Cloney’s body was also enveloped by Duke Yuma’s [God of War's Blessing].
For a moment, Cloney felt as if she was floating.
She raised her black staff and cast a spell.
Red currents mixed thickly with silvery magical mana.
Unlike the blessing bestowed on Bell, she couldn’t foresee the spell casting in advance, but she definitely felt the purity of mana increasing.
She felt an overwhelming sensation as if she could now perform magic she usually couldn’t.
A vivid golden lightning intertwined with the red currents.
A truly intense bolt of lightning pierced the air, striking down from the sky to the ground.
Cloney felt the same exhilaration as Bell did.
She was filled with certainty that she could weave together spells she had never combined before to cast even more powerful magic.
Duke Yuma recognized Cloney’s clear increase in abilities.
The [God of War's Blessing] had a power far more intense than Yuma had originally anticipated.
“The granting of divine power is an impressive force.”
It was a strength capable of transforming a human being.
When explaining the blessing, ‘The Divine Voice’ had used the phrase ‘a miracle of the gods.’
Indeed, the God of War’s blessing possessed a power worthy of being called a miracle.
Cloney, who had lifted her body into the air using flight magic, slowly descended back to the ground.
With wide golden eyes, Cloney walked toward Yuma. She urgently began to speak.
“Wow…! Please grant me this divine power again next time, Duke Yuma.”
Cloney candidly expressed her extraordinary sensations received from the God of War’s blessing to Yuma.
“I feel like if I receive this blessing a few more times, I could get the inspiration to transition to the next circle!”
Cloney was currently at the 6th circle.
In the half-year that Yuma had been away, she had reached the 6th circle, which was often referred to as the magical wall for human mages.
Yet, she spoke as if she could already grasp the feeling of reaching the 7th circle.
Yuma couldn’t help but admire Cloney’s potential for growth.
It seemed she was catching a glimpse of the realm beyond the wall by using purer and more powerful mana than she could ordinarily utilize.
“I understand.”
Cloney smiled brightly at Yuma’s response and walked over to Bell.
“Hey, let’s take a quick walk together, sis.”
“Uh, okay!”
Cloney and Bell walked side by side. The weather was rather mild for a summer season, making it not a bad day for a stroll.
Step by step…
The two traversed the beautifully landscaped paths of the royal palace.
Colorful flowers bloomed, with various butterflies settling on them.
The long hair of Cloney and Bell danced gently in the warm breeze.
Cloney gazed at Bell with her golden eyes.
Bell looked at Cloney.
Cloney was the first to speak.
“I knew you would get stronger, but I never expected you to become a god!”
Bell let out a deep sigh.
“Right? You’re surprised too. Hah… I keep saying I could become stronger than anyone else. But what happens if I become a god? It’s ridiculous.”
Though she said that, the resentment wasn’t so much towards Yuma but more about her own feelings of inferiority.
Cloney chuckled softly.
“Let’s get stronger quickly so we can tie Yuma up somewhere. So he can’t just leave anytime he wants. We’ll take out all the enemies before he even has to go anywhere. Even if he’s a god, if we manage to tie him up, it should work… right? Or not?”
Bell could sense Cloney’s serious undertones in her joking words.
“So what I mean is… until we sort out this situation, let’s not think about anything else.”
…What does it mean not to have other thoughts?
‘As expected, did she see it?’
Bell swallowed hard and kept her mouth shut, watching Cloney’s back as she took a step forward. It wasn’t that she was upset or angry; rather, she detected a faint anger from Cloney’s words.
With quiet resolve, Bell followed behind Cloney.
Cloney’s mind was completely filled with thoughts of gaining strength.
“I have to get stronger somehow… and make the world peaceful.”
As soon as possible.
Cloney’s golden eyes shone even brighter.
*
Yuma closely examined the third entity that had appeared before him.
A Cat-Folk with crimson hair, Hestia, approached him swiftly.
“Yuma, Yuma.”
Hestia stared intently at Yuma with her green eyes as she spoke.
“I’ve come to ask for permission.”
Yuma tilted his head.
“Permission for what?”
Hestia perked up her two crimson ears and announced loudly.
“Official opening of the Temple of the God of War! And the recruitment of followers for the God of War!”
Yuma furrowed his brows slightly.
‘That place has really been completed, huh?’
It was definitely built to be revered and served, yet—
He had never set foot in that place.
Originally, it was intended to be stopped completely before it took shape. He planned to make it as if nothing ever happened.
However, after hearing from Seong-eum that the worship and reverence from the denizens of the Intermediate World would play a significant role in boosting the mythic power of the Intermediate World, he was unable to take such measures.
