Heinrich (3)
The sword flies.
I stretched out the shield in my left hand to shed the sword, but…
Kagagak!
‘Shallow!’
After lightly scratching the shield, the sword breaks and cuts into the lower body.
He hurriedly swung the long sword in his right hand to block the attack, but the opponent’s attack did not stop there.
visor! Whip! Chuang—
Block the continuous attacks with the sword and shield in both hands.
I was able to barely respond with the help of my sharply honed intuition and a body trained through countless extreme training sessions.
Then at some point.
‘It’s your chance!’
A gap momentarily revealed to the opponent wielding the sword.
It wasn’t a complete gap. If we targeted that place, we would have had to take greater damage here.
However, if you are willing to give up the bones, you have the opportunity to cut off the flesh!
I swung my sword without hesitation…
and fell backwards due to the impact coming from the shield
.
“Ugh….”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa…. I was surprised. “Are you crazy?”
The other person, who staggered back, shook his head and shook one leg.
He must have stopped swinging his sword at the last moment and kicked my shield to increase the distance.
He frowned and continued to shake himself off, as if he had overexerted himself in the process.
“Hey, let’s stop here. In what kind of sparring are you rushing to your death like that? “No matter how much we are not afraid of getting hurt, that’s true.”
The senior crusader who played the role of the instructor who was the sparring partner grumbled.
Then, people watching came over and started talking as if they were discussing and reminiscing about the battle.
“Heinrich’s resilience is amazing. “If you think about that, isn’t it a good way to fight?”
“Anyway, that’s true. “What good is recovery if you get hit wrong and die in one hit?”
“If you can just control that, it looks pretty good, right? Take a certain amount of damage, quickly kill the enemy, and then recover…”
“Well, as long as you have enough divine power, it might be okay. And that guy’s divine power… everyone admits it. “Afterwards, we will rise so high that we won’t even be able to see our faces.”
As I said, a couple of months after my baptism, my divine power was almost at the level of a high priest.
The high priest was not in a low position as he was the head of a temple located in a small city.
‘The bishop in charge of this Thalia temple is just above the high priest. Of course, the gap is big.’
This is true in any field, as the gap widens the higher you go.
Rather, I was worried that the growth of divine power seemed to be slowing down these days.
‘I feel like I’ve reached a limit. In order to grow further, we will have to overcome this limit. ‘I haven’t quite figured it out yet.’
That must be the standard that differentiates a crusader from a paladin.
For now, I had no choice but to focus more on training.
《The entity achieved enlightenment through repeated training. Acquire the skill 「Crusader Combat Skills」》
As it turned out, there were results.
〈Individual Information〉
-Individual name: Heinrich
-Common characteristics: 「Mind Herb」, 「Persona」, 「Super Recovery」, 「Mysterious Index」
-Individual characteristics: 「Sacred Baptism」, 「Skeletonless」, 「Crusader Combat Art」
-Special Details: Outeri The spirit vein was connected to the main body of Ka, and the mana in the body was replaced by divine power. By using divine power, you can achieve various beneficial effects. Through training beyond limits, physical abilities are growing significantly.
I approached the senior crusader who was my sparring partner and bowed my head in greeting.
“Thank you for sparring!”
“Oh yeah. Good work. But it really increased a lot. At first, he was a guy who only believed in his physical abilities and ran wild, but I wonder how many months have passed since then and he has improved so much. Is this a talent?…”
“That’s right. “A guy who already had superior physical ability has mastered combat skills, so now he’s no match for most people and is training with instructors.”
A barrage of countless compliments.
I smiled shyly and simply repeated my thanks.
“Now that I think about it, you said you wanted to become a Holy Knight, right?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Yeah, it seems like the Holy Knights who come to the training ground from time to time are keeping an eye on you. “If you just keep going like now, there will be good news soon.”
“Hahaha, I really hope so.”
Although the Paladins had separate training grounds, there were times when they would train together, perhaps to coordinate their hands and feet in preparation for actual combat.
