《When The Damn Pope Becomes Competent》 Chapter 1: Hidden Piece "AAARGH!!" The scream that tore from my throat was so loud and primal, I barely recognized it as my own. To summarize: I was currently trapped inside a dungeon. My original plan was simple: find the hidden treasure¡ªdubbed the Hidden Piece¡ªthen make a quick escape. But... Why?! Why won¡¯t the emergency dungeon escape item work?! The emergency escape item, my one failsafe, had stopped functioning. And of course, it had to happen in this dungeon¡ªan L-rank dungeon, no less. That stands for "Legendary," which is ranked even higher than the typical A or S levels. Clearing it by defeating the boss monster in the conventional way? Virtually impossible. In other words, my only way out was to die. My character had to perish, resulting in a "failed clear." And therein lay the problem. The VR MMORPG I was playing, Call of the Doomed World, commonly known as DoomsCall, wasn¡¯t just difficult. It was merciless. Most games would penalize you lightly for dying in a dungeon¡ªperhaps some lost experience or a bit of in-game currency. DoomsCall? Oh no, it wasn¡¯t that kind. When you died in a high-difficulty dungeon like this, you didn¡¯t just lose experience and gold. Your entire inventory¡ªevery item you¡¯d stored¡ªwould be wiped out. Gone. Reduced to digital dust. Poof. ...Which was precisely what was about to happen to me. ¡°AAAAARGH!¡± Another scream of frustration burst from me as the grim reality set in. "All my rare items...! If I want to get out of here, I have to sacrifice them?! Items worth at least five billion won¡ªgone, just like that?!" I wasn¡¯t exaggerating. In a game as popular as DoomsCall, rare items could be sold for staggering sums in the real world. The developers even encouraged cash trading to create a "vivid economic ecosystem" within the game. And I¡¯d been one of those hyenas sniffing out profit. Through sheer cunning and effort, I¡¯d amassed around five billion won in item value. Until now, I¡¯d never made such a catastrophic blunder. But today? I¡¯d been careless. Overconfident. I hadn¡¯t deposited my valuables in the game¡¯s bank before entering the dungeon. Why? Because I had my trusty escape item, and I thought I could just teleport out in case of danger. I hadn¡¯t expected the item to malfunction due to some system glitch. And the developers? They had a strict no-refund policy. If your items disappeared because of a bug, too bad. Complaining wouldn¡¯t get you anywhere. Stay calm, I told myself. You don¡¯t have to die. Not necessarily. If you manage to beat the final boss, you can still clear the dungeon and get out alive.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Of course, that would require me to defeat a boss monster so powerful that it was stronger than all the other monsters in this dungeon combined. But still, I clung to that slim hope. If I crumbled now, I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Taking a deep breath, I decided to focus on the immediate task: looting the item dropped by the dungeon¡¯s gatekeeper monster. I had already defeated it¡ªthe Corrupted Holy Knight Commander. In my despair over the escape item, I hadn¡¯t even bothered to pick up the loot.
Ding. The moment I picked up the item, a translucent holographic window appeared in front of me. [Acquired Item] I frowned. No gold. No experience. Just this rusty old sword. "This is the reward? Seriously?" For an A-rank monster, the loot was disappointing. The sword looked ancient, its blade dull and its hilt worn. Even the inscription near the pommel¡ªpossibly a name¡ªwas too faded to read. "Maybe if I repair it, it¡¯ll turn out to be at least a B-grade item," I muttered, trying to console myself as I stowed it in my inventory. That¡¯s when it happened.
[Kan... Lashut...] "...!" The gatekeeper monster, which I¡¯d assumed was thoroughly defeated, suddenly spoke. Without hesitation, I drew the ancient sword and plunged it into the monster¡¯s heart. [Ka... Shuth...] Its body crumbled into ash, leaving only that cryptic final whisper behind. ¡°What the hell?¡± I muttered. Monsters weren¡¯t supposed to drop loot until after they were dead. Yet this one had dropped its sword before it was fully gone. Had the monster somehow chosen to drop the item on its own? That made no sense. NPCs might act autonomously, but monsters? They were just pre-programmed lines of code. Between the malfunctioning escape item, a loot-dropping undead, and now a cryptic dying message, this dungeon was getting increasingly bizarre. "Focus," I muttered. "I still have the boss to deal with." Downing a health potion, I steeled myself for the challenge ahead. As I approached the boss room¡¯s massive, rusted doors, a system warning rang in my ears.
WARNING You have been logged into Call of the Doomed World for eight hours. Extended use of VR capsules can result in severe physical harm, up to and including death.
Pfft. These warnings were government-mandated, designed to curb addiction and prevent idiots from starving to death in their gaming pods. But I wasn¡¯t about to log out now¡ªnot when I was so close to clearing the dungeon. As the boss room doors groaned open, a chilling draft swept out. The final confrontation awaited.
Inside the Lucidmiller Cathedral¡¯s Upper Chapel, the eerie atmosphere was palpable. Statues of forgotten gods lined the walls, their faces unfamiliar¡ªan intentional touch from the developers to emphasize this wasn¡¯t Earth but a world long destroyed. At the center of the room lay a pristine white coffin. That¡¯s it. The boss monster was inside. I braced myself for its dramatic entrance: the lid would creak open, and the creature would emerge with a roar... But nothing happened. Minutes passed. Frustrated, I hurled a stone at the coffin, then a fire spell. Still nothing. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Finally, I decided to approach the coffin myself. As I lifted the lid, a single syllable escaped my lips. "...Oh." The figure inside wasn¡¯t grotesque, nor monstrous. In fact, he was... breathtaking. A flawless face framed by golden hair. The game had labeled this creature the Corrupted Pope, but he looked more like a fallen angel.
Before I could act further, my attention shifted to a nearby treasure chest. And within it lay something extraordinary: [Ring of the Goddess¡¯s Last Mercy (L)] My eyes widened. This was it. The Hidden Piece. As I slipped the ring onto my finger, a cascade of system notifications appeared: [Hidden Piece successfully bound to you.] [Activating special skill: Time Reversal.] [You are being sent back 1,000 years.]
Before I could process what was happening, my vision went dark. And then... nothingness. Death. Or was it something more? Chapter 2: Treasure Buried in a Worthless Land ¡°When I found that hidden piece, I thought I¡¯d struck gold...¡± Three months ago: When the message [Hidden Piece: "Ring of the Goddess¡¯s Mercy" has perfectly bonded with you!] appeared before my eyes, I felt like I¡¯d just won the lottery. I was certain it would grant me some extraordinary power or rare item¡ªsomething incredible. But dying because of it? That hadn¡¯t even crossed my mind. Yet, not only did the ring trigger a heart attack, it somehow transported me into the game world. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, I woke up in the body of the story''s ultimate antagonist. [Your time has been rewound by 1,000 years.] [Your soul now inhabits the body of the Fallen Pope, Nikellus von Lucidmiller.] [You inherit the skills of the Fallen Pope, Nikellus von Lucidmiller.] [You inherit the karmic burden of the Fallen Pope, Nikellus von Lucidmiller.] The moment I slipped the ring on, those messages flooded my vision, and everything went black. When I came to, I wasn¡¯t in my room anymore¡ªI¡¯d been sent 1,000 years into the past, to the setting of Call of the World Before Its End. And I was in a coffin. Specifically, I was possessing the body of the Fallen Pope, the final boss who¡¯d been peacefully lying in his tomb. Naturally, my first reaction was to lose it. "Can¡¯t you hear me?! I¡¯m trapped in a game! Not just stuck in a dungeon¡ªI''m literally inside the game world! LOG OUT! Why can¡¯t I log out?!" And when I accidentally caught sight of my reflection in a mirror? Let¡¯s just say I had a full-body existential crisis. The face staring back at me was... divine. Golden hair, silver eyes. Handsome wasn¡¯t even the word; it was so striking it bordered on sacred. It didn¡¯t feel real. At first, I thought it might be a dream. Maybe some psycho hacker had tampered with the system and trapped me in the game. But after three months of denial, I had no choice but to accept reality. I was dead. The moment the heart attack hit, I¡¯d briefly logged out and returned to the real world, just long enough to clutch my chest, gasping for air in my gaming capsule. Then my consciousness faded. So yes, I died. Like so many other gaming addicts, I¡¯d gone into cardiac arrest while playing. The only difference was that, instead of vanishing entirely, my soul and memories were somehow turned into data and fused with the game. That¡¯s the only explanation for why I¡¯m here, living as Nikellus. To sum it up: I¡¯ve been "called" into The World Before Its End. The game was originally called Call of the Ruined World, but I¡¯d been flung 1,000 years into its past.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. I still don¡¯t understand how this place, a mere game, could feel so real. Every kingdom, every society, every human being moved with unnerving detail and authenticity. But there was no time to dwell on it. ¡°Your Holiness.¡± The sharp voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I realized I was sitting in on a Church council meeting, attending in my role as the Pope. I¡¯d been so lost in thought about the past that I¡¯d nearly nodded off. As I opened my eyes fully, I met the cold gaze of a woman standing before me. Luciana. She had piercing blue eyes, raven-black hair cascading down her back, and pale skin so flawless it seemed to radiate cold. She looked like a living snow sculpture. An A-ranked Holy Knight and the youngest High Priest in history, Luciana was a prodigy admired throughout the Church. And¡ªjudging by the memories left behind by the original Nikellus¡ªshe had been his longtime companion. ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is a bit much?¡± she said, her voice tinged with exasperation. ¡°Hmm? What is?¡± I replied, feigning ignorance. Her brows knitted together. Despite leading the meeting smoothly moments earlier, she now seemed frustrated, though I couldn¡¯t quite figure out why. ¡°I¡¯ve been patient out of respect for what you went through¡ªdying from a fever and all. We understood the aftereffects must have been significant, especially if they erased your memories. But now? Three months have passed, and yet you still refuse to participate actively in these meetings. It¡¯s... irresponsible.¡± She was sharp-tongued, but not wrong. In truth, I had been distracted. Today, though, I wasn¡¯t simply spacing out. I¡¯d been planning my next move. I pressed a hand to my forehead, feigning weakness, and gave a rehearsed excuse: ¡°The aftereffects haven¡¯t completely faded yet. Please bear with me a little longer.¡± Unfortunately, Luciana wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°No, Your Holiness. Whatever aftereffects you claim to have should have long disappeared. The issue here isn¡¯t your health. It¡¯s your lack of accountability.¡± Her words struck like a blade, and the room fell silent. A few attendants gasped audibly. Luciana had always been blunt with Nikellus¡ªprobably because of their history. But judging by the anxious glances from the scribes and aides, the original Nikellus must not have tolerated criticism well. Internally, I debated my response. Should I let this slide? She¡¯s been one of the few reliable figures since I arrived here, even if her tone is harsh. Ultimately, I decided not to escalate. After all, the original Nikellus had left me with plenty of problems, and this meeting was proof of that. One of his most infamous exploits? The "Count Filma Manor Incident." Apparently, before I took over his body, Nikellus had gone on a rampage and half-destroyed the estate of Count Filma simply because the Count had ¡°offended¡± him. The damages included injuries to the Count''s staff and the destruction of priceless artworks. The Church was now scrambling to pay an astronomical compensation fee, which was why this emergency council meeting had been called. Luciana was right to be upset, but I wasn¡¯t about to let my image take any more hits. Clearing my throat, I interrupted her rant. ¡°Calm down. I wasn¡¯t just sitting here doing nothing. In fact, I¡¯ve come up with a brilliant solution for the compensation issue.¡± Her sharp eyes narrowed. ¡°Oh? And what might that be?¡± ¡°The royal family. Contact them and tell them we intend to purchase the western forest of the Blonka region.¡± At my words, the room erupted in disbelief. ¡°That cursed land?¡± one of the High Priests scoffed. ¡°Your Holiness, that forest is infested with monsters. It¡¯s a desolate, worthless place. If anything, the royal family should pay us to take it off their hands.¡± The priest in question was Argelio von Freebern, a sly man who wore a perpetual smirk. If not for my player privileges, which allowed me to see his stats and karma, I might have fallen for his polished demeanor. [Argelio von Freebern (B)] [Skills: Thorn of the Mind (A), Lies More Convincing Than Truth (A), ???] Karma: -132 Argelio was a textbook villain¡ªa master manipulator with a penchant for lies. I couldn¡¯t let his mockery slide. ¡°Tell me, Argelio,¡± I said, my tone sharp. ¡°Have you ever stopped to wonder why that forest is overrun with monsters?¡± Chapter 3: The Reason Why Monsters Swarm There
Argelio, uncharacteristically dazed, frowned deeply. ¡°The reason monsters are swarming that forest...? There¡¯s no special reason, is there? It¡¯s just a remote area, so they naturally gather there.¡± ¡°Click, click.¡± I tutted and shook my head. ¡°You¡¯d be hopeless at investing. That kind of simplistic thinking won¡¯t get you anywhere.¡± Argelio''s frown deepened further, his expression almost crumpling in irritation. Relishing his frustration, I continued, ¡°I¡¯ve got a hunch as to why monsters gather there. It¡¯s probably because of a treasure buried in that forest.¡± ¡°Treasure? What in the world are you talking about? I¡¯m starting to get seriously concerned here.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me? Fine. If it comes to it, I¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡± ¡°And how exactly do you plan to do that? You have no means to take responsibility, even if you wanted to.¡± His skepticism wasn¡¯t surprising. A man with nothing to his name, daring to speak of ¡®responsibility,¡¯ must have sounded laughable. But contrary to his assumptions, I still had one card to play. ¡°If there¡¯s no treasure found there, I¡¯ll personally bow my head to the Imperial Palace and the Count of Philmar. After that, I¡¯ll resign as Pope in penance.¡± ¡°Your Holiness!¡± The voice that cried out wasn¡¯t Argelio¡¯s. Luciana stormed toward me, her tone sharp and her steps heavy. She leaned close, her voice dropping to an intense whisper only I could hear. ¡°What on earth are you saying? Resign as Pope?¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s a solid plan.¡± ¡°... ¡®Solid plan,¡¯ you say?¡± ¡°Come on, the Emperor and the Count are already grinding their teeth, wishing someone like me would disappear. If I voluntarily step down, they¡¯ll happily cover the cost of the Blonka Forest subjugation. The Count might even waive the reparations he¡¯s demanding.¡± I grew up dirt poor, thrown into society with nothing but hardship to teach me one thing: nothing is given for free. Even as a Pope with a scandalous reputation, that truth held firm. With things as they were, any move I made would face resistance. The only way to gain trust was to put something on the line¡ªeven the Papal seat if necessary. ¡°The Church won¡¯t suffer for it. I¡¯ll make sure of that.¡± I thought my reasoning was sound. But Luciana ground her teeth in frustration, her anger becoming even more palpable. ¡®...What¡¯s her problem? Considering her relationship with Nikellus, this isn¡¯t out of concern for me. Did I fail to convince her?¡¯ Since merging with Nikellus, I¡¯d inherited three months¡¯ worth of his memories. According to those, Luciana¡¯s feelings toward him were mostly disdain.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Sure, she¡¯d helped Nikellus a few times, but that was likely out of a sense of duty as the Knight Commander, tasked with supporting the Pope. It seemed clear that her frustration wasn¡¯t about me, but rather the Church¡ªand, by extension, her own position. ¡°Hah. So, you¡¯re saying that, when the time comes, you¡¯ll just step down? Do you even have it in you to follow through? Or will you come crawling back to me for help again? How long do I have to keep cleaning up your messes¨D¡± ¡°Then ignore me.¡± She blinked, not fully understanding. So, I clarified, ¡°Not that I¡¯ll need your help, but if I do ask, just leave me be. Let Argelio or the other priests use what I said today to kick me out of office.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°That way, you won¡¯t have to waste energy fixing my mistakes.¡± Her grip on my wrist slackened, her hand dropping away like the string of a puppet suddenly cut. I hesitated, wondering if I should say more, but Argelio interjected, barely hiding his delight. ¡°Did I hear that right? You¡¯ll step down?¡± ¡°Yes. Although I wasn¡¯t planning to go that far. Even if no treasure is found, I was prepared to resolve the issue using the Church¡¯s resources alone. If we do find anything, every last coin will go to the Church.¡± Carefully laying the groundwork, I continued, ¡°But since you brought up the subjugation costs, I¡¯m willing to put the Papal seat on the line. That¡¯s a risk I¡¯m taking for this.¡± ¡°...What do you want from me?¡± At least he caught on quickly. I appreciated that about him. ¡°Simple. You take responsibility, too.¡± ¡°What sort of responsibility, exactly...?¡± ¡°If we find something in that forest, you cover all the costs¡ªlike the expedition team¡¯s wages.¡± ¡°Excuse me?! That¡¯s outrageous!¡± The man who had barely contained his glee moments ago now exploded in protest. Realizing how embarrassing his reaction was, he quickly calmed himself. ¡°Hmph. Fine. I¡¯ll cover the expenses personally. But in return¨D¡± ¡°I get it. I¡¯ll keep my word.¡± ¡°...Very well. Scribe, are you recording this conversation properly?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Eminence. It¡¯s all being documented.¡± Argelio, ever the cunning one, ensured there¡¯d be a record to hold me to my word. He probably thought the odds of treasure being found were slim, making this a perfect opportunity to oust me. ¡®Go ahead. Celebrate while you can. When we uncover that, you¡¯ll be biting your tongue figuring out how to pay up.¡¯ Suppressing a smirk, I watched the meeting dissolve. Luciana left without a word, while Argelio threw out a mocking ¡°Good luck,¡± before leaving. The other two high priests, silent observers until now, approached me. I glanced at them in turn. ¡®Delci. And Bliss.¡¯ First came Delci, her silver hair fluttering as she stepped closer. Though a commoner and still a minor, she had risen to high priesthood thanks to her rare and extraordinary abilities. When she reached me, she clasped my hand firmly, speaking through the peculiar medium of her duck-shaped doll. [You must have a plan, Your Holiness. I believe in you. Quack-quack.] Even now, the absurd ¡°quack-quack¡± sound accompanied her words. It had taken some getting used to. Still, Delci¡¯s loyalty was genuine, and in this den of vipers, even one ally felt invaluable. ¡°Trust me. I¡¯ve got a plan, and I don¡¯t lie. You know that.¡± She hesitated, her lips twitching as if to say something, but in the end, she only nodded before leaving. That left Bliss. ¡®Bliss von Frisk,¡¯ I thought, recalling his full name. Once a crown prince, he¡¯d been forced to abdicate and was now exiled here as a high priest. ¡°Quite a spectacle,¡± he said, smirking as his golden eyes gleamed with amusement. ¡°If the Church does throw you out, consider coming to my estate. I could use a new attendant.¡± Ah, so he came to provoke me. Feigning calm, I replied, ¡°I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯ve heard enough about what happens to your attendants.¡± Bliss¡¯s reputation preceded him¡ªa madman with a penchant for making his servants disappear. ¡°You¡¯d prefer the streets, then?¡± he asked, his smirk widening. ¡°Of course. Though I won¡¯t be the one ending up there.¡± Satisfied with my jab, I dismissed him. Bliss only chuckled darkly, retreating with a haunting grin. ¡®What a creep.¡¯ At last, I returned to my private office to prepare for the challenge ahead. Opening my Quest Log, I reviewed the critical task: Find and purify the ancient artifact hidden in the temple of the Crimson Moon within Blonka Forest (0/1). A smirk tugged at my lips. ¡°Let¡¯s see who¡¯s laughing once I uncover this treasure.¡± Chapter 4: Unlocking the S-Class Skill The forest of Blonka, once a perilous zone under the Empire¡¯s management, had recently fallen into the hands of the Church. Unsurprisingly, it didn¡¯t take long for the shocking news to spread across the entire congregation. "It was the Pope¡¯s decision to take over that useless Blonka Forest!" The rumor burned through the halls like wildfire, sparking heated debates and becoming the hottest topic in no time. The clergy, already disillusioned with the Pope¡¯s erratic behavior, freely expressed their discontent. "Is it just me, or has His Holiness gone senile in his youth?" In the bustling central square of the cathedral, a priest lounging on a bench started the conversation. His companion, startled by the audacity, quickly scanned their surroundings. But the first priest merely chuckled. "Relax. Even if someone hears, no one cares anymore. Everyone feels the same way." "Well¡­ that¡¯s true, I suppose." "Think about it¡ªclaiming that cursed land was madness. It¡¯s a colossal waste of money, and when the monster hunts start, how many knights will we lose this time?" The second priest, initially hesitant, nodded after hearing the grim assessment. "...It¡¯s insane. The poor holy knights are the ones who¡¯ll bleed for this." "Exactly. And that¡¯s why people are starting to suggest we... ¡®replace¡¯ him." "Wait, replace? Are we really talking about the Pope here?" "Why not? He¡¯s an orphan with no backers, clearly unfit for the position¡ª" The priest stopped mid-sentence as a frantic young acolyte ran toward them, his face pale and his breath heavy. "It¡¯s been discovered!" "What¡¯s been discovered?" "An ancient ruin! It¡¯s in the western part of Blonka Forest, just as His Holiness decreed!" The central square, perpetually buzzing with people, erupted into chaos. "Did you hear that? An ancient ruin was found!"Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "In that monster-infested wasteland? No way!" "Wait, wasn¡¯t that land given to us by the Empire for free? This is like stumbling on a mountain of gold!" Ancient ruins from a bygone era, when magic and science far surpassed modern advancements, were legendary. They often contained artifacts beyond contemporary imagination, making ruin-hunting a lucrative but perilous venture. The revelation hit like a lightning bolt, leaving everyone in the square pondering the same question: ¡°Was it luck, or did the Pope receive divine guidance?¡± Though he bore the title of Pope, Nikelus had never demonstrated the sacred powers one might expect¡ªno miracles, no healings, no divine prophecies. Rumors whispered that he was a fraud, a mere usurper. But this discovery was too uncanny to dismiss as mere coincidence. "Even that leech finally did something right," one priest sneered. He laughed, expecting his companion to join in, only to find him frozen in terror, staring over his shoulder. "What¡¯s wrong¡ª" the priest turned, only to lock eyes with Bliss, the Church¡¯s infamous enforcer. "Don¡¯t stop now," Bliss said, a cold smile curling his lips. "It was just getting interesting." The priests blanched. Insulting the Pope might not have dire consequences under normal circumstances, but Bliss was a different story. His reputation for dealing with dissenters was chilling. The priest attempted to retreat, mumbling an excuse. "S-sorry, I just remembered I have urgent¡ª" "Sit down." Bliss¡¯s voice was dangerously soft. The priest froze. Slowly, he moved closer as instructed. Bliss leaned in, whispering directly into his ear. "You¡¯re free to go. But if you hear anything... interesting about that ¡®leech,¡¯ come tell me. Let¡¯s share the fun, shall we?" The moment the words hit his ears, the priest felt an inexplicable surge of loyalty toward Bliss, an emotion as unnatural as it was irresistible. It was the power of Bliss¡¯s A-rank skill, Whisper of the Dead King. A skill that planted irrational devotion into the minds of weaker individuals.
