Ch.521521. Awakening as a Priest (1)

The sparring match with Hanelrn was immensely satisfying.

Though we faced each other with real swords in a practical combat scenario, we couldn’t go all out since our only protective measures were a priest and potions. Still, it was enough to gauge my current physical condition.

‘I was somehow able to exchange several blows with Hanelrn using only a secondary weapon.’

In the end, I was completely blocked, but against a knight who rivaled Diolia, I displayed martial prowess that inspired both competitive spirit and surprise.

Strengthening my body and weapons with mana while simultaneously layering magic as I desired—the internal circulation and external emission of mana flowed much more freely than before.

Moreover, it was a huge advantage that I could use mana so liberally without having to worry about running out.

‘And it’s remarkably stable.’

Hanelrn was upper-tier even among Experts.

I’m an archer, not a knight. While I might know my way around arrowheads and bows, I couldn’t possess the perfect sword energy of knights. Compared to hers, my swordsmanship inevitably had flaws. Yet despite exchanging dozens of blows, the unique mana vibrations of her sword energy never disrupted the mana in my heart.

After satisfactorily confirming my mana stability…

‘I also succeeded in fully drawing out Tania and Elvis’s magic.’

In the end, I even managed to summon both of them instantly in their highest forms and weave magic through them.

Just as my Status Window indicated, I’ve regained power worthy of the peak my former talent once allowed.

If there was one regret…

‘I would have liked to fire an arrow right then and there.’

I had to hold back my desire to celebrate my revival with a satisfying spirit magic blast.

Well, if I aimed at Hanelrn, I’d instantly become a lord gone mad. And even shooting into the sky might cause the territory’s residents to panic at the sudden explosion.

“Your mana has increased. How did you manage that?”

“Big sis is right. I’m super curious.”

“I got lucky and things worked out well. I’ll tell you the details later when no one else is around. So—”

“Wait, wait! You want us to go right back to the spirit realm after we just came out? Do you know how boring and dull it is there…!”

“Then would you like to go over to Sione for a bit? I still have some unfinished business with that knight over there.”

After confirming that Tania and Elvis flew over and practically headbutted their way into Sione’s arms, I spoke with Hanelrn who had graciously accommodated me.

“Thanks for sparring with me. It helped me adapt to my current mana.”

“As a knight of the family, following the lord’s orders is an honorable duty. The honor is mine. Did my lord gain some insight? It’s only natural that sparring with someone of a different caliber would benefit me as well.”

“Hmm.”

“I pay my respects to you for overcoming your wall.”

Well, rather than gaining insight, it was more like regaining my original skill level.

I simply shrugged my shoulders, and Hanelrn, whose complexion had been pale for some reason, wiped away her cold sweat and gave me a respectful salute.

Then, just as Sione had received earlier, everyone present saluted me and offered their blessings.

‘This will spread everywhere soon.’

A new star has risen in the kingdom, and whatnot.

I suspect my name will be buzzing around for a while.

Well, I’m already married to Sione, so at least I won’t receive annoying marriage proposals. Now that both my backing and personal strength have improved, even mediocre families won’t easily approach me with business proposals.

‘If I’ve built a reputation, I might as well use it.’

Especially since I’ve already made connections with Adelheid and the Lephelia Duchy, I should let those who are already on my side make good use of me.

I was worried that Hanelrn might be displeased after being handled like a toy in our sparring match, but as we were leaving the training grounds…

“The insight needed to overcome walls differs for each person, so one must seek it for oneself. Though I’m curious, I must walk my own path. Instead, may I ask you something else… if that’s alright?”

“…Of course. Ask away.”

My worries seemed unfounded.

“Between Knight Diolia and Knight Hanelrn, both of whom you’ve sparred with, which do you think is stronger, my lord?”

It seems she was hung up on what I’d said earlier to rile her up. She was showing enthusiasm in an unexpected way.

I should probably win over our knight captain here, even if it means being a bit unfair to Captain Diolia.

“It would be a close match… but I think Knight Hanelrn would win in the end.”

“That’s a relief.”

She has a cold exterior but there’s something childlike hidden inside.

Even now, I can clearly see her twitching lips trying to hold back a smile.

After receiving salutes from the soldiers and congratulations from the captains who had come to watch, Sione suddenly turned to me with a pleased smile before turning to the captains.

“My lords, isn’t it time to settle accounts?”

Settle what?

“I’ve been waiting for those words!”

From the boisterous laughter of Teia…

To Dorothy’s quiet smile…

“Ah…”

And even the pitiful voice of the main magic battalion captain.

As Hanelrn and I looked at them with puzzled expressions, Tania, who was riding on Sione’s shoulders, flew over and explained.

“They bet on who would win. That’s what they’re talking about.”

“Ah.”

Well, small wagers on such contests are normal.

