Chapter 84 : Chapter 84

Chapter 84 - How to Handle the Will of the Stars (1)

After they decided to become the Sacred Knights.

Each was assigned a private lodging and changed into prepared clothes.

The clothes were almost identical to the robes worn by the priests of the Rata faith, but they didn't hinder movement, as if they had been custom-tailored for a mercenary.

‘This is comfortable.’

When I soon headed to the designated place, a familiar face was waiting for Artier.

“From today, I will be in charge of your holy magic training. I look forward to working with you.”

“I look forward to it as well. But am I the only one?”

“It is a principle to have only one student when conducting holy magic lessons.”

Ropin took off his conical hat and hung it on a nearby coat rack.

Only then did Artier realize that the place he had arrived at was similar to a school classroom.

“Have a seat.”

As Artier sat on a nearby chair, Ropin immediately began the class.

“Do you know why the price for holy magic is lifespan?”

“Pardon?”

“There are various skills in this world that have a price. However, since holy magic was first used 200 years ago, it still uses lifespan as its price.”

During the game days, I just thought of it as a part of the game's balance.

But after hearing Ropin's words, Artier realized something was strange.

Magic was a type of technology. Just as 21st-century technology is more advanced than that of the 20th, it was bound to improve over time.

But the penalty of decreasing lifespan hadn't been removed at all in 200 years?

“Is there perhaps a doctrine that says holy magic should not be developed or improved?”

“No. Everyone hopes for holy magic to be improved.”

“Then why is that?”

“It’s simple, because a method already exists.”

Clatter.

What Ropin took out was a rosary that was emitting a faint light.

Even though it was an unfamiliar object, it somehow felt familiar.

‘A reused graphic…….’

Artier barely managed to swallow the words that were about to come out.

Funnily enough, that rosary had a design that was quite similar, though not identical, to a necklace Artier often used in the late game.

“This is a sacred relic owned by our order. It has the effect of mitigating the side effect of lifespan reduction when using holy magic.”

“I-I see.”

“What is it?”

“It's nothing.”

Artier had to desperately think of something else and pretend he was fine.

“His Holiness the Pope has forbidden the use of this sacred relic until now. There are several reasons for that, but… its use has been exceptionally permitted for the Sacred Knights, so always carry it in your inventory.”

“Yes.”

After putting the sacred relic away, Artier soon began training to use holy magic.

“Holy magic is the use of the power of the stars. Feeling this divine power is more important than anything else.”

Artier closed his eyes and concentrated his mind as Ropin instructed.

The incantation for holy magic was the same one used 200 years ago.

Since many of the methods were no longer used in the present time, there was quite a bit of trial and error at first.

“I-is this right?”

“It is. Now, concentrate your mana on the part touching the ground.”

“I'll try.”

Then, Artier could feel a great power existing in the deepest part of the earth.

As he tried to draw it out, the sacred relic vibrated lightly, and a small, faint light appeared above Artier's hand.

“Oh……”

“That is Holy Light. It is the skill that is the source of holy magic.”

“What should I do now?”

“Keep doing that. Freely handling Holy Light is the most basic part of holy magic.”

“Yes, ah!”

He had only let his guard down for a moment, but the light burst and disappeared.

He hurriedly repeated the action he had just done, but Holy Light did not appear easily.

“Cast aside your impatient heart. Holy magic is greatly influenced by the mind. Discard your distracting thoughts and focus on feeling the power of the stars.”

Artier continued to try after that, but Holy Light did not appear easily.

The total number of Holy Lights Artier managed to create all day was only three.

‘When will it be registered as a skill?’

Artier looked at the information window.

He still couldn't find holy magic in the skill list.

‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I've tried to learn a skill with determination.’

He had already learned skills through methods other than leveling up or using skill books.

But that wasn't because Artier was good at it.

‘Honestly, it was luck.’

This was the first time he was studying the principles because he truly wanted to learn something.

“Don't be too discouraged. Holy magic is a very difficult magic.”

Ropin lightly patted his back.

“There is plenty of time. Let's try it slowly.”

“I understand.”

After finishing the class and returning to his room, Artier briefly looked up at the sky through the window.

Was it because the capital had so much artificial lighting?

The many stars were not clearly visible today.

“……Was it about half a year until they came to the capital?”

Even in the main quest, there are events with specific time frames.

As he recalled, the time when the capital was attacked by the Hellmorphs was one year after the game began.

If he spent the same amount of time that had passed, the days when he could see the night sky like this would come to an end.

‘Half a year is long enough. If I achieve a lot in that time, I should be able to use the plan I've prepared to some extent.’

His slowly closing eyes finally shut completely.

Soon, only the sound of faint breathing could be heard in the room.

***

A month passed like that.

Flash!

Seeing Gerard's Holy Light, Artier felt an intense power and fell into silence.

