Chapter 75 – Cat Dad and Cernun’s Test

“O-Okay, munya.”

“Tarnished child of Cathulhu, go forth and hunt all demi-gods. Only then can you protect your world and future.”

“But I’m not tarnished, and I don’t want to become the Elden Lord, munya!”

Cernun smirked, “You’re maidenless, though.”

“…”

Xiaomao had the urge to question Cernun about how he knew about the iconic game of the year, but he didn’t want to continue the weird conversation. He was afraid that he might offend these fairies and the crocodile dragon.

“Jokes aside. I sense that you interacted with agents from Mermaid Kingdom. Have you joined their faction?”

“Yes, but they haven’t given me a green card yet, munya.”

“Green card?”

“I meant, they haven’t acknowledged me as their official citizen yet, munya.”

“I see. Let me test your knowledge!”

DING_.

<Cernun, the ancient one, has forcefully given you a quest.>

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<strong>Test of Knowledge and Honesty</strong>

Cernun is curious about your background and your unique class – Regressor. He is currently testing you if you are worthy of his trust.

You simply need to answer five questions and answer them correctly. If you give an incorrect answer, you will fail the quest, and you will not be able to take Chang’e Faction Quest for a month.

<strong>Quest Objective:</strong> Correctly answer Cernun’s questions.

<strong>Failure Condition:</strong> Your answer is incorrect.

<strong>Quest Reward:</strong> You can take requests from Cernun and fairies from this Island.

<strong>Failure Penalty:</strong> You will not be able to take any quest from this island for a month, and you will have to retake the test of knowledge quest again.

<strong>*[?????? Instinct]:</strong> <strong>This is it. Complete the quest, and the future will open for you!  </strong>

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Xiaomao widened his eyes. Nobody in Xiaomao’s previous life had taken this quest before, and it surprised him. Moreover, he couldn’t decline this quest as it was automatically accepted.

He took a deep breath and gazed at Cernun.

“Test me, munya.”

“Good. Since you are a regressor, so you should be able to answer this question. What is a regressor?”

Xiaomao racked his brain and crafted his words.

“A time traveler, munya. He comes back to the past, but he regresses back to the time before life-changing events occur. Sometimes, a regressor gets his youthful body back to redo the things he couldn’t do before the regression, munya.”

“Good.”

DING

<Cernun accepts the answer.>

<Please answer four more questions.>

Xiaomao gulped as he started to get anxious. Since Cernun began his question with the definition of a regressor, he might have already figured out that Xiaomao was not a regular player.

“Second question, as you are a regressor, what do you think a regressor’s job is?”

This time, Xiaomao had to pause and think. The question was a bit deep. Because the question was too sophisticated, Xiaomao gave a vague and cliché answer.

“Great power comes great responsibility, munya. A regressor’s second chance is not his only second chance, but his former world’s second chance. Someone must have sent his soul back to the past on purpose so that the regressor can complete a task that everyone in the world before the regression failed to do, munya.”

Cernun smiled and nodded. He gazed at the stars and closed his eyes.

DING

<Cernun accepts the answer.>

<Please answer three more questions.>

While closing his eyes, Cernun asked the third question.

“Child, as you know the purpose of a regressor, what do you think your role is?”

“…”

This question attacked Xiaomao’s existence and his purpose in life. Xiaomao’s tentacles fidgeted, and his breathing became ragged and short.

It was an uncomfortable question. Xiaomao felt like he was in a job interview, where random HR employees bombarded him with sophisticated questions.

“Save the world, munya?”

Ding

<Cernun isn’t satisfied with the answer. He wants you to elaborate.>

“Which world? Save from whom? How? And Why?”

“Are those new questions, munya?”

“Those are a part of the third question. Be concise, young Cathulhu.”

Xiaomao took several deep breaths and recalled the past memory and the knowledge about the game. As Cernun didn’t give him a time limit, he meditated in silence for 10 minutes.

No one disturbed Xiaomao. Even the naughty fairies respected their interactions and trials.

The cat finally came up with an answer. He mustered his courage and confessed.

“To be honest, I don’t know who I should save, which world I should intervene in, or how I can save them, munya. But I know one thing. You, sir, will become a victim in a future conflict, and I’m here to change it. I’m here to save your life, munya!”

The fairies gasped and murmured while Shepherd and Lucky gave Xiaomao a meaningful look. On the other hand, Cernun burst into laughter.

“So, are you saying that I will meet my demise, and you come back to the past to save me?”

“Exactly, munya!”

“BAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

DING

<Cernun likes your answer. Current Favorability: 3 Stars.>

<Please answer two more questions.>

Cernun laughed so hard that he cried. It took Cernun 10 minutes to regain his composure. He created a semi-transparent human hand with mana and wiped his tear.

“Oh, dear. I never laughed like this for ages.”

“…”

“Anyway, next question. Let me think.”

“You believe me, munya?” Xiaomao was surprised that Cernun didn’t doubt his answer.

“Why shouldn’t I believe you? Actually, I’ve been using a Lie-Detection skill on you since the beginning. Had you lied to me, I would have eaten you on the spot.”

Xiaomao got goosebumps again. When he was searching for an answer, he was tempted to lie and answer with something vague. Fortunately, he came clean with Cernun, and he survived the ordeal.

“Alright. This will be more difficult. Before I ask the fourth question, I need to clarify things. Do you know anything about corrupted spirit stones and spirit stones?”

“I do, munya,” Xiaomao brought out the two black stones that he stole from Otto, “Are these the corrupted spirit stones?”

“Correct. Those are contaminated spirit stones that Chaos Demon God Tlaloc left behind to weaken Pangu Church’s foundation. They also corrupt the mind of the local population and the spirits, but it strengthens the Seven Calamity-Class monsters. However, they can be used to dispel the Curse of Nian. Now, this comes to my fourth question. Who are Chaos Demon God Tlaloc, Pangu, and Nian?”