Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Primal (5)
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The downfall of the premier noble house in the southeastern archdiocese took only a few days.
Even from the Church's perspective, tangling with a behemoth like the Spirius family was somewhat awkward. Had they done so without justification, it would have sparked fierce backlash.
But the secret vault unearthed near the treasury, packed with countless magic-sealed artifacts, was ironclad evidence. No one could deny it—those artifacts induced hallucinations even in ordinary folk who merely touched them.
Even a last-ditch struggle was impossible. The family's core forces had already been wiped out by the reinforcements. All that remained were Silver-rankers.
With the archbishop glaring daggers and a Gem-rank warrior idly toying with his sword sheath beside him, no loyalists rose to defend a house branded demonic collaborators. The die-hard fanatics had long since charged in with artifacts and met their ends.
Atma and Jason, at the top of the family hierarchy, were captured first and spilled everything. Armed with that intel, the Church systematically dismantled the heavy hitters one by one.
As the family that ruled the city was utterly crushed and the merchant guild handling the city's logistics turned to chaos alongside them, Selkeph's public mood naturally soured.
And what had Galen and Lilia been up to during that time?
"Shall we grab dinner there?"
"Sounds good!"
They'd been leisurely touring Selkeph's finest eateries and local sights.
They'd arrived in the city even before Anton and Michael, but had held back on outings lest the Spirius family recognize Lilia.
Now, with no need to mind prying eyes, they roamed freely. Of course, mindful of the city's grim atmosphere, they didn't flaunt their enjoyment too openly.
As they stepped out after a fine dinner, Galen asked,
"Was it good? It came recommended."
"It was delicious!"
Lilia's bright reply suddenly dimmed as something occurred to her.
"But... I feel a little bad."
"About what?"
"I stopped by the church this morning, remember?"
"Yeah."
Ever the kind soul, she made a habit of lending a hand at the healing ward whenever she stayed anywhere long enough. Though whether one person covering the entire ward truly counted as "lending a hand" was debatable.
"The priests there said they've been pulling all-nighters lately. So much to do, apparently. They can't just shut down the ward, so everyone's exhausted."
"I see."
"And here I am, eating delicious food and sightseeing..."
"No need for you to feel guilty, Lilia. If anything, they're probably relieved at heart, even if their bodies ache."
"R-Really?"
"You're the archbishop... but also an outsider. From the diocese's viewpoint."
Truth be told, their carefree outings were at Anton's request to begin with.
The Spirius investigation was originally Anton's and Michael's job; Galen and Lilia were just there to assist.
Yet they'd uncovered the artifact vault, rescued Michael from the trap, crushed Atma's crew... They'd handled nearly everything from start to finish.
They'd already racked up plenty of favors; asking them to handle the cleanup too would be out of line.
Thus, Anton and every cleric in the Selkeph diocese, down to Nepheli, were buried in work. But with the scale of the incident, it couldn't wrap up in a day or two.
"Processing it all is the Selkeph diocese's—no, the entire southeastern archdiocese's duty from the start. Your involvement would just make things look off."
"Oh, hadn't thought of that."
"Just volunteering at the healing ward is a huge help. Relax and enjoy yourself."
"Okay!"
Galen's own tension eased seeing Lilia's face brighten again.
For some reason, he had a good feeling about tonight's challenge.
Back at the inn, they changed into comfortable clothes and gathered in the sitting room.
Normally, it was time for evening workouts. The hellish PT sessions—where even his affection for Lilia cooled momentarily—had been going strong since that winter two years back. They might continue for life.
But tonight, they were postponed. Not skipped, just delayed a bit—classic Lilia.
"I wonder if it'll work..."
Galen murmured softly from his seated position on the chair, focusing his mind.
Lilia sat beside him, eyes sparkling with anticipation. The spirit of life peeked out from Galen's embrace.
After days of solid rest, his mana was fully restored. Galen was in peak condition.
He recalled the memory of creating the spirit of life. A design-like image surfaced in his mind.
The base was life mana—the essential source for spirit creation.
A golden light danced above Galen's palm. It resembled the life spirit's creation at first glance, but half as bright.
Naturally—he was using only half the mana from before.
This time, unlike layering life mana atop itself for the life spirit, he aimed to blend a different attribute.
First up: Water Flow Manipulation... No dice.
'As expected.'
Galen inwardly clicked his tongue.
His instincts had hinted at it.
His second Remade World skill, labeled 'Primal Spirit' in his status window, was—in simple terms—the ability to craft 'a one-of-a-kind custom spirit using the absolute finest special ingredient.'
Sadly, Water Flow Manipulation's mana didn't qualify as that premium material.
He'd tried anyway, but no luck. Same with the others.
Illusory Inferno: rejected.
Territorial Advance: rejected.
Spiral Eddy: rejected.
Death Fog: rejected.
Despite the string of rejections, Galen wasn't discouraged.
He'd saved the best for last.
The mana fusing Earth Bind and Shadow Assimilation.
The force dubbed Ebony.
The instant Ebony mana met life's power, the gold began to darken.
"Huh? I-Is it okay?"
"It's fine."