Seeing Sione giggling like that, it seems my wife was the one who suggested it first. Once the baroness made the proposal, the three captains couldn’t resist placing their bets.

The problem was…

“Now then, our magic battalion’s Lord Trisha will give everyone 1 gold each, right?”

Despite this being a confrontation between me and Hanelrn, who was famous as the barony’s strongest force…

Everyone except one person bet on me.

“…Here it is.”

“The gold coins are so shiny, aren’t they?”

While Trisha internally swallowed her bloody tears after losing 3 gold to Teia’s psychological attack…

There was one more person shocked by this.

“…After all the time Captain Teia and Captain Dorothy have spent with me, did none of you have any faith in me?”

“Don’t take it too hard. If you’d seen the lord during the magic realm operation, you would have bet on him too.”

“I’ve had enough of Teia. But Lord Dorothy…”

“Haha… well, it was a magician’s intuition, perhaps…? No, I also needed some pocket money recently…”

“…Forget it.”

“Hanelrn, don’t tell me a northern woman is sulking now?”

“There would be many spectators. Do you want to spar with me right now?”

“She’s sulking.”

“Follow me. I’ll bet on myself this time.”

It seems she feels more betrayed by colleagues who had no faith in her than sad about losing the sparring match.

“It seems I only have Captain Trisha.”

“And I lost 3 gold thanks to you, Knight Hanelrn.”

“…You’re all being too harsh.”

Watching them…

I held Elvis’s hand while Sione gave Tania a piggyback ride.

“The barony isn’t so bad.”

“It would have been even more fun if the Captain were here too.”

“Ah! That’s exactly what I was thinking!”

It was quite a pleasant day.

* * *

Contact from Princess Amelie’s side.

And official requests for support from Lephelia and Adelheid.

‘The atmosphere within the royal family seems more heated than I expected.’

We need to cool things down quickly and proceed with our plans.

In our previous conversation, Sione and I confirmed that we were of the same mind.

—I think we should support Princess Adelheid. After all, we’ve always been distant from the Third Princess’s people. And in the current kingdom, there are hardly any nobles who can touch our county.

If we do this, the Lephelia Duchy, skilled in illusion magic, has offered to help the county by easily cleaning up their pawns.

And the county, currently enjoying the kingdom’s highest prestige, has promised that not only Sione but also Ainel and Siabel would protect us from any storms under the barony’s declaration of support.

I couldn’t delay my response any longer.

“I don’t understand why a single letter costs so much.”

I wrote as neatly as possible on the letter paper enchanted with magic guaranteeing absolute security and safety.

—The barony will declare its support for Princess Adelheid throughout the kingdom on the day Her Highness desires.

And finally, I wrote the sentence that would firmly establish the royal family’s internal landscape, leaving the Third Princess with no recourse.

—On that day, Your Highness will have two Masters, the Baron and Baroness, as your sharp swords.

When two Masters declare they will only support the King and the First Princess…

Who could possibly challenge Adelheid, Third Princess or not?

‘After doing this much for them.’

I only hoped they would quickly set traps for the demons in the Empire.

* * *

Absorbing divine power didn’t just end with enhancing my personal strength.

Thanks to absorbing that vast power, I gained an even more special ability.

「Your ability as a Proxy is now unlocked.」

The Status Window clearly called me a Proxy and said I had gained such power.

As if to prove it wasn’t just giving me a grandiose title of representing a god…

I soon learned how to use this new ability.

“My lord, Hanelrn asked me to tell you something on my way here!”

“Knight Hanelrn did?”

“She said that since you’ve been caring for the struggling soldiers, the loyalty of the barony’s soldiers has grown even stronger!”

A child who had survived day by day as a pickpocket on the streets.

“The slums in the barony have become much cleaner. They’ve helped the struggling mercenary sisters and brothers, and people like me who were living difficult lives. At this rate, that area will become as pretty as other neighborhoods.”

“Oh, and recently… my siblings have been saying they want to play with you, my lord… If it’s not too presumptuous, could you spare a little time for them…?”

“Of course, I know you’re busy, my lord! If it’s burdensome, I’ll explain to them that it’s just children being fussy!”

I could immediately apply my ability to Tasha.

「Do you wish to appoint ‘Tasha’ as your priest?」

Things have been going smoothly ever since I took in Tasha and those three children.

This must be what they call a lucky charm that rolled into my life.

Feeling like I’d hit the jackpot, I gladly answered with a bright smile.

“I haven’t been able to play with them much lately. I’ll make time.”

“Thank you!”

Why is she so happy?

I should be the one thanking Tasha, who will gather divine power for me from now on.

“It’s nothing. I took you in, so of course I can do this much.”

So let’s just keep doing good deeds?

“Tasha. By any chance—”

“Yes, my lord?”

“I was wondering if your siblings might want to study with you.”

“Actually, my siblings have been imitating me lately and showing some interest…”

Indeed. Tasha truly is a lucky charm.