Chapter 197: The End of Winter. (1) (1/2)

The Altar, which retreated from the barrier without achieving anything, were surprisingly calm. Arlos, still staying in the Altar’s sanctuary, found it interesting. No, the ecological system of this sanctuary itself was strange.

“This sanctuary is divided into several facilities?”

While walking through a dark hallway, Arlos asked the soldier-ranked priest who she had become close with recently.

“Accommodation, schools, restaurants, training center for nurturing priests. We have lived here for decades.”

“In this darkness?”

“Yeah, but we won’t need it soon. If God incarnates, He will punish all of those who killed him and live with us in a new and clean world.”

They held a lot of very strange beliefs completely different from the history on the continent.

“God, killer.”

“That’s right. In the distant past, the people of this continent murdered God and made their own country. It’s an unacceptable sin.”

The people of the continent, to be exact, their ancestors, killed God. Therefore, all of their descendants were also God’s killers. On the other hand, the Altar was a disciple of justice following a god who had already died. Their main mission was the resurrection of God, and he would bring down punishment upon the continent…

That was what they claimed.

“What would you do now?”

They planned to break the barrier with their vanguard and annihilate Reccordak by blocking their escape route. However, because Deculein showed power worthy of his confidence, a hilarious situation took place in which the vanguard retreated ten minutes after starting.

“…”

The priest did not answer. He was more tight-lipped than the lower-ranks.

Draaaaag—

He opened a door in the hallway.

“This is the room that you’ll be using. Come in.”

Arlos looked around the inside. From the finest mana stones to the chisel knives, the threads and needles, the awls and saw, and more, there were all sorts of things that could be used in making dolls.

“It seems to have everything.”

“Of course. But, before that.”

The priest gathered dark energy in his palm. Then, he searched Arlos from head to toe.

“…You don’t need to use other mana stones or equipment. Go on in.”

Arlos nodded and went inside. Then, she took out the tiny device that was left in her pocket.

“Will you be working for the month?”

“I think I can make some pretty good dolls.”

“I know. Good luck, barbarian. Your cooperation will be rewarded with your survival in the future.”

“…Survival?”

“Yeah. Then, I’ll get going. The elder will bring down a more detailed report.”

Draaaag—

The door closed behind the priest. Arlos delivered her message by pressing the buttons of the machine in code.

Tap, tap, tap.

Her actions and words would be closely monitored in this place, so she created a different way to deliver messages.

*****

I received Arlos’ code. It wasn’t very good information, however. Only things I already knew about.

“…Should I expect it to go deeper?”

I muttered and looked ahead. The barrier was right in front of me; its damaged side to my right. I placed my hand on the wall, closed my eyes, and began to commune using Understanding.

My aptitude was fire and earth. When those two combined, it would make steel. Of course, my Metal Enhancement hadn’t yet been completed, but this understanding was a preemptive condition for its completion. If it was completed, it might get tough for me due to a lack of mana.

—…I won!

A voice rose behind me. I looked back to see Julie and Raphael.

—I finally won!

Julie was shouting after winning their practice battle. I wasn’t able to watch in detail, but if she could beat Raphael, then she had grown.

—Finally! Finally!

“…Aare you that happy?”

I grinned.

She continued to shout. After finishing Understanding again, I went up the barrier.

[Level of Understanding: 53%]

This was what I gained after consuming more than half of my mana, but I was satisfied.

“Boss, you’re here.”

Louina, set on night watch duty instead of me, smiled brightly. I nodded and sat beside her. It wasn’t too far away now.

*****

“…It’s quite peaceful these days.”

Atop the wall, Epherene was mumbling to herself while eating. There were only a few pieces of meat on her plate and a mostly empty bowl of porridge.

*chew* *chew* *chew* *chew*

Epherene was chewing it like gum. How long had she been working on that piece of meat?

“A storm is coming soon. We should get ready.”

The reason for this calm was simple: the other monsters fled from this area after being overwhelmed by the power and energy of the Altar wizards.

“Is that so?”

Deputy Director Primienne answered. She was still in Reccordak with a portable heater beside her.

—…Hbbp! Haaaaaa!

Then, there was a yell from under the barrier. I looked down.

Clang— clang, clang——!

Syrio and Julie were sparring. Sparks splashed out every time their swords met.

Clang—!

Their blade met again with a loud rumble.

—Oh!

Syrio, defending against the sudden attack, shouted in surprise and stepped back.

—Oh? Julie, you’ve gotten better! What was that just now?

—…

Julie quietly adjusted her sword. Syrio continued to regard her with a broad smile.

—What was that?

—I transformed it. I used my pattern, but it doesn’t work like it used to.

—Ohh…

Julie’s skills had dramatically improved thanks to my advice. The other knights were also thinking the same thing, as evident by how Raphael and Gwen were pacing up and down beside me.

“You guys lost to Julie, right?”

Raphael and Gwen flinched. The two-bit their lips and faked a cough at the same time.

“It’s more trial and error… rather than lost. Isn’t that right, Raphael? Should I say that Julie’s sword has suddenly grown dirtier?”

“That’s right.”

I flipped to the next page of my book without saying anything. I was continuing to read [3333 The History of the Imperial Family]. It may look like I was reading because there was nothing else to do, but this book that dealt with magic had five-hundred thousand pages. It was the essence of history and the times when the empire was a kingdom and then when the kingdom was a tribe.

“…Can’t you analyze us, too?”

Gwen finally broached the subject. I raised my head.

“No… I think we might have made a mistake. It helps. You have great eyes…”

“That is true.”

Raphael added to Gwen’s pleas.

“I’ll think about it.”

Then, Gwen’s eyes widened.

“Think? Why?”

“I will decide based on your results this time. First, survive and kill as many as you can.”

I answered like that, but it appeared enough to convince the two.

“Well… winning is our priority.”

Whiiiiing—

A cool breeze wafted by. Raphael went down the barrier, and Gwen went to Drent, who was drawing a magic circle on a piece of paper.

“…”