Chapter 111 - Stagnant Water Puddle 4 (2/2)

Of course, it only occurred after a massive amount of Mana from an outside source was injected into them.From the beginning, maybe it was intended to be completed through the blessing.As the possessor of the Read All Creation ability, Artpe was unsure if that was true.However, the process had been too seamless, so it was possible.

If he could make one guess, the sunbae-nim might have thought the receiving of the blessing fromPaladia was a given.It had been the same with the sunbae-nim’s grave.He had expected the next generation’s hero to find it.

“That damned sunbae-nim.I’ll find everything he left behind, so I can look down on him.”

“Even when Artpe moves with shady intentions, he is cool.”

Artpe tried to manifest a single Mana String as a test.He didn’t even need conscious thought to bring it out, and the Mana String was of similar thickness as his previous ones.However, the amount of Mana within it was in a state of flux.It felt as if it was an extension of Mana.

‘The Mana String becomes a spell, and the energy of the spell is released again to be made into a Mana String. It’s possible to do this?’

He didn’t have to manifest it as a simple thread.The current Mana String was pushing the boundary of freedom given to Mana.He could imbue physical characteristics over the magical energy, and he could manufacture it into any shape.Even after manufacturing Mana into a shape, it could be changed into a spell.

‘This is no longer the Mana String······ I see.’

As always, Maetel had been staring at Artpe.His eyes met hers.Artpe’s figure was contained within her clear green eyes.

[Artpe]

[Human]

[Hero]

[Level : 283]

[Strength : 619 Agility : 581 Stamina : 708 Magical Energy : 2,674]

[Hero’s Aura Lv1]

[Materialization Lv1]

“I became Initialized again!”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

He had thought it was a simple matter of his spell being strengthened.It seemed there was a name change, and he had to start over from level 1!Of course, the Record of his spells up to now was still there, so his spell was a level 1 spell that wasn’t a level 1 spell. Still, he would be lying if he said he wasn’t a bit dejected by it.

‘Materialization?What do I materialize?Do I materialize my imagination?Ideal?Do I get to materialize whatever I want?If so, this is the terminal end of magic!’

Of course, there wasn’t anything Artpe couldn’t do with his original Mana String.He wasn’t just merely using a spell.He embodied the spell as a whole, and in that aspect, there wasn’t much difference between the hero and the Demon King!No, when he thought about it in this term, they seemed very similar!

‘Still, there are a lot of restrictions…...’

If there weren’t any restrictions, he could basically conclude the tale of the hero.Of course, there were restrictions.If he tried to materialize a spell that wasn’t in the form of a thread, he would have to consume Mana to an abnormal degree.Even with Artpe’s massive reservoir of Mana, he couldn’t add elaborate conditions to the Materialization spell.

‘All right.I’ll gradually research this.On the other hand, I have a newly acquired skill called the Hero’s Aura.’

It was a congruous skill between those that possessed the matching tattoo on their shoulder blade. Even if they tried to use the skill, the only benefit that would come from it was an emission of golden light.Other functions would probably be added when the skill level rose. Of course, the hero from his previous life didn’t possess this skill….

Lastly, their status had risen.

Artpe was a hero.He possessed high strength and agility stats.It was so high that he couldn’t be compared to other magicians.

However, he had received an overwhelming amount of Mana and the Record within the holy relic.As his magical energy increased, his strength, agility and stamina increased alongside it.Even if he didn’t have magic, he could credibly mimic high rank Warrior over level 200.

Then there was the fact that he was capable of strengthening his body with magical energy.If so, would he be comparable to a lvl 250 Warrior?

“Anyways, this was a boon for me.Maetel, you also….”

“Yes, my skill….Ooh-mmm. I think it's called the Record Master.”

Artpe had been strengthened in totality.It was the same for Maetel.She had gained the Hero’s Aura like him.All her stats were boosted, and the Record Divide had evolved.It couldn’t be compared to before.

If she wanted, she could steal someone else’s Record.She wouldn't need permission.She also could give her Record to someone else without any restrictions.

“······I made it clear that you can’t do it.”

“Artpe’s level is so high that I probably can’t even attempt it on you.Don’t worry about it.”

