Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 Eyelids (14)
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***
Professor was utterly mortified.
So mortified that he couldn't contain his shame. He hurled a nearby rock, uprooted a tree, and with a single kick to the uprooted tree, turned it into a pile of kindling.
The bandits watching the scene lost their smiles in an instant.
When they saw Professor's foot—kicking a massive tree—sink halfway into it with a limp, a flicker of hope appeared on their faces. But when fresh flesh wriggled and regenerated from the vanished part, they wet their pants and began praying to their god.
“Ugh... It's him... The talking... talking mute...”
“Almighty Lo-Haram, protect me with your light, Almighty Lo-Haram, protect me with your light...”
“Euhuhuk! Uhuhuk! Uhehehng!”
Professor slowly approached the trembling bandits, who couldn't even think of fleeing.
Thump, thump, splash, splash.
“Ku, kuhuk...”
One bandit, seeing the limping Professor now walking normally, fainted on the spot.
“Hey.”
“Ugh...”
“Y-Yes! Wh-Wh-What...?”
Only when Professor was right in their faces did they grasp just how massive he was. To think they'd considered this a human. To think they'd threatened this thing with a sickle!
Professor, his face beet red, said to them,
“Didn't you hear stories like that as a kid? About how angering a wizard turns you into a frog, or minced meat?”
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: He's about to die and he's claiming to be a wizard.
- Highway Nacho Man: One of them seems off in the middle.
- Take a Look: Come to think of it, Professor's a wizard now too. Weird is normal for wizards, right?
“W-We deserve death! Death!”
“Brguruk!”
When Professor removed his hood and thrust his deeply furrowed face close, another one foamed at the mouth and passed out at the hideous sight. Only the sly-looking bandit left, who had been leading the other two.
Professor had meant to just scare them and leave, but something that guy had said earlier nagged at him.
“Hey.”
“Y-Yes! Speak, O great one!”
“I've been wondering since earlier—what's this 'that guy'? And who's this great being?”
These country bumpkin bandits might know more about the outside world than he did, having spent nearly 40 days in the count's basement. Not intentional, but with things as they were, gathering info wasn't a bad idea.
Seeing Professor's interest, a sycophantic grin spread across the bandit's face.
“Heh... No need to test me, Selector. I've only recently joined the Church of Salvation, but... Hehehe.”
“Church... of Salvation?”
‘This feels kinda fishy.’
Church of Salvation. Never heard of it. Cults springing up in chaotic times were common, but...
‘Talking mute. That's gotta be about Edeorna. A church calling talking mutes [Selectors]...’
It reeked. The stench of a massive tumor of an incident rolling in if left alone.
In cases like this—
“Hmm. Impressive devotion, but insufficient to convince me. I'll test you. How much do you know about our church?”
Nothing beat playing along and egging them on. They were too terrified to lie anyway.
The bandit nodded frantically, trembling. Thinking this was his only way to survive, he began explaining with wild gestures.
“Yes! Our Church of Salvation follows the teachings of the great prophet An Datuela, purifying body and soul in preparation for the Great Selection soon to come! Hehe.”
“The Great Selection... Do you know about that too?”
“Of course! The Selector 'White Mute' utterly crushed the corrupt royal lapdog, that armored whore Charlotte, didn't he? An Datuela says that soon, thousands, tens of thousands of mute armies will sweep this rotten land, and our mission is to accept their will without resistance—and to eliminate those who obstruct it!”
Ding-!
[Info Update - Suspicious Group: Acquired information on the 'Church of Salvation.' / Keywords: Church of Salvation, Selector, Mute Worship, Sabotage]
“I see... I understand.”
“Hehehe... Selector. Now that I've proven my faith, will I one day receive power as strong as yours?”
“Hmm...”
Professor fell into thought.
‘The church doctrine seems straightforward. Exploiting the resentment of commoners and lower classes against nobles, channeling that discontent into worship of a transcendent savior who'll fix everything. Textbook cult religion in troubled times. The issue is the object of worship: mutes.’
From what the bandit said, it went beyond mere belief—they were ready to commit terrorism for the mutes. Simple, and dangerously so.
