Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Riding the Tightrope on the Holy Sword (1)
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A stench assaulted my nose.
The unbearable smell had been wafting from the entrance...
Who would've thought.
That there'd be a virgin ghost inside the temple.
"Well, well? This feels kinda familiar."
Forget the guy staring at me—the problem was that banshee.
She was slinking away from my gaze because her energy felt so familiar.
Something flickered through my mind, too.
"Isn't this the stray spirit that came down from the mountain?"
And when did she snag this one...
It was absurd.
Look at those scattered jars down there.
They're imitating gold threads, but those wouldn't even hold an egg.
"You call this a talisman?"
What was written on the talisman was hilarious.
Rune letters instead of proper script.
Mana was flowing from the jars—this wasn't shamanic gear; it was magical tools.
"Now they're even imitating shamans."
I knew they weren't ordinary thugs, but to go this far.
I could tell at a glance.
The owner of that tiresome name I'd heard so often.
The face I'd seen every time I severed their ties to the priests.
"You're Berte, aren't you."
"You must be Chris."
His physiognomy was excellent.
They say you live according to your face, but this guy's was ruined.
His face was just a shell now—eaten away by the dark aura long ago.
"You were born with good connections."
"..."
"But why'd you end up living like this..."
Looking closely, a stench was coming from him too.
A musty, damp smell.
Like what you'd find in a sewer.
"What were you doing in the water?"
He flinched.
It hit the mark perfectly.
His face stiffened subtly but clearly.
"I don't know if you knew what it was... but give it all back."
The priest next to Berte stepped forward, shouting loudly.
"How insolent! If it's Chris, it must be that heretic!"
This guy was a real joker.
He should've been a merchant instead of a priest.
He seemed to have some knack for politics too.
"You'll ruin yourself with that mouth."
"You bastard! What are you waiting for? Subdue him now!"
For a guy like this, there's the perfect punishment.
"Hey, no offering fee for you. Suffer the affliction."
I burst out laughing at Old Man Klein's subtle smile.
That old man had been through a lot too...
"You showed up at just the right moment."
"Lord Chris!"
It had been a while since I'd seen this face.
Unlike Berte, he had a pure aura.
I'd given him a word last time, and he'd polished it since.
"Old Man, it's about to start... It's already begun?"
Thud—
A priest approaching me collapsed to the floor.
Comparing him to moments ago, he'd aged beyond recognition.
"...What in the world is this?"
"Their ties to the divine have been severed."
Unlike our calm selves, chaos unfolded around us.
"H-How is this..."
"The holy power...!"
"O God... why have you forsaken us..."
Holy power scattered from their bodies, filling the temple.
To the brim.
"We need to start right away."
There was one thing bothering me, but this came first.
I turned from Berte—who stood still despite the wrinkles forming—and walked toward Uncle Pope.
"I told you this place was dangerous."
"I got here before it got dangerous."
"Hoho..."
As expected, he wasn't fated for immediate peril.
I'd seen him as just a nice guy, but he was the Pope for a reason.
"I think I just heard something unbelievable... Did you say the Saintess is being born?"
"Yes."
I'd only realized it by peering into the flow of holy power.
This holy power was like a compass.
And nourishment for the Saintess too.
"I didn't know opening your mouth would mean something like this."
"Me neither."
I'd thought it meant delivering oracles for them.
Unlike them, receiving spirits was much freer for me.
But "opening your mouth" meant this.
Maybe my body possession...
"That doesn't make sense. How could such a great god descend right away."
"Hm?"
"Never mind. More importantly, we need to start quickly."
"Start what?"
I needed to begin the ritual now.
Before this holy power dispersed, I had to channel it.
The amount of holy power the Saintess received would depend on what I did now.
The question was how...
"Ah, that thing..."
It was a sword shining brilliantly.
Similar vibe to my rattle.
"Uncle, mind if I borrow that?"
"...Are you referring to the holy sword?"
"No wonder it didn't feel ordinary."
Old Man Klein, who had been directing the holy knights to restrain the priests, rushed over.
"Borrow the holy sword?"
"I need it. For the Saintess."
The old man, who seemed about to stop me, stepped back when Uncle Pope nodded.
"Urgh... You must handle it with care... It's a sacred object not to be touched lightly. Give it your full attention."
"That..."
I started to speak but stopped.
What I was about to do with it would be enough to make the old man jump in rage.
"First, get those guys out completely."
"Out...?"
