Chapter 134: Until It's Done (4)
'If I'm going to do it, I should do it properly.'
Erik had no intention of leaving everything to his master just because he lacked confidence. Riferoze simply wasn't ticulous enough for that. So it was only natural.
'There's still so cleanup to do.'
The first thing to check was Janson's transformation into an [Inquisitor].
"Inquisitor, it's quite a direct na," Riferoze said with interest, observing Janson. Janson's body trembled at her intense gaze.
"To judge heresy is no light matter..."
The white-haired girl circled Janson, observing him carefully. Janson held his breath—he was that tense. Riferoze's appearance was just like when she had used her sacred power on him to cure his possession.
"Hoho."
Riferoze stopped her observation.
"Janson, you possess trendous sacred power."
The amount was unusual. Janson now held as much divine power as an archbishop of the Astia Religious Order. Erik sensed this as well. Moreover, Erik's eyes could see through to Janson's status window.
'Did he gain a new skill?'
Janson's tertiary class was [Guardian Knight]. Beside it, a golden emblem was clearly engraved. The aning was unmistakable.
[Guardian Knight / Inquisitor]
'A position was created in addition to the job skill?'
Erik felt keen interest arise. Unlike his own skills, other possessors showed proper skill description windows. He was curious about this change.
"A new skill? Janson, do the skill options display properly?"
Janson trembled once more as he suddenly received the sharp attention of both Riferoze and Erik.
'No more suffering, they say, but having both of them look at like this gives chills.'
The experience of long repetition triggered an instinctive response. Janson steadied his breathing and calmly recited the skill information.
[Sacred Reinforcent: Cooldown - 1 hour]
Reinforces the caster's body with sacred power. (Consus 100 GP per second)
[Heretic Interrogation: Cooldown - None] Investigates the heretical acts of a designated target. (Consus 5,000 GP)
[Heretic Judgnt: Cooldown - 1 hour] Inflicts 'consud GP × 1,000' damage to targets identified as heretics through interrogation.
"There are about three skills comparable to high-tier skills. And..."
Besides that, basic skills like 'sacred healing' and 'sacred barrier' had also appeared. After hearing this explanation, Erik tilted his head.
'Is GP not just simple currency?'
That question crossed his mind. Erik wanted to verify this. Since he was entrusting the possessors' training to Riferoze, this was a very important matter.
"Janson, did numbers appear for GP like HP, MP, or stamina?"
"Yes, sir. Just as you said, a new golden bar appeared labeled GP."
GP held value far beyond simple currency. And the amount was—
"5 million GP."
It was identical to the cost of designating Janson as an [Heretic Interrogator]. Moreover, since Janson had beco [Heretic Inquisitor], which was presud to be higher rank, the power of the sacred force could be expected to be formidable.
"Indeed, your thod was correct, Master."
There was another implication beyond Janson's individual combat power. In other words, it ant that freely resurrecting possessors was acceptable.
'All the possessors will gain power over the sacred force.'
As Erik and his temple grew stronger, this would certainly happen.
'For that ti...'
A mindset to overco death was basic, and like the paladins of the religious order, he needed to cultivate firm ntal strength to charge at enemies even with a shattered body and continuously regenerate.
"What do you an my thod was correct?"
"It ans we don't need to economize on GP anymore, Master."
Erik shared this fact with his companions. They all seed to understand how significant a [Sacred Possessor] was.
"Boss, if possessors can regenerate on their own and resurrect, isn't that similar to infinite power?"
Even Du-sik grasped it instantly and posed that question.
"Du-sik, infinite power is a completely different matter."
Erik added one more comnt.
"But you understand the feeling, at least."
There were several things Erik had learned living in the Empire.
War is a numbers ga.
Just as he felt when resurrecting Erica, when the battlefield expands, soone always appears to face the strong. A kind of balance of power.
"What do you an by that feeling?"
However, his master didn't seem to understand Erik's thoughts. Erik answered calmly.
"When we clear the Labyrinth, the possessors will also face enemies, won't they?"
It was certain that the black mage group would interfere. When that ti cos, the black mages will feel it.
"To them, it will look like an undead army."
Regenerating possessors unleashing skills with their sacred-reinforced bodies.
"Moreover, even after all their struggles to kill the possessors, they'll imdiately resurrect and rejoin the battlefield."
However, there was one problem with this.
"From what I felt while testing them, their ntal strength is far too weak."
Just as Riferoze said. This was also sothing Erik recognized.
'This is a side effect of the detention camp.'
The Empire's detention camps instill helplessness. That's how they're designed. As a result, people naturally beco weak-willed, and their sense of purpose becos faint. Erik recalled the desires of the believers he'd seen in the [Faith Managent] window.
