Chapter 176 : Chapter 176

Chapter 176 : Three Divine Artifacts (2)

The news of the Holy Order’s Holy War spread rapidly to each parish.

Holy War.

It was a decision to pour all of the Order’s human and material resources without reservation, yet no one could object.

That was because the Saintess said she had heard the voice of the God of Peace directly, so no one could refute it.

– God has given us a revelation. As you know, hearing God’s voice is rare. God commanded us to help the Apostle’s expedition. All believers must gather their forces and head to Myeolji according to God’s command.

As soon as she came out of the Temple, the Saintess, Serel, spoke to the priests.

Serel at that moment was different from the benevolent Saintess of the Holy Order she had shown until now.

Bearing the responsibility of conveying God’s voice to everyone in the Holy Order, she delivered it to everyone with a powerful voice.

“I heard that you also heard God’s voice, Everchen. How was it?”

“You know since you have heard God’s voice before, Polarin... It was an irresistible, reverent voice of God.”

Everchen spoke as if he was enraptured.

I did not stop at just facing the God of Peace, but was led to God’s space and shared a conversation.

At that time, the God of Peace looked dignified and noble, but simultaneously seemed like a being with much anguish and regret. The God of Peace felt quite human back then.

However, unlike what I saw, he seemed to have maintained a dignified attitude before his believers.

“I see. The thing you desired so much has happened, Everchen. Congratulations.”

“That is correct. I wanted to hear God’s voice even just once... It is all thanks to you, Polarin.”

“Pardon? No. It was possible because you have served God faithfully all this time, Everchen.”

Everchen likely didn’t hear God’s voice just because he was in the same space as Serel.

The God of Peace must have judged that Everchen had the proper qualification and let him hear his voice.

What Everchen should be thankful for was not me, but the time he devoted himself as a believer of the Holy Order.

“Not everyone can hear God’s voice just because they are faithful. It must be that God paid more attention to me because I spent time with you, the Apostle, Polarin.”

“Hmm, I don’t think that’s necessarily the case...”

If Everchen thought so, it couldn’t be helped. I asked Everchen a question to change the subject.

“By the way, is it really okay for me to take the Three Divine Artifacts? When should I equip them?”

Considering that a quite reverent ceremony was held when I was awarded Mutis, I thought a similar procedure would follow for equipping the other Three Divine Artifacts naturally.

However, the Saintess and the Holy Order priests were all busy entering preparations for the Holy War.

I held back my curiosity and asked Everchen.

“Ah, the awarding of the Three Divine Artifacts has already been permitted. I will observe and proceed with the procedure of you equipping them for the first time.”

“...By yourself, Everchen?”

Everchen burst into loud laughter.

“Is it insufficient with just me? You said earlier that I heard God’s voice because I was faithful.”

“No, how could that be? I was just curious about the procedure.”

“Since you are now in a position free from most procedures, Polarin. So, when and where would you like to hold the awarding ceremony?”

“Let’s do it right now. Gallajio is probably waiting for us too. For the location... How about the cave we went to before?”

“If it is that place, it would be even more meaningful. Understood.”

Then Keldric, who was listening to our conversation from the side, got very excited.

“That cave only the three of you went to before? I was curious about it anyway! Let’s go!”

“Do you think we are going on a trip?”

“Ay, that’s because you have been there, Bea. You would be excited if you were in my position, right?”

I also got excited along with Keldric’s excited voice.

However, feeling that the atmosphere should be solemn for some reason, I lowered my voice and spoke.

“Then, let’s move immediately.”

***

We decided to proceed with the awarding ceremony of the Three Divine Artifacts simply, with Everchen, Keldric, and Bea watching.

Just as we did before, we jumped off the cliff and then climbed up with difficulty by hooking our hands on the entrance.

“Wow, but this is very different from what you guys said?”

Keldric exclaimed repeatedly while looking around the cave.

“It’s not that it’s different from what we said... it’s just that this place has changed a lot.”

Everchen also looked around the cave as if surprised.

The scenery inside the cave had changed a lot from when we came to find the Signet before.

Originally, this place was just quite wide and deep, a cave with nothing but the Guardian.

But now, beautiful carvings were engraved all over the cave walls.

It seemed the Order had decorated the cave after it became known that this cave was a special place in the Holy Order as well.

Since it was not easy to enter and exit the cave, it must have been difficult to transport materials from the outside.

So the Holy Order carved the cave walls to sculpt the Holy Order’s patterns or Saints.

And on the ceiling of the cave, Bea, Everchen, and I were sculpted.

It seemed they depicted the battle with the Guardian that we explained.

Also, the remains of the Guardian, who was once an Apostle of the God of Death, were well preserved inside a glass coffin.

Except for the parts that were completely broken and disappeared, the pieces were connected like a puzzle, so the Guardian’s appearance was quite similar to when we first saw him.

‘Has peace settled upon you?’

I felt restless seeing the Guardian, who had been standing for hundreds and thousands of years, lying in a glass coffin. I wanted to believe that peace had settled upon him as well.

