The effect of provoking Alisa was remarkable.
The targets were now moving at a much faster speed than before. Magic of various colors decorated the surface of the lake.
“The method is the same. However, you must intercept all of my magic using three types of elemental magic, and you may use each one no more than ten times.”
At a glance, there appeared to be dozens of targets, yet she was telling him to destroy them all with only thirty spells.
‘I’ll have to destroy two or more with a single shot.’
The difficulty was incredibly high. It seemed he would have to put in quite an effort from here on out.
“It is an efficient way to train both magical power and control at the same time. Well, can you do it?”
“I will do my best.”
With his eyes wide open, Richard fired a Fire Arrow toward Alisa’s magic.
Boom!
The trajectory of the Fire Arrow wavered violently after piercing through one spell, before eventually plunging into the lake.
‘It becomes harder to control after piercing through one.’
The more targets it collided with, the harder it would be to hold the reins of the magic. However, if he simply increased the power mindlessly, he wouldn’t even be able to attempt techniques like curved shots.
“Hmm.”
Richard looked down at his Rings and smiled.
Yes. It had to be at least this challenging to be worth doing.
From that day on, he spent his afternoons in interception training and his evenings cramming knowledge from magic books.
“I will help you with your Circle ascension once you receive a passing grade from me.”
Alisa’s remark, given casually in the middle of his training, added fuel to his passion.
While he was spending busy days like the child of some prestigious Magic House, news arrived that Alan had finally woken up.
Richard postponed his training and visited the infirmary. He intended to give the man a stern word, telling him never to do something so reckless again.
However, after seeing Alan’s haggard face, that intention vanished instantly.
It seemed everyone close to him, including Alisa and Pyran, had already flocked there to shower Alan with nagging lectures. To what extent had he been hounded? The moment he saw Richard, Alan made a fed-up expression.
“You actually looked healthier when you were unconscious.”
“Phew. Be quiet.”
Alan leaned halfway against the bed, looking out the window. Though his face was pale, a light was flickering in his eyes. It looked like a sense of accomplishment for finally burning away the demonic energy—or perhaps a sense of liberation.
Whoosh!
A small ember flared up at the tip of his finger. It was a Light of Purification, whiter than any white flame and warmer than any light.
Richard narrowed his eyes and observed it closely. Usually, flames created through magic tended to feel artificial. But the Light of Purification flickering in Alan’s hand was different. It was an ember crafted purely from light.
‘A Saint Knight can handle Holy Power by consuming Mana. What does a Judge of Heresy use as a price to handle the Light of Purification?’
There was no power in the world without conditions. So, Richard asked him directly.
“I don’t know either.”
But the man himself claimed not to know.
“Does that make any sense? It’s your power.”
“Do you think I would know everything about a power I just obtained? It doesn’t affect my Mana or my mental strength.”
Fwoosh!
The white flame, which had been like a matchstick, swelled in size instantly. Despite this, Alan’s expression remained perfectly calm.
‘Is it really a power that can be used indefinitely?’
As Richard felt the heat of the flame, a plausible hypothesis suddenly came to mind. He immediately peered into his inner self.
As expected, as Alan increased the size of the flame, Richard’s Faith was being consumed bit by bit.
‘Oh.’
He firmly grasped the Faith that was disappearing into thin air. At that moment, the Light of Purification withered away as if it had run out of fuel.
It was a mysterious power. To think that I, not the caster, would bear the burden.
“Congratulations, Alan. He has granted you His blessing.”
“No, this is not a blessing.”
Alan, who Richard thought might boast, shook his head.
“Having taken on the duty of a Judge of Heresy, He merely handed me a tool after seeing my lack of ability. I can only feel honored and apologetic.”
He lowered his head deeply, sounding truly ashamed. It was quite a sight, seeing him blame himself even after receiving such an unexpected gift.
“…Richard. When do you plan to start proselytizing?”
After a long silence, Alan asked him. Richard could tell that the man had made some sort of decision.
“Today. There happens to be a meeting scheduled.”
***
The wizards were gathered in the council chamber.
The wizards, who had greeted Alan in subdued voices, began to pour out their opinions with passion once the meeting started.
“We must prepare for an attack from the Marx family!”