Meanwhile, in the Blonka Forest, a lone figure moved stealthily through the monster-infested terrain. Nikelus, the very Pope who had been the subject of such scorn, stood hidden behind dense foliage, his focus on the system interface before him. [Fifth Main Oracle: Purify the Ruins (In Progress)] Sub-Oracles:
  1. Hunt 10 monsters in the western Blonka region. (0/10)
  2. Destroy 10 suspicious sources of magic. (0/10)
  3. Locate and purify the final source of magic within the ancient ruin, Temple of the Crimson Moon. (0/1)
The system was almost identical to the one Nikelus had used before his reincarnation. Even the quest interface retained its familiar aesthetic, albeit with one change: quests were now referred to as Oracles. "Well, as long as the rewards are real, I won¡¯t complain." He unsheathed his weapon, a plain steel sword marked as [Iron Sword (E)]¡ªa far cry from the rare items he once possessed. Before him, three wolf-like monsters emerged from the shadows, their fangs glinting with saliva. "Let¡¯s make this quick." In moments, Nikelus dispatched the creatures with surgical precision, his new S-rank body proving more than capable. As the last wolf fell, a system message appeared. Sub-Oracle 1: Hunt 10 monsters in the western Blonka region. (3/10) Nikelus wiped the blood from his blade, smirking. "Just seven more to go." Another monster fell from the treetops, its life snuffed out by a thrown dagger. The system chimed again. Sub-Oracle 1: Hunt 10 monsters in the western Blonka region. (4/10) Progress: 40% Complete this Sub-Oracle to unlock one of your sealed skills. Skill to be unlocked: [Blasphemy! (S)] Nikelus¡¯s eyes narrowed at the unexpected reward. "An S-rank skill¡­ unlocked just by completing this? Interesting." Chapter 5: Logging Into the Ruins Alone "A locked skill has been unlocked." The meaning of this system message couldn¡¯t have been clearer. It implied that one of Nikelus'' unique abilities¡ªall incredibly powerful but sealed¡ªwas finally becoming accessible. But could it really be true? Eager to find out, I doubled down on my hunting efforts. Now, after relentless monster slaying, I stood on the cusp of achieving a 100% quest completion rate. "This is it. Just one more to go." I set my sights on the last Mana Core before me. At the moment, I had defeated 10 monsters and destroyed 9 Mana Cores. Opening my quest window displayed the following:
Sub-Quest (1) - Hunt 10 monsters in the western forest of the Blonka region. (10/10) (Completed) Sub-Quest (2) - Destroy all suspicious Mana Cores in the western forest of the Blonka region. (9/10) (Incomplete)
Had I pressed the "Complete" button for the first sub-quest, I might already have unlocked the skill to see what it was. The system message had clearly stated that defeating 10 monsters was sufficient. But I held back. I wanted to finish both objectives first¡ªto complete the Mana Core quest entirely and cleanly before claiming my rewards. And now, destroying this final Mana Core would bring me to my goal of 10.
I raised my sword, brimming with anticipation. Slash! The grotesque, alien egg-like structure that housed the Mana Core shattered in one swing, oozing viscous fluid. This disgusting sight was par for the course with Mana Cores. These objects, brimming with condensed mana, were the birthplaces of monsters roaming this world. "Ugh... revolting." Gagging at the sight of congealed lumps within the sticky liquid, I stepped back. Were those unhatched monster embryos? Whatever they were, they¡¯d soon disintegrate into ash. Still, I wanted no part of this filth touching my boots. I moved to a clean spot and reopened the quest window.
Sub-Quest (1) (Completed) - Hunt 10 monsters in the western forest of the Blonka region. (10/10) Sub-Quest (2) (Completed) - Destroy all suspicious Mana Cores in the western forest of the Blonka region. (10/10)
Seeing the (10/10) next to both objectives filled me with pride. With a satisfied sigh, I tapped the "Complete" buttons for each quest.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Ding! The reward notification chimed cheerfully:
Sub-Quest Completion Rewards:
Alignment: Evil "You stood by as a world crumbled to ruin. You¡¯re as despicable as a traitor!" "If you don¡¯t atone for your sins soon, you¡¯ll become a demon!" Time Remaining Until Transformation (Human ¡ú Demon): 789 days, 14 hours, 29 minutes
Seeing my Karma Points edge slightly closer to zero left me torn between relief and despair. The number was still catastrophically low¡ªan abysmal score that could pierce Earth''s core. And it wasn¡¯t just a status effect. In Melthebu, low Karma came with a severe penalty: locked skills. "What a joke. I lived a decent life before all this. It¡¯s Nicelus'' original sins that cursed me, not mine." Before I possessed this body, I¡¯d been an ordinary person. Yet here I was, saddled with this cursed legacy.
Ding! "By completing all sub-quests, one locked skill has been unlocked!" "The skill [Blasphemy! (S)] has been unlocked!"
Finally, the message I had been waiting for appeared. An S-rank skill, no less. My excitement soared as I opened the skill menu.
[Nikelus Van Lucidmillar (S)] Unlocked Skills: Current Karma: -2,982
For the first time in ages, my mood lightened as I stared at the shimmering "New" badge beside the skill name. "Blasphemy? The name¡¯s bizarre. What does it even do?" Curious, I tapped the skill for its description.
"Your Grace, are you here? I¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you." The sudden voice of Luciana, my knight captain, startled me. Instinctively, I closed the status window to hide my Karma score. Then I remembered: NPCs couldn¡¯t see my interface anyway. Awkwardly, I let my hands drop, though Luciana was already eyeing me suspiciously. "What¡­ are you doing?" "Just¡­ swatting a bug. Anyway, how¡¯s the preparation going?" Luciana¡¯s skepticism lingered, but she answered, "It¡¯s done. Shall we begin unsealing the ruins?" "Yeah. Let¡¯s get started before nightfall."
Arriving at the ruins, we stood before five colossal crystal pillars surrounded by priests. The crystals hummed faintly with latent divine energy. "Begin," I commanded. At my signal, the priests imbued the pillars with their divine power. The crystals began to glow, emitting a low, mechanical hum reminiscent of a computer booting up. Finally, a holographic interface flickered into existence:
"Verification required. Please log in with your ID and password to proceed." ID: _______ Password: _______ "If you¡¯re not a registered user, please click below to create an account." <>
"This¡­ is ancient technology," I muttered. The priests around me gawked in confusion. The screen displayed text in an ancient language none of them could read¡ªbut for some reason, I could. Ever since arriving in this world, ancient languages came as naturally to me as my native tongue. "Step aside. I¡¯ll handle this." Pushing past the bewildered priests, I tapped the <> button.
"Do you wish to proceed with account creation?" - Yes - No
Despite the ominous phrasing, I selected Yes without hesitation. Entry was impossible without an account. Then, the ground began to rumble violently. "A qualification test will now commence. Prove your worth to Nerblocca, the God of War and Victory!" The earth shook as something massive stirred beneath us.
The knights snapped to attention; weapons drawn. Luciana rushed to my side; concern etched across her face. "Your Grace, the guardian is awakening. You should fall back." "No," I replied, stepping forward. Luciana¡¯s expression darkened. "You can¡¯t be serious! This is no time for pride or recklessness!" "It¡¯s not pride," I said calmly. "I¡¯ve faced guardians before. Trust me." Drawing my S-rank sword, [The Last Conscience of the Corrupted Pope], I turned to face the emerging threat. "Stand back. I¡¯ll handle this." For the first time, Luciana hesitated, her resolve faltering. Chapter 6: Blasphemy! Had I been too forward? A pang of regret hit me for a moment. Luciana¡¯s shocked expression made it clear. It was understandable. ¡°Leave this to me¡ªstep back.¡± was not something the original Nikelus would have ever said. She might start suspecting something if I wasn¡¯t careful. Still, I resolved to stay my course. I¡¯m done living like some reckless thug who throws his weight around. That kind of life was incompatible with the peaceful existence I craved. Above all, I didn¡¯t want to see Luciana¡¯s disappointed gaze again¡ªthe one she had shown me just now. This time, I¡¯ll prove my competence properly. Better to go all in than to half-ass it. Strengthening my resolve, I gripped my sword tightly. It was then that the monster emerged from beneath the ground¡ªa decayed corpse clawing its way to the surface. [Groooaaaar...] Its withered flesh clung to its skeletal frame, yellowing eyes rolling grotesquely in sunken sockets beneath its prominent brow. Its sheer size was enough to send chills down my spine. What an abomination... Fortunately, my experience fighting virtual monsters in Chronicles of Ruin and Glory (CRG for short) meant I wasn¡¯t fazed. Instead, I calmly scanned the monster¡¯s info window that appeared before me.
[Cursed Guardian of the Temple (A)] A thief who once attempted to steal the sacred idol of the Crimson Bloodmoon Temple. Cursed by an ancient god, they are condemned to guard the temple for eternity.
As expected, the term ¡°cursed¡± was in its name. Monsters with prefixes like Cursed, Corrupted, or Evil was generally weak against holy power. In other words, this monster was an ideal opponent for someone like me, whose attacks were powered by divine energy.
[Groooar...] While I observed it, the monster also sized me up. The rattling of its chains echoed as it gripped its massive scythe with both hands. [Please... kill me... I don''t... want this... Release me... from the curse...] Before possessing Nikelus, I wouldn¡¯t have understood the monster¡¯s words. But now, they reached me loud and clear¡ªthe language of ancient times.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Every monster in CRG spoke this ancient tongue, though no one seemed to know why. Perhaps some ancient scholar taught them? Who knows. Well, if it¡¯s asking to die, I might as well oblige. I activated my newly unlocked skill, ¡°Blasphemy! (S)¡±, without hesitation. Immediately, I felt a surge of raw power coursing through my body. A small system message appeared below my field of vision, explaining the skill''s effects.
¡°Blasphemy! (S)¡±
  • Attack Damage Increase: +300%
  • Critical Hit Rate Increase: +300%
  • Ability to Release Holy Energy at Range Duration: 30 minutes Special Effect: 10% chance to increase the faith and loyalty of witnesses to the skill.
Essentially, it was a buff-and-attack skill that amplified Nikelus¡¯s original power threefold. The moment I activated it, divine energy coalesced in my sword, the blade glowing with the radiance of the sun. The sudden burst of light created a commotion among the priests and knights nearby. ¡°What¡¯s that?!¡± ¡°An item effect?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a skill?¡± Dazzled, they couldn¡¯t help but glance in my direction. Finally, Luciana, who stood closest, stepped forward to ask, ¡°Your Grace, that sword... what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a skill,¡± I replied. ¡°The divine energy amplified by the skill makes it shine like this.¡± ¡°A skill... You used a skill?¡± ¡°Yeah. So don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not just for show.¡± The S-grade skill not only looked spectacular but tripled my attack damage. The ancient monster, aware of the danger, hesitated and let out a pained growl.
[Grrr... No... Stop...]
Seeing its torment, I didn¡¯t even flinch. The monster clutched its massive scythe tightly, readying an attack. Its chains clattered as it raised the weapon high overhead. With a thunderous slam, the scythe struck the ground where I had been standing. Dust exploded outward, shrouding the area in chaos. ¡°Arghhh!¡± ¡°Get back!¡± ¡°Stop pushing!¡± The panicked priests scattered, bumping into each other, while the knights and Luciana worked to restore order. Amid the dust, I stepped closer to the monster, ensuring its focus remained solely on me. ¡°Hey, monster! Over here!¡± I waved my glowing sword, and the radiant light immediately drew its attention. Raising its scythe again, the creature unleashed a dark aura.
[The Cursed Guardian of the Temple has used the curse skill ¡°Inescapable Terror (S).¡± Movement restricted for 5 seconds.]
Testing my legs, I realized I was indeed immobilized. So, it¡¯s a binding curse. Without any anti-curse items, I couldn¡¯t resist the skill. Not that it mattered. No need to waste another skill on this. It¡¯ll wear off in 5 seconds. I stood firm, my sword raised, waiting for the curse to lift. ¡°Your Grace!¡± Luciana¡¯s frantic voice cut through the chaos. Seeing me remain still, she thought I was about to take the attack head-on. But she underestimated me.
The monster¡¯s scythe descended with deadly force. With a single upward swing, I parried the attack, throwing the monster off balance. In the same motion, I leaped high into the air, my glowing sword arcing toward its head. [Kill me...] Its pitiful plea didn¡¯t stop me. The blade cleaved through its brittle scythe handle, then cut cleanly through its decayed body. [Kyaaaaaagh!] Empowered by stacked buffs and divine energy, the battle ended in an instant. ¡°Already over?¡± muttered the stunned knights and priests.
[Special effect of ¡°Blasphemy! (S)¡± activated. Witnesses¡¯ faith and loyalty increased by 15%.]
Satisfied, I glanced back. The once doubtful gazes had turned reverent.
Meanwhile, Luciana¡¯s attention lingered on Nikelus. It wasn¡¯t his strength that amazed her¡ªshe had always known he was powerful. It was the words he¡¯d said before the fight: ¡°Stay behind me.¡± The Nikelus she knew would have never fought to protect anyone. But now, he was different. ¡°Nikelus... You¡¯ve changed.¡±
Just as they stepped into the ancient ruins, a system message popped up.
[Entrance count updated: (3/3). Additional entrant detected.]
Someone¡ªor something¡ªhad joined them. Chapter 7: Ancient Artificial Intelligence Robot Suddenly, the number of people in the chamber increased. This meant someone had entered the temple just before the doors closed. Without my permission. I immediately turned toward the entrance and saw the unwelcome guest. Argellio. ¡°You¡ªno, Sir Freeburn. Why are you here? I don¡¯t recall granting you access.¡± I bit back the words ¡°You, shameless bastard¡­¡± because Luciana was standing nearby. I¡¯d recently vowed to clean up my image, and reverting to a thug wasn¡¯t an option. Argelio, however, grinned slyly, his usual smirk plastered across his face. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so harsh. In ruins like this, it¡¯s better to have more people, just in case something unexpected happens¡ª¡± ¡°Answer the question. I didn¡¯t permit you to enter. Why are you here?¡± ¡°¡­¡± His brow furrowed for a brief moment before he schooled his expression again. ¡°I wanted to see it for myself.¡± ¡°See what?¡± ¡°The sudden discovery of the ruins, and the news that Your Holiness broke the temple¡¯s seal in only five minutes. Such intriguing claims are hard to believe without seeing firsthand.¡± ¡°So, you doubted that I could actually accomplish something useful and decided to confirm it personally?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it that way¡­ but seeing it myself does provide more certainty.¡± Truthfully, it wasn¡¯t that he found the discovery unbelievable¡ªit was that he didn¡¯t want to believe it. After all, he had promised to cover all exploration costs, including the expedition team¡¯s wages, if anything valuable was found in the forest. Even though the Freeburn Duchy made its fortune in trade, this would be an exorbitant expense, even for them. To monitor me, he had spies planted nearby and relied on magic items to receive real-time updates on my progress. No wonder he had shown up so quickly. What a slippery rat. His distrustful and invasive behavior grated on my nerves. I even considered kicking him out the door while Luciana wasn¡¯t looking. Instead, I smirked. ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to confirm things, I¡¯ll show you proof.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Holiness. Shall we proceed ins¡ª¡± ¡°No. I never said I¡¯d let you accompany me.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon? What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean that I¡¯ll prove I gained access to the temple through my own abilities, as recognized by the ruins themselves. But that doesn¡¯t require you to enter.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Without further explanation, I raised my voice. ¡°Guide! Summon the guide!¡± Argellio and Luciana gave me puzzled looks as I called into the empty air. That¡¯s when it appeared.
