Chapter 119
Chapter 119: New Phase (4)
"Eric! What are you so happy about?"
Ruelle stood with her arms crossed over her slender waist, leaning forward with a sharp glare. Her ax-like blue-green eyes were vivid and piercing. However, Erik couldn't respond to her.
Swoosh!
[Ahhh!!! I'm growing!]
A message from the World Tree was appearing before his eyes.
[J-just a little more, and I can find a clue about divinity.]
As if voice support were enabled, the World Tree's dizzying exclamation reached him. Eric's head throbbed, but despite that, a smile spread across his lips.
"......What are you looking at to smile like that?"
As Erik rejoiced, Ruelle's urging followed.
'What's so good about it?'
Erik gazed at Ruelle with an expressionless face. He deliberately maintained his composure. It felt like being caught liking a heart on another woman's celebrity post... No, actually, it was true that he was happy about the World Tree's message too, but—.
'Direct approach is the way to go here.'
Erik prepared for a frontal breakthrough. If he recited thoroughly practical matters while excluding emotion, Ruelle would have nothing to say either. So.
'I'm justified.'
What he actually saw confirmed this. The faith management window linked with the World Tree's message. The temple's level had risen, and he'd found a clue toward 5-tier Divine Power, hadn't he? Furthermore.
Swoosh!
[+15,006,508 GP]
He'd even obtained a massive amount of GP by resurrecting Erica. Erik began his explanation.
"It's nothing much. It's merely about the World Tree's growth and the resulting changes to the temple."
How the temple's level rose and the World Tree grew. And how he'd grasped a clue to [5-tier] Divine Power as a result.
"—Plus, I obtained 10 million GP from Erica's resurrection. How could I not be pleased?"
After finishing his words, Erik glanced downward. Ruelle's eyes were still intense.
"Erik, that's unlike you, speaking so smoothly."
She looked displeased. Yet her expression was complicated and subtle, as if she couldn't quite voice her objection. So Erik drove the wedge deeper.
"Look at Erica."
Ruelle turned her gaze to glance at the figure at Eric's feet. Beneath the Imperial conquest robe Erik had draped over her, Erica's form offering complete worship was clearly visible.
"—Ah, from that deep darkness, light descended down......"
Ruelle trembled slightly. Over 10 million GP had risen, and it was a fanaticism that deserved understanding.
'Still......'
Ruelle looked around.
"Hmm, to have cultivated such sublime faith."
"Your Holiness, could our paladins become like this if they died and came back to life?"
"What nonsense."
The Pope and Riferoze were engaged in an animated discussion.
"Chang-ho... Does this mean we're becoming immortal now?"
"Nishida, is that necessarily a good thing?"
"Hey, if we don't die, that's a damn steal!"
The possessors were discussing how this phenomenon would affect them.
'What's wrong with everyone's heads......'
The temple officials, including Riferoze and the Pope, and even the possessors themselves were all marveling at Erica's resurrection. However, Ruelle had a different thought.
'No matter what, a person is undressed!'
As the temple's only priestess. And as the mistress of the house, shouldn't she display dignity? Ruelle's gaze sharpened across the room.
"Everyone, don't turn your backs!!!"
At that declaration, everyone was flustered. Ruelle shouldn't have had such authority.
"Ah. I lacked consideration."
However, lacking authority though she might, consideration flowed abundantly. The Pope, understanding her heart, turned first. The movements of the highest-ranking officials spread in all directions, and soon everyone had turned their backs from Erica. Only then did Ruelle move to approach Erica.
'Resurrection is impressive, certainly.'
But Erica had been regenerated naked, hadn't she? Only Erik and Ruelle cared about that in this place.
'Everyone else was too enthralled to notice.'
Compared to Erik, who had covered her with an outer robe, everyone else seemed far too barbaric.
"Erica, get up and put something on—."
Just then, Erica lifted her head. Ruelle met her eyes.
"I clearly remember the figure of Priestess Ruelle descending with the divine, bringing salvation from behind as I was being consumed by darkness and dying."
"You saw me?"
"Ah—. That terrible darkness could not conceal that sublime beauty. Priestess Ruelle is surely the true consort of the divine."
Ruelle nodded.
'So from a spiritual state, one can perceive the aura of divinity.'
She had discovered a mysterious fact, but soon Ruelle's thoughts turned elsewhere. A smile formed on her lips.
'Consort!'
Ruelle's gaze shifted subtly toward Riferoze. She was receiving implicit recognition from others, thinking to assert her position...
"Ho, so Erica is truly in perfect condition."
Yet Riferoze remained turned away from them, observing Erica.
'She didn't turn away even after hearing the word "consort"?'
Only then did Ruelle recall how tremendous a feat Erik had accomplished. A dead person had been brought back to life. And in the complete form of a human being. Moreover, with her self intact.
'A first on the continent.'
In all the long history of this vast continent, such a resurrection had never occurred even once. And who had accomplished it?
"Mm—."
An involuntary hum escaped her lips. What was Erik smiling about earlier? Well, that...
"Erica, who am I to you?"
"You are the mistress of this temple. The absolute one who has transcended even death—."
Having cultivated such a wonderful believer, a brief communion with the World Tree could surely be forgiven.
'When a man accomplishes great deeds, such misunderstandings naturally arise from time to time.'
Ruelle's face broke into a clear smile, and she reached into her luxury bag. From within, she withdrew her cherished transparent priestess robes.
"Priestess Ruelle, do I have the right to wear these clothes......?"
"Of course! Erica, you are also Erik's wonderful believer!!! You can take pride in that!"
The fact of returning from death still seemed shocking, as Erica couldn't seem to control her body properly. Ruelle personally dressed Erica in the clothes. Then she looked at Erik.
'Suddenly become so serious like that?'
But... Erik's face had hardened like stone. He gazed intently at Erica with solemn eyes. And asked.
"Erica, who told you?"