Chapter 57
Chapter 57: Operation to Rescue Jang Du-sik (2)
If you were to choose the hottest person in the Imperial Capital, one woman would undoubtedly be selected.
A priest of the Astia Religious Order, possessing sublime beauty.
"Ahhh! Priestess Ruelle!"
"P-please look this way!"
And who had become an idol of the Empire's citizens.
'Ah! Such popularity—.'
Ruelle felt a dizzying thrill at the voices praising her.
At the same time, she thought of Erik, who would be furious about this, and felt a strange sense of anticipation.
"Everyone! The Imperial Capital Army has defeated all the monsters!"
Ruelle ignored Erik's anger and accepted the popularity as it was.
Originally, she had been famous as a beautiful priest, but until now, Ruelle had only shown her face during worship services.
And hadn't she sheltered the capital's citizens in the church and protected them?
When Ruelle waved her hand toward the enthusiastic imperial citizens.
"Waaaah!!!"
The church shook with thunderous cheers.
'No one cares about the Imperial Capital Army.'
The Imperial Capital Army, which was supposed to protect the capital, had defeated all the Floor Masters that emerged from the Labyrinth.
True to their name Imperial Capital Army, they all wore armor made of mithril and wielded swords that held moonlight.
Their majesty was truly impressive, but.
"Long live Priestess Ruelle!!!"
The citizens who entered the church all shouted Ruelle's name.
At this, the Imperial Capital Army general let out a hollow laugh,
"Huh!"
'The Saint's woman?'
The church and orphanage that Erik frequented were well known even to the Empire's key figures.
And due to the Marquis Aaron incident, Ruelle's name, which Erik particularly cherished, had become even more famous.
"An appearance unaffected by the passage of time."
A powerful figure who had surpassed Sword Master and accumulated prestige said this while looking at Janson...
'This is maddening.'
Janson twisted his scars grotesquely and bowed his head to the Imperial Capital Army general.
Sword Master Janson could feel no power from the man before him.
Which meant.
'An immeasurable powerhouse—.'
The unnamed general was a powerhouse who transcended common sense.
Sword Masters can be measured, which is why the title exists.
However, sublime powerhouses who have accumulated prestige cannot be measured, so there was no particular title for them.
'Well, individual titles do exist, though.'
In short.
Emperor, Northern Archduke, Pope, Saint.
Or the general of the Imperial Capital Army.
As Janson remained silent, recalling these fearsome names.
"What a boring fellow."
The Imperial Capital Army general left Ruelle's church as is.
Beeeep.
—The Empire's citizens are safe. This is guaranteed in the name of His Majesty the Emperor, so all may return to their livelihoods and continue their lives.
The situation had come to an end.
The amplification magic of the Imperial Magic Tower, echoing throughout the capital, announced the end of the crisis that had struck the capital.
The Security Bureau guided the evacuated citizens, and the Imperial Guard inspected areas from the slums to the Imperial Palace.
"The Imperial Capital Army will guard the Labyrinth entrance for the time being!"
The entrance to the Labyrinth was blocked off by the Imperial Capital Army in silver armor.
"Ahhh!!! Priestess!"
Several days passed like this.
The believers whose lives were saved at Ruelle's church came to the church every day to repay their gratitude.
'This is serious.'
However, in Janson's view, most of them were visiting to see the beautiful face of Priestess Ruelle.
Praise from all ages and genders.
Watching Ruelle's undiminishing popularity, Janson's worries only deepened.
[Imperial Daily]
[Transfer Impossibility Phenomenon in Southern Empire Resolved. The Cause Was a Calamity-grade Black Mage?]
The donation box filled up.
When the new donation box was half full, good news arrived.
The situation in the southern Empire, where contact had been lost, was reported.
"So that Calamity-grade Black Mage was killed by Erik?"
"That's correct, Priestess."
The descent of a Calamity-grade Black Mage.
It was news that Erik had resolved it.
"Hoho, our Saint is coming."
Ruelle was in high spirits and took out her favorite outfit to wear.
'Damn it...'
Seeing this, Janson tried to hide in the church basement instead, but.
Kiiing!
Faster than he expected, a golden cross appeared in front of the church.
Thud!
With heavy footsteps, Erik's massive form emerged through the [Miracle of Teleportation].
"Erik!"
"Priestess!"
The moment the two were welcoming each other with utmost joy.
"Waaaah!!! Priestess Ruelle!"
Countless believers' cheers were heard from beyond the church walls.
At this, Erik glared at Janson, who was standing by a pillar with a completely wrinkled expression.
And asked.
"Janson, I believe I gave you strict instructions?"
