8. Living as a Diemonica.
The [Holy Grail of St. Antonio] is the core relic of the Diemonica Baptism ritual. The holy water contained in this brass chalet transforms the body of whoever drinks it.
While some experience dramatic effects, most end up with bodies optimized for prolonged battles.
Like Zephis, they gain a slightly inhuman, sturdy, and massive build.
Fernandez downed the grail in one go and sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. Sweat and bodily waste seeped out, emitting a foul odor.
-Goooh…
“This is…”
“The Stigma…”
Two stigmata embedded in Fernandez’s chest and back began to emit a radiant light. A majestic aura seemed to accept the transformation of his body, shimmering intensely.
-Thud.
Fernandez, with a pained expression, propped himself on the floor before collapsing. The aura enveloping the sanctuary slowly faded.
Zephis and Marco looked down at Fernandez with bewildered expressions.
“Success… right?”
“It seems like it was successful…”
Marco quickly checked Fernandez’s breathing. It was faint, but present.
“Breathing and pulse are normal, Brother Zephis.”
“Ugh…”
If there are no symptoms like limbs melting, grotesque organs growing, death, or madness after drinking from the grail, the Diemonica Baptism is considered a success. Provided sanity returns.
The expulsion of bodily waste and the appearance of a halo signified the success of the Diemonica Baptism. But why…
“Why is his body still the same?”
“Hmm… Perhaps because his body was already inhabited by the Lord, it has immunity to weaker blessings?”
“Being this frail…”
Objectively, Fernandez’s body wasn’t what one would call ‘frail.’ A bastard child despised in the farmlands wouldn’t have survived if he were weak.
With good nutrition and strong lineage, his robust frame, honed through years of abuse and survival efforts, was quite impressive.
But that’s from a commoner’s perspective. Zephis judged Fernandez with the eyes of a seasoned Diemonica.
“Anyway, there’s no case of being cast out after a successful baptism.”
“Especially since he’s an apostle chosen by the Lord. That can’t happen.”
Zephis carefully lifted Fernandez and carried him out of the baptismal sanctuary. Marco quickly made the sign of the cross and followed.
The bell announcing the birth of a new Diemonica echoed through the St. Bartholomew Monastery.
*
The warm sunlight fell equally on the damp and secretive Dragonsting Fortress. Fernandez slowly opened his eyes to the morning prayer bell.
He had been meditating cross-legged on his bed. Not even basic modern magic, let alone dark magic, could manifest in this body.
Since the Diemonica Baptism, the divine power flowing through his veins rejected all magic. Every attempt to create a circuit ended in failure.
-Starting to regret it now?
‘You know what they say? [What a mage believes is possible, will be. But what a mage declares impossible, is more likely to happen.]’
-So, how do you plan to bypass the divine blessing and create a magic circuit?
‘Magical artifacts are abundant all over the world.’
Divine spells and blessings operate on a completely different axis from magic. They grant strong immunity not just to hellish magic, but to natural magic as well.
Thus, Fernandez, now an apostle of God, had effectively lost all his magic.
‘Look at what I gained instead, Faijashi.’
Fernandez observed his body, brimming with power. Externally, little had changed. But the output generated by the divine energy flowing through him was immense.
-Crunch.
Fernandez crushed the wooden bedpost as he looked at Faijashi.
-You plan to confront real demons with brute strength?
‘Foolish.’
“Ugh.”
Fernandez stretched lightly and dressed. His limbs were stiff from maintaining the same posture all night. He smiled at Faijashi.
‘Strength is just a tool. The stronger the tool, the better.’
-Good. So the price for losing magic is mere physical power? The former master of arcane arts, willingly giving up mysticism for brute strength?
‘Faijashi, this is where our difference lies.’
Fernandez found Faijashi’s reaction amusing. Despite sharing the same memories and experiences, the mere difference in their physical forms had made them entirely different people.
‘In our past life, we weren’t followers of magic. Magic followed us. Magic was just a tool, and I was quite good at using it. That’s all there is to it.’
Just. Fernandez frowned as he opened the door and stepped outside.
Just that he didn’t quite like his fellow Diemonica comrades.
*
-Whoosh!
-Crash!!
“Not bad, Brother Fabiano!”
“Brother Sergio!! Be careful!”
“Hahaha!!”
Two giants, standing 2 meters tall, their upper bodies exposed under the brilliant sunlight, clashed with wooden swords.
There was. Fernandez lightly stretched his body and ran around the yard, watching the scene.
-Phassss!!
“Damn it! Training wooden sword! What a lousy durability!”
“Let’s spar with a training iron sword, brother!”
“Makto!”
Hooong, let’s just say that’s how it is. How on earth can wooden swords clashing in mid-air create such a loud explosion? And why do the wooden swords turn into dust instead of breaking?
Fernandez shivered as he watched the terrifying sight.