I closed my eyes and prayed for the Guardian for a moment, then looked back at my companions.

“Then, please proceed with the awarding ceremony, Everchen.”

Everchen nodded.

When I first met him, perhaps because he was angry about the Saintess’s illness, he only looked like a solemn Paladin.

However, while traveling together, I learned that his playfulness was no less than Keldric’s.

But for this moment at least, Everchen returned to the appearance of a solemn Paladin.

“I, Everchen Iagar of the Holy Order’s Paladin Order, will proceed with the awarding ceremony acting on behalf of the Holy Order’s command.”

Bright light burst out from Everchen’s body.

After hearing God’s voice, the light of Divine Power that Everchen emitted was so dazzling that it was hard to call it soft anymore.

“The sole Apostle directly appointed by the God of Peace, Polarin Adjak.”

“Yes.”

“The Holy Order permits the awarding of all Three Divine Artifacts to the Apostle.”

Everchen held out the Divine Shield Aeliard first.

“Divine Shield Aeliard.”

“Thank you.”

No further words were needed. I picked up Aeliard.

The shield contains the [Absolute Shield] skill capable of temporarily neutralizing all attacks within range.

Even its heavy weight felt reassuring.

The shield in my hand began to resonate with Mutis above my head.

Everchen soon handed over the Holy Sword with a disciplined movement.

“Holy Sword Eusebia.”

“Thank you.”

And I received Eusebia.

The Holy Sword possesses a skill called [Radiance]. It had the amazing effect of 500% increased damage against Demons.

However, since the Holy Sword’s own attack power was not that outstanding, it was a sword with greater symbolic meaning than practical use.

As I equipped all of Eusebia, Aeliard, and Mutis, a change began.

“O Light.”

I recited the activation word of the Holy Sword. Then dazzling radiance burst out from the sword, and its form disappeared.

“Absolute Defense.”

I recited Aeliard’s activation word straight away too.

A white dome appeared around me. Those who enter this space are temporarily immune to all damage, and at the same time, the damage they have received so far is partially healed.

And Aeliard also disappeared in the light.

However, Mutis was the problem.

The skill [God’s Avatar] possessed by Mutis was not an active skill in the first place. God’s Avatar was a skill that was automatically cast only when I suffered damage reaching death.

‘If I cause a ruckus by using [Heaven-Shattering Thunder] here... naturally that wouldn’t do.’

But with the thought of trying anything, I recited the activation word.

“God’s Avatar.”

Then Mutis vibrated as well, and two wings rose from behind my back.

Soon the wings also lost their form, but the shape of wings wrapped in light remained.

By equipping all of the Holy Order’s Three Divine Artifacts at the same time, I was no longer bound by the form of each equipment but could receive the effects of equipping them as they were.

Not only the three skills, but the stat increase from equipping the gear would have been reflected as well.

I clenched and unclenched my fist, sensing the changes in my body after wearing all the Three Divine Artifacts.

And I admired the increased power I felt.

‘To think I’m doing something difficult to do unless it’s a Paladin build even in the game... right now.’

I realized once again how much expectation the Holy Order was placing on me, and how much they trusted me.

My companions were surprised by the sight of the Three Divine Artifacts seemingly being absorbed into me.

However, I spoke to Everchen, who was watching me with an unwavering expression amidst them.

“Thank you for granting me the Three Divine Artifacts. I will cut off the Demon King’s head and return them safely to the Order.”

Everchen nodded.

“You worked hard, Polarin.”

And Everchen smiled brightly.

He was smiling as my companion, not as a Paladin acting as a proxy for the Three Divine Artifacts awarding ceremony.

“Thank you.”

The radiance that seemed to create faith that wasn’t there, and the elation evoked by the increased various stats.

Amidst that, I drew Maron.

Soft Divine Power wrapped around Maron’s black blade.

At that moment, Maron trembled.

Then it soon spewed out dark and ominous energy violently.

“Ugh!”

It was a grisly energy enough to make Keldric step back in surprise.

‘This is the power of the God of Death...’

Maron, the God of Death who commanded the Mythic Era. Maron, who regained his divinity, is granting me power.

But that energy was very rough and fierce.

‘Not right now.’

Maron trembled again and gathered his energy.

“Phew...”

“Is that the power the God of Death grants?”

“...It’s terrifying.”

Only then did my companions approach me and speak.

“Haha... It’s awkward.”

I must have looked like a true Apostle of the God of Peace having just equipped all the Holy Order’s Three Divine Artifacts.

Using the violent power of the God of Death suddenly in this situation wouldn’t have been a very good picture.

I thought it was rather fortunate that there were few eyes watching.

“Are you going to the Empire immediately?”

Bea asked me about the next destination. I nodded and answered.

“I must go. And I need to meet the Emperor.”

I continued speaking while adding strength to my grip holding Maron.

“The Emperor will have to cooperate with me. If he wants to keep working for the Empire in the future, that is.”