It wasn’t a small help; it was supposed to be a huge role, so for Yuma, who needed to elevate his mythic power to enter the Divine Realm, he had no choice but to let it stay completed.
“It’s not even a speck of help. You’re saying it’ll play a huge role? From Duke Yuma’s perspective, he had no choice but to let it be completed to accumulate mythological power for entering the Divine Realm.
If you think about it, you couldn’t just ignore the easiest and most long-term way to raise mythological power.
Hestia continued speaking.
“Give me the position of High Priest! And you can just make Ermel a veteran Holy Maiden.”
Duke Yuma let out a deep sigh.
“Let’s set aside the Holy Maiden part… but why do you need the High Priest position?”
Hestia boldly replied.
“Because I have to play the role of a priest! And, well, the reason I need to be the High Priest is because I’m the first priest, so I deserve that much, right?”
Duke Yuma narrowed his eyes slightly and seriously pondered. Could he trust the task to Hestia in front of him without regret?
But his contemplation didn’t last long.
It was undeniable that, even if it was just an admiration for strength, he could foresee the future as if it had been ordained by building a temple.
“…Does playing a role mean something like preaching?”
At Duke Yuma’s question, Hestia nodded vigorously.
“Yep, that’s it! As more people find the temple and express their faith, the mythological power of the Intermediate World will increase, right?”
It seemed to be something Ermel had told Hestia.
Duke Yuma opened his mouth again.
“Maybe.”
“I’ll bring all the races I can, so look forward to it, Yuma Yuma. So, give me the High Priest position!”
Duke Yuma sighed lightly as he looked at Hestia.
“Alright, give it a try.”
*
After obtaining the title of High Priest, Hestia busily moved about with Holy Maiden Ermel.
Her first target for preaching was the non-humans currently residing in the Astes Empire.
Hestia, dressed in a completely non-priestly leather outfit, barged into a gathering place where High Elves, including Grand Spirit Lune, were assembled.
Bang!
Hestia roughly threw the door open and confidently strode inside.
It was literally imposing.
The sight of the crimson-haired Cat-Folk Hestia and the blonde Holy Maiden Ermel drew the attention of the High Elves.
High Elf Lune gulped.
“What, what is it?”
Bang!
Hestia took a strong step forward and announced.
“The Temple of the God of War has been completed.”
The eyes of many High Elves, including the green-haired High Elf Lune, spun around in disbelief.
The cat-folk with crimson ears originally spoke informally.
But this time, not only was the speech informal, but why did her voice suddenly drop? And what’s this about the Temple of the God of War being completed?
Hestia continued, her voice low.
“Those who have received grace from the God of War, those who have been saved by him, come and show your faith at the Temple. Otherwise, the God will surely grow angry and unleash his wrath upon you.”
“Huh?”
The high elf swordsman beside Luine let out a blank sound.
She still couldn’t grasp what Hestia was saying.
Luine slowly shook her head.
“Our elf race believes only in the World Tree or nature itself, we can’t solely worship any being… But our respect and gratitude towards the God of War is clear, so we shall cheer from afar.”
At Luine’s words, Hestia furrowed her brows. It seemed the first preaching was going to be a failure.
Just then, a voice came from next to Hestia.
“Have you forgotten how the World Tree communicated with the heavenly realm and posed a threat to the God and Bell?”
It was the Holy Maiden, Ermel.
Ermel’s silver eyes scanned the high elves carefully.
“How dare you utter such blasphemy in this Gehergen continent proclaimed as a holy ground by the God of War… It’s beyond unpleasant, it’s sacrilege. High Elf Luine.”
Luine’s green eyes shook violently.
“E-Ermel…?”
Where had the girl gone who always smiled carefree when they met? A chill ran down her spine at the fierce sight she had never seen before.
“Regardless of faith… first, you must visit the Temple and make amends.”
There was a weight to Ermel’s voice that Luine had never encountered before.
“I-I will do that. I’ll go today itself.”
Luine and the other high elves were unknowingly bowing their heads as they spoke.
Ermel and Hestia left the elves’ quarters.
Hestia looked at Ermel with a dazed expression.
“Ermel… I didn’t know you could make such a frightening face.”
Ermel laughed charmingly.
“Hehe, if we fail from the very first attempt, it would be seen as a sacrilege against the God… And once they enter the Temple, they will surely feel a sense of reverence. Right, Hestia?”
Hestia nodded her head vigorously.
“Of course!”
Hestia watched Ermel moving gracefully ahead.
‘Wow, she really changes when she’s on the job…’
Hestia reminded herself of her resolve.
‘I need to come on a bit stronger too.’
Just a little twisted though.
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