The Overpowered Cult Leader at the Academy Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Tutorial (1)

The easiest way to beco stronger was to enhance skills. However, grinding religious skills was difficult. Still, it wasn’t as if there was no thod at all.

Bereninche left after saying that she would kill if I was lying. I headed straight to the dormitory.

I began packing up everything that existed in the dormitory. I neatly folded and secured the luxurious clothes, and I polished the luxury goods until they glead.

As soone who clearly envied his capable younger sibling, he was overflowing with luxury items. Selling just these right away would be enough to completely cover the remaining academy tuition.

“Kind of a waste.”

Money wasn’t what mattered right now. Raising my abilities no matter what ca first. All of these would beco offerings.

The easiest way to strengthen religious skills was to offer tributes. A god moved by an offering might grant stats or bestow a blessing. With offerings of this level, I might receive sothing fairly decent.

“Uh…….”

A massive cathedral that managed religion within the academy. Under the na of the most benevolent Lofty, countless religions were revered there.

When I confidently stepped into the solemn and quietly settled space, countless gazes gathered on . They probably didn’t have the ability to understand the intent behind a look, yet I felt like I could tell exactly what every one of them was saying.

I walked up to the guide who stood there with their mouth hanging open, their face hardened like iron. The person wearing the robes of the Lofty Order was muttering sothing foolish.

“May I see the list of prepared prayer rooms.”

“A! Ah! Yes!”

The nervous guide handed over a stack of docunts. I scanned through the list organized in alphabetical order. Naturally, Anaye’s na wasn’t there.

“Is there a holy silver plaque.”

“J-just a mont, please.”

If it didn’t exist, it could be made. The guide asked for understanding. When he disappeared and returned, there was a palm-sized silver plate in his hand.

“Thank you.”

“Uh…… yes.”

The lukewarm response was subtly irritating. When I stared at him silently, his eyes shook violently from side to side. It was an obvious attempt to hint at sothing, so I looked away.

It wasn’t as if Davide was so ordinary street punk. There was nothing I could do about it. I used a skill on the silver plate.

The image of a deer entwined with lightning was engraved onto the silver plate.

“Divine power?”

As if he had never imagined that soone as vicious as Davide could use divine power, the guide wore a dumbfounded expression. I waved my hand dismissively and moved my steps.

“I’ll be using a free prayer room.”

“E-excuse !”

Saying that, the guide grabbed as I was leaving. Wondering what it was, I turned around and saw him trembling as he held sothing out.

“V-visitor log…….”

“……Good work.”

Despite being terrified, he still made all the required demands. With an uncomfortable feeling, I wrote in the visitor log and headed toward the prayer room. A prayer room for those other than the Seven Great Gods. The prayer room was deserted.

A moderately secluded spot. I looked for a place that wouldn’t draw unnecessary attention while still getting so sunlight. I squeezed through a section where all kinds of silver plaques were hanging and hung Anaye’s silver plaque.

“I did co here, but.”

What should I do. That raising faith involved offering tributes was knowledge I had gained from playing the ga. In the cutscenes, they placed offerings on an altar and prayed.

Anaye had no altar, and I didn’t know how to pray. After pondering for a mont, I placed the offerings I had brought down in front of Anaye’s silver plaque.

“God. At this rate, I’m going to die. Please save .”

I knelt down. I clasped my hands and quietly murmured. It was a prayer that filled with self-loathing. Still, wasn’t survival what I needed most right now.

“Anaye-nim. If I die too, who will take care of you, Anaye-nim. Aren’t I your only believer. I’ll serve you diligently from now on, so please help . I’m even offering tributes like this.”

Rather than a prayer, it looked like soone begging a debt collector who had co to collect money to spare their life. Even if it was miserable, I could only hope my voice would reach them.

Surprisingly, Anaye answered.

“Holy.”

I cheered at the dazzling light pouring out from the silver plaque. The animation that played when offering tributes in the ga had been reproduced exactly.

