Chapter 18: Divine Power (1)

Mana Route.

It is the path through which mana circulates in the body.

Each race has different routes and characteristics.

For example, orcs have thick and firm mana routes, making them highly suited as warriors.

Elves, a magical race, have thin but incredibly elastic routes—perfectly optimized for weaving complex spells.

Humans are somewhere in between.

You could say they’re versatile with few limitations, or, put bluntly, mediocre at everything.

But still, humans became the dominant race on the continent.

Because they achieved a balance between martial prowess and magic.

Even powerful orc warriors couldn’t do much in front of magic, and even the archmage elves couldn’t block a knight’s sword.

‘But this…!’

I stared blankly at my body.

My mana route had changed.

It was thicker than an orc’s, and more elastic than an elf’s.

A mana route that maximized the advantages of humanity.

There was no doubt—this was something developed by Vallach.

Had he worked on me while I was unconscious?

Otherwise, I couldn’t explain it.

I had been planning to beg for it when unlocking the Mark of Trial…

But he had gifted it to me ahead of time.

Mana, now activated, flowed rapidly through the new route.

It felt just like the first time I experienced mana.

“If I circulate faith through this new route…”

I was still inexperienced in using divine power.

So far, I had just been brute-forcing it out.

Now, a solution had appeared.

“Once we arrive, I’ll practice a bit.”

***

How long had it been since we left Snowfall?

With the sun down, we decided to camp at a suitable location.

By tomorrow, we would arrive at Bartenberg.

“Is anything uncomfortable, my lord?”

Aaron handed me a warm cup of tea.

I shook my head and sat in front of the crackling campfire.

I opened my status window:

[Hor (Richard)]

[Lowest-tier Divinity]

[Church Level – 1]

• Believers: 12
• Faith: 5,136
• Powers: [Appoint Follower] [Receive Prayer]
• Unlocked Titles: [Lowest-tier Evangelist], [Lowest-tier Holy Knight], [Lowest-tier Priest]

It seemed Snowfall’s believers had been praying diligently—

In just two days, my Faith reserves had grown considerably.

Where I used to get about 180 Faith a day, I was now receiving 1,400–1,600 daily.

“The number of believers really is a cheat.”

Honestly, I wanted to travel the continent just recruiting believers.

Shifting my focus, I checked the “Unlocked Titles” section.

Since everything was labeled “Lowest-tier,” it was obvious there were higher levels.

I touched the screen.

• [Lowest-tier Evangelist: 1/5]
• [Lowest-tier Holy Knight: 0/3]
• [Lowest-tier Priest: 0/2]

“Hmm…”

I glanced at Aaron.

How amazing would it be if he became a Holy Knight?

“If he could just learn aura, he’d be unstoppable.”

Aura is the hallmark of a true knight.

It’s what separates intermediates from elites.

Especially in Aaron’s case.

He possessed a rare innate mana trait.

The type of person born with one in a million odds.

Later, knights called Aaron’s aura “Piercing Aura.”

It could pierce even the opponent’s aura—a bizarre and terrifying ability.

It was so unique that it was extremely hard to control.

“Is something wrong?”

Aaron finally seemed to notice my gaze.

“You looked deep in thought.”

Aaron had been distracted all day—no, ever since the battle with the Death Knight.

He looked down at his palm and finally spoke.

“My mana route has changed.”

“…What?”

Did I hear that right?

I blinked, dumbfounded.

Could it be… Vallach worked on Aaron, too?

“Is it thicker, or maybe more elastic?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

So it was true.

I was speechless.

“Vallach, you generous bastard…”

I had no idea he would go this far.

He must have altered Aaron’s body while we were both unconscious.

Aaron bowed slightly.

“I’ve been itching to start training… I’m sorry, I zoned out without meaning to.”

“No… no, it’s fine.”

I swallowed hard.

‘At this rate, he’s not just a spear demon—he’s a spear god.’

Aaron might reach elite-level status far faster than I had expected.

He would become incomparably strong.

‘I had to secure him.’

I felt greedy.

I wanted him as my own.

Now, before his talent fully bloomed, was the chance.

Just as I was about to speak—

“Young master.”

“Hm?”

Aaron’s eyes were burning with passion.

“There’s much I want to say and hear from you… but let me ask this first.”

“If I become a high-ranking knight… would you accept me as your personal knight?”

…What was this sudden confession?

It felt like a love confession from someone who had been secretly in love all along.

He was offering himself to me.

And of course, I would welcome him with open arms.

“I’d accept you even right now.”

Aaron smiled in relief—for the first time, he truly smiled.

“I still feel too weak right now.”

My chest felt warm and fuzzy.

When I first met him, he clearly disliked me…

But now, he was turning into a loyal knight.

It made me proud, though his sudden change in attitude felt a bit off.

We had grown close over time, sure,

But not close enough for him to pledge personal loyalty.

Compared to other Bartenberg heirs, I was still weak.

My second brother, already considered the heir, had reached Sword Master level five years ago.

And Moritz, the third… well, he was just whatever.

‘Still, I decided not to question him.’

Why ask and risk changing his mind?

In times like these, silence is golden.

“No take-backs. Once you become a high-ranking knight, you’re mine.”

A firm promise—And since knights are bound by honor, he wouldn’t betray me after a vow like that.

Aaron agreed without hesitation.

A double blessing.

***

The next afternoon.

Back in Bartenberg, I collapsed onto my bed.

It had only been a week away, but it felt like paradise.

Still, I pulled myself together.

“Time to start practicing.”

I closed my eyes and circulated faith through my expanded mana route.

A radiant light leaked from my body.

“Much more efficient this way.”

Instead of brute-forcing, circulating along the route gave better results.

10 Faith yielded the effect of 12 or 13.

But that still wasn’t enough.

The fact that light was leaking meant it could be sensed by those tainted by demonic energy.

“There must be another way.”

As I kept circulating faith and pondering…

Faith brushed against my mana heart.

“Mana insensitivity is improving.”

10 Faith absorbed by the heart.

I now had around 6,500 Faith.

It seemed enough to cure the condition.

“Alright, let’s break these chains first.”

I injected 100 Faith into the heart.

“Mana insensitivity is improving.”

No real changes yet.

“Then how about 1,000!”

A huge sum of Faith—something I couldn’t even imagine using days ago.

Would even that not work?

“Mana insensitivity is improving.”

“Still not cured?!”

Something was off.

I had expected a quick fix, but it seemed to need way more.

“Isn’t this basically cured already?”

I closed my eyes and tried to sense the surrounding mana.

For someone with mana insensitivity, I was doing surprisingly well.

Still, carrying around that label was annoying.

“Fine… another 1,000.”

At this rate, I was gaining over 1,400 Faith a day.

I clenched my eyes shut and poured it in.

“Mana insensitivity is improving.”

What the hell? I looked down at my chest.

“Fine then—let’s see how much you can take.”

Even though I hated wasting so much Faith, I couldn’t ignore it.

When I finally invested 2,000 Faith, something changed.

“Wha—what the?!”

The mana heart, now stuffed with 2,000 Faith, went wild.

Mana began to circulate rapidly,

Faith activated all on its own—consuming everything I had left.

“Stop! No! Wait!”

But the mana heart didn’t listen.

Every bit of Faith I had was sucked away in seconds.

As I sat in shock—A system message appeared.

[Mana Insensitivity Cured.]

[Your Mana Heart and Mana Route now embrace faith.]

[You have acquired the trait: Divine Power.]

I raised my hand and summoned mana.

A white glow sparkled.

A rare trait across the continent.

“…Haha.”

Now, I had become one of them too.