"The fourth category is likewise believers of the cult, mostly coming from middle-class to even more ordinary families. However, unlike the second category, if those in the second category are pulling strings for the cult and to some extent engaging in mutual exploitation for their own interests, then the believers in this category are simply more pure. They have either been bewitched into becoming what the cult wants them to be, or they are seeking psychological comfort to the point of not hesitating at any cost. Many among them have even sacrificed everything for so-called recognition—ironically, after losing everything, the only identity they have left is that of a Evil God Cult believer, so they cling to this last straw even more recklessly, becoming more fanatical and devout."
Yukinoshita Haruno said: "They are all a bunch of pitiful yet despicable fellows."
Asakura seemed thoughtful.
"Although you might feel these people are very stupid, do not underestimate the brainwashing methods of a religion."
Seeing Asakura's solemn expression, while Gokou Ruri beside him revealed a look that said 'People who believe in this kind of thing are all idiots, right?', Yukinoshita Haruno said seriously: "When they first approach you, they certainly won't bluntly say things like 'Come worship my Lord,' but will instead masquerade as enthusiastic and kind people, trying their best to build a good relationship with you, and even genuinely proposing some decent suggestions from your perspective."
"Then they will start to indirectly understand your situation and social circle, awakening your self-recognition. The moment you feel the other party is a good person, you have already fallen into their trap... after that, they will start to actively reinforce your self-confidence in a distorted way, making you feel that no one else understands you except them, thereby making you proactively cut off your original interpersonal relationships until you can only rely on them, and finally falling deeper and deeper unconsciously. Once you have sacrificed everything you can, you reach the state I mentioned before."
"...Is there no turning back once you reach that step?" Gokou Ruri couldn't help but furrow her beautiful brows upon hearing this.
She subconsciously thought that if it were herself, if she were bewitched by this kind of evil cultist without meeting Asakura, would she fall into such a trap.
"There is no such thing as no turning back..." Asakura, having come back to his senses, shook his head, "They are just utilizing that sliver of fluke in human nature, like a person who has lost everything grabbing onto the only life-saving straw, making them unwilling and afraid to admit they were wrong. Primarily, they are still idiots who believe in this kind of thing."
From the contact to the falling in, there were actually countless opportunities to get off the boat. It could even be said that even if one has fallen and lost everything, as long as they can realize their mistake, there is still a chance to choose; at most, it's just starting over from scratch.
Humans are animals with the lowest cost of trial and error; in the absence of external intervention, many people feel they cannot live on, just as the foolish and greedy inevitably commit their own sins.
Yukinoshita Haruno did not continue to dwell on this topic. She could tell that whether it was Asakura or Gokou Ruri, both were people with their own pride and self-esteem, and such people were indeed harder to fall into the traps of religious rhetoric than average people.
Ordinary religious scammers have no way to deal with them—at least they'd have to bring out a Cult Leader.
"What about the last category?" Gokou Ruri asked.
"If the fourth category is said to be pitiful and despicable, then the last category is the product of their 'despicableness,' and also the most 'pitiful' people."
Yukinoshita Haruno wordlessly signaled toward the two.
Asakura and Gokou Ruri both looked in the direction she indicated and saw a beautiful young girl who could be considered simple and plain in this banquet, or rather, her dress looked more like a slightly better white dress than a formal one.
The other party was roughly the same age as Asakura and the others, her porcelain-white skin was smooth without a trace of coarseness, and her long flaxen hair looked soft and lustrous. Her nose was straight and elegant, her lips full and beautifully shaped, but what drew the most attention were her eyes, large and beautiful, watery and evocative of pity.
At first glance, there was a sense of doll-like beauty that felt unreal.
However, those eyes were filled with an inseparable sorrow and distress.
Unlike the others attending the banquet, she looked ill at ease, like a lamb that had fallen into a swamp of asphalt. Even if she struggled desperately, she would eventually be stained with pitch-black mud, and after losing all strength to struggle, she would gradually sink to the bottom of the marsh.
"They are the relatives of the fourth category—mainly daughters and the like."
The expression on Yukinoshita Haruno's face turned a bit colder. To Asakura, this was quite fresh, because in their previous few meetings, except for the time she lay on the sickbed, Yukinoshita Haruno's expression always seemed like she was wearing a mask, always appearing impeccable. This was perhaps the first time in formal conversation that he saw some fluctuation from her heart on her face: "Obviously, some children are also used as part of everything they offer to the cult, and in a banquet like today, they are brought out to serve as 'items' for the second or third category of people to experience."
"Items?" Gokou Ruri's brows knitted even tighter, she was clearly very dissatisfied with Yukinoshita Haruno's title for that girl.
"Humanity, offerings, human pillars, living sacrifices... you can call it whatever you want." Yukinoshita Haruno said indifferently: "That's not the point."
"Won't they run away or resist?" Gokou Ruri asked.
"The part that would do that won't appear here." Yukinoshita Haruno said: "Those who appear here are either already on the brink of falling and are in peril, or they still hold unrealistic fantasies about their 'family ties'."
"If a child doesn't believe in their own parents, who else can they believe in?" Asakura sighed noncommittally.
Then he sentenced the organizers of this banquet to death in his heart.
"I'm not quite sure why you're here, but if you simply want to experience a high-society banquet once, I suggest you'd better leave as soon as possible." Yukinoshita Haruno said.
"Thank you for your suggestion, so as a return gift, let me give you a suggestion as well..." Asakura said kindly to this lady who was always smiling falsely: "If I were you, I wouldn't drink that glass of wine in your hand."
Yukinoshita Haruno seemed to realize something and silently placed her wine on the table, no longer touching it.