Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Creation (2)
“……Ah, my church.”
Ruelle looked at the location where the church had been with a despairing expression.
Even after rubbing her eyes, there was nothing to see.
Erik smiled as he looked at Ruelle.
“Priestess Ruelle, there’s no need to clean up the ruins.”
What remained after the [Creation] skill ended was an empty lot.
Ruelle and Sword Master Janson, who had been hiding behind Erik’s back, were unharmed, but everything within the skill’s range had disappeared.
‘It’s like a black hole.’
Creation tears through space.
The torn space contains very heavy divine power.
That force sucked in everything around it.
“My, my statue that I received when I first became a priest…… Ugh!”
What that meant was.
Ruelle’s church had disappeared, leaving only the foundation.
This included the statue of the Astia Religious Order that had been given to Ruelle when she was appointed as the church’s priest.
“Ah, the children!”
It was a force powerful enough to make the church disappear.
Ruelle was startled and looked at the orphanage connected to the church……
“Wow, what did brother Erik do?”
“Awesome!”
Only the massive orphanage next to it remained intact.
The children’s room windows facing due south were wide open.
“Perhaps……”
The children had awakened from their sleep due to the tremendous commotion.
Everyone witnessed the miracle Erik had caused.
Even the children who woke up late could easily tell that something extraordinary had happened.
“Did brother really?”
Because the scenery visible outside the window had changed.
The roof of the church with its massive and majestic stone sculptures was nowhere to be seen.
All that was visible was Ruelle sitting dejectedly in the empty lot and the towering Erik standing beside her.
The children’s expressions grew brighter.
“Brother Erik! Are you going to build us another new building?”
When Erik destroyed something, it was often replaced with something better.
These were things the children had experienced as they grew up.
“Now we don’t have to live in that dirty stable anymore.”
About twenty children had all been rescued by Erik and Ruelle’s hands.
They had wiped out a criminal organization that used begging children in District 5 to make money, and Erik provided shelter for the rescued children.
“The church is too cramped. I’ll build you something called an orphanage.”
When the number of children staying at the church increased, Erik immediately prepared to move them.
“Since you’re over five years old, you should each have your own space.”
These were the children who had grown up that way.
Though he didn’t speak warmly to them, everyone knew that Erik cared for them.
The same would be true for what was to come.
“Should we put a dragon-shaped statue this time?”
“I should ask for a personal prayer room to be built!”
Erik emphasized diverse experiences and helped the children participate together in the construction process.
He also considered individual hobbies when decorating rooms.
“This will be fun!”
Even while finding them troublesome.
Erik took better care of them than anyone else.
That Erik raised his head to look at the orphanage windows.
Small heads were poking out in front of the windows.
He said.
“Bedtime has passed.”
It was a stern voice.
But it was also affectionate.
“I’ll build you a bigger and more magnificent church soon. If you become priests, it will soon become your workplace.”
So.
“Sleep well. You won’t grow tall otherwise.”
It was strange for Erik, who was well over 2 meters tall, to say such a thing.
The children closed the windows with sullen faces.
Growing that big is a bit……
Someone muttered quietly.
“Haha, the children have grown up so well.”
At those words, Erik smiled joyfully and looked at Ruelle.
Right beside him, Ruelle was staggering while holding the back of her neck.
“My symbol of faith……”
Unlike the innocent children, Ruelle seemed unable to get over the shock.
“I’ll have the Religious Order’s symbol rebuilt with pure gold and embedded gems.”
“Of course you would……”
“Additionally, the new church that will be built there will be surrounded by defensive magic comparable to the orphanage.”
Ruelle tilted her head.
“Then, there were no protective measures on the church until now?”
“Until recently, wasn’t the church just a place for prayer?”
“What do you mean by that—”
“Money should be used efficiently.”
Ruelle understood what Erik meant.
‘He means the place that was just for prayer changed into a place that receives tithes.’
This crazy Erik.
It meant he had saved on material costs for the existing church construction, which wasn’t profitable.
While Ruelle was organizing her disheveled hair and repeating patience to herself.
“Don’t worry.”
Erik offered words of reassurance.
From his bright smile, she could feel his determination to take full responsibility.
‘Should I like this or not…… I might want to see a pure gold jeweled cross a little?’
With Ruelle pondering in front of him, Erik briefly closed his eyes.
‘I should leave the construction to Janson.’
He was thinking of building the church bigger and more magnificent this time.
Wasn’t tomorrow the day the labyrinth opens?
A whole week has already passed……
Erik reflected on the past week.
‘So many tremendous things happened in just one week.’
He had driven away the duke who was bothering Ruelle and extracted 300 million as advance payment from the Emperor.
With that, he bought sacred relics and sold them to the Almanism Church through the Emperor’s mediation.
Looking at what had happened, it was on a scale that would normally take years to progress.
