Chapter 47
Chapter 47: The Experienced Hunter (2)
"Savior seems like an excessive title."
Erik recited monotonously while observing the shocked Ruelle and Janson.
How could someone do something so absurd and maintain such composure…
'The boss is truly a monster.'
It was praise directed at an existence that transcended common sense.
In Janson's eyes, Erik appeared to be nothing short of a monster.
'The pain is still excruciating…'
The scars covering his face had diminished slightly.
Beside him, Ruelle muttered to herself as though her spirit had left her body.
"Holy power actually works on Possessors—"
Then was Erik the one who could forgive the Possessor's sins?
Erik had accomplished what even the Pope could not. It was truly a matter grave enough to astonish Ruelle.
Certainly, when interpreted from a religious perspective—
"—what else would you call it but a Savior?"
A Possessor whose soul had been inverted and rejected by Holy Power.
It meant that Erik was an existence capable of erasing their sins itself.
Ruelle, who had uttered the soliloquy, looked toward Janson.
The scars twisted across his face, yet the corner of his mouth lifted subtly upward.
This was a smile.
'An existence that grants Possessors freedom.'
Janson had undergone Sacred Adaptation Training with Riferoze since ancient times.
Of course, the results had been disappointing.
The scars covering his face proved this.
"Boss, you've surpassed even the master."
What that meant was—
The boss, Erik, had accomplished what even the Pope or Riferoze—the strongest beings in the world—could not.
"Boss, did you perhaps overcome the barrier?"
"I haven't overcome the barrier yet. It's just a feeling that I've approached its true nature."
Erik smiled faintly.
'I've definitely become able to impose my will upon Holy Power.'
As Erik's Divine Body stat increased, he became increasingly capable of exerting his own will upon the Sacred Power itself.
However, the side effect was evident.
Cracks had formed extensively across Erik's arm, which he had used to manifest the Sacred Power…
Crack! Crac!
Skin from Erik's arm crumbled and fell away.
"Boss, you're injured?"
Janson's eyes widened as he gazed upon the arm.
It felt even more alien.
The fact that Erik had sustained injuries felt even more shocking than the Sacred Power that had healed the Possessor.
"It's just a scratch. What injury is that?"
Erik nonchalantly brushed his arm aside.
"It's merely the price of coveting what lies beyond a barrier I haven't crossed."
It was a bold and confident statement.
As if he were completely unbothered by it.
To emphasize this sentiment—
"—Ugh. Erik!"
Then Ruelle stumbled backward.
"Ruelle!"
Simultaneously, Erik's expression changed urgently.
The tearing pain that had been crushing his arm subsided.
"Priestess, what on earth…"
Ruelle possessed two Characteristics.
One was concealment, and the other was sharing.
This sharing,
For Erik, it was a Characteristic that left his heart aching.
"Please withdraw your power."
"Are you trying to burst your body again?"
"Compared to before, it's nothing. Why would you go to such lengths…"
"Is it nothing?"
Ruelle's brow furrowed deeply.
Ruelle was an existence crafted from the very word beauty itself.
When such a being writhed in pain, Erik's heart sank.
He recalled the young Ruelle of old, who had endured his suffering alone, coughing blood in his stead.
"A tiny little thing like you shouldn't have to bear such pain alone, right? So rest easy"
Those days of sleep, thanks to her.
'Damn, I was short-sighted.'
Erik hurriedly manifested Sacred Power and healed both Ruelle's arm and his own.
"Healing."
[10,000 Gold was used to restore Divine Power to maximum.]
[10,000 Gold was used to restore Divine Power to maximum.]
.
.
.
A total of 100,000 Gold worth of Divine Power had been consumed in treating the wounds.
It was the price of coveting what lay beyond the barrier, so the amount of Sacred Power consumed was overwhelming.
"Erik, don't destroy your body again."
Ruelle, entrusting her body to the miracle of healing, looked toward Erik.
Observing her clear cyan-blue eyes, Erik nodded his head.
Just as Ruelle was concerned, if he filled Divine Body to 100 before ascending to 4th Tier
'This time, my body would truly burst.'
***
The commotion subsided quickly.
"This is the place to rely on—Father's embrace."
Whether because the revelation that Erik was a Savior was so shocking, Ruelle had begun praying to the Goddess Astia.
"Boss, I will stake my life to protect you."
Janson, with fanatical eyes, took it upon himself to become the watchdog of the Church.
After that, Erik headed toward the Imperial Palace.
Since he had ensured safety, he intended to meet Duke Raffin with peace of mind…
'An unexpected visitor.'
Two red-haired heads clouded his vision.
It was not merely a visual disturbance; it also added mental fatigue.
"Erik, I've been assigned to escort you."
According to Erica's words, he should accompany her, newly dispatched to the Imperial Guard, to the Raffin Magic Tower…
From Erik's perspective, there seemed to be no reason for Erica to accompany him.
