Gospel of Blood

Chapter 382: The True Ancestor's Gaze

Charlotte felt that she had been paying too little attention to her followers.

Unknowingly, she felt she was falling behind their pace.

Despite spreading the faith in the Blood Wolf Tribe, it was the faith of the “True Ancestor”, which theoretically had nothing to do with “Charlotte.”

But now it seemed that the followers had begun to saintly revere “Charlotte.”

Charlotte was deeply thoughtful about this development.

“Saintly reverence” was an inevitable step in the resurrection of Gods.

Having reviewed many memories about Gods from Albrecht, Charlotte had gained a considerable understanding of this process.

Recently resurrected Gods were often too weak and chose to remain in the background, cultivating true believers and followers to work on their behalf, creating opportunities to restore their power.

The chosen followers were called saints.

What Misha was doing now was binding the faith in “Charlotte” to the concept of a saint.

However, there was something different here.

To Charlotte, the “Charlotte” Misha described sounded even more transcendent than an ordinary saint.

For instance, Misha’s words were rather ambiguous, like “representing the will of the True Ancestor” or “her power is the True Ancestor’s power.”

This kind of blurring of the boundaries between mortal and God suggested more than just ordinary devotion—it seemed to be laying the groundwork for further ascension.

A saint was an agent of the Gods, executing their will.

But a saint could also be a divine figure.

And a divine figure could be the incarnation of a God…

Others might not notice the deeper implications of Misha’s words, seeing it as mere admiration for a God, but as the subject, Charlotte could perceive the more profound meaning.

This was laying the foundation.

Preparing for a future where she could merge her identity with that of the “True Ancestor.”

Charlotte didn’t believe that this enlightenment came from the Werewolf Priest Luff alone.

Though the leader of the Blood Wolf Tribe knew her identity, he wasn’t clever enough to think of integrating the “Charlotte” persona into her faith system.

There had to be someone else behind the scenes, pushing and guiding this.

Given Misha and the Blood Wolf Tribe’s past, Charlotte already had an answer in mind…

With this thought, Charlotte “looked” at the two again, as their conversation continued.

“Our Lord is different from other Gods. Compared to those who look down on mortals, our Lord walks among us and understands us better. Our Lord has experienced a chaotic world firsthand and once shaped the order of the past. The return of our Lord will overthrow everything and reshape everything!”

Misha said fervently.

“Miss Misha, is our Lord really watching over us?”

Eleanor couldn’t help but ask, her eyes filled with longing, mixed with apprehension and hesitation.

Misha smiled slightly.

“Of course, our Lord has already awakened. She has always been silently protecting us. When we are devout enough, we will receive Her guidance and blessings. I believe you have seen this many times in the tribe.”

“To change the order, one must first possess power, and our Lord’s power is omnipotent. Our Lord never hesitates to show concern and love for Her followers.”

“Those hypocritical Gods only respond to their followers’ prayers with the most perfunctory attitude and won’t even glance at their followers. Only our Lord will personally cast Her gaze and guide us…”

Charlotte: …

Listening to Misha’s words, Charlotte felt somewhat guilty and confused.

It seemed the demi-human maid had misunderstood something.

Heaven knew she didn’t want to personally manage everything or listen to her followers holding meetings in her mind. But since she didn’t have the “auto-respond” faith mechanism of other Gods, she had to do it herself.

She didn’t respond every time, only occasionally when she remembered or was in a good mood, prioritizing those with high frequencies in the faith network.

In essence, it was a laid-back, lazy approach.

But now, this approach seemed to have had some strange effects…

First, her personal responses seemed to make followers feel she was more approachable and attentive than other Gods.

Second, not responding every time maintained her mystery and transcendence, ensuring that followers didn’t lose reverence for her due to the ease of getting her attention.

In a way, it had worked out well by accident.

“Miss Misha, do you think our Lord will hear my voice?”

Eleanor asked again.

Misha smiled.

“Of course, Lady Eleanor, our Lord is always watching over us. She will surely hear your voice.”

Eleanor looked downcast.

“But I’ve never heard Her voice.”

“Perhaps you haven’t fully passed our Lord’s test yet.”

Misha said.

“A test?”

Eleanor was puzzled and a bit lost.

Misha paused and said,

“Lady Eleanor, you intend to give up your title and return to the north to become a priestess, don’t you?”

Eleanor was silent for a moment before sighing.

“That was my plan.”

“I’ve had enough of the nobes’ hypocrisy and filth. Every day dealing with them makes me feel an inner repulsion and disgust…”

“I’m not fit to be a lord. The regent and the noble council can manage the territory just fine without me. It makes no difference whether I stay or go.”

“Rather than being a useless ornament in the castle, dealing with those detestable people insincerely every day, I’d rather return to where I’m truly needed and become a devout ascetic.”

“I wish to join our Lord’s church. I want to hear Her teachings. I also hope to be like Charlotte and become a practitioner of Her will…”

Hearing Eleanor’s words, Misha sighed softly.

“Perhaps this is the test from our Lord.”

“Lady Eleanor, you always say you are just a figurehead and only a lord in name only, but isn’t that a kind of escape too?”

“Our Lord can bring us dreams of changing the world, but we need to strive for it ourselves. This is our Lord’s expectation and test.”

“The world is constantly changing. Even Gods need to adapt their guidance to the changes of the times, and our Lord is no different.”

“In the distant past, our Lord’s faith was spontaneously formed. She never demanded anything from Her followers and had no plans to form a church. But now, our Lord has these plans.”

