Chapter: 221
As the ominous energy conjured by the necromancer dispersed, the moon and stars in the sky once again revealed themselves.
So, the sloppy God said everything’s over, so I guess I can relax for a while. Leaning against my shield, I let out a long sigh.
Was it because I spent my power purifying the aura? My body felt tired.
I must have exerted myself a lot to cleanse the aura. Of course, it didn’t hinder my movement at all.
Making a fuss about dying was a bit much. When training in the Allen Family, I had moved even under worse conditions. I should be able to handle one more fight like this.
No matter how much they say about affinities, I’ve gotten pretty strong, huh? I thought just surviving would be tough at first, but I didn’t expect to succeed in purifying the forest.
I should catch a professor later and ask for a duel. I need to find out how far I can go without any affinities.
After letting out another deep sigh, I stretched and checked the message sent by the sloppy God.
Having cleared one trial, he said he’d give me a fitting reward, so this quest will probably have rewards at intervals and a final reward at the end.
Hmm. How many trials do I need to clear before finishing this quest? If I play it right, I might get a lot from the sloppy God.
I need to experiment in various ways. Do the rewards change based on the difficulty of the trial? Is the number of times rewards are given fixed? How is a trial defined?
Ahh. My head is filled with the circuits of rotten water!
For now, let’s check the reward given to me. I can guess various things from that.
[You have purified the forest that was killed by a long-ago necromancer!]
[Rewards are given!]
[The skill ‘There’s no more limit’ evolves into ‘All limits have faded away’!]
Wow, this is just like what I saw in the game.
This skill’s upgrade is a reward given because I completed Adri’s quest first.
It originally specialized in necromancy but evolved into a passive close to ending great necromancy, but I wasn’t really interested in that.
What I focused on was another part.
Curse Defense Specialization.
I heard that this skill nullifies most curses and even weakens higher-ranking curses, so it’s good to get if I can.
Great! Now I won’t have to worry about curses at all. Unless it’s an Evil God, the chance of something going wrong is…
Oh wait. I’m ultimately going to face an Evil God. Let me correct that. As long as it’s not too severe, I shouldn’t have to worry.
Anyway, it’s a good skill, right? I smiled and shifted my gaze to the next reward.
[You overcame something everyone else turned a blind eye to!]
[Great Achievement!]
[People will seek to find out who restored this forest!]
I guess this is related to increasing my reputation.
It’s a bit abstract. Can’t it just say something like my reputation went up by a few points like in the game?
I can’t feel it. I can’t feel it at all.
And hey, sloppy God. Can this even be considered a reward? What I did just came back to me as a result.
No matter how much you try to make it sound great, you did nothing!
No, calm down. Remember what kind of conclusion you reached after babbling up until now?
Now’s not the time to chatter. Get a clue.
Alright! Let’s check the next reward!
I’m so excited to see what the wonderful God has bestowed!
[You resolved something that the past Knights Order couldn’t.]
[Your Divine proficiency increases.]
[Your reputation within the church rises.]
[A mark is left on the cross. Show it to someone of a bishop or higher rank, and they will know of your achievement.]
…Eh.
Ehh?!
Eeehhh?!
What?! A mark is left on it?!
After checking that phrase, I quickly took off the cross around my neck to verify.
On the back of the cross, a small emblem was engraved.
Is this it? It feels divine, but I can’t understand what it means.
<...Stigmata?!>
While I was tilting my head, 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 God?! Haha. God has been watching over you! What a guarantee!]
‘Can you read it?’
Of course, Grandpa! Just like a holy knight who saved the world before, he’s able to interpret it right away!
Could you explain what it says? I want to make sure it’s proper!
You know, our God is a mischievous type, so he might have pulled some prank!
[It’s not something you read, but something you feel.]
At Grandpa’s answer, I felt my head go blank for a moment.
‘What do you mean by that?’
[You’ll find out naturally later. You are loved by God.]
‘…Anyway, this mark is proof that I purified this forest, right?’
[Yes, that’s right.]
This was something I had never seen even once while playing the game.
There was no need to leave a mark that I achieved something. In the game, if I achieved something, news would spread naturally.
Just after I finished my work and returned to the village, I could hear lines like, ‘XX! You solved that, right? You’re the best!’
But not now. No one acknowledges whatever I do.
I just accomplished the feat of re-sealing the Evil God that was resurrected in Menestel.
If it were the game, I would’ve immediately reached the level of a hero, but reality isn’t the same.
