Chapter 80
Chapter 80
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Skeleton Holy Knight (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Does this even make sense?"
Only three Holy Knights had been offered as sacrifices.
From those three, he'd gained 14 points of Holy Power.
On top of that, one trait and two skills.
'So it's not just one stat per sacrifice.'
Above all, this incident had made one thing crystal clear.
No matter the exact criteria—which he didn't know yet—offering a single sacrifice didn't guarantee exactly one stat gain.
There were other differences too.
"The adventurers last time gave a total of 13 Holy Power combined..."
When he'd sacrificed those adventurers not long ago, the total Holy Power gained was 13.
This time, with just three Holy Knights, he'd gotten a whopping 14.
"Even the same stat varies in quantity depending on the target."
An adventurer had yielded at most 1 Holy Power each.
Holy Knights, on the other hand, had given 5 and 9 respectively from two of them.
The Eldorado Continent fundamentally worshipped the Goddess.
That was why the White Church held such strong sway.
"It wasn't strange that adventurers gave Holy Power too."
There were that many who believed in and followed the Goddess.
Holy Knights, however, were formally affiliated with the Church.
Unlike adventurers, they yielded far more Holy Power.
To sum it up:
If he needed Holy Power, he should hunt Holy Knights.
So, if he needed Magic Power?
Just like with Holy Knights this time, he should go after wizards.
Of course, it wouldn't guarantee getting exactly what he wanted.
"I got Mana Circuits and Fireball, but no Magic Power stat."
There had been a wizard among the sacrificed adventurers.
He'd acquired related skills, but no Magic Power stat.
Only Holy Power instead.
In the end, what you got was purely up to luck.
He immediately checked the stats he'd gained this time.
Goddess's Faith (D): Trait. Manifests in followers whose loyalty and faith toward the Goddess is excessive.
First, the D-rank trait: Goddess's Faith.
This trait wasn't anything special.
It was just a simple ability that appeared when faith was excessive.
Most Church members had it, but as he'd heard before, lacking it wasn't a big deal.
So, acquiring it didn't change much.
"This one's not very useful."
He quickly moved on to the next skills.
Judgment of Light (B): Skill. Delivers powerful judgment with holy light. Attacks enemies with intense light, purging evil.
Additional bonuses based on possessed Holy Power.
Holy Shield (C): Skill. A shield forged from the Goddess's blessing and holy energy. Wield it to block enemy attacks.
Additional bonuses based on possessed Holy Power.
"At least these are decent."
Judgment of Light and Holy Shield.
Skills used by the Church's Holy Knights and Heretic Inquisitors.
A perfect mix of offense and defense, and the descriptions explained why Church skills were so fearsome.
"In the end, it all comes down to Holy Power."
Even a C-rank skill could outperform its grade based on the individual's Holy Power.
Similar to the Goddess's Healing skill he'd gotten before.
Of course, Goddess's Healing tied its rank directly to Holy Power rank, so there was that difference.
"For now, I should use the Holy Power on myself."
He'd previously reinforced Maru with 13 Holy Power.
Thanks to that, Maru's Holy Power was currently E-rank.
Right now, he needed it more than Maru, whose was still F-rank.
He tapped the screen immediately.
He repeated the process.
After reinforcing all 14 Holy Power, he confirmed his own had risen to E-rank.
"Not bad."
The road ahead was long, but steady progress would do.
Since he was reinforcing anyway, he eyed the skills too.
"Hm."
Offense and defense skills.
Both appealing in their own way.
He'd considered giving both to Maru at first, but he couldn't neglect his own growth.
Especially Holy Shield—it suited his current self perfectly.
He started reinforcing right away.
As he tapped reinforce, a different effect appeared this time.
Intense light bloomed around him, enveloping his body.
The light seemed absorbed into him and soon vanished.
"Good, no pain."
The agony from acquiring Mana Circuits last time had him a bit anxious.
But fortunately, there was no pain this time.
He checked his new gains right away.
"Status Window."
👤 Name:Yi Kang-hyun✨ Traits:
📊 Basic Info:
🧩 Skills:
Holy Power had risen to E-rank.
And with Holy Power's rank up, Goddess's Healing had followed from F to E.
"Not bad at all."
He considered learning Judgment of Light too in this momentum, but no.
"Not something I really need."
If he got another skill someday, maybe, but it wasn't efficient for him now.
Handing it to Maru seemed better.
He reinforced it for Maru immediately.
Not immediately necessary for him, but too good to waste.
Maru's strength was his strength, after all.
They were on the Eldorado Continent now, but when Maru returned, it'd be a huge boost.
"That said, Goddess's Faith..."
The only remaining ability from the Holy Knights was Goddess's Faith.
The trait merely symbolized faith in the Goddess—nothing more useful.
Nothing special, hence its mere D-rank.
"Where to use this?"
No good ideas came to mind.
"Hold off on this one for now."
Even back in the Church, he'd heard it was nice to have but not essential.
Still, keeping it for himself felt like "why bother?"
"Just leave it."
No rule said he had to use it right away if it wasn't useful now.
So, he decided to shelve the trait cleanly.
