episode_0164

A special reward received in exchange for saving many parishioners. It was a Holy Sword. It appeared in the myths of the main god in the past, and had never been seen since, making its existence unknown.

‘This really is a Holy Sword, right?’ It would be a strange situation if it were just an ordinary sword completely unrelated to mages or priests. Just as such doubts were building. A faint light emanated from the hand that touched the Holy Sword, and soon the Holy Sword began to change its appearance, attaching itself to my right index finger like a ring.

Only after seeing that appearance did I finally become certain. That the main god had given me the Holy Sword. For now, I don’t know why it was given at this particular timing. But I could still know one thing.

‘The main god wasn’t planning this as a special reward, but just planning to give it even if I only saved 100 people.’ Although I momentarily felt like I had been toyed with, thinking that the main god would have given me this regardless of whether I saved 1000 people or 1 person. Well, that’s just how it is. Is this the first or second day the main god has acted as it pleases? And roughly guessing, this probably isn’t the end. The very act of giving the Holy Sword means there must be a connected chain quest that follows.

Ding!!! 『As the rightful master of the church, defeat the apostates and reclaim the church.』 Just as expected, the main god immediately revealed its true colors. Had it ever been this active before? Looking at this attitude, one can consider various possibilities.

Perhaps it thought now was the chance. Or perhaps the church has become unbearable to watch any longer. Well, it doesn’t matter which. Even without the quest, I was planning to do as the main god wished anyway.

If so, why did the main god, who must already be reading my thoughts, hand over the Holy Sword? Considering there are likely no rewards without a reason. This wouldn’t have been given for nothing either.

‘Someone who would know about the Holy Sword…’ Only two came to mind immediately. For now, I decided to try the one that came to mind first right away.

『Moving to the Shop Floor.』

* The cat beastman in front of the bonfire. He, the previous Card Mage and apostle of the main god, was looking at me.

“It’s been a while, Kaman.” “A while? Didn’t you just erase a card a few days ago?” “That’s right. Can I see if there’s anything today too?” “Of course.”

Kaman immediately unfurled his bundle. While I was casually looking around to see if there was anything. Kaman discovered the ring on my finger.

“You finally obtained it…” “Do you know something about it?” “It was said that only the last apostle can use the Holy Sword. I have never used it myself.” “That’s a shame.”

I wondered if Kaman might know something, but was it a wasted trip? “It means I haven’t used it. It doesn’t mean I don’t know anything.”

“As expected, you had to say that. I’ll buy this and this.” I immediately purchased cards and a potion. I drank the potion right there on the spot.

Gulp, gulp. It’s a taste I never get used to no matter how much I drink, but since it boosted my physical abilities to the 5th floor level, there’s nothing to do.

“Aren’t you erasing a card?” “Ah, of course I must erase one.” After erasing 1 Fireball card from the Elementalist’s Deck, my business regarding deck building was finished.

As if to now talk about the rest, Kaman put away his bundle, roughly tossing it to the side. “……” After a moment of silence, Kaman showed me the deck on his arm and said.

“Do you know why Card Mages were born? No, I shouldn’t put it that way.” Kaman drew a card from his deck. As he threw the card into the air, it melted away, and the bonfire began to shine larger and brighter.

“Do you want to know why the apostles of the main god use cards?” Honestly, I was always curious.

The restriction of having to draw 5 cards every minute to fight. Noah, the apostle of the evil god, seemed to use dark magic freely.

Of course, I can use power regardless of such things. But it’s limited to the divine power used by the parishioners of the All-Ariel Church. And I can only do what can be released.

I had thought about it before. How convenient would it have been if I could use normal magic instead of just cards, or handle immense divine power like a saintess?

That’s why I couldn’t help but nod my head.

“Do you know the exact difference between the main god and the evil god?” “How would I know that?”

“It is Mana and dark mana. Beastmen, barbarians, and other humanoids all have mana. Divine power is just another form of mana. But what about dark mages in contrast?”

