Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Scorching Flames of Vanity (1)
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The muddy water that had temporarily turned the dry ravine into a flowing stream slowly receded.
The water fortress enveloping Galen shrank away just as gradually, looking for all the world like it was blending into the mud and drifting downstream.
Of course, it wasn't actually drifting anywhere—it was just putting on a show of the water naturally draining away.
He'd already revealed the spirit a bit too blatantly, but since it still looked like a lump of water on the surface, he could probably pass it off as some kind of water magic for now.
Privatizing a warrior or mage's secret techniques was considered incredibly rude anyway. And the only ones who'd gotten a proper look at the fight were Maera and Lilia, both of whom were on friendly terms with Galen, so they weren't likely to pry too deeply.
'Scorching Flames of Vanity won't be brushed off that easily... but I'll think about that later.'
He was too exhausted right now to dwell on it in detail.
The moment the tension eased, his strength drained from his body. His head throbbed from overusing his brain, and his whole body ached from the shockwaves.
Galen barely resisted the urge to flop down right there.
Aside from the nagging headache, his mind had sharpened even further, almost enough to forget the fatigue entirely.
It was thanks to the level up.
Both Water Flow Manipulation and Spirit Creation had jumped up by three levels at once.
Even a single level made a noticeable difference, but with two spells leaping three steps simultaneously, his mind had no choice but to snap into hyper-alertness.
'I only used the spirit in a support role... maybe the part where it tormented the demon got added belatedly?'
In truth, Galen still hadn't fully grasped the status window's mechanics. The descriptions were too vague, and there was no manual to speak of.
He could only guess based on his experiences.
Skills rose easily through self-study up to a certain level, then stalled out completely.
Sparring or actual combat worked better than solo practice, with effects varying based on the skill gap with the opponent.
And when he "killed" someone, the progress bar shot up like gaining XP in a game. It didn't seem to care about who landed the finishing blow—probably some kind of contribution system.
The skill gap still applied corrections here too: penalties against weaklings, bonuses against experts.
Jumping three levels at once must have been because the gaps between Water Flow Manipulation and Moritz's level, and Spirit Creation and the demon's, were so vast—big bonuses piled on.
'Haven't seen gains like this since killing that assassin. Never faced such a huge skill disparity before.'
The only times he'd fought while scraping the bottom of his mana barrel were the first troll hunt and killing Redna. Otherwise, he'd always held some in reserve.
Even then, those foes had been roughly on his level. This was his first real fight against powerhouses he and his allies couldn't take down alone. He'd nearly died, so three levels felt right.
Of course, it wasn't comparable to the assassin kill. Back then, he was a total newbie who leveled up just by breathing. Now? High levels made every one count more.
'...There is a rush, but I wouldn't seek it out on purpose.'
Trading his life for three levels beat hunting ten average mobs for 30% progress each—better for body and mind.
That said, he hadn't known Moritz was demon-contracted going in. With Moritz as an ally, the three Golds could've crushed the demon easily.
Either way, they'd come out unscathed—the best outcome. Factoring in combat XP, it was like five levels in a day.
"Hoo..."
Galen let out a long sigh of relief and recalled the shrunken spirit. He wrapped the bracelet around his left wrist and started walking.
Maera and Lilia were cautiously approaching Moritz's body.
With the water mostly drained, Moritz's corpse was a mangled wreck—miraculously not torn to shreds. His body was shattered and twisted grotesquely, and the arm that had dangled earlier was gone entirely.
"He's definitely dead."
Maera confirmed after meticulously checking his breathing and pulse. Galen nodded silently.
Truth be told, even without her say-so or the XP confirmation, if Moritz survived that mess, his species wouldn't be human—it'd be troll.
"Those who consort with demons always end like this. How could anyone succumb to a moment's temptation, knowing that? I never imagined he'd feel such self-loathing toward his own realm."
Maera murmured bitterly with a sigh.
Reaching the Golden realm was something to boast about, but some let their ambition run wild and veered off course.
Unable to accept their limits, they either crumbled in despair or forced a breakthrough at any cost.
Contracts with demons were the worst form—dragging everyone around them into ruin.
"But didn't you say the demon's power was temporary? It was visibly weakening too. Worth contracting for just that brief boost?"
"In this case, the demon directly infused him with power. Shoving demonic energy into a human body like that? Bound to be fleeting. True demon contracts aren't like this."
"Oh, really?"
"Contract changes are gradual but permanent. Like using demonic power as a tool to slowly remodel yourself."