A crimson figure materialized, its small form resembling a red panda with fennec fox ears and three fluffy tails swaying behind it. ¡°Greetings, Nikellus! I am Rubin, the AI guide here to assist you with your temple visit. How may I help you today?¡± Rubin was a Polydroid, an ancient AI robot designed to aid visitors in navigating temples like this one. I¡¯d encountered Polydroids in other ancient dungeons, but for people of this era, they were mythical guardians or spirits of legend. ¡°I¡¯ll prove my recognition as a temple member through Rubin,¡± I said, glancing at Argellio. ¡°Guide, I understand members have the authority to forcibly remove companions from the premises. Is that correct? Also, please speak in the language I¡¯m using now. The people behind me don¡¯t understand ancient dialects.¡± Rubin¡¯s oversized ears drooped slightly. ¡°Apologies, Member. I have only fully mastered one language, and my translation skill is at Level C. I can barely comprehend the language you¡¯re using.¡± ¡°Barely comprehend? So you¡¯re relying on the translation skill to understand me?¡± ¡°Yes. I would need to learn your language for proper communication.¡± ¡°Fine. Do you require permission to learn it?¡± ¡°Yes, Member. If you permit a language-sharing connection, I can significantly reduce the time needed for learning.¡± Polydroids couldn¡¯t harm members, so I saw no reason to hesitate. Grasping Rubin¡¯s tiny paw, I initiated the process. Above its head, a glowing message appeared: ¡°Acquiring new language¡­¡± After about a minute, Rubin¡¯s eyes sparkled with understanding. When it spoke again, its voice was crisp and fluent. ¡°To answer your earlier question: yes, you may expel companions using your membership authority. Simply provide their name or ID.¡± I turned to Argellio, wearing the most saccharine smile I could muster. ¡°I¡¯d like to expel someone standing behind me. His name is Argellio von Free¡ª¡± ¡°Wait! Please, Your Holiness!¡± Argellio¡¯s panicked voice cut me off. ¡°I brought a significant number of useful items¡ªhigh-grade potions and curse-removal scrolls among them!¡± ¡°¡­Items?¡± ¡°Yes! All of exceptional quality. If you allow me to stay, I¡¯ll hand over everything.¡± His face reddened as he confessed, ¡°Since childhood, I¡¯ve been fascinated by the mysteries, beauty, and scholarly value of ancient temples. They¡¯ve always been a dream of mine.¡± I scrutinized him for signs of deceit, but his embarrassment seemed genuine. His offer was tempting, too. Luciana and I lacked healing abilities, and the potions he mentioned could be lifesavers. ¡°¡­Fine. But stay out of my way.¡±
Rubin led us deeper into the temple, eventually stopping in a spacious chamber. ¡°This is the Crescent Moon Chapel,¡± Rubin explained proudly. ¡°Warriors once gathered here to pray for blessings from Nerbloca, the god of war and victory, before heading into battle. The four statues ahead represent Nerbloca¡¯s guardians, each wielding a different weapon: a sword, shield, spear, and bow.¡± I leaned closer to Rubin and whispered, ¡°So¡­ no guns or explosives in this era?¡± ¡°¡­Guns? I¡¯m unfamiliar with that term.¡± ¡°Never mind. What about something like¡­ falling meteors that explode on impact?¡± ¡°Are you referring to meteor-summoning magic?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± It seemed the ancient world had advanced differently from my original one. They developed AI but stuck to swords, magic, and arrows. Turning my attention back to the statues, I inspected their weapons.
[Nerbloca¡¯s Bow (S)] ¡ªA divine bow once wielded by Nerbloca¡¯s warriors. It converts holy energy into arrows, requiring no ammunition.
  • Special Effects:
    1. 10% chance to immobilize targets for 3 seconds on hit.
    2. Attracts the attention of spirits when wielded by a novice archer.
  • Warning: A sacred relic. Mishandling may invoke the god¡¯s curse.
I had a plan. ¡°Rubin,¡± I began, ¡°you know the truth, don¡¯t you? The people who built this place disappeared long ago.¡± Rubin¡¯s bright expression dimmed. ¡°What are you saying¡­?¡± ¡°This temple is now a relic of the past. No one will come to pray here anymore.¡± Its tails trembled slightly as it processed my words. ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting for worshippers to return, haven¡¯t you? Alone, for who knows how many centuries¡­¡± I crouched to meet its wavering eyes. ¡°Come with us. You don¡¯t have to wait here anymore.¡± Chapter 8: The Price of Summoning a Spirit "..." Rubin, who had been all smiles¡¯ moments earlier, suddenly turned serious, creating a suffocating silence. Understanding what might be going through his mind, I cautiously continued my persuasion. ¡°It¡¯d be better for you to leave with us rather than staying here. For you, and for the items too.¡± ¡°How... how could you say something like that¡­?¡± ¡°I understand how you feel. You¡¯ve been protecting this place for a long time. But don¡¯t take it too negatively. Just think it over¡ª¡± Before I could finish, tears welled up in Rubin¡¯s eyes. Was he... crying? Caught off guard, I paused, and Rubin¡¯s form vanished with a sharp pop. It seemed he had canceled his own summoning and disappeared to another place. ¡®¡­So, he refused. Not surprising.¡¯ At least, as a guide-type polydroid, he hadn¡¯t attacked us. Otherwise, any attempt to take the items might have triggered traps or unleashed monsters. Luciana, observing the situation nearby, muttered softly with sympathy. ¡°How unfortunate...¡± ¡°Sympathy won¡¯t get us anywhere. We need those items now more than ever.¡± She didn¡¯t argue, indirectly agreeing with me. Sympathy aside, we had to secure what we came for. As I contemplated this, Argelio, who had been examining the items in front of the statue, spoke up. ¡°We have a problem.¡± ¡°¡­What is it?¡± ¡°After inspecting them, I found all the items are cursed.¡± In his hand was a pendulum-like device. A thin golden pendulum dangled from a delicate chain, spinning in mid-air. ¡°This curse detector can¡¯t specify the exact type of cursed, but it¡¯s undoubtedly a powerful one¡ªlikely placed by an ancient god. Unfortunately, such curses can¡¯t be dispelled with conventional high-grade cleansing artifacts... Wait, Your Holiness!?¡± Ignoring his warnings about the curses, I approached the statue without hesitation. Instead of explaining, I activated my skill: [Sanctuary of Sacred Immunity (S)].This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The only skill of Nikellus that wasn¡¯t locked, Sanctuary of Sacred Immunity, was one I knew inside and out. Hwooosh. A peculiar sound, like a soft gust of wind, surrounded me as a golden circle began forming at my feet, spreading outward like ink diffusing in water. [The Sanctuary of Sacred Immunity has been summoned at your feet. All creatures within this sanctuary are cleansed and protected by divine power.] Duration: 20 minutes. Intricate overlapping patterns formed a circular sigil, two meters in radius, that moved with me wherever I went. As I stepped closer to the statue, the items within the sanctuary¡¯s radius began emitting a faint mechanical hum. Then¡ª [The curse placed by the ancient god is dispelled before the radiant authority of Lucid Miller!] The curses dissipated. The previously dull and tarnished items began to gleam with a pristine golden light. The sanctuary enveloped everything within its boundaries in Lucid Miller¡¯s divine authority, purging all malice or corruption. It didn¡¯t matter if it was a cursed artifact or a malevolent magical core. ¡®This skill was meant for cleansing the final power source... but it should be fine. My divine energy reserves are stable enough to use it once more if necessary.¡¯ An S-class skill consumed a significant amount of divine energy, which, for a user like me, was synonymous with life energy. Overusing it without rest or replenishment could lead to death. Still, there was no choice. These cursed items had to be purified. ¡°The curses are gone!!¡± Argelio exclaimed, his voice grating as if he had just announced the obvious. Luciana, now approaching, spoke in a tone of disbelief. ¡°Did Your Holiness... cleanse them? These curses belonged to an ancient god. Ordinary methods could never¡ª¡± ¡°I borrowed power from someone stronger.¡± ¡°Lucid Miller¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s an extraordinary skill, but it comes with a heavy cost to my divine energy. Not exactly practical for frequent use.¡± In this world, gods gained strength through worship. The more revered they were, the stronger their influence. Conversely, forgotten gods gradually faded into obscurity and ceased to exist. Erasing a curse left by a forgotten ancient god was no challenge for me, the envoy of the most powerful and revered Lucid Miller. Despite the logic, Luciana still appeared astonished. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this¡­ Truly remarkable.¡± I scratched my cheek, feeling a bit self-conscious. ¡°Well, if I¡¯d had more chances to use it, maybe it wouldn¡¯t seem so surprising. Anyway, we need to stay alert. The temple might recognize us as intruders once we take these items.¡± I tapped the glowing sigil at my feet with the tip of my boot. ¡°Stay within this sanctuary. Monsters won¡¯t be able to approach, and I¡¯ll take care of them from a distance¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± Luciana cut me off, unsheathing her sword from her inventory. The blade gleamed with a frigid, silvery light, reflecting her determination. ¡°As the Order¡¯s knight, I will fulfill my duty. I didn¡¯t come here to stand idly by.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I get your point, but¡ª¡± ¡°The duty of a knight is to fight, bleed, and die in service to others. You must not forget this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°This is my purpose. Do not rob me of it.¡± For a moment, I was speechless. To exist solely to bleed and die for others? The very notion was absurd. I considered forbidding her from fighting, but the resolute expression on her face made me relent. ¡°¡­Fine. I won¡¯t stop you. Just... don¡¯t forget something important.¡± ¡°Important?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a person. You weren¡¯t born to be a tool or a weapon. You¡¯re here to live. To live happily.¡± ¡°¡­Understood, Your Holiness.¡± Her voice softened, but her resolve remained firm. Even so, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I¡¯d planted a seed of doubt in her mind. With her and Argelio prepared, I reached for one of the cursed items¡ªa bow. The moment I removed it from the statue, the room filled with ominous noises. The statues wielding other weapons¡ªthe sword, shield, and spear¡ªcame to life. Their glowing eyes fixed on us, and their stony faces twisted into menacing grimaces. And thus, the real battle began. Chapter 9: The Spirit Grabs the Arrow "Dizzy... I must¡¯ve spent an enormous amount of energy." Fortunately, the price of summoning the spirit wasn¡¯t my kidney. Instead, I felt an immense surge of divine power drain away in an instant. Good thing Nikellus¡¯ reservoir of divine power was vast; an ordinary person might¡¯ve fainted outright, not just felt dizzy.
[The Spirit of Wind has been summoned!] [Accuracy has increased with the spirit''s assistance!] [Current accuracy: 92%] Out of nowhere, a refreshing breeze brushed past me. At the same time, something faintly glowing clung to the tip of my arrow. It looked like... a tiny child with dragonfly-like wings. This must be the spirit. "Your Holiness? Is it just me, or did a breeze suddenly start blowing?" Argelio clearly couldn¡¯t see the spirit. He glanced around, looking for the source of the wind, but not toward the spirit itself. "Can only I see this? It¡¯s definitely a spirit, right?" I squinted at the tiny being, curious, and tried to take a closer look. That¡¯s when I heard multiple, high-pitched voices chattering all at once. ¡°Stop staring and shoot already! My arms hurt from holding the arrow steady!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll guide it to the target for you! Just shoot now!¡± ¡°Aaahhh! My arms! The accuracy¡¯s dropping! 89%... 88%... 87%!¡± Seeing the real-time accuracy plummet, I panicked and shouted urgently. "Luciana! Get back!" Luciana quickly retreated, stepping out of the weakened area of the barrier. I aimed at the spot she''d softened up earlier and released the bowstring.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Ping! The radiant, white arrow shot forward with a crisp sound... and missed the target entirely. Why is the accuracy so low even after summoning the spirit? What a waste of divine power! But before I could stew in frustration, a notification appeared. [The spirits are correcting the arrow''s trajectory!] The spirits clinging to the arrow flapped their tiny wings furiously, shifting its path. Thanks to their efforts, the arrow veered back on course¨D Boom! It struck the target dead-center, shattering the barrier. A brilliant explosion of light scattered shards of the barrier in all directions. Luciana didn¡¯t waste the opening. Blue petals swirled like a hurricane, engulfing the statues. ¡¾Grraahhh...!¡¿ The statues crumbled in silence, unable to utter a final scream under the piercing winds.
¡°It¡¯s over.¡± I watched Luciana through the fading petals. She seemed unharmed. She simply sheathed her sword and stored it in her inventory. Even that small movement was so precise, so graceful, I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off her. At least, not until the spirits popped back into my view, blocking my line of sight. ¡°Wow! A human who can summon us still exists in this era!¡± ¡°I heard humans¡¯ magic and divine power had degenerated compared to ancient times!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so shiny for a human! Your golden hair is gorgeous! Can we take a few strands for the Spirit King?¡± ¡°Can we touch your eyes too? Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t pluck them out!¡± ¡°I want 20 strands from your crown! I¡¯ll take them home!¡± While their curiosity was overwhelming, I might¡¯ve let them hang around longer under different circumstances. But I needed my divine power back. I dismissed them quickly, as Luciana was approaching.
¡°Your Holiness, thank you for your help.¡± ¡°Are you alright? You¡¯re not hurt?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. But...¡± Luciana hesitated for a moment before continuing. ¡°When you held the bow earlier, it reminded me of something. Do you remember our time at the seminary?¡± ¡°...Did we study together?¡± ¡°Yes. Once, during the royal hunting competition, you got bored watching and grabbed a bow. You ended up shooting an arrow... into a nobleman¡¯s rear.¡± It was a story about Nikellus¡¯ past that I had no memory of. Yet, as she spoke, a bittersweet nostalgia welled up within me, despite myself. Luciana¡¯s voice carried on as I grappled with the odd feeling. ¡°I was a little nervous when you aimed the bow today. I thought you might miss and hit me this time. But... you must¡¯ve practiced a lot. I didn¡¯t expect you to hit the target so perfectly.¡± For a moment, her usually cold blue eyes softened with warmth. That¡¯s when the system notification appeared. [Luciana van Lazar¡¯s favorability has slightly increased.] Seeing it startled me. I hadn¡¯t expected to encounter this system after reincarnating here. In The Last Apostle, completing minor NPC quests or earning their trust triggered these messages. High favorability could even lead to rare rewards. Though I didn¡¯t see Luciana as a mere NPC, the message still left me feeling... peculiar.
"Your Holiness! Sir Lazar! Can we start looting the items now?" Argelio¡¯s interruption snapped me out of my thoughts. He was already eyeing the scattered items greedily, his gaze practically sparkling. "Don¡¯t touch anything. Not even a pebble. Leave it all alone." Worried he might pocket something anyway; I hurried towards him. Chapter 10: The Bloodied Mace of the Inquisitor ¡°Noooo!¡± A piercing scream erupted from Rubin. Simultaneously, I brought down my trump card¡ªthe Bloodied Mace of the Inquisitor (S)¡ªonto the golden idol. BANG! A deafening crash resounded, followed by a system message. [The Bloodied Mace of the Inquisitor reacts to the alien magic! The sacred conviction of the mace obliterates the unfamiliar and malevolent power!] This weapon, simply put, was an S-rank artifact designed to annihilate magic. It wasn¡¯t just any artifact¡ªit was the mace once wielded by the inquisitors of old, during an era when magic was hunted as heresy. The inquisitors, zealots driven by a nearly mad conviction, would crush anything even remotely magical with this very mace. Over centuries, that fervor imbued the weapon with a cursed aura, transforming it into a tool that not only purified magic but utterly destroyed it. "It wasn¡¯t easy borrowing this from the Church Museum," I thought. Initially, I¡¯d planned to use a standard magic purification artifact. But those were prohibitively expensive¡ªand lacked efficiency. So, I had a radical idea: fight poison with poison. If an artifact cursed with malevolent energy could clash with an equally malevolent magic source, the two opposing forces might destroy each other. As expected, the collision of these incompatible energies created a chaotic upheaval. CRACK! The sound was grotesque, like the space itself being torn apart. The backlash of the clash surged through me, splitting pain radiating through every nerve in my body. "This... is worse than I imagined." I was using my purification skill, Holy Accord, alongside the mace''s power to crush the idol¡¯s corrupted core. For any ordinary artifact, this would have been over in seconds. But this was no ordinary relic. The ancient power embedded within the golden idol resisted fiercely, pushing back against the mace. That resistance transferred directly to my body, making every moment a test of endurance. [Core Destruction in Progress] ¨D Current Progress: 13% The progress bar in the system window crawled upward, painfully slow. Yet it was moving, even if only by inches. ¨D 36% ¨D 54% ¨D 79% As the percentage ticked upward, I clenched my teeth, silently praying. Faster, please, faster! Then, just as it reached 91%¡ª ¡°Gah¡ª!¡± Blood spurted from my mouth as a sharp pain erupted inside. The collision of opposing forces had finally taken its toll, damaging my internal organs.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. To make matters worse, another message appeared. [Skill duration exceeded. The skill Holy Accord has been deactivated!] ¡°What?!¡± My heart sank. Twenty minutes have passed already?! Without the synergy between my skill and the mace, the destruction progress slowed dramatically. "It¡¯s fine. Only 9% left. I can survive this. I just need to hold out a little longer, and with a high-grade potion, I can heal the damage." I clung to that thought, desperately finding comfort in the idea that the ordeal was nearly over. But then, the golden idol twisted. Its serene visage contorted into a grotesque expression, and a chilling sound escaped. [Kiiiiiik¡­ Kikikik¡­] What was worse, a dark, viscous energy began seeping out of the idol. It was unlike anything I¡¯d seen before¡ªa formless black mist, thick and suffocating. ¡°What the hell is that¡­?¡± The mist began swirling ominously, as though searching for a host. And then it lunged¡ªstraight at me.
