Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Sacred Relic (2)
“How on earth did you extort money from the Emperor?”
Erik returned to the magical tool shop in District 2 after finishing his work.
The store, which had been empty for about a week, was in a half-destroyed state from the aftermath of killing the Third Prince.
“Well, something like that happened.”
When Erik gave a brief explanation, Jang Du-sik scratched his head vigorously and muttered.
“Not just a few coins, but three hundred million gold… As expected, brother is crazy.”
Jang Du-sik kept exclaiming in amazement while cleaning up the scroll fragments scattered on the floor.
It was admirable, but not exactly comprehensible.
“Hey, brother. What on earth are you thinking?”
Even after hearing Erik’s explanation, Jang Du-sik couldn’t understand it with his brain.
“You’re going to bring a sacred relic from another religion to offer to the Astia Religious Order… and then sell it to the Almanism Church through the Emperor’s mediation. How did you even come up with such an idea?”
Erik’s plan was simple.
Having resolved to obtain the Astia Religious Order’s sacred relic.
He had created a solid backup plan.
“Du-sik, you have no talent for thinking.”
Erik, sprawled lazily on the store counter, gave Jang Du-sik a sharp look.
“Well, even if you say that…”
“Who am I?”
“Crazy brother?”
Erik got up and walked toward Jang Du-sik.
“Hey, hey, with words!”
Smack!
Erik delivered a brilliant Divine Power-infused flick to Jang Du-sik’s head.
Then he pointed to Jang Du-sik’s eyes.
“Eyes?”
“Didn’t you see it then?”
Jang Du-sik’s head cleared up.
It was like a pop feeling.
“You mean you’re going to use the system that Possessors use…”
“Right. I saw that one sacred relic costs one hundred fifty million gold.”
Blink. Blink!
Jang Du-sik slowly closed and opened his eyes while shaking his head.
“A sacred relic only costs one hundred fifty million gold?”
“Right.”
“But you received three hundred million gold… Then you can buy one Almanism Church sacred relic and one Astia Religious Order sacred relic, can’t you?”
No matter how he looked at it, something was strange.
There seemed to be no need to manipulate three groups—‘Astia Religious Order,’‘Almanism Church,’ and ‘Imperial Family’—with just one sacred relic.
“Isn’t Pilgrim status only recognized with an Astia Religious Order sacred relic?”
“I said I would bring a sacred relic, but I never specified which religious order’s sacred relic.”
“Then why did you ask for three hundred million?”
Seeing Erik’s bitter smile, Jang Du-sik tilted his head.
“Du-sik, what did I obtain in the Labyrinth?”
“How would I know something you haven’t told me?”
Erik summoned his tattered status window.
He placed his hand on the shop window that maintained its intact form.
[Profession-Exclusive Shop]
When he pressed the button, two windows appeared.
[Weapons]
[Skills]
Erik placed his hand on the Skills window.
[Creation: 250,000,000 gold]
There was no explanation, but Erik instinctively felt he needed to buy this skill.
Wasn’t it a name that matched the Astia Religious Order’s sacred relic [Blade of Creation]?
‘Possessors’ privilege.’
Closing the status window, Erik looked at Jang Du-sik and said.
“I’m thinking of buying my skill with the remaining money.”
“Then, then you’re saying you’re embezzling His Majesty the Emperor’s money?”
At Erik’s statement, Jang Du-sik felt dizzy.
Ever since he blew up the Prince…
‘No, wasn’t it when he was seven?’
From the time he was exterminating Black Mages, he had known Erik’s madness well.
But to show such behavior right after revealing to him that he was a Possessor.
“Du-sik, worldly affairs are fine as long as the results are good.”
“But what if you get caught…”
Jang Du-sik had no choice but to trail off.
Because Erik’s entire body was wrapped in magnificent Divine Power.
“Well, even if I reported brother as a Possessor, I’d just be treated like a madman.”
A Possessor who uses Divine Power.
Jang Du-sik nodded involuntarily at that absurdity.
***
After finishing organizing the store, Erik returned to Ruelle’s church.
“Director came early?”
Erik had come much earlier than expected, but no one questioned it.
“Brother Erik!”
“You didn’t forget our lesson, did you?”
Both Ruelle and the children welcomed Erik with bright smiles.
“Anyone would think we haven’t seen each other for months.”
Erik bowed his head to Ruelle as he passed the children.
“It’s the first time you’ve been away from the orphanage for more than a day since Riferoze disappeared.”
Ruelle clasped her hands behind her back and smiled brightly at Erik.
Her long platinum hair swayed, and behind her, the blackboard placed in the chapel was visible.
“You taught the lesson in my place.”
Basic math problems like multiplication, division, and the four arithmetic operations were densely listed on the blackboard.
“I also taught Divine Power. There are quite a few kids with aptitude.”
Ruelle proudly placed her hands on her hips.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Teaching more than twenty children was certainly not an easy task.