***
Thanks to Ruelle's timely mediation, Janson's crisis ended.
"Well, thinking about it, I suppose this much is fortunate."
Erik's acceptance came surprisingly quickly too.
'Given Erica's state...'
Judging from Erica's reaction after seeing his battle, it was natural for the Empire's citizens to end up in this state after receiving Ruelle's protection.
A possessor of beauty worthy of praise regardless of gender or age.
Moreover, the church's divine defense system was set to respond only to Ruelle's prayers.
'It truly was the Priestess protecting them.'
The vast divine power contained in the church was Erik's power, but it was Ruelle who wielded it.
So this treatment was natural.
"...Erik?"
Even though Erik had accepted all of this, Ruelle wore a pouty expression as if dissatisfied with something.
"Ha! How could you..."
Erik was forcibly suppressing his eyebrows from narrowing as he looked at the dongtan misirok Ruelle was wearing.
Rather, as if it were nothing.
He lowered himself with a mischievous face and whispered in Ruelle's ear.
"What seems to be the problem?"
He deliberately suppressed his reaction, pretending to be indifferent, but the more he held back, the deeper his inner rage grew.
'That bastard Marquis Aaron.'
By now, Erica would be using the Magic Tower's teleportation magic circle to transport Marquis Aaron and the Possessor Black Mages to the Imperial Capital.
They were criminals he wanted to punish immediately with his own hands, but Erik held back for the greater cause.
They had to receive official punishment through a public trial.
'That's how discipline is maintained.'
In this barbaric world, public trials and public executions were the greatest entertainment.
As Erik was absorbed in such thoughts.
"If you keep managing your expression, I'll just wear an underboob or whatever it's called!"
Ruelle declared, placing her hands on her hips.
At this, Erik's expressionless face crumbled.
What, underboob?
'Which bastard invented that...'
Deeply furrowed brow.
Highly raised eyebrows.
"Haah. Please, the clothes."
And the nagging began.
"In Earth, such outfits are worn by commoners. Noble persons and high-ranking officials wear full-body covering robes called burqa or chador—."
Erik unleashed nagging in a different direction than usual.
He knew well that telling a priest who serves God to dress modestly, or bringing up Confucian perspectives, wouldn't work at all.
It was a different world.
So he changed his approach.
"True luxury brands cover the entire body."
Quite developed in design.
And he slightly twisted the clothing styles of Possessors, which matched Ruelle's tastes.
"—So the wealthy all wear burqas and hijabs and such."
Erik finished his lengthy explanation, crossed his arms, and looked at Ruelle, but.
'...What an obvious lie.'
It didn't work on Ruelle at all.
From the start, she knew the clothing and culture of Possessors very well.
In fact, Ruelle's first luxury item was a Shanil bag made by the first graduating class of the orphanage.
"Shanil, Erumis, Gucci, Dressenvarnot, etc. Erik, do you know how much studying I've done while living with you? Besides, the chador or whatever you just mentioned is worn by heretics!"
"...Haah."
Erik pressed his temples firmly.
Having been together for over ten years, he seemed to have told Ruelle too much.
'I'm feeling a bit of regret.'
When he was young, he needed someone to communicate with like this, and he had told Ruelle and Riferoze a lot about Earth, whom he could trust.
But now that this situation had arisen, he was quite troubled.
If he entered the Labyrinth to rescue Jang Du-sik, he didn't know how long he'd be inside...
"Don't worry! I'll only wear see-through priest robes normally."
Ruelle, who noticed Erik's worry, presented her own compromise.
"That kka—. No, Du-sik is your person too, Erik, right? You have to go rescue him."
"...Thank you for your consideration."
Erik lamented his situation of having to compromise with see-through priest robes and reluctantly accepted her proposal.
'If I say I'm criticizing based on clothes, I'd have nothing to say, but...'
Yet Ruelle was accepting it and secretly enjoying it.
This meant the two were family.
Erik took in the place he would return to with both eyes and left the chapel.
"Everyone, attention!"
Erik's next destination was the orphanage.
Since the young children had been attacked by Floor Masters, it was important to check on their safety.
Wooong!
"Wow, look at this. The shiny thing looks like Du-sik ahjussi's head."
The children were enjoying war games in the magical training ground set up at the orphanage.
Hooong!
"Ah... I shouldn't have learned Aura. Mine's blue so it's not cool."
Wiiing! Wooong!
The children divided into two teams, drawing golden divine power and blue Aura, pointing their swords at each other.
Hwark!
"Blaze!"
Behind them, ranged dealers supported their respective teams.
It was a light war game Erik had taught them.
Kuwoong!
