Chapter 125 : Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Holy Kingdom Luminescia.

Alba Lumina was the capital of Luminescia, a place where many buildings for worshiping the Gods and sacred sites were gathered.

It was also the center of administration and religion, and the place where the king and the Pope resided.

“To think a day would come when I would be exploring the Papal Office alone.”

Julian muttered as he watched the priests and delegations busily coming and going near the Papal Office.

Priests were one thing, but among the delegations, there were not a few from places one would know just by hearing their names.

Normally, an outsider would not be allowed to wander alone, but it was possible because he had the permission of Saintess Lan.

“Strictly speaking, you are not alone.”

Hector, who was following behind, said in a gruff voice.

“Don’t ruin the mood, Hector.”

“Hehe. You’re enjoying it.”

“I believe I told you to be careful with your words and actions, as the Holy Nation is a place with a clear hierarchy.”

Ignoring the warning, he grinned and changed the subject.

“Isn’t it surprising that the king of the Holy Nation is just a little further from here?”

The Papal Office, where the important rituals and meetings of the Holy Nation were presided over, was located in the western part of the center of the capital, Alba Lumina, while in the eastern part of the center was the Celester Hall, where the king discussed state affairs.

‘Since I came by the Pope’s invitation, I probably won’t have an audience with the king, but…….’

For Julian, who had never strayed far from the eastern Frontier, the current scenery was quite heart-pounding.

Moreover, in two days, he was to have an audience with the Pope and discuss state affairs as the representative of Eurasia.

A considerable amount of time had passed since he had visited the Papal Office.

Did this foolish subordinate even know the meaning of this thrill, of the current situation?

“This is all thanks to Tactician Killian.”

“Hector, I am the commander you serve.”

“Of course, it is also my fortune to serve you, Commander.”

“This guy……”

“Hehehe.”

“Hanging around with a foolish fellow, I feel like I’m being influenced as well.”

Unlike his words, Julian did not feel bad.

It was because he knew that Hector was truly following him.

A feeling he could know because he was being acknowledged by his subordinates, unlike when he was a scarecrow commander.

‘Is this also Killian’s influence?’

The journey after making him his tactician flashed by like a revolving lantern.

“I will become your sword.”

It had already been a few years.

“I do not need to be the Vice-commander. Please create a position for a tactician for now.”

The words that had tickled his heart on the day the kid had demanded the position of tactician, saying he would help in the family head competition.

‘I know now.’

That his youngest brother, who had experienced a Great Awakening, was walking a path of the sword that could not be compared to his own.

And that he had become one of the great Superhumans of the kingdom, receiving the expectations of the king, Simon Eurasia, and the Commander of the Knights, Escardo Schtenberg.

Talent and effort. In neither could he match Killian.

‘I must not try to compete.

I must make him my man.’

That was the only way to win the war for the throne, where Demian had a solo lead.

“Mother said so as well.”

“Pardon?”

“Tsk.”

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing.”

“……?”

Hector scratched his head and brought up a question he had been holding back.

“By the way, is it alright to leave Tactician Killian like that?”

Killian was conducting a reaction experiment on the Divine Objects with Saintess Lan and Princess Sharle.

He had heard that it was an experiment where one had to be prepared for a reflux strong enough to damage the Mana Heart if things went wrong.

To artificially induce a reflux that was fatal to a mana user?

“They must be out of their minds.”

“At this rate, it looks like they’ll fill up the entire week.”

“It is his will. Thanks to him, we are able to stroll through Alba Lumina like this, are we not?”

“True. How could we possibly know what is inside Tactician Killian’s head?”

“Do not lump me in with you. Do you think I came out separately for no reason?”

“Pardon? Wasn’t it for sightseeing?”

“This…… foolish fellow.”

Julian looked back at his Centurion with a dumbfounded expression.

‘Is it alright to run a knight order trusting a guy like this?’

Such thoughts ran through his mind.

“You…… just follow me…….”

“Hehehe. Understood.”

While the Consistory was in progress and Killian was conducting the reaction experiment on the Divine Object.

Two 4-star knights of Eurasia quietly strolled through the Papal Office.

***

The Holy Tower .

A tower called the Light Spire by those residing in the Papal Office, unlike its common name.

A mysterious place that, despite being only 9 stories above ground, was said to amplify one’s Divine Power by nearly double just by entering.

The reaction experiment on the Divine Objects took place there.

The sixth day of the reaction experiment.

Kugugugugu.

Killian stopped emitting his Haki.

Sss.

The mana condensed in his hand scattered.

“The reaction?”