[Kim A-young - Wants to sleep on a soft bed]
[Lim Ji-young - Wants to live in a room with a bathroom]
In fact, most of the possessors harbored such desires. Unlike the three possessors who had followed the Labyrinth, these people had only lived in detention camps for years.
"They lacked ambition."
Riferoze had noticed this in just a few sword strikes.
'She wasn't just killing indiscriminately?'
He still had far to go to follow his master's intentions. Having finished his thoughts, Erik smiled softly.
"You observed correctly."
"What are you smiling about?"
Erik had a clever solution for this.
"Don't worry. They're just people who were possessed while playing a ga, after all."
The check on Janson's transformation was complete. Now what remained was to give the possessors motivation.
***
The possessors were left stranded in the temple. A strange white woman had just killed them, and then a giant paladin dragged them outside. Everyone stood dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the situation.
"Pung-ho, did you hear anything?"
Nishida Ryo looked at Kang Pung-ho.
"Gang Jina, you too, Nishida?"
"The god hasn't given us a new na yet. So Pung-ho is correct. So, did you hear anything?"
"Hmph! No idea."
Even Kang Pung-ho, who had stuck close to Ruelle, knew nothing.
"They were just shooting sword auras everywhere, so why did they suddenly leave?"
"Maybe they're discussing our training thods or sothing..."
In response to Nishida's question, Park Chang-ho offered a plausible assumption. Normally, he might have thought, 'Maybe they're considering disposal...' but at this point, they'd changed their minds.
'The temple invested so much in us, not once or twice.'
Park Chang-ho felt a tingling sensation throughout his body accompanied by piercing pain. His [Sixth Sense] was activating like crazy. How much terrible yet good was happening that he remained in this state all day? As he pondered this, the temple's empty space split open and Erik appeared.
"Oh, he's here!"
Erik walked briskly and stood in the center of the temple. Without so much as a glance at the possessors, he began piling an overwhelming amount of supplies in the temple's center. The possessors were astonished.
"W-what is that!"
"Wow..."
"There are that many legendary-tier items?"
The items Erik had piled were the rewards the possessors had received from the imperial palace before. From class-exclusive items to rare avatars, everything was there.
"Wow... That rockstar avatar is really sexy."
At the sight, Park Chang-ho swallowed hard. Nishida questioned him.
"Chang-ho, why are you looking at won's clothes?"
"Oh, I only raised female characters."
" too."
The two reminisced about distant mories as old feelings resurfaced.
"Ah, those were good tis... I was a pretty high-ranking ranker..."
" too. My guild ho was full of beautiful NPCs I'd completed favorability works with."
This sentint wasn't limited to just them. The other possessors lined up in the training ground also stared at the center of the temple as if entranced.
"The limited-edition avatar is tempting. I never got that in the ga."
"Wow, that shield that gets stronger when it matches—that was really broken. It was legendary, but honestly, wasn't it a mythical-tier performance?"
Possessors were beings who ranked among the top in Continental Online, a ga with over 100 million users. So they couldn't help but be tempted by items and avatars.
"There are accessories too."
"Class-exclusive set items!"
"Isn't that what I had confiscated?"
In the increasingly cheerful atmosphere, Erik ascended to the training ground.
Thud!
At his heavy footsteps, everything fell silent.
"From now on, you will receive training from Riferoze Astia."
He explained that orphan children would beco sparring partners, and during the process, his master would provide separate guidance. And at the end—
"You'll get a chance to choose from those items based on achievent."
The possessors' eyes sparkled at the chance to directly choose those precious items.
"Any questions?"
As everyone swallowed nervously and just watched, Nishida Ryo shot his hand up.
"What is it?"
"Um, what's the standard for achievent, if I may ask?"
It was an unusually good question for Nishida.
"Until your master acknowledges it."
Erik gave a clear answer. Of course, no one here knew what that acknowledgnt entailed...
"I'll give you so free ti."
After his explanation, Erik ascended to the temple and rummaged through the item pile. He pulled out Guardian Knight-exclusive weapons and set items and handed them to Janson.
"Wow..."
"Just full gear start."
"So unfair."
Jealous voices ca from the training ground beside the temple.
"Janson, show ."
Simply piling items was aningless. This needed to extend to showing the transformation that resulted from using them.
"Boss, is this for ...?"
Janson's rough face twisted greatly. The scars that had faded seed about to reappear. He was that moved.
Whoosh!
[Legendary - Guardian Knight Exclusive Helt]
[Legendary - Guardian Knight Exclusive Armor]
[Legendary - Guardian Knight Exclusive Greaves]
[Legendary - Guardian Knight Exclusive Boots]
Starting with the four-piece defensive gear.
