Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Digestion (3)
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The church didn't just serve as a beacon of faith. It had to confront real demons and their minions, so it strictly assigned ranks based purely on ability.
A cleric's ability was naturally measured by how many of the ten miracles they could wield.
Setting aside the Stigmata miracle—which merely made one's eyes glow and was nothing more than the mark of an unordained acolyte...
Formal clerics could use two miracles per rank.
Deacons wielded Purification and Vitality.
Priests commanded Healing and Fortification.
Bishops held Brilliance and Blessing.
Even within the same rank, the gap between a cleric who could use only one miracle and one who mastered both was enormous.
The value of a deacon who could merely cleanse filth differed vastly from one who could restore both their own stamina and that of others.
Just as the worth of a priest relegated to treating the wounded in the rear paled against one who could fight on the front lines differed.
The same held true for bishops.
The Brilliance miracle alone made them capable of battling golden warriors or mages.
Blessing amplified combat power even further, introducing variables that could let them destroy magic beasts on their own.
It was the pinnacle, where a cleric could fulfill every role demanded of them.
"Well, this is..."
Daimeros couldn't help but feel baffled.
He'd heard Lilia unlocked Brilliance last fall, and she'd been ordained as a bishop that winter.
Yet here she was, unlocking Blessing at the first sign of spring.
Clerics, like warriors or mages, naturally slowed in their growth as their rank advanced. But Lilia seemed to be accelerating instead.
"...Hoo."
Daimeros let out a long sigh after spending ages trying to sort through his muddled thoughts.
He lowered the hand that had covered his face and straightened in his seat.
"Since when?"
The question was directed at Lilia. She'd returned to her usual self in the interim and answered brightly, as always.
"I realized it during the ruins expedition, thanks to Brother Galen!"
"Ah, that again."
Galen waved her off with an exasperated look, as if he couldn't convince her otherwise.
"It's not thanks to me, I keep telling you. You're just creating misunderstandings."
"But the whole process was tied up with you, Brother."
"That's because we were together the whole time. My role was at best a seasoning—a spice."
"Like salt! That's how it felt to me, so it must be true!"
"I didn't feel that way, so it isn't, then?"
"Don't bicker over something so silly. You're both just praising each other in the end."
Daimeros intervened with an incredulous shake of his head at the bickering pair, then asked again.
"In any case, you realized a new miracle during the ruins expedition?"
"Yes!"
Lilia answered energetically, then lowered her voice slightly as something occurred to her.
"Hmm... Come to think of it, I don't think I told Bishop Jiava. I forgot..."
"That happens. Bishop Jiava isn't the type to bury a report on purpose."
The timing of Lilia's Blessing miracle had been when they went to destroy the captain doll.
They'd been far from the expedition team then, so no one but Galen had witnessed it properly—and Jiava hadn't even been on site.
There was no way she'd know unless Lilia told her directly.
Lilia wasn't one to boast about her abilities, so she didn't gossip about every little detail from the battles.
Now that the information had reached the archbishop, verbally or in writing, it didn't matter anymore.
"Well, anyway..."
Daimeros trailed off and turned to Galen.
"You're staying awhile?"
"Yes. At least two months."
"If your goal is to consolidate your realizations, you won't settle for an ordinary inn room."
"Pardon? Ah, yes. I couldn't train at an inn anyway. We'll need to rent a house."
Back then—a few months ago—she could hole up in an inn room, play with a basin of water, and level up.
Those days were gone. She needed a proper training ground now.
Especially since she was still publicly operating as a water mage.
"Then come back once preparations are ready."
"Pardon?"
"My private quarters double as a prayer room, so they're unsuitable for instruction. It'd be better to borrow whatever space you prepare. Wouldn't that beat using the church's public training grounds?"
"Of course."
"D-does that mean you'll teach us?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure how much I have to teach you, but let's start there."
"Ah, thank you!"
Lilia shot to her feet and bowed deeply, her happiness practically piercing the ceiling.
Suppressing a chuckle, Galen bowed his head as well.
"Thank you for indulging our impudent request."
"Impudent? From the church's perspective, it's a welcome one."
"Then we'll prepare as quickly as possible and visit again."
"Come anytime. You must be tired from the long journey—let's end here for today."
With that, the pair concluded their report and left the archbishop's office.
"Brother!"
The moment they stepped into the corridor, Lilia practically clung to Galen. Caught off guard by the sudden assault, he nearly stumbled.
"Thank you so much! I never dreamed we'd receive instruction from His Excellency!"
"Wh-what did I even do?"
"You brought it up! I hadn't even considered it!"
