Chapter 6
Chapter 6: The One Blessed by God (3)
As if misfortunes never come singly.
Just as the Archbishop arrived at Ruelle’s church, Erik also faced problems.
“Older brother, have you gone insane?”
Jang Du-sik was furious as he watched Erik, who had appeared in the magical tool shop using the miracle of teleportation (轉移).
“Older brother! Why did you come here!”
Erik had planned to relocate the information organization’s headquarters in District 5 and legitimize part of it. He had come to meet Jang Du-sik to discuss this matter…
But he was greeted with curses right off the bat?
‘Is it already time for me to get beaten up?’
Such insubordination was extremely rare.
“I sent you that urgent message through the communication magical tool, so why did you come here?”
Wooooong!
Erik calmly erased the divine power wrapped around his body with an expressionless face.
Marco’s plain face disappeared, and Erik returned to his original appearance with jade-white skin.
“I was in District 5. Let me hear your explanation first.”
“Huh, what rotten luck that you were in District 5? The Royal Guard is at the door right now.”
“Royal Guard?”
“Along with the Security Bureau’s 2nd Knight Order.”
For a brief moment, Erik thought.
‘What’s the problem?’
Trouble with noble customers.
Or perhaps an issue with items sold…
There couldn’t be any problems with items from the system shop.
‘I beat up nobles when I was young, but…’
Nothing came to mind.
So he asked.
“Du-sik, did you beat someone up again?”
“Th, there’s no way that’s true, right? Thanks to older brother’s teachings, I’m living like a proper person…”
Jang Du-sik had activated the defensive devices installed in the store.
“Then why are you hiding with all those defensive spells wrapped around you?”
Before he could hear an answer, Erik learned the reason.
Bang bang bang bang!
“We arrest the magical tool merchant Jean for the crime of insulting the Imperial Family!”
“Immediately dispel your magic and submit to the solemn enforcement of the Imperial Family!”
The Empire’s Royal Guard in golden armor was pounding on the store’s front entrance.
“Th, shit, older brother what the hell did you do?”
This time, Jang Du-sik asked Erik in return.
Erik’s brow furrowed.
“Huh?”
Shadows fell across Jang Du-sik’s face.
Erik, who was well over 2 meters tall, looked down at Jang Du-sik.
“Older brother! Use words!”
Smack.
“Du-sik, I’m thinking, so don’t make noise.”
Erik’s expression became even more twisted.
“Ugh. When you just frown like that, you look exactly like a demon.”
Leaving Jang Du-sik, who kept chattering even after being hit, Erik pondered.
‘Why the Imperial Family?’
Being suddenly entangled with the Imperial Family left him mentally paralyzed.
“Why the Imperial Family of all things?”
Monsters could be dealt with by killing them, and the same went for human scum black mages.
The same applied to possessors who disrupted the world.
Sometimes even nobles could be beaten up by Erik.
‘But why the Imperial Family?’
The Imperial Family was a dead end.
“Older brother, how long are you going to”
CRASH!
Finally, the 20-layered defensive magic circle collapsed and the Royal Guard burst in.
“Everyone freeze!”
In an instant, the interior of the magical tool shop turned into chaos, and the magical tools and scrolls displayed on the walls crackled as they scattered magic power.
This was due to the anti-magic (降魔) attribute items worn by the Royal Guard.
“Older brother! I’ll block them with my body! Escape using that teleportation miracle!”
Jang Du-sik pushed Erik into the storage room and blocked the door.
Erik looked at Jang Du-sik.
His resolve was set.
‘It’s a bit early, but… can’t be helped?’
Though reluctant to use it, he recalled a very good card.
“Du-sik.”
“Do you have a plan?”
Jang Du-sik thought the clever Erik would tell him a way to overcome this situation.
But what he heard was strange.
“Esperoja Rupel Arman, the Emperor’s name.”
“Is… the charge of insulting the Imperial Family not false?”
Jang Du-sik’s eyes wavered.
“Jang Du-sik, your name.”
“Are you insane? Why, why! Why are you putting my name together with His Majesty the Emperor’s name…”
Erik’s eyes blazed.
It was as if he was filled with determination.
So Jang Du-sik had no choice but to trail off and listen.
“What’s my name?”