Whoosh!
[Legendary - Guardian Knight Exclusive Shield]
[Legendary - Guardian Knight Exclusive Longsword]
A long longsword and massive shield. Janson's entire body was covered in brilliant silver armor. With golden lines carved between the armor pieces, it looked quite impressive.
"Boss! I swear absolute loyalty!!!"
Janson's shoulders heaved. Beyond the tertiary class change, having his full set of equipnt matched by Erik moved him with imasurable emotion as a person of great character.
"Wow..."
"If only I had items..."
"Can't we beco like that too?"
The reactions of those watching were consistent with the subject's emotion. Envy, jealousy, resentnt. This led to a desire to obtain such equipnt themselves. In the midst of these varied reactions, Erik radiated intense light.
Swooooosh!
A massive existence radiating holy light from atop the temple. To the possessors, he was no different from a god.
'Actually, he really is our god.'
Who saved them from black magic. Who achieved miracles that defy death. His thods were extre, but the events actually occurring were indistinguishable from divine miracles.
"Our god..."
Led by Nishida Ryo's exclamation, everyone held reverence in their hearts. At that focused mont, Erik uttered a heavy word.
"Everyone, strive to beco beings worthy of that equipnt."
***
Rumble, rumble!
After motivating the possessors, Erik gazed at his master and Ruel from the temple. At that mont, the World Tree vibrated.
Whoosh!
[Ah, t-this is so many weak people before ...!]
It continued without words, then seed to co to its senses.
'Still crazy ssages.'
But the following words were different.
[There are training robes exclusive to the training ground!]
Crack!
A corner of the training ground split open, and a massive platform rose up. Upon it lay pristine white training robes, with a familiar pattern drawn on the garnt.
"Hoho, Erik, Ruelle. That pattern feels very familiar."
Riferoze's eyes narrowed. On the back of the pure white training robes was clearly the emblem of the luxury brand Erwell.
"Master, it's just the World Tree's handiwork."
"That's sothing I'll verify directly after you leave."
Erik began explaining, but his master's words were firm.
'That tree is really malicious.'
Erik pressed his temples firmly. The reason was due to the item description that appeared on the robes.
Whoosh!
[Trainee's Robes] Synchronizes with the wearer's body.
"That damn tree!"
"Haha! What a mischievous one."
Upon hearing Erik's explanation, Ruelle and Riferoze responded with exasperation. What was the purpose of showing that robe only now?
'Probably intending to watch Nishida and Kang Pung-ho feel ashad.'
Erik stared at the World Tree grimly.
Whoosh!
[E-eek! P-please don't look at like that—! I, I didn't have bad intentions!]
Erik quietly turned his gaze away. Then a scene of Riferoze intimidating Ruel unfolded.
"So, Ruel. What beam did you say you shot?"
Pure white eyes glead. Like a massive predator's gaze fixed on small, cute prey.
"Eeek! I, I—"
"Ruel, don't you need to grow stronger to stay with Erik?"
"Aah, W, well..."
Erik taking leave for training was also an opportunity for Riferoze.
'I need to establish order.'
She hadn't had a chance due to her disciple's craftiness, but— Wasn't her disciple leaving with his subordinates?
"So Erik, are you planning to take Janson with you?"
"Yes, that's my plan."
For this reason, Erik had given Janson full gear.
"What about the church?"
Erik glanced slightly at Ruelle. Cyan eyes trembled greatly. As if asking: You're leaving behind? That's how it felt. But Erik was firm.
'Ruel needs to handle trendous sacred power too.'
The best defense for safety is cultivating one's own strength. Erik gazed at Ruel with steady eyes. Then, slowly, he shifted his gaze. Brilliant golden eyes t pure white ones.
"I trust only you, Master."
That tone was unmistakably like entrusting his woman and leaving. Riferoze's middle finger shot up.
"Hmph! I've never raised my disciple this way—"
"Master, this temple, the church, and the orphanage—everything I have is here."
Erik continued quickly.
"Is there anyone but you I could entrust everything to?"
It was a smooth way of speaking, but its aning was clear. This was trust, absolute faith. At that sincerity, Riferoze nodded. A deep smile appeared on her lips.
"Erik, what do you plan to do first?"
The following words concerned her disciple's achievents. Since Erik had declared he would establish his faith as a god, she intended to verify this as his master. The answer that ca was sowhat unexpected.
"I plan to visit the Papal See."
But Riferoze grasped the true intent behind those words.
'Since he said he'd touch the black mage group, he's going to find soone he knows well.'
Her eyes held deep amusent. Erik bore a wry smile as well. He spoke:
"I'm thinking of seeing the heart of Thomas, that six-lined fool."
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