‘Evidence that fear of mutes is spreading faster than ever, with Molludic Castle, Pellas, and now Turan fallen. Edeorna's fame is spreading like urban legend. But a group worshiping mutes? Doesn't that skip too many steps?’
Something off. He'd seen various rankers' World 3 playthroughs, but nothing like this weird event.
- professor: Hey, anyone seen something like the Church of Salvation in World 3?
- Jokasss: First I've heard. World 3 was pretty straightforward, right? From ranker clears, it seemed like slapping nobles, killing black mages, killing mutes, and done.
- Speed Wagon: Community has posts about cult-like groups like the guy described, but never one worshiping mutes. You're the first.
“First, huh. Not a pleasant word.”
Viewers would grow, sure. But 'first' meant no community info to reference. Underground groups like this popped up like weeds no matter how much you cut them down—finding and rooting out the main base was key, and zero info? Headache.
‘At least it seems early-stage now. Better uproot it while I can...’
Professor jotted a quick note in his status window: [Church of Salvation. Kill.] Then, to the bandit gazing at him expectantly:
“...Human. State your name.”
“Yes! Jesker! I processed leather for a living in Nodar Village, and...”
“Enough chatter. In pity for your piety, I wish to add your name to... An Datuela?”
“You mean An Datuela?”
“Yes! But separated from the flock by human interference, I missed where the group was to meet. Do you know anything?”
“Aah, unfortunately, I haven't earned high status in the Church of Salvation, so I don't...”
Hmm. As expected, too much to expect high-level info from a mere bandit. And 'status'? Seemed the followers had internal ranks. Bigger scale than thought, maybe.
“A-Ah! Selector! I know one thing! I do!”
Thinking his status elevation was at stake, Jesker desperately racked his brain and suddenly shrieked.
“Speak! The homeland of masterless horses! That's what the prophet's attendant said when I was baptized in the village, next to a high-ranking devotee!”
Ding-!
[Info Update - Church of Salvation: Suspicious mute-worshipping group. You've intimidated a low-ranking follower and learned one of their meeting spots! / From a high-ranking devotee's attendant - Homeland of masterless horses]
‘Yes!’
In GG, solving many clues for an event often led the system to compile them. Obviously didn't apply to crap quests like 'Find my cat' or 'Get 900 apples for my kid.' Proof this Church of Salvation had real weight.
‘No point squeezing more info. Time to wrap up?’
These ops needed proper closure to avoid backlash. Professor approached the bandit bowing on the ground.
“Human Jesker. Raise your head.”
“Y-Yes! Selector!”
Ecstatic that his name was remembered, Jesker looked up beaming.
“In pity for your piety, I grant you an important mission. Succeed, and one day you'll be Selected like me—crushing rocks barehanded, racing across the earth like a deer!”
“Ooh, oooo!!!”
Letting him go loose could spread today's 'religious experience' to other believers, exposing Professor as fake. Better send him far away, keep him busy.
‘And ideally, something useful for later.’
“Jesker, go to the city.”
“The city...? You mean Turan, where the mutes gather?”
What the hell? Suicidal?
“No. Head straight along this road to Tobrun. Entrust your family to those two idiots over there, and go as fast as possible. As fast as your lungs burst.”
“Rumor? What rumor?”
What delightful vision crossed his mind? A mischievous smile curled on Professor's lips.
“The wizards. To the wizards. The talking mute. The red mute is coming for you.”
Holding grudges long in the wasteland was unhealthy.
‘But burying it and moving on is just stupid.’
Best way to forget a grudge? Repay it. Thoroughly, until your chest cleared.
Professor's eyes blazed dangerously, recalling Isaac's cold smile.
***
“Yawn~”
Having sent Jesker off, Professor walked while flipping through his book.
“Ways to shorten incantations... Ways to shorten incantations...”
He wasn't giving up on wizardry. Too alluring a power to abandon over embarrassment.
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: That embarrassing? Come on, it's all part of growing up.
- Take a Look: Being a streamer means being an entertainer, right? You were hilarious earlier. You're doing great.