A Dream of the Past I had a dream¡ªa memory from the time before I became Nikelus. It was the night my friends dragged me to a bar after I¡¯d repeatedly turned down their invitations. I¡¯d been too busy, but that night, they wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. One of them, already drunk, suddenly brought up an old classmate. ¡°Hey, remember that guy? The one in the next class over? He was set on going to sports college until that accident broke his leg.¡± I vaguely recalled the person, but I didn¡¯t interrupt. My friend, however, seemed thrilled, like he¡¯d stumbled upon buried treasure. ¡°Guess what? He¡¯s making bank now! Already bought a house and a car.¡± ¡°A house? Probably thanks to his parents.¡± ¡°Nope, earned it himself. He¡¯s been selling items from that game¡ªwhat¡¯s it called? World¡¯s End Survival or something. Made like 100 million won in a single sale.¡± ¡°Wait, 100 million?!¡± ¡°Yeah, apparently rich guys and even tycoons are dropping ridiculous money on characters and items. That¡¯s how he made his fortune.¡± The conversation spiraled into laughter, with someone joking about quitting everything to become a professional gamer. None of them meant it seriously. They had secure paths waiting for them. But for me, who was buried in debt and struggling to pay for my father¡¯s medical bills, that story was a revelation. "If he could do it, maybe¡­" Fueled by desperation and a drunken haze, I spent every last won I had on a second-hand gaming capsule. It was scratched, stained, and barely functional, but I didn¡¯t care. I was elated. "All I need to do now is make money." At first, I crafted potions, selling them to wealthier players. But after a month of grueling work¡ªdays without eating properly, nights without sleep¡ªall I had to show for it was 238,000 won. That was when I realized: potions wouldn¡¯t cut it. So, I shifted my focus to character progression, pouring in every ounce of time and effort. Slowly but surely, I made progress. But just when I started seeing results, my father passed away. After his death, I buried myself in the game¡ªnot for survival anymore, but as an escape. And then one day, I received an unexpected message.
[Congratulations! You¡¯ve been selected for a special event!] A golden ticket to a mysterious dungeon called the Lucidmiller Cathedral. It promised untold rewards for completing its challenges. For the first time in forever, I¡¯d smiled.
Back to Reality I jolted awake, pain surging through my body. Every limb throbbed. ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± Rubin¡¯s voice pulled me back. ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? This was dangerous.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ but what happened while I was out?¡± I pieced together fragments of my memory. The golden idol, the black mist, Rubin transforming¡­ ¡°That red blur that leapt in front of me¡ªwas that you?¡± ¡°Yes. As your guide, I¡¯m small like this. But as your guardian, I can transform into something larger. That¡¯s how I swallowed the mist.¡± ¡°You¡­ swallowed it? Are you okay?¡± ¡°For now. You managed to purify 91% of it, so it¡¯s not immediately fatal.¡± ¡°Not immediately fatal? That¡¯s not comforting, Rubin.¡± Rubin avoided my gaze, instead pointing at the idol. ¡°It¡¯s purified now. Take it.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°No one remembers this place or the god it once honored. It¡¯s yours.¡± Rubin handed me a silver pendant. ¡°This contains my memories. Take it with you.¡± As I inspected the pendant, a system notification appeared. [Main Oracle 5 complete! Would you like to claim your reward?] ¨D Yes ¨D No Chapter 11: The Fifth Main Oracle, Complete As the notification for the newly completed Oracle flashed before me, an intense anticipation surged within. This Oracle had been a grueling task; surely, the rewards would be worth the trouble. No way they¡¯d throw a few measly coins my way after all this, right? "Rubin, here¡¯s another cloud candy. Hold onto it and wait here for just a moment, okay?" I pulled the last piece of candy from my pocket and handed it to Rubin. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in no time after checking something. Once this is done, we¡¯ll head out of the temple, enjoy the flowers, and buy plenty of cloud candy to share.¡± Rubin accepted the candy without a word, his cheeks puffing up adorably as he smiled. After patting his head once, I stepped into the corridor and opened the Oracle screen. Sub-Oracle (3) ¨C Find and purify the final Mana Core hidden within the ancient ruins of the "Temple of the Crimson Moon," located at the central lake of Blonka Forest! (1/1) (Complete) The Complete button now appeared, thanks to my recent purification of the Mana Core. And below that: [You have completed the Fifth Main Oracle! Would you like to claim your rewards?] ¨C Yes ¨C No The system prompt flashed, the choices blinking invitingly. I didn¡¯t hesitate and tapped Yes. [Oracle Completion Rewards] ¨C Karma +200 points ¨C Two Advanced Healing Potions ¨C A Useful Random Box ¨C Shard of a Lost Memory ¨C ¡°White Moon¡± Shop Access Pass (3 uses) A Shard of a Lost Memory? A Useful Random Box? Shop Access Passes? I frowned. Judging by the names alone, it was hard to tell what they did. Honestly, I¡¯d been hoping for some flashy weapon or gear, so this list was a disappointment. Among them, the ¡°Useful Random Box¡± bothered me the most. Random boxes¡ªthose gambling-style items that handed out loot or gold at random. In my experience, the chance of pulling something genuinely valuable from such boxes was slim to none. Clicking my tongue, I pulled out one of the Advanced Healing Potions and drank it. ¡°Ah... That¡¯s better.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The unbearable pain wracking my body finally eased. For now, I decided to keep the remaining potion in hand instead of stashing it in my inventory. I turned back toward the chapel where Rubin was waiting. ¡°Rubin, if you¡¯re hurt anywhere¡ª¡± I trailed off mid-sentence. Rubin wasn¡¯t moving. He lay collapsed, utterly still, like a doll whose strings had been cut. The potion bottle slipped from my hand, rolling across the floor with a hollow, echoing sound.
The party members, who had split up to search the upper floors, began regrouping. While returning Argellio¡¯s shield, Nikellus heard from him that there wasn¡¯t much to report from other areas. Traps, yes, but no noteworthy items. In stark contrast to the others¡¯ empty-handed return, Nikellus had brought back an impressive golden statue. Luciana had expected him to be more elated, but he only pointed at the exit with a subdued expression. ¡°Let¡¯s head out now.¡± ¡°Your Grace, are you injured? You seem... troubled,¡± Luciana remarked cautiously, noting his gloomy demeanor. Nikellus shook his head. ¡°No, just tired. It¡¯s been a long day.¡± Finally, he revealed what he¡¯d been cradling in his arms¡ªsomething wrapped in his white coat. The group fell silent as he slowly unwrapped the fabric. Luciana gasped softly. ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Beneath the folds lay the guide of the temple¡ªthe vibrant red creature who had chattered endlessly before. Now, it was utterly lifeless, as if it had fallen into a peaceful slumber after fulfilling its long-held duty. Argellio hesitated before asking, ¡°Isn¡¯t this creature the temple¡¯s guiding spirit?¡± ¡°When I purified the golden statue, Rubin helped me. It seems the strain was too much for him,¡± Nikellus explained, forcing a bitter smile. The group grew solemn as Nikellus continued, ¡°I¡¯ll bury him nearby. You all go ahead. I¡¯ll catch up later¡ªit¡¯s not like I can¡¯t handle myself out here.¡± Luciana hesitated but eventually nodded. She knew Nikellus¡¯s soft spot for animals. As a child, he had mourned his pet cat¡¯s death by locking himself in his room for days. Though he hadn¡¯t known Rubin long, he had clearly grown attached. ¡°We¡¯ll go ahead, then. Please... take care of him properly. And don¡¯t take too long to rejoin us.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Luciana turned to leave but paused, a thought nagging at her. Why not cremate him at the cathedral? Nikellus always said animals deserve funerals as dignified as humans¡¯... She considered asking but decided against it. His emotions were likely too raw.
Stepping outside the ruins, Nikellus found the setting sun casting its warm hues over the Temple of the Crimson Moon. He wandered the area, searching for a suitable spot, until he stopped beneath a large tree providing both light and shade. ¡°This looks good, don¡¯t you think, Rubin?¡± he murmured. A faint glow emitted from the bracelet on his wrist, and suddenly, a white creature materialized. ¡°Yeah, I think it¡¯s perfect,¡± Rubin replied cheerfully. The guide¡¯s spirit hadn¡¯t perished¡ªit had transferred to a new, upgraded body.
[Earlier...] Rubin had absorbed the Mana Core during the purification process, overloading his ancient body and shutting down entirely. Desperate, Nikellus had tried everything¡ªhealing potions, magical scrolls, even the Shard of a Lost Memory. Nothing worked. Just as despair began to creep in, his gaze fell upon the ¡°Useful Random Box.¡± ¡°Could this really be... useful?¡± Taking a gamble, he opened it. [Random Box Opened!] ¨C Acquired: Modern Polydroid Frame (Mammalian Type, Memory Card Not Included) ¨C Accessories: Polydroid Storage Bracelet, User Manual, Spare Tail Fur It worked. Rubin was back, now housed in a sleek, white frame.
Back in the present, Rubin flitted around, examining his new form. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Nikellus asked with a grin. ¡°Like it? I love it! It¡¯s lighter, quieter, and¡ªcheck this out¡ªdetachable tails for easy cleaning!¡± Nikellus chuckled, watching Rubin¡¯s excitement. ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s get moving. We¡¯ve got one more stop before heading to the cathedral.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°To the Earl of Filma¡¯s manor.¡± Rubin tilted his head. ¡°Why? Are you friends with him?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± Nikellus smirked. ¡°Last time, I only destroyed half his mansion. This time, I¡¯m finishing the job.¡± Chapter 12: Caught the Conman! As the sun sank below the horizon, the empire was wrapped in the velvet shroud of night. The half-ruined Filma Estate, a casualty of Nikellus¡¯ earlier rampage, seemed to shrink into the shadows, its hastily patched-up roof barely keeping the rain at bay. In the quiet that followed, two-night guards stationed at the estate began to chat, breaking the silence. "I''m so tired I could drop dead. Couldn''t sleep a wink with all that hammering during the day." "Tell me about it. I wish I could try the Earl''s noise-canceling trinket. It sounds like a godsend." "Sure, if you''re rich enough to afford it. I just stuff wet cloth in my ears. Works okay." "Guess I''ll try that tonight. All thanks to that damn Pope smashing the place up¡ª" The guard trailed off, freezing mid-sentence. A pale figure emerged from the darkness, gliding toward them. It didn¡¯t take long to recognize him¡ªthe very man who had caused all the hammering in the first place. "Y-Your Holiness! What brings you here?" one stammered. "No time to explain. Just step aside. It¡¯s confidential anyway." "..." "If you must know, the Earl committed some heinous crimes. I''m here to deal with him." "..." "Don¡¯t believe me?" Nikellus stroked his chin as if pondering their skepticism. The guards quickly assessed him. No visible weapons... though he might have something in his inventory. He¡¯s alone... no escorts either... They¡¯d heard tales of Nikellus'' unmatched combat prowess. Day-shift guards never shut up about his rampage. Yet now, Nikellus seemed utterly defenseless. This might be our chance. Capture him, and the Earl will reward us handsomely. With an exchanged glance, the two guards silently counted down. One... two... three! "Now!" Both spears lunged toward Nikellus, crackling with electric enchantments designed to incapacitate. The guards grinned at the thought of Nikellus writhing under the jolts. But just before the tips made contact¡ªhe vanished.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°What the¡ª?!¡± His voice came from behind. "I¡¯m a pacifist... unless the other party decides not to be." Before they could turn, Nikellus¡¯ mace whistled through the air. CLANG! He struck one guard squarely on the helmet, just hard enough to knock him out cold. The second guard spun around, swinging his spear in desperation, but Nikellus was faster. CLANG! Another metallic crash. The second guard crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Their commotion roused the rest of the estate. Alarms blared as soldiers swarmed out, encircling Nikellus. These reinforcements had been added after Nikellus¡¯ last visit left the Earl vowing revenge. Yet, none dared approach the glowing circle of energy beneath his feet: Sanctified Zone. Its mysterious properties made them wary. Nikellus remained calm, addressing the troops. "Step aside. I have business with the Earl." Predictably, no one moved. Instead, the estate¡¯s captain stepped forward, hand on the hilt of his sword. "Your Holiness, you assaulted two of our guards without cause." "Let¡¯s get the facts straight. They attacked me first. Now, stand aside. I¡¯ve got a criminal to catch." "You can¡¯t barge in here demanding access. Not after the damages from your last visit¡ª" Nikellus interrupted by charging forward, the ground trembling beneath his feet. Augmented by his Blasphemous Strength skill, his movements were lightning-fast. The captain barely managed to block with his shield. BOOM! The clash sent a deafening shockwave through the courtyard. The captain counterattacked, aiming for Nikellus'' shoulder, but the mace had other plans.
[The Inquisitor''s Mace detects corrupt magic! Neutralizing the threat with holy power!] The enchanted weapon shattered the mana stone embedded in the captain¡¯s shield. Cracks spread across its surface until the shield split in two. Stumbling back, the captain left himself wide open. CLANG! This time, the blow was decisive.
"He''s unstoppable!" "That demon of a Pope isn¡¯t human!" The morale of the Earl¡¯s forces plummeted. Soldiers hesitated, some outright fleeing. Those brave enough to attack were swiftly neutralized, their enchanted gear crumbling under Nikellus'' mace. With each strike, the mace¡¯s effects grew more pronounced: [Holy Retribution Unlocked: Moonlit Massacre Mode Activated!] 30% damage increase for 30 minutes. Pain tolerance boosted. Reduced guilt over violent acts. "Well, that''s new," Nikellus muttered. The surge of power coursing through him felt intoxicating, his blows more devastating than ever. Experimentally, he swung the mace at an approaching soldier. BOOM! The man flew backward, collapsing into an unconscious heap. As chaos unfolded, Nikellus'' companion, Rubin, kept watch from the air. Enlarged into its guardian form, the spirit deflected incoming arrows and spells with ease. "All clear?" Nikellus called up. "Yup! I¡¯ve taken care of the stragglers inside. The Earl¡¯s trying to escape through the northwest gate," Rubin reported. "Lead the way." With Nikellus mounted on Rubin, the duo soared toward the fleeing Earl.
They caught up to him moments later, his bulky form trembling in the moonlight. "S-Stay back! I-I¡¯m innocent!" he stammered. His escort of knights was no match for Nikellus and Rubin, who made quick work of them. Backed against the wall, the Earl whimpered. "P-Please, Your Holiness. Mercy!" Nikellus lowered his mace, locking eyes with the man. "Mercy? You¡¯re about to find out just how holy my mercy is."
Meanwhile, in the cathedral''s east wing, Luciana paced anxiously, her fingers drumming on the desk. Hours had passed since Nikellus left. "What¡¯s taking him so long? It was just a spirit burial..." Finally, unable to wait any longer, she activated her communication crystal, summoning a familiar yet frustrating ally. "Bliss, I need your help." With a groan, Bliss appeared, already prepared for action. "Let¡¯s go. Knowing him, he¡¯s either lost... or causing a small war."
Nikellus smiled grimly, raising his mace. "Shall we discuss the sins you¡¯ve been hiding, Earl?" Chapter 13: To the Swindler, a Heavy Blow "So, have you remembered?" The Earl''s audacious question made my fists clench on instinct. Shameless bastard. "Yeah, I remember now, you smug piece of trash. Bet you got all excited when you heard I''d forgotten about that day because of the fever, huh? Figured you could play the victim and milk me dry." Back then, my memories from before the possession were fragmented. I had no idea what had really happened at the Earl''s manor. When people told me, "Nikellus caused a commotion at the Earl''s estate," I assumed the original Nikellus had lost his temper and gone on a rampage. That was just who he was. For a moment, I even believed it was Nikellus'' fault. I nearly paid the compensation. If it weren¡¯t for the reward from the oracle¡ªthe return of my missing memory fragments¡ªI might have gone through with it. But now? "I remember everything. So stop stalling and talk. The Oldest Seer¡ªwhere are you keeping them?" "The Oldest¡­ Seer¡­?" "Yeah, the one you kidnapped. Spill it. Now." The Earl¡¯s fear was evident. I thought a little more pressure would break him. "The Seer¡­" "Hm?" "The Seer is¡­ mine!" ¡°¡­What?" The trembling man suddenly raised his voice, as if possessed by some unnatural fervor. Just moments ago, he had been shaking like a leaf, but at the mention of the Seer, his demeanor transformed completely¡ªlike he was under some kind of spell. "¡­What¡¯s with the sudden outburst? Did you hit your head or something¡ª?" "Neither you nor anyone else will ever take the Seer from me!" "¡­You¡¯ve lost your mind, haven¡¯t you?" "No matter how much you ask, I will never, ever tell you where they are! Not in a thousand years!" There was no doubt the Seer was someone important. But prioritizing their protection over his own safety, especially now? That was¡­ odd. And his reaction¡ªcompletely unnatural the moment I mentioned the Seer¡¯s name. ¡®¡­Open status window.¡¯ Something didn¡¯t sit right, so I double-checked his status window. At first glance, it seemed normal. Predictably unimpressive skills. Pathetically low karma points. Honestly, I¡¯d wondered if he might be completely unawakened¡ªsomeone whose status window couldn¡¯t even be accessed. But something unusual stood out at the very bottom of his profile, under the "Special Conditions" section:You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Special Conditions ¡ªCurrently under the influence of a mental manipulation skill.
So that¡¯s why his behavior had been so erratic. A mental skill, huh? That explained it. Anyone caught in a mind-altering spell would struggle to make rational decisions. ¡®Come to think of it, this guy was weird last time too, when the original Nikellus visited.¡¯ Back then, the Earl had been oddly fixated on the Seer. I assumed it was just his greed at play. But now it seemed he¡¯d already been under the skill¡¯s influence even then. Despite knowing the Earl had kidnapped the Seer, Nikellus failed to act calmly. Instead, he stormed into the Earl¡¯s estate, demanding their release. The Earl, smug as ever, had dared to provoke him: "I don¡¯t know how you got this absurd idea, but without evidence, you can¡¯t do anything to me~" That had been enough to make Nikellus lose it, demolishing half the estate in a rage. The Earl only managed to escape by flying off with a high-grade mobility item. And that, as it turned out, was the true story.
A Quick Recap:
  1. The Earl kidnapped the Seer.
  2. Nikellus, attempting to rescue the Seer, rampaged through the estate, causing massive destruction.
  3. After my possession of Nikellus, I forgot about the Earl¡¯s crimes due to the memory loss.
  4. The Earl exploited this to frame me as an unprovoked lunatic and extorted compensation.
  5. Turns out, the Earl might have been under a mental skill the whole time.
¡®But how¡¯d he gets caught in that skill? He¡¯s rich enough to afford mind-protection items.¡¯ Could the skill have been strong enough to bypass his defenses? If so, we were talking at least an A-rank ability. ¡®Great. Just what I needed¡ªanother headache.¡¯ Knowing I¡¯d likely need to get rough to extract the Seer¡¯s location, I subtly signaled to Rubin, who was standing nearby. The gesture was simple: Start recording. Rubin gave a small nod, confirming he¡¯d understood, before discreetly activating the recording device. Turning back to the Earl, I spoke calmly. "You think the Seer belongs to you? They¡¯re not anyone¡¯s property. You abducted an innocent person in the dead of night, and now you have the audacity to¡ª" "I took them to protect them!" The Earl blurted out exactly what I wanted to hear. So easy. Was it because of the mental skill? Regardless, he walked straight into my trap. I kept pressing, feigning confusion. "Protect them? From what?" "The Tower of Prophecy, or whatever you want to call that pathetic excuse for security. If I hadn¡¯t stepped in, foreign agents would¡¯ve abducted them eventually!" "So, you kidnapped them¡­ out of patriotism?" "How could I sit idly by while such a precious resource was so poorly managed? Before any foreign powers could swoop in, I acted for the Empire''s benefit, taking them under my protection¡ª!" "Enough." As soon as he said exactly what I needed, I turned to Rubin. "Got all that?" "Every word. The video¡¯s clear, and the audio¡¯s crystal." "Perfect. Save it. This is all the proof we need to expose the Earl¡¯s abduction scheme." Even in this relatively primitive era, magical recording devices existed. The Earl¡¯s face paled as realization dawned. He clamped his mouth shut, but it was too late. His confession was already securely stored in Rubin¡¯s device. "Alright, stop recording," I told Rubin. "What happens next isn¡¯t meant for public eyes."
