Chapter: 285
Karia took me to a place that wasn’t far away.
It was an alley in the bustling area near the Arteia port. Our destination was a place just a few minutes’ walk from the Arteia mansion.
“Since many people come and go at Arteia port, it’s a good place to hide something or spread rumors.”
I could roughly understand what she was saying.
Most of the people who stay here are sailors.
They stay for a few days, head to other places, and one day they’ll return.
In a place where the faces in the streets change daily, it’s hard to remember someone.
“But for the employer, that’s an exception. It seems rumors will spread here and there?”
‘That’s true.’
“Right? I didn’t think there would be so many disgusting perverts. These shoddy trash who can’t even lick my toes after working like dogs for a lifetime don’t know their place.”
However, among all those people, it seemed like I, as a being, would remain in this port.
Every time I moved, people’s gazes followed me.
Since coming to this world, I’ve always been the center of attention.
Most of it was negative, but being noticed by people was a very everyday occurrence.
The type of gazes directed at me back then was mostly uncomfortable. The history contained in the name Lucy Allen instilled fear in people.
But today was different. Today, the gazes directed at me carried a feeling of unpleasant stickiness.
It wasn’t because they didn’t know the name Lucy Allen. The moment they made eye contact and turned their heads in horror showed that they were clearly aware of my infamy.
So, those guys are giving me those kinds of looks even knowing my reputation?
Was the change brought on by my temper so dramatic?
I didn’t feel like I had changed much when I stared into the mirror.
“I’m glad it worked out well just as you aimed.”
‘Aimed for this? Really?’
“That snake-like lady. What’s she aiming for?”
“Can’t you just say I’m more like a fox this time? Saying I’m like a snake makes me sound too venomous.”
‘Isn’t it worse to be called a fox?’
“A fox? You don’t actually want to hear that you resemble a sloppy fox, do you?”
“…No, not really. Yeah. Snake is better. Definitely.”
Karia, who was nodding along, soon blocked out the sounds around us and answered my question.
“To get off the Inquisitor’s radar, we need to create an alibi saying you weren’t in the Burrow territory.”
Ah, I see. If I leave an impression on the port’s people, no one would think I stayed with the Burrow family.
So that’s why I didn’t need to cover my face.
“And there was also the intention of letting the employer feel your change.”
‘…That’s unnecessary consideration.’
“Who would’ve thought you’d be such a nuisance? Live a little younger. Are you planning to be single forever?”
“…If it wasn’t for the grace I received!”
Seeing Karia’s hands trembling, as if she wanted to give me a flick, I hurriedly closed my mouth.
After walking for a few more minutes, we arrived at a restaurant.
It seemed to be quite popular, filled with many people dining and creating a commotion inside the building.
As I watched a robust lady effortlessly manage the rough sailors, I unknowingly turned my gaze toward Karia.
I wanted to ask if Jack was here.
“This is the place.”
She said, indicating clearly, then grabbed a staff member and whispered something.
The server led us to a private room on the 2nd floor. When Karia pulled on a deer antler decorated on one wall, a passage leading down to the basement was revealed.
“Is your suspicion gone now?”
I couldn’t answer that. The secret place Karia created was stirring my soul.
What’s this! It’s totally cool! It really feels like I’m in a spy drama!
Wow, how long has Karia been freed from the Evil God’s curse that she could establish such a system? Is she too capable or what?
“It’s nothing special. I just tweaked the system built by my disciple a bit.”
If this is nothing special, what on earth does Karia think is special?
Is this the kind of competence that someone standing next to Benedict possessed?
I’m really glad she’s on my side.
…From now on, I should be careful with the auntie or old maid comments.
“Here we are.”
Jack was sleeping in one of the many hidden rooms in the basement.
It wouldn’t be strange if he stopped at any moment; his faint breathing, furrowed brow, and the soft sounds escaping his lips were barely articulate.
His condition resembled that of Phoebe when she had collapsed after being attacked by Nakrad.
“How about it? Do you think the employer can resolve this?”
‘Yes.’
“Why would you even ask something so obvious? Instead of worrying about pointless things, how about thinking about how you can catch yourself a man?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Ignoring Karia’s grumbling voice, I took in Jack’s form.
Then, I saw Tariki’s energy embedded deep in Jack’s heart.
Grabbing hold of the heart, dripping his essence slowly into the blood, trying to stain his entire body with his energy.
As I observed him, I could distinctly feel what it meant for divine rank to rise.