As Galen reassured Lilia, the ebony mana steadily merged with the life mana.
Probably around fifty-fifty.
Whoosh!
The glossy black mass, fully inked, compressed into a single point.
A pitch-black orb, like congealed darkness itself, materialized in Galen's palm.
Made from ebony mana—call it the Ebony Spirit?
"All done?"
"Yeah."
Lilia eyed the black orb curiously, then tentatively poked it with a fingertip.
"Does it share the same traits as the first one? Its own ego and mana pool, mimicking your spells?"
"Of course."
After a mental exchange with Galen, the Ebony Spirit vanished from its spot—Shadow Assimilation spatial leap.
Lilia looked up, sensing the shift. The spirit reappeared near the ceiling, drifting down feather-light.
She caught it and handed it back to Galen.
"Surprising choice. I figured you'd start with a water spirit. Darkness is your newest spell, right?"
"Wanted to, but this was the only one that met the criteria right now."
Not even Gem-rank Water Flow Manipulation qualified, nor did his senior spells. Yet newcomer Ebony did.
Not certain, but probably...
Fusions where two-plus spells merged and evolved in the status window seemed to be the key.
"So, you can't make more for now? Just these two?"
"Yeah. It'll grow as my magic advances."
"Wonder how many... tiers? Anyway, it's scary to think how far it'll go."
Lilia stuck out her tongue, then perked up.
"Hey, why not name them?"
"Names?"
"Only one before, so no need. Now you've got three. Can't just call 'em Spot or Blackie. They have egos—pretty names would make 'em happy, right?"
"Good point."
Galen nodded. In his mind, Life and Ebony were thrilled. At least the 'true spirits' deserved names.
"But I'm terrible at naming..."
"Hmm..."
They huddled, pondering. Lilia finally lit up.
"Not regular names—how about ancient tongue words?"
"Smart, but I don't know any."
"I do! Learned some deciphering old texts at church."
"Oh?"
Intriguing. Galen leaned in.
"Life spirit: 'Unica.' Means 'most precious thing.' Also evokes life."
"Perfect. Got one for Ebony?"
"'Tenebre'? Means pitch-black night, dark shadow."
"Great. That's it."
"...You decided that fast?"
"Meanings fit, and they approve. Why overthink?"
"They approve?"
"They like it."
The golden orb and black sphere bounced in place. Lilia grinned.
(Water spirit's name to be decided later, once it gains ego.)
"Abandoning your first wife, huh..."
"People might misunderstand. It's a deferral, just deferred."
Thus, the two spirits were named.
Life's Unica.
Ebony's Tenebre.
How many more to come... depended on Galen's efforts.
Ideally, all attributes, one per—true to Remade World's ultimate aim.
New long-term goal acquired.
A few more days passed.
Late summer now. Over ten days since crushing Atma.
The city's frozen mood had thawed somewhat. Far from normal, but progress.
Simple reason: Anyone worth arresting had been caught, executed, or released.
Anton visited Galen and Lilia around then.
"Settling in well? Faces glowing with health."
"Thanks to your hospitality, Your Excellency. You look like you've had it rough, though..."
A cleric boasting near-infinite stamina via vitality miracles, yet fatigue showed. Mental wear, mostly—but his grueling workload was plain.
"Busiest few years, hands down. But the big stuff's wrapped. Could be worse."
Anton shook his head as if to banish the thought, changing tack.
"Anyway, I'll brief you on what you need to know and call it. Ask away if questions pop up."
"We're all ears."
"First, rewards for this mess—"
"Rewards?"
Galen blinked at Anton's opener.
"Wasn't on a formal commission... I'd gratefully accept if offered, but."
"No arguing—take it. Not commission pay."
"Then what?"
"What do you think? You pulverized a noble house."
Anton tsked lightly.
"Not blaming you, obviously. But know the fallout. You obliterated the power controlling Selkeph and surrounds."
Even if only the guilty died and innocents survived, could the 'demonic collaborators' stigma fade easily? Not with a whole house tainted.
Reputation aside, all their Gold-rank elites vanished—impossible to hold territory now.
"Can't seize documented assets, sure. But intangible interests... and with Rius Guild collapsing too, the vacancies are massive. Who manages it all?"
"The Church?"
"Would if we'd soloed the purge. Not this time. You did so much, we'd catch flak skimping on you."
"But I'm no faction leader camping here for taxes. Just give a fair cut, no?"
"Knew you'd say that—why I mentioned it. We handle management; you get payout."
"Fair enough."
Galen nodded readily. Not in it for cash originally—bonus was bonus.
"Done. Won't be overnight; takes time. But soon as sorted, you'll get it. Kallia Guild estimates thirty thousand gold."
"...Pardon?"
"...In gold coins?"
"What else, silver?"
Lilia blinked innocently; Galen gaped. Anton shrugged as if obvious.
A noble house akin to a small kingdom—its wealth dwarfed personal fortunes, naturally.
One bonus doubled his fortune.
"Right, note the reward. Summarizing intel gathered—"
Atma had gifted spells, spirits, titles, cash—what juicy info next?
Galen smirked, listening to Anton.