Chapter 86
Chapter 86
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Picaol Grand Temple (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Roselia Grand Temple's training grounds.
"Hah!"
Clang—!
The former Paladin Luther, now retired, parried the young man's sword strike swinging toward him and inwardly marveled.
His growth rate has accelerated even further.
He was already a talented individual receiving special treatment from the Church, someone Luther had been keeping an eye on. But recently, that growth had gained explosive momentum.
To the point where predicting his limits was impossible.
Heinrich Landgard...
The Church's upper echelons and even the Saintess herself were personally supporting him, so Luther didn't show it outwardly. But deep down, he was somewhat displeased with the situation.
He acknowledged the young man's potential and possibilities, but he felt it was too heavy a burden to place on a fresh Holy Knight who had only recently been ordained.
For a Holy Knight, divine power isn't everything.
Of course, proof of faith was worthy of respect, and more was always better...
But separately from that, a Holy Knight standing at the forefront—not protected like a priest—needed personal martial prowess above all.
That's what I thought...
In truth, Heinrich's combat ability hadn't been lacking from the start.
Not quite at the Captain's level, but on par with an average senior Holy Knight.
"Hup—!"
His sword suddenly veered in an unnatural direction, thrusting toward Luther's solar plexus.
It was a technique that placed immense strain on the wrist, but Heinrich didn't care.
Clang—!
The casual block sent his sword bouncing back, but he used the recoil to draw a semicircle and slash at Luther's legs.
Luther deflected that attack easily as well, but...
It's light?
There was no weight behind the strike.
The moment he sensed it, Luther stepped back.
Whoosh—!
A metallic mass swept sharply past where his ankle had been, like an iron mace.
It was Heinrich's leg, clad in full armor.
Luther's eyes flashed at the attack, but Heinrich just clicked his tongue in disappointment.
I tried using the same counter he hit me with, but it didn't work. Is my opponent just too good?
Partly due to the weight of his armor encasing him fully.
Frigga, the True Blood from the Brocoslak Clan who had first used this technique, moved with swift, light motions, so differences in fighting style were inevitable.
But Luther, Heinrich's swordsmanship instructor, nodded inwardly at his unexpectedly sharp instincts.
Definitely not ordinary. He's already on par with veteran Holy Knights. At this rate, he might reach Paladin in just a few years.
While inwardly acknowledging him, Luther kept a stern expression on the outside.
To avoid giving the promising talent false confidence.
"That's enough training for today."
"Thank you! Instructor!"
After several hours of training, Luther left the grounds first with a satisfied smile.
As they say, stamina is the foundation of all power. His potential is truly exceptional.
He could always fill the training time to the brim with Heinrich's overwhelming endurance, making for highly intensive sessions. For Luther, who took joy in mentoring juniors, it was immensely gratifying.
Left alone after Luther departed, Heinrich slowly stretched and tidied the training grounds.
Several days had passed since the Saintess told him about the holy sword, but all he had done in that time was train.
Combat techniques, holy arts training, and personal conditioning.
It's nice being able to focus solely on getting stronger comfortably.
Thanks to the growth acceleration from enhancing his unique skill, he could see himself improving day by day. With results coming immediately, training was naturally enjoyable.
About half a month after he immersed himself in training in this satisfying environment, Saintess Riesta summoned him.
Knock knock—
"Saintess, it's Heinrich. You called for me."
"Yes! Come in!"
The Saintess's office held nothing special beyond bookshelves packed with tomes and decorations carved with the Church's symbols.
The moment he casually glanced around the austere room...
<The Hero and Saintess's Adventure ~Mad Dragon Hunt Edition>
<The Hero and Saintess's Adventure ~Fairy Kingdom Edition>
<The Foolish Prince and the Cursed Princess>
<...>
Hm.
He noticed the books tucked in the corner of the shelf but naturally averted his gaze, pretending not to see.
A girl's privacy deserved respect, after all.
Unaware of Heinrich's consideration, the Saintess sprang up from her desk to greet him.
The documents she had been poring over with groans were now abandoned atop the desk, forgotten.
Most tasks were handled by executives as decided by the cardinals, but some were passed to her like homework to build experience.
What she had been reviewing was one such headache-inducing issue, which she promptly shoved aside now that Heinrich had arrived.
Of course, ignoring it wouldn't solve it—it was just postponement...
But the Saintess was content to escape the vexing problem for now.
She could leave it to her future self!
"Greetings, Saintess."
"Hello, Sir Heinrich! We have much to discuss, so please sit."
Heinrich sat on the sofa across the reception table from the Saintess.
"I've heard the reports. Even the strictest instructors are full of praise for you."
"You're too kind. It's all thanks to the excellent teachers."
After some exchange of compliments and humility, the main topic began.
"From what I've heard of others' evaluations, it seems you're ready to challenge the holy sword's trial."
"The holy sword... That's faster than I expected."