That ant the offering had been successfully made, and that ant I would receive sothing. After squeezing my eyes shut and waiting for a mont, I heard the sound of sothing falling.

I couldn’t hide my puzzled expression. When I slightly opened my eyes, I saw an old book. Though it looked worn, I recognized what it was at once.

A book boldly stamped with the symbol representing Anaye. Around it existed a dense concentration of divinity that even I could recognize at a glance. It was a holy scripture. How could there be a god this lovable!

“This is insane!”

I shouted without realizing it. It was a rude action, but I couldn’t contain my joy. And no wonder, it was a holy scripture.

The ultimate piece of auxiliary equipnt for priest-type classes. Equipnt that only the highest authority of the religion could possess had fallen into my hands for free.

▶Faith Status has been unlocked.

▶You have beco a faithful servant of Anaye, the Thunder Deer.

▶Faith Quest [Revival of a Fallen Religion] has been registered.

It was the system’s voice that I was hearing for the first ti. The mont I touched the holy scripture, countless changes ca rushing in. The first thing I did was check the information of the holy scripture.

[Holy Scripture of the Anaye Faith]

A book containing the doctrines of the religion that serves Anaye, the Thunder Deer. As a newborn religion, its pages have not yet been filled. The first believer, the ‘Apostle,’ bears the duty of recording the growth and history of the Anaye Faith.

―Believers: 1 ―Faith: 1 ―‘Trace of Anaye’.

―You can bestow ‘Trace of Anaye’ upon other believers.

“So that’s why people eat raw fish.”

I never thought freeloading could taste this good. Thanks to it, a quest appeared as well, but since there was no set ti limit, I could resolve it slowly.

I was satisfied that it strengthened ‘Trace of Anaye,’ which was a fairly decent skill in its own right. While I was at it, I decided to check the skill as well.

Skill

[Trace of Anaye] [Lv. 2] [Religion] [Apostle]

A trace of the ancient god, Anaye, the Thunder Deer.

Born in a lake and raised while drinking lightning, Anaye controlled water and breathed out lightning. She paid special attention to her first child.

―Blessing of Paillet Lake: Increased water attribute resistance. Recovery increased by 52%.

―Thunder Horn: Increased lightning attribute resistance. Consus 30% of current HP to leave a ‘Thunder Horn Mark.’

―Lightning Spike of Anaye: Summons a spike that deals damage equal to lost HP x52.

The tutorial was over.

***

Museion Island ford a small society of its own. Excluding the central academy, large cities existed in all directions. Among them, the east was a place where countless craftsn had settled.

“It’s strangely hot.”

Since it was a place where all kinds of technicians gathered, there were many people coming and going.

The tutorial boss attacked this place to obtain rare materials it desired. It corrupted the guardian and made it rampage, then ate the materials and ran.

That was how the main story of the [Difficult Dungeon] progressed.

“Aren’t you hot. You.”

“You’re weak.”

As I sat on a bench watching the town, a now-familiar silhouette ca into view. A girl with sea-colored short hair, Bereninche, continued her sharp remarks.

“The ring?”

“Here.”

At the transition to the main point, I flicked my finger. She skillfully caught the ring that flew over with a clear sound. With a hawk-eyed glare, Bereninche carefully secured the family seal.

“Why did you bother asking to et here. It’s annoying.”

“I’m giving you material to use for a spear too.”

“So where’s the material.”

She seed dissatisfied about being made to walk all the way here. I shrugged at her sharp stare.

“One hour.”

“What?”

“It’ll appear after one hour.”

“Ha.”

At my words as I opened the holy scripture, Bereninche snorted. She stared aningfully at the book emitting a sacred aura.

“Do you know there are rumors going around?”

“Rumors?”

“Trash that’ll be recorded in history got chosen by a god. There’s no better gossip than that.”

“I figured.”

I had expected it. A miracle-like story of a notorious human piece of trash receiving a holy scripture. I even heard that so religious people had collapsed clutching the backs of their necks.

