Chapter 34
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 034
Chapter Title: Monster and Junk Dealer (4)
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"What the hell kind of group is it?"
I pressed Stalring.
He grimaced and began his explanation.
"It's a cult that sprang up after a massive peasant revolt in the east. Actually, calling it a religion is a bit of a stretch. Even including the cult leader, they've only got about twenty followers."
Church of Bliss.
Back when I was in the central region, I'd never even heard the name. It was a fledgling faith with zero recognition, just as I'd suspected. Its scale matched what Jade had told me—small-time.
"And those numbers took down Rabbit Farm?"
"Yep. According to the survivors, the moment the leader gave the order, his followers charged in like madmen. They said scythes slicing them or pitchforks impaling them didn't faze them one bit."
"So that's why they got overrun."
"An army that doesn't know pain is terrifying, sure. But the real game-changer was the leader's magic."
"The leader's magic?"
Stalring nodded at my question.
He glanced around warily, as if terrified the story might leak out.
"The Church of Bliss leader supposedly ripped out the heart of a captured villager, squeezed it between his hands, and greedily slurped up the dripping blood."
"Sounds like a lunatic."
"I told you, it's nothing but crazies. If the followers are nuts, what do you expect from the leader?"
As he spoke, a sudden question popped into my head.
He'd called the leader a mage, but there was zero description of what spell he'd cast.
"You said the leader's a mage. What kind of magic did he use?"
"Oh, right, I forgot. After he drank the blood from that heart, a few of the followers transformed into monsters. Really, really grotesque ones. And those monsters played a huge role in overrunning the village."
"Oh... yeah, that does sound like magic."
"Right?"
A spell that turns people into monsters?
Of course it existed.
Transformation magic and polymorph spells fit the bill.
Though there was a subtle difference between them.
Transformation altered the caster's own body, while polymorph changed someone else's.
So the Church of Bliss leader had likely cast polymorph on his own followers.
"Tell me more about what those monsters looked like."
"Well... their body structure was humanoid, at least."
"Anything else?"
"Skin pale like it'd never seen sunlight, no lips so gums and teeth were fully exposed. Oh, and arms that dangled down past the knees."
"Hard to picture just from words."
No matter how hard I racked my brain, nothing came to mind.
I'd probably have to see one myself to figure it out.
And if I still didn't recognize it after that?
Then it was something truly unknown—no match among the monsters Master had taught me about.
'Leader's a mage. Uses polymorph. One oddity: high chance he also employs enchantment spells.'
Followers utterly loyal to the leader's commands.
Could be brainwashing, but I couldn't rule out mind-ensnaring magic either.
Stalring himself was using his own enchantment skills to treat the Nahcher mercenaries like his personal limbs, after all.
"Anyway, that's all I know. I was already thinking of relocating because of those Church of Bliss freaks, and hearing about them from you is giving me chills."
Stalring shuddered visibly.
As if reliving the survivors' tales.
"Thanks. That helped."
I said, ready to wrap up the conversation.
But Stalring had a question for me.
"Why the sudden interest in the Church of Bliss?"
"Heard something about them on the way here. Just verifying."
I kept the details vague.
I still didn't fully trust Stalring.
What if he was connected to them?
My questions alone might make him suspicious.
And he'd report back to the leader.
Of course, that was the worst-case scenario.
"Anyway, be careful. If you run into them while traveling, run like hell."
Stalring warned me emphatically.
I just nodded.
Couldn't exactly tell him I was heading straight for their leader.
I left the cave with Bear.
I scanned him up and down.
Bear looked worlds different from before we'd met Stalring.
Most striking was the chainmail armor, no doubt.
It screamed expensive.
Though beat-up, it didn't show unless you looked closely.
One downside: the length was a tad short.
'Like a crop top.'
The chainmail barely covered his torso—not because it was too short, but because Bear was so damn tall.
If I wore it, it'd reach my thighs.
Meaning the armor itself was fine.
Couldn't fix it right now, so I'd hit up a blacksmith later for alterations.
'And that's not all he picked up.'
Bear had reinforced his defense with leather gauntlets and boots.
Gauntlets up to the wrists, boots past the knees—military-grade for sure.
Probably a knight's gear.
With basic equipment in place, Bear finally looked the part of a knight.
Any random thug would think twice.
Fewer hassles on the road.
Satisfactory.
'Bear seems pleased too.'
His steps were lighter, bouncier than usual.
Proper gear lifting his spirits.
Of course, he wasn't ungrateful—he'd grabbed usable stuff for me too.
Thanks to him, I got new gloves and boots.
Handing over top-tier gear wasn't enough; he even yielded a grimoire?
Stalring was a good mage, through and through.
'Now, ride this momentum and knock out the Little Flame Grimoire's trial.'
Geared up like this, plus a new spell?
I'd have the edge against the Church of Bliss.
