No Return Until Graduation
The way out of the temple turned out to be surprisingly simple.
There was no need to even pass through the fields.
The moment I thought, I'm getting out of here, I suddenly found myself dropped right in the middle of the forest.
"Whoa... so it hides the way back too, huh?"
I let out a hollow chuckle and looked around.
The temple wasn't even visible on the horizon. Not a single glimpse of the fields I'd worked so hard on.
I was planning to sneak back if I got sick of academy life...
Playing dirty by hiding the return path like that.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
Right then, a burst of pure white light exploded in front of me, and something thudded to the ground.
"...A signpost?"
[NO ENTRY UNTIL GRADUATION]
[RESTRICTED ACCESS]
[DOOR OPENS ONLY DURING BREAKS]
Playing dirty!
At least I could come back during breaks.
Guess that's something.
I already wanted to go back.
I fiddled with the rosary around my neck and scanned the surroundings.
It already felt daunting.
Which way should I go...?
Arcana had said that once I stepped out, fate would guide me.
But how the hell was I supposed to know that?
I at least needed to know how to act, right?
"Guess I'll start moving. Better than standing still."
Wandering around wouldn't tax my stamina much anyway.
I tightened the strap of the bundle on my back for good measure.
That's when it happened.
- Kieeeek!
A chilling screech echoed through the forest, sending shivers down my spine.
For the first time, I felt raw killing intent and malice, goosebumps erupting all over my body.
With a hardened expression, I stared in the direction the cry had come from.
A monster?
Spawn of the 'Calamity' that periodically ravaged the continent.
Humanity's eternal enemies—like cockroaches that multiplied no matter how many times you exterminated their nests.
I'd only heard about them; this was my first time facing one for real.
Sure, I'd lived as a priest of the War God, but I'd spent those 17 years quietly in the temple.
Of course, as a priest of the War God, I wasn't weak by any means. The chill I felt was more terror of the unknown.
Guess I'll check it out.
Backing down now would bruise my pride as a man.
I brushed down my prickled arms and headed toward the source of the screech.
Clang, clang!
Amid the clashing of spears and swords came snippets of conversation and shouts.
Open clearing.
Hiding in the underbrush, I observed the fighters in the clearing.
Soldiers?
Even in this dire situation, they maintained good formation, handled their spears well, and wore proper armor.
Didn't look like a ragtag band of mercenaries.
Slash!
The one who seemed to be the captain sliced through a goblin and bellowed,
"Don't break formation! Reinforcements are coming soon!"
"Captain! Hanson's wound is too severe!"
"Hold on just a bit longer! The commander will send backup any moment! You can't seriously be thinking of dropping to a bunch of these goblins, right? If so, get the hell out now!"
"Kuhahaha! I'm already out!!"
"Then stick with us this time!! I'll reattach it myself when we get home!"
The conversation was a bit... off, but the danger was clear.
"Guess I should help."
The soldiers were battling a horde of goblins.
Unlike the ones I'd heard about, these wore armor and gripped decent weapons.
Two things stood out.
First, the madness in their eyes. They charged without regard for their lives.
Second, the presence of a leader.
- Kieeeek!
A goblin at the rear, guarded by several others, howled and waved the staff in its hand.
Wearing a robe too... shaman?
Or maybe the boss.
Either way, it was clearly controlling the other goblins.
Can I take it out from here?
Fortunately, no goblins were on my side.
The shaman was half-hidden in the brush at the edge of the clearing, protected by its guard knights.
Long-range options...
Nothing useful in my bundle for a weapon.
I scanned nearby.
A hefty rock caught my eye.
This work?
I took a deep breath and gripped it tight.
I focused my eyes and clenched my fist around the stone.
Miss, and I'm fucked.
I wasn't dumb enough to charge in unarmed.
Arcana would've called me a coward, but without knowing my full capabilities, it was only natural.
But leaving them be meant those soldiers would die.
"Huuuu..."
I set my bundle aside and slowly assumed position.
I mimicked a throwing stance I'd seen somewhere before.
In that instant, information flooded my mind.
How much force to use.
The trajectory.
The proper form.
Using that data, I visualized it mentally.
My body perfectly replicated the image in my head.
"Hup!"
The stone whistled through the air as it left my hand.
Hit.
I knew the moment it flew.
