Shepherd Tantra

Chapter 1296 The Great Sin: The False Don Quixote
How could Aiwass ignore the prayers of others?

So he remained silent, then tossed out a small card, revealing Don Quixote.

"—Your knight, Don Quixote de la Man, has answered the call and will fight for you!"

A passionate and powerful voice rang out.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, a glimmer of light seemed to appear in Gray Sky's dark eyes.

Upon seeing the handsome knight in silver armor appear, Ottolucus's gaze softened considerably.

"...Hercules."

Looking at her former best friend and student who had appeared there, she couldn't help but murmur softly.

—When the boy first met Hercules, he was only twelve or thirteen years old.

At that time, he had just finished his early education with Chiron and was apprenticing with different teachers to learn special skills.

At that time, Autolycus taught Heracles the skills of close combat, disguise, and theft.

By then, Ottolucus had already mastered some of the power of lies. She wanted to tease the white-haired, red-eyed boy, so she disguised herself as a cunning and lively young man.

Hercules, being a mortal, could not possibly see through Autolycus's disguise. Although he learned the art of disguise from Autolycus, he could never surpass his teacher.

He led the young and naive Hercules on rampages—stealing one family's cow one day, trampling another's field the next. After causing destruction, he would imitate Hercules' voice to summon people, then secretly disappear and leave Hercules alone, wanting him to practice his lying skills.

Hercules, however, could never learn to lie, which always left her helplessly to clean up his messes.

That was the happiest time of Otto Lucas's life.

Before and since then, there has never been a time when I felt so carefree and unrestrained.

—But they only spent a short two years together.

It wasn't until Hercules bid her farewell and went to learn archery from his next mentor that Autolycus suddenly realized... that the joke of the past might never be exposed.

She originally intended to wait until Hercules had fully mastered her skills before letting him see through her disguise. By then, he would be ready to graduate.

This is why Ottolus didn't seriously teach Heracles. Playing together was truly enjoyable; she had never been happier than she was at that moment.

However, it was only then that Autolyss realized something—

—Hercules was not an elf; he was a human.

Humans, a newly emerged species, possess a unique talent for learning, but lack the long lifespan of other species.

His life lasted only a short hundred years, or even just half a century.

He, on the other hand, wasted two precious years of his life.

It was because she failed to fully teach Hercules that he never mastered the ability to see through lies, conspiracies, and disguises. That's why Hercules couldn't recognize the true nature of his companion and his teacher.

Ottolucos felt remorse.

For the first time in her life, she realized what the "lies" she was good at would ultimately bring.

However, Ottolucus was already a half-step Celestial, while Hercules was merely a newly born race of the third energy level. They only spent two short years together—equivalent to half a month for humans in the lifespan of long-lived beings.

Autolycus was unwilling to expose her lie, but she worried that Hercules, without her guidance, might be harmed in the future… So she kept this thought in mind, secretly protecting Hercules. She became one of many people around him, yet Hercules never recognized her.

She did not return home until Croxes became seriously ill.

Unlike Ottolucus, who was born a near-celestial being, Croxes didn't even possess the qualifications to become a transcendent. Her death would mean utter annihilation. Her soul was so fragile, it wasn't even enough to become an apostle.

It was at that time that Ottolucus helped her mother, Hypasya, seal Croxus in the Dream Realm through lies, thus escaping her inevitable death.

It was precisely because of this great achievement that she attained the position of Gray Sky Division.

She deceived the world into believing that a living person was dead, thus granting them eternal life.

It was only then that she heard something—

Decades passed, and Hercules was long since married.

He was no longer the naive boy he once was, but had become an arrogant monarch. Using the fighting skills he had learned from himself, he slew a lion, married, had children, and founded Horasl.

He is even undertaking twelve great works, intending to elevate the gods of heaven and even the pillar gods through the highest rites, and to raise his kingdom to the heavens!
Therefore, when Hercules was about to join the Argonauts' expedition and seek power from Hermes, Autolycus prayed to his father to give him enough power to protect himself.

By then, Ottolucus had been promoted to Grey Celestial, and she could no longer return to the material world.

Hermes was such a wise man.

Upon hearing his daughter's plea, he immediately guessed the truth of the matter.

Although he was resentful about it, he still agreed to Ottolucos's request.

