Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Heinrich (1)
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"You may pass."
"Thank you. Have a good one!"
Heinrich exchanged greetings with the guards at the outer walls of the capital before stepping inside.
Thanks to Heinz preparing everything he needed in advance, he was able to enter without any issues.
'Still, I can't help but wonder if it's really okay to come here...'
He had his doubts, especially since he'd casually run into a True Blood vampire near the capital.
'But the Church of the Main God only has one temple in the Thalia Kingdom. There are shrines and prayer halls scattered around, but...'
If he were aiming to become a priest or holy warrior, a local shrine would have sufficed. But to pursue the special class of Holy Knight, he had to come to the temple.
Going to a temple in another kingdom would take too much time.
He wasn't even certain his planned approach would work.
'I'll give it a quick try, and if it doesn't pan out, I'll find another way.'
Conveniently, the Avatar's death cooldown had ended, allowing him to create a new one. He could leave Earth matters to that one.
This setup let Heinrich focus entirely here.
Asking directions along the way, he made his way to the Church of the Main God's temple.
It was a grand structure on the outskirts of the capital.
The stage for Holy Knight Heinrich's great first step!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'There was a time I thought that...'
Joining the Church of the Main God hadn't been difficult.
He'd gone to the temple, donated his entire fortune as a massive offering, and declared his aspiration to become a Holy Knight.
A month had passed since then.
Now, he was a trainee undergoing holy warrior training at the facilities outside the temple.
"Hey~ Heinrich! Training's done for the day. Wanna grab a drink?"
"Ah, Max. Sorry, but I can't for a while. Exams are coming up soon."
"Always so diligent. Makes sense—you said you wanna be a Holy Knight, right? Keep at it. And if you make it, don't forget about me."
Max chuckled heartily and waved as he walked off.
Heinrich watched his retreating figure with a sigh before heading to the temple library.
Combat training came with studies too, and there was no end to what he had to learn.
'Well, becoming a knight isn't supposed to be easy.'
Knights were practically a noble class to begin with.
Holy Knights weren't much different.
And since he hadn't even been a believer from the start, it was even tougher.
To become a Holy Knight, he first had to master the basics, officially become a holy warrior, then get recommended and selected as a knight candidate...
The church's rituals, doctrines, history, hymns—everything was unfamiliar, giving him a headache from all the sudden studying.
The bar for holy warrior wasn't set too high, but he had to think beyond that.
'Still, aside from doctrines and such, just learning combat techniques professionally is worth it. Once I pick them up, they'll serve me well later.'
He couldn't always rely on other Avatars whenever something came up.
He needed basic combat skills to prepare for when things didn't go his way.
Plus, Heinrich's Martial Genius trait made him a natural at picking up fighting techniques.
'...But first, doctrine studies for now...'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ One day, amid his intense training and studies, the temple suddenly grew rowdy.
"What's going on all of a sudden?"
Finishing his solo training, he headed to the temple entrance. There, amid the murmuring crowd, stood Max.
"Max, it's extra noisy today. What's the deal? Know anything?"
"Oh, Heinrich! Perfect timing! They say the Archbishop Latius and Paladin Tuskin from headquarters are here!"
Looking where he pointed, Heinrich saw a group entering the temple depths.
And at their lead was a familiar face.
Though they probably didn't know him.
'...That guy's?'
A middle-aged knight in pristine white armor emblazoned with the Church of the Main God's emblem.
The one who'd led the Holy Knights in cornering Hans.
Come to think of it, a few of the Holy Knights following him looked familiar too.
"Apparently, Archbishop Latius and Sir Tuskin from headquarters—who lead our temple's Holy Knight Order and Holy Warrior Corps—returned after some mission."
'...I think I know what that mission was.'
Probably to catch Hans.
But it'd been over two months since that clash with the church, and they'd only just returned...
'No way they've been chasing Hans this whole time?'
Since that day, he'd only summoned Hans to Outerica briefly.
Just to move subspatial goods to Earth.
Once unsummoned, no tracking should have been possible, yet their persistence was terrifying.
"Some of the senior holy warriors who went with them are back too. Wanna go say hi?"
Hoping for info, he followed Max, but they couldn't meet.
The weary travelers from a long journey needed rest, and meetings were barred for security.
But the disappointment didn't last...
The next day, a senior holy warrior gathered the trainees and announced:
"Soon, those trainees who meet the criteria will undergo the baptism rite."
Murmurs rippled through—
"Quiet, quiet! I know it's early, but it's decided from above. Not just you—they're selecting probationary priests from the monks too. Keep striving in the time left."
As the senior holy warrior dismissed them and left, the trainees buzzed with chatter.
"Isn't the baptism season still months away? Sure, we'd love to become official holy warriors sooner, but this sudden?"
"Shortening the schedule like this puts a lot of pressure on us. There must be a reason."
"...Something about needing to bolster forces suddenly...?"
