Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: The World's Strongest Spirit User (2)
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Seeing the slightly dumbfounded expressions on their faces, Daimus could guess what they were thinking. He gave a wry smile and asked,
"Do you think it's too excessive a measure?"
"Well, unless there's actually a demon living in the Sperius family's main estate, isn't it? There are four Gems here."
"Four is definitely overkill. No one even expects to run into a demon there. But those two don't have quite that much leeway in their forces."
One might call it nonsense—after all, two Gems were terrifying enough on their own—but...
"The problem is that the enemy has Gems too. If the worst-case scenario hits and we have to face the entire Sperius family, who knows how it'll play out."
In a straight Gem versus great house matchup, with one Gem pulled from each side for fairness(?), the Gem usually wins. Just like how Galen had crushed the Oceanis family with Water Flow Manipulation alone.
But two Gems versus one Gem plus a great house is a different story. Golds alone can't handle a Gem, but they can support their own Gem just fine, which introduces all sorts of variables.
And the Sperius family was even under suspicion of having magic soldiers. If those joined the fray, they'd wield far more power than a typical great house.
"Even factoring that in, we wouldn't lose. Archbishop Anton thinks the same. But new facts have come to light since then."
"Ah, I understand."
Galen nodded.
"Archbishop Anton must consider the possibility of the worst-case scenario quite slim. He doesn't know demons even exist yet."
"Exactly. I know better, so I see it as a real possibility. Even if it's not a full demon, an evil spirit could pop out."
A great house's forces bolstered by magic soldiers and an evil spirit would be enough to seriously challenge a single Gem.
In the end, both sides would be evenly matched, and if it came to a mutual destruction, there'd be rivers of blood tears. No one would let a precious Gem die like that.
"So don't just dismiss it as an old man's excessive worrying."
"Not at all. I love overwhelming them with sheer power myself."
"We were going anyway! If we can help minimize casualties, of course we should."
Galen stated his honest feelings casually, and Lilia responded spiritedly.
"If something happens, it'll prove the archbishop had foresight. If not, all's peaceful and good. Either way works for me!"
"Hahaha, I'm touched that you see it that way."
Daimus let out a hearty laugh, then bowed his head slightly. His warm, elderly gaze turned to the two.
"I'm always grateful to you both."
"No need."
Galen returned the bow gracefully.
After hearing the rough situation, Myra accepted it with some regret. Truth be told, both Daimus and Lilia outranked her as bishops, so she couldn't insert herself anyway.
"You came all this way, just to work and leave."
"You're the one suffering more, Bishop. I've just been playing these past few days."
"Even if it was work, I'd have stopped you. After all you've done, you deserve the rest."
No matter how grueling administrative duties were, they paled against battling demon swarms. Myra seemed to still feel guilty for not helping with the subjugation.
Of course, Lilia kept waving it off, insisting it was fine. Given the choice between slaying a hundred demons or processing a hundred documents, she'd pick the former without hesitation.
It was time to end the back-and-forth. Myra pulled Lilia into a tight hug.
"Always take care of yourself. Eat properly."
"You too, Bishop. Stay healthy."
"I will. Don't worry about me."
"I'll visit again!"
"No need to force it. Put yourself first. And listen to Lord Galen."
"Yes!"
Releasing Lilia, Myra turned to Galen with a curt command.
"Take good care of Lilia."
"I'll serve her with utmost devotion."
She smiled faintly at his joking reply.
With final goodbyes exchanged, Galen and Lilia mounted their horses.
Leaving the first village behind, they headed south toward Abaka.
The Siren's rampage had one silver lining: it drew in and wiped out all nearby demons, leaving the area surprisingly pleasant.
Setting out early in the morning, the two arrived before evening with almost no interruptions.
"I see..."
Jenny, who'd stayed at Abaka's church, was quite disappointed to hear they'd have to part immediately.
Myra at least had spent a few days with them in the frontier despite her busy schedule, but Jenny had only seen them briefly on arrival day, so it was understandable.
Lilia must have felt the same, as she didn't leave the next morning. Instead, she spent the morning touring the market with Jenny. Who would stop the archbishop from borrowing a priestess for a bit?
Galen tagged along, of course, but shopping with two women and one man usually ends one way.
"Sister Jenny, how about this?"
"Not that one... this. Wouldn't this be better?"
"Th-this?! B-but it's too..."
"Everyone's wearing stuff like this these days."
"You too, Sister?"
"I'm a cleric."
"I'm a cleric too?!"
Lilia, who showed no such signs around Galen, seemed to perk up fashion-wise with a peer.
"A bit more boldly... you're stronger, Sister..."
"What?! What are you―"
"Shh, shush."
"Wh-what are you saying... I'm a cleric..."
"Not for the time being..."
"St-still, no!"
Jenny and Lilia whispered intently, but unfortunately, Galen's ears couldn't quite catch it. A warrior or cleric might have with enhanced senses, but alas.
Anyway, he'd have to pay more attention from now on. Galen reflected that he'd treated Lilia too strictly as a solemn cleric all this time.
After much hushed chatter and store-hopping, Jenny turned her sights on Galen.
"Brother Galen should get some clothes too."
"Me? Really?"
"I heard the gist. Lilia has to go without her vestments for a while?"
"Ah, yes. A secret mission, you could say."
"Then your outfits should match to avoid standing out. You've always worn just robes, before or now."
"Well, this is standard mage attire..."
