Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Gebra
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Gebra
“The War Church—and being invited to the Union Main Temple, no less—is an honor beyond your imagination.”
Pound, oblivious to Yuri’s mood, continued with a stern expression.
“The War Church has been watching your movements alongside Yuryong and the Dark Flower. Not long ago, you collaborated with the Sword Dragon of the Orsia Family to assassinate the bishop of the Evil God and played a major role in purging the diocese. And this time, you made a significant contribution to inflicting a fatal wound on Aghwi, one of the Evil God’s saints.”
In the decades since the Evil God and its cultists began rampaging in earnest, no one had achieved such feats in so short a time.
The greatest accomplishment was confronting the saint Aghwi and forcing him to flee with injuries so severe he could never recover.
The identities of the Evil God’s saints were not clearly known. No one even knew how many there were. There might even be saints who had been killed in secret, but without a proper grasp of their roster, such speculation was pointless.
But Aghwi was a “known” saint. His true name and identity were unknown, but the moniker “Aghwi” was recognized.
“I can’t say much more, but if you go to the Union Main Temple—well, you’ll have to undergo separate trials there, but there’s a high chance you’ll receive ‘baptism.’”
“Hah.”
Ha-ryeong’s eyebrow twitched upward slightly. Allen looked surprised as well.
“Baptism without even serving as an apprentice?”
“When skill and achievements are already proven, what need is there for an apprenticeship?”
“Hmm, looks like your visit wasn’t just to confirm the situation. The War Church seems eager for those two as well?”
Allen asked with a sly smile, but Pound clamped his lips shut without responding.
[Is receiving baptism a big deal?]
[Baptism itself is impressive, but baptism at the Union Main Temple is truly extraordinary.]
Ha-ryeong replied to the subtle transmission.
[Union, the holy city of the religious alliance, houses the main temples of various churches. Just as the Order Church was exiled from Union and secluded in some unknown holy site, a sanctuary is a place to be cherished, protected, and hidden.]
Yuri still didn’t quite get it. Why hide a sanctuary?
[Don’t be foolish. The reason it’s a sanctuary is because it’s directly connected to the god. What if cultists or enemies raided it after we advertised its location?]
Ha-ryeong clicked her tongue and continued the transmission.
[The main temples in Union are the symbols and headquarters of each church. For them to invite outsiders like us and grant baptism there is unprecedented.]
Baptism wasn’t easy to receive, but if one had sufficient qualifications, it could be obtained from a high priest at any temple.
But baptism at the Union Main Temple was like receiving it from the Vatican Pope on Earth.
[And the War Church is a particularly insular one. Unlike the Earth Church or Fertility Church, you must have upheld the faith from childhood to rise from lay believer to priest, then prove faith, skill, and achievements to become a full priest.]
In other words, this insular War Church was extending a love call to Yuri and Ha-ryeong.
For a possessor like Yuri to enter the War Church’s main temple was like crawling straight into a tiger’s maw, not just its den. He had taken the Reverse Heaven Passage from the Mabeld family’s report to overcome worst-case scenarios, but packing insurance items was nothing compared to the risks of actually going for baptism.
After a brief silence, Yuri spoke.
“It’s an offer far too generous for those as lacking in faith as us.”
Fortunately, he had an excuse to refuse. What could they do about a lack of faith?
“Faith blooms fastest when you think it’s too late.”
Pound didn’t back down. He fixed his bulging eyes intently on Yuri and Ha-ryeong.
“If you read the scriptures daily on the journey to Union, true faith will surely take root.”
“We’re grateful, but baptism feels too soon for us.”
“It’s not guaranteed. Why not visit the main temple first and decide then?”
“We have our own schedule.”
“Surely that schedule doesn’t outweigh the will of the War Church?”
Even after three refusals, Pound didn’t yield—in fact, his final words dripped with blatant arrogance. Yuri felt his patience reaching its limit and composed his expression.
“I’m sorry.”
“Not just anyone gets such an offer.”
“I’ll live diligently so I can receive it next time.”
It was a cheeky response, but Pound wasn’t sensitive enough to read the youthful petulance in it. He shook his head in disbelief.
“If the conversation’s over, would you mind leaving?”
Before Yuri could issue the eviction, Allen cut in. Gazing at Pound with a gentle smile, he continued slowly.
“You’ve heard the statement on the incident four days ago and our response to the offer.”
“...”
“We’ve kept you waiting this long, so now I need to attend to my business. Sorry, but this concerns our Anvil Church as well. You’ll have to step out, outsider Pound.”
“I just discussed War Church matters.”
“Then you should’ve told us to leave earlier.”