"The holy power's leaking, so handle them carefully."
Precious resources.
I finished speaking quickly and picked up the holy sword from the altar.
Whoosh—
A burst of light so intense it tingled my forehead.
My spiritual eyes throbbed.
"Aluerad!"
"Yes, Lord Chris!"
"You set up outside?"
"It'll be sufficient."
"Keep that banshee secured."
One hand held the rattle.
The other, the holy sword.
I stepped forward and clashed the holy sword and rattle.
Clang—
Ting—
Spiritual energy transferred to the holy sword and began to surge.
Step—
I channeled an incantation once more and moved my hand.
This was the way.
To draw out the holy power from the temple.
I felt Uncle Pope and the old man following behind me.
Clang—
Holy power flowed out through the open door.
Far better than letting it go to the sky—I was guiding it.
Ting—
Fortunately, the holy power emanating from the holy sword was abundant.
It supported my body, which could collapse any moment.
"Hoo..."
Clang—
Outside, the darkness was lifting.
Just before dawn.
The perfect time to receive energy.
"This spot looks good."
Ting—
I clashed the rattle and holy sword once more, then gently placed the holy sword on the ground.
"...Serena."
"Ready."
A flute melody created the rhythm.
Serena seemed to be drawing out her strength—the beat was quite lively.
A proper ritual tune.
"Don't stop the prayers."
The priests who had come outside.
In their center, I closed my eyes, and my senses descended.
I felt the rattle, and the holy sword clearly.
And my mouth opened.
Swoosh—
With my words, the holy sword lifted its head.
Handle braced on the ground, it rose obliquely toward the rising sun.
Blade pointed to the sky.
"Been a while since I rode the tightrope."
The holy sword's posture was quite low.
Almost lying on the ground.
Perfect for mounting.
Ting—
My shoes slipped off, baring my feet.
"Hey...! What are you doing right now?"
Ting—
My bare foot touched the holy sword's blade.
The razor-sharp edge felt icy blue.
And I stepped up onto it.
"B-Barefoot on the blade...!"
"No mana or holy power detected!"
"What is..."
Amid the murmurs, I balanced my body.
Perfectly standing atop the holy sword.
Ting—
I bounced once, and the rattle rang.
The sword beneath my feet seemed to tremble with my body.
"Finally, a ritual worthy of the name."
It felt comfortable.
Welcoming someone.
A god descending.
Ting—
My body leaped repeatedly into the air, traversing the blade.
Each time my feet touched the holy sword, the holy power in the sky sharpened into focus.
Hummm—
My soles drummed the blade.
The holy sword vibrated in response.
Each time, the scattered holy power gathered in one place.
"Prayers...! Don't stop, I said!"
Those who had been dazed clasped their hands at my words.
And holy power burst forth from them all at once.
I launched even that into the sky, gathering it together.
If the sun were in the sky's center, that would be the spot.
Ting—
The holy sword, pointing toward the sunrise, began to lift its head.
The angle steepening.
But it felt as comfortable as flat ground.
Because I rode the sword, and the sword bore me.
"She'll come out beautifully!"
Fleeting scenes flashed by.
Hair color like mine.
But not white—silvery with luster.
"Too bad her eyes won't see well..."
A face as white as her silver hair.
Even the eyes set there were silver.
Unable to see ahead.
Ting—
Suddenly, the sky brightened as the sun rose.
The holy sword, pointing at the sun, stood rigid, directing at the sky's holy power.
"Tightrope's too narrow!"
A vertical holy sword.
Only the tip to stand on.
Too cramped for frolicking.
I alternated feet, stomping and leaping on the tip.
Ting—
The moment the sword's tip touched the mass of holy power.
Holy power erupted, forming a stem.
Toward where the Saintess was.
Ting—
"...To where the Saintess is..."
Watching the path form, I realized.
The world had tilted sideways.
"Chris...!"
Serena's face covered the sky.
Beside her, Aluerad, Uncle Pope, Old Man Klein.
"Hey!"
"Lord Chris!"
The ground felt hard, so no blood, I guess.
The holy sword's effect, perhaps.
A clean faint-out felt a bit welcome.
I forced my mouth open.
To stop what shouldn't happen.
My wrecked body made my voice weak.
"...Don't."
"Pardon?"
"...Don't... do it."
"Lord Chris! Don't speak! You're in bad shape!"
Eventually, darkness closed in.
Unable to finish saying not to bow.