I recalled all the dark mages I had met so far. I had never once felt the normal human mana within their bodies.

“I thought that was mana that had turned dark under the evil god’s influence.” “That’s what people usually think. But it’s the wrong answer.”

Does that mean dark mages aren’t humans who fell by receiving the evil god’s power? “But there was an apostate among the 7 Sinners…”

“Did that person use dark mana? Or did they use divine power?” “That…”

I remember defeating them by using divine power to nullify their strength.

“Then why do you, an apostle of the main god, have mana instead of divine power, and why can you use normal magic?”

“So, all humans are born receiving the main god’s power.” “In the first place, this world belongs to the main god. The evil god is merely an invader.”

“Then are dark mages not people of this world?” “That’s unknown. For now, they were created in this world.”

Created, huh. I suddenly remembered the dark mages I met on the 6th floor.

And even the content I had heard, albeit briefly, about Noah’s birth. I seem to recall hearing they were born like test subjects.

“Well, I don’t know the detailed method, but the way you’re thinking is probably right. You’ve hardly heard stories of ordinary people becoming dark mages, have you?”

“Indeed, I was suspicious about how the number of dark mages kept being maintained when there was no known influx route in the first place.”

I thought they were somehow created by kidnapping people or something, but to think they were just self-produced. This is quite a shock.

“Of course, the evil god has corrupted most records, so there’s probably no one who knows now.” “Still, thanks to Mr. Kaman, I was fortunate enough to learn about it.”

“In the first place, that is my role.” “So why do they use cards? The apostles of the main god?”

“An apostle is a being on a different level from ordinary followers or parishioners of other gods. They are essentially demigods.” Kaman said, fiddling with a card.

“Can an ordinary human body truly transform into a demigod all at once?” “That would be difficult. Unless they are created specifically to fit, like the apostles of the evil god.”

“Exactly. That’s why the apostles of the evil god can use their power without doing things like using cards.” “Then what about special beings like the saintess…”

“A saintess isn’t a special being. They are just ordinary people who inherited a lot of the main god’s power. The church created such beings.”

A saintess wasn’t a special being? This is something I’ve never heard before. Did I just mistakenly think that a saintess was a special person different from ordinary people?

“All humans are the same, except for apostles. At least from the perspective of a god.” “I see. Then are cards the fragmented power of an apostle? So that my body can adapt?”

“Something similar. Someday you will be able to use that power without needing cards. It probably won’t be in the distant future. It seems your body is almost ready.”

“Being able to use power without cards…” I thought I would do it someday, but knowing it’s not far off feels a bit awkward.

At that moment, Kaman quietly raised a finger and pointed at my ring, the Holy Sword.

“Perhaps that Holy Sword will be the first. Because adapting to handle divine power will be faster than ordinary magic.”

Then, the moment I finish this task, the Paladin’s Deck might become one with me? Hearing that gives me a somewhat bittersweet and regretful feeling.

“Anyway, has that answered your questions?” “Yes. Enough that I can infer the rest.”

I immediately got up from my seat. Because it was about time to leave.

“By the way, if I become a perfect apostle of the main god and stop using decks, there won’t be any reason to come here.” “When that time comes, you won’t need my help either.”

“I’ll definitely get you out of here.” At my words, Kaman’s expression momentarily turned bittersweet, then soon returned to normal.

“……Your words are appreciated.” “See you next time.”

Along with those words, my consciousness drifted away again. When I opened my eyes again, only the faces of the three party members were visible.

“So what did he say?” “Did you figure anything out?” “……Hmm.”

First, I got up from my spot. Thankfully, nothing seems to have happened in the meantime.

Even if time flowed slowly, I was there for quite a while this time.

“I found out why the Holy Sword was given to me. But I don’t know how to use it.” Since I don’t know how to release it from this ring state and turn it into a Holy Sword right now.

For now, I guess all I can do is wait until the situation arises.