“Our Lord is omnipotent, but She also understands the power of mortals. Gods are the protectors of all beings, but the world belongs to the beings themselves.”

“I think our Lord doesn’t want to see an escaping lord but one who faces difficulties, turns faith into strength, and practices our Lord’s glory.”

Eleanor was moved.

“What do you mean?”

The beastwoman maid gave her a meaningful look.

“Lady Eleanor, do you really think you are just a decorative figure? Do you really believe that giving up your title and becoming a priestess is the right path?”

Eleanor fell silent.

After a long time, she sighed.

“Miss Misha, you’re right.”

“I have indeed been avoiding everything I have to face. I don’t have the confidence to be a good leader, nor the confidence to gain the loyalty of those nobles.”

“But… I don’t know what to do, and I don’t know what the Lord needs me to do. I’m confused. I yearn for the change that everyone talks about, but I don’t know how to bring it about, and I don’t know what role I can play in this change…”

“That’s why I thought of becoming a priestess. I want to start as an apprentice and do things I am capable of.”

The maid Misha shook her head.

“I understand your thoughts, but don’t you think this is abandoning your greatest advantage?”

“Lady Eleanor, as the Duchess of Borde, you can achieve more than a priestess ever could. Lady Charlotte is a prime example.”

“Our Lord has just returned, and the church is not yet fully established. The Lord’s principles are still just ideas and haven’t formed the final doctrines and scriptures. The believers of our Lord still need worldly protection…”

“Lady Eleanor, I think… perhaps you should try to become a true Duchess.”

Eleanor’s lips moved.

“Do you mean, as a Duchess, to provide protection for the church?”

Misha smiled.

“See, you already have the answer in your heart.”

Eleanor was silent.

After a moment, she sighed.

“But… I feel I lack confidence. I don’t even have the confidence to control Borde, nor to face the regent and the noble council…”

Misha shook her head.

“How would you know if you don’t try?”

Eleanor still hesitated.

Misha thought for a moment and said,

“If you are truly unsure, then pray to our Lord.”

“I believe… as long as you are sincere, as long as you earnestly seek guidance from the Lord, the Lord will hear your voice.”

With that, the beastwoman maid checked the time and said,

“It’s getting late, Lady Eleanor. I will go prepare lunch. Please think about it some more.”

With that, Misha left.

Eleanor was left alone on the terrace, her eyes somewhat lost in thought.

Pray to the Lord…?

But, would a confused believer like her really receive a response from the Lord?

Eleanor did not know.

She had not been a believer for long and her understanding of faith was still growing. She did not even know what the true name of the Lord was.

She only knew that the Lord was the infamous True Ancestor of Blood of history, yet seemed completely different from the cruel God described in the scriptures.

“Your Majesty, the True Ancestor, should I really continue striving to be a qualified leader and contribute my strength to you?”

Eleanor murmured.

After speaking, she couldn’t help but mock herself.

Not praying to the divine symbol, and being so confused, how could someone like her possibly receive a response from the Lord?

However, before she could finish her thought, Eleanor felt a mysterious power descend upon her.

The power was vast, ancient, and majestic, but also warm, gentle, and kind…

Eleanor was momentarily disoriented.

She felt as if she saw a towering ancient castle, with crimson light enveloping the world, and ethereal, vague whispers echoed around her.

Eleanor couldn’t clearly hear what the whispers said, but she felt a guidance and proclamation that reached directly to her soul…

Go ahead.

Follow your true heart, face the difficulties, and become a devout leader.

The power came quickly and left just as swiftly.

In her daze, the whispers were gone, and the castle and crimson mist seemed like illusions.

But Eleanor’s eyes widened, her expression filled with incredulity.

“The True Ancestor… this is the power of the True Ancestor!”

“She actually responded to me, he noticed my confusion!”

Eleanor’s expression grew increasingly agitated, and after a long period of excitement, she fell silent again.

Until a personal guard arrived, interrupting her thoughts.

“Duchess, the Count has returned.”

Eleanor snapped back to reality.

“Gaston?”

“Yes.”

“Bring him to me.”

The personal guard quickly retreated, and Eleanor once again looked into the distance.

“Face my true heart…”

Looking at the scenery of Lutecia, her eyes gradually became firm.

Not long after, the travel-worn Count Gaston stood before Eleanor.

He slightly bowed to Eleanor.

“Duchess, what are your orders?”

Sensing the dismissive attitude in his tone, Eleanor slightly clenched her fists.

However, she quickly suppressed her discomfort, mustered her courage, and with a serious expression, said in a deep voice.

“Sir Gaston, I’ve changed my mind.”

“I will not leave, I will not leave Borde, nor my people.”

“I will take up the authority of Borde, implement my will, and become a true Duchess!”

Hearing Eleanor’s words, Count Gaston was momentarily stunned. It seemed as though the young Duchess had become a completely different person, with a distinct aura.

He was puzzled and was about to ask the reason, but when he looked up at her, he was frozen in place.

In his “sight”, Elinor was surrounded by a crimson glow, exuding a familiar and awe-inspiring aura…

It felt as though invisible, golden eyes were watching him through the void.

Count Gaston’s eyes widened, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

This is… the power of the True Ancestor!

She… she… she has been noticed by the True Ancestor!

No longer daring to underestimate the young Duchess, he took a deep breath and solemnly bowed.

“Duchess, I will follow your will.”

Seeing the normally aloof regent being so “obedient”, Eleanor was also stunned.

Some things, once you muster the courage to do them, don’t seem that difficult…

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