‘I met the Duke, the Emperor, His Holiness the Pope, and even the leader of the Alman Church.’
They were all remarkable beings.
He realized that the density of his life had changed after revealing his power.
While lost in such thoughts.
“Erik, whew. Don’t overdo it too much.”
Ruelle had organized her thoughts.
From her very refreshed tone, it seemed her anger had completely subsided.
Erik bowed his head to express his gratitude.
Ruelle had her hands on her slender waist, and when he lowered his gaze, he could see a small luxury bag hanging from her wrist.
‘She always uses the gifts I give her.’
The same would be true for the perfume.
Unlike Erik, who bowed his head in gratitude, Ruelle was half resigned.
‘Erik being Erik.’
Father, the divine revelation of the god Astia was truly correct.
Unaware of Ruelle’s feelings, Erik suddenly bid farewell.
“The night is late. You should also rest, Priest.”
“Right…… Tomorrow you’ll enter the labyrinth again.”
Erik watched her back until Ruelle left.
Only after Ruelle disappeared from sight did Erik look at a man who had been killing his presence in a corner of the chapel.
‘Is that really the Boss?’
Janson was fidgeting with his scar, his soul seemingly departed.
Drool was flowing from his gaping mouth.
‘Is the Boss a twin?’
Boss Marco, who had massacred all members of the dark organization in District 5, the slums, and created a new organization.
The Erik that Janson knew and the current Erik had too much disparity.
As if reading such thoughts, Erik approached Janson.
A shadow fell over the scar.
“Janson, put that ring up for auction after I enter the labyrinth, and get at least ten times the price.”
At the murderous and resolute command recited in the always sensitive tone, Janson felt relieved.
“Yes, Boss.”
***
A new week at the Possessor Detention Camp had begun.
Among the circular iron bars, a massive Paladin was emitting brilliant golden light.
Whooooosh.
At the divine power’s spectacular display, the possessors in the iron cages were terrified.
They squeezed their bodies into the corners of their cramped prison cells of about 2 pyeong, trying to get as far away from the divine light as possible.
Toward the frightened possessors, Erik said.
“Park Chang-ho, Nishida Ryo, Kang Pung-ho. You three will enter the labyrinth again this week.”
Clank, clank, clank. Click!
The iron cages of the called possessors opened.
Park Chang-ho, the only Asian, stepped forward confidently with his rapier. Behind him followed Kang Pung-ho, her bob cut swaying.
Nishida Ryo waddled forward while frowning.
‘Why the hell me!’
It was unfair.
But he couldn’t blame anyone.
‘A cleric pulling this kind of scam?‘
Nishida Ryo felt unbearable grief.
Erik had clearly said he would take different possessors this week……
Thwack!
“Hey! Won’t you straighten that face?”
A crude wooden club came down on the head of the heavily frowning Nishida Ryo.
“S-sorry.”
Nishida Ryo squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head toward the thug.
Except for the tattoos and fluorescent shorts, he was no different from Chorong.
“Du-sik, why are you hitting the kid?”
“Brother. Look at these possessor bastards’ faces. Anyone would think they’re pigs being dragged to a slaughterhouse.”
Looking closely, Park Chang-ho and Kang Pung-ho also seemed slightly uncomfortable.
Erik understood the possessors’ feelings.
‘They must feel wronged.’
Erik had felt fear from monster intimidation in the labyrinth when he was young.
To them, the labyrinth would feel like hell.
‘But what can you do?’
Erik was the Director of the Possessor Management Bureau and a sublime pilgrim of the Astia Religious Order.
“If you have complaints, I’ll send you to Father’s embrace.”
When told to do something, you do it.
How dare you.
“No! We have no complaints!”
Only after seeing the well-disciplined possessors did Erik nod.
‘The moment I take my eyes off them, they pull crazy stunts……’
Erik was even stricter about possessors.
Before coming to the Possessor Detention Camp, he had heard from Ruelle that a massive real estate fraud had occurred in the neighboring Garcian Kingdom.
The culprit was a possessor.
They deceived a lord to create something called jeonse deposits and caused tremendous property damage by circulating jeonse money……
‘It’s fortunate this is the Empire.’
The Empire is different from kingdoms.
Imperial law exists above territorial law.
A lord is merely a representative who manages territory under the Emperor’s delegation, a position that can change at any time.
‘Other countries should be considered ruined.’
However, lords in kingdoms are beings who reign like kings within their territories.
They were often selfish.
So unlike the Empire, they would be more vulnerable to possessors.
The other two kingdoms with state religions would be better……
“Brother, did you hear about the Garcian Kingdom?”
Just as Jang Du-sik seemed to have similar thoughts, he asked Erik.
Erik nodded.
“Looking at the possessors, that thought came first. Their numbers have increased too much…… The kingdoms will try to use them like the Empire does.”
“So?”