“Well… when I first saw you it was Erik, during the pilgrimage it was Marco, and here you’re the magical tool merchant Jean, right?”
It wasn’t something one would normally say when the Imperial Army had burst in.
“Don’t you find that strange?”
“I, I don’t know.”
CRASH! BANG!
“Ugh-!”
Jang Du-sik’s body, blocking the door, shuddered.
Erik calmly continued speaking.
“Logically speaking, does it make sense for there to be a Du-sik with the surname Jang in a country where the Emperor has such a cool name like Esperoja?”
“…Have you really gone insane?”
Jang Du-sik tilted his head.
Erik did say crazy things sometimes, but he wouldn’t go this far with the Emperor.
Whiiiing!
“Du-sik, look.”
With a resonant sound, golden waves rose from Erik’s hand.
It wasn’t magic power, nor was it aura.
The pure golden light meant only one thing.
“Since older brother is a paladin, divine power is natural. What’s the big deal?”
The power of God residing in heaven.
The evidence of favor that could only be manifested by achieving great deeds through supreme faith.
That was divine power.
“I’ll apply divine sight to your eyes.”
Erik brought the brilliant golden orb to Jang Du-sik’s eyes.
At that moment.
“…Huh.”
Jang Du-sik was speechless.
“Wh, what is this…”
Unknown strings of characters floated about chaotically.
In Jang Du-sik’s eyes, he could see a translucent panel made of countless data.
It felt somewhat tattered.
“That… Older brother, that, what is it? Huh… you were a possessor?”
“That’s right.”
Jang Du-sik nodded.
“Huh, I thought it was strange how you had so much mystical knowledge.”
“Aren’t you surprised?”
“Well, what. It was already strange when a kid not even ten years old wandered around battlefields in conflict zones. You’re fifteen now, right? But what’s the big deal about being a possessor…”
Jang Du-sik recalled Erik’s childhood.
A small, thin boy had gone around beating black mages to death in conflict zones.
Compared to that, being a possessor wasn’t even strange.
“Du-sik, do you know why I’m living here?”
“…Well, what. To make money, right?”
“It’s because of bastards like you. Even when I tell you I’m a possessor, you show no particular reaction…”
***
CRASH!
Finally, the magic circle collapsed and the Imperial Army burst in.
“These are stubborn ones.”
“We’ll have to cut off their arms and legs.”
As the furious guards raised their swords while brandishing their golden armor.
“Surrender.”
Erik raised both hands above his head and uttered two short words.
“…I, I surrender too.”
Jang Du-sik followed suit.
“Huh… Suddenly surrendering?”
Though the Royal Guard found it absurd, they wrapped powerful restraints around their bodies.
Not satisfied with that, they held swords to their necks.
‘Who came along?’
They could have their necks sliced clean with one wrong breath.
“Your Highness, we are ready.”
The procession was quite grand for a simple arrest.
There was someone who had come along.
“That, that bastard! That bumpy half-bald head!”
Some pot-bellied fatty waddled over and immediately pointed at Jang Du-sik.
“What, what? That bastard’s magic wavelength is like that possessor from back then… Huh? Isn’t that red eyes? Silver hair and red eyes? Shiiiit-.”
The possessor that Jang Du-sik had supposedly beaten up.
That guy seemed to be a prince.
‘Silver hair and red eyes…’
He should have paid attention when Jang Du-sik couldn’t see through the recognition inhibition magic…
The recognition inhibition magical tool was probably also made by the Imperial Magic Tower.
‘No wonder the investigation took so long…’
Anyway.
The point was this.
A possessor came in disguise and got beaten up like a dog and chased away.
Unfortunately, that person’s identity turned out to be the Emperor’s good-for-nothing youngest son.
“Older brother nim, just abandon me!”
Unlike the anxious Jang Du-sik, Erik was calm.
“Du-sik, don’t worry.”
This composure came from his decision to reveal himself.
Erik’s eyes were dyed a brilliant golden color.
That was when it happened.
“Wa, wait a moment!”
Knight Erica appeared, her red hair fluttering.
She stood between the Royal Guard and the prince, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Knight Erica, even if you are the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister, aren’t you just here to support the Royal Guard? His Highness is also present, so what kind of rudeness is this!”