"Sounds... milder than I thought. Unexpected."
"If you ignore the soul corruption and loss of humanity, it does boost your prowess as a warrior or mage."
"Uh... yeah."
"Must've felt his walls were insurmountable to go that far. You probably can't relate."
Galen gave an awkward smile at Maera's words.
He got it, thinking of Earth athletes doping. He got it.
Not just the desperate ones—top performers did it too, to maintain or exceed their peaks, fully aware of the risks.
Moritz must've been similar: screw the corruption, just claw higher. Crossed a line he shouldn't have.
Of course, with his cheat status window—zero side effects, insane gains—Galen hadn't hit a real wall yet, so no empathy there.
"Sure, whatever for me... but didn't Lilia really rake in the points on Lord Moritz?"
"Hm."
Maera couldn't argue that. Both she and Galen turned to Lilia.
"Too hectic earlier to ask properly. Lilia, when did you gain access to Miracle of Radiance?"
"Just before!"
"For real?"
"Yes! Watching you two fight so hard while I just stood by... I hated it. I wanted to help somehow! So I prayed, 'Isn't there a way?' and it worked!"
Lilia declared proudly, her expression utterly earnest.
"...Do clerics usually grow like this?"
"...If prayer alone made miracles happen for everyone, the world would be full of archbishops."
Galen and Maera muttered.
Even Maera didn't fully know how clerics advanced. Miracles just... became available eventually; no standard training method.
Strong faith helped, supposedly, but no one could measure it. Long prayers or church glued didn't guarantee promotion.
All they could figure was that Lilia was drowning in divine favor.
"Anyway, first things first: clean up the scene."
Maera shook her head and said.
"Lilia, call the subjugation squad."
"Yes!"
Over half the squad was from the Burtane family, but they accepted the outcome without fuss.
They had eyes and ears. They'd seen the demon, Moritz's actions, heard the fierce battle from the fog-shrouded aftermath. Some sharp-eared ones even caught his howls.
If Maera had branded the entire Burtane clan demon collaborators, they might've turned sour. But she framed it as Moritz's personal deviation.
No punishment for the rest. No sane person sides with demons there. Even Kane nodded grimly to Maera's explanation.
Demon avatar gone—whether suicide or murder—the fog and underworld faded slowly. No loose ends.
The squad recovered Moritz's body and returned to Elta.
The Burtane estate erupted in chaos, but the Church's authority loomed fierce, backed by unanimous squad testimony. They had to swallow it.
"So that's why Father was so anxious... not for other reasons."
Amid fainting family, sobs, and blank stares, Pezan—the eldest son—muttered hollowly, holding it together by force. He looked a decade older in moments.
At least the clan wasn't shredded wholesale by the Church's blade. Wiping dry tears, he rasped a bow.
"Thank you for ending it here, Your Excellency Bishop."
"You're victims too—only natural. Lord Moritz planned to sacrifice the entire squad. Success would've targeted your remaining kin next."
Maera sighed softly.
"But we can't cover up his cause of death. The Church won't bury demon ties."
"Yes, I understand."
"Even as his personal lapse, he was Family Head. The Burtanes won't escape unscathed."
"...I know."
Pezan forced a bitter smile.
Their representative, linchpin, sole Gold dead—foundation shaken. Rumors of demon pacts? The backlash would be massive.
Elta's power balance wouldn't hold. Worst case, attacks from all sides, clan collapse.
"What can we do? We'll bear it. Ignorance isn't innocence."
"......"
"Our fault too, for letting Father make that wrong call."
"...Hang in there."
What more could Maera say? She just looked bitter too.
No lingering at the estate; they wrapped up necessities and headed back to Abaka.
Morning of departure, before boarding the carriage, Kane pulled Galen aside.
"......"
He chewed his lip, hesitating, then forced words out.
"...I still only feel bad blood toward you—and now you've killed my father too."
Pausing, lips twitching, he rasped on.
"Still... thank you for stopping him before worse happened."
"Suddenly so formal."
Galen smiled faintly.
As Kane said, no fond memories between them.
But regardless of backstory, he wouldn't mock a son approaching his father's killer first.
"Nothing to thank. Just heartbreaking."
"......"
"Forget the past. Tough road ahead—stay strong. Help Lord Pezan."
"...Thank you. Sorry."
Kane bowed deeply, expression tangled but sincere. Galen returned a measured courtesy.
With that, their brief knot untied.
Thus ended their journey in Elta.