Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Reunion, and Encounter (3)
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Clang-!
A wooden block the size of a man's head deflected the spear blade with an unbelievable sound.
'Well, it's an initiation exam, after all.'
If just anyone could pass, it wouldn't really deserve the name.
But even so.
'Is there really wood this tough?'
Just to be sure, I picked it up from the floor and examined it, but it was definitely wood.
It had growth rings and even bark. Yet its hardness was hard to believe for mere wood.
I looked over the block with curious eyes before picking up the spear again.
This time, a red haze began to creep up from the blade.
The result?
"Huh."
Unfortunately, it didn't slice clean through—just embedded the blade.
I stepped on the block with my foot and pulled the spear free.
Probably because the condition required a clean cut, half-severing it didn't trigger the mission clear message.
"Hoo."
So I channeled more mana into the spear than before.
The mana, which had been rippling like haze, gathered into a single point and turned into a hazy mist.
During the time the servers were linking, my Mana Operation proficiency had surpassed 70, and this was the technique I'd first succeeded at then.
I called it Condensation.
It boosted cutting power and destructive force even more than the haze form.
But the enhanced power came at a steep cost in mana consumption.
About four or five times more than maintaining the haze form.
'Thanks to that, my Mana Operation proficiency shot up quite a bit.'
I'd only focused on training Condensation for a couple of days, but it had jumped over 15%.
Putting my Mana Operation proficiency over 85% now.
I eyed the red mist cloaking the blade, then assumed my stance.
Then I thrust the spear precisely down at the black wooden block.
I felt considerable resistance.
It was similar to cutting through an iron dagger.
'Even if that's thicker...'
It meant this ebony was as tough as iron.
If I had to compare, it was like the difference between slicing a carrot and chopping a cabbage?
A bit more force, and the block split in two.
As I stared at the ebony defying my common sense with complicated eyes, messages scrolled up.
「You have passed the Palao Order's initiation exam.」
「You have joined the Palao Order.」
「You absorb the Palao Sacred Fragment. Attack Power increases by 10%.」
「You can now access the Order homepage. Access permission codename: K.」
「No Order insignia exists.」
「Receive your Order insignia.」
「You are the first Player to join one of the Seven Great Orders! Fame +70.」
「You are the first Player to join the Palao Order! Fame +10.」
'Sacred Fragment?'
I'd wondered how the buffs worked, but from the messages, it seemed divinity was involved.
From our last conversation, it was clear this game belonged to Earth's system owner.
So probably the Seven Gods had passed their divinity to the system for use in the game.
'That explains the two authorities they granted me before.'
Of course, with "fragment" attached, it wasn't full divinity.
Still, for the Seven Gods to sacrifice this much just to use us as meat shields wasn't trivial.
Even divided into fragments, sharing divinity with all of them couldn't be easy.
Just the confirmed Player count was over 100,000, and it was only going to grow.
The divinity the Seven Gods handed over to the system must be substantial.
Once I'd roughly grasped the situation, I opened my status window.
First, I wanted to figure out what this "Attack Power" meant.
It didn't take long to find the answer.
The moment I opened the status window and saw the numbers there, I confirmed the meaning of the Attack Power buff.
"500.5...?"
My Attribute Mana had increased. By 10% of 455.
"This is insane."
Thinking about it, no effect fit "Attack Power increase" better than this.
Mana was the measure of strength, after all.
Especially Attribute Mana—the unrealistic power to interfere with and defy nature.
Unlike regular mana, ways to acquire it were limited, so I'd always felt short on it.
For it to increase by 10%...
This was a truly massive effect.
'Plus, I'm still Bronze rank.'
A 10% boost at Bronze could mean even bigger gains when I promote to Silver.
The more mana I had, and the higher my rank climbed, the greater the power it'd unleash.
On top of that, Attribute Mana wasn't used in the shop.
It only ever increased, never decreased—a force primed for steady growth.
"Hoo."
Confirming the Order's support effect put my mind at ease.
Since it was a permanent skill, I was even more convinced it beat growth-type gear benefits from Palao.
Now it was time to check the rest.
First thing I did was look above my head.
'Why isn't it showing?'
I'd expected a new symbol from the join alert, but nothing.
Just in case, I opened my status window—affiliation still just Earth.
'Shouldn't it show Palao affiliation?'
What else did I need to do? Guess I'd have to go out and check that thing.
Before that, I glanced around and spotted a new icon among the row lined up on the left of my vision.
That one with the Palao Order's crest had to be the Order homepage.
Clicking it brought up a window packed with info: org chart, dedicated community, Order-exclusive missions, and more.
"Hm?"
But before I could browse, I narrowed my eyes and glared at the homepage.
There was something weird at the top of the first screen.
[1/5,000]
What the hell was this number?
* * *
"Ugh."
After K entered the prayer room, Hemar groaned and rubbed his back.
Then he realized he was still clutching the rag.
Now he thought he knew why K had given him that complicated look at first sight.
But what could he do?