“Does it look well-made?”

“Well-made? It’s the largest Holy Light here, aside from mine and Collie's.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Gerard clenched his fist.

The Holy Light burst with a pop!

“But there's still a long way to go. I've only managed to learn two holy magic spells. I need to learn at least three to be active as a priest.”

“You'll learn quickly, Gerard. Let me know when you succeed.”

“I will. How many have you learned?”

“Me?”

Roll.

It felt as if one could hear the sound of his eyeballs rolling.

“Well, I'm not sure if I can say I've learned it……”

“What do you mean?”

“It's nothing. I'll show you in a real battle later.”

“Saying it like that makes me afraid of how many you've learned. See you later then.”

“Where are you going?”

“I'm thinking of stopping by the library.”

“Studying magic again? You're diligent.”

“You're also consistent with your sword training, aren't you?”

Gerard left with a small smile.

Looking at the now-empty training ground, Artier quietly looked at his own hand.

Flash!

A large Holy Light, about 1.5 times bigger than Gerard's, was emitting light there.

“……Ha.”

But while looking at such a beautiful sight, Artier's expression was not good.

‘What’s the use of it being big? I haven't properly learned any holy magic.’

Lv.29 Artier

Title: Supreme-Grade Mercenary, Gnoll Slayer, Secret Seeker, Leader of the Sacred Knights

Class: Wild Summoner

Strength: 43

Agility: 42(+1)

Intelligence: 25

Attack Skills (4) (Open)

Support Skills (3) (Close)

Wild Protection (Lv.3), Tactical Command (Lv.2), Holy Magic: Holy Light (Lv.2)

Defense Skills (1) (Open)

A month had passed, but Artier had not learned a single holy magic spell other than Holy Light.

‘Why?’

They said that once you succeed in manifesting Holy Light, the rest isn't that difficult.

In fact, it took others less than a week to learn other holy magic spells after succeeding.

But Artier was an exception.

“It's really… strange.”

As always, the class time for that day returned, and Ropin couldn't hide his troubled expression as he watched Artier's Holy Light disappear helplessly.

“Divine power, unlike mana, has a very strong tendency to cohere. That's why a stably created Holy Light doesn't usually scatter.”

“But my Holy Light scatters immediately if I lose focus even a little?”

“That's the problem. At this rate, you have to worry about maintaining the Holy Light and casting holy magic at the same time. It's a difficult task……”

Why was he different from others?

Artier found the reason in his own origins.

‘Could it be because I'm a player?’

In <Cross Destiny>, Priest was not a playable class.

Therefore, holy magic was originally a skill that couldn't be learned.

“Could it be that I lack talent?”

“For other magic, perhaps, but learning holy magic is greatly influenced by effort. Talent doesn't matter.”

Ropin shook his head firmly.

“Besides, look at the Holy Light you created. Could someone without talent create something like this?”

“……”

“Let's try a little harder. It will be difficult, but I'm sure you can learn a new holy magic spell.”

Encouraged by Ropin, Artier focused once again.

‘In my left hand, the power to maintain the Holy Light, and in my right, a new incantation…….’

He used the Holy Light as a sort of storage, drawing out the power contained within and weaving it into an incantation.

This was a truly complicated process.

It was like having to continuously draw a star with his left hand while painting a masterpiece by Picasso with his right.

Bang!

“Ugh!”

His concentration had wavered just a little.

The Holy Light exploded just like that.

Naturally, the half-completed holy magic spell returned to nothing.

“……I failed again.”

“Still, there was quite a bit of progress this time.”

Ropin said so and patted Artier's back.

“There is still plenty of time. I know I'm emphasizing this several times, but don't be impatient.”

However, Ropin's words did not reach Artier properly.

After trying for a month with no success, would it be easy to maintain composure while clinging to it?

“Do I really need to learn holy magic?”

“Artier……”

“I used to face Hellmorphs without holy magic.”

If I hadn't invested this one month in holy magic but in something else.

If I had hunted monsters and done quests.

If I had learned a new skill with that.

Such thoughts wouldn't leave his mind.

“Certainly, with your skills, that would be the case.”

Ropin said so and firmly gripped Artier's shoulder.

“But let me be clear. Not needing it and not being able to do it are different things. If you're going to give up and run away here, I'll be disappointed.”

The gripped shoulder began to ache.

A layer of ice-like mana was thickly settling around them.

As soon as Artier confirmed Ropin's slowly hardening expression, he immediately shook his head.

“I will continue trying.”

“I like that side of you.”

Ropin smiled brightly as if nothing had happened and let go of his hand.

The atmosphere kept changing with just the expression of an old man.

“That's all for today's class.”

“Yes……”

Artier quietly closed the door and walked down the corridor.

The capital, which had now become full summer, was sweltering even in the middle of the night, with the chirping of insects filling the air.

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