“We, we must resolve this through dialogue!”
Erica shouted urgently.
Her eyes were looking straight at Erik.
A bitter twisted mouth.
And twitching shoulder muscles.
‘Laughing?’
It was the same face she had when he had made her half-crippled in childhood.
She had to stop this somehow…
“Fuck, are you kidding me?”
The 3rd Prince spoke up.
Thud!
The world seemed to stop as the guards froze.
“Do these bastards think the prince’s words are funny? What trash is blocking the way and causing trouble! Prime Minister’s daughter? My dad is the Emperor!”
“Your Highness, I will protest to the Prime Minister. Please calm down…”
“Calm down? Caaalm? I personally went on a secret inspection and got beaten up by some thug, and you’re kidding me?”
The good-for-nothing 3rd Prince.
Erik nodded.
It was exactly as the 3rd Prince’s behavior was known to the world.
‘A complete idiot.’
Logically, yeah.
How could an Imperial family member being a possessor not get caught?
‘That’s what someone from 21st-century civilization looks like after possession?’
But looking at that guy’s behavior, it made sense he wouldn’t get caught.
“Number 1!”
“Y, yes!”
“Go slap that woman.”
“……”
The 3rd Prince, the shame of the Imperial Family.
It was behavior fitting that nickname.
What he was making a maid do…
‘There’s no difference from before and after possession.’
He was originally someone who didn’t match the solemn weight of the Imperial Family.
Yet there was a reason he was still alive.
‘His backing is the Almanism Church.’
The Almanism Church was one of the three religions dividing the continent into thirds.
It was in opposition to the Astia Order that Erik belonged to.
Anyway, the 3rd Prince’s mother was the daughter of the Almanism Church’s Archbishop (大牧師).
‘Hmm… the Emperor’s youngest son, and son of the Almanism Archbishop’s daughter.’
What about me?
A direct disciple of Riferoze Astia.
‘In other words, the great-grandson of the god Astia.’
The 3rd Prince was the Emperor’s son, but his maternal side was ambiguous.
Religiously speaking, wouldn’t a direct descendant be stronger?
“Erik, when you go out into the world and announce that you are my successor, I hope it will be spectacular.”
His master’s words came to mind.
He felt like being a bit spectacular in stopping this.
‘With even a prince being a possessor.’
Possessors weren’t a problem that could be avoided by being cautious.
At this point, it became clear.
“Number 1? Do you need another punishment session?”
Just as the 3rd Prince was about to slap the hesitating maid.
Kuung.
A heavy vibration occurred.
“Wha, what! Why is the sword? What are you doing…”
The Royal Guard reacted first.
They had swords at their necks, but the blades were being pushed away on their own?
Kuung.
Another vibration occurred.
A faint golden divine light bloomed over Erik’s skin.
Clang! Crack!
Cracks appeared in the sword blade that had touched Erik’s neck.
“Everyone protect His Highness! The one using sorcery…”
The Royal Guard captain who was shouting beside the prince trailed off.
Sorcery?
Kuung.
After the third vibration ended.
Erik’s body was enveloped in brilliant golden radiance.
It was God’s favor, holy power.
Was that sorcery?
‘A paladin…’
When the Royal Guard captain identified Erik’s true nature.
“Hiiiiek-! Huuu… Th, Guard Captain! K, k, kill that traitor immediately!”
The 3rd Prince began waddling away in retreat.
***
The flag symbolizing the Imperial Family fluttered in the middle of District 2’s shopping district.
“Why is the 3rd Prince causing a commotion in the shopping district…”
Magic scroll supplier Jonathan bowed his head.
“That, that bastard is trying to mess with someone again…”
“I can hear you, Jonathan shut your mouth.”
The 3rd Prince’s misdeeds were famous.
He often disguised himself as a commoner and caused trouble.
“Isn, isn’t that Jean’s magical tool shop?”
If something unpleasant happened here, the 3rd Prince would claim it was an ‘inspection’ and call the Royal Guard to deliver terrible punishment.
“Damn, we get so many supplies from there…”
Unfortunately, Jean, a famous person in District 2’s shopping district, was the target.
“Isn’t that the priest next to Jean? The big guy from Ruelle’s church.”
Next to the half-bald Jang Du-sik, a large man could be seen.