Hermes then used all his apostle power to help the Flame God forge the golden sword Malmidorva—which is the red-hilted sword when it is complete.

This sword is powerful and dangerous, just as Autolycus's sister Chloxius had said—

"—This sword is a joke, and also a test."

“…You probably don’t know who I am.” Otto Lucas said softly, gazing at Don Quixote. “I was once your friend.”

But unexpectedly...

After a moment of silence, the silver-armored knight Don Quixote spoke up: "You are... Otto Lucas, the Grey Astral, right?"

Upon hearing this, Gray Sky was visibly stunned.

He couldn't possibly know all these secrets!

Whether it's Gray Sky's true identity or Otto Lucas's face...

“I have never met you, but I have met Miss Croxes.”

Don Quixote slowly said, "I am not Hercules. I have no memory of him, no power of him, and no blood of his flowing through my veins. I am Don Quixote, a fictional knight. A non-existent heroic spirit."

"But when I saw you, it felt familiar. It was like I had seen you somewhere before."

The knight was shining brightly.

And Autolycus is disintegrating into countless fireflies-like silvery-gray fluorescence.

At this moment, even the giant with the stag's head seemed to become a background figure, looking down at the exchange between the two.

"...That's it."

Gray Sky Master remained silent for a long time before letting out a relieved sigh.

At this point, she had dissolved into nothingness, leaving only her head. Her body, disintegrated after being struck by Paradise Lost, was no longer sufficient for her to exist for much longer.

"The number twelve represents hope. Hercules' twelve trials were precisely a prayer for the light of hope."

Gray Sky whispered, "You are a knight who does not exist... but have I ever truly existed?"

“Hercules—no, Mr. Quixote.”

Gray Sky Master smiled: "The fetus of the apocalypse will ultimately be strangled by the umbilical cord of tomorrow... Yes, this is my prophecy, and also my expectation for the apocalypse. No matter what, I want to reach tomorrow... even if the price is my everything."

"If there's another chance, let's meet again the day after tomorrow. I hope... then I can get to know you again as I truly am. I hope that by then, I won't have to lie anymore, I won't have to keep secrets anymore. I hope that by then, we won't have to spend those short two years together anymore..."

"As for this illusory power that is now comparable to that of a pillar god—I'll entrust it to you for now. Be sure to keep it safe for me... Sir Knight."

As he spoke, Gray Sky looked up at Aiwass, a genuine smile appearing on his face: "You must win, Aiwass. We'll be going now."

Aiwas nodded silently.

Finally, Gray Sky looked at Don Quixote, his gaze flickered for a moment, then narrowed slightly and revealed a smile.

"Well then... nice to meet you, Mr. Quixote."

"...Nice to meet you, Miss Otto Lucos."

The knight replied.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Gray Sky Division completely collapsed into dust.

Endless ash came with the wind and engulfed Don Quixote.

The light emanating from Don Quixote grew ever brighter, and a curtain of light rose in Aiwass's eyes.

The words, like smoke, slowly emerge, one by one, as if ink seeping from the paper.

[The Great Sin: The False Don Quixote (Adjustment, Chariot)]

[Level: 50 (Suppressed)]

[The Path of War, Attribute Light]

【Upright Summoning - Twelve Trials (0/12)】

[Required: Light 5]

[Immediate, Self-expression, Repeat, Continuously Effective]

[Effect: Summons the spirit of Paladin Don Quixote. While Don Quixote is present, he absorbs all damage for all teammates. If this damage destroys Don Quixote, Don Quixote will be permanently destroyed, and Don Quixote will become permanently immune to this type of damage.]

[Effect: Re-use resets Don Quixote from his permanently destroyed state. This effect can be used up to twelve times.]

[Reversed Summon - Don Quixote]

[Required: Light 5]

[Maintain: 5 Lights Daily]

[Action, Summon]

[Effect: Summons the Beast of Greed, Don Quixote, to fight for you. Don Quixote is considered a summoned creature. Outside of combat, the Beast of Greed, Don Quixote, can transform into white mist and enter a follow state. Only one Beast of Greed can exist at a time.]

[Power: Illusion, Distortion of Reality, Lies, Limited Wish-Making Technique]

(End of this chapter)