“Let’s get some sleep first. Aren’t you guys tired too?” “We rested while you went to District 11 with Grace, didn’t we? You two should rest quickly. We’ll stand watch.”

“Thank you.” Immediately, I started taking a light rest with Grace.

Perhaps it was because too much information had just entered my head, but this time I was able to fall asleep quickly.

* I woke up with the voice saying, “Enemy attack!!!!!”

The party members, who were sleeping moderately divided within the tent, woke up simultaneously.

Since we had already slept with all our clothes on so we could fight anytime, we just grabbed our weapons and quickly headed out of the tent.

Dark night. As expected, an attack coming at a time like this is standard practice, I thought.

Why are there so many stars in the dark sky tonight? A thought like that crossed my mind. Looking closely, they weren’t stars.

“When did they approach this far?” “Could they fly that high?”

Questions like these can wait until later; for now, combat is the priority.

“Attack!!!!” From who knows where they obtained such things again, an immense number of Holy Spirits began pouring down from the sky.

Of course, we don’t just stand there dumbfounded either. Priests quickly set up barriers, and mages attack the falling Holy Spirits.

Holy Spirits that get close are all cut, torn, and shredded by the warriors.

Although our reaction was slightly slow due to the surprise attack, we are still managing to fend them off without much trouble by dealing with it reasonably well.

But among those countless Holy Spirits. I sensed something massive.

“……?!!!” The location it was heading towards was the Crown Prince’s tent.

Are they trying to lure us into a chaotic fight and then strike the head?

“Grace!!!” “Yes!!” “Take me to His Highness the Crown Prince!!!”

Grace, who had become a reliable means of transport, began to run while holding me.

Her fast running began to closely chase after the thing targeting the Crown Prince.

“Their appearance is different.” A minor difference, like the clothes they’re wearing looking a bit more 고급 and giving off a feeling of high rank?

But that made me certain they were not ordinary Holy Spirits.

Besides me, the paladins and priests of the Ariel Church seemed to sense it too, focusing on their somehow different Holy Spirits.

And as it headed towards the Crown Prince, the paladins also rushed towards this side like me.

Boom- The Holy Spirit struck the tent, but the barrier protecting the area around the tent defended it.

But it cracked. It would break easily with the next attack.

There’s no time to wait.

I quickly took out a card from the Spirit of Memory.

[Water Jet] The magic among the cards I possess that is strongest for single targets.

With a swish-like sound.

A single powerful stream of water flew in the blink of an eye and sliced through the body of the Holy Spirit that was preparing its next attack.

『[Butcher’s Gauntlet] devours the blood.』 『Energy increases by 1, and you draw 1 card.』

Seeing the status window pop up, it’s certain I defeated it.

The tension did not disappear.

The enormous presence still felt.

At that moment, the Crown Prince urgently came out of the tent with his knight.

“What’s going on?!”

He discovered the Holy Spirit next to him, whose body was sliced in half and had died.

But. “Don’t all Holy Spirits disappear when they die? Why is this…”

As if to answer that question, Holy Spirits from all directions suddenly began to flock towards that spot.

Ordinary Holy Spirits began to be sucked into the body of the dead Holy Spirit, as if handing over their power to it.

What that meant was clear.

“Stop it!!!” As the Crown Prince stepped back, his knight swung a sword imbued with aura.

But it was already too late.

Because the Holy Spirit, resurrected with an immense presence, blocked the knight’s sword.

“That… that person?!!” But then, an old priest saw the appearance of that Holy Spirit and couldn’t close his mouth.

As if he had seen a familiar face.

“Priest-captain, Jerus?!!! He definitely died 20 years ago, didn’t he?”

I knew that Holy Spirits were created by using deceased parishioners from the past.

Could it be that the higher the rank, the stronger they become?

If so, were all the ones I’ve fought so far just… ordinary Holy Spirits?

At that moment, goosebumps started appearing all over my body, and I began to sense multiple massive presences from far away.

At the edge of that, not ordinary Holy Spirits, but more powerful Holy Spirits were approaching this place.