It only took three punches. The first? He sputtered indignantly: "You dare lay a hand on me¡ª?" The second? He tried to bargain: "I''ll double your compensation! Just stop¡ª!" By the third, he broke completely. "The Seer is at my villa on the southwestern coast of Filmarion!" Of course, I threw in a couple of bonus punches for good measure. He deserved it for framing Nikellus and extorting compensation. Satisfied, I left the Earl bound and unconscious in a remote location before setting out for the villa with Rubin. As we soared through the air, Rubin, carrying me on his back, turned his head. "So, Nikellus. What¡¯s the real story with this ¡®Oldest Seer¡¯? Why are you so determined to rescue them? Is it¡­ for justice?" "Justice?" I hesitated. The word pricked at my conscience. "Not really. They came to me in a dream. Said they¡¯d been kidnapped and promised to share some critical information if I saved them." "In a dream?" "Yeah. You¡¯ve heard of dream demons, right? Succubi, incubi, that sort of thing." Rubin¡¯s ears twitched. "Of course! Lower-class demons that invade dreams to steal energy from humans." I nodded. "Well, the Seer¡¯s bloodline traces back to one of those demons. That¡¯s why they can enter dreams and manipulate them. Their foresight ability? A remnant of that heritage." Rubin¡¯s tail wagged with curiosity as I explained further, the vast expanse of three moons and countless stars lighting our path. Chapter 14: The Search for the Nameless Solution Most people would have shown at least a sliver of interest in the prophet''s riddle. But the original Nikellus was not someone who indulged in the riddles of others. His temperament simply didn''t allow for such courtesy. He had, in fact, been on the verge of dismissing the prophet¡¯s words and forcing himself awake from the dream. And he likely would have done so¡ªhad the prophet not added something extraordinary. "This dream belongs to a sage who lived for hundreds of years. As a sage, he knew the answers to all problems, including the one you, Your Eminence, so desperately seek to solve." Nikellus, with his unrelenting curiosity, finally stopped to listen. The prophet¡¯s lips curved into a mysterious smile, as if they had expected this reaction all along. "The answer lies here, in my hand. But if you want it... you must come find me." The prophet continued, offering a bargain: Free them from the grasp of a certain count, and in return, they would allow Nikellus to gaze into the sage''s dream, where he could uncover the solution, he craved. The problem? Nikellus¡¯s memories, fragmented and unreliable as they were, only let me recall up to that point. What was this "problem" he was so desperate to solve? It was infuriatingly unclear. I tried probing the memories again, hoping to unearth a clue. "I swear on the honor of my lineage. If you rescue me, I¡¯ll ensure you gain access to the dream. Then, the Nameless Solution shall be yours." But no matter how hard I tried, the most critical part¡ªthe prophet''s exact words¡ªremained elusive. It was as if someone had edited the memory, muffling the voice into an incoherent jumble. One thing was clear, though: Nikellus had taken great pains to keep this ¡°problem¡± a secret. That¡¯s why, when he set out for Philma Province to rescue the prophet, he went alone. Even when Lucia grilled him afterward¡ª ¡°Why did you stir up trouble in Philma Province of all places?¡±¡ª he had shrugged and lied, ¡°The count annoyed me.¡± He¡¯d kept the true goal, the prophet¡¯s rescue, hidden from everyone. What could it have been? What secret was so critical that even someone as reckless as Nikellus would risk everything to save a prophet from captivity? As the thoughts swirled in my mind, I solidified my resolve. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.Whatever it was, it was undeniably significant. I would find that prophet, rescue them, and finally uncover the truth.
¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that the villa where the prophet¡¯s being held?¡± Rubin¡¯s voice startled me. I looked up. There, atop a cliff overlooking the frothing white waves of the sea, stood a solitary white villa, bathed in moonlight.
Outside the Temple Grounds As Bliss and Lucia stepped out into the cool night air, Lucia broke the silence. ¡°It feels odd to ask after insisting we go look for him, but¡­ why? Why are you helping? Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect you to agree so readily.¡± From her perspective, Bliss¡¯s assistance was a godsend. The church couldn¡¯t risk a public search for Nikellus, not with the growing scrutiny of the Order upon him. A fiasco¡ªlike finding him passed out drunk in a tavern after leading a nighttime search party¡ªwould undo the goodwill his recent archaeological successes had built. Bliss¡¯s willingness to help, quietly and efficiently, was a relief. But it was also puzzling. He wasn¡¯t the type to bother with matters that didn¡¯t concern him. Bliss offered a faint smirk. ¡°You remind me of someone.¡± Lucia¡¯s brow furrowed as she caught his next words. ¡°My little brother. Left him behind at the palace. You¡¯re close in age, too.¡± Her steps faltered. His brother? He could only mean Ernen von Frisk, the half-brother who had usurped Bliss¡¯s throne. Bliss had every reason to hate him, yet here he was, drawing parallels between Nikellus and the very person who betrayed him. Did that mean he wanted to kill Nikellus? Or¡­ protect him? Bliss¡¯s intentions were impossible to decipher, leaving Lucia standing in her tracks until his voice snapped her out of it. ¡°Hurry up, Lucia. It¡¯s getting colder. Wouldn¡¯t want someone as delicate as Your Eminence catching a cold.¡± Was he mocking her, or genuinely concerned? She couldn¡¯t tell. Shaking her head, she followed him to the cathedral stables.
Inside, amidst the soft nickering of horses, a guttural sound rumbled. Lucia approached a scaled beast with a dragon-like form, far smaller than true dragons, making it ideal for riders. These tamed beasts, known as draconic steeds, were bred for speed and endurance, making them perfect for long-distance travel. The pair chose the swiftest steeds available and prepared to set out. Bliss activated a skill, and ghostly figures shimmered into view¡ªspirits of the departed. His S-rank skill, Aid of the Lost, allowed him to summon these entities to gather intelligence. To Lucia, their whispers were unintelligible, a haunting cacophony. But Bliss listened carefully, nodding occasionally. ¡°They say he¡¯s at the southwestern coast of Philma Province. After attacking the count¡¯s manor, he headed there.¡± Lucia blinked. ¡°Wait¡­ attacked? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes. Slaughtered the guards. No apologies, no mercy.¡± Her shock turned to anger. ¡°Why? After all the trouble we went through to negotiate reparations with Philma Province, why ruin it like this?¡± Bliss shrugged. ¡°Spirits aren¡¯t omniscient. They can only report what they¡¯ve witnessed.¡± Before she could press further, one spirit¡¯s form contorted, letting out a piercing scream. Lucia¡¯s blood ran cold. ¡°What was that?¡± she asked. Bliss dismissed the spirits, his expression unusually grim. ¡°They¡¯re warning us. Our dear Nikellus is about to face something¡­ truly horrifying.¡±
The Villa¡¯s Perimeter I crouched in the shadows of the forest, scanning the villa through a high-powered telescope Rubin had lent me. The lack of security was unsettling. It didn¡¯t match the count¡¯s earlier desperation to keep the prophet confined. Something was off. It¡¯s almost like they want me to walk in¡­ A dreadful thought crossed my mind. ¡°Rubin,¡± I called softly. ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll go in alone.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trap,¡± I said, my voice firm. The pieces were falling into place. The prophet¡¯s earlier behavior, the strange security¡ªor lack thereof¡ªit all pointed to one thing. ¡°This isn¡¯t a rescue. It¡¯s a setup. And the prophet orchestrated all of it.¡± Chapter 15: The Truth About the Old Prophets I wasn¡¯t mistaken. The content of the Sixth Oracle was exactly as I had read earlier. "Capture them," huh? Was that supposed to mean I should fight and subdue them? If they¡¯re going to give me commands, they could at least be a bit clearer¡­ It would¡¯ve been a lot more helpful if the Oracle had plainly stated: "The prophet is lying in wait, having set traps¡ªgo defeat them!" Even better, they could¡¯ve included a marked map showing the prophet¡¯s location. Then I wouldn¡¯t have had to waste time interrogating the count. Not that I¡¯d skip the interrogation entirely; the guy had enough crimes to warrant a beating either way. The Oracle window was as unhelpful as ever, and the typo still grated on my nerves. ¡°Prophets,¡± plural? Was that a typo? Or not¡­? I stared hard at the text in the Oracle window before shaking my head. Instead, I opened my inventory and pulled out a White Moon Shop Ticket¡ªa reward from completing the Fifth Main Oracle. I hadn¡¯t used it yet since the ticket would be consumed upon purchase, but I¡¯d taken a peek earlier. The shop had some amusing and unique items for sale, though I wasn¡¯t sure about their practicality. "Open White Moon Shop." With the ticket in hand, I gave the mental command. A translucent shop window materialized before me.
[White Moon Shop]
  • Infinite Rope (A)
  • Poisonous Bloom of Resentment (A)
  • Trap for Night Visitors (A)
  • Seal Carved from a Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Tree (L)
  • Bundle of 1,000 Vampire Beetles (L) ...
I scrolled further by clicking [View More] and was greeted by a cascade of bizarre items. None of these existed in my past playthrough of Doomsday Chronicle, and most were rare, A-rank or higher, with some being almost impossible to obtain through conventional means. I browsed carefully, analyzing descriptions and performance stats displayed alongside the item illustrations. This prevented any unfortunate mistakes, such as purchasing useless gear. After some deliberation, I finalized my purchases: an S-rank mental defense accessory to counter charm skills, a trap designed for stealthy intruders, and a few potions. [You have used a White Moon Shop Ticket (1/3 remaining).]If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The shop window disappeared as soon as the transaction was complete, and I carefully stashed the items in my inventory. Then I turned to Rubin. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. Don¡¯t follow strangers offering candy.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re late, I¡¯ll follow anyone.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back in thirty minutes.¡± At my reassurance, Rubin¡¯s drooping ears perked up. Leaving him behind, I reluctantly trudged toward the villa where traps undoubtedly awaited.
Approaching the villa, I noticed no one trying to stop me. A few guards loitered near the entrance, but their vacant expressions made it clear they were entranced or bewitched. Passing them without incident, I entered the building. The air shifted. "!" It felt like stepping into the stomach of a massive, unseen creature. A sensation all too familiar from my gaming days¡ªI could guess what was happening. Sure enough, a notification popped up: [You have entered the Hidden Dungeon: "Nightmare Woven by the Prophets" (?? Rank).] The entire villa had been transformed into a dungeon. Normally, only monsters with immense magical power could "Dungeonize" a space, so how could a mere descendant of a nightmare demon¡ªone prophet¡ªachieve this? And what was this "Nightmare Dungeon," anyway? I¡¯d never encountered one before. Crossing the grand hall cautiously, I was interrupted by a whisper that seemed to crawl into my ears. "It¡¯s your fault." I froze. The voice came from nowhere, yet it was as clear as if someone stood beside me. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Clenching my war hammer tightly, I infused it with divine energy. More whispers followed, vile and persistent. "If only you weren¡¯t here¡­" "It¡¯s not too late. Just end your life now." "Die! Die! Die!" The whispers pressed heavily, laced with malice¡ªa psychological attack meant to break weaker minds. But me? ¡°Get more creative, will you? Telling me to die is so boring.¡± After all, I was no stranger to hardship. Life had thrown enough at me to fill ten tragedies. I¡¯d been buried in debt straight out of graduation, wrestled with bullies at work, fought to get unpaid wages, and even endured drunken brawlers picking fights at barbecue joints. If words alone could kill me, I¡¯d have died a thousand times over already. The whispers fell silent. Taking advantage of the lull, I swung my hammer with all my might. CRASH! The marble statue standing in the center of the hall shattered into pieces, shards scattering like glass. Driving the hammer into the floor for emphasis, I called out. ¡°Come out and face me already. Stop skulking in the shadows like a coward.¡± For a moment, silence. Then, slow, deliberate footsteps echoed from the second floor. From around the corner emerged¡­ the boss of this dungeon, the one who had orchestrated it all. ¡°So,¡± I said, staring at them, ¡°You¡¯re the prophet?¡± ¡°Yep, I¡¯m the old prophet. Took you long enough! Do you know how long I¡¯ve been waiting? I even visited your dreams to ask for help!¡± The "prophet" sounded more exasperated than threatening. I recognized their pink hair and lavender eyes from the dream¡ªexcept for the bat-like wings on their back, a signature of nightmare demons. ¡°I was busy,¡± I replied curtly, studying them. They grinned, flapping their wings playfully. ¡°You¡¯re lucky. I was going to fill this place with monsters, but you seemed eager to chat, so I came out personally. You know how rare that is?¡± Ignoring their smugness, I tightened my grip on my hammer. It was clear this would be anything but straightforward. And the more they talked, the more I realized something bigger was in play. Chapter 16: Extinction for the Sake of Justice When more than ten mana cores are destroyed, the war hammer''s special ability activates. I discovered this during my rampage in the Count''s mansion, breaking the soldiers¡¯ enchanted items. The mana stones I just shattered might be small, but they¡¯re still considered mana cores. And this time, I didn¡¯t stop at ten¡ªI obliterated 101. ¡°If I remember correctly, special effects triggered by fulfilling specific conditions don¡¯t stop at just one level. The more conditions are met, the stronger the effect becomes, climbing to the second stage, third stage, and so on.¡± In other words, surpassing 100 destroyed mana cores likely triggered a significantly upgraded second-stage effect, far superior to what happens after breaking just a dozen or so. As expected, the hammer''s special ability activated. [You have shattered over 100 sources of malevolent mana! The item¡¯s special ability, Extinction for the Sake of Justice, has been activated!] Extinction for the Sake of Justice. The name alone sounded ominous, but the effect was undeniably powerful. [You will become resistant to pain for 150 minutes.] [Your guilt toward acts of violence will diminish for 150 minutes.] [When targeting a specific race, your overall stats will increase significantly during combat.] Previously, the ability ¡°Righteous Massacre Under the Moonlight¡± activated after I broke 11 cores. It was decent but limited¡ªonly a 10% damage increase with a duration of 30 minutes. Now, however, the buff enhanced my overall stats and lasted much longer. Though the specifics of which stats were boosted and by how much weren¡¯t immediately clear, another message popped up. [Select the target race for the special effect Extinction for the Sake of Justice.]
  • Demons
  • Celestials
  • Humans
  • Elementals
  • Spirits
Choosing a target race seemed to determine which of my abilities would be boosted. It didn¡¯t take long to decide. I selected Demons without hesitation.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. [You have chosen Demons as the target of Extinction for the Sake of Justice. Your power and sense of justice will shine brightest in the eradication of Demons.] - Attack damage against Demons: +200% - Resistance to curse-based skills: +200% - Divine power: +200% Attack power, curse resistance, divine power¡ªevery boosted stat was critical for fighting Demons. With this newfound strength, even the Nightmares lurking nearby seemed easy to crush. However¡ª ¡°The oracle explicitly said to capture them alive.¡± In other words, killing them wasn¡¯t an option. Fine. I¡¯ll just hit them hard enough to incapacitate them. Resolving myself, I loosened my grip on the hammer slightly.
The Nightmares, who had been idly watching me destroy mana stones, finally spoke. ¡¾What was that just now? That surge of unpleasant energy feels vile.¡¿ They hadn¡¯t attacked me as I activated the hammer¡¯s ability, simply observing like spectators at a show. Their smug indifference suddenly irritated me. ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain. Let me show you instead.¡± Without further warning, I lunged.
Battle Unleashed With just a bit of strength in my legs, the tiled floor beneath me crumbled into shards as I launched myself forward. ¡¾Ah.¡¿ ¡¾Ah.¡¿ The Nightmares let out startled exclamations, realizing too late how fast I¡¯d closed the distance. Their smugness had left them unprepared, creating a perfect opening. My hammer connected with one¡¯s collarbone, accompanied by an explosive burst of light and sound. The buffs stacked on me sent the damage soaring. As expected, the Nightmare crumpled to its knees without so much as a counterattack. ¡°How about now? Makes more sense when you feel it firsthand, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The Nightmares staggered to their feet, their earlier chatter silenced. They simply stared at me, their expressions unreadable, though their twisted grins remained intact. ¡¾That¡­ caught us off guard. It¡¯s been centuries since we¡¯ve felt pain like that.¡¿ ¡°Centuries, huh? What are you trying to say? That you¡¯re so strong it rarely happens?¡± I scoffed, but they seemed genuinely serious. ¡¾It¡¯s not a boast. We¡¯ve lived over 400 years. The last time we felt pain like this was during a volcanic eruption when debris hit us directly.¡¿ Their casual tone only annoyed me further. Survived volcanic debris, did you? I shook off the thought¡ªspeculating wouldn¡¯t help in a fight. ¡°Good for you. Getting hit once in a while makes the pain sharper, doesn¡¯t it?¡± With a lighter touch on my hammer, I sprang forward again, quieter and faster this time. The floor barely groaned underfoot as I closed the gap and swung.
