Regret—nothing but regret.
Regretting why he got greedy and defected from Taoism to Buddha.
Regretting why he didn't refuse this assigned task, even if it meant offending his boss.
Regretting why he wasn't more polite when meeting Aslan.
In short—immensely regretful, very, very regretful.
So regretful it couldn't be more so.
With boundless regret, Demon Dīpaṁkara sighed, donned his kāṣāya robe again, and, escorted by Aslan, left Arcadia.
Indeed, a traitor's end is to become another's traitor.
Aslan did nothing to Buddha Dīpaṁkara after he turned demonic. In fact, besides a line he learned from Fusang.
The rest was Demon Dīpaṁkara voluntarily kneeling, begging Aslan to accept him, and willingly becoming Buddha's traitor.
Of course, he could choose self-death—shedding his body and reincarnating. Besides intercepting his true spirit and erasing memories, Aslan wouldn't do more.
Aslan would respect Dingguang Xiān as a true man.
But in reality, this guy was utterly useless. Aslan just sat beside sipping tea, silently watching him raise his hand, ready to slap his own head anytime.
For suicide—shedding body and reincarnating.
Yet Aslan finished several cups of tea, and the guy still held that rigid pose for over half an hour.
He couldn't do it at all—occasionally blinking at Aslan, hoping for persuasion.
Of course, Aslan ignored him.
After all, demonizing an opponent—besides changing his Spirit Status from Buddha to Demon Buddha—had no other effect.
In Little Garden, free will trumped everything. You could seize others' Spirit Status, forcibly dominate them—but you couldn't forcibly change their will and thoughts.
Of course, this didn't mean Little Garden lacked mind-related Authorities. Telepathy, mind-reading, and such weren't few.
Mind-dependent abilities weren't few either—like Algol's Demon Seed of Dao Heart.
But such abilities relied on your own mind's will—it was your own mind's manifestation.
Meaning Demon Dīpaṁkara himself was too useless and hesitant to suicide.
He also wanted to pretend innocent like a white lotus and find excuses for his fall.
Finally, seeing Aslan ignore him, he truly panicked. He could only voluntarily kneel as a dog and willingly become a traitor.
Of course, Aslan didn't mind at all. After all—a self-delivered spy—why not take it?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Outer Gate 7777—also the outer gate managed under Christianity.
Inside the church—or rather, monastery—in a beautiful environment, white tiles and marble everywhere.
In the small, beautiful yet neat and clean courtyard.
A middle-aged man with a bindi between his brows, wearing a kāṣāya and ordinary monk robe, with Buddha-like hairstyle, pushed the door and entered.
Then he saw a man standing by the window, silently praying with a cross necklace on his chest, showing a sincere smile.
"Greetings, Your Excellency Holy Son. This little monk Buddha Dīpaṁkara pays respects."
Buddha Dīpaṁkara clasped his hands, chanted Amitabha, then bowed to the man.
The young priest didn't turn but continued gazing at the unchanging clean white wall outside the window, saying.
"What business does Buddha's people have with me?"
His voice was very magnetic. When spoken, faint holy hymns seemed to echo.
(This effect is even more exaggerated than our golden Buddha bodies. If I had it too… ah, no—this isn't the time to think this.)
Buddha Dīpaṁkara quickly organized his thoughts and switched to serious matters.
Only the greed in his heart never faded.
The Holy Son, vaguely sensing Buddha Dīpaṁkara's thoughts, couldn't help twitching his mouth corners several times.
At the same time, he relaxed slightly toward Buddha Dīpaṁkara. In his understanding, Buddha was indeed like this.
Full of fake Buddhas and true demons—only a few truly acted.
"Your Excellency Holy Son, I have interesting information bought from Shiroyasha here. Interested?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing Shiroyasha's name, the Holy Son's mood soured slightly. After all, Aslan's One Thousand Years of Death stab happened just yesterday.
And Aslan was Shiroyasha's follower—with quite a close relationship.
As the saying goes—hate the house, hate the rat too. Hard to say Aslan's actions weren't approved by Shiroyasha.
This could be called Shiroyasha provoking a god war against him.
If not for the Campione War, he should've already fought Shiroyasha outside.
"Your Excellency Holy Son, please calm down, please calm down."
Instantly, Buddha Dīpaṁkara's back soaked in cold sweat. The information Aslan asked him to deliver to the Holy Son—he hadn't even started, yet nearly died.