“No, how can that be managed?”
It was natural to think of accidents caused by possessors when looking at them.
And it would also be natural for kingdoms to imitate what the great Empire does.
‘People’s thoughts, really.’
At least in the Empire, such things must not happen.
Real estate fraud?
How dare you.
Boom!
When Erik stomped his foot, divine energy surged in all directions.
“You brats! Attention!!”
Following Jang Du-sik’s shout, the possessors moved instantly.
They gathered in front of the iron bars and stood at attention in proper formation.
Feeling everyone’s gaze, Erik opened his mouth.
“All possessors in the Empire must be managed by the Possessor Management Bureau, and those who are not are subject to immediate execution.”
Erik recited the imperial law in a fierce tone with a lowered voice.
“This is the revised imperial law starting this week.”
Under the premise that the Emperor is firm, there will be no threat to the Empire.
Erik thinks so.
‘Because there are solemn duties of the imperial family and nobility.’
***
The Labyrinth Plaza in District 3.
On a platform where a sharp guillotine gleamed, Erik conducted a simple departure ceremony.
Unlike the first time, the atmosphere was light.
“Nishida Ryo, is there another such space on the 1st floor of the labyrinth?”
“Such a space?”
Nishida Ryo initially couldn’t understand and tilted his head.
Tap, tap!
The sound of Jang Du-sik tapping his palm with a club could be heard.
Then Park Chang-ho whispered to Nishida Ryo.
“Ah, you mean a place where treasure chests and monster rooms are together.”
“Keep answers short and concise.”
“Ah, understood!”
No matter how useful he was, from Erik’s standpoint, Nishida Ryo was the most distasteful being.
‘I can’t even burn that thing.’
Spouting the forbidden word “favorability work” in front of Ruelle herself had caused such anger.
However, Erik endured it.
“What floor?”
“There’s one more on the 1st floor!”
Hidden pieces.
Unlike him, who enjoyed pure leveling, Nishida Ryo knew quite a lot of hidden gimmicks in the game.
‘The other guys can’t match Nishida Ryo.’
Erik had investigated the possessors with the Royal Guard’s cooperation.
The materials received from the Imperial Intelligence Department were the same.
So far, there was no replacement for Nishida Ryo.
“Let’s talk about the details after we go in.”
Erik led the possessors toward the labyrinth entrance.
At the end of the plaza, old brick stairs were visible, and a long line stretched in front of the stairs.
It was so long that the end was not visible.
Then Jang Du-sik shouted.
“You brats!”
It was only the 2nd labyrinth run.
All the crowds waiting to enter the labyrinth parted.
“Geez, why is this so boring.”
Walking through the path created between the crowds, Jang Du-sik muttered.
Everywhere was quiet.
The Adventurer’s Guild, sensitive to rumors, had already shared information about Erik.
‘A guy who receives favor from both the Emperor and the Pope.’
The gazes weren’t entirely friendly.
However, the adventurers realized Erik’s position.
“Attention!”
When they reached the labyrinth entrance swiftly, soldiers saluted and cleared the way.
Erik lightly placed his hand on the old wooden door leading to the labyrinth.
Creeeeak.
With an eerie sound, the dark labyrinth was revealed.
Erik strode forward confidently.
The possessors followed behind, and Jang Du-sik with his club took up the rear.
—Five humans accept the labyrinth’s trial.
The labyrinth offered a welcoming greeting.
Erik’s party walked silently through the darkness.
Boom, boom, thud!
With vibrations, a cave that was the starting point appeared from the darkness.
Torches on the walls flickered, revealing six passages.
‘Is that thug going to choose the path like last time?’
Park Chang-ho, the representative of the possessors, calmly prepared for the situation to follow.
However, something unexpected happened.
“This exploration has two objectives.”
Instead of choosing a path, Erik stood the possessors up and began a speech.
“One is your leveling, or to use possessor terminology, power leveling.”
‘He looks extremely happy.’
Seeing Erik’s refreshed face, Park Chang-ho sighed with relief.
“The second objective is to explore the other hidden piece on the 1st floor that Nishida Ryo mentioned.”
Neither was that big a problem.
Yet Park Chang-ho was anxious.
‘My sixth sense……’
A feeling that something ominous was about to happen.
The sixth sense was absolute.
[Blade of Creation (開闢) – Sacred Relic of the Astia Religious Order]
Kiiiiing!!
Erik suddenly drew the gleaming sacred relic.
‘Eek!’
The possessors were startled.
However, Erik didn’t even glance at them and spoke to Jang Du-sik.
“Du-sik, if I use Creation with the Blade of Creation, what would happen?”
“Geez, what. Didn’t you say it sucks everything in?”
Jang Du-sik looked at the possessors with a worried expression.
To this, Erik said.
“Wouldn’t all the goblins from the six passages get sucked in?”
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