Therefore, Erik regarded the Prime Minister standing beside Erica with a displeased expression.
Then he threw a curveball directly.
"How could Lady Erica possibly be of assistance to me?"
To this, the Prime Minister let out a hollow laugh.
Brushing back her red hair, the Prime Minister spoke.
"Erik, this is an Imperial Decree."
An Imperial Decree, no less.
The moment Erik's face twisted,
"I don't think we'll need to entangle you and Erica together anymore."
It was the Prime Minister's stern declaration.
For Erik, it was nothing short of favorable news.
The woman who remembered only receiving beatings, even now as she had grown, stubbornly followed him around, which was exceedingly uncomfortable.
And yet, Erica still feared him.
'If I'm not to be entangled with her, then why Erica?'
Erik pondered briefly.
And soon reached a conclusion.
'I've disrupted the balance of power.'
The Empire had four factions.
The Imperial Faction, led by the Emperor and the Prime Minister.
The Magic Union, fronted by Duke Raffin.
The Hardliners, headed by the Northern Archduke.
The Moderates, an assembly of minor nobles.
True to being a Great Empire, there was no anti-Imperial faction.
Yet the four factions each maintained a balance of power.
'They're treating me as part of the Imperial Faction.'
It seemed the Emperor intended to utilize Erik's existence quite thoroughly.
The Imperial Guard, unlike the Royal Guard, was an entity that could operate outside the Imperial Palace.
By appointing Erica to such a guard, it meant 'attaching a Guard Knight Order as an escort.'
"In this opportunity, you intend to apply pressure to Duke Raffin."
It meant the Imperial Faction was seeking political leverage.
Erik didn't particularly want to be entangled in the Imperial Palace's machinations.
'It's precisely because Duke Raffin opposed the Empire's Purification Project.'
The Duke of Raffin, who had consistently given absolute support to the Labyrinth assault, was said to cast many opposing votes specifically regarding matters involving Possessors.
In a way, it was necessary work.
The world after the Great Cataclysm Patch would not be gentle, after all.
Just as Erik anticipated.
"There's an Imperial Decree for you to enter the Raffin Magic Tower with the Guard, find corruption related to Possessors."
The Prime Minister handed over the concrete plan of execution.
"Will money suffice as compensation?"
Of course, it wasn't a simple command.
It was explicitly a transaction predicated on consideration.
And Erik placed great importance on maintaining superiority in transactions.
"Prime Minister, as a Saint, will you continue to address me informally?"
Erik smiled faintly.
The Prime Minister's red beard trembled slightly.
"The years we've known each other…"
The Prime Minister trailed off, observing Erik's tilted head.
Erik is a Saint of the Astia Religious Order and the Emperor's hidden card.
In truth, formal address was only natural.
"Well, it was a joke."
Of course, Erik was not a person to dwell on such matters of address.
He had merely applied positional pressure through jest before a transaction.
In fact, it worked well.
Just as the Holy War Knights had fumbled at the Pilgrim's Mark.
'A Saint…'
The Prime Minister was genuinely flustered by the title of Saint that Erik had uttered directly.
An existence he had observed for so long had suddenly become a great figure overnight.
'I simply cannot believe it.'
The conversation made it feel even more awkward.
Fifteen years old, a Saint, and a Pilgrim.
The Prime Minister had observed Erik since he was extremely young.
'That small commoner child—'
"Saint."
Had grown to such stature.
A subtle pride gleamed in the Prime Minister's eyes.
"The Emperor said he would personally provide compensation."
The Prime Minister bowed his head to Erik in keeping with that pride.
His manner of speech reflected this as well.
'Not a grant, but payment?'
This time, Erik was taken aback in turn.
"Prime Minister, please treat me as before, comfortably."
The conversation concluded with the matter of address settled.
"Since the Saint himself has said so, I'll speak comfortably as usual."
The Prime Minister treated Erik as he normally had.
"I'll deliver good news to His Majesty."
Erik decided to follow the Imperial Decree.
The Imperial Faction consisted of the Imperial Family and various figures from the Noble Council led by the Prime Minister.
From Erik's position, they were true allies to be recognized.
It was only natural to comply with their requests.
'The word is compensation.'
Based on the Emperor's character, he would certainly hand over an astronomical sum.
The wealthiest place on the continent was the Imperial Palace, after all.
'In the worst case, the Sacred Artifact Magical Tool business could fall through.'
Of course, there were clear risks.
The Marquis who had sent 'Dongtan Misiruk' was under Duke Raffin's command.
Judging from this, there was a strong possibility that their master, Duke Raffin, was also orchestrating something with Possessors.
Wasn't it said that groups follow the head?
Fortunately, there was legitimate justification.
"Prime Minister, I'll also make one request."