"Everyone, attentiooon!"
Erik stopped the children who were absorbed in their game.
"Oh! It's Brother Erik."
"You fought a Calamity-grade Black Mage, right! How was it?"
"Was it really super strong?"
Erik stood tall on the training ground and answered the children's questions.
"Pathetic. If you just grow up, you'll be able to beat them easily."
Erik raised the children's 'standards' quite high.
In education, it's the educator's job to make dreams and ambitions big.
But somehow, while their dreams grew, the kids remained the same size.
'Are the kids not growing?'
He thought he had grown 10cm per month from around age ten, but the orphanage children seemed like they weren't growing at all.
'Does it make sense not to grow even 10cm in two months?'
I should change the diet to high protein, high calcium.
Separate from such thoughts, Erik calmly recited the homework they needed to complete while he was gone.
"...B-but Du-sik said you can be a mage even if you don't know two-digit multiplication."
"I heard Astia Religious Order swordsmanship can only be used by clergy! If we do Imperial swordsmanship and that too, when do we sleep!"
Mathematics up to two-digit multiplication.
Swordsmanship: Astia-style light swordsmanship.
Magic: 4th Circle magic Ice Field.
Divine Power: Memorizing church teleportation coordinates to manifest the Miracle of Teleportation in objects.
"—I've assigned homework focusing on what each of you is good at, so make sure to complete it all."
The current children were the 2nd class of Ruelle's orphanage.
"Th-that's too much..."
Class president Elise raised her hand to protest, but.
"During the 1st class, my peers had to do more than twice this amount of homework every day."
Erik coldly stopped her.
Instead, he mentioned some awkward individuals.
"For the time being, your seniors, the 1st class graduates, will teach in my place."
Erik's orphanage peers, whom the current children had seen when they were very young.
'Connections made in conflict zones.'
Since they were somewhat complicated relationships.
Erik's trapezius muscles twitched.
***
"Please refrain from making noise in this sacred space."
The massive Paladin opened the church's main door and spoke intimidatingly to the gathered believers.
People who would normally admire his handsome appearance and overwhelming physique were frightened by his deeply wrinkled face and scattered in all directions.
Looking at the church that had finally become quiet, Janson approached Erik's right side.
"B-Boss. Are you really calling your peers?"
"...I don't want to, but I have no choice since I don't know when I'll come out of the Labyrinth."
"Yes, Boss."
Janson dutifully accepted Erik's orders. Then he recited a few reports.
"—The skill tree you taught me was truly amazing, Boss."
"For Guardian Knight, a full defense tree is the best for protection."
"If I weren't a Sword Master, it would have been a bit frustrating."
"How was it?"
Erik thoroughly surveyed the church surroundings while listening to feedback about the skill tree he recommended.
"With full defense and skills that increase defense based on stat ratio, Floor Master attacks barely hurt."
"Was it that much?"
"Yes, and being able to select buildings as protection targets—."
Janson's words were simple.
[Guardian Knight] has a skill tree centered on defense stats.
Since it's a multiplier ratio of 'Skill Level × Defense Stat', if you go with a full defense tree, the performance becomes overwhelmingly powerful for defense to the point of being unbeatable.
'It's more efficient if the protection target is a person.'
Erik had recommended Janson's skills while preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Because Janson had reached the realm of Sword Master on his own without the system's help, he could perform well even with the extreme skill tree of full defense.
'In the game, it would have just been for entertainment.'
Even the entertainment skill tree Erik created was overpowered when used in reality.
"—Keu, Boss. I'll serve you even more diligently."
Janson, like Erik, was someone who accepted this world as reality, but separately from that, for Possessors, gamer sensibilities were like an instinct that couldn't be hidden.
Just as Erik did, or rather, as most Possessors would.
"Right, if you time your ultimate well, you won't die even from the Emperor's strike."
Erik's face, which had been wrinkled until just before, brightened pleasantly.
There were two reasons for this: one was that all the suspicious elements hiding around the church had fled.
The other was that Janson had shown great satisfaction with his skill tree during the patrol.
"Continue the church patrol with the current route."
"Yes, Boss."
Besides that, Erik gave a few more instructions.
"Yes! Boss—."
With Janson's even more reverent response, Erik moved his steps.
"Janson, I'm leaving things to you."
Gold, Elves, World Tree, Magic Tower, etc.
These were things Erik would also take care of, but Ruelle and the orphanage children were the most important things to look after.
'I've taken care of everything I needed to.'
Erik had made as much time as possible before going to rescue his loyal subordinate Jang Du-sik.
Now what he had to do was simple.
'Du-sik, I'm coming.'