No one knows what happened there, so people don’t even realize that the city of Menestel has vanished and that a great disaster has struck the Magical Empire.
Naturally, the way people look at me hasn’t changed at all.
The same goes for what happened in this forest.
People will search for the person who caused the miracle because they see visible changes, but they won’t think it was me.
Even if I shout that I solved this, no one will believe me.
Why? Because my reputation is bad. I’m young. I’m rumored to be blasphemous. When you think about it one by one, wouldn’t it be foolish to believe me?
However, with this stigmata, things change. It’s a mark left by the great, divine, and just God. How could anyone deny it?
Yes! God! This is what I wanted!
Kyaa! With just this, my reputation will soar!
I might even receive thanks from the church, and who knows, maybe a bard’s song will be created about this event!
[Girl. Are you thinking of taking this to the church?]
While I was grinning at such thoughts, Grandpa spoke up.
‘Is that not okay?’
[Think about it. Do you think there’ll be good things from catching the church’s attention now?]
…Ah. I was so caught up in thinking about raising my reputation that I had temporarily forgotten.
What kind of shape the current church is in.
The Jushin Church doesn’t seek those who follow the will of God; they need puppets that follow their words.
What happens if I shout that I’m being loved by God there?
The conclusion is obvious. Thanks to the mesugaki skill, my rebellious traits would come out, and I’d surely become L/uca in Lucy. I’m still not strong enough to rebel against the church.
Haaah. After almost a year, a chance to raise my reputation positively comes up. God finally produced something meaningful! And I can’t brag about this? I have to forcibly go in submissively?!
Unfair! It’s unjust!
I internally vented my frustration, but that wouldn’t change reality.
Damn church. I need to smash it quickly.
[You have received ‘Diary of the Necromancer’.]
Beginning with a reward just like in the game, the calculation ended with a reward just like in the game.
The Diary of the Necromancer. A relic left by Adri’s mother.
It’s something I don’t need. Since this is related to necromancy.
I should just hand it over to Adri.
“Amazing. I can’t help but recognize it.”
As soon as I closed the notification window, a voice came from behind me, and I turned my head.
Luca. Has that guy been following me around here watching?
He probably appeared just as he was waiting for the right moment to speak.
[Seems like you have something. I couldn’t sense it.]
‘Yeah, probably.’
This guy is an all-around type of thief. Naturally, he would have items to erase his traces.
That’s why he’s more troublesome than a mediocre boss. I have to take him down without any tricks.
While I was reminiscing about the攻略法 from the game, Luca continued.
“Purifying the forest in just half a day! Wow. I can’t help but be impressed. Are you receiving God’s message? The Knights of the Jushin Church can’t achieve such feats!”
Luca maintained an overly humble demeanor.
What’s with that? He’s not like this at all.
Regardless of whether he’s confident or not, he should be acting cocky and annoying.
Another variable? What new trick has popped up this time?
“And another thing I must apologize for. It seems like today’s events are quite sensitive. If things go wrong, my life is at risk.”
Luca pours power into his bracelet. One of the magical tools he obtained in the past. An item that intrudes into one’s mind.
He’s trying to erase my memories.
Haa. What am I even supposed to…
That was something I expected. No issues there.
As a blue light began to emanate from the bracelet, I felt something being engraved in my mind.
This really doesn’t feel good. My consciousness flickering feels just like when the penalty of the mesugaki skill comes.
I slowly felt my consciousness blur.
My eyelids drooping.
The gap between thoughts stretched longer and longer.
Even Grandpa’s voice faded…
Gahhhh! A crashing sound jolts my consciousness back to life.
When I opened my eyes again, what I saw was an astonished Luca, unable to even pick up his fallen glasses.
Huh?
Did I just resist!?
Damn it. I messed up.
It would’ve been better to just accept it. The magic can be undone later.
If I resist, things will get complicated.
Surely, Luca will try to silence me.
With him approaching, I tightened my grip on the mace in my hand.
Is it possible to beat this guy?
Ha. That’s a rather foolish thought.
Whether possible or not doesn’t matter.
I have to do it.
Because it’s the only way I can survive.
So, Luca. What’s your first move?
Are you going to bombard me with magic like in the game?
Or are you going to wield a dagger to kill me from the very start?
Go ahead, try.
I’ll counter your every move.
I channeled divinity through my body and fixed my eyes on Luca’s movements.
He paused midway and then sank to his knees on the ground.
Huh?
“Please spare my life! Lady Allen!”
Huh?!
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