'These damn spiderwebs—no matter how many I clear, they never end.'
He'd rolled up his sleeves and pitched in himself.
They'd started cleaning to reopen the east and west wings, but they were short on hands.
So even Riban and Hemar had joined the temple workers in the cleanup.
Who'd have thought something like this would happen right in the middle.
'An outsider already?'
The prophecy of the outsider left by Mephroseta's apostle in the past meant reinforcements from another world.
That fact had spread like wildfire across the continent.
The leadership of each Order, having heard the precise details from their gods, had rushed into preparations to welcome the outsiders.
The Palao Order, having lost its god to serve, was no exception.
No god to relay the news, but a orb labeled "Order Homepage" had appeared in the headquarters shrine.
It instructed that not only apostles but priests must learn to use this strange "homepage" thing.
Accordingly, summons went out to those in the Habon, Robole, and Biceta temples.
Having heard the details, Hemar pondered briefly before deciding.
-Even if no one's coming, we can't leave just Riban at the temple. I'll stay and fill the gap for now.
Riban was an apprentice priest who hadn't been formally ordained.
It made no sense to leave him alone when he couldn't even access authorities for rituals.
So Hemar had sent his disciples away and volunteered to stay.
-But Master...
-What happens next is your burden, not mine. Besides, at my age, learning anything new takes forever.
He was old now. Too old even for advisory elder duties, let alone hands-on work.
Blessed by divinity to stay healthier longer than most, but next year he'd turn a full century.
His eyes were dim, and some mornings he could barely get out of bed.
It was time to think about retirement.
In the end, Hemar's training was postponed until his disciples returned from Habon.
That was why he and Riban alone had been guarding the Habon temple.
With his resolve so firm, the Order HQ selected someone to take over Habon temple in his place.
-Biceta and Robole have their leaders... Habon's the problem.
-Hemar's age being what it is...
-How about Rashaar as successor? He's in Habon dealing with the resistance anyway.
-True, having an apostle step in would make handling any friction with outsiders smoother.
-The resistance everywhere will disband soon anyway, so if we coordinate well...
It was Rashaar, one of Palao's five remaining apostles.
-Rashaar, what do you think?
At the High Priest's question, Rashaar nodded readily.
-I'll talk to the Legion Commander and wrap up resistance duties ASAP.
A leader was settled, but they'd barely crossed one mountain.
Selecting staff to work under him took far longer than picking the leader.
They had to draw personnel from temples scattered everywhere.
Everyone was already short-staffed, so pulling people meant delays.
Hemar had only received very basic instructions in the meantime.
「The exam rooms are set as the Rest and Peace prayer rooms. If any outsider seeking to join arrives, guide them there.」
He'd gotten the news via telegram, day one, day two.
Time passed, and people from the other world arrived.
A massive orb appeared atop the World Tree cathedral in the morning, and strangers began emerging.
Hemar wasn't too shaken.
Per the info, no outsiders would come seeking the Order right away.
But as if to scold his complacency.
-Priest Hemar! Priest!
Riban came running, shrieking, with shocking news.
-An outsider wants to join, but I can't understand him!
-Can outsiders serve Palao like us?
Hemar, mid-stone polishing, bolted out right then.
He prided himself on a long life, but he'd never been this flustered.
He couldn't even remember how he'd run there.
'It shouldn't be time for outsiders yet...'
The outsider who called himself K wanted to join from day one.
Hemar guided K to the prayer room Rashaar had designated as the exam site, then paced anxiously outside the door.
His mind was a storm of noise.
Was it okay to let this outsider join the crumbling Palao Order?
'I should stop him now...'
HQ's policy was to support outsiders so they wouldn't die in vain.
But in Palao's current state, what support could they offer?
'We can't even provide potions or weapons.'
He'd get better treatment at another Order.
'If no one comes, we'll avoid embarrassment, but...'
He was used to that by now.
'Send him to an Order that can care for him better.'
Resolved to dissuade him, Hemar raised his hand to knock.
Then he felt it—the divinity of Palao, whom he'd served his whole life.
Faint, but unmistakable: the very divinity that had blessed him.
Hemar froze, hand awkwardly raised.
Right then, the prayer room door slid open smoothly.
Standing there was K, his irises rimmed in pale gold.
"Is there a limit on the number of Players who can join?"
He fired off the question the moment he stepped out.
"...Pardon?"
Caught off guard, Hemar hadn't quite caught it.
Luckily, K didn't call out his rudeness and repeated himself.
"I'm asking if there's a limit on how many outsiders can join the Order."
Sadly, Hemar had no answer for that.
"I... haven't received training from HQ yet. Just a few directives."
"I see. Guess I'll ask someone else then."
Someone else? Who would an outsider ask about Palao Order matters?
"Is Rashaar Bennett at the temple now?"
"Ah, no. But how do you know Rashaar..."
"We go back. Can't be helped if he's out."
An outsider connected to Rashaar? That sparked a memory flashing through Hemar's mind.