It had been less than a month since he started intensive training after hearing about it from her.
No matter how rapidly he had grown, he thought he'd need more practice...
"Truthfully, I'd prefer giving you more time to prepare carefully, but I have a bad feeling."
"A feeling?"
"Like something big is about to happen? It's not certain, but it seems the Immortal King might be plotting something soon."
"Ah... I see."
They said the Saintess's intuition was near-prophetic, but this time it seemed off.
Hans was still volunteering on Earth, after all.
"So the Church has raised alert levels and is preparing for any contingencies. Warnings will go out to other factions soon too, urging full readiness."
But seeing her conviction, she must have sensed something.
Not from Hans, of course, but whatever it was had her on high alert.
"Then, back to the holy sword? Word came from the Picaol Grand Temple in the western continent—they're ready for the trial anytime."
About 300 years ago, the second Immortal King rampaged in the western continent, annihilating the Sarb Empire that dominated there.
After the crusade defeated him, the site became a kingdom alliance of four nations claiming descent from the Sarb Empire.
The Kingdoms of Talia, Sharoti, Tulke, and Resk had finally erased the scars of the Immortal King War through long efforts.
Though their national powers weren't strong due to the aftermath, they developed by aiding each other in alliance.
And among that alliance, the Grand Temple in the southern Kingdom of Resk is...
The Picaol Grand Temple.
The most recently built Grand Temple, constructed during post-war reconstruction 300 years ago. The place where the holy sword was sealed...
And where the previous Hero and crusade defeated the second Immortal King.
"But though they succeeded in subjugating the Immortal King, they failed to properly seal its heart."
As a result—or perhaps due to some scheme before its death—the site where it fell began staining with abyss.
"To purify it, the previous Hero and Main God Church drove the holy sword into the ground to seal it, then built a Grand Temple right above."
That was the Picaol Grand Temple, overseeing the west.
It coincided with the fall of existing western Grand Temples alongside the Sarb Empire, creating the need.
"Then pulling out the holy sword would break the seal? Is it okay for me to take it?"
"It's been 300 years already. It was the only way then, but it's fully purified now—no issue without the sword."
Thus, generations had periodically attempted to retrieve it.
Such a weapon was too valuable to leave buried.
Of course, the results were predictable.
"All failures. It must be quite the ordeal."
The Saintess sighed and shrugged.
Becoming the holy sword's master required passing grueling trials, and repeated attempts by the same person raised the difficulty each time.
The best way was succeeding on the first try to earn its recognition.
"But how can you be so sure I'll succeed right away?"
"Because you're the adversary destined to defeat the Immortal King!"
Her sparkling eyes held not a shred of doubt.
Feeling a pang of conscience at her pure faith, Heinrich subtly looked away.
"Understood. So, when should I head there?"
"Right now!"
"Pardon?"
"I already informed the gate side! You can head straight to the Picaol Grand Temple."
The Saintess shrugged proudly, answering without hesitation.
Her gestures showed satisfaction with her swift handling.
As he stared in disbelief, she tilted her head innocently, blinking.
Well, nothing to prepare anyway, so going now is fine.
Heinrich chuckled and stood.
Of course, he didn't forget to leave a parting word for the Saintess.
"Then I'll go immediately. Please finish your remaining work well, Saintess."
"Ah! Ahh..."
Recalling her forgotten task, the Saintess's bright smile rapidly wilted.
To react like that, it must be quite the headache.
Leaving the office, Heinrich headed straight for the gate room.
To the Picaol Grand Temple in the western continent.
To claim the holy sword that would defeat the Immortal King!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Whirrr—
[Hmm... Seems I've tidied things up nicely.]
Midnight atop a high-rise rooftop.
A being shrouded in pitch darkness overlooked the city.
Korea's dark hero, criminal hunter, unofficial strongest.
And Outerica's calamity, death from the abyss.
The Immortal King Hans.
With the organization's power added, things are much smoother. Even for me, there are limits acting alone.
Sometimes, a bunch of decently capable people outdid one absolute powerhouse.
With Heterosis and the blood alliance helping, efficiency soared.
Fundamentally, their intelligence gathering makes a huge difference.
Hans could only target criminals caught in his detection net.
A heinous villain might luckily escape his grasp.
But now was different.
The blood alliance expanding nationwide gathered intel, and the much stronger Heterosis—thanks to the Purified Blood Essence—hunted them.
Opponents they couldn't handle went to Hans.
Perfect division of labor.
[No major targets left needing my attention.]
Hans checked Heinz 2nd's burner phone for new info.
After busy days, nothing required his direct intervention.
[Hmmm... Really nothing? ...In that case, time to head back? Kuhuhuhu.]
Not home.
If anything, closer to his homeland.
The Saintess's words had been nagging me anyway. Might as well look into that.
Thus, the continent's terror, the Immortal King, returned to Outerica.