Chapter 118 - Hourglass (2)
Artier and Collie ran through the deserted streets.
Everyone they saw was carrying a weapon.
‘There should have been about three months left.’
In just a few days, the atmosphere of the capital had turned desolate.
The holess and street vendors who used to roam the streets were all gone, and only weapon shops, general stores, and restaurants selling food continued to operate.
‘At least I ca back just in ti.’
It was certainly an unexpected variable, but surprisingly, Artier was calm.
Having been through so much, he seed to have gotten used to this level of change.
“I feel a little sorry for Simon. For this to happen as soon as I told him to rest.”
“Still, it’s a relief that he won’t be physically tired.”
Soon, the two arrived at the Papal State.
As they entered through a secret passage, many knights were waiting for them. There were many familiar faces, but also so they didn't know.
‘It seems new mbers have joined in the anti.’
Artier first approached the most familiar face.
“Ropin.”
“Oh, Artier.”
Ropin, whom he t after three days, no longer had dark circles.
‘Trophin did guarantee he would make him sleep… what did he do?’
Whether he knew of his ominous thoughts or not, Ropin imdiately continued speaking.
“A Hellmorph was sighted at dawn the day before yesterday.”
“Did they attack?”
“No, not that, but isn't the fact that they were sighted a problem in itself?”
Artier agreed with him. If a scout was seen, it ant the main force was also nearby.
In his mory, an invasion always began within a week in the territory where a Hellmorph was sighted.
“His Majesty the Emperor urgently declared a state of ergency and began to conscript soldiers. All citizens of the Empire must respond.”
“I see. Then what about us?”
“I suppose we’ll have to be conscripted as a single priest or soldier and wait for the right ti. We still lack the justification and power to step forward.”
Ropin’s expression was full of regret.
They had just gathered enough people to be called a knightly order, but they were about to be scattered again without having done a single proper activity.
“It’s regrettable, but it can’t be helped. Revealing our existence now would only result in staining the hands of many with blood. For now, let’s follow the Empire’s wishes.”
“I understand.”
Artier relayed Ropin’s words to the mbers of the order.
Most seed to understand, but it wasn’t without complaints.
“To think I have to hide my Holy Magic after practicing it so hard…”
“If I’m about to die in a fight, I can use it, right?”
“Are you crazy? Are you trying to get us all killed?”
“No, then what am I supposed to do. Just die?”
The passing conversations were all amplifying their anxiety.
Ropin imdiately put his foot down.
“If you are discovered using Holy Magic due to your mistake, the Papal State will announce that an individual has violated the doctrine and impose a punishnt. Naturally, you will also be dishonorably discharged from the Sacred Knights.”
“…”
The punishnt for a priest who violated the doctrine was clear and devastating.
It was excommunication, along with a ritual that sealed their Holy Magic.
In the Empire, where the Rata faith was the state religion, there was no need to say how great an impact excommunication had.
Once everyone’s mouths were shut, Ropin emphasized again.
“If you are not confident in hiding it, participate as a priest, not a soldier. Rember that the place you belong to is not just a casual social group.”
As the mbers who grasped the situation returned to their places, Artier headed towards those who were waiting for him.
Gerard and Jeina looked quite tired, as if the effects of the last exploration still lingered.
“Is everyone okay?”
“Yeah! I’m perfectly fine!”
“I treated my injuries with Holy Magic this morning, so I’m short on mana.”
The only one who could use Divine Healing freely was Artier, who had the Conversion skill.
The two who couldn't convert divine power into mana were limited to using it once or twice a day, and even then, it only healed a portion of their injuries.
“I heard everything. What are we going to do? You’re not planning on just getting conscripted, are you?”
“Absolutely not.”
Artier imdiately drew the line.
Conscription, he never wanted to experience that.
‘Most importantly, if we’re conscripted, we’ll be randomly assigned to units and might get separated from our comrades!’
In order to regroup their original party, they had to achieve rits and raise their rank.
Of course, if they were unlucky, a comrade could die in the anti.
In the ga, that probability was specifically set, but now that it was reality…
“Most importantly, if we do it that way, Bow won’t join us.”
“That’s a relief. Then you’re planning on using that thod, right?”
“That’s right.”
“What is that thod?”
When Jeina asked, Collie imdiately answered.
“Since we’re not planning on running away, there’s only one way. To sign a contract as a private soldier of a noble family.”
“…Isn’t that a bad thing?”
As Jeina’s complexion imdiately turned sour, Gerard, puzzled, asked back.
“Why do you think that? When you think about it, we’re also working for money.”
“A private soldier contract is sothing you do with the intention of staying for a long ti. But nobles are a bit… aren’t they?”
Look at the nobles we’ve t so far.
Count Condestraden, who sold his territory to the Hellmorphs.
Viscount Hol, who tried to sell the World Tree.
Weren’t there so many crazy people even among the few nobles she had t?
“I understand how you feel.”