Each one was a child overflowing with talent like Erik.
“Jane and Yura have a talent for Divine Power.”
“Oh! Since they both handle swords well, we could raise them as Paladins.”
Erik nodded and looked at the two children.
‘I should do sword lessons first.’
Seeing Erik’s twisted expression, the children felt an inexplicable fear.
Erik, who towered well over two meters, gave a frightening impression to the children despite his brilliant appearance.
“Everyone’s been doing well with sword training, right?”
Erik positioned himself as the children’s idol, teaching instructor, and protective guardian.
“Uh, Brother Erik?”
“Don’t tell me…”
Erik’s lessons were somewhat strict.
They were at a level generally difficult for children to digest.
“We, we had lessons all day long?”
“We woke up at dawn, prayed, did horse stance and strength exercises…”
“We had math lessons during the day! And we’re doing magic and sword training this evening!!”
“We should be playing today!!”
“Huh? Brother Erik?”
The children’s daily schedule was packed.
It was a significant burden for an average age of ten.
However, there were no exceptions for Erik.
“Today, let’s start with sword training after finishing the daily routine. As you all know, my schedule has gotten very busy.”
Erik said this with a stoic face and left the chapel.
‘Once they finish multiplication and division, I should end the math lessons.’
Basic knowledge was enough.
This world was all about force.
To survive without dying, becoming strong was definitely a fact.
Erik had experienced such a harsh childhood.
Therefore, though it might be heartless, he would not make the children weak.
‘It’s a more relaxed schedule than the academy rat race in South Korea.’
Since he had set rest time in between, it wouldn’t be too much of a burden for the children.
From academy to academy, it was certainly more leisurely than South Korean children’s lives.
Erik’s ‘minimum standard’ was always set based on South Korea.
“Erik! Are you trying to create a Paladin order?”
Ruelle followed Erik with quick steps as he walked lost in thought.
‘When did she get behind me?’
Erik stopped walking and turned around.
“Priestess Ruelle, your Divine Power has become incredibly strong.”
“Hehe, didn’t you know?”
“That’s amazing.”
Erik was genuinely impressed.
Ruelle turned her head shyly and headed back toward the children.
“Wait a moment! I’ll send the kids inside and come back.”
Erik watched her retreating figure and fell into thought.
‘Her Divine Power’s individuality has become more distinct.’
Erik handled Divine Power as a Possessor.
Unlike him, among native clergy, there were cases where individuality was imbued in Divine Power.
Unlike general uses of Divine Power such as healing, blessings, or enhancement, the ability called ‘individuality’ showed truly unique properties.
‘It feels similar to Possessors’ Unique Traits.’
This kind of individuality was also imbued in aura and magic.
‘Individuality’ was a power everyone possessed but extremely few realized.
That much desperation was needed.
The ‘individuality’ of power manifested when one possessed urgency.
‘Concealment and sharing…’
Ruelle currently possessed two individualities.
‘I thought concealment was useless, but it’s more impressive than I thought.’
When Erik experienced 3rd Tier awakening, Ruelle was also affected and her total amount of Divine Power increased.
Thanks to that, the power Ruelle’s individuality provided also strengthened.
‘I can relax about safety issues.’
As Erik finished his thoughts.
“Whew. Erik, how long are you going to be like that with the kids?”
Ruelle was standing right in front of him.
Erik was truly surprised.
“Does it make sense for individuality to become this strong?”
“I know, right. Maybe I was actually a genius?”
Ruelle muttered while twirling her hair with her fingertips, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Her fingers were strangely prominent.
‘A ring?’
There was an unfamiliar ring on her finger.
Erik stared intently at that hand.
“Pretty, isn’t it?”
Feeling Erik’s gaze, Ruelle smiled brightly and proudly extended her hand.
‘She didn’t come out wearing this just to show it off, did she?’
Erik suddenly became curious.
It wasn’t even bedtime, but what was the reason she went back using the children as an excuse…
“Prime Minister gave it to me as a gift!”
In the center of the ring on her index finger was embedded a translucent pink gemstone.
The size was quite large.
“What was it… He said it was made by melting some Dragon Heart-.”
“The Prime Minister?”
Erik interrupted Ruelle’s words and tilted his head sideways.
“The, the Prime Minister is a Duke-.”
“The guy with red hair, right?”
“Uh, that’s right? Erik, why are you angry?”
Erik’s eyes widened.
‘That fucking Prime Minister bastard?’
Clench!
His teeth ground together and Erik’s mouth trembled.
“…It, it wasn’t for strange purposes! It was because you became the Director of the Possessor Management Bureau-.”
“Then why did he give you a ring?”
“Well, why? Probably… because I was too pretty.”
It wasn’t wrong.
‘Erica’s father.’
However, it was unacceptable.
“Don’t you know the Vice-Commander of the Imperial Security Bureau’s 2nd Knight Order?”
“Oh, you mean Erica?”
“The Prime Minister is her father.”
