A relief team from the Bretus Holy Nation entered Leathervelk.
After the initial vanguard of 300, the number of holy knights, priests, and the Holy Nation relief corps that entered Leathervelk was 2,000.
A large-scale unit of 2,300 people dispersed throughout Leathervelk and began relief efforts.
Originally, Priestess Lamia had agreed not to interfere with the imperial authority at all, but First Princess Eileen accepted the opinion that they would still provide relief.
Considering the size of the city with a total population of over hundreds of thousands, 2,300 people might seem like a small number at first glance.
However, Leathervelk, which had been experiencing violence everywhere, began to recover stability surprisingly quickly.
The reassurance provided by just one priest was more effective than ten guards in alleviating citizens' anxiety.
"The power of religion is truly frightening."
A guard spat on the ground after seeing streets that had been plagued with incidents beco as quiet as if doused with cold water.
"So of us run around everywhere working like dogs with no effect, but when a re priest cos and says a few kind words, everything calms down. Does that make any sense?"
"It can't be helped. We're not exactly the type to persuade people with nice words, nor do we use holy powers like those people."
"We're also making considerable efforts to protect the city."
As the guard was grumbling, a priest who had just finished relief work ca out and their eyes t.
The priest bowed his head slightly and then made way, as if his business was finished.
The guards exchanged glances, surprised by this behavior.
"He's really leaving without doing anything else? Don't they usually proselytize here?"
"According to reports from the higher-ups, the Lunsis Order people are currently moving only for relief purposes."
"I heard that too, but initially I thought it was just a lie. Would a sparrow just pass by a mill?"
"But seeing them leave like this, it might be true. They seem to be more sensible people than we thought."
The wariness toward the Lunsis Order dissolved like sugar in water in the face of their sincere actions.
Of course, First Princess Eileen was receiving all the reports about the situation.
"The city is quickly regaining stability."
"The order mbers kept their promise, providing only relief and then withdrawing." For more chapters visit n0velfire
"Rather, the number of citizens wanting to beco followers of the Lunsis Order is increasing."
Eileen frowned at the news coming from everywhere.
"I see. So this is what they an by the power of religion being strong."
If cri rates are surging, the solution is to improve public safety.
Eradicating criminal organizations, increasing the number of guards, and administering severe punishnts would naturally quiet things down but such supernatural natural disasters were a different story.
In a crisis that neither the state, guards, nor knights could protect against, what use was their presence?
Religion is the opium of the people.
It was only natural that the Lunsis Order would gain support.
Since this incident was caused by the dream demon, it was logical that the number of people wanting to believe in Lunsis, which was antithetical to such demons, would increase.
The social influence religion possessed had not rusted at all, even though they had been silent for 20 years.
"They infiltrate and eat away at people's hearts anywhere and anyti, regardless of borders or social structures."
Naturally, Eileen did not particularly like their activities.
Part of it was because it didn't match her tendency to control all situations with thorough rationality, but more worriso was the Lunsis Order itself.
'The order in the past was related to the origin of our empire. Father even repeatedly emphasized not to interfere with them unnecessarily.'
There was sothing about the Lunsis Order.
Because of that uncomfortable feeling, Eileen could not view them favorably no matter how hard she tried.
But it was also undeniable that their power was highly effective in the current situation.
While deliberately suppressing her unease, Eileen carefully observed their activities.
She was looking for any hint of suspicious behavior, trying to catch their tail if possible.
'Besides that, I wonder what Commander Luther and Grand Magician Clinton are doing and where they are.'
"This is unexpected."
Luther Wardot gazed at the place where he had arrived with disbelief.
A large cathedral established in the Grand Chapel of Leathervelk.
It was the Leathervelk diocese of the Lunsis Order.
"I didn't know you were such a devout believer."
Of course, Luther had not co here of his own will.
The one who brought him was Clinton Rothschild, the man who had achieved the highest level in magic, not just in the empire but among all humanity.
"Ha ha. Do I look like soone who believes in God to you?"
"Aren't you?"
"I've never questioned the existence of God. But God is God, and I am . Have you forgotten that what I seek is solely the exploration of magic?"
"What connection does that exploration of magic have with this place?"
"Ah, I'll explain that," interrupted a third voice.
Luther and Clinton turned to look at the man approaching them.
Luther frowned upon seeing the middle-aged man with a sly smile.
"Cardinal, what brings you here?"
"Haha. You know about ?"
"You brought such a large number to this city, how could I not know?"
"I'm honored that the Empire's finest sword rembers , I don't know where to put myself."
"Save the flattery."
Luther snorted.
"I'd like to hear the explanation first. Also, why was I called here separately."
"Yes. Of course. Don't worry. Once you hear the whole story, Commander Luther, you'll be fully convinced."
Patricio said this and led the way to guide the two n personally.
While walking through the corridor after entering the cathedral, Patricio spoke.
"Commander Luther, do you know about the hierarchy of magicians?"
"I know enough."
"I'm sure you do. Then you must also know how high your friend Clinton's level is."
"Friend, what friend? We're just acquaintances. Still, I've never seen a magician more excellent than this old man, so it's not wrong."
As Luther said this, the face of one man ca to mind, Rudger Chelici.
His pure magical level might be below Clinton's, but what about the level of utilizing that magic?
Such idle thoughts were scattered by Patricio's following explanation.
"7th tier magician. Clinton has achieved a unique level among humans."
"Why is that suddenly being brought up?"
"But what if there was a next level?"
At the ntion of a next level, Luther montarily halted his steps.
The mont was brief, but it couldn't hide the fact that Luther was quite surprised.
Luther's gaze fell on Clinton's face, who was walking silently beside him.