He tapped Maru's name to skim his abilities.
👤 Name:Maru⭐ Rank:★★★★🏽 Race:Skeleton✨ Traits:
📊 Basic Info:
🧩 Skills:
Maru still lacked in stats.
But his growth potential was huge, so no worries.
Assuming there were sacrifices, that is.
That wasn't his department, so he decided to wait.
Wondering when Maru would return, he looked at the ramen Coco had made.
The moment he took a bite.
"Wait, why is this so spicy?"
He set down his chopsticks.
"Coco, come here."
Coco approached at his call.
"Why is this ramen so damn spicy?"
Coco went to the kitchen at his question and returned with something.
"Capsaicin?"
No wonder it was insanely hot.
But Coco's actions didn't stop there.
Coco naturally started pouring capsaicin into his ramen.
"?"
What the hell was this guy?
Confusion flooded his mind.
Maru and Celia were still talking.
The topic had shifted, but everything revolved around serving their great Master.
"If it's for the Master, you need to handle things on your own too, Maru."
"Clack!"
Maru responded to Celia's question.
"For example, quickly figuring out what the Master needs."
Maru listened intently to Celia.
That was indeed important.
"Right now, the Master wants the Sail Kingdom first and foremost."
"Clack?"
First he'd heard of it.
But Maru focused on Celia's words.
Was this the insight of a chief administrator?
"And as I mentioned earlier, the kingdom is in major turmoil."
The kingdom currently faced sharp divisions.
The King and his loyal nobles—the Royalists.
Versus the nobles prioritizing their own authority—the Aristocrats.
Short-term it was stable, but long-term, the kingdom was precarious.
And the White Church had sided with the Aristocrats.
In this situation, the King had few cards left.
"That's why we need to step in."
Celia smiled and pulled out a document.
"This is a contract with the Demon Realm Merchant Guild. We mainly buy dungeon necessities with it. And sell loot from adventurers in return."
Maru examined the contract.
It listed various transactions: dungeon expansions, goblin foodstuffs, weapons, and even monster troops.
"Clack clack?"
Maru voiced doubt upon seeing it.
Recent records showed multiple Skeleton Knights imported.
Why?
The dungeon he knew had plenty of troops already.
No need to bring in more via merchants.
Yet they'd spent magic stones on Skeleton Knights.
Was it really necessary?
"Sharp eyes, as expected."
Celia smiled at Maru's reaction.
"We who inherit the Master's will face activity restrictions here. So we brought unrestricted monsters from the Guild."
"Clack!"
Maru nodded in understanding.
"It costs a lot, but no problem. These will shift the kingdom's fate."
"Clack?"
"I gave Princess Irena a gift."
"Haha, I understand the Church's intentions well enough."
Count Vierton smirked slyly at the person before him.
Count Vierton.
The noble who knew the White Church had infiltrated Sail Kingdom first with Holy Knights.
He was also the leader of the chaotic Aristocrat faction in Derek Count's absence due to the stabbing incident.
Before him stood one such infiltrated Holy Knight from the Church.
Vice Captain Liana.
She had come to convey the Church's will.
'Once this is handled, the King becomes useless.'
With the Church's support, the tide had turned.
Moreover, this incident couldn't be glossed over by the Church or kingdom.
Priests and Holy Knights had vanished, after all.
Silence would undermine the Church's authority.
Making an issue of it would strip the King of power and prestige.
Then, nobles would effectively rule the kingdom.
'Princess Irena? I can crush her with a flick.'
Nothing stood in his way now.
"I trust you'll handle it well, Count. The Church won't forget your grace."
Liana said this as she lifted the contract she'd given him.
Light emanated from her hand, and the contract burned away.
The Sail Kingdom was locked in a Royalist vs. Aristocrat standoff.
The White Church aimed to expand into the Demon Realm via the kingdom.
This atmosphere suited the Church.
Their influence had been weak due to distance.
But supporting the Aristocrats created an opening.
Now, they could wield power over Sail nobles.
Liana rose.
Count Vierton followed suit.
"No, please rest comfortably a bit longer. Haha."
These were problem-solvers, so he offered the seat amiably.
Early as it was, he planned to invite her till dinner.
"I'm fine. Much to do before the Church arrives in force."
But Liana politely declined, shaking her head.
Her expression subtly frowned.
Seeming displeased, though Vierton didn't notice.
"Ah... Well, can't be helped then. I'll invite you formally next time, Vice Captain Liana."
Liana stood and glanced around.
Several armored knights were stationed nearby.
Armored head to toe without gaps.
Noticing her gaze, the Count boasted proudly.
"My loyal knights who guard the family. All devoted."
Pride colored his voice.
But Liana felt displeasure.
Not because knights were waiting here.
Their auras were extraordinary.
"......"
Unpleasant auras.
Unclear due to armor, but she felt something.
As Liana approached them.
"Vice Captain."
A subordinate approached from behind and whispered.
"A problem."
Problem?
"Three personnel missing."
Liana scowled.
While she spoke with the Count, her subordinates gathered intel.
Now three were gone.
"Leaving now."
Liana forgot the unpleasant auras and headed out.
No variables allowed at this point.