[So that’s what it looks like.]
‘Yes. I can see it clearly.’
Previously, I was completely unable to detect Tariki’s energy.
Even when Phoebe collapsed. Even when Nakrad seized the Burrow territory, I could only realize that Tariki was up to something by hearing someone else’s story. I couldn’t see the energy with my eyes.
But now, it was possible.
With my divine rank risen and my physical body changing accordingly, I could now see Tariki’s energy.
I could feel the pain engraved in Jack’s body.
[Then, there’s nothing more to say. Do as you please.]
‘Yes, sir.’
Taking a deep breath, I spread my divinity through my body.
Earlier, the divine energy that had been depleted after a grueling battle was now replenished, more substantial and serious than before, filling me.
In no time, my entire body was enveloped in a warm energy.
With the groundwork laid, let’s give this a shot.
I’m going to use the true mercy of Armadi.
Until now, I had only thought of Armadi’s Mercy as just a skill. Like how it is in games, recovering stamina and dispelling statuses.
In reality, I had continuously used Armadi’s Mercy in that manner without thinking deeper.
My decaying knowledge from the Soul Academy only allowed me to view Armadi’s Mercy that way.
However, while performing the skill tutorial, my perspective changed. I learned a fact I hadn’t considered before.
Armadi’s Mercy is a skill that bestows a part of the authority that Armadi holds, as indicated by the name of the Lord.
It’s not just a healing technique; it’s a format that shares a part of the authority.
No matter how sloppy and incompetent someone is, consumed only by his perverted desires, a Lord is a Lord.
Since he has imparted part of his authority, it wouldn’t be possible to achieve only that much.
By becoming an Apostle of Armadi, I discovered the essence of the skill now that I’ve inherited part of his divinity.
It is to take away suffering.
Restoring stamina and eliminating status effects were mere side effects.
The essence of Armadi’s Mercy was the power to take away suffering.
Even if I spoke confidently, I still didn’t fully grasp this authority.
Understanding Armadi’s Mercy as a skill was something that happened just this morning, so how could it be perfect?
Even so, I didn’t feel worried.
Even if I still had much more to learn than to know, I could surely drive out the energy of that gloomy trash who got beaten by a small girl.
And I could also save a teenage boy suffering from nightmares.
After concentrating the divinity into my palms, I placed my hand over Jack’s heart. As it touched, my divinity flowed into him through the skin that met.
The energy of Tariki, embedded in his heart, rebelled wildly as soon as it sensed the divinity.
It was trying as hard as it could to prevent the supreme energy from entering its domain.
However, that rebellion was in vain.
The current level of my divinity must outrank Nakrad, who had imbued darkness here. No matter how darkness struggles, it must inevitably lose its place in front of light.
At some point, perhaps unable to endure anymore, Tariki’s energy vanished without a trace.
It must have thought of making me believe it fled this body.
Watching the shabby antics made me involuntarily chuckle.
What significance does hiding somewhere in Jack’s body have?
As long as Tariki’s energy resides within Jack’s body, and Jack suffers due to that energy, the darkness will never escape my sight.
If I wished, I could persistently track that energy and eliminate it, but I didn’t.
I leisurely filled Jack’s body with divinity.
As if the sun rose and made the place where darkness existed vanish, the room inside Jack gradually lost its space for Tariki’s energy.
No matter how hard Tariki’s energy tried to escape, it became increasingly limited.
To escape, it needed a place to run.
If it was cornered, all it could do was wait for death with eyes closed.
“Hey, trash Tariki♡”
In the end, Tariki’s energy gave up even struggling and started to burn away under my divinity.
“I’ll make sure to torment you like this later♡ Look forward to it♡”
Not long after, confirming that Tariki’s energy had vanished, I finally withdrew my divinity from Jack’s body.
Indeed, moving my divinity was much easier than before.
While the outside might seem unchanged, the inside must have altered significantly.
Hmm, then my physical abilities must have changed too, right?
When I go back, I need to ask Karl for a duel.
I need to see just how far I’ve come.
– Dding!
Hmm? What’s this?
A reward?
A new quest?
[You have purified someone contracted with the Evil God!]
[Your noble heart has saved one who would have fallen into hell had it not been for you. The evil fate of the wicked is now tied to you!]
[The status of ‘Jack Burrows’ changes from ‘Apostle of Evil God’ to your ‘Servant’!]
[The wicked must pay for their sins and offer their lives to you until the end!]
…
Huh?
What kind of nonsense is this?
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