Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Order (2)
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It was an effect I'd never seen before.
None of the items I had obtained so far displayed an effect like this.
Even the grimoires had been no exception; they hadn't come with any special effects.
A unique effect, one that hadn't appeared even when I acquired the grimoires, was now flowing from the newly obtained Magic Sword: Ednos.
This was probably proof that this item was more significant than most grimoires.
"A magic sword? So they have items like this, too."
Marveling at the effect enveloping the magic sword, I examined the item more closely.
Despite its name, the Magic Sword: Ednos resembled a dagger more than a conventional sword.
Below the beautifully crafted blade was a hilt adorned with jewels.
Tap.
When I tapped the item in my inventory, the detailed information for Magic Sword: Ednos appeared.
Perhaps it was because of its name, "magic sword."
The Magic Sword: Ednos possessed a trait not found on ordinary items.
"The trait's name is... Mana Accumulation?"
Mana Accumulation.
That was the name of the trait bestowed upon the Magic Sword: Ednos.
The effect of the Mana Accumulation trait was to absorb magic up to ten times.
The absorbed magic was stored inside the Magic Sword: Ednos, and it seemed possible to free up space by releasing the stored spell.
A trait that stores an opponent's magic.
It would be difficult for me to use it directly, but I figured it would be a huge advantage in battles between characters.
One could release a powerful spell that had already been stored.
It was also possible to suddenly erase an opponent's magic and return the attack to them.
It was a trait that could create various advantages for a character depending on the situation.
"Maybe it's because this is the 80,000 won gacha, but it feels like better stuff is dropping."
The overall quality of the items from the gacha seemed to have improved as well.
Compared to before, the proportion of Sponge Cakes appearing over Baguettes had significantly increased.
Seeing Sharp Iron Swords drop instead of Iron Swords also suggested it was definitely worth the 80,000 won.
Worth 80,000 won.
I stroked my chin and pondered for a moment, but seeing the magic sword I had just pulled convinced me once again.
"This made it worth the pulls. Now then... who should I give this magic sword to?"
After the gacha session, it was time to think about distributing the items.
Unlike the grimoires, the magic sword wasn't an item I could use myself.
Normally, I would have given this to Yutenia, but it didn't seem like a suitable item for her.
Yutenia was a mage who could wield a Divine Artifact.
Giving a magic-absorbing sword to someone like her wouldn't be very efficient.
If not Yutenia, then who should I give this sword to?
As I pondered this, a man lingering around Yutenia caught my eye.
- Loan Hebriss has acquired the Fanatic trait.
- Karma has increased by 1.
The character hovering near Yutenia was named Loan Hebriss.
He was a character who had acquired the Fanatic trait after being influenced by his encounter with Yutenia.
I hadn't noticed at first, as I was focused on the grimoires, but I found out about it later.
Through a later conversation with Yutenia, I learned that Loan wanted to become one of my characters.
Of course, with a limited amount of Karma, I couldn't just make anyone an Apostle.
Still, there was no reason to leave a character with the Fanatic trait idle.
I focused the screen on the bustling Loan.
"Right, you were here too."
The other day, during my conversation with Yutenia, I had promised to give Loan a suitably high position.
According to the speech bubble translator, the position was called Archbishop.
Since Scales of Karma: Offering could also be activated by non-Apostle characters, the rest of the conversation involved me telling Yutenia to teach him about offerings.
This was because the sacrifices Loan offered to me could also be converted into Karma.
My plan was to gradually increase the number of characters with the Fanatic trait, centered around Loan, and ultimately use this faction to streamline my Karma acquisition.
"Well, he's an Archbishop in name, at least. I can't just give him nothing."
Even if it was just a title, an Archbishop was an Archbishop.
When Yutenia left on her journey to collect grimoires, Loan would have to work diligently in her place.
It would be troublesome if he got stabbed by another character while working alone.
After all, I couldn't just leave someone of the Archbishop's stature completely defenseless, could I?
After a moment of thought, I decided to gift the newly acquired Magic Sword: Ednos to Loan.
My calculation was that by utilizing the magic-storing trait of the Magic Sword: Ednos, it could be of great help to Loan.
"A magic-storing trait. In that case..."
The magic sword's ability to store magic.
My gaze naturally shifted to the skill button in the corner of the screen.
Lightning Arrow.
It was a powerful spell that dealt area-of-effect damage and damage-over-time.
So, what would happen if I stored my Lightning Arrow in the Magic Sword: Ednos up to its limit?
An item that would allow a character to use Lightning Arrow up to ten times.
In a way, he would be stronger than I was back when I was low-level.
"Yeah. Magic is all about AoE."
The image of Loan spamming Lightning Arrow with the magic sword.