“Shut up!”
Absolutely not. No more of that. There had to be a way to shorten incantations.
‘Isaac's spell that put me to sleep at first. And Roman's against the mantis-like mute. Neither used long chants like that.’
Isaac: Sleep. Roman: Dorman's Penetrating Wave. Both activated with incantations alone, no prep.
Roman's wasn't even an origin spell. There had to be a way to skip the embarrassing chants!
Flip.
[Rapid Casting: Omission, Abbreviation, Modularization of Incantations]
“There it is!”
Baldanis! Thank you! True master of water magic!
Professor hurriedly read, as if someone might steal the book.
[...Thus, incantations reinforce imagery but severely hinder casting speed. Another major drawback: opponents hearing and identifying the spell type. To compensate in magical combat, various methods were developed.
If you're an inexperienced wizard studying this chapter just because chanting feels awkward in public, turn back now.]
“Eek-”
Who're you watching?
Professor guiltily glanced around.
[A wizard distorts the world's laws centered on themselves. Without that self-esteem, you're unworthy of the path. Embarrassed by incantations? If someone mocks an incantation—the essence of a wizard's enlightenment—blast their skull with your maximum-power spell. Perfectly legal, wizard-style.]
“Hmm... The wizard world is pretty hardcore.”
No wonder wizards were all narcissistic ego blobs. Everything had its reasons.
“Still, I need to shorten incantations.”
Embarrassment aside, in combat, shortening was essential for him.
In battle, his limbs flew off, guts twisted nonstop—screams nonstop from pain. Real, dying pain. Time to mumble about water? Mouth open for screams only. Needed concise, fast chants when mind was clear.
[...Assuming you're not the fool above. Now, on shortening incantations.
Simplest method: Chant a lot.]
“Huh?”
What? Not what I expected. This felt like... 'Study math, English, Korean thoroughly through preview and review.'
[Tracing spells borrow others' imagery. Chant relentlessly to imprint it on your soul—then that spell becomes like your own origin spell, no chant needed. You might even approach insights beyond your hierarchy. So, always chant more.]
Got it. First method: Effort. Knew that. Wanted faster, easier.
[Second: Hand seals. Varies by school, but I assigned meaning to each finger and joint, completing long rituals into single forms for instant expression. And taught it.]
‘This. Hand seals.’
Seen wizard playthroughs in community. Big spells chanted, small ones incantation-only—and hands twisted oddly.
[Imagery should be specific for magic, but familiar spells can activate via broad context recall. Hand seals modularize by imprinting context onto fingers and joints.
Example.
Raise your index finger. What does it evoke?]
Professor raised his index with his book-holding hand.
“Index? Hmm... Pointing?”
[Most associate index with 'direction.' Index symbolizes direction; folding joints divides stages. Straight: direction. First joint fold: command. Fully folded: contract. Assign meanings to fingers this way—combine without recalling, completing all imagery.]
“Ooh, looks cool?”
No clue how, though. Express incantations with hands, sorta...
[Meanings for fingers are personal. Some feel authority in thumb, others frailty. Key to hand seals: Insert corresponding imagery for fingers/joints.
No shortcuts. Just relentlessly imprint. Select frequent imagery, recall thousands, tens of thousands times daily staring at fingers.
If in a magic tower reading this, you've seen 2nd/3rd hierarchy wizards muttering endlessly. All in this training.]
Thud!
Professor closed the book.
“What was all that? It's coding.”
Long explanation boiled down to: Cram imagery till fingers trigger words instantly, combine for spells.
Professor eyed his fingers. Had to choose words carefully, burn into brain.
“Ultimately, only after learning frequent spells...”
- Take a Look: Education's designed sequential for a reason.
“Damn. No choice. Learn magic slowly.”
Professor stowed the book securely, looked up. No more study time. Ahead loomed walls etched with geometric runes.
“The wizards' city, Tobrun.”
Professor cleared magic thoughts. Regretful, but not what he needed here.
Truth was, he'd planned this detour.
If memory served, the Leadflow school's mage tower sat in the city's heart.
***