Erik made a plea to the Prime Minister.
"I'll personally summon the Imperial Enforcement Bureau."
***
Erik and Erica sought out the Teleportation Magic Circle Management Office located in District 1 of the capital.
Since it was part of the planned schedule, the mages guided Erik to the Teleportation Magic Circle connected to the southeastern region of the Empire.
While waiting for the magic circle's power to charge, Erica offered a greeting.
"Saint, have there been any notable matters recently?"
"Notable? Hmm, ever since I burned the Third Prince, I've been so busy it's become a problem."
"I, is that so?"
On the Teleportation Magic Circle, Erik made a joke.
Erica's body flinched.
"Besides, Princess Erica. A commoner orphan became a Saint—what do you think of it?"
Erica felt her skin crawl at the unexpected retort from Erik.
"Ah, was I a lowly commoner orphan?"
Erik tilted his head thoughtfully.
"For such a lowly commoner orphan to teach me? A scrawny wretch wielding a sword at that!"
Erica lamented her childhood foolishness.
Who could have predicted how the world would turn?
That little child had been the strong one who had beaten her, and moreover, had become a Saint of a religious order.
"Saint… didn't you promise to forget the resentment from back then?"
Erica squeezed her eyes shut and averted her gaze.
Erik, looking down at her with a mischievous expression.
How on earth…
'I fell for such a face.'
Erica, with her evident bias toward handsome men, felt it lamentable.
Not being treated like a princess, but rather being treated like some kind of rogue.
Thump! Thump!
Her heart raced.
Yet he was an existence she could not presume to reach.
"Princess, it was a joke."
Erik, laughing deeply, changed his tone to his usual manner.
'Ahhh'
At this, Erica's heart sank once more, but she could only listen to Erik's continued steady voice.
"This assignment will likely involve more danger than expected."
Because that Erik—who had spread his wings before the Emperor—was speaking of danger.
'Danger?'
It was strange to hear.
"Black Mages who are Possessors are said to be invading from the west of the Empire."
"What do you mean by—"
"If we inform the Imperial Palace, there's a high likelihood the information will leak."
The words that came after the mischievous joke were serious.
"Black Mages?"
Well, it had been a joke to broach such a heavy topic…
"Moreover, information leaking from the Imperial Palace means—"
Erik's statement implied that traitors had infiltrated the Imperial Court.
'How could this be, in a place where His Majesty resides.'
It was not merely heavy—it was profane speech.
Insulting the Imperial Family was not permitted, even for an overwhelmingly powerful being bearing the title of Saint.
Erica regarded Erik with piercing eyes.
Erik responded to that presumptuousness with a scoff and continued.
"There is someone the Emperor himself cannot control. A wife, that is."
"Ah."
Erica had been transferred to the Imperial Guard not through the Prime Minister's backing, but based on her accomplishments.
It was meaningful that she possessed a reasonably sharp intellect.
'The relationship between the High Priestess and His Majesty…'
She recognized that Erik's words held sufficient merit.
Thus, she nodded silently.
Observing such a composed Erica, Erik whispered into her ear.
"Speak comfortably as before."
Thump!
Her heart dropped.
Coupled with the additional statement—
"I'll ask that you enforce secrecy among your newly acquired subordinates."
With her eyes squeezed shut, Erica replied as she normally did.
"Y, yes, then"
Her voice wavered.
Simultaneously, the magic circle on the ground emitted light.
The light grew progressively brighter.
Uuuuoooong!!!
With a tremendous roar, a large-scale Teleportation Magic Circle activated.
A massive blue-light dome enclosed Erik and Erica, along with approximately twenty Imperial Guard knights.
Not long after, the light dispersed, and an alien space appeared.
Whiiiiing!Clunk!
A space filled with unidentifiable equipment.
A place where bizarre machinery roared, producing something.
"Th, this place is…"
Erica tensed upon witnessing the unfamiliar alien machinery for the first time.
The Imperial Guard Knights who had accompanied her similarly felt on edge.
They kept their hands upon their sword hilts, emitting sharp vigilance.
Meanwhile, Erik—
'Duke Raffin is quite mad.'
He felt nostalgia for Park Ji-hun after a long time.
Drrrr!
A conveyor belt automatically transporting materials.
Whirring!Clunk!
Instead of people, machines stamped and assembled something from mold frames.
Truly!
'An automated factory.'
And it was an automated factory producing magical tools at that.
From between the factory's mechanical equipment, a man appeared.
"Saint Erik, you've truly come!"
He welcomed Erik with a very bright smile.
'To think he created such an impossible factory.'
Duke Jenedik Raffin, whose white hair was neatly swept back.
He unfurled his curled whiskers, regarding Erik.
His narrowed eyes opened slightly.
"I thought you'd come alone, but you've dragged along unwanted guests in tow."