At his question, Sharle, who had been watching with her vision enhanced by mana, shook her head.

“Nothing special this time either. To think it’s only this much after using twenty Divine Objects… As a researcher, I’m confused.”

“Is that so.”

Whether he used his original blue mana or Cornelia’s violet mana, the result was the same.

A Divine Object not controlled by a user would forcibly activate the moment it detected Killian’s presence.

Of course, it also caused a reflux upon contact.

The same went for Lan’s Divine Object, the ‘Styx’s Orb’, which was wrapped around Killian’s arm.

“Please release it now.”

At his demand, the corner of Lan’s mouth, who was next to Sharle, went up.

“How about wearing it a little longer? It seems to suit your delicate arm well.”

“Well, if it’s alright for it to break like this, I don’t mind.”

Kugugugung.

The entire area vibrated with the Haki that Killian emitted.

The Holy Tower’s self-defense system activated, calming the power of the Haki.

“How cheeky.”

When Lan waved her hand, the removed Divine Object wrapped around her hand.

It was a reaction as if it had a will of its own.

“I do not understand why a Divine Object that does not react to Sharle reacts only to you.”

Twenty Divine Objects had been experimented on.

If the scope was widened to Holy Objects, the number exceeded forty.

They had tested all sorts of Divine Objects with abilities like detection, attack, defense, and blessing, but every single one of them clung to Killian and caused a reflux.

It was a reaction not seen with Sharle.

“Is it really because of the Piece of Grotesquery you came into contact with?”

“If that were the case, I too have come into contact with the Grotesquery’s power.”

“But didn’t that guy even absorb the Grotesquery’s power?”

“That is merely the ability of the sword. Sir Killian cannot handle that power like the Second Prince Isaac.”

Sharle rationally refuted Lan’s hypothesis.

They had shared some information through the experiments.

“It is not different from being able to synchronize with a Divine Object like now, but not being able to use its Authority.”

Tuk. Tuk.

Lan, who was tapping her chin with her fan, shook her head.

“Sharle, your case is different.”

Killian had absorbed the Evil Energy called the aura of monsters and the Radiance called the characteristic of Grotesquery.

On the other hand, Sharle had at most touched it, but had not taken that power into her body.

“The possibility that a curse has been imprinted cannot be ruled out.”

“That can’t be……”

“To figure it out more clearly, we would have no choice but to experiment on Isaac Heinrich. If the Divine Objects react to him as well, then the answer is set.”

Lan continued, calming the orb that was trying to cling to Killian at any moment.

“Once in the basement of Brussels’ royal castle, and once in the Flask Mountain Range. Killian Eurasia came into contact with a Piece of Grotesquery twice.”

“……”

“That’s enough to earn the resentment of the Divine Objects.”

Killian shrugged his shoulders.

“The power of Grotesquery… this is a big problem.”

Contrary to his words, the nuance was that he did not care.

‘It doesn’t seem to be just because of the Grotesquery, but it wouldn’t be bad for them to think so.’

As if finding his attitude absurd, Lan said.

“It is because you harbor such irreverent thoughts that you earn the hatred of the Gods.”

“All I need is mana.”

“Wasn’t the reason you came here because of the Holy Nation’s Warp Gate? The Warp Gate moves with Divine Power, you know?”

“Someday it will be solved with mana.”

“You insolent thing. You don’t lose a single word.”

“It’s better than being subversive.”

“And cheeky too. Shall I cause a reflux again?”

“I think we can move on to the durability test of the Divine Object on this occasion.”

“Fine. I will personally correct that wicked nature of yours.”

At the renewed argument, Sharle let out a sigh.

It was a sight that had been repeating for six days.

“The reaction experiment is not without results.”

With her characteristic smile, she continued.

“Uncontrolled Divine Objects are hostile to Sir Killian. And the moment they make contact, a powerful sanction is imposed, enough to cause a reflux in the Mana Heart……”

“The maximum number of Divine Objects I can endure is ten.”

“That’s right. It is a shame that we only learned this fact after one Divine Object broke, though.”

“The one who should be ashamed is the one who enjoys tobacco.”

Twitch.

A vein popped on Lan’s forehead at the provocation.

“With this, have we tested all the Divine Objects that can be used for the reaction experiment?”

“No.”

“Lady Lan.”

“There is one last Divine Object.”

“Further confirmation seems meaningless. The Consistory will end soon, so we should start preparing for the audience……”

“Killian Eurasia. Do you think so too?”

Cutting off Sharle’s words, Lan asked for his opinion.

“If you insist on your pride, you will gain the dishonor of having broken two Divine Objects.”