"By next level, you an the 8th tier?"
"Yes. 8th tier [Grander]. A legendary, unknown level that may or may not exist."
"Why are you suddenly talking about this?"
"Would you believe if I said that level exists, and a being who has achieved that level is still alive?"
Luther's steps didn't stop this ti.
From the mont those words were spoken, he had vaguely sensed such a statent was coming.
But knowing it was coming didn't completely diminish the shock.
"You're saying a being of such a level is alive?"
"Yes. And for a very long ti."
"...So not human."
In response to Luther’s words, Patricio, who was walking ahead, turned back for the first ti and nodded.
"Yes. Even the na of that legendary level was rely derived from her real na. In other words, the 8th tier level is virtually a pronoun referring to herself."
"So."
Luther asked, slightly raising his aura.
"Why is this talk about her suddenly coming up here?"
"That, you'll soon see."
Clinton was the one who answered instead.
Finally, Patricio arrived at a large door.
"Here it is."
As Patricio approached, the door opened by itself.
An imnse density of energy wafted from the opened door, the scent of blood, as if it had been aged for at least hundreds of years.
Luther, with his sensitive senses, frowned and instinctively raised his aura but seeing Clinton doing nothing, he naturally cald his energy.
"You're quite perceptive."
A voice ca from beyond the darkness of the door.
Although he had expected the long-lived being called "her" to be so kind of terrible monster, the voice was strangely clear and pure.
Moreover, what was surprising was that what lay beyond the door wasn't darkness at all.
'It was simply that the density of the energy was so high that nothing could be seen.'
When he focused his eyes, the space inside the door finally beca visible.
A blonde girl was sitting in a place prepared to welco guests.
She was small and cute like a doll, making it hard to believe she was the owner of the energy currently being felt.
'It's as if sothing enormous has curled itself up as much as possible and mimicked a small girl.'
That's how intense Grander's presence was.
Luther felt his fingertips trembling.
His interest and competitive spirit toward the strong had surfaced.
The other side, Grander, also showed interest.
"Oh. The strongest magician among humans and the strongest swordsman among humans. And even one disgusting seed."
"Haha. Disgusting? That's too harsh. We could beco good business partners."
"Shut up."
Grander's red pupils turned toward the three people.
"So, can you give what I want?"
Sharp fangs were revealed between her slightly parted scarlet lips.
"If you've called here, you should have an appropriate answer."
"Co in."
Rudger entered Gabriel's hideout.
The room, which hadn't been cleaned for a long ti, was full of all kinds of books, bundles of paper, and dust.
Despite being quite spacious, there was hardly any room to step, and Rudger glared at Gabriel in disbelief.
"Don't you ever clean up?"
"No. It's botherso. It's enough if I can just lie down and sleep anyway."
Gabriel answered while scratching his ssy hair.
"Here, sit down. I'll at least try to accommodate you as a guest."
"The fact that you're asking to sit in a place like this already ans your hospitality is out the window."
Rudger's expression turned cold at the sight of the ssy room that hadn't been cleaned for a long ti.
It was truly a space where a shut-in would live.
For Rudger, who was neat and tidy, it was an unbearable space.
-Rustle.
Aether Nocturnus, carrying Rene in his arms, carefully found a place in the corner of the room after reading the situation.
Gabriel, who was sipping freshly brewed hot coffee, examined the deeply sleeping Rene.
And being so focused on that, he tilted the coffee cup too much.
"Ah! Hot!"
"Drink slowly. No one's going to steal it from you."
"...Sip. Phew. Well, let's hear the story first. Why are you here, and how did Rene end up like that?"
Just as Rudger couldn't understand Gabriel, Gabriel also couldn't understand Rudger.
Rudger explained to Gabriel what had happened.
After hearing the whole story, Gabriel's expression changed mont by mont, and finally, he sighed.
"...I really don't know what to say. What is this dream demon, and Rene realized all her sealed mories there?"
"Not all. Just fragntary mories. However, one of those mories..."
"Was your mory of killing my sister, right?"
At Gabriel's sharp point, Rudger didn't answer.
Gabriel started to say sothing but shook his head.
"No, I'm sorry. You had your reasons."
"It's fine. The fact that I committed it doesn't change."
"First, we need to resolve this situation. Rene’s magic power is accelerating much faster than originally expected. That ans we don't have much ti left."
"But there was so progress."
They now knew exactly what Rene’s magic power, previously identified as non-elental, was.
"Yes, spatial attribute magic."
"What do you think? As a ti magician, you must have so expertise in space as well."
"Ha. ? I'm only half a ti magician. Even with ti, there are clear limitations."
Ti magic had too many constraints.
It was more specialized for avoiding fights rather than fighting soone.
Even if one stops ti while trapped in a room, there's no way to escape the room.
That's why Gabriel never thought his magic was truly impressive.
It wasn't like that at first.
How ecstatic was he when learning magic from his master.
But as he learned and used magic, witnessing its limitations and becoming rigid in thinking.
He realized painfully how incomplete the magic he learned was.
"To master this magic, I had to give up everything about other attribute magics."
The characteristic of ti magic is that it makes the user focus solely on the [ti attribute].
It makes even talent for other magics pour into mastering ti attribute magic, causing one side of the hexagon to abnormally protrude.
Gabriel, who could have reached at least 5th tier in various fields originally, could only use 1st tier for all other magics as the price for mastering this ti magic.
"What's important is not that. To suppress Rene's magic power, we need a very powerful curse."
"A curse, huh. If it needs to suppress a power that transcends space, ordinary curses won't do."
"That's why we need the power of a black magician."
"Perfect. There are so many on this island you could trip over them."
Gabriel shrugged and added.
"That was until very recently."
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