Chapter: 221
As the ominous energy emanating from the necromancer dissipated, the moon and stars reappeared in the sky.
Well, since the pathetic god said it was all over, I guess I can take a breather now. Leaning against my shield, I let out a long sigh.
Was it the last push to purify the spirits that drained me? I felt pretty worn out.
It must be because I exerted myself so much to cleanse those spirits. But hey, it didn’t hinder my mobility at all!
I mean, making a fuss over this is a bit much. I trained harder than this when I was with the Alrn family. I reckon I could handle one more fight like this.
As much as there are weaknesses in battles, I’ve definitely gotten way stronger. I thought I’d barely survive at first, but who would have thought I’d even manage to purify a forest?
Once this is over, I’ll have to grab a professor and ask them for a spar. I need to gauge how far I can push it without any match-up advantages.
With another deep sigh, I stretched and checked the message sent by the pathetic god.
Having completed one trial, it stated a reward would be given, suggesting that this quest would offer intermittent rewards, culminating in a final reward at the end.
Hmm, I wonder how many trials I’ll need to get through before the quest wraps up. If I play my cards right, I might just rake in a huge bounty from the pathetic god.
There’s a lot I need to test out. Does the difficulty of the trials affect the rewards? Is there a limit to the number of times rewards are given? How is each trial defined, anyway?
Ah, my brain feels like it’s swimming in rotten water!
Anyway, let’s check out the reward that’s been granted to me first. There’s probably plenty I can infer from that.
[You have purified the forest that was killed by a necromancer in the distant past!]
[You are granted a reward!]
[The skill ‘There’s no more grudges’ evolves into ‘All grudges have faded away’!]
Oh wow, it’s just like what I saw in the game.
This skill upgrade is a reward from finishing Adri’s quest first.
Originally a skill specialized in necromancy, it evolved into a passive related to big-time necromancy conclusions, but I wasn’t particularly interested in that.
What I was focused on was something else.
Curse Resistance.
This skill is said to nullify ordinary curses completely and even weaken high-level curses—definitely something I should get if I can.
Sweet! Now I don’t have to worry about curses at all. Unless it’s something on the level of an evil god, the chances of anything going wrong are…
Oh wait. I’m eventually going to have to face an evil god, huh? Scratch that. As long as it’s not too crazy, I don’t need to worry.
But it’s a good skill, that’s for sure! I smiled and shifted my gaze toward the next reward.
[You overcame something everyone else had turned away from!]
[Great Achievement!]
[People will be seeking to know who restored this forest!]
This must be related to an increase in my reputation.
It’s a bit vague, though. Can’t they just say something like, “Your reputation has increased by X points,” like they did in the game?
It’s so hard to feel it!
And hey, pathetic god. Is this really what you call a reward? It’s just the fruits of my labor reflecting back at me.
No matter how grand you make it sound, you’ve done nothing!
Wait. Chill out. Remember how your jabbering in the past led to some lousy endpoint?
Now’s not the time to talk. Get a grip!
Alright! Let’s check out the next reward!
I’m so hyped for what the magnificent god might’ve given me!
[You resolved an issue that the past knight order couldn’t!]
[Your skill in holiness has increased.]
[Your reputation within the church rises!]
[A mark will appear on the cross. If you show it to someone with a title higher than bishop, they will recognize your achievement.]
…Ugh.
Eek?!
Wait, what?!
A mark appears, you say?!
As I read that line, I hastily pulled the cross hanging around my neck to check it out.
There was a small design etched on the back of the cross.
Is this it? It sure feels divine, but I can’t grasp what it really means.
[…Stigmata?!]
While I was tilting my head in confusion, Grandpa suddenly raised his voice in my head.
“Grandpa, do you know what this is?”
[Of course! How could I not know the marks left by the divine? Ha ha! The god has been watching over you! What assurance!]
“Can you read it?”
That’s my grandpa! A bona fide holy knight from the old days, interpreting it right away!
Can you give me the details? I want to confirm it’s legit!
Our precious god can be a bit of a joker, after all!
[You don’t read it. You feel it!]
Grandpa’s nonchalant reply left me momentarily dazed.
“What do you mean by that?”
[You’ll understand soon. You’re loved by the gods.]
“…So this mark confirms my purification of the forest, right?”
[Yes, that’s correct.]
This was something I’d never seen while playing the game.
There was no need to leave a mark once I’d achieved something. In the game, if I accomplished something noteworthy, the rumors would just spread naturally.
I could return to town right after finishing something and hear things like, “XX! Didn’t you just solve that? You’re amazing!”
But not now. Whatever I do, people won’t acknowledge it.
Just earlier, I achieved the feat of re-sealing the evil god that resurrected in Menestel.
If it were a game, I’d be hailed a hero instantly, but reality doesn’t work that way.
No one knows about the things that happened there, so people are oblivious to the calamity that struck the Mage Empire after the city of Menestel disappeared.