I attracted attention from the baptism ceremony, received a lot of attention during training, and was able to attract quite a bit of attention from the so-called ‘high-ranking people’.
In order to become a paladin, you had to be exceptional among the crusaders, so it was something I was happy to do.
And after a few days, I quickly realized that my senior’s words were not empty words.
“yes? To the Great Hall of Roselia?”
Roselia Grand Shrine.
The main shrine of the main religious order, located in the center of the ‘Aeon Continent’ where we are now, is the main shrine in the middle.
It is the largest of the few great temples in Outerica and was the heart of the religious order where the Pope and saints resided.
I received an offer to go to such a place together.
“Yes, the higher-ups must have really viewed you favorably to the point where they are trying to take you to the headquarters. “I guess you’re definitely planning on raising me?”
The temple chief who came to deliver the message scratched the back of his head.
As he said, this was a big opportunity.
An opportunity to escape from the borderland kingdom of Thalia and move on to a bigger stage.
“First of all, you asked me to ask your doctor. Because I am moving away from my hometown. “The distance between the headquarters and here is not close, and it will be difficult to return to my hometown in the near future.”
To begin with, this was not my hometown, so it didn’t matter to me.
Of course, I can’t say it as it is because I lied about my place of origin.
“it’s okay. After all, I have no family left here. What a sacred place there is! From the perspective of serving the main deity, isn’t it like a dream? “I really want to go!”
“Okay, I thought well. Because this is a really good opportunity. Then report it like that. “Make sure you prepare too.”
The temple leader then complained that he was jealous of going to the holy place and that he had to go there someday, but that it was difficult because of his family, and then disappeared to report.
‘The Holy Land and the Great Temple of Roselia…’
A place far away from here, on the western edge of the continent.
My heart pounded with anticipation of being able to see the wider world of Outerica.
***
The Immortal King punitive force was disbanded.
Although he actually fought more with vampires and warlocks than with the descendants of the Immortal King, his hard work over several months could not be ignored.
After a brief farewell party, they returned to their respective seats.
Archbishop Latius, the general manager, and Paladin Tuskin, his assistant.
Seven high priest-level battle priests led by one bishop.
Fifteen Silver Wing Holy Knights under Tuskin.
There’s a crusader stuck there.
These were the people who left the Kingdom of Thalia.
“Hoo… Are you that crusader named Heinrich? “He truly is a faithful young man.”
“Aspiring to become a Holy Knight? “Do you have any intention of taking the path of a priest?”
“What are you talking about! Holy power is divine power, but the muscles are very good. “If I work just a little harder, I can become a great paladin.”
“I heard at the training center that he was persistent and talented. “Maybe it’s a paladin’s job.”
I waited in the deep part of the temple with a group of over 20 people and politely responded to those who showed interest in me.
Because all the priests and paladins here were of high rank.
Depending on one’s belief in God, they were given divine power, and only if that power was strong could they ascend to a high position.
High-ranking officials are bound to have strong faith, so there can be no corruption, and therefore the church does not have to worry about spies.
This was also the reason why Heinrich was able to easily become a member of the church.
If your faith is weakened because you have other tricks or become corrupted, your divine power will also be affected.
This was the reason why the main religion became a de facto single religion.
‘I am an extremely exceptional situation. Well, it seems like the Lord knowingly neglected it, so I guess we can consider it as permission?’
So, some freedom is given to those who choose to be a paladin or a battle priest.
In the sense of traveling around the world and spreading God’s will.
This was also one of the reasons I wanted to become a paladin.
While they were talking, a door on one side opened and Archbishop Latius and Lord Tuskin came in.
“Is everyone prepared? “They say the transmission is ready, so let’s just move on.”
With Tuskin’s words, we moved further into the temple.
As instructed in advance, I packed only light luggage and simply followed the lead.
And the place we arrived was somewhat expected.
‘From the western tip of the continent to the center… Considering the traffic conditions here, it may take several months to travel by land. I expected it from the moment they said that only a small number of people were dispatched.’
An arched stone gate made of white marble located in a huge space.
