Becoming a god by raising witches

"Joan Mancini discovered you?"

Eileen looked at Locke with a puzzled expression.

“I was eavesdropping through the crack in the door, and Joan Mancini saw me, but she didn’t tell Bud Bemon, and I don’t know why.”

Locke was somewhat confused; although it was his dream, he couldn't understand it at all.

Perhaps it's because this memory itself doesn't belong to him.

"Then let's wait and see what she wants to do."

Eileen suggested.

Locke nodded slightly. "Alright, let's hurry up and look for clues."

The two began searching for clues in the room.

Hannah lay fast asleep on the bed, and a family photo of the Budd family was displayed on the bedside table.

Bud and his "wife" Joan, "daughter" Hannah, and "son" Locke.

Locke was very surprised to see the group photo because in real life, his "family" had never taken a group photo.

Hannah couldn't even produce photos of her parents. Aside from the fact that taking photos was the exclusive privilege of the wealthy in that era, it was also because Bud Bemon and Joan Mancini didn't want to leave their images behind.

Locke picked up the photo on the bedside table, and the person in the photo suddenly spoke.

Bud Bemon opened his mouth and said, "Locke, what are you looking at? What are you looking for? Staying up so late at night, be careful the big bad wolf comes and kidnaps you."

Joan Mancini: "Bud, don't frighten Locke. What are you looking for, Locke? Tell Mommy, and Mommy will help you find it."

Hannah: "Locke, keep your voice down, okay? Don't wake me up, or there will be serious consequences."

Locke: "You imposter, I am the real Locke."

Locke instinctively loosened his grip, and the photograph was about to fall to the ground.

Eileen caught the photo just in time, preventing the sound of breaking glass from waking Hannah and alerting the people outside the door.

"Locke, what's wrong?"

"Eileen asked."

"The photo, the person in the photo is talking."

Locke pointed to the photo and stammered.

"I didn't hear it."

Eileen picked up the photo. The people in the photo were very quiet, just like any other group photo.

Locke repeated what they had said, "That's all."

"Perhaps it's because this is your dream that you're able to get some key clues. Try asking them what they know."

Erin said.

Locke nodded and tried to ask Bud Bemon in the photo first.

Why did the Knowledge Cult create nine test subjects? What are they trying to do?

Bud Bemon replied, “Locke, this is not something you should know. Did you pray with Hannah today? We are all devout believers in the Church of Knowledge. When you grow up, achieve something, and are qualified to enter the core, you will naturally know.”

"Core? What is the core?"

Locke discovered that the people in the photo could communicate, so he continued to ask questions.

"The core is the six archbishops and the twenty-four knights."

"That's what Bud Bemon replied."

"Who are the six archbishops, and who are the Twenty-Four Knights?"

"I can't answer that question. I've said before that you'll know when you grow up and are qualified to enter the core."

"That's what Bud Bemon said."

"Did the Knowledge Cult really originate from the Western Continent?"

Locke asked again.

"Our doctrine states that the Western Continent is our homeland."

"That's what Bud Bemon replied."

Am I like Hannah?

“You are different. You are the most special. You are the only one who was born after ten months of pregnancy.”

"Other than that?"

All I can tell you is that you are different from others.

Do evil gods reside within us?

"An evil god? Why do you think it's an evil god? I can only tell you that you are completely wrong. I can't say anything else."

Locke frowned, not expecting this answer.

Isn't it an evil god? If it's not an evil god, then what is it? A righteous god? How could that be? But perhaps, to the people of the knowledge sect themselves, it really can't be described as an evil god.

"Five years ago, I was contaminated by alchemical waste and became seriously ill. What methods did you use to save me?"

"That's the Soul Alchemy Ritual of the Life Cult. It can save you at the soul level. Even if your body is severely damaged, as long as your soul is fine, you can recover."

"That's what Bud Bemon replied."

"What is the terrifying being you mentioned summoning in your diary? Why did you all disappear?"

"A terrifying presence? I don't remember...disappeared...have we disappeared?"

Bud Bemon looked puzzled.

You don't remember? Could the photo have been taken before? Yes, the photo must have been taken before the disappearance, otherwise how could it be a family photo?

Locke guessed, and continued to ask a few more questions, but did not get the answers he wanted. He then decided to change his target.

"Joanne Mancini, can you answer some of my questions?"

In the photograph, Joan Mancini smiles as she looks at Locke.

"Of course, Locke, my child, I will tell you whatever you want to ask."

Am I really your child?

Locke asked, puzzled.

"You are my child."

Who is my father?

"I can't tell you."

Joan Mancini said with a smile.

"Hannah and I are not related by blood?"

"No, you are true family in a sense; you are all children of your great father."

Joan Mancini said gently.

"The nine test subjects represent darkness, light, misfortune, fortune, life, death, malice, and goodwill. What is the last one?"

"I do not know."

What does Hannah represent?

"Malice."

Locke frowned slightly.

Is Hannah the embodiment of malice, which is why she needs to absorb the malice around her to grow?

Eileen couldn't hear the sounds in the photos and could only infer them from Locke's words.

She was clearly taken aback when she heard Locke mention nine test subjects.

Life and death, light and darkness, fortune and misfortune, good and evil, correspond to the goddess of life, the god of death, the god of light, the god of darkness, the god of fate, the god of calamity, the god of love, and the god of extreme evil, respectively.

Could it be that the Knowledge Cult is not trying to create an evil god, but a righteous god?

What about the existing true gods?

Eileen was horrified. She already thought the Knowledge Cult was crazy enough, but now that she was getting closer to the truth, she felt that they were simply a group of incurable lunatics.

"How can I save Hannah?"

Locke continued questioning Joan Mancini.

"Save? Why would you save Hannah?"

Joan Mancini asked Locke gently.

“I don’t want Hannah to become an evil god and lose herself; I want to save her.”

In short, in the dream world, Locke felt he could tell the truth.

Joan Mancini paused, then replied,