Chapter 118
Chapter 118: New Phase (3)
'I've learned a truth I never intended to.'
Erik gazed at the soul before his eyes. A red glow flickered between the pale wisps of smoke.
"You brought the dead back to life and then..."
"You... killed them again?"
"Insane..."
Shock filled the air. The possessed one, burned away by divine power right after being resurrected. Erik had quickly expanded the [Divine Apostle Appointment] slot, trying to make him a believer, but... The possessed burned away faster than that. And the red soul that remained.
'So that's why the red soul burns in divine power.'
Erik had learned one truth. And he had to suffer much misunderstanding because of it.
Limp!
"The boss is truly consistent, sir."
Jackson, upon seeing the white smoke, trembled. Then, suddenly limping, his scarred face twisted grotesquely. It was as if he had PTSD.
"Didn't your brother always tell you to stay consistent? But looking at you now, I can really feel that your brother is setting a great example!"
Jang Du-sik also grinned and spouted such nonsense. Erik's face distorted at this.
'This is driving me crazy.'
The problem wasn't just his simple subordinates. The bishops leading the Paladins and choir arranged in the temple began to engage in heated debate.
"...The Saint's will to erase the possessed from the world—"
"Even if they're resurrected, that sin isn't erased, is it?"
"It means only those You permit are recognized by the divine, doesn't it?"
This was maddening. They were inferring meanings for his actions among themselves.
"If only those recognized by God are applicable, does that apply to ordinary people as well?"
"Hmm, it might lead to an interpretation that those not permitted by God have no human rights."
Those words were far from ordinary. If he left it like this...
[A being without divine recognition is not human.]
Such a monstrous doctrine might emerge.
'And it's all under the Pope's permission...'
Because there was trust built up over time, the members of the religious order didn't have negative feelings toward this temple either. It was clearly a good thing. Yet, Erik closed his eyes tightly.
'Why did such a peculiar possessed one have to...'
A Level 1 possessors, a strange being whose name was erased. He'd confirmed he was a white male. But right after that, he burned away in flames.
'To think he'd burn away so quickly.'
Compared to ordinary possessors’, his durability was clearly inferior.
'First, I need to clean this up.'
Erik was somewhat flustered, but calmly tried to use [Resurrection] again. But...
[Resurrection - ^#!%]
The numbers weren't visible, but a cooldown appeared to be active. This was strange.
'Why is there a cooldown on a skill that consumes resources like Gold?'
Resource-consuming skills never had cooldowns. At most, there were occasional usage limits. As he pondered this, the World Tree provided the answer.
Whoosh!
[The suffering you caused me... ah, to feel that pain again...]
In other words, the World Tree had implemented a skill that [4-Tier] couldn't use. In exchange, it seemed the World Tree was in some pain...
'Is pain the same as joy...?'
Tremble, tremble, tremble!
Seeing the sapling shake madly, his mind went white. After a moment.
"Phew."
The World Tree's trembling stopped and the [Resurrection] skill returned fully. With this, Erik learned one more truth.
'The World Tree isn't usually crazy.'
There were clearly two people to resurrect. Erica and the mysterious possessed. But the World Tree had prepared only one resurrection and displayed a message as if it had been waiting for this.
'...Is such a being truly the pillar of the world?'
It was ridiculous. Regardless of the situation, he had work to do.
"Ahem, hmm."
Erik gathered people again. He felt somewhat embarrassed. But with an impassive face, he radiated holy radiance and stood up confidently once more. And spoke.
"There was a small mistake, but we will begin the resurrection again."
It was shocking news to some, but Erik felt no guilt whatsoever. And for good reason.
'The one who kidnapped and killed Erica.'
Whether his name was erased or whatever. That was a secondary issue. Erik was always the kind of person who chose the best option in the worst situation. That's why he despised those who chose the worst option in the worst situation. Even those who chose the second-worst option.
'Still, I should try to save him.'
This was ultimately an act of confirming the stability of resurrection.
[Resurrection: 1GP]
The moment Erik made his choice, light began to gather toward the center of the temple once more.
Whoooosh!