“You too should stop there, Sir Killian. Giving any more stimulation to the Mana Heart will hinder recovery……”

“We can’t have the audience right after the Consistory ends anyway, can we?”

“That is……”

“In that case, it would be better to do something productive like this. Am I wrong?”

Killian’s and Lan’s eyes were smiling.

“You insolent thing. You immature thing. You feisty thing. I knew you would say that.”

Killian gestured with his chin towards a golden box placed to one side.

It was an object she had brought with her, cherishing it, when she entered the Holy Tower today.

“I was wondering when you would take it out. Whose Divine Object is it this time?”

“Where would one find a Divine Object that is not precious, but this one is special.”

“……?”

“It is a Divine Object that has lost its master.”

It had lost its owner, and because of that, a next owner had not yet been decided.

“Veritas, the God of Truth.”

Lan’s eyes, holding a smile, curved like crescent moons.

“But you are the one who brings out the rampage of Divine Objects, are you not?”

“If it’s Veritas’s Divine Object, could it be……”

“Shh.”

Lan de Styx brought her index finger to her lips.

“Lady Lan……!!”

“Sharle, you are not the one to decide this.”

She looked at Killian with a meaningful gaze.

“For reference, it is a Divine Object that even a Chief Priest-level could not awaken.

That is how difficult it is to handle.”

It was a Divine Object that not only she, the Saintess, but also the current Chief Priest of Veritas could not awaken.

‘Then who on earth used this Divine Object?’

As if reading his thoughts, she continued.

“Who the original owner was, I will tell you after the reaction experiment is over. Of course, that is if you are still sane by then.”

“If it is an object with such a story.”

A harmless smile spread across Killian’s lips.

“I cannot guarantee it will not be broken.”

“If you can.”

Dal-kak.

Lan opened the golden box.

Inside, a faded mirror lay neatly.

“The Mirror of Truth. It is said that if it reflects a lie, it distorts, and if it reflects the truth, it appears clear and sharp.”

She held up the mirror, which was the size of her upper body, with both hands, and Killian stared into it quietly.

Reflected in the mirror was the face of a youthful Sword Master, exhausted from the continuous experiments.

The previous Divine Objects had been activated just by closing the distance.

‘This is different from before.’

I tried to manifest my mana.

Ssssss.

Blue mana wrapped around the mirror.

“Sir Killian, not that much…….

“In matters like this, getting the upper hand from the start is important.”

Carpe.

Killian poured out his mana without holding back.

“Hmm……”

I could see Lan’s face contorting as she was directly hit by the Superhuman’s mana.

‘Not yet, Lan de Styx.’

Carpe Illusion.

Cornelia Style.

“Violet Magic Tower.”

Kwaaaaaa.

A massive magic tower rose from the manifested world.

“Sir Killian……!!”

Sharle, who had entered the domain with him, shouted.

“You……”

Lan also showed a flustered expression at the unexpected full power.

‘I’ll just break one more for the last one.’

Kugugugung.

The mana drawn from the Violet Magic Tower replenished the consumed mana.

I could feel the Saintess drawing up her Divine Power in response.

And that a barrier had been created around her.

There would be no need to take out the sword hidden in the pendant, nor to manifest a sword with mana.

Killian’s index finger aimed at the mirror.

He condensed his mana.

With hostility towards the Gods.

“Strike.”

The mana, imbued with killing intent, was shot like a bullet.

It was an attack that even a 7-star Arch Mage could not easily block.

Kwajik.

A crack formed in Lan’s hastily made barrier.

“This bastard……”

Ignoring her cry, he relentlessly shot bullets.

Kwajijik.

“……!!”

Lan’s face contorted at the larger-than-expected energy.

That sight was delightful.

“Strike without end.”

Kwadeuk. Kwadeudeuk.

It was the moment when the compression rate of the endlessly shot mana converged close to its limit.

Kiiiiii.

The mirror made a sound like scraping metal.

And.

Ssssss.

The mana that had penetrated the crumbling barrier was seen being absorbed by the mirror.

Both Lan, who was holding the mirror, and Killian, who was carrying out the attack.

It was when they could not understand the sudden situation.

The surface of the mirror shimmered.

[Adamas.]

“……”

Killian confirmed that his reflection in the mirror had been transformed.

[You have come in an interesting state.]

‘Has it been activated?’

Hwaaaaak.

An unprecedentedly massive Divine Power, incomparable to what Lan had controlled, swallowed up the Carpe Illusion.

The corner of the mouth of the being reflected in the mirror twisted.

[Are you prepared to face the truth?]

The twenty-first Divine Object reaction experiment had begun.

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