Maetel didn’t want to make Artpe mad again, so she waved her hands.Then she suddenly discovered the presence of the priests and the holy knights.They had been there all along.She pulled at the sleeve of Artpe’s robe.

“Artpe, they are looking at us with strange eyes.”

“It is understandable.The heroes finally received their blessing, yet we look to be romancing each other right now.Of course, they would look at us with such eyes.”

“R...romancing…....”

Maetel’s eyes turned starry.Artpe realized that he had unintentionally turned on her switch.

“I meant that it looks like that on the surface.”

“I see.From the perspective of other people, we already look like that.”

“Ah······ Yes.I guess so.”

“Ooh-hee.I see.”

It was hard to believe that she had been crying until a moment ago.She had an unimaginably bright smile on her face.Artpe was thankful that Maetel felt better, but he kept letting out a sigh.

It was at that moment that the holy priestess returned to them.She had come back after controlling her emotions.

“Now….The two of you will have to accompany me in the parade that is heading towards the inner city.”

“Yes.Please watch over us.”

This was how the march towards the inner city started.Artpe, Maetel and the holy priestess Vadinet were having different thoughts as the parade continued.Despite this fact, they maintained a broad smile on their face.In the eyes of the people of Lihazeta, they looked beautiful.

“Oh my.The holy priestess is with them.They really look great together.”

“Did you hear the news?Two heroes received the blessing.That is quite convenient…..”

“I wonder what the gods are painting.I shouldn’t be having such thoughts, but I’m a bit curious as to how the war with the Demon King’s army will progress.”

“You rascal.You shouldn’t even speculate about such things.”

It seemed the people of this country had read the ‘Words That Shouldn’t Be Spoken Unless You Want to Become a Supporting Character in Another Person’s Life Volume 2.’The nearby civilians were talking about their perception of the proceeding, and they were mixing in some dialogue about the future.It truly were words befitting extras!

“Hero-nim, the parade will come to an end soon.When it ends, we’ll enter a location that is inaccessible by the other priests and holy knights.The two hero-nim will be accompanied only by me.”

“Yes, all right.”

The proceeding was really long and drawn out.When the holy priestess whispered to him, he schooled his expression.He tried his best to act as if nothing was wrong.However, there were a lot of thoughts going through his head.

‘If the same situation from my past life occurs again, it’ll become really annoying.Will Silpennon be able to pull this off successfully? Of course, it isn’t as if there aren’t scenarios where he’ll fail.Still, I want to get through this cleanly.I want to change the direction of the events to completely fuck over the Demon King’s army…...’

He took a peek at the holy priestess.Her expression still contained some of the dismay she was feeling.However, she was a priestess blessed by the gods.This was why she had on a saintly smile on her face.Maetel was still in her self-restraint mode, so she couldn’t poke at Artpe’s thigh like usual.

At that moment, the holy priestess suddenly spoke.

“The two of you look very close…..I am envious.”

“You should find a good man for yourself.”

At Artpe’s apathetic response, the holy priestess let out a bitter laugh as she replied.

“My body was dedicated to the gods.That is why I am unavailable to men.That is how it is.However, if the god do allow a mate for me, it would probably be a her……..”

“People of Lihazeta!Please give your blessing to the two heroes and the holy priestess!They will be going on a journey to defeat the Demon King!”

Before the holy priestess could finish her words, a holy knight shouted out his words.The people of Lihazeta shouted their blessings towards the party at the same time.There were people that had followed the parade from the start to the end.The people gathered at the current location numbered in the tens of thousands.Of course, Artpe couldn’t hear the holy priestess’ words.

‘What? So that’s what it was?’

However, Artpe didn’t have a screw loose like the main characters that appeared in the hero’s tale.He possessed abilities that was completely different from them.It didn’t matter that the civilians were yelling at him.It didn't matter that Maetel was glaring at him.He could clearly read the lips of the holy priestess!

‘The holy priestess can’t meet men aside from the hero?This bitch actually believed in such lie!’

Artpe gained an understanding.He understood why the holy priestess had acted like a psychotic bitch in his previous life.He also realized why she had tried to intentionally exclude Maetel from the blessing.

The holy priestess in his past life had believed in a lie, and she had lost control as she continued to work towards her goal of a marriage!