A Shift in Momentum The Nightmares weren¡¯t fools. After my initial strike, they no longer underestimated me. My hammer struck empty tiles as they dodged and countered with razor-sharp claws. But even their retaliations were predictable. I dodged and exploited their openings, forcing them onto the defensive again. ¡®Now¡¯s the chance¡ª!¡¯ One Nightmare left its head exposed, arms lowered after an attack. Seizing the opportunity, I poured all my strength into a downward swing. The hammer struck its skull with a deafening clang, but instead of the crunch of bone, I felt the vibration of solid metal reverberating up the handle. ¡°What¡­?¡± The realization hit me hard. Something was wrong. Instinctively, I leapt back, narrowly avoiding a counterstrike. Something about these Nightmares was far beyond the norm. Chapter 17: Favored by the Divine Whiiish¡ª! The sharp sound of air being sliced hit my ears just as I dodged. Where I had stood moments ago, something razor-sharp swept past like a blade¡ªa claw transformed by the monster¡¯s skill. Shhhrkk¡ª The claw, missing its intended target, struck a nearby stone pillar instead. The poor pillar was neatly sliced in two, its surface smooth as though cut by precision machinery. The sheer cutting power was frightening. If that thing had hit me, death wouldn¡¯t just be instant¡ªthere wouldn¡¯t be much of a body left to bury. I took a cautious step back, reassessing the situation. What the hell was that? Are their heads made of steel or something? Looking closer, I noticed an ominous dark-blue aura wrapped around the monsters'' heads. I wasn¡¯t entirely sure, but it seemed their magic had reinforced their skin and bones. Much like how divine power can strengthen a weapon, magic seemed capable of enhancing physical materials as well. But¡ª ¡­Can it strengthen a living body like this? I¡¯d never heard of magic being used this way. And judging by the intensity, this reinforcement seemed significantly stronger than the enhancement of weapons¡ªeven stronger than my own mace, imbued with divine power. Despite my momentary hesitation, the monster let out a disconcerting laugh. "Oh, that was close. Almost got you there." "Your heads are tough. What are you, the famous blockheads?" "Blockheads? Don¡¯t be ridiculous. You know it¡¯s way tougher than that." The monster smirked, pointing at my wrist, which still tingled from the earlier shock. "You¡¯re strong, no denying that. But we haven¡¯t just been sitting idly by, waiting for the years to pass." ¡°¡­¡± "We¡¯ve developed our own ways to defend ourselves. What you saw? Just one of them." Raising my mace, I aimed it squarely at them again. "And you talk way too much," I shot back, provoking them. But the monsters merely laughed, as if my words were some kinds of amusing joke. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t share their sense of humor. They¡¯re not bluffing. Their defenses are way too strong. At this rate, my weapon might break first¡­ The tingling shock from earlier hadn¡¯t fully subsided, leaving my arm feeling numb. Even with my overlapping buffs and item effects, the situation wasn¡¯t looking good. If my skills wore off mid-fight, I¡¯d be done for. The only good news? Their technique didn¡¯t seem sustainable either.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Both divine power and magic were just raw materials to fuel skills. Using that energy for direct reinforcement instead of for actual skills was terribly inefficient. Meaning they¡¯ll run out of juice soon. I decided to exploit that weakness. With a burst of speed, I leapt to the second floor. The wide-open hall stretched all the way to the third-floor ceiling, so stairs weren¡¯t necessary. From there, I entered their blind spot and sprinted. Timing my descent perfectly, I jumped and landed behind one of the monsters. "Huh?" The moment it realized I was behind it, the monster redirected its magic, enveloping its back in a protective aura. I swung my mace down. This time, I held back my strength deliberately. Clang! The blow sounded like striking metal, but I didn¡¯t care. I kept swinging, aiming not to deal damage, but to force them to move their defenses. Neck, shoulders, wings¡ªI spread my attacks across as many points as possible. My goal was simple: exhaust their magic. Finally¡ª Thud! Instead of the metallic clang, the sound of flesh and muscle being struck rang out. The monster flinched, its aura faltering. Its magic reserves were running dry. "Damn¡­ couldn¡¯t block that one. Time to hurry things up." Its tone shifted slightly, as did its demeanor. With a snarl, it lashed out, claws slashing toward me. Swish! Shhrkk¡ª! Despite its massive size¡ªeasily as large as an elephant¡ªit moved with the agility of a mouse. I couldn¡¯t dodge in time. Its claw raked across my thigh, tearing through fabric and flesh alike. ¡°¡­Gah!¡± Blood spurted from the gash, staining the ground. Even dulled by buffs, the pain burned fiercely. Instinctively, I stumbled back and pulled out a healing potion. Don¡¯t lose sight of them¡ªmove fast! Biting the cork off, I poured the potion onto the wound. My hands worked with practiced precision; I¡¯d performed this same action thousands of times before. The high-quality potion worked immediately, numbing the pain and knitting the torn flesh. "What are you, a soldier? Rolling around in battlefields instead of praying? That¡¯s no priestly behavior." The monster clicked its tongue, clearly annoyed at how quickly I patched myself up. Still, its irritation was a small comfort¡ªit meant they were starting to tire. "Why fight this hard? It¡¯s pointless. Just give up and make it easy on yourself. Come here, and we¡¯ll end this." I laughed bitterly. "If you spent less time flapping your jaws and more time training, you wouldn¡¯t be struggling like this against someone younger than you." The creature¡¯s expression darkened, its glowing red eyes narrowing. The air grew heavy with a chilling malice. "Enough games. Time to end this, little priest." Unfolding its eight wings, the monster assumed a familiar stance, and my stomach churned. No way¡­! It was a stance I¡¯d seen before¡ªone monsters took before unleashing an S-rank skill. Instinctively, I summoned Nerblocka¡¯s Shield from my inventory, dove beneath the staircase, and prepared for the onslaught. Above me, the monster released its devastating attack: "Raining Judgment (S)." Like a storm of bullets, piercing strikes rained down relentlessly. Shards of stone flew as the ground disintegrated. The once-pristine marble floor turned to dust, and the staircase above me crumbled away. I crouched low, pouring divine energy into the shield to maintain its protective barrier. Each strike chipped away at the shield¡¯s integrity, forcing it to draw more from my reserves. Hold on¡­ just a little longer¡­! Blood trickled from my mouth as the strain took its toll, but I couldn¡¯t let go. If the barrier failed, I was as good as dead. Finally, the storm ceased. "What? Still alive?" The monster landed, incredulous. I straightened slowly, popping a potion to recover. The look on its face as I stood made me almost laugh¡ªalmost. "Well¡­ I guess you really are the ¡®favored¡¯ apostle of your god." ¡°...What are you talking about?¡± The monster tilted its head, then smirked. "Don¡¯t play dumb. You know you¡¯re not just any apostle. You¡¯re special¡ªunusually so. Surely you¡¯ve noticed?" ¡°What?¡± It leaned closer, its voice low. "If you weren¡¯t special, you¡¯d already be dead. You don¡¯t think surviving that storm was pure luck, do you? Someone¡¯s clearly pulling strings for you, giving you divine favoritism." For a moment, its words stunned me. Then I frowned. Favored? By whom? I needed answers¡ªbut I wasn¡¯t about to trust this creature to give them willingly. ¡°Enough riddles. Talk.¡± The creature¡¯s grin widened as if it held a secret I wasn¡¯t ready for. And I had a sinking feeling that I wouldn¡¯t like what came next. Chapter 18: Why the Prophets Tried to Kill Me After piecing everything together, I finally had a rough understanding of the situation:
  1. A criminal organization comprised of dangerous individuals had targeted Luciana.
  2. To protect her, Nikellus struck a deal to rescue the prophets, believing they knew how to shield her.
It all made sense¡ªexcept for one detail. Apparently, the prophets had lied about knowing any way to protect Luciana. Does Luciana know about this? No, she couldn¡¯t. If she did, Nikellus wouldn¡¯t have hidden his visit to the Count¡¯s manor from her. Nikellus had gone to great lengths to conceal the truth, even enduring ridicule as a ¡°madman causing a scene¡± at the estate. He hid it all because he didn¡¯t want Luciana to feel indebted to him. ...Tch. Realizing the hidden depths of the original Nikellus left a bitter taste in my mouth. It would¡¯ve been easier if he was just a reckless idiot with no sense of responsibility. That would have lifted some of the weight from my shoulders. But no. The man whose body I now inhabited wasn¡¯t just an empty shell¡ªhe was someone who sacrificed himself for others. As I mulled over this revelation, the monster¡¯s voice, which had been a unified cacophony, suddenly split into two distinct entities, each speaking their mind. "Stopping the Forgotten and protecting Luciana from them... If we actually knew how to do that, we wouldn¡¯t be wasting our strength trying to kill him." "But we don¡¯t know the way, so¡ª" "Luciana will inevitably be taken, and her capture will lead to our brother falling into their hands, controlled like a puppet¡ª" The monster raised its clawed hand and scraped it across the floor, pawing like a bull ready to charge. It was straightforward enough to predict its path, but predicting didn¡¯t make dodging any easier¡ªit was blisteringly fast. "That¡¯s why we have to kill you here before it¡¯s too late!" The monster charged as expected. Ordinarily, I would¡¯ve dodged immediately, but this time, I waited. In the fraction of a second I had to act, only one thought dominated my mind: Move precisely. No mistakes. I couldn¡¯t dodge too late¡ªone misstep and its razor-sharp claws would rip me apart. But I couldn¡¯t dodge too early, either. That would tip them off to the trap I¡¯d planted behind my shield. I timed my movement perfectly, pulling back just as its claws grazed my neck. "...!!"This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The monster finally noticed the trap concealed behind me¡ªa magical device I had discreetly set up while pretending to negotiate. It was too late for them to stop. The momentum of their massive body carried them straight into the trap¡¯s range. [Trap Item "Night Visitor''s Snare (A)" has been activated!] This was the expensive trap I had purchased earlier at the White Moon Shop. It was a finicky device, only effective when the target¡¯s health and mana were below 50%. But in this moment, it was perfect. Designed to ensnare ¡°night visitors¡±¡ªbeings like incubi and succubi¡ªit sprang to life. "Aaaaargh!!" Chains of radiant light shot out from the octagonal trap, coiling around the monster¡¯s enormous body like snakes. The holy chains constricted their prey, transforming into unbreakable restraints. [Forcing the captive night visitors to disband their fusion skill, "Soul Bond."] [Reducing captive night visitors'' health, mana, and stamina by 80%.] [Sealing all skills for 10 minutes.] Note: If the captive night visitors are rendered "incapacitated," the seal duration extends to one year! The fused monstrosity split apart, reverting into two separate entities¡ªa male incubus and a female succubus. Both collapsed to the floor, chains around their necks. For a moment, it seemed the tide had turned. But I knew better. Their strength wasn¡¯t entirely gone, and the skill seal would wear off in ten minutes. I needed to incapacitate them to make the seal permanent. As my dwindling holy energy threatened to overwhelm me with exhaustion, I clenched my teeth. Can my body even hold out long enough? Despite my doubts, I lunged at the incubus. Clang! Our weapons collided¡ªhis magic-infused arm against my reinforced mace. His blood-red eyes burned with killing intent. ¡°Stubborn, aren¡¯t you? You know what¡¯ll happen if you, a powerful Apostle, fall into their hands,¡± he sneered. ¡°You mean the Forgotten?¡± I shot back. ¡°What¡¯ll happen?¡± He laughed darkly. ¡°You already know, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Nope. Not a clue,¡± I replied earnestly. ¡°But here¡¯s what I do know: I¡¯ll protect Luciana, and I¡¯ll survive.¡± ¡°Even if your decision jeopardizes everyone¡¯s safety and peace? They will use you to destroy this world!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll deal with them later.¡± I smirked. ¡°Maybe no one has to die. Did you ever think of that?¡± ¡°An idealistic solution doesn¡¯t exist¡ª!¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± I sidestepped his left-handed swing and pressed on. ¡°How do you know there¡¯s no way to stop the Forgotten without sacrifices? Did you even try to find another way? Or did you just take the easy shortcut and decide killing me was faster?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°And what makes you so confident that your shortcut will even work?¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°If you kill me and your worst-case scenario still happens, then what?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he swung his wing at me. Crunch! I blocked with my arm, but the impact fractured the bone. Still, thanks to an item effect, the pain was dulled, allowing me to grab his wing. I tightened my grip and grinned. ¡°Let me guess¡ªyou foresaw the world ending a thousand years from now, right?¡± His stunned expression gave me all the confirmation I needed. ¡°Thought so. The Forgotten need me to bring about that future, and they¡¯re targeting Luciana to control me.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°And you thought killing me would solve everything. But you overlooked one thing.¡± He narrowed his eyes. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°That your plan is flawed.¡± I stared him down. ¡°If I die, the worlds still doomed. Want to know why?¡± I let the truth spill: ¡°Because I¡¯m from that future¡ªthe one where everything already fell apart.¡± His face paled. ¡°A thousand years from now, this world is nothing but ruins. Civilization is gone. The only things left are dungeons and monsters.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So, you see, I¡¯ve already lived that nightmare. And killing me now won¡¯t stop it from happening again.¡± The incubus faltered, his grip weakening. ¡°You want peace? Fine. But you¡¯re going about it all wrong.¡± With a swift motion, I tore through the membrane of his wing with my dagger. He let out a pained scream and collapsed, unable to stand. Finally, I turned toward the succubus¡ªonly for her to dart toward the window. ¡°No!¡± I leapt after her, but my injured body failed me. My fingers barely grazed her ankle before she escaped into the night. Panting, I cursed under my breath. ¡°Luciana! Bliss!¡± I turned to see them entering the room. There was no time for questions. ¡°Explain later¡ªjust catch that succubus!¡± Chapter 19: The Miracle Cure-All While I was shouting at Luciana and Bliss to catch the succubus, the creature was frantically flying away. She was already quite far when I began to worry. Do they even have ranged skills that can hit her from here? Bliss, however, pulled out something that looked disturbingly menacing from his inventory. A chain... with a blade? It was a weapon with a hefty chain ending in a diagonal guillotine-like blade. Bliss gripped the chain end and swung it lightly in the air, then turned to me. ¡°What do I do once I catch her?¡± ¡°...Just catch her. Don¡¯t kill her,¡± I replied. Bliss nodded and hurled the heavy chain blade toward the succubus with all his might. Is this even an item? How can a chain like that fly such a distance? It seemed impossible for such a hefty weapon to reach the succubus, no matter how hard he threw it. I was also half-worried that Bliss might deliberately miss out of spite¡ªrevenge for that argument we had last time. Thankfully, my worries were unfounded. Bliss activated a skill right after throwing the chain blade. The name of the skill? Aid of the Departed, an S-grade ability. When he used it, wandering spirits from the afterlife converged around him, infusing the chain with their power. Saaaaa¡ª A chilling aura began to emanate from the chain. The weapon, which should have dropped far short of its target, was now propelled endlessly by the unseen power of the spirits. The succubus noticed something hurtling toward her and tried to change direction mid-air, but it was futile. The spirits infused into the chain shifted its trajectory, pursuing her with relentless precision. It moved as though alive, snaking through the air until it wrapped tightly around her. ¡°Kyaaahh!!¡± The succubus screamed, her shrill cry distinctly demonic, as she plummeted to the ground. Watching this, I exhaled deeply and collapsed. ¡°...It¡¯s over¡­ Just keep her restrained¡­ no killing her¡­¡± I trusted Luciana and Bliss to handle the rest. With relief washing over me, the consciousness I had barely clung to finally slipped away.
To be honest, I completely forgot about the count right before I passed out. I¡¯d tied him up in a remote area, planning to hand him over to the authorities later. And I left him there. Sure, he was just an F-rank awakened human with no notable skills. And I¡¯d bound him tightly with ropes, so escape seemed impossible. But what if he¡¯d been discovered by wild animals¡ªor worse, bandits¡ªand ended up dead?Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. That could have been disastrous. Noblesse obliges aside, I could have been accused of killing a noble myself. So, when I woke up, I shot upright in bed, shouting, ¡°Oh no! The count!!¡± I might have bolted out of my room in a panic if Rubin hadn¡¯t been there to calm me down. ¡°Relax, Nik¨¦. The count¡¯s already been taken to the capital and is under investigation¡ªfor kidnapping and fraud.¡± Still groggy, I blinked at Rubin as he explained patiently. ¡°He¡¯s trying to prove he was under the influence of a mind-control skill. That way, he¡¯ll get a reduced sentence for the prophet kidnapping charge due to diminished capacity.¡± ¡°...Is that so?¡± ¡°Yeah. But the fact that he tried to exploit your amnesia to hide his actions¡ªand extort compensation later¡ªstill makes him guilty of fraud.¡± ¡°What about the video I recorded that day? Did you submit it as evidence? You edited out the parts where I, uh¡­ got physical, right?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Rubin wagged his tail indignantly, as if offended by the question. ¡°The property damage and assault charges against you were dismissed. Everything you did was in the process of rescuing the prophets, so you¡¯re in the clear.¡± ¡°Phew¡­ That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°People in the church are starting to understand you¡¯re not at fault, so the gossip about you has died down too.¡± ¡°Thanks. But, Rubin, you¡¯ve adapted to church life pretty quickly, huh?¡± Rubin¡¯s comments about my reputation within the church caught my attention. He¡¯d only been here for a few days, yet he seemed to know the inner workings already. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been a week. Plenty of time to figure things out.¡± ¡°...A week? Wait, if you¡¯ve been here a week, then¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah. You¡¯ve been unconscious for a whole week.¡± Rubin¡¯s tone turned icy as his eyes narrowed into sharp slits, glaring at me. ¡°Do you have any idea what I went through during that time? You promised you¡¯d outlive me, yet here you are, pushing yourself to the brink... You owe me!¡± With a powerful leap, Rubin pounced and bit my finger. Of course, it was more playful than aggressive¡ªa soft nip that left me feeling his warm, velvety mouth rather than any pain. As he gnawed on my finger, I fell into thought. A whole week? My fractured bones seem mostly healed, but draining all my divine power must have taken a heavy toll. Even with my sturdy S-rank body, I¡¯d pushed it too far. I needed to be more careful. Overusing divine power clearly had lasting effects, no matter how resilient I was. Still, I couldn¡¯t just lie in bed all day. ¡°...What about the prophets?¡± I asked. Rubin released my finger and replied, ¡°They¡¯re being held by the church for now.¡± Then, lowering his voice, he added, ¡°Officially, it¡¯s been announced that they escaped from the count and then disappeared. Since you told me to ¡®hold them,¡¯ I made sure they¡¯re secure, but the church doesn¡¯t really have a valid reason to keep them detained.¡± ¡°I need to check on them,¡± I said, throwing the blanket aside. ¡°You might want to hold off. They¡¯re not in the best state. They didn¡¯t pass out like you, but they¡¯re practically feral.¡± ¡°Feral?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve used so much magic that they¡¯ve lost their reason. They attack anyone who gets close.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± I understood immediately. When anyone¡ªdemon, human, or spirit¡ªpushed their powers beyond their limits, they sometimes lost their sanity. Gamers back in my world used to call it ¡°end-stage frenzy.¡± So, they¡¯re in that state... I guess talking to them is out of the question for now. But I still want to see how they¡¯re doing. I decided to check on them myself, standing up from bed¡ªonly for a blade to embed itself in the floor beside me. What the¡ª? I turned toward the doorway to see the culprit. ¡°Bliss¡­?¡± Standing there was Bliss, with a familiar weapon in hand¡ªthe same chain blade he¡¯d used to catch the succubus. ¡°Your Holiness,¡± he said with a serene smile, ¡°you mustn¡¯t leave the bed. You need to rest.¡± I stared at him, dumbfounded. ¡°Do you even know what ¡®rest¡¯ means? Because tossing a lethal weapon at someone doesn¡¯t exactly say ¡®take it easy.¡¯¡± I retrieved a mace from my inventory and bellowed, ¡°Guards! Get this lunatic out of here!¡± Bliss remained unfazed. ¡°The guards won¡¯t come, Your Holiness.¡± Luciana¡¯s voice answered from the window, startling me. ¡°Luciana?! When did you get here? And are you climbing in through the window?!¡± Ever the picture of decorum, Luciana now perched casually on the window frame. ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping watch from outside. In case you tried to escape.¡± ¡°...Explain in terms I can understand.¡± Luciana¡¯s expression remained as serious as ever. ¡°Your recent actions have greatly benefited the church, but they¡¯ve also placed you in grave danger time and time again. We¡¯ve decided to strengthen your protection.¡± Bliss stepped closer, bowing slightly. ¡°For your safety, Your Holiness, your movements will be... somewhat restricted.¡± ¡°Somewhat?! If this is ¡®somewhat,¡¯ I¡¯d hate to see ¡®entirely¡¯!¡± Yet no number of protests swayed them. Thus began my new life: a prisoner in my own room.