Just thinking about it made my heart swell with excitement.
Having decided the fate of the Magic Sword: Ednos, I put my smartphone down on the desk and stood up.
It was about time I got hungry.
I was thinking of making some ramen.
Mulling over which ramen to eat today, I headed to the kitchen to boil some water.
"I'll give him the item later."
A large, open space in a corner of the hideout.
There, Loan's hands were moving busily.
The darkened clearing was illuminated by glowing stones, and on the ground, a geometric pattern was drawn in white paint.
Around the complex symbols were countless words of praise written in an ancient script.
This was the altar that Loan, newly appointed as the Order's Archbishop, had created under Yutenia's guidance.
The sacrificial altar was situated on a platform, higher than usual.
With a final stroke, having used up the last of the paint to meticulously inscribe the final character, Loan set the bowl down on the ground.
"Is that the last of it...?"
Having completed the altar, cold sweat trickled down Loan's forehead.
This was an altar to be offered to a god.
It was a task that demanded even more care and devotion than performing magic.
With his hands now free, Loan took a few steps back to gaze at the altar.
A satisfied smile touched Loan's lips as he surveyed the altar he had created.
Despite it being the first altar he had ever drawn, it showed no major flaws.
In Loan's own opinion, it was a splendidly made altar.
"Good work, Loan."
"Not at all. It is all thanks to you, Apostle."
Beside Loan sat Yutenia, watching him while nibbling on a sponge cake.
A hand extending from her shadow held up the cake plate, from which Yutenia would reach out and pick up a piece of cake.
Loan stared blankly at her for a moment, at Yutenia's almost acrobatic feat.
He had thought so ever since he saw her pull a book from her shadow, but to Loan, it was a truly extraordinary sight.
"By the way, are all the sacrifices ready?"
"..."
"Archbishop Loan?"
"...It's nothing. The sacrifices have been well prepared."
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Loan looked back at the altar before him.
What was important to him now was the offering ritual.
The way the Apostle ate her cake was of no consequence.
"If there are no other issues, let's proceed with the ritual."
"Understood, Apostle. You lot over there! Move the prepared slaves to the altar!"
At Loan's command, the waiting followers began to move.
Through the process of gathering sacrifices, the number of followers loyal to Loan had grown significantly.
Those who feared a meaningless death had naturally chosen to convert.
Thanks to Loan's indoctrination and the bandits' testimonies, these converts had been reborn as diligent workers.
Any lingering doubts would be completely extinguished after today's ritual.
"You've prepared more than I expected."
"I have no intention of disappointing Him with the very first ritual."
"That's a good mindset to have."
Slaves bound by ropes were piled onto the altar one by one.
It was thanks to the followers who moved briskly upon receiving their orders.
After piling up all the prepared slaves, the followers bowed to Loan and stepped back.
Loan's existence as a black magician was an object of fear in itself.
Those who had resisted his orders were already on the altar, so no one voiced any complaints toward Loan.
"Now, let the ritual begin."
Once all preparations for the ritual were complete, Loan moved to his proper position.
Facing the altar, a sigh escaped Loan's lips.
This was a ritual to offer tribute to a god and receive a response.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't trembling.
Calming his tense body, Loan spread his arms wide and began to recite the prayer.
"O, life. Build the staircase."
Amidst the solemn atmosphere, Loan's calm voice echoed.
As the ritual began, all the surrounding followers knelt toward the altar.
Yutenia, who was watching the ritual, was no exception.
While everyone stared at the altar, observing the ritual, Loan silently continued his prayer.
"One path, toward glory."
The contents of the grand prayer, crying out to a god.
One phrase became a wonder that shook the people, and the next became a tremor that shook heaven and earth.
A coarse pulse. And a gasp of awe.
For the lowly beings who looked up to their god, the gates of heaven revealed themselves.
A colossal gaze manifested its presence, looking down upon those who prayed to it.
"Revere. Worship. Offer."
The bodies of those to be sacrificed were enveloped in a brilliant radiance.
Confronted by the immense presence, Loan's body trembled violently.
But he did not yield to the pressure crushing his entire body, and Loan continued to recite the prepared prayer.
"Sing the hymn of life."
The moment the prayer reached its final verse.
With a sudden flash of light, the sacrifices on the altar vanished.
Nowhere on the altar did the sacrifices remain.
The offering ritual had succeeded.
Realizing this, a moved smile spread across Loan's face.
Overcome with emotion, Loan cried out to his master in a loud voice.
"O, Great One!"
And at that very moment, something unusual happened at the empty altar.
Thud.
A single dagger, having fallen from the sky, had embedded itself in the very center of the altar.
The dagger plunged into the altar was wreathed in a deep darkness.