Chapter 383: Chapter 323: The Swindler’s Psychotherapy_3

Freyja changed him; their brief cohabitation allowed Ash to see how an ordinary person survived in the cruel society of Blood Moon, and the most important point was–when you’re sick, you need treatment.

Seeking a psychologist wasn’t shameful; perhaps this was the greatest contribution the Kingdom of Blood Moon made to civilization.

Though there weren’t any psychologists around, finding a Swindler was just about the same, after all, there’s no fundamental difference between comfort and deceit.

“Don’t be afraid, they entrust their lives to you because they believe in your judgment, even if you err, they won’t have complaints, because you’ve done your best, the world doesn’t reproach someone who has given their all, the injustice of Fate shouldn’t become your burden… Is this what you want me to say?”

Ash lifted his head, then his collar was suddenly seized by a drenched hand, and he was pulled face to face with the Swindler.

“Rather than facing reality, you prefer to let a Swindler deceive you,” Igula’s eyes were full of disdain: “Even among my clients, you’re of the lowest rank.”

Snap, Igula pushed Ash away, causing him to fall backside-first to the ground.

“Go find Harvey for some candy to eat, that’s your real remedy.” Igula didn’t look at him, “I am a courtesan-level Swindler, I won’t entertain a client as rotten as you.”

Ash sighed: “No need to be so harsh, right…”

“Gambling with others’ lives, I started doing that at 13.” Igula said coldly: “I’ve won a lot, but losing was also fair. Due to my wrong decision, one of my partners was caught by the ‘Fire Crab’, and I could only see him in the most sensational newspapers, he had become a piece of avant-garde abstract art, the tools used were a hanger and a chair… What do you think was on my mind then?”

“Thinking of revenge?”

“No, I just hoped he received and executed my final message, to end himself before the Fire Crab found him.”

Drops of water fell from Igula’s hair tips, merging into the bathtub and disappearing, “This is the destiny of a decision-maker, even if you’re calm enough, work hard enough, you still can’t stop sacrifices. Even gods can’t save all the people, who do you think you are?”

“To endure sacrifice, to accept sacrifice, to get used to sacrifice, this is the only path, there is no second method. Do you think by finding a Spirit Mage for comfort, you can have the heart of a resilient decision-maker? A Spirit Mage isn’t a Strengthener Mage, can’t just ding and make you stronger.”

“What you need isn’t comfort, isn’t deceit, but growth.”

The Swindler looked at the downcast Cult Leader, yet a different image appeared in his mind.

In the apocalypse, a mysterious man in a dark red coat, standing alone and overlooking the world…

“There’s another very simple way, just be selfish enough,” said Igula: “Like me, if you are selfish enough to see everyone as pawns, selfish enough not to care about anyone’s thoughts, selfish enough to just be happy, then you won’t feel the pressure of responsibility.”

“For us orphans of Blood Moon, this should be the effortless advancement route, right?”

Light flared in the eyes of the Cult Leader: “Just like you, that’s all I need to do…”

“Exactly, just like me…” Igula looked at his own blurry reflection in the water: “You just need to care about yourself, to value yourself, to love yourself…”

“–As long as I have as much decision-making experience as you, I can grow into a captain who can calmly bear the pressure of responsibility!”

Igula blinked, huh?

Ash stood up, dusting the water from his backside: “The difference between you and me is that you already have rich team experience, and I don’t, so I should figure out a way to increase my own leadership experience, to become a steady decision-maker.”

“But how will you increase it?”

“I already have an idea,” Ash said: “I was right to find you, I won’t interrupt your bath any longer.”

“Although I don’t know what your plan is, it’s certainly not as simple as the ‘selfish advancement’ I talked about,” Igula said blandly: “Why make it so hard?”

“Because being selfish isn’t that simple,” Ash opened the bathroom door and said: “If even you can’t do it, how could I possibly?”

“How can’t I do it?”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Igula paused, listening to the fading footsteps of Ash.

‘If I entrust my Life to you, could you bet without a hint of hesitation?’

“Seed…”

The Swindler exhaled, although he had been soaking for a bit long, he decided to soak a bit more to clear his mind, otherwise, his thoughts and musings would become the rain and sunshine that make the seed sprout.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A stranger’s knock, but Igula had an ominous premonition.

As expected, the bathroom door was opened again.

“Aunt Bokin!” Liss appeared, hands on her hips, before the Swindler: “I have something very important to discuss with you… We need the Wisdom of the Swindler!”

“Didn’t you notice I’m taking a bath?”

Liss blinked, a realization dawning on her, and obediently closed the bathroom door.

Igula was tempted to summon the Gospel Book to check if Liss and Ash had similar genetic components.