Sacred power rippled from all directions. That light began to shape a body again. The form of flesh being created with golden light was still miraculous and felt like a mysterious miracle. At that sight, Riferoze uttered words of admiration.
"Ho—. So you really can kill and resurrect."
Resurrected once. But then he burned to death and was resurrected again. Now only the flesh was complete. All that was left was to insert the redly glowing soul into the shaped body.
'What is the red soul again?'
The color was transparent, looking very pure, but the color was the problem. As he pondered this, by the time the flesh was complete, Erik moved his hand through the air. Immediately.
Ssssssh!
Sacred power gathered around the soul. And the change that occurred.
'The soul changed to green?'
Riferoze's smile deepened intensely. Her interest grew to an almost overwhelming degree.
"Ah, truly you are my disciple."
Along with her exclamation, the soul that changed to green light settled into the flesh. That admiration didn't end with Riferoze. The Pope also carefully observed the sight and came to understand the truth himself.
"The color of the soul was the problem."
Why do the souls of the possessed burn away in divine power? A world mystery had been solved.
***
"Du-sik, test if he's in his right mind."
Amid shock and astonishment, Erik continued with his next action.
"Understood, brother."
Jang Du-sik walked toward the middle-aged white man without hesitation. And suddenly threw a large white cloth at him.
"Hey! Wear that first."
It was consideration for the nude possessor.
"Wh-why am I naked?"
He was startled and wrapped his body with the cloth. Then, looking around blankly, he soon slapped his own cheek.
Crack!
"Wh-what is?"
He seemed to have realized it wasn't a dream but reality.
'He doesn't look like a drug addict. And he doesn't seem like a black mage with his head smashed in either'
Jang Du-sik scratched his head, beginning to worry about what to do. Something seemed off. There was also a sense of dullness. There was one way to check in this situation. Jang Du-sik asked.
"Brother, should I check if he has a pain sensation?"
Erik nodded, and a club came down.
Whack!
"...Ugh!"
The possessed showed a dull response. It was as if his body's synchronization rate was misaligned. Erik found himself in various predicaments.
'Is Erica going to be like this too?'
Wasn't his reaction speed noticeably slower compared to ordinary people?
Whack!
"...Mm. Ughhhh!!!"
If this were a side effect, it would be a major problem.
"Du-sik, stop hitting him. He'll die again."
"Got it, brother! From what I see, this guy's reaction seems dull!"
Erik furrowed his brows and waved his hand at Jang Du-sik. Already there were many eyes watching him...
'Like they're looking at some madman.'
The gazes weren't ordinary. Especially the Pope's gaze. Erik quickly began the next verification procedure.
'Can I see the portrait photo of a possessors who died and came back to life?'
Next was memory and cognitive ability testing. Thus, Erik moved the clouds in the temple.
Slide!
The pink clouds parted, revealing an alien space within. A clearly visible landscape of a strange world through sacred smoke. Within it were things familiar to the possessed. Starting with a portrait photo, the space around it. And...
"Honey, I got remarried."
The faces of beloved family. However, that statement was somewhat problematic.
'Right when his remarried wife came to visit.'
Erik was concerned the possessed might experience mental confusion. But the possessed was fine.
"Hmm. Who's that?"
Looking at the wife in front of his portrait photo, he simply tilted his head.
'Ah, so this is his first wife then?'
From what Erik confirmed so far, there was one truth he understood.
'It's not a side effect of resurrection. This guy himself has a problem.'
The fact that his status window still displayed as ■■■■ even after being resurrected twice served as evidence. And examining the now-believer possessed with his own divine power, this was what he felt.
"Your Holiness, what is your assessment?"
Erik asked the Pope. The residual traces of divine power had been rippling in the Pope's eyes since earlier.
'So he wasn't looking at me strangely.'
Clearly, the Pope's gaze was directed at the resurrected possessor. Like Erik, the Pope also examined the possessor and the portrait photo alternately with a grave expression.
"...The soul has been destroyed. Most cruel was the method."
The Pope, who had hesitated for a moment, gave his answer to Erik. The content was very serious.
"The divine power to resurrect the dead and the black magic to destroy the soul of the living—"
Things that should never happen in the world were occurring. And the Pope stated with certainty.
"—That man is no different from a Living Corpse."