"You should thank His Excellency, who agreed to teach."
"Not that again! This time, it's definitely thanks to you!"
Her eyes sparkled so intensely it was as if they'd been blessed separately, leaving no doubt she was absolutely thrilled.
Her gaze poured down insistently, as if demanding he admit it. Though flustered, Galen nodded.
"Alright, sure. Let's say so."
"Hee hee."
Finally satisfied, Lilia beamed and stepped back from Galen, even humming a little tune. She seemed in exceptionally high spirits.
Not that Galen had any reason to feel bad about it. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he swiftly changed the subject.
"Anyway, shall we go? The sooner we find a place, the sooner we get our lessons."
"Yes!"
The sun hadn't fully set yet.
No need to call it a day, so Galen and Lilia headed to Mezaia's mercenary guild.
Not to take a commission, but to gather information.
Nothing major—just the sort of miscellaneous info you didn't know who to ask about, easily bought at the guild for a fee.
"Shall I assign a guide?"
"Please do."
The broker Galen sought was the most reliable in the city.
It was a bit late, but as always, money opened doors.
No mere broker would turn away a golden mage and bishop duo after hours anyway.
"R-rent a house?"
"Two months to start."
Galen stated his requirements.
"A mage's place is probably too much to hope for. Any warrior homes? Ideally with a training yard inside the walls. A dedicated one would be even better."
"For a training yard, what size were you thinking?"
"Bigger the better, naturally. Not some tiny patch—at least big enough for two or three to swing swords freely."
"I have a few in mind. But they're generally a bit run-down... might not suit you two young folks as a nest."
"...It's just for two months—what do you mean 'nest'?"
There were a few hiccups, but after checking several places the next day, they found something satisfactory.
The house was decently sized, no dedicated yard but a spacious, unused courtyard instead of a pointless garden.
Being on the market, it was well-maintained. A bit worn, as the broker said, but it wasn't meant to last a lifetime.
Galen signed the contract for five gold coins over two months.
A few extra silvers to the broker brought movers who handled everything.
The entire mansion underwent a deep clean, essential furniture like beds delivered and set up.
More hands made light work—spare no expense on labor, and in half a day, the place was transformed.
'Even temporary, it feels oddly nice...'
Galen watched the house come alive with human presence and suddenly thought.
No matter how brief, a house felt different from an inn. More settling, somehow.
Just a year ago, he'd taken such feelings for granted.
'Already a year, huh...'
New Year had passed, and more than half of early spring's month gone.
Right around this time last year.
When Jerbon died, and he'd first learned Water Flow Manipulation.
Without that raid, he'd probably still be serving Jerbon uneventfully.
'That life wouldn't have been bad... Nah, can't say for sure.'
Galen gave a wry smile as the thought slipped out.
Even if Jerbon lived, the siblings' relationships were a mess.
The lower two outshone the upper three in character, but not in skill.
In the same elite family environment, age usually meant strength.
More training, more combat experience—no helping it.
Talent could buck the trend, but sadly, Elisa and Jerbon's didn't overwhelm the gap with the elder three.
He'd have struggled to surge ahead in the family head race.
'Jerbon chose me, not the other way around, but I'd have backed the wrong horse. Might've been discarded later under "eliminating rivals."'
Activating his status window felt like a godsend in hindsight.
He'd escaped passive drifting, gaining the power to shape situations actively.
A bit more strength, and he could crush those three siblings openly—no one would object.
Though the past year's intensity had dulled the thrill, pushing it down his priorities.
Still, he'd visit someday.
'Wonder how Lady Elisa's doing.'
He'd amassed enough gold that a hundred coins felt trivial.
But objectively, a hundred gold wasn't chump change, nor did it dilute Elisa's kindness back then.
He could settle the debt while crushing the trio. Surely nothing had gone wrong in the meantime—
"What're you thinking so deeply about?"
"Eek?!"
Lilia's face suddenly appeared right in front of him. Galen jolted in surprise.
"N-nothing."
"I called, but no answer."
"Must've been lost in thought."
"That's why I'm asking what you were thinking so deeply!"
Her innocent eyes made him feel oddly guilty. Not romantically, but he'd been musing on another woman.
Galen shook his head to banish the Oceanis family and smoothly changed topics.
"Just reminiscing a bit. Anyway, what is it?"
"Ah, looks like we're almost done settling in. Shall we fetch His Excellency?"
"Sounds good."
"A housewarming! His gift can be lessons!"
Galen nodded in agreement to Lilia's eager words.
"I'm curious too. Just how far is Gem rank?"