A few days passed since meeting Stalring.
Destination in sight.
I halted there briefly.
To learn a new spell.
High chance of battling the Church of Bliss—better max out my strength first.
'That's why I've been grinding mana clay nonstop.'
I'd claimed a clearing since morning.
Piles of recently made mana clay surrounded me.
Enough to cover my upper body and then some.
Hauling this crap had been a nightmare.
'Worth every ache.'
Durability tests were done ages ago.
Regular clay crumbled in flames after ten seconds.
Dried out fast.
Mana clay held for over thirty, easy.
That's why I felt confident tackling the Little Flame Grimoire's demands.
Whoosh!
I built a bonfire in the clearing's center, tossing in wood liberally to ramp it up.
Then I heard the Little Flame Grimoire's voice.
"Yes, that's it! Now, throw yourself in!"
Excited by the flames?
Louder than before.
Intensity seemed right.
Time for the main event.
Splat.
I stripped off my shirt and slathered mana clay on my belly.
Moist and smooth—actually kinda nice.
'Smearing clay on myself. Never thought I'd see the day.'
Diligently coating up, my torso soon turned clay-brown.
Problem: my back.
Needed help for that.
"Bear, mind lending a hand?"
To conserve mana for Tree Bark, I'd unsummoned Gilbert ages ago.
Bear was my only option.
"Yes, sir."
He complied without complaint.
As he smeared my back, doubt crept in.
Ridiculous.
Having my bodyguard slather mud on me?
My mage dignity was in tatters.
'Can't be helped if I want the spell.'
Swallowing my pride, my back got a thick layer soon enough.
Head next.
Another request to Bear.
Arms pinned in at-attention pose, couldn't move them.
Before covering my face, I looked at him.
"Bear, my safety's on you now."
Upper body clay-sealed, diving into fire left me defenseless.
One hit, and I'd die pathetically.
Bear's role was crucial.
If he harbored ill intent?
He wouldn't miss this chance.
So this trial doubled as a loyalty test.
"Don't worry."
Bear replied with his usual reliability.
Confirmed, I gave the order.
"Begin."
Right after, I held my breath.
Bear slathered my face thickly.
World went dark, but my mind sharpened.
Now it was a race against time—no hesitation.
'Here goes!'
I hurled myself at the pre-marked spot.
Steam-like sizzle hit immediately.
Landed true.
Probably charring like pottery in the kiln right now.
'Nail it first try. Clean.'
The Little Flame Grimoire's first spell, Burning Hand.
Took about twenty seconds with my hand in the fire.
This would be similar, maybe a bit longer.
I could hold my breath for a max of one minute.
Confident.
'Getting hot.'
Around ten seconds in, heat built.
I triggered Tree Bark right then.
Bark enveloped my torso instantly.
Coolness returned.
'I've done all I can.'
Now, endure.
Counting seconds, I focused on the grimoire's voice.
Only it could call me out.
"If these flames consume you, you'll die. But if you consume the flames instead, you'll gain the power to burn the world!"
The Little Flame Grimoire said excitedly.
Burn the world my ass...
Pure bluff.
'Wait, when does this end? Feels like over twenty seconds.'
Was panic speeding my internal clock?
Seemed past twenty, but the grimoire wasn't satisfied.
"Do you hear it? The whispers of the flames calling to you!"
This was bad.
Crisis hit.
Way past twenty seconds, no end in sight.
Psychological pressure? Chest already tightening.
Limit sooner than expected.
'Just a bit more...'
I gritted through it.
Just past forty seconds.
Finally, the words I'd waited for.
"Pass! That's enough!"
Voice hit, I rolled sideways several times.
Then thrashed my head to crack the hardened clay.
Arms useless—best I could do.
Thud!
How many head-bangs later?
Clay wouldn't budge.
Meantime, breath craving hit max.
'Die like this?'
Cause of death: 'Entered fire encased in mana clay, became human pottery, deceased.'
Mage-like end, maybe...
As I pondered, someone flipped me over.
Crack!
Impact on my face.
One hit shattered the clay.
Eyes snapped open—blurry light pierced through.
"Gasp!"
I gulped air greedily on instinct.
Bear's voice cut through my ragged breaths.
"Are you alright?!"
Worry laced his tone.
Doubly joyful compared to the grimoire's 'pass.'
"Thanks. You saved my life."
Saving his lord?
That's a knight.
I believe you, Bear.
Loyal to the core.
Inwardly knighting him proper, I checked my new spell.
Business first.
'Leaping Flames?'
Leaping Flames (Lv. 1)
Target an enemy; a fireball flies toward them. On hit, flames leap to nearby foes.
Leaping Flames.
Target an enemy, fireball launches.
On impact, spreads to surrounding enemies.
Info sank in—mind raced.
Finally, a multi-target spell, not single.