Since it concerned his life, though extremely reluctant, Buddha Dīpaṁkara could only force himself to continue.
"This little monk was also forced to buy and sell by Aslan and Shiroyasha."
Buddha Dīpaṁkara said with a slight crying tone.
He too felt wronged. Who'd think just asking for Algol—he'd be forced to sell himself.
And couldn't even sell at a good price.
Regarding Aslan and Shiroyasha—he couldn't lack hatred in his heart.
His obedience was only because his life was in Aslan's hands.
Hearing this, the Holy Son paused. Suddenly feeling shared suffering, his attitude softened greatly.
"Speak—what information?"
"About how to summon King of the End early."
Buddha Dīpaṁkara said respectfully. If this information wasn't written on paper and under strictest information control.
He should be kneeling and presenting it now.
Buddha Dīpaṁkara finished—the Holy Son turned, gazing at him with slight excitement in his eyes.
"What information did you just say?"
The Holy Son's hand gripped Buddha Dīpaṁkara's like an iron clamp—nearly crushing his golden Buddha body.
"Information on summoning King of the End early."
The gripped hand hurt nearly breaking. Buddha Dīpaṁkara gritted his teeth, repeating what he just said.
"Hahahaha—young man, you did well."
After reconfirming the information, the Holy Son's mood reached extreme joy.
After all, he'd just considered withdrawing from the Campione War or finding a way to kill Aslan.
Aslan's threat yesterday still had strong deterrent power for him.
He knew his own affairs. He was truly lucky—finding Jesus severely wounded and nearly dead from Dystopia's beating, heart shattered.
He himself was one of Jesus' disciples. Jesus almost fully trusted him.
Only after Jesus stopped reacting could he kill him—using his Deception and Betrayal Authorities to trick the Holy Son Spirit Status.
Otherwise—even a sliver of Jesus' remaining will in the Holy Son Spirit Status was enough to finish him.
Even now—he still feared if any Jesus will remained in the Holy Son Spirit Status?
What if he wasn't fully dead and possessed him?
The Holy Son Spirit Status shaken by Aslan—partly his inner fear. Even he didn't believe he was the true Holy Son.
Let alone believe Jesus truly died from his small stab?
This was a near-Two-Digit Little Garden peak expert. The man was miracle's incarnation—holder of Miracle Authority.
But he, Judas, lacked the Holy Son's strength. He knew if he truly tangled with those final old folks.
He might not defeat them—despite high Two-Digit experience.
Otherwise—why act like this, even acting first regardless of cost?
Only this last chance was blocked by Aslan.
Nothing more joyous than seeing hope in despair.
Now—he just needed to summon King of the End before Aslan acted, becoming the new King of the End—he could nearly secure half the victory chance.
Need to know—Queen Halloween, just because Arthur became King of the End—her represented faction got no intervention quota.
Though she didn't need it either.
Laughing briefly, the Holy Son patted Buddha Dīpaṁkara's shoulder with approving gaze.
"Continue—tell me the conditions needed to summon King of the End early?"
"That… Your Excellency Holy Son…"
Buddha Dīpaṁkara said hesitantly while twisting his hands, tone extremely awkward.
"Can you help this little monk pay the information fee first? Without paying, this little monk truly can't reveal it."
"How much is the information fee?"
The Holy Son wasn't surprised at all—or rather, strange if a man-made Buddha lineage could pay Shiroyasha's information fee.
Otherwise—why seek him?
Need to know—man-made Buddha lineage was famous for many monks, little porridge.
Hearing this, Buddha Dīpaṁkara carefully extended one hand, opening his palm.
"Five Authorities? The price is still reasonable."
The Holy Son nodded slightly—even he was a bit surprised—since when was Shiroyasha so generous?
Buddha Dīpaṁkara shook his head, gritted his teeth, and said.
"Fifty Authorities."
Instantly, the Holy Son laughed in anger—just like Aslan yesterday.
He just smiled looking at Buddha Dīpaṁkara—scaring him, finally yielding.
"Fifty—this is buyout price. If five Authorities—effectiveness is one day only. Tomorrow Thousand Eyes will announce King of the End early summon information and sell it."
"Of course—buyout for a week, ten Authorities suffice."
Buddha Dīpaṁkara carefully glanced at the Holy Son, quickly lowering his head again.