Their top priority was preparing for a preemptive strike from the Marxes. The King had returned covered in blood. Had Alan not been there, Alisa would have met her end right then and there.
Furthermore, it meant the Marx family now defined Laplace as an enemy. It wouldn’t be strange for a terrifying elite army to invade the kingdom at any moment.
As many of the wizards in the council chamber were formerly part of the Marx family, they knew the power of the Great Magic Family all too well. Not only that, but the possibility that every nation on the Southern Continent might antagonize Laplace due to the Marx family’s pressure could not be ignored.
“We sent letters requesting cooperation to neighboring countries, but they have all been returned.”
The moment their fears began to turn into certainty, the wizards’ expressions hardened instantly. The influence of the Marx family was already surrounding Laplace. The air in the council chamber began to weigh down heavily.
“We must open a path…”
Alisa spoke in a serious tone.
“The only way to break through this situation is to reveal their abnormal behavior to the whole world. No matter how powerful the Marx family is, they cannot isolate us completely without a justification. Soon, there will be places that notice the strangeness of the Marx family.”
However, the situation was not that simple. They couldn’t just sit still when an elite army might raid them at any moment.
That was when Alan spoke up.
“There is a way to open a path.”
Everyone’s gaze shifted to him.
“The Magic Alliance that stood against the Plague. They will surely listen to the words of Laplace.”
They were the ones who had deeply felt the wickedness of demonic energy during the war with Kalgos and had personally experienced the power of Hor. Among them were the elite troops of the Marx family and many Magic Houses that represented the strength of various kingdoms.
If they could find and persuade those who had returned to their respective positions, it would form a significant force. However, the wizards of Laplace did not quite understand Alan’s meaning.
“I wonder if they will truly take our side.”
“Even if they have a connection with Young Master Alan, it is difficult to believe that bond is strong enough for them to bare their teeth against the absolute Marx family.”
Alan’s brow furrowed slightly. If it was the Union that held reverence for Hor, there was a possibility they would help. Because the enemy was no longer the Marx family, but merely ‘Heresy.’
However, to explain that to those present, he had to tell them about Hor first. And that was Richard’s responsibility.
Though it annoyed him, Alan believed that Richard was truly exceptional when it came to the ability to proselytize. Had he not already gathered a large force under the banner of the Hor religion?
Now that he had accepted the truth he had long denied, Alan’s heart felt much lighter.
“What I must do… is gather another group.”
Alan faced reality. If Richard was the Saint who delivered light to others, he was the Saint who shouldered the mission of executing Divine Punishment. And he realized that to burn away the great darkness, he needed to gather more embers.
“When are you going to start, Saint of the North?”
Alan turned his gaze toward Richard. Following his gaze, everyone in the room shifted their attention to Richard.
“It seems it is time to reveal what you have been hiding.”
At Alisa’s voice, the wizards’ gazes grew even more intense. Richard eventually nodded and stood up from his seat. A shimmering haze began to flicker from his body.
“Yes. I’ve let it simmer long enough.”
He scanned the room with deep, sunken eyes. The wizards of Laplace clearly recognized who the enemy was and were craving a way out. There was no better timing than this to reveal the existence of the Hor religion.
Flash!
A massive light erupted and covered the council chamber.
“What is this…”
The wizards sprang to their feet as they experienced a current of Holy Grace for the first time in their lives.
“King Alisa, you must know of it. The existence of the giant cross.”
A giant cross.
“Ho…”
Alisa spoke with an interested voice, her eyes sparkling as if she was finally certain.
“So that is indeed the antithesis of demonic energy.”
Richard responded with a smirk. An overwhelming presence began to emanate from him as he steadily released his Faith. It was the manifestation of Divine Power, made possible only after reaching the status of a Saint.
***
Bafel’s head snapped toward a certain direction.
He felt a disgusting and nauseating energy in the distance. It felt as though his very soul was being defiled.
—Eliminate… the Heresy…
—Leave not… even one…
At that moment, the Divine Voice vibrated through his entire body. Hesitation filled Bafel’s eyes, but it was only for a moment.
“Ah! My God!”
The madness pushed aside his hesitation and took root.
Sssss—
A terrible darkness swirled around his body. Soon, it exploded outward, completely covering Marx’s Fortress.
Someone who heard that gloomy cry felt ecstasy, while someone else felt terror.