125th Episode
BOOM!!
In the training hall of Phillip’s County Manor, Mohamed and Jimy were engaged in a sparring match.
Since Jimy had reached the Graduate level, it was kept as an internal secret; thus, only Count Phillip watched their duel.
Throughout the duel, Mohamed consistently held the upper hand.
Jimy still lagged far behind Mohamed in terms of swordsmanship refinement.
Moreover, Jimy lacked proficiency in wielding Sword Energy.
Mohamed stopped his feint and swung his sword toward Jimy, who remained steadfast in his position.
Though Jimy was pushed back step by step in the direction Mohamed intended, he didn’t easily give him an opening.
Finally, Mohamed shook his head slightly as he lowered his sword to one side.
“You’re certainly different…”
The synergy created by combining the Sword Energy of Wuwo with the sword techniques of the Phillip family was incredible.
After all, the sword art of the Phillip family was specifically refined to utilize Wuwo’s Sword Energy more efficiently.
Recalling the sparring session, which felt like facing an impenetrable shield, Mohamed patted Jimy on the shoulder.
Although the situation was quite troublesome, the fact that the lost glory of the Count’s house had been restored was indeed encouraging.
“Could you possibly teach this to someone else?”
“Hmm… It won’t be easy.”
One would have to retreat to a secluded mountain and meditate all day to achieve enlightenment. If it were as simple as human will, Wuwo’s Sword Energy wouldn’t have become so rare.
Having listened to this, the Count rose from his seat.
“Since we’ve confirmed the technique exists, that’ll do.”
A smile formed at the corner of the Count’s mouth.
Regardless of how it happened, having three reliable Graduates within the Phillip family was satisfying.
Even excluding Ray, this small territory possessed an absurd amount of power.
“We should prepare some armor for them.”
Though the budget was tight, providing basic treatment for Graduates was necessary.
Count Phillip exited the training hall flanked by two Graduates, barely managing to suppress his broad grin.
It wasn’t easy for any family leader to enjoy the luxury of walking with Graduates on either side.
Briefly pushing aside the numerous problems at hand, the Count tightened his neck muscles and headed toward his office.
Upon arriving at the office, a letter delivered through a bridge conveniently arrived.
After reading the letter, the Count immediately returned to reality, furrowing his brows.
The letter was sent by a servant stationed in the Osiris Countdom.
The contents weren’t something that could be laughed off lightly.
“The budget will need to increase somewhat,” muttered the Count.
A knight from the Phillip family insulted another family’s knights while drunk, necessitating a modest gift to apologize to each family.
While estimating the required budget, the Count chuckled softly.
The letter also clearly mentioned that the knight from the Phillip family had consecutively defeated knights from other families.
Since a significant amount of money was needed to boost pride, the sense of satisfaction lingered.
“I suppose I’ll have to give up.”
Achieving enlightenment with such a mindset would be impossible even with lifelong practice.
As the Count chuckled alone, Mohamed asked with a slightly worried look on his face,
“Did Ray cause trouble in the Osiris Countdom?”
“The knights you were supposed to supervise alongside Ray caused the problem.”
With a smile, the Count handed the letter to Mohamed.
After reading it, Mohamed closed his eyes tightly and frowned.
“…I apologize.”
“It seems like you’re starting to take after Ray too much.”
Though said with a smile, it was essentially a directive for re-education.
Mohamed winced as discomfort spread to the back of his neck.
Taking back the letter, the Count chuckled once again.
This was the kind of issue that could be laughed off as a moment of pride being established.
If a family prominent in the capital had done this, it would’ve been difficult to manage afterward, but since the Phillip family resided in a remote area, they didn’t need to worry about others’ glares or goodwill.
However, the letter received by the Count and Mohamed detailed events from the previous day.
While they conversed, chaos erupted in the Osiris Countdom.
*
The culprit who attacked Duke Matthias’ carriage had fled.
Fortunately, no fatalities occurred during the process of repelling the attack.
However, there were a few injured individuals, and all the horses pulling the carriage were killed.
One of the injured, Thomas, felt dizzy.
He couldn’t distinguish whether it was due to being struck on the head or the shock of being overwhelmed by a mage in close combat.
“Was that… really magic?”
Describing the magic displayed by the mage as accurately as possible, it was simply an ultra-high-speed swing.
Thomas was confused.
Considering the magical firepower used in the ambush, it was clear that the attacker possessed a Circle.
Assuming the use of an ultra-high-value Artefact, it wasn’t entirely implausible…
‘Could it have been an ultra-high-speed swing using wind magic?’
Judging by probability alone, it was overwhelmingly likely that the opponent was a mage.
Thomas pulled his hair in frustration, consumed by self-loathing.
No matter how devotedly a Templar served the deity while discarding personal feelings, being overwhelmed by a mage in close combat was embarrassingly disgraceful.
“Stand up.”
Albert commanded sternly.
Albert was not without disappointment in Thomas, but now was not the time to scold him.
Upon inspecting the carriage’s cargo, it was evident that the attacker had honestly stolen only the artefacts and fled.
“This is a crime targeting artefacts. On the contrary, it’s fortunate. This incident provides us with an opportunity to apprehend all those involved in this conspiracy. Pull yourself together.”
Albert turned his gaze toward the carriage.
The cloth used to secure the artefacts in the carriage’s cargo compartment was torn and fluttering.
The high-quality fabric woven with white threads revealed prayer inscriptions written in transparent ink, faintly glowing blue.
At that moment, guards riding horses arrived from the harbor. Among them was a Knight who had attained Expert level.