"I see."
In any case, the problem was solved. The Resurrection skill was fine; the problem was the possessors’ soul itself. So now the task was simple.
'This resurrection left many questions—'
But in resurrecting Erica in her complete form, only blessings would remain. Erik looked at his skill window again.
[Resurrection]
Thanks to the World Tree's advance preparation, no cooldown indication appeared. But this time, Erik took his time. The reason was.
"Erica Fernasia, who always stood at the forefront to protect countless citizens from danger."
It was to make her sacrifice known. Wasn't she a person who believed in him? She deserved to be praised.
"From now on, we will perform the resurrection ceremony of Knight Erica as evidence of true faith."
At those solemn words, everyone gathered in the temple naturally composed themselves with reverence. The moment Erik finished speaking.
Kuuuoong!
A weighty divine force descended. It was a divine power incomparable to before.
"Aah."
The Paladins involuntarily gasped in admiration. The grand divine power filled the temple. That holy force formed a wave, creating shimmering light in all directions. And that sacred force began to shape a woman's body. The location was directly before the Sacred Throne.
Ssssssh!
Divine light poured down. It drew delicate feet. Soon, light rippled along the lines of the legs, beginning to draw an elegant waist. That light passed through rounded breasts and finally extended to the head. At the end, it created hair tinged with red. Thus, Erica's body was shaped.
Kuong!
A pure white soul settled in that body. Erica's body, which had been suspended on her toes, slowly descended to the ground.
Thud!
When her feet touched the earth.
"Erica."
Erik approached Erica. Since he had shaped her naked, Erik removed his uniform to cover her. It was meant to conceal her. But.
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
Erica let out a cry of admiration and threw herself to the ground faster than Erik could approach. This soon turned into prostration toward Erik.
"Light blooms in darkness, and at its end, You grant a new body——."
Overwhelmingly reverent praise. A complete devotion offered with her entire body. Naked Erica prostrating with her whole body.
'Her fanaticism has grown even deeper.'
Erik covered her body with an outer robe with an impassive face.
"You are my God."
"Erica, you've worked hard all this time."
Erik recognized this as a reality he had to endure.
'I've brought the dead back to life.'
Seeing such deep fanaticism in her, it appeared Erica's spirit, as well as her flesh, had been properly reconstructed. Erik nodded in satisfaction. There were cyan eyes watching Erik.
'Good feeling but also burdensome?'
Ruelle looked at Erik's subtly twisted smile. Clearly, something good happened.
"Huh?"
Then a change occurred in the temple.
"The fountain...suddenly?"
Ruelle's eyes widened. The water stream from the fountain in front of the temple, which led to the Empire through the dimensional gate, suddenly grew?
Gugugugung!
The earth trembled. The fountain before the World Tree, which had been sprouting. Originally water that flowed to the Empire through the dimensional gate. But the water pressure and the land from which water sprouted seemed to expand even further.
Splooooosh!!!
Golden waves shot across the yellow sky.
"This, terrible! World Tree."
Ruelle was furious seeing the water stream. Golden water spray drawing a rainbow across the sky. An intensely joyful emotion was felt.
"Aha, the blessing of the Earth Goddess descends."
"...Your Holiness, is it possible to create such high-concentration holy water in such quantity?"
Those invited to the temple also celebrated this. But for Ruelle, who knew the World Tree's true nature, it was maddening. It would be the same for Erik.
'Erik would be flustered too—. Huh?'
As Ruelle looked at the temple, she saw Erik with a very fresh smile. And Erik was even running his hand through his hair in great joy. He was truly delighted.
"Insane."
Had it been any other time, Erik would have clenched his temples. But this moment, he was filled with elation. The reason was.
[You have secured a sincere believer!]
[Temple Level Up!]
[Boss - Lv.2]
[Appointable Believers - 301/301]
The temple leveled up. And the facilities that came with it.
Whoosh!
[Additional facilities have been unlocked in the temple.]
[Training Hall]
[Resurrection Chamber]
With each name, his heart stirred, so how could he not be happy? Only, Erik lost his words momentarily seeing the cyan eyes glaring sharply at him from beside him.
"Erik, why are you so happy?"