Right—no way the schedule changed without cause.
Likely tied to the subjugation team that returned yesterday.
'Either way, it's a chance for me to save time.'
Thalia's temple held baptism rites every six months to select new holy warriors.
He'd have needed two more months otherwise, but circumstances had shifted suddenly.
'The rite converts all mana in the body to divine power... That's the first step to becoming a holy warrior.'
If he kept doing what he'd been, becoming one shouldn't be hard.
And so, he continued his training as before.
His efforts paid off—he secured a spot in the baptism rite.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "It was an unreasonable request, yet you accepted so readily. My thanks, Bishop Chrombil."
"Not at all, Archbishop Latius. This benefits the church, and our Thalia diocese too."
Just before the baptism rite began.
Latius, leader of the Immortal King subjugation team, spoke with Chrombil, overseer of the entire Thalia Kingdom diocese.
"Vampire influence runs deeper in this kingdom than expected. It caused heavy losses during the search."
"...My deepest regrets. As head of the Thalia diocese, I should have acted sooner..."
"No, how could it be just your fault, Bishop Chrombil? It's headquarters' failing for not supporting the dioceses more. I'll push for more aid going forward."
"Thank you for your consideration, Archbishop."
The small peripheral kingdom of Thalia had never had strong Church of the Main God influence to begin with.
Just one temple in the capital, begrudgingly permitted by the crown.
The clergy nationwide barely met minimal standards.
"To fill the losses, check the vampires, and keep pursuing the Immortal King's successor, we need to bolster church forces. We've settled things with Thalia's royals, so it should ease up."
A bit of political pressure had been involved, but it was unavoidable.
Vampire tendrils reached politics too, sparking resistance, but the church's cause was too grand to defy.
"Time to start the rite. I'll assist as planned."
"...No need for you to step in personally, Archbishop. The subjugation priests will suffice."
Rites were scheduled periodically for a reason.
They required high priests or above, a heavy burden on them.
Overdoing it could exhaust all senior clergy.
"It's been over two months since we failed to track the Immortal King's successor—a shame. I haven't been of much use, so I'd like to help even a little."
"...If you insist, then please do. It'll greatly aid the rite."
Continuing their talk, they arrived at the vast chapel.
It bustled with baptism candidates and preparing priests.
"Ah! Archbishop Latius, Bishop Chrombil. You're here. All preparations are complete. Ready to begin anytime."
One of the lead high priests spotted them and approached.
Latius nodded and ascended the pulpit.
There, under hundreds of gazes, he clasped his hands in prayer.
"Lord Main God, these children gather here to follow Your will. ...Bestow Your warm hand and grace, that Your blessing be with these children. [Sanctuary of Blessing]"
After a minute of prayer, vast divine power surged from him alongside silver radiance, bathing the chapel.
The softly glowing interior evoked a sacred atmosphere, blessing all within.
As awe filled the air, Bishop Chrombil stepped forward beside the praying archbishop.
"The baptism rite begins now. Proceed in order."
His quiet words resonated through the space, rousing all minds. The rite truly commenced.
A dozen high priests stood before the pulpit.
Candidates, guided by assisting priests, knelt one by one before them.
"What is your name?"
"Theron."
"Lord Main God, one who seeks to become Your light kneels here. ...Grant this, that he may follow Your will and guide the lost. Theron, do you swear fealty to the Main God?"
"I swear."
"Then pray to the Main God. He shall answer your faith."
The high priests placed hands on the kneeling pray-ers' heads, conducting the rite.
Endless divine power flowed through, dyeing their bodies.
The archbishop's [Sanctuary of Blessing] aided, easing the burden.
Dozens underwent it simultaneously.
As time passed, the baptized began emitting faint divine power.
They offered all their mana to the god, forsaking mana control forever, in exchange for a conduit to divine might.
Finished ones staggered, unaccustomed to the change, and were helped away by aides.
After a brief adjustment, they'd become fine church members.
Bishop Chrombil surveyed the ongoing rite.
The new initiates' divine power was middling at best.
Barely probationary priest level.
Rare cases gained priest-level or higher right away, but those were exceptions.
'They'll grow through prayer and mental discipline. Stronger faith and spirit mean stronger divine power.'
Watching, he gazed reverently at Archbishop Latius maintaining holy spell on the pulpit, then prayed himself.
As diocese head, he couldn't assist suddenly, but seeing the archbishop, his worry seemed needless.
...Then, mid-rite.
"Hm?"
Sensing sudden divine power, Bishop Chrombil turned.
Archbishop Latius, eyes closed on the pulpit, now opened them, staring too.
Whoosh—
A freshly baptized candidate emitting divine power.
His aura matched the others at first glance, but one clear difference stood out.
"Well now, fresh from baptism, yet that level of divine power... High priest class, at least."
Midway between regular priest and high priest.
The divine power newly gained by Heinrich, fresh from baptism.