His height was so overwhelming that everyone had to recognize him.
“Oh, that’s right. Right. Tithe was it? He gave such good sermons. Damn, of all people… caught by the 3rd Prince.”
Jonathan felt a moment of joy, but made a gloomy expression thinking about what would happen next.
“Priestess Ruelle will be sad…”
Erik was recognized to that extent as a child cherished by Priestess Ruelle of the church in District 3.
“Will they have a public execution…”
Jonathan lamented seeing the two people being dragged away with swords at their necks.
That’s when it happened.
Kuung!
Kuung!
Kuung!
“Huh?”
A huge resonance was heard, then golden flashes flickered from all directions.
At the familiar sensation of divine power, Jonathan looked up.
“Huuuh… Shi, shit! Hu, hurry up and kill him!”
As soon as he looked up, what he saw was.
The Empire’s 3rd Prince running while drooling.
‘3rd, 3rd Prince? Damn, he’s coming toward me…’
Jonathan was about to lie flat on the ground.
Kugugugugugugung!!!
With a vibration that shook the earth, a massive golden pillar shot up.
The magnificent golden light scattered divine power in all directions, bringing the joy of faith to the people.
“Ahhh…”
“God Astia.”
Warmth and stability were characteristics of the Astia Order.
Intoxicated by that power, everyone looked up at the massive golden pillar.
Jonathan was the same.
“Such massive divine power… I’ve only seen it during the Archbishop’s blessing prayers…”
The pillar’s light instantly condensed and gathered around one man.
“That, that… That person? Su, surely a paladin?”
Erik’s appearance, wrapping his massive body in divine power, reminded one of a paladin.
“Nah, no way. It can’t be a paladin. Why would a paladin fight with the Royal Guard?”
Usually such chatter would be impossible during an Imperial procession.
“Well… Vice-Commander Erica already ran away… What do we do?”
However, the control of the Royal Guard and Security Bureau had long since disappeared.
The Security Bureau’s 2nd Knight Order also had no choice but to stand there blankly looking at the massive divine power.
“The Royal Guard Captain is just standing there too. He seems to have lost his mind.”
“Let’s just watch and handle the aftermath however it turns out…”
The Knight Order’s commander tried to come up with a plan but trailed off.
“Wha, what’s that now?”
The owner of that powerful divine power raised his hand high to the sky…
The 3rd Prince was floating high in the sky just like that?
Everyone’s attention was drawn there.
“The 3rd Prince…?”
“Is he bestowing a blessing?”
It looked like receiving a blessing from divine power, but somehow the person involved said something different.
“Huuu… uuuh-! Gu, Guard Captain! Pr, protect me! He’s trying to assassinate me! A, a traitor”
The pot-bellied fatty floated high in the sky screaming.
The owner of the magnificent divine power stood well over a hundred meters away from such a 3rd Prince.
He spoke.
“My father, Lord Astia, said: Sacred fire (聖火) burns impure things.”
Everyone was flustered by those words.
“Huh?”
Isn’t that what they say when executing possessors?
It was what was heard before the guillotine came down at the execution ground in District 3.
It was a familiar word, but somehow the target seemed wrong.
“Kyaaaak-! Guard Captain!!! Kyaak!”
Moreover, the 3rd Prince’s appearance, wrapped in sacred fire and emitting white smoke, felt somehow familiar.
“Huh? The, the sacred fire! I think I’ve seen that a lot at the guillotine?”
“Su, surely His Highness isn’t…”
The prince burning was the same as the possessors they had seen familiarly at the guillotine.
The only difference was that he was burning before his head was even cut off.
“Kyaaaaaa… Shiiiiit-! You, you damn NPC.”
White smoke rose from the 3rd Prince’s body, and he screamed like mad.
Erik, frowning at that sound, raised his hand high to the sky.
Then he clenched his fist.
Crunch!
“Kyaaaaaaak!!!”
The 3rd Prince, crushed by divine power in mid-air, was clearly visible.
Crackle, crackle, crackle.
The crushed 3rd Prince’s body was burning in golden sacred fire.
Even the scattering blood drops evaporated in the divine power.
There were no more screams.
Only the ash powder left by the sacred fire scattered and floated up into the sky.
The Empire was turned upside down.
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