"Don't call slinging on a uniform because you hate dressing up 'standard.'"
No idea when a vestment-wearing cleric developed fashion sense, but Jenny had real coordination talent.
By late morning, Galen and Lilia's appearances had completely changed.
Not so luxurious as to draw eyes, but respectable enough—not to be looked down on for their clothes—like the son or daughter of a well-off family.
"Perfect."
Jenny nodded, pleased with her handiwork.
Lilia was stunning enough to make any woman jealous, no debate needed. Galen looked polished enough to stand beside a great house young master without embarrassing him.
Face and build both.
"Brother Galen's physique is surprisingly impressive? Most mages are a bit... scrawny."
"Lilia's had me training for nearly two years. Still does."
"Ah, that explains it. Well, Sister's tastes have always been..."
"They're not?!"
Either way, unless someone knew their faces, no one would peg them as a mage-cleric duo from looks alone.
Thanks to her refined holy power control as archbishop, Lilia could suppress the sparkle in her eyes anywhere but pitch darkness.
After a grateful lunch at a nice restaurant, they carted Jenny back to the church by carriage.
"I'll write again!"
"Always cheering for you."
Jenny waved with a smile, and Lilia leaned out the window, waving vigorously.
As the carriage rounded the corner, Lilia settled back in. Shaking off her wistful look, she put on a resolute expression.
"Back to it!"
"Must be tough saying goodbye."
"It's fine! We'll come again."
"Once you're in charge of an archdiocese, couldn't you request transfers for them?"
"Huh, could I?"
"Who knows. I'm not church."
"Right, yeah."
"Worst case, become pope yourself. Problem solved, no favors needed."
"You say it like it's easy?!"
Lilia shot Galen a playful glare, then beamed.
"But I like that—no favors owed. Feels kinda like that now."
"Pardon?"
"We're hiding our identities, right? Both of us."
"Not our first time. We did it tracking the magic soldiers."
"That's different. In lots of ways."
She didn't say how.
But Galen had a hunch.
Abaka was the westernmost city in the eastern archdiocese, right on the border with the southeastern archdiocese.
Their destination, Selkeph, lay northwest in the southeast.
In other words, the cities were closer than expected. Even leisurely by carriage, about a week.
Nothing special—they'd traveled plenty before.
But Galen noticed Lilia felt closer than usual.
Walking nearly shoulder-to-shoulder, leaning lightly when side-by-side in the carriage, facing each other with faces nearer.
Definitely not like during the magic soldier chase. More distance back then.
Normally—even without her archbishop status—being a cleric subtly demanded 'propriety.'
Now, vestments off, it felt like some restraint lifted.
Not jumping boundaries suddenly, but this freshness suited Lilia.
The soft week's carriage tour ended abruptly upon entering Selkeph.
They needed to avoid going out as much as possible.
During her archbishop ordination, she'd toured the city in an outdoor procession. Great houses worldwide had sent scouts for intel on the new archbishop.
Sperius might have too. Bumping into one while wandering would ruin the disguise. They'd suspect her more for ditching vestments.
They spent most of their three days indoors.
"Why haven't they come...?"
"We got here too fast. They have to loop around the great mountains."
Finally, on the third evening.
A short note arrived from them, via the local Kalia Merchant Group—discreetly.
Waiting for full dark, they slipped out of the inn in hooded black robes to avoid notice.
Lilia led, Galen followed. They moved quietly through the dim night streets.
Soon, they reached Selkeph's church.
"No suspicious presences."
"None here either."
No special surveillance. If someone could fool their cross-check, let them trip it.
Daytime tasks for layfolk done, few church buildings lit at night.
They headed to the office.
Two awaited them.
"Welcome."
Southeastern Archbishop Anton greeted them.
"..."
Gem warrior Michael, pro-church faction, gave a silent nod.
Still sulking over that brief papal audience spat? Galen inwardly grumbled as he greeted.
"Nice to see you again after a month."
"Good to see you both!"
Short pleasantries done, Anton jumped in, curiosity bursting.
"Shocked when Kalia said you two were here. What in the world happened?"
"Long story. But read this, and you'll understand."
Galen pulled a thick letter from his robes—Daimus's writing.
Anton's face hardened as he read. He handed it stiffly to Michael.
"You read it too."
"Can I?"
"You're a recipient. No private matters."
Michael's expression soon matched Anton's. He eyed Galen and Lilia suspiciously.
"This... true?"
"Daimus's handwriting and seal check out. Forgery would be a bigger issue."
"Too many outrageous claims."
"Whether Lord Michael personally distrusts it is none of my concern."
Galen sniped lightly.
"But even if the whole letter's fake, our help makes things easier, right? Isn't that so, Your Grace?"
"True enough."
Anton nodded firmly.
"Even excluding demons and evil spirits, clashing with the whole Sperius family was always a worst-case risk. You two as insurance? Solid."
"...Fair point."
Michael conceded grudgingly. Galen smiled faintly at Anton.
"We'll stay low-key. Easier for you too, Your Grace?"
"Appreciated. Hope we never need you stepping in."
Fine by Galen. More carefree time with Lilia. A wasted trip? Few days in a carriage—big deal.
But over those three days, while mostly indoors, he hadn't stayed completely inside.
Done some discreet investigating.
Whatever clever plan Anton had to raid the Sperius family... well, good luck?
"Call if needed."
Watching would reveal it.
Galen smirked.