Pound’s shoulders trembled at the retort. He stared at Yuri and Ha-ryeong with lingering reluctance, then finally clamped his lips and stood.
“Whenever you’re near Union... ahem, if you have business there, visit the War Church Main Temple.”
“Yes, understood.”
He replied, but had no intention of going. As Pound left, dripping disappointment from his gaze, Allen shuddered and grumbled.
“Ugly bastard sure talks a lot. Don’t you think?”
The sudden hate speech popped out of nowhere.
“Now, with the intruder gone, let’s talk. As I introduced earlier, I’m Allen Surface of the Anvil Church.”
Allen beamed brightly at Yuri and Ha-ryeong.
“Though we met by chance like this, I’ve actually known of you for a while, Yuri.”
“Because of Ox God Head?”
He hadn’t heard details, but according to Pound, Allen was the one who made weapons for Ox God Head.
“Yes. I’ve known that lunatic for a long time, so rumors about him inevitably catch my ear.”
“You two go way back?”
“I made his signature poison weapon, the Demon Blade Sphere.”
So Ox God Head’s Demon Blade Sphere wasn’t just an iron ball.
‘Of course. No ordinary iron ball could withstand the Absolute Realm Lord’s kick.’
It looked plain other than its sturdiness. Must have hidden functions.
“That... weird outfit—was that made by you too, Allen?”
“Outfit? Oh... the white one? Yes, he begged so much I made it to spec. But I only made the first one, so what he’s wearing now he got elsewhere.”
As he spoke, Allen lifted the cloak over his shoulders and reached inside. Thud. From the cloak’s dark, rippling interior emerged a large bag.
“The War Church covets Aghwi’s items, but our Anvil Church doesn’t.”
“I heard one of them was an Anvil Church relic.”
“It is one of the relics our high priest crafted centuries ago under an oracle from the Blacksmith God, blessed by the divine. But it left our church long ago, so it’s no concern. The value of such items lies in their practical use, not hoarding or display.”
It had an even grander backstory than expected. Yuri couldn’t help swallowing hard.
Whether Aghwi’s bracelet was exactly what he desperately wanted remained unknown, but a relic with such origins could be put to good use regardless.
Click.
The bag on the table opened.
“...”
Yuri’s eyes, sparkling with anticipation, wavered slightly. He had spotted Aghwi’s neatly folded underwear in the corner of the open bag.
“That underwear isn’t the Anvil Church relic, is it?”
“Of course not. Though... it’s not just any underwear. It’s utterly tear-proof, stretches and shrinks to fit the body, antibacterial... you know, various enchantments for convenience and hygiene. Always feels brand new, yes.”
For Aghwi, who transformed into massive beasts via shape-shifting magic, stretchy, unbreakable underwear was essential no matter how big he got.
“I don’t need that.”
But Yuri didn’t. No matter how fresh it stayed, it was still used. If it had buffs, maybe, but just convenience and hygiene enchantments? Pass.
Besides the underwear, there was Aghwi’s robe, gold necklace, gold bracelet, and the jagged-mouthed mask he’d worn.
“I’ll explain each one... but the relic’s tricky. Ah, don’t worry. You’ll know its power once you wear it.”
Allen stood. Yuri felt a pang of regret. In a game, you’d hover the cursor for stats, but reality didn’t work that way.
Typically, unknown items or relics went to appraisers or Anvil Church priests. “You’ll know when you wear it” was fine, but specifics first would’ve been better.
“First, this bracelet—one of the Anvil Church relics.”
The bracelet Yuri anticipated most came first.
“Its name is Gebra.”
Jackpot.
Yuri suppressed the urge to leap up and cheer.
*
“Hmm.”
Allen Surface paused as he left the Mabeld mansion, glancing back.
Beyond the firmly shut grand gates, Yuri’s face from earlier flickered in his mind.
“Can’t tell.”
Allen stroked his chin and muttered. Seeing them stubbornly refuse the War Church invitation made him think maybe.
With rising fame and overflowing talent, even without being a possessor, they’d shun joining the War Church.
If he knew what martial arts they used, he could guess, but unless they boasted like Ox God Head, hiding cultivated arts was basic.
Especially for someone like Yuri, unaffiliated and self-taught, secrecy was paramount.
‘Ox God Head praised him back then, so I wondered.’
No, if it really was Brain Cloud, Ox God Head wouldn’t have stopped at praise.
Cat Panties and Padrip Immunity.
Allen knew how much Ox God Head longed for fellow Earthlings.
According to separate intel Ox God Head obtained, Cat Panties was already somewhere in this world, but Padrip Immunity’s possession was unconfirmed.
‘If he hasn’t shown up like this, maybe he quit after giving up first place?’