Splat!
The goblin shaman's head exploded on impact.
Brains and blood splattered the nearby goblins.
"Kiiik!"
"Wh-what?!"
Without their leader, the goblins faltered.
The frenzied horde hesitated in fear, while the shaman's guards went berserk.
- Kieek!
But for the soldiers, it was a golden opportunity.
"The shaman's down! Push them now!"
"Waaaaah!"
Fighting goblins suddenly aware of their own mortality was easy.
Spears pierced goblin skulls.
Terrified by their comrade's instant death, the goblins cowered and fled.
"Th-they're running...!"
"Regroup and check the wounded! Alert ones, stand guard. One of you, report back to command! Don't pursue the goblins! It's not worth the losses!"
The soldiers quickly reformed.
I felt a swell of pride.
This is why I believe.
That throw was the War God's Blessing.
It enhanced every physical action.
Plus, my body had inherited my predecessor's.
Not fully, so only High Knight level, but still.
"Guess I should join them..."
- Kieeeek!
A few goblins breaking from the pack bolted into the forest—straight toward me.
Ah, shit.
Of all places, my direction.
I clicked my tongue and tried to back away, but they were faster.
Their eyes turned bloodshot, madness surging again.
Another shaman nearby?
That one must not have been the boss.
No choice now—had to fight.
The goblin leaped with drooling jaws agape, axe raised high.
- Kieek!
I ducked. The axe whistled over my head. I slammed my fist into its exposed gut.
"Guh!"
The motion flowed naturally, no thought needed—my body moved on its own.
I grabbed the airborne goblin's leg and smashed it into a tree.
The trunk splintered. The goblin shattered like an axe proxy. Only a dangling leg remained in my grip.
Hot blood. I exhaled sharply and tossed the severed limb aside.
Snatched the dropped hand axe. Eyed the two charging goblins.
First weapon in hand, but I knew exactly how to wield it.
Slash.
I swung horizontally. The axe caught the goblin's neck with a thunk, half-severing it as I slammed it down.
Its neck split like cracked wood.
A hand axe arced toward my head from behind. I tilted aside. It missed, and I grabbed the goblin's head, smashing it into the ground.
Crunch.
Hot blood coated my hands.
"Huuuu..."
I stood, breath ragged.
Blood surged hot through my veins.
This is...
The power of the War God?
My first real fight since birth.
Couldn't spar after my predecessor died young. Only learned divine power control and plowing fields.
Stronger than I thought.
Actually fighting revealed my capabilities better.
I could take stronger foes.
But no proper weapon, no need to dive into the horde. I cooled my head.
Might be more shamans around...
Wiped my hands with a cloth from my bundle and shouldered it again.
Clothes' bloodstains would need washing later.
Ah, damn. These won't come out easy.
Irritated by the late realization, I kicked a rock.
Then, a soldier with hawk eyes spotted me and shouted,
"Who goes there!"
"..."
"Hands up and come out! Or we'll treat you as an enemy!"
I raised my hands and stepped slowly from the brush.
The wounded bandaging themselves, the guards, and the captain all glared.
"Who are you?"
To the soldier's sharp question, I answered plainly.
"Just a passerby."
Ah, should I have said priest?
His suspicion deepened. He approached spear-ready, voice edged.
"Speak properly. Your status, why you're in this forest, how you ended up here, your purpose, that blood all over you, what's in that bundle—explain."
I understood their wariness.
Nearly died to berserk goblins and shamans; they'd be on edge.
"I'm a priest. I live nearby, that's why the forest. Heard the noise while wandering, came to check. Blood's from goblins jumping me. Bundle's my stuff."
"Proof you're a priest."
"Toss me a goblin?"
He hurled a barely alive one my way.
I channeled divine power into it. The goblin shrieked, consumed by the clashing energy.
"N-no chant...!"
"D-Divine power!"
Awe filled their eyes.
The badly leg-wounded soldier staggered to his feet in shock. I shrugged.
"That proof enough?"
"A p-priest!"
The soldier dropped his spear, knelt.
Hands clasped in prayer, he trembled.
"F-forgive us! To speak so boldly to God's apostle...!"
"It's fine. You were just doing your job."
I patted his tense shoulder and glanced around.
They... fear priests?
Their gazes held not respect, but dread.