“Excommunicated, and then imdiately a holy scripture? Hm.”

Bereninche openly showed her suspicion. Thinking about how she was probably writing all kinds of fictional scenarios in her head made feel a bit sorry. It really was just a coincidence.

Even while talking, I read the holy scripture. As an apostle, I had wondered if I should at least know about Anaye. At that mont, Anaye’s life was recorded into the holy scripture. On top of that, Anaye was a goddess.

Seeing that only biased stories ca out, I wondered if Anaye might be writing it herself. Even so, she had a decent command of writing, so it was enjoyable to read.

“Ah!”

When I gave a vague reply, I felt a hand smack my head. There was no pain, but my vision shook so much that I was startled.

I glared while rubbing my head, but when I saw those gleaming eyes, I quietly closed the holy scripture.

“How did you get that?”

“I don’t know. It just gave it to when I offered tributes.”

“Tributes?”

“Yeah. Useless stuff from the dormitory.”

I realized too late. I wondered if this would cause another misunderstanding. Judging by her expression, she was already writing a grand epic novel in her head.

I debated whether I should correct it. She wouldn’t believe even if I explained, but I started to fear what kind of conclusion would co out of that small head of hers. I hoped it wouldn’t turn into a morning drama.

“What kind of god is it.”

“Anaye. There’s a god called Anaye, the Thunder Deer. She’s really benevolent.”

“Of course. She entrusted you with a holy scripture.”

She poked lightly, but strangely, I didn’t feel offended. Maybe it was because I had already assud she was that kind of person. It left with an odd feeling.

“What are you staring at—”

Perhaps my gaze was unpleasant, because Bereninche frowned deeply and couldn’t finish her sentence. A wailing scream that made my whole body tingle rang out.

It beca so quiet that it felt as if the sounds of the world had stopped, and a massive vibration continued from the center of the forest. Without realizing it, Bereninche took up a combat stance. Startled myself, I hurriedly searched for the source of the sound.

Sothing that rose unusually high among the massive conifer trees. A gigantic body so large that its head was visible even from dozens of kiloters away.

The tutorial boss, [Anasta, the Serpent of Infinite Shackles], revealed itself.

▶Main Quest: [Tutorial]

Survive Anasta, the Serpent of Infinite Shackles.

Reward: Basic job equipnt.

“There it is. The material.”

“Are you kidding? That’s the guardian of the forest!”

The gigantic serpent made of trees and rocks let out a roar. Normally, the entire tutorial would consist of avoiding its attacks and fighting wild animals that had synchronized with the guardian’s rage.

It was certainly a scale that was unreasonable to deal with early on. Still, I was calm. It was worth trying. Even if I failed, there would be no problem. Just like in the original story, the academy would handle it.

“Hey. It’s doable.”

“You said one hour!”

“Aren’t all prophecies like that?”

Leaving the shouting Bereninche behind, I walked forward. If sothing like that entered the town, it would literally be reduced to ashes.

“So what’s the thod.”

“Here.”

Bereninche followed with a deeply furrowed brow. Avoiding such an irregular monster was the correct choice, but the issue was its movent path.

Even if she was a Duhein with a nasty personality, Bereninche was still on the side of humanity. She joined because she knew that letting it head into the town as it was would spell destruction.

To the Bereninche asking for the thod, I handed over a dagger. It was a dagger stacked with ‘Thunder Horn Mark’ by grinding down my stamina over the past three days.

“It’s a disposable bomb.”

“You think this will work?”

“Of course not.”

I shook my head. No matter how much I had stacked it, it would only barely scratch its scales. What I was relying on lay elsewhere.

“Form up!”

At the center of the town, a line of troops stood assembled. They were the Imperial Knight Order tasked with defending each town.

Normally, it was a force that would suffer over half its numbers and barely manage to hold the line. But if Bereninche and I joined in, the guardian would no longer be sothing they could “barely stop,” but sothing they could “defeat.”

“Let’s go steal the last hit.”

I was already excited.