Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Digestion (2)
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After returning to Oclane and resting for a day, Galen and Lilia boarded a carriage bound straight for Mezaya the next day.
"I'm finally heading back too..."
Giava, who was riding in a different carriage from the two but leaving Oclane all the same, muttered in a tone that was half glad and half sad.
He had been forced to stay in Oclane due to the incident occurring within the diocese.
He had handled some work here, but not properly. He dreaded how much would be piled up waiting back home. Of course, not going back would only let it accumulate further.
"You've been through a lot."
Whatever the old bishop's lament, they exchanged farewells and parted ways in their respective directions.
As on the way there, the journey back took seven days.
Arriving in Mezaya as the sun was dying red, Galen and Lilia headed straight for the church.
They first submitted the report Giava had prepared and waited. Before long, permission for an audience came through.
"You've both done incredibly well."
The archbishop welcomed them.
True to his unpretentious nature, Daimus had personally prepared tea and snacks. In the relaxed atmosphere, he opened his mouth.
"When I heard you were going back to renegotiate a done deal, I wondered what was up. But after reading the report, I get it. Things really took an unexpected turn."
"I tried to stick strictly to my supervisory role as much as possible, but given the circumstances, I couldn't avoid getting involved."
"I'm not blaming you for that at all. It was the best course of action. It's just that even if it was the best, we can't ignore the results."
Galen's eyes narrowed slightly at the words that sounded oddly meaningful.
Daimus sipped his tea and paused for a moment before continuing.
"Lord Galen, how would you like to handle this incident?"
"Handle it how?"
"Two options: announce it or cover it up. Either way, it needs to be coordinated between you and the church for it to be effective."
"Announcing it, sure. But is covering it up even possible?"
"Ending the incident as is would cover it up. Only four people know about the change in the ruins' shares: the three here and Bishop Giava."
Galen fell into thought for a moment.
More precisely, he pretended to.
After all, from the time spent at the ruins' camp to the carriage ride back, it had been nearly half a month.
There was no way he hadn't thought about how the church would handle it.
The surprising part was that they were giving him options.
He was employed by the church. Even if they just handled it however they wanted, he had no grounds to complain.
'Either they're testing me, or they've become wary of handling me roughly.'
Either way, it wasn't bad for him.
Galen spoke up.
"Well, both sound interesting in their own way."
"...So it doesn't matter to you either way?"
"The core issue is the relationship between the church and the Steelwall Family, right? I'm fine with quiet if it's quiet, or noisy if it's noisy."
"Hm..."
Perhaps it was an unexpected answer, as Daimus let out a heavy groan.
Lilia tugged lightly at Galen's sleeve from the side. Even without words, Galen understood why.
Galen glanced at Daimus, then leaned slightly toward Lilia and explained in a low voice.
"The ruins exploration was originally the Steelwall Family's domain. Setting aside the earth spirits for now."
"Right?"
"But we performed amazingly there, didn't we?"
"Not we—Brother Galen did almost everything!"
"Anyway. What do you think will happen to the Steelwall Family if word of that spreads widely?"
"Hm, they'll get called incompetent?"
"Lucky if it ends there. Think about Lord Baron's attitude when he was here before. He made it obvious he wasn't thrilled with the church's mediation."
"Ah, so they'd be even more embarrassed about needing the church's help!"
"The more our feats are highlighted, the worse it gets for them. And the church decides how much light gets shone on it."
The new agreement redistributing the ruins' shares equally one-third each.
If the church revealed it, they could boast their influence—but the Steelwall Family's face would be proportionally tarnished.
If not, it would end neatly: the exploration went well, and the church supervised effectively.
Galen didn't know Daimus's intentions in asking his preference, but truly, either way was fine with him.
He'd already gotten everything worth getting.
Originally, he'd taken the commission out of curiosity about the earth spirits' magic.
He'd secured Earth Bind, leveled up his existing spells massively, and unexpectedly gained Territory Advance too.
Goals exceeded.
If it passed quietly, fine—no need to care.
If the Steelwall Family flipped out, he could beat them down with the church. New experience farm.
"I wanted to hear your thoughts first before discussing."
Daimus, who had only listened to their exchange, gave a wry smile.
"Passing the ball to me to suggest first. You're a sly one."
"Shouldn't it be called consideration? Respecting the church's choice."
"Not ungrateful. No long talk. If you're fine with it, we'll conclude this matter as is."
"If that's what Your Excellency wants."
"The Steelwall Family's constant complaints weren't just about money, of course—they resented the church's interference itself."
"A show of defiance. Refusing to look like they bend easily."
"Exactly. From now on, even they'll have to shut up out of shame. We'll bury this for them, saving their public face. It's a massive ruin, so even one-third is huge profit. The moderates in Steelwall will speak up more now."