Died in an accident or illness on Earth, perhaps. Or maybe possessed and hiding well.
Many idiots suspected Padrip Immunity as an apostle of the Evil God—even rumors circulated among cultists.
But Allen never thought Padrip Immunity was an Evil God apostle. Just a jobless gamer glued to the screen daily.
‘Next time I see him, I’ll ask.’
Though two years ago, the praise suggested a strong impression. The Ox God Head Allen knew didn’t lightly praise anyone, especially juniors.
“He won’t croak in Bernok, will he?”
Allen muttered softly and turned. A twinge of worry, but no plans to help Ox God Head in Bernok.
Allen’s wish was to live leisurely, peacefully, happily, and easily in this world with his handsome face.
So he had no desire to fight cultists, swear to slay the Evil God at risk of life, or pray to the Goddess of Order.
‘But learning Aghwi massacred the Raspeon family pisses me off.’
Leisurely and peacefully.
For that, power and backing were needed.
When he first arrived and pondered his second life—how to gain power and backing—Allen naturally thought of the Raspeon swordsmanship.
‘If not for those bastards, I’d have learned Raspeon swordsmanship.’
But before he could act, the Raspeon family was wiped out.
That forced a major revision of his initial life plan.
So he chose the Anvil Church. It offered respect anywhere, good money, low danger, and no issue even if discovered as a possessor.
It turned out he enjoyed crafting divine arms and had talent, rising to artisan before he knew it.
‘Actually, better this way.’
In the carriage, Allen pulled out a mirror and admired his face.
The face he saw daily since possession never got old. Gazing lovingly at his reflection, he murmured.
“Lucky to possess this body.”
Ox God Head always talked of returning to Earth when they met, but Allen was different.
He was overjoyed by the possession and never wanted to go back to Earth.
*
Aghwi’s necklace bore high-level subspatial magic—far superior to common spatial expansion on pouches or bags.
The necklace itself linked to the sub-space, allowing instant access to stored items without opening pouches.
“You’re really giving this to me?”
“Yes.”
Hearing the explanation, Yuri thought it suited Ha-ryeong perfectly.
She usually stored hidden weapons in sleeve or waist pouches enchanted with spatial expansion. But in fierce combat, precisely retrieving the right one was cumbersome.
“I like it.”
“Yes?”
“Not enough to say I love it.”
Ha-ryeong, her usual blank face, spun before Yuri and lifted her bobbed hair with one hand, exposing her nape.
“...?”
Snowy white nape. Yuri blinked and tilted his head. No clue why the sudden pose.
“What are you doing?”
“That’s what I want to ask.”
“Idiot Yuri, going to swap the necklace for snacks? Hurry and clasp it on.”
Why not do it herself? Yuri thought, but approached as told, necklace in hand. Clasping for another was a first; he felt oddly tense.
Click.
Easier than expected. Ha-ryeong bumped back against Yuri’s chest once, then caressed the necklace.
“Oh.”
Her hand plunged into empty space.
“Oooooh.”
Pulling out a large gem from the sub-space, Ha-ryeong’s eyes widened.
“This gem’s mine too?”
“We share it.”
“Joint property?”
“Yeah... sure.”
As Ha-ryeong transferred her pouch weapons to the sub-space, Yuri checked the bag’s other contents.
Gebra alone was a huge win, but the robe and mask were excellent too.
The robe had top-tier defensive enchantments—unique-grade gear in game terms. Though it hadn’t blocked Orca’s magic.
“Take this.”
“Me?”
Estor blinked at the tossed cloak.
“Why give it to me?”
“Estor, don’t question too much. The ragged robe Yuri wears has deep backstory. Our pathetic Yuri can’t bear to discard it.”
Ha-ryeong teased while polishing and storing weapons. Yuri clamped his mouth shut without retorting.
The jagged mask suited an Evil God saint rampaging incognito. Its perception hindrance magic suppressed presence just by wearing it; add stealth, and it could fool even high-realm eyes.
‘That’s how he appeared in the expo center.’
Must be this mask’s power. Essential for Yuri, who might face pursuit anytime.
‘Pair it with the Veil of Deception, and even Absolute Realm Lord eyes might be fooled.’
Like skills, items had combo synergies. Slight revulsion at wearing Aghwi’s mask, but wash it clean.
“Thump thump.”
Finally, the golden bracelet, Gebra.
As Yuri lifted it, Ha-ryeong teased. Ignoring her, Yuri opened it.
-Gebra is a bracelet worn on the right arm.
Symbolizing strength.
Recalling Allen’s words, he clasped it on his right wrist.
-Thump.
A loud sound rang out, and his vision blurred.