Naturally, the way people look at me hasn’t changed.
The same goes for what occurred in this forest.
Since there are visible changes, they’ll be on the lookout for the one who worked the miracle, but they won’t think it was me.
Even if I shout from the rooftops that I did it, it wouldn’t matter. No one would believe me.
Why?
Because my reputation is shot. I’m still young. I’m notorious for being irreverent. If you get down to it, isn’t anyone believing me just foolish?
But having this stigma changes everything. It’s a mark left by the great, divine, and just god. How could anyone deny that?
Yes! God! This is what I wanted!
Whew, with this one thing, my reputation is going to skyrocket!
I might even receive thanks from the church, and who knows, this might inspire a bard’s song!
[Young lady, are you planning to take this to the church?]
Lost in my thoughts, smiling ear to ear, Grandpa chimed in.
“Well, is that a bad idea?”
[Think about it. Do you really think there’s any good that can come from drawing attention from the church right now?]
Oh, right. I got caught up in thinking my reputation might rise and totally forgot.
What kind of state is the church in at the moment?
The Church of the Lord isn’t looking for followers who actually follow divine will; they want puppets that will obey them.
If I shout that I’ve been loved by the gods there, what do you think will happen?
The result is obvious. With my Mesugaki traits, I’d clearly become one of those ‘problem’ children just like Lucy. I’m not yet strong enough to rebel against the church either.
Ugh. Almost a year later, and I finally got a chance to improve my reputation! The god has finally given me something solid! And now I can’t even brag about it? I’m forced into a stiff submission, huh?!
What a bummer! I’m so frustrated!
I bottled up my anger, but reality remained unchanged.
Damn church. I should either crush them or something.
[You have received ‘The Necromancer’s Diary’.]
The rewards that started off like the game wrapped up like the game too.
The Necromancer’s Diary. A keepsake left behind by Adri’s mother.
Not something I need at all. It’s related to necromancy, after all.
I’ll just quietly hand it over to Adri.
“Impressive. I can’t help but acknowledge it.”
As soon as I closed the reward window, a voice called from behind me.
Luca. That jerk must have been tailing me, watching everything unfold this whole time.
He probably just timed his entry to make a dramatic impact.
[He seems to have something. I couldn’t sense it.]
“Yeah, that sounds about right.”
This guy’s a versatile rogue, after all. He must definitely have something up his sleeve to keep himself concealed.
Because of that, he’s trickier than an average boss. I need to take him down without any tricks.
Even as I reminisced about my gaming strategies, Luca picked up where he left off.
“To purify a forest in under half a day! Wow. I’m honestly impressed. Are you hearing divine messages? The church’s knight order can’t accomplish feats like this!”
Luca maintained a somewhat exaggerated, subservient demeanor.
What’s with him? He’s not usually like this.
Whether he’s confident or not, he should be acting like an arrogant jerk.
Oh great, another variable? What other twist is coming up now?
“Lady Alrn. Your dignified attitude carries confidence. I have nothing to offer but my apology as the ignorant fool I am.”
Luca’s humility reached its peak just as he bowed his head to apologize.
What the heck is this lunatic doing? What’s he plotting? Is he trying to throw me off my game?
“And there’s one more apology I owe you. Today’s events were rather sensitive in multiple regards. If things went awry, my life could be at stake.”
Luca infused magic into a bracelet on his wrist. One of the magical artifacts he obtained in the past. An item infused with magic that meddles with a person’s mind.
He’s trying to erase my memory.
Ugh, what the heck.
I just can’t win.
That’s something I anticipated. No problem there.
As the blue light radiated from the bracelet, I felt something seeping into my mind.
Man, this feels really off. My consciousness flickering like when I get hit by a Mesugaki skill penalty.
I feel my awareness fading little by little.
My eyelids grow heavy.
The pauses in my thoughts stretch on.
Even Grandpa’s voice is fading…
Bang! Suddenly, I heard something shatter, and my senses sprang back to life.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Luca, looking utterly flustered, practically unable to pick up his fallen glasses.
Huh?
Did I just resist it?!
Crap. I messed up.
It would have been easier to just let it slide and take the hit. The magic could be undone later.
But resisting complicates things.
Luca is definitely going to try to silence me now.
Watching Luca approach me, I tightened my grip on my mace.
Can I actually win against this guy?
Ha, this is such a dumb thought.
It doesn’t even matter whether I can or not.
I have to fight back.
Because that’s the only way I can survive.
Okay, Luca, what’s your opening move?
Are you going to start hurling spells at me like in the game?
Or will you go straight for the kill with a dagger?
Bring it on, whatever you got.
Because I’m ready to strategize against you!
I infused my body with sanctity, keeping my eyes glued to Luca’s movements.
He paused mid-step and—
Knees down on the floor.
Huh?
“Please, just spare my life! Lady Alrn!”
Huh?!
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