“Eh?”
Ruelle knew Erica’s childhood well.
Seventeen-year-old Erica, who acted like a spoiled brat without knowing the ways of the world, had suddenly visited Ruelle’s church.
“I heard Riferoze uses the sword best, what kind of guy is he?”
At that time, Ruelle’s church was in District 4.
Not only did the noble’s procession cause commotion everywhere, but Riferoze’s mood also soured.
Then, Riferoze dragged Erica along and met the Duke to make some kind of deal.
Having thought this far, Ruelle’s mouth gaped open.
“Then that Duke is the Prime Minister?”
“He’s the father who created that spoiled brat daughter. He’s definitely not someone to trust.”
Ruelle nodded involuntarily.
She took the ring off her finger and threw it away.
Erik reached over Ruelle’s head and caught the ring.
“Why are you throwing away something so valuable?”
“Don’t tell me…”
“I know an auction house, so I’ll dispose of it properly there. I’ll have a more expensive and better ring custom-made for you.”
Erik said this and walked outside the church.
Ruelle shouted toward his massive back.
“Erik! You just came back and where are you going again!!”
Erik stopped in front of the huge arched gate at the church entrance.
Then he said.
“I should go see the Duke for the first time in a while.”
It was a very polite tone, but somehow a chilling voice.
***
[Royal Road]
Royal Road in District 2, where the Empire’s key figures lived, became noisy.
It was the place closest to District 1 of the Imperial Capital, the street of born nobles.
A giant cleric had appeared there.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Empire’s dress uniform adorned with splendid decorations, his overwhelming physique.
And his strikingly handsome face that one could never forget once seen.
Such Erik walked through the middle of Royal Road with his brow furrowed.
Mansions lined up on both sides and the wide avenue placed in the center.
“Director! No matter if it’s official business, Duke’s mansion-!!”
And Imperial Guards being dragged along.
Beyond them, a mansion as large as a small castle was visible.
The red dragon silhouette embedded in the fence was the symbol representing the Fernasia Ducal House.
“That’s not even a door in the first place!”
“Director Erik!! Huh?”
Erik unhesitatingly threw a straight punch at the fence.
His fist shone brilliantly.
Crash!
The fence exploded and scattered in all directions, revealing the training ground beyond the fence.
“Hiccup!”
Clank!
Erica, who had been training in the training ground, dropped her sword and hiccupped.
Because the wall suddenly collapsed and Erik appeared.
“Why, why are you angry?”
That face was very ominous.
It was the face from long ago when he was giving her etiquette education.
“Erica, where is the Duke?”
Seeing Erik’s twitching trapezius muscles, Erica stepped backward.
“Fa, Father hasn’t returned yet. He should be back soon, so how about waiting in the reception room?”
Realizing that she wasn’t the target of his anger, Erica sighed in relief.
‘It wasn’t something I did wrong. What on earth did Father do…’
To make Erik so heated up?
Erica’s tension remained, but she pulled herself together and began organizing the situation.
When the family head was absent, she was the master of the mansion.
“Butler Kim! Clean up this fence!”
“Since he’s a guest of the Ducal House, the Guards can return.”
“Mary!!! Prepare tea in the reception room immediately!”
Cleaning up the collapsed fence.
Organizing the Guard members who were dragged along with Erik.
Setting up the reception room for guest ‘Erik.’
Erica organized the situation in an instant.
As Erik watched this.
“Director Erik, I’ll escort you.”
A maid came out to guide Erik.
Erik followed the maid to the reception room.
“We’d be grateful if you could wait comfortably.”
Lying down on the ogre leather sofa in the reception room, he couldn’t help but admire it.
His anger subsided a little.
‘Nobles are nobles indeed.’
The reception room’s appearance was magnificent.
It had changed to be even more antique than when he had come for Erica’s education in the past.
The black tiles embroidered on the floor and walls stood out.
‘That alone would easily exceed a hundred million.’
It was made from materials from within the Labyrinth, very precious and expensive items.
Erik estimated the value of the items in the reception room while gauging the Empire’s wealth.
‘Since it’s inherited wealth.’
There would be no end to fathom.
It was a world with titles and divided social classes.
Nobles had accumulated tremendous wealth just by living and breathing.
Erik, who was already in a bad mood…
Got his stomach churning.
It was when Erik was having such thoughts.
Creak!
The reception room door opened without even a knock.
That is to say, the master of this mansion had come.
Click, click!
With clear heel sounds, the Duke appeared, neatly dressed.
The Duke looked at Erik while sweeping back his red hair.
“I’ve been so considerate of your convenience, Erik, so how can you be so rude?”
From the collapsed fence to Erik’s rudeness in barging in without an appointment.
The Duke was about to scold him harshly, but Erik suddenly stood up.
Thoom!
The giant Erik looked down, and those eyes were very murderous.
He said.
“How could I show courtesy to someone who’s hitting on another man’s mother?”
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