councillor and Head of the Temple to stop any practices like this!”

That Councillor was no other than her father, Councillor Rozenaur. She must have meant that his actions towards Calla Lily’s own father years ago, Hyacinth, to be one of those ‘violent purifications’.

She went to take Ronin with her, and give him back his clothes to wear. She patted his head and gave comfort, while Zeriav can only watch with outmost displeasure.

“The boy will remain impure because of your choice, Sister.” Zeriav said.

She snapped back. “I would rather keep them impure and safe than have them be endangered for the sake of your acceptance.”

Ronin was quite surprised that the soft and gentle priestess actually had this side of her that was good at arguments, and can perfectly stand up for herself. She was not like most of the true pair of harem protagonists after all.

He looked back at Zeriav as he wore his clothes back, and then said.

“I apologize, Brother Mondstein.” He said pitifully. “I did not mean to cause trouble, but this ritual really scares me. I hope I can still be your apprentice even without it.”

Zeriav gritted his teeth, but looked at Marigold standing protectively beside the daemon pretending to be a boy and glaring daggers at him.

“Alright. I will purify you in other ways, then.”