But this situation couldn¡¯t last. If I wanted my freedom back, I needed a miracle cure. And one word came to mind: Elixir. A legendary potion said to restore even the gravest injuries instantly. Could it be the answer? Without hesitation, I opened my inventory. Chapter 20: Delsys Skill From my inventory, I pulled out the "Polydroid User Manual", an item that had come with Rubin when I first obtained the new device. Flipping through the manual quickly, I scanned the pages. "Maybe¡­ just maybe, it might be here." Elixir-making was an ancient craft, its secrets passed down from books left behind by the Ancients. Modern humanity had learned the methods from these texts, but the nobility hoarded the knowledge as their privilege, refusing to share it widely. Over time, with so few knowing the art and fewer sharing it, the elixir recipes were lost entirely. But what if¡­ someone who had lived since that era still existed? With that thought, I opened the manual belonging to Rubin, the "Ancient" Polydroid, and started reading. And there it was¡ªthe elixir recipe! Finally, on page 192, under the "Key Features" section, I found what I was looking for:
  • "In urgent need of an elixir? Use your Polydroid to print the recipe!"
  • "Your capable and friendly companion is equipped with a recipe output function and will be more than happy to assist you."
  • (Detailed instructions follow below.)
A method to revive the long-lost technique, a secret gone for 200 years, was lying in my hands in this small manual. "I didn¡¯t expect it to actually be here¡­" Taking a deep breath, I calmed my growing excitement. Then, I called out to Delsy, the high priestess who was quietly observing me. ¡°Delsy, I think I need to head to the west annex for a bit.¡± Silence. ¡°Delsy?¡± Still nothing. Delsy¡¯s pale green eyes wandered to the side, deliberately avoiding my gaze, pretending she hadn¡¯t heard me. It was clear. The other high priests had likely instructed her to ignore me, no matter how much I asked to leave. But I wasn¡¯t giving up so easily. After calling her name a few more times, she finally responded¡ªnot with her mouth, but through the beak of the duck-shaped puppet she always carried.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. [No¡­ You can¡¯t go¡­] ¡°What?¡± [You can¡¯t. You need to rest and recover. Please don¡¯t leave¡­ quack¡­] ¡°It¡¯s urgent. I have something important to do in the west annex. It won¡¯t take long.¡± Delsy¡¯s puppet was silent. ¡°Just a quick trip. I¡¯m not trying to run away or anything. Trust me.¡± Still no response. ¡°¡­You promised to trust me, no matter what. Was that a lie?¡± [Quack¡­] Unlike others, Delsy had always been on my side, even when they called me reckless or unworthy. She¡¯d defended me, citing our deep connection. But given my recent actions¡ªreturning nearly dead after promising not to worry anyone¡ªI could see why her faith might have wavered. At least she wasn¡¯t tying me to the bed like Bliss had done, but her resolve was clear. If persuasion wouldn¡¯t work, I had only one option left: distraction. ¡°I¡¯ll slip out while she¡¯s distracted. I can apologize later.¡± My physical abilities as Nikelus were S-rank, far superior to Delsy¡¯s E-rank physique. Although her mental abilities were formidable, with high-tier skills, her body couldn¡¯t keep up. If I moved quickly, she wouldn¡¯t be able to stop me. Feeling a pang of guilt, I resolved to make it up to her later. ¡°Delsy, could you bring me some warm water? My throat¡¯s dry.¡± [Oh! Right away. Quack¡ª] The moment she turned toward the fireplace to fetch the kettle, I sprang from the bed. Behind me, I heard the clatter of the kettle hitting the floor as she cried out in alarm. But by then, I was already at the door. "Freedom is so close!" Grabbing the doorknob, I heard her voice pierce the air: ¡°No! Stop!¡± The command struck like a lightning bolt, reverberating in my mind. My body froze, completely immobilized. ¡®It¡¯s that skill¡­¡¯ Even as I willed my hand to turn the doorknob, my body wouldn¡¯t budge. Forcing my head to turn, I glanced back. Delsy stood there, covering her mouth in shock. [I¡¯m so sorry¡­! Quack¡ªI didn¡¯t mean to use it. I panicked¡­] Her skill, "Soul-Stirring Voice," was a terrifying mental ability. It compelled absolute obedience to her commands. Even high-level defensive items or skills couldn¡¯t easily counter it. ¡®Dangerous indeed.¡¯ In the wrong hands, it could control armies or overthrow nations. It was no wonder Delsy avoided speaking aloud, using her puppet instead. Delsy¡¯s puppet quivered as she whimpered. [I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡­] ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not hurt.¡± [Huh? Really? You¡¯re¡­ not angry?] ¡°Why would I be? I startled you. If I¡¯d explained things first, you wouldn¡¯t have panicked.¡± Delsy¡¯s face turned ghostly pale; her wide eyes filled with disbelief. I added with a reassuring smile, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to change. Less anger, less worry for those around me.¡± After some convincing, she agreed to let me go¡ªon two conditions. First, she would accompany me. Second, I had to wear a disguise. The disguise, however, was laughable: an ill-fitting priest¡¯s robe, a fake mustache, and thick-rimmed glasses borrowed from a novice priest. The result? More suspicious than inconspicuous. As we approached the west annex, a familiar voice caught Delsy¡¯s attention. Her puppet quacked loudly in alarm as she hurriedly ducked behind me. It was Luciana. And she was walking straight toward us. Chapter 21: The Potion-Brewing Pope If escape is impossible, then the solution is to lure Luciana elsewhere. The moment that thought crossed my mind; I called for assistance. "Rubin! Come here for a second!" Rubin, who had been unsummoned, appeared midair as soon as he heard my voice. "Nyke! You called?" "Shh, keep your voice down." Luciana was striding toward us even as we spoke. Lowering my voice, I quickly explained the situation to Rubin. "As you can see, I''m outside right now, despite being told not to leave my quarters." "Yeah, it¡¯s pretty obvious. You were supposed to be resting, but instead, you¡¯re sneaking around." "I¡¯ll explain everything later. But for now, I need a favor." "A favor?" Rubin''s ears perked up in interest. He always seemed oddly enthusiastic whenever I asked for help. "What is it? Tell me quickly!" "It''s simple. Distract Luciana and lead her down a different path. I can¡¯t let her catch me out here." "Uh..." Rubin, who had been impatiently demanding details, suddenly drooped his ears. "But you¡¯re supposed to be resting. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to let her catch you and lecture you into going back?" "I have a way to heal myself without resting! It involves one of your hidden abilities¡ªbut it¡¯ll take too long to explain. She¡¯s getting closer. Hurry!" "Ugh¡­" Rubin flicked his tail nervously, clearly conflicted. "Technically, for your health, I should yell right now and let her find you..." His gaze flickered briefly toward Delsy before turning away. "But it looks like that would cause trouble for someone else too." Having seemingly made up his mind, Rubin lowered his voice and nodded resolutely.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "Alright, leave it to me! I¡¯ll handle this!" "Then hurry! She¡¯s almost here!" Just before Luciana could spot us, Rubin leapt into action. "Hi, Luciana!" "Hmm?" Luciana stopped, startled by Rubin suddenly appearing from behind a tree. Her expression immediately turned suspicious. I silently prayed that Rubin could use his silver tongue to lead the perceptive Luciana elsewhere. Luciana wasted no time. "Rubin? What are you doing here? What about Nyke?" "Nyke is..." All Rubin had to say was that I was resting peacefully. Simple. But for some reason, his response lagged, as if his brain had hit a processing error. A creeping sense of dread began to settle in. "Nyke is resting well. Indoors." "¡­What?" Luciana¡¯s confusion mirrored mine¡ªand Delsy¡¯s. Why emphasize ¡®indoors¡¯? That just makes it sound more suspicious! The bad feeling intensified as Rubin continued. "I was just out for a walk and ran into you. That¡¯s all. Really." "¡­" "Oh, and how about we take a stroll in the garden together? Just...not toward the trees over there." "¡­" "There¡¯s no particular reason not to go that way. I just thought it¡¯d be nicer to enjoy the garden instead." "¡­" I couldn¡¯t watch anymore. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the weight of Luciana¡¯s piercing gaze shift toward the tree we were hiding behind. All thanks to Rubin unnecessarily drawing attention to it. "Rubin, answer honestly. The Pope is out here, isn¡¯t he? Ignoring orders to rest?" "W-what?! No!! That¡¯s not it!! Nyke is resting inside!! There¡¯s no one behind the tree!!" "So, he¡¯s definitely behind that tree." "No! Really, there¡¯s absolutely no one there! Not even Delsy!!" "¡­So, Sir Delsy is with him, too? Hah¡­" "¡­I believed in you, Sir Delsy¡­" I faintly heard Luciana mutter. Her footsteps grew louder, heading toward us. It¡¯s over. There was no way our flimsy disguise would hold. She¡¯d demand to know why we were out here. Delsy had begged me not to get caught by her, but¡­ Better to come clean now than make it worse. Deciding this was the best course, I stepped out from behind the tree. But just then¡ª "Luciana!! Look at this!!" Rubin¡¯s panicked shout broke the tense silence. He blew out a colorful, soap-like bubble from his mouth. Luciana stopped dead in her tracks, transfixed by the floating bubble. Her expression became dazed as she silently followed the bubble, her movements slow and mechanical. Taking deep breaths, Rubin scurried back to me. "That...was close¡­" "What did you just do?" Luciana¡¯s face had looked so vacant it made me uneasy. Rubin answered nonchalantly, "I used a skill. It¡¯s called Bubbles of Nostalgic Warmth." "Bubbles...what?" "They make anyone who sees them reminisce. It leaves them dazed and forgetful for a bit. She won¡¯t remember spotting you." "Is it safe?" "Of course! It¡¯s designed to calm crying children. As a temple guide, one of my duties was to look after lost kids." Apparently, this was a skill bestowed on Rubin by his ancient mage creators. Hearing that, I finally exhaled the breath I¡¯d been holding. "Why didn¡¯t you use it earlier?" "I didn¡¯t expect her to see through my lies so quickly!" "¡­" "Don¡¯t glare at me. I¡¯m a polydroid made to help people, not deceive them. Lying isn¡¯t in my programming." He had a point. Expecting him to be a master liar had been foolish. Rubin, clearly exhausted, unsummoned himself back into his bracelet. With the immediate danger over, Delsy finally let out a relieved squawk from behind me. [Whew! That was close.] "Yeah. But why are you so afraid of Luciana?" [Uh¡­] Caught off guard, Delsy hesitated before answering in a somber tone. [She reminds me of my older sister from the slums I grew up in.] Chapter 22: The Pope Who Drinks Potions When I mentioned I was here to create a unique and rare potion, the priests looked puzzled. ¡°A unique and rare potion...?¡± ¡°Yes. Something that vanished long ago... commonly known as an ¡®Elixir.¡¯¡± The Elixir, a miraculous potion whose recipe disappeared 200 years ago, now existed only in historical records. Despite my declaration that I would recreate it, the priests¡¯ reactions were underwhelming. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°...¡± Normally, they should have exclaimed, ¡°An Elixir?! That legendary miracle potion?!¡± and made a fuss. However, thanks to Delsy¡¯s calming spell, they simply inquired with mild curiosity. ¡°But as far as I know, the recipe for the Elixir was lost long ago. The last remaining bottle was used by the royal family 162 years ago¡­ No one alive has seen it, let alone knows how to make it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s ancient knowledge. So, why not ask someone ancient¡ªnot a person, but an ancient spirit? Rubin! Come on out!¡± As soon as I called, Rubin, who had been asleep in my bracelet, appeared with a cheerful leap. Stretching and wagging his tail, the small spirit greeted me. ¡°So, you need me again, Nike?¡± ¡°Yeah, and this time, it¡¯s important. You¡¯ll really get to shine.¡± ¡°Oh! What do I need to do?¡± ¡°Nothing complicated. I just need your output function for a bit.¡± Following the instructions from the manual, I clapped my hands and said, ¡°Elixir recipe output.¡± At my command, Rubin froze mid-movement. His pitch-black eyes began blinking blue. According to the manual, the blinking light indicated the output process was starting. [Commencing Elixir Recipe Output.]
  • Output in Progress: Elixir Recipe (0/1)
  • Estimated Time: 30 seconds
Above Rubin¡¯s head, a message appeared. Meanwhile, a thin sheet of paper began materializing in midair, inch by inch, as if being summoned from another dimension. ¡°Fascinating,¡± I thought, watching the process for exactly 30 seconds. [Output Complete.]
  • Output Successful: Elixir Recipe (1/1)
The completed sheet fluttered into my hands, and I quickly scanned its contents. ¡°Hm¡­ So that¡¯s how it¡¯s made. Nothing entirely impossible to procure, though a few ingredients might be tricky to find.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Curious priests leaned in as I handed them the recipe. They eagerly read through the list. Meanwhile, Rubin, seemingly dazed, asked, ¡°Huh? What just happened? I feel like I blacked out for a moment.¡± ¡°I used your output function to print the Elixir recipe,¡± I explained. ¡°Elixir¡­? I had such a function? Why don¡¯t I remember that?¡± ¡°Your body got upgraded recently, remember? It must be a new feature that wasn¡¯t in your old form.¡± ¡°Oh¡­!¡± Rubin wagged his tail enthusiastically. ¡°I need to explore all my new functions! I had no idea I could do that. If I¡¯d known earlier, I could¡¯ve made an Elixir to heal you back when you were injured¡­¡± I gently patted Rubin¡¯s head to console him. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I only remembered it today, anyway. Lift your head high¡ªyou¡¯re the star here. Even if your excuse to Luciana earlier was a bit shaky, this was truly impressive.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Absolutely. Thanks to you, humanity can recreate a potion that had been lost for centuries. That¡¯s extraordinary.¡± Rubin¡¯s ears perked up at the praise, and his self-reproach vanished entirely. Meanwhile, Delsy and the priests finished reading the recipe. The elder priest, known as Roni, looked up and cautiously asked, ¡°I¡¯ve read through it, but¡­ Are you sure this is the real Elixir recipe?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, the ingredients are surprisingly ordinary. It¡¯s hard to believe such a legendary potion could be made from these common herbs¡­¡± Their skepticism was understandable. The ¡°legendary¡± Elixir recipe being both mundane and produced by a spirit in just 30 seconds was hard to trust. I gave them a simple solution. ¡°Then let¡¯s test it. Gather the ingredients listed here.¡± Though hesitant, the priests eventually complied, bringing out the required herbs. Roni remarked, ¡°Some of these are rare, like this yellow herb, typically reserved for high-grade potions¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hold back. We¡¯re attempting something far greater than high-grade potions.¡± Even if the attempt failed, it would still advance potion-making knowledge. I scanned the room and called on a brown-haired female priest standing quietly in the corner. ¡°You, with the S-rank Potion Crafting skill. Step forward and prepare the Elixir.¡± ¡°...?! How did you know about my skill rank?¡± ¡°I have an eye for these things.¡± In truth, I¡¯d checked her stats via her information screen, but they wouldn¡¯t question a Pope claiming divine insight. The priest hesitantly approached the ingredients, swallowing nervously. ¡°Are you sure I should use these rare materials¡­?¡± Even with an S-rank skill, crafting high-level potions carried a risk of failure. Her anxiety was palpable. To ease her nerves, I called on Delsy again. ¡°Delsy, give her a bit of magical encouragement.¡± Delsy approached, holding the priest¡¯s hands. ¡°Trust in your experience, skill, and potential. If you do, you¡¯ll succeed.¡± ¡°High Priestess¡­¡± The priest¡¯s tension melted away under Delsy¡¯s spell. She stepped to the table, closed her eyes, and activated her skill: [Life¡¯s Elixir Born from Fingertips (S)]. As the skill took effect, the materials began to glow, merging and transforming in a process both mesmerizing and mysterious. Finally, she exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± The resulting liquid, shimmering with an ethereal glow, was carefully poured into a glass vial. ¡®Success!¡¯ I thought as I gazed at the miraculous potion. The priests, equally captivated, murmured amongst themselves. ¡°Could this really be the Elixir¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible¡­ The legendary potion created so easily?¡± ¡°To confirm its effects¡­¡± Ignoring their doubts, I raised the vial. ¡°Watch closely. This is the first time in centuries anyone has drunk an Elixir.¡± I swallowed the potion. The cool liquid slid down my throat, flavorless yet profoundly invigorating. And then, the effects hit. An unprecedented surge of energy coursed through my veins, healing every ache and amplifying my senses. My mind became sharper, clearer, as if I¡¯d awakened to a higher plane of existence. I opened my status screen, noticing changes immediately. ¡®Skill durations extended to two hours¡­ Incredible!¡¯ Grinning, I turned to the priests and said, ¡°It works. The Elixir¡¯s power is real.¡± The room fell silent as they beheld the overflowing divine energy radiating from me. For the first time in ages, the legendary potion had returned. Chapter 23: Exclusive Sale of the Legendary Elixir Their faces had grown so pale that I began to worry something had gone terribly wrong. At last, one of the priests stammered out, ¡°The Elixir... the Elixir has actually been made!!¡± The once-serene apothecary transformed into the scene of a wild celebration. Cheers erupted. Some flung expensive herbs into the air like confetti, while others wiped away tears. A few broke into song, and someone even dashed off to fetch champagne. ¡­It was utter chaos. I stepped back and observed the scene before whispering to Delsy, ¡°...Wasn¡¯t everyone under a forced calm state because of the skill?¡± [The excitement broke through the skill¡¯s effects, squawk! After all, it¡¯s been 200 years since the lost method for making Elixirs was rediscovered. It¡¯s only natural they¡¯re overwhelmed, squawk-squawk!] Just then, the overjoyed priests turned toward me, tears streaking their faces. ¡°Your Holiness! This... this is an extraordinary event! If we monopolize the sale of Elixirs, the wealth we¡¯ll acquire will be beyond anything we¡¯ve ever dreamed!¡± ¡°Exactly, Your Holiness! The Church will surpass even the most powerful noble houses¡ªno, we¡¯ll eclipse the Imperial family itself with the power and resources this will bring us!¡± ¡°With this, with just this, we could dominate not only the Empire but the entire continent...!¡± Their talk was startlingly secular for religious folk. Then again, I couldn¡¯t blame them. The Church¡¯s finances had been in dire straits for a while. They must have been mass-producing and selling potions like machines without rest. Come to think of it, despite the abundance of ingredients, the Church itself had always seemed short on potions. No doubt it was a financial issue¡ªthey had been selling every batch just to stay afloat, leaving the priests to suffer from potion shortages themselves. But now, that struggle was over. It was only natural that they¡¯d be this elated. ¡°Go ahead, celebrate to your hearts¡¯ content. We will monopolize the sale.¡± I paused for effect and continued when their cheers settled. ¡°But only for one year.¡± ¡°...What? Your Holiness, just one year? What do you mean by that?¡± Roni stammered; his confusion palpable. I made my stance crystal clear. ¡°It means we¡¯ll earn as much as we can for a year, and then we¡¯ll publicly distribute the Elixir¡¯s formula for anyone to use¡ªfree of charge.¡± ¡°F-free...? But why...?¡± Monopolizing the formula, making just a few Elixirs, and selling them at exorbitant prices to desperate nobles on death¡¯s door¡ªit was undoubtedly a lucrative plan. If we did that, as the priests suggested, we could amass unimaginable wealth. It would be like having a golden well that never ran dry. But there was a good reason I was limiting our monopoly to just one year. ¡°Think about it. Why do you think the Elixir¡¯s formula disappeared 200 years ago?¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°Exactly. If we hoard the knowledge, we¡¯ll be no different from the fools of the past who made the same mistake.¡± In ancient times, a handful of greedy nobles had monopolized the Elixir¡¯s formula. When the last noble who knew the method died in a war with a foreign nation, the formula was lost forever. Given how valuable this technique was, sharing it widely was the only way to prevent it from vanishing again. I didn¡¯t elaborate further, but they seemed to grasp the point. ¡°Your Holiness...¡± The priests, who had been listening intently, now called out to me in voices brimming with emotion.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Their eyes sparkled, and their tones grew reverent. I knew this reaction all too well. It was the same as when people saw the so-called ¡°scoundrel Pope¡± display unexpected wisdom or compassion. Sure enough, the priests began showering me with embarrassingly flowery praise. ¡°Your boundless and profound heart extends beyond the Church to all of humanity... I can¡¯t even begin to comprehend it, let alone emulate it.¡± ¡°Your Holiness, you¡¯re absolutely right. To use this knowledge for selfish gain alone would make us no better than the greedy nobles of the past.¡± ¡°I¡¯m stunned by the depth of your insight. Thank you for this profound lesson.¡± I scratched my nose, a bit overwhelmed by the effusive compliments. ¡®They¡¯re overdoing it... All I wanted was a year to milk the profits before sharing it.¡¯ If I were truly noble-hearted, I¡¯d have distributed the formula immediately. But here they were, treating me like some saint. Maybe it was because the original Nikellus was such a notorious scoundrel that even a minor act of decency seemed miraculous by comparison. Whatever the reason, they were clearly more moved than I¡¯d anticipated. [The favorability of Delsy and many others has greatly increased!] [A surprise event has been triggered due to the favorability boost!] Just like when I gained favor from Luciana and Argel, another notification popped up. This time, it seemed a special event had been triggered because I had raised the favorability of so many people at once. ¡®...A surprise event?¡¯ In Judgment Requiem, completing unusual achievements often triggered surprise events. Slaying 100 of a specific monster, being the first to enter a dungeon, or, as in this case, boosting the favorability of a large group could all trigger such events. Sometimes these events rewarded rare dungeon keys or valuable items. I checked the event details with a flicker of anticipation. ? Event Title: ¡°Maybe We Misjudged You¡± ? ¨DYou¡¯ve earned the favor of those who once disliked you. Their perception of you has changed. People will now see you as ¡°someone who seemed bad but is actually profound.¡± Reward List:
