From a curly baboon… 'Justice' Audrey momentarily didn't know if 'The World' was referring to an actual curly baboon, or using it to refer to some humans who can't count.
In the Loen Kingdom, 'curly baboon' is a common term used to mock others, often associated with intelligence jokes. (Note 1)
'The World' didn't seem to intend to further explain. Well, let's just treat it as an actual curly baboon… Audrey didn't ask further, instead saying:
"Didn't I previously go to a place with a dragon worship custom to search for the trail of the Mind Dragon?"
"But didn't you discover that the Mind Dragon already lives in the collective subconscious sea of the local residents? And for safety, you chose to leave?" 'The Hermit' Cattleya responded.
"You returned there?" 'The Magician' Fors guessed.
'Justice' Audrey shook her head:
"No, I left that place long ago. It's just that I recently heard a rumor.
"An archaeological team entered a village in that area. One member suddenly went mad at night, and the mental illness seemed to be contagious. The other members also went mad one after another. They killed each other, or committed suicide. In the end, no one survived."
'The Hanged Man' Alger was about to speak, when 'The Hermit' Cattleya already said:
"This fits the characteristics of a Mind Dragon."
"I don't doubt that. I'm just curious if that Mind Dragon is still in its original area." Audrey expressed her thoughts.
"It won't." 'The Hanged Man' Alger and 'The Hermit' Cattleya replied simultaneously.
At the head of the mottled long table, 'The Fool' Klein thought of another matter from this:
The "anchors" of the gods!
He suspected that the dragon worship custom in that area was the "anchor" that stabilized the state of that Mind Dragon!
Before this custom was completely dissolved or eliminated, the Mind Dragon probably didn't need to worry about the "anchor" problem. So, after leaving, it could completely hide within the collective subconscious sea of the living beings in its new area, without needing to risk entering dreams to shape faith. This way, the three major Churches would have severe difficulty finding it. After all, they aren't experts in this field. Even with corresponding sealed artefacts, they'd at most be able to enter the collective subconscious sea to fight or force the Mind Dragon out… The Psychology Alchemists, on the other hand, might be able to grasp something… Klein thought casually, letting the dummy 'The World' say:
"The dragon worship custom greatly helps in stabilizing the state of that Mind Dragon. You can have someone pay attention to this. If a significant change occurs, it means the Mind Dragon will create a similar tradition elsewhere."
He wanted to say that he suspected the Mind Dragon was at the Angel level, at Sequence 2, but upon careful thought, he felt he couldn't be certain.
Indeed, it is when humans reach Sequence 2, the Angel level, that they need "faith anchors" to stabilize themselves and avoid madness. But that was a dragon in the truest sense, an ancient supernatural creature with hereditary madness. Even with purification and weakening over generations, it was certainly more prone to losing itself than humans. Therefore, perhaps at Sequence 3, or even Sequence 4, it needed anchors to resist the tendency to lose control.
"That custom is beneficial for stabilizing the dragon?" 'Justice' Audrey asked again, puzzled.
"Yes." 'The World' Gehrman Sparrow gave no explanation, only an affirmative answer.
Audrey instinctively turned her head to look at the head of the bronze long table, considering whether to ask 'Mr. Fool' for advice and what price she could pay.
Seeing this, 'The Fool' Klein looked around and chuckled: "Why do you think the gods spread their faith?"
…Isn't it that God loves the world? 'Justice' Audrey's mind abruptly conjured the standard orthodox answer.
Immediately after, like 'The Hanged Man' Alger and 'The Hermit' Cattleya and other members, she thought of the second answer: "Stabilizing their state!"
"No way…" At this moment, 'The Magician' Fors felt her brain was not enough. Even if she could fabricate stories, she couldn't fabricate something like this!
"It was actually like this… No, it's possible that 'Mr. Fool' only stated one of the reasons. He is secretly eroding the authority of 'The Lord of Storms'! Is this related to Divinity? She could ask the Queen later…" 'The Hermit' Cattleya pushed up the heavy glasses on her nose, speculating.
'The Hanged Man' Alger had seen that mural before. Hearing this now, he no longer felt trembling fear, but instead seriously thought about why faith could stabilize the state of demigod-level beings.
The other members, including 'The Sun' Derrick, felt a bit terrified, as if they had heard something blasphemous, not daring to think deeply, not daring to speak.
This wasn't just about the 'True Creator' and other evil gods! It was closely related to the seven orthodox gods, and the existence state of the past Creator of the City of Silver!
'The Fool' Klein didn't say much more, letting everyone remain silent, his posture extremely leisurely.
After more than ten seconds, 'Justice' Audrey barely smiled:
"This is the only thing I've encountered recently."