Damn Diemonica. They trained their divinely enhanced bodies to the extreme, reaching a level where they could directly slaughter demons.
-This brings back memories. It’s giving me trauma.
‘Right. I can’t forget how those guys tore demons apart with their bare hands.’
Literally, they were demons created by God. The fortunate thing for Fernandez was that he didn’t end up with their bodies. And that he wasn’t as stupid as them.
“Indeed, sweating and worshiping in the morning is the most refreshing feeling!”
“Oh, praise be.”
The monks, flexing their marble-like muscles, laughed heartily. In this vast training ground, monks were everywhere, training their muscles.
In the distance, a group of monks passed by. Long robes with torch embroidery. It was Enmagika. Fernandez’s sharp hearing caught even the sound of their robes brushing against each other.
“Ugh, those lumps…”
“Are they humans or beasts?”
They grumbled in quiet, intelligent voices as they walked along the stone path. Hearing their voices, one of the Diemonica monks shouted.
“Ah, brothers! Good morning!”
“Ah… Yes, brother. Glory to Vaitas.”
“Glory!!! Hahahaha!!”
The Diemonica monks all laughed cheerfully and returned to their sparring.
“Ah, Brother Fernandez!”
“Ah, yes, brothers.”
The monks cheerfully called out to Fernandez, who was preparing for exercise. As they swarmed in, it felt like a wall had formed in front of him.
“Hmm! So small!”
“Small and thin… You need to pray harder!”
“?? Pray… pray?”
“Yes! Our bodies are a blessing! And blessings grow through prayers of gratitude and self-discipline!”
Brother Fabiano, whom Fernandez internally nicknamed Muscle Monster No. 1, clasped his hands together. The sound of his massive, rock-like hands compressing the air was audible.
“Isn’t meat necessary to build muscles?”
“Oh, young brother. Be careful. It’s blasphemous to speak such superstitions!”
Fabiano made the sign of the cross and spoke solemnly.
“Makto Superlaudo.”
“Makto.”
The monks all made the sign of the cross and uttered a word each, as if forgiving Fernandez. He was so stunned he laughed.
‘In my past life, I got beaten by those guys?’
-No matter what, their strength is real… No, but it really hurts my pride.
In his past life, Diemonica was synonymous with a death sentence for demon worshippers.
They always popped up at the most crucial moments, smashed all the followers present, and tore apart the demons they had summoned.
Without sufficient preparation, no strategy, tactic, or trap worked against the Diemonica Inquisition Officers.
They literally plowed through all schemes, charging straight ahead and smashing the hearts of demon worshippers!
But their simple belief surprisingly had a logical basis.
Would a body enhanced by the [Holy Grail of St. Antonio] grow just by eating a few pieces of meat? It’s not a simple biological phenomenon but a kind of blessing.
“Brothers, has any brother grown bigger after baptism?”
“Of course!”
“…? Really?”
“Yes!”
Fabiano looked at Fernandez with a solemn gaze.
“Brother Sergio’s pectoral muscles grew an inch more after daily arduous prayers and defeating demons. A miraculous sign!”
“Makto!!”
Brother Sergio proudly flexed only his right chest in gratitude. It was a horrifying sight.
The arduous prayers these idiots talk about are muscle training. Meaning, daily exercise and demon hunting lead to muscle growth…
It wasn’t clear whether the growth was from exercise without nutrition or from blessings during demon hunting.
‘I don’t even want to find out.’
Being with these idiots made it feel like my brain was turning into muscle. But Fabiano firmly grabbed Fernandez’s shoulder.
“Brother, your prayers are still lacking! Come, let’s praise together!”
He handed Fernandez a massive dumbbell.
“Ugh!”
Instantly, Fernandez staggered, barely holding onto the dumbbell. It was a terrifying weight. As a Diemonica, Fernandez was barely passing. He couldn’t match the output of these muscle monsters yet!
“D-damn it. Wait a moment, brothers. Calm down. I have something to say…”
“Shh.”
Fabiano shook his head.
“You can’t praise through conversation.”
“Damn it.”
*
After finishing his workout, before Fernandez could join the afternoon praise—or rather, before being dragged to the training ground by the monks—Zephis came looking for him.
“Brother Fernandez. Do you have a moment?”
“Ah, it’s an honor.”
Fernandez answered cynically. Zephis smiled and approached him. The monks hastily greeted Zephis and fled the scene.
“Why are those kids afraid of you, brother?”
“I was their teacher.”
“….”
Fernandez decided not to think about how much was packed into that one sentence. What on earth did he teach them…
“Anyway, Brother Fernandez. Go to the armory and grab some weapons.”
“Are we doing weapon training?”
“No, it’s your first mission.”
Zephis gave an ominous smile.
“It’s been almost a month since your baptism, brother. It’s the perfect time to be deployed on a mission.”
![[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TS-Obsessed-Gamer-The-Ultimate-Return2.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return")