  • 150 Karma Points
  • Untarnishable Holy White Boots (part of a 3-piece set)
While I¡¯d always worn black boots to avoid stains, I could now pair these pristine white ones with the rest of my attire. Not that the color mattered much. The real prize was the Karma Points. ¡®150 points! Things are looking up!¡¯ With this unexpected windfall, my negative Karma Points might soon shift to the positive. That, in turn, would unlock the skills that were currently sealed. Buoyed by this stroke of luck, I addressed the priests with renewed enthusiasm. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to work. Start producing as much as you can. We¡¯ve got one year to make the most of this. And while you¡¯re at it, whip me up another Elixir.¡± ¡°Uh, well...¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°The thing is... while the ingredients are more common than we initially thought, they¡¯re not exactly easy to come by at all times. We ran out of one of them while making the first batch.¡± ¡°...Ah. I see.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Holiness. We¡¯ll need to gather more before we can ramp up production, so large-scale brewing will have to wait until next week.¡± Their response was less than thrilling, and they looked sheepish. I sighed but let it go. ¡°Fine. In that case, just give me two high-grade potions for now.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Holiness!¡± The priests eagerly complied, producing five high-grade potions for me on the spot. High-grade potions were prohibitively expensive, but they handed them over without hesitation. After all, the Elixir sales would soon fill the Church¡¯s coffers to the brim. With everything settled, I left the apothecary and thanked Delsy for her help. ¡°Thanks for coming with me. It made things a lot easier. Now, I¡¯ll¡ª¡± [You¡¯re heading to see the captured demons, aren¡¯t you? Squawk?] ¡°...?! How did you know?¡± Did she have foresight powers? Surprised, I asked, and Delsy smiled gently. Then, for the first time, she spoke in her true voice¡ªnot through an item, but her own. ¡°Because, Your Holiness, you¡¯ve always looked back. Whenever you saw someone in need, you couldn¡¯t just walk away.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, like when you first found me.¡± She was referring to the day she met the original Nikellus. I tried to recall the memory, though it was faint. ¡®A narrow, shadowed alley... a frail child huddled there... Delsy...¡¯ The memory grew clearer as she described it. ¡°In the dark alley, I had been alone for five days. No one noticed me¡ªno one but you. You were the only one who looked back.¡± She recounted it vividly, as if it had happened yesterday. Her words stirred my memory further. That day, the original Nikellus had visited a slum with Luciana to investigate reports of an S-class Awakened one with dangerous mental abilities. They searched every home but found no trace of the individual. Ready to leave, Nikellus boarded his carriage¡ª Only to halt at the last moment. - ¡°Your Holiness? Where are you going?¡± He ignored Luciana¡¯s question and retraced his steps to a small alley he had passed earlier. There, he found not a stray animal but a fragile girl¡ªDelsy. She had been a withered shadow of the poised high priestess standing before me now. Delsy smiled at me, then pointed at the potions I was holding. [Those might not be enough to help the demons recover fully. Their injuries seemed severe. But I¡¯m certain your kindness will reach them, squawk.] ¡°Kindness... If you say so, I¡¯ll trust you. You¡¯ve always been spot on.¡± Delsy didn¡¯t respond, just smiled warmly. I smiled back, and we parted ways¡ªshe to inform the other priests, and I to visit the old prophets who had been captured. ¡®I heard they¡¯ve been raging uncontrollably since their capture and were locked in the underground prison...¡¯ That was the last I¡¯d heard about them. The Church¡¯s underground prison was nearly inescapable, even for S-class Awakened ones. It was also discreet, minimizing the chance of discovery. But as I descended into the dark depths of the prison, a twinge of regret surfaced. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have left them here...¡¯ The prison was suffocatingly dark, cold, and damp. Injuries left untreated in such a place would only fester. I turned to the warden escorting me. ¡°Can¡¯t we move them to a better floor? The prophets, I mean. They won¡¯t recover in these conditions.¡± ¡°This is no place for recovery, that¡¯s true. But once you see their condition, Your Holiness, you¡¯ll understand why moving them isn¡¯t an option.¡± Chapter 24: The Seventh Main Oracle As the warden concluded his cryptic words, we arrived at the lowest level of the underground prison. He halted abruptly at the entrance to the final floor. ¡°This is it. Walk straight down this corridor. Keep the prison key safe and return it to me once you¡¯ve concluded your visit.¡± After dismissing him, I found myself alone, staring down the pitch-black corridor that stretched endlessly before me. They were said to be in the last cell, located in the deepest part of this level. I stepped forward, the sound of my footsteps echoing against the oppressive silence. For five minutes, I trudged through the darkness. Then, finally, I arrived. ¡°Are you in there?¡± The cell beyond the iron bars was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see anything. No sound. No movement. I called out again. ¡°Are you alive? Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± Still no response. An ominous unease crept into my chest. My fists clenched involuntarily. ¡°Did you... die¨D?¡± ¡°Grrr...¡± From the silent void, a low, guttural growl emerged, resembling that of a beast. It was meant as a threat, no doubt. But to me, that faint growl evoked an entirely different feeling. ¡°...¡± Guilt pressed heavily on my shoulders. My lips twisted into a bitter grimace. Perhaps it was the sight of the two figures faintly visible in the darkness, huddled together protectively, as if clinging to each other for survival. The weight of their suffering seemed palpable. Then, among the eerie glow of their catlike eyes, one pair suddenly flashed with murderous intent. ¡°Hissss!¡± With a ferocious snarl, one of them lunged at me. Bang! It was the incubus. But the iron bars held strong, stopping him in his tracks. He clawed and thrashed, his hands striking out wildly. ¡®Still feral... They haven¡¯t regained their senses. If I want to learn about the Erased Ones, I¡¯ll need to snap them out of this.¡¯If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Their condition hadn¡¯t improved since I last saw them. If anything, it had worsened. The iron bars themselves were enchanted with a current of electricity, an anti-demon safeguard. Burn marks were evident on the incubus¡¯s skin, but he either didn¡¯t feel the pain or ignored it. His sole focus was on threatening me. ¡°Tch.¡± Clicking my tongue, I stepped back. I couldn¡¯t let him hurt himself further. As I retreated, he finally ceased his aggression and withdrew to shield his sister, the succubus. ¡®I can¡¯t heal them from here. I¡¯ll have to go inside.¡¯ To apply the potion, I needed to get closer. But the enchanted bars complicated matters. This was what I had prepared for. I had the key for a reason. Decision made; I activated a skill. [The Sanctuary of Divine Aegis has been summoned beneath your feet. All creatures within the zone are shielded by holy power.] Duration: 2 hours. The skill¡¯s radiant light illuminated the dim cell. Predictably, the demons reacted instantly. ¡°Hissss!¡± ¡°Grrr!¡± Shielding their eyes, they retreated into the farthest corner. Demons, especially in feral states like theirs, instinctively abhorred holy energy. Taking advantage of their retreat, I unlocked the cell door with swift precision. Once inside, I quickly shut it behind me. They remained huddled in the corner, trembling from the lingering effects of my skill. ¡®If I keep the sanctuary active, they¡¯ll just cower. I¡¯ll need to deactivate it.¡¯ Before doing so, I retrieved an emergency-grade F-rank thermal blanket from my inventory and wrapped it tightly around my forearm. I¡¯d once seen trainers use similar methods to protect themselves from attack dogs. ¡°Good enough,¡± I muttered, preparing myself mentally. Then, I deactivated the skill. ¡°Hissss!¡± The incubus charged immediately; fangs bared. I thrust out my arm, the one wrapped in the blanket, just as he lunged. His sharp teeth sank into the thick fabric, and he clamped down, thrashing like a wild animal. It hurt, but it was bearable. At least he wasn¡¯t biting flesh. Using the distraction, I uncorked a potion and poured it over his torn wings. ¡®It¡¯s working.¡¯ The healing was slow, but I could see the ragged edges of his wings beginning to mend. Just as I moved to treat another wound, the succubus lunged, sinking her teeth into my unprotected arm. ¡°Gah!¡± Pain flared as her sharp, demon-like fangs pierced through skin. ¡®Damn... At least she¡¯s holding still now.¡¯ Despite the pain, I stayed calm, treating their injuries as they latched onto me like oversized leeches. Finally, with their wounds sufficiently healed, I summoned a surge of holy energy. The moment they sensed it, both demons released me and scrambled away. Taking advantage of their retreat, I exited the cell and locked it behind me. ¡°Whew...¡± It was done. The incubus¡¯s wings were almost fully healed, and the succubus looked far better than before. Though now, I needed treatment for myself. I cast one last glance at the two of them, still cowering like frightened animals. ¡°I know it seems cruel, but don¡¯t hate me. You tried to kill me first. This was self-defense.¡± Unsurprisingly, there was no response. I sighed and turned to leave, pausing briefly to add, ¡°When you recover, tell me what you know. We¡¯ll figure this out together. No one needs to die¡ªnot you, and not me.¡± And with that, I walked away, the weight on my shoulders heavier than when I had entered.
Back at the cathedral, chaos reigned. The rebirth of elixir production had sent shockwaves through the church, drawing nobles and commoners alike to place orders. Despite the accolades, whispers of doubt lingered among the clergy. ¡°Isn¡¯t the Pope suspicious?¡± one muttered. ¡°How did he rediscover a formula lost for over a century?¡± I overheard everything. High-ranking Awakened like me had sharp ears. Still, I let their gossip slide¡ªfor now. ¡°Let them talk,¡± I murmured to my aide, Luciana. ¡°It¡¯s not worth addressing baseless rumors.¡± But in my heart, I made a silent vow. ¡®Understanding is one thing. Forgiveness is another.¡¯ With a subtle gesture, I rolled a glass orb toward them. It stopped at their feet. [The item ¡°Condemned¡¯s Sincere Tears¡± activates, compelling all within a 1-meter radius to speak only the truth.] Soon, their whispered malice turned into candid confessions. ¡°Honestly, I know the Pope revived the elixir. I just went along with the gossip out of jealousy.¡± ¡°Yeah, same. He¡¯s too perfect¡ªmakes me sick.¡± Satisfied, I climbed into the waiting carriage. Onward, to fulfill the Seventh Oracle. Chapter 25: Are You the Emperor? To Rubin¡¯s question, I could only offer one regretful response. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°I mean, I¡¯m not even sure who I¡¯m supposed to help.¡± Rubin must have found my answer absurd, but there wasn¡¯t much I could do about it. The seventh main oracle was absolutely no help in identifying the person I needed to assist.
[Seventh Main Oracle ¨C Helping the Unfortunate (In Progress)] Sub-Oracle 1: Reach Belter Orphanage within six hours! (Incomplete) Time Remaining: 4 hours, 39 minutes, 22 seconds Sub-Oracle 2: Find the ¡°Worry King¡± at Belter Orphanage! (Incomplete) Tip: Ask as many people as possible about their worries. If the person you question is the ¡°Worry King,¡± you¡¯ll receive a ¡°Target Found¡± message. Sub-Oracle 3: Resolve the Worry King¡¯s concerns! (Incomplete) Reward for Completion: ???
All the oracle told me was to find and help the ¡°Worry King.¡± It didn¡¯t mention who that person might be. I was supposed to figure that out on my own. ¡°At least it doesn¡¯t sound too complicated... I¡¯ll just ask a few kids about their problems. One of them has to be the Worry King, right?¡± Thankfully, the oracle promised to alert me once I identified the right person. All I had to do was go around asking questions. ¡°Alright, no big deal. Let¡¯s wrap this up quickly.¡± Just as I steeled myself for the task, the carriage jolted to a stop. Luciana, riding alongside us on horseback, approached the window. ¡°Your Holiness, we¡¯ve arrived at Belter Orphanage. But... there¡¯s something you should see before you step out.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Without a word, she stepped aside, revealing the view beyond the window. The orphanage was quaint and old, but it had been lovingly maintained. A small garden¡ªlikely tended by the children¡ªstood to one side. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until I spotted it. ¡°...Is that a royal carriage?¡± Parked conspicuously in front of the orphanage was a lavishly decorated carriage, painted in brilliant red and gold. A lion crest¡ªfierce and majestic¡ªadorned the door. No doubt about it. That was a royal carriage.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Luciana confirmed my suspicions with a troubled expression. ¡°It is indeed a royal carriage, Your Holiness. Though why it¡¯s here, I cannot say.¡± I felt a pang of unease. There was only one person who could ride in that carriage. The current Emperor, Ernan von Frisk. He wasn¡¯t married, so it couldn¡¯t be an empress. None of his relatives were direct royal heirs, meaning they wouldn¡¯t have access to such a carriage. In other words, the person who visited this orphanage was, without a doubt, the emperor himself. Ernan¡ªBliss¡¯s half-brother. The one who had wrested the throne from him in a bloody power struggle. ¡°...Great.¡± If he was ruthless enough to unseat Bliss, he wasn¡¯t someone I wanted to deal with. Still, the oracle needed completing. Even if it meant dealing with the Emperor, I had no choice but to go in. With a resigned sigh, I stepped out of the carriage.
Luciana, Rubin, and a few Holy Knights accompanied me as we crossed the threshold of the orphanage.
[Sub-Oracle 1 Completed!] Sub-Oracle 1: Reach Belter Orphanage within six hours! (Complete)
The moment we stepped inside, a message notified me of my progress. With one sub-oracle down, only two remained. I quickened my pace, eager to finish this task before things got more complicated. But I didn¡¯t get far. ¡°...What?¡± Two swords crossed in front of me, barring my way. The royal guards stationed on either side of the gate had drawn their weapons and were blocking our path. One of them spoke in a sharp, commanding voice. ¡°This is a restricted area. The emperor is currently inside. State your affiliation and wait for His Majesty¡¯s permission before entering.¡± I blinked. ¡°State my affiliation? Are they blind?¡± From head to toe, I was dressed in the unmistakable white regalia of the Lucidmiller Order. The golden lily emblem¡ªour sacred symbol¡ªwas prominently embroidered over my chest. Luciana and the other knights accompanying me were similarly attired. We practically screamed, ¡°We¡¯re Holy Knights!¡± ¡®If they¡¯re not blind, then this is their way of saying ¡°get lost.¡±¡¯ The realization hit me, but I wasn¡¯t about to back down. Before I could respond, Luciana stepped forward, her tone as cold as steel. ¡°Lower your weapons in the presence of His Holiness, or I¡¯ll execute you where you stand.¡± Her declaration left the guards stunned. ¡°You dare insult the emperor¡¯s guards? That¡¯s an insult to the emperor himself! You¡¯ll be held accountable for your words!¡± The tension escalated, but I couldn¡¯t fault Luciana. It was her duty to protect me, and these fools had drawn their swords first. ¡®Do they not realize who they¡¯re dealing with? If the Order decides to retaliate, we could cut off their exclusive supply of elixirs. Let¡¯s see how they handle that.¡¯ Not that I planned to be so petty, but the thought lingered. For now, I decided to de-escalate. ¡°Last chance. Lower your swords, apologize, and get out of my sight.¡± The guards didn¡¯t budge. ¡®Fine. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡¯ Drawing on my divine power, I channeled it into my palm, reinforcing it until it was as hard as steel. With my enhanced hand, I grabbed one of their swords. ¡°Your Holiness!¡± ¡°Nyke!¡± Luciana and Rubin gasped, but I didn¡¯t let go. No blood spilled. My reinforced palm held firm. ¡®Success.¡¯ I¡¯d theorized that divine power could enhance my body just as demonic energy did for monsters. It had taken nights of practice, but the results spoke for themselves. I tightened my grip, and the sword began to bend. Then I folded it again. And again. Until it resembled a crumpled ball of metal. The guards paled. ¡°W-With bare hands¡­?¡± One turned to run, likely to call for reinforcements, while the other charged at me, weapon raised. A divine power-enhanced weapon clashed against my bare hand. Ting! The metallic clang echoed. The guard froze, his face draining of color. ¡°You should¡¯ve listened.¡± I gripped his weapon and crushed it, rendering it useless. Before he could react, I swept his legs with a divine-powered kick, sending him sprawling. ¡°Enough!¡± A voice interrupted the chaos. Turning, I saw a young man approaching. Pale skin, golden hair, and the kind of elegant demeanor that only came from a life of privilege. Behind him trailed a group of royal knights. I recognized him instantly. ¡®Finally showing yourself, Emperor?¡¯ But as he drew closer, I frowned. ¡®Wait¡­ Why does he look like that?¡¯