"You've been through so much."
Galen said sincerely.
Having the church's backing and the archbishop's own power, yet still needing to navigate politics—how headache-inducing.
Daimus just chuckled dryly and turned to Lilia.
"Bishop Lilia, take notes on this. You'll have to do it someday."
"I don't really want to learn..."
Lilia shrank back, overly honest.
"You'll get used to it. Think I was like this from the start?"
With a benevolent expression implying full understanding, Daimus said something chilling before turning back to Galen.
"But Galen."
"Yes."
"My choice still means you lose a chance to build fame."
"I'm really fine. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have said both sound interesting."
"I'm not. Even burying this quietly leaves the fact that the Steelwall expedition owes their lives to a church supervisor. A debt you created, so you should collect on it. The shares were yours to begin with."
"Pardon?"
Galen blinked. Daimus looked puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
"No, the shares came up suddenly."
"The ruins' shares, yes."
"Those are... mine?"
"Of course yours."
"But they were taken under the church's name. I expected you'd give me some, naturally..."
"Mercenary, yet naive in the odd way. Why would an employer touch a mercenary's side earnings from doing well on the job?"
"I-is that so?"
"When you took that pirate-hunting job in Belpas, did you hand over the sale of the captured ship to Belpas? Same thing."
Of course, Daimus didn't add that stingy employers were far more common.
He was a high priest who could temper desire, and the shares were unexpected windfall anyway.
Tens of thousands in gold was big even for an archdiocese, yet he offered it freely.
"Oh, I know your feats were huge, but share some with Bishop Lilia too."
"Ah, yes. Of course. Thank you so much."
Stunned, Galen bowed. At least it wasn't cash on the spot, so he recovered quickly.
"Anyway, anything else you want? I'll accommodate whatever I can."
"Even if you say that..."
Galen scratched his head.
It was sudden, but he'd never even thought to ask an employer for non-monetary rewards.
Asking for more money after tens of thousands felt tacky.
Excluding material rewards, church influence?
But where to swing church backing right now.
What Galen needed now was just time to digest his new Earth Bind and Territory Advance. Just a place and time to train.
Excluding church power... only Daimus personally left.
The archbishop was a powerhouse rivaling gem-rank warriors or mages.
'But so what? Ask for a spar? Looks weird, and effects wouldn't be as big as hoped.'
Bad intentions could lead to serious injury; sparring might expose weaknesses.
Spar only with family, sectmates, or trusted allies.
Daimus was top church brass; Galen wasn't even church-affiliated. Requesting a spar was rude, even if told to speak freely.
And even if risking rudeness, no dramatic gains.
Sparring gave better exp than solo, but paled against kill exp.
To see real effects, it needed near-real combat intensity—hard to demand repeatedly from Daimus. Once or twice, maybe.
'Not someone I can hang with casually like Lilia.'
Conclusion: nothing to ask for now.
As Galen was about to say he'd think and reply later, his eyes lit up.
"Wait, not sure if this is okay to ask, but..."
"Speak."
"Could you look after Lilia a bit?"
"Hm?"
"Pardon?"
Daimus and Lilia voiced doubts simultaneously.
"I've had some minor realizations from the ruins. Planning to stay put awhile to sort them out."
"And?"
"So Lilia would stay too. Could Your Excellency just watch over her a little during that time... something like that."
"Watch over meaning act as her master?"
"Yes. I know you're busy, Your Excellency... but Lilia's done mostly self-study so far. Radiant Glory, Blessing—proper pointers from you would—"
For Daimus, Lilia was a far easier sparring partner than Galen, and as future church talent, he'd gladly teach.
Lilia had mastered Radiant Glory's miracle then left on pilgrimage right away. Genius or not, lessons from master Daimus could refine her control.
Stronger Lilia benefited Galen too: ally power up, sparring partner tougher—more exp.
Good for all three, Galen thought, continuing.
"Hold on."
Daimus raised a hand, cutting him off. His eyebrow twitched.
"What did you just say?"
"Pardon?"
"Say it again."
"Your Excellency teaching some pointers..."
"No, before that. You said Blessing?"
"Yes."
"Blessing meaning the miracle of Blessing?"
"Yes?"
"Bishop Lilia can use the miracle of Blessing?"
"Uh... you didn't know? Wasn't it in the report?"
"Not a word!"
Galen looked to Lilia instead of saying more. Still a bit dazed, she nodded.
Pop!
Pale platinum flames rose weakly, enveloping Lilia's entire body.
"..."
Daimus froze, mouth agape. Only after a long while did he move.
Covering his face with his palm, he muttered in a deflated voice.
"...This is insane. For real."
That was the strongest curse allowable from an archbishop's station.