“Are you all alright?”
“…”
Albert silently commandeered one of the horses.
Everyone was taken aback but refrained from arguing due to his status.
“We depart immediately.”
Lingering here would mean wasting time tidying up the scene, reorganizing, and then chasing the culprit, which would take forever.
As Albert spurred his horse in the direction the culprit had fled, two remaining Templars mounted their horses and followed him.
“I intend to use the spear.”
“That’s…!”
The spear Albert referred to was one personally consecrated by a Templar through prolonged prayers.
Once used, it required over a year of additional prayers to recharge.
Sensing Albert’s determined resolve, Thomas clenched his teeth.
*
Ray rode his horse, relaxing his tension.
Things went better than expected. No casualties occurred during the ambush, and the artefact was successfully retrieved.
Except for the horse he was riding, all the other horses were killed, successfully delaying any pursuit.
Now, all he had to do was reach the target location quickly, dispose of the horse, and return via a detour.
“So this is the artefact, huh…?”
Ray lifted what looked like a broken bead fragment.
Thanks to Aptel’s assistance, he was able to quickly identify the artefact among the many items.
“Do you know what this thing is?”
[Data unavailable. However, it is highly likely to be a component of an artefact.]
“Oh, so if we gather five of these and combine them, we get a legendary artefact?”
[Something like that.]
“Haha… Can’t we just completely destroy this thing?”
[Not recommended.]
If the artefact were completely destroyed, the ‘power’ embedded within would return to its ‘owner’.
While it might eliminate a dangerous object temporarily, in the long run, it could lead to the birth of another calamity. Therefore, objects imbued with demonic power are generally sealed rather than destroyed.
After hearing this, Ray frowned.
“Damn, then I guess we should just destroy it.”
[Destroying it would result in another form of calamity…]
“Why should I care about that when it happens after I’m dead?”
Upon reflection, the artefact already used by the Crown Prince had been completely melted down.
It might seed a more dangerous calamity in about 200 years, but by then, Bella would have lived her life and passed away.
Aptel paused briefly, revealing discomfort.
[Master has a rather petty mindset.]
“If you were in my shoes, you wouldn’t say that.”
Additionally, there was a practical concern.
If the artefact were discovered in his possession, he’d be implicated as the perpetrator. Disposing of it was the safer option.
While discussing this, Ray wiped sweat from his forehead and suddenly frowned.
When he wiped the sweat, his forehead was drenched—not with sweat but blood.
?
Ray removed his glove.
Blood was flowing from the back of his hand.
There was a triangular wound on the back of his hand, from which blood was seeping, yet he felt no pain.
[It’s a stigmata.]
“What?”
[A type of blessing bestowed by clerics. It appears the seal for containing the artefact had a trap engraved on it. Magic couldn’t detect it.]
“But if it’s a trap, why would they place a blessing on it?”
[Most clerical techniques appear as blessings, but they are often utilized for entirely different purposes.]
Aptel continued, looking down at Ray’s stigmata.
[For instance, this stigmata may contain a prayer like ‘Please protect this young lamb.’]
“Huh?”
[That way, the person marked by the stigmata can be placed under the watchful eye of El-Lam.]
“So it’s a tracking spell?”
[Even a templar who prayed for the blessing cannot see through El-Lam’s gaze. However…]
Aptel’s gaze shifted upward.
[Should the chosen one under El-Lam’s protection encounter danger, weapons prepared in advance can provide support from afar.]
“What nonsense…?”
Just as Ray was about to yell, he abruptly halted his horse and turned his head backward.
Above the sky, three silver spears flashed and fell.
The spears traveled a minimum distance of 4 km.
“…Isn’t this like a missile?”
KABOOM!!!!
The miracle aimed directly at Ray.
Ray drew his sword, but the spears did not pierce him.
Seeing the spears forming a triangle around him, Ray finally understood the precise mechanism of the “miracle.”
The spears, consecrated over a long period, carried the prayer “Please support the blessed one.”
Thus, after bestowing a blessing upon the fleeing “target” and launching the consecrated spear, the spear autonomously sought out the target to provide support.
Of course, if explosives were attached to the consecrated spear, it would make for an excellent guided missile.
Although the templar’s spear lacked barbaric weapons like bombs, it bore dense prayer inscriptions.
Zzzzzz!
Chains of light forming a sacred barrier surged from the spear and fell in all directions.
Trapped instantly, Ray muttered irritably,
“These clueless bastards…”
*
Far away, seeing the brilliant flash, Albert smiled.
“We succeeded.”
Albert was proud of himself.
Others underestimated the value of the artefacts the Dukedom was trading, and the procedures for exporting the artefacts abroad were mostly skipped due to political reasons.
In such circumstances, Albert alone prepared for contingencies.
Today, an attack targeting the artefacts occurred, and Albert, fully prepared, successfully trapped the attackers within a barrier.
“They won’t escape easily.”
The type of sacred barrier etched onto Albert’s spear was the “Barrier of Repentance.”
Even devout clerics accumulate sins throughout their lives. The Barrier of Repentance detects even the faintest sins accumulated in the soul and repels them.
If the soul had come into contact with evil spirits that shouldn’t exist in this world, the pain inflicted by the Barrier of Repentance would be indescribable.
Even if one attempted to break through the Barrier of Repentance by force, they would suffer severe burns at that point.
To break the Barrier of Repentance without injury, one would need to either reach the pinnacle of mastery or truly be an Apostle of El-Lam.
Artifact (2)