But despite Jeina’s reaction, Gerard’s expression remained firm.
“But right now, this is the only way. If not this, we’ll be conscripted into the imperial army and scattered. Which is better?”
“Ugh… I get it. We’d better find a decent client then.”
“We’ll have to decide that after we et up with Bow.”
“Alright.”
“Artier, can I have a mont of your ti?”
When he turned his head, Ropin was standing there.
“What is it?”
“There’s sothing I need to check for a mont. Could we possibly move to another location?”
It wasn’t just anyone, it was Ropin.
“Go on.”
“We’ll go to the rcenary Guild first.”
“If you think it will take a long ti, please let us know in advance.”
“Got it.”
Clack.
As he followed Ropin into a room, Artier imdiately slled a strong scent of disinfectant.
Bandages and potions were everywhere. There was even a large amount of holy water, which was hard to co by, next to them.
‘How much is all this?’
As he was thinking that, Artier imdiately put the thought away.
Ropin’s expression was unusual.
“Why did we co here?”
“I heard from Sir Trophin about what you experienced in the north.”
Ropin took off his hat and replaced it with a priest’s hat that was on the desk.
“But there were many things I didn’t understand. So I’d like to hear the report from you directly, if you don’t mind?”
“Ah, of course.”
It’s all fine, but why in the infirmary of all places?
Although he didn’t understand, Artier imdiately started talking.
About everything they had been through in the north.
“Just a mont.”
Ropin suddenly cut him off when Artier was explaining his battle with Ropa.
“You were suddenly able to use skills without Holy Light?”
“Yes. It’s a Holy Magic called Divine Conversion. I also don’t know how I got it…”
“Do you really not know how reckless that is?”
“Pardon?”
At Ropin’s sudden interjection, Artier was montarily dumbfounded.
“To think that sothing I didn’t ntion because it was unnecessary to explain would beco a stumbling block at a ti like this.”
Ropin pressed his temples as if his head was hurting and then opened his mouth.
“Listen carefully. It is very dangerous to draw divine power directly from your body without Holy Light.”
“Uh… why?”
“Have you ever thought about it? Why we store the extracted divine power outside the body?”
“…Now that you ntion it.”
Thinking about it, that was true.
If the Holy Light was attacked, the divine power would scatter, and the thod of using Holy Magic would disappear. This was a fatal weakness for a combat skill.
“To stick to the old traditions? No. The most fundantal reason is that it’s impossible to improve.”
“Impossible?”
“That’s right. To explain, we must start from the source of the power called divine power.”
Fwaah!
Ropin created a Holy Light the size of a finger in front of Artier.
“We are inhabitants of a star. By the star’s standards, we are closer to dust than a speck. Even if we lay out the entire life of a single being, it wouldn’t even reach the tip of the star’s history.”
The planet that was the setting of could be seen as a giant living organism.
That being had lived for an unimaginably long ti and was continuing the reincarnation of living things.
“Let’s say you take a glimpse at the star’s thoughts for a very brief mont. A very short mont. But how long do you think that brief mont would be by human standards?”
“Pardon?”
“The fleeting mont when divine power flows through the body, in that short ti, just by perceiving the world, the body and mind will age. That is the reason why one’s lifespan is consud when using Holy Magic.”
The surrounding air grew heavy.
Artier couldn’t understand what he had just heard.
“Are you saying that if I keep divine power in my body, my lifespan will continue to decrease?”
“That’s not it.”
“Phew.”
“Contact with divine power for that long is sothing a human’s lifespan cannot handle. You would die without being able to withstand the power, or your mind would be destroyed. Either way, you wouldn’t et a good end.”
“…What did you say?”
You die if you keep divine power in your body?
Then what on earth is this thing in my body right now?
“Do you understand now? Divine power must be extracted as Holy Light as quickly as possible and separated externally. Otherwise, no matter how much help you receive from a holy relic, your body will not be able to withstand it.”
“…Ropin.”
“What is it?”
“Then how can you explain my condition?”
There were so many things he didn’t understand.
But what ca first, surpassing curiosity and doubt, was fear.
The power that had been a source of support until a mont ago was now staring at Artier with a creepy smile.
“What do you an by that?”
Ropin, who had heard all of Artier’s explanation, also couldn’t understand his words at first.
“You’re saying you’ve been keeping divine power inside your body instead of drawing it from the earth?”
“Look.”
Fwaah!
As Artier used Divine Healing in front of his eyes, Ropin stared blankly at the light with a dumbfounded expression.
“How on earth?”
Even in Ropin’s eyes, it was clearly Holy Magic.
Moreover, there was no process of drawing divine power from the ground.
Until now, it had been the product of an amazing skill.
But now, neither Artier nor Ropin could bring themselves to be happy as they watched the scene.
“Could you please check my current condition?”
“Of course. Just a mont. I had only prepared for treatnt, thinking your body would be injured.”
Ropin hurriedly rummaged through a drawer and began to take out various tools.
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