The white stone gate was decorated with beautiful gold, and the golden wave that started from the gate spread around the bottom and softly illuminated the surroundings.
-……So the shepherd gave grace to the servants of the Lord, saying, “Be of strength to the servants who believe in the Lord as they spread His word.” He crossed the mountain in one step, crossed the sea in two steps…
-…… He preached the message to spread his will to all nations, and the earth folded, allowing people to go wherever they wanted. The eyes look out a thousand miles, and the feet step a thousand miles…
No, upon closer inspection, it was a prayer engraved in gold leaf.
All about miracles that ignore the limitations of distance and space.
“Then let’s begin.”
As soon as the group entered and greeted the priests guarding the place, they immediately surrounded the door and began reciting prayers.
And accordingly, the golden prayer text began to shine from the outside where the priests were, flowing all the way to the stone gate in the center.
‘It’s spectacular…’
A blue vortex formed from the center of the beautifully shining golden light surrounding the stone gate.
It was a phenomenon that could not be understood with the knowledge of Heinrich, who was still new to the sacred law.
A new power that cannot be grasped even with Hans’ knowledge of “black magic” or Heinz’s “blood magic.”
Woooooung—
With a small vibration sound, the blue vortex at the center gradually grew larger and filled the inside of the stone gate.
And the golden light that illuminated the surroundings slowly faded.
A blue gate that vibrates quietly.
“Then let’s move.”
With the Archbishop’s words, everyone moved to the door in a natural manner, as if they were familiar with it.
‘Well, it must have been like this when I came. Am I the only one seeing this for the first time?’
After saying their final goodbyes to Bishop Cromville, the head of the Thalia Temple, the group disappeared one by one through the gate.
Eventually, my turn came…
I threw myself into the blue whirlpool without hesitation.
‘Goodbye. Kingdom of Thalia! I am leaving to find a new land!’
If I cross this gate, the sacred land at the center of the continent will await me!
***
I confidently crossed the gate with ambition, but the place waiting for me was not a sacred place.
A temple of the Sharoti Kingdom located in the northeast of the Kingdom of Thalia.
When I heard the story, it was said that crossing half of the continent at once would have to be a very difficult task.
“There’s no particular reason to go back quickly now. “We plan to move in stable divisions.”
“Aha, I see.”
Thanks to this, I was able to take a day off to explore the transit points, so I was sightseeing the city with the youngest paladin in my group.
Perhaps out of consideration for me as it was my first time outside of Thalia, he volunteered to be my guide.
A few days like that.
“This is the last time. “Everyone, please prepare yourself properly before entering the sacred place.”
““Yes!””
Ugh—
crossing the blue whirlpool.
We finally arrived at the Roselia Grand Shrine in the Holy Land.
The first thing I saw was a transmission space no different from other temples.
And there was a group of priests gathered on one side.
“welcome. “Thank you all for your hard work.”
A girl standing in the middle of the priests stepped forward and greeted them with a smile.
Bright silver hair and sparkling gold eyes that scatter the surrounding light.
Just by appearing, it felt like the surroundings became brighter.
‘No, it’s not because of my mood?! Is that a halo?’
It was my first meeting with Saint Hatianus, Riesta, a saint of the main church.
***
“Heinrich has laid a foundation for stable growth, so now all he needs is time.”
Thinking back, I was lucky to go to the holy place.
Thanks to this, I was able to travel to cities I passed through along the way.
After growing up to a certain degree, you will be able to freely travel around the continent under the pretext of missionary work.
‘As a paladin respected by everyone!’
How sad it must have been for Hans, who couldn’t even appear in front of people, and Heinz II, who had to hide in fear.
That kind of life was now goodbye.
“Now that’s enough, I need to dispose of these things soon.”
I looked proudly inside the storage room.
Gold bars and other precious metals piled up in a corner.
It was the reward for all the hard work and sweat.
Slurp—
Heinz suddenly appeared without any trace and packed some precious metals into a bracelet-type subspace magic tool.
The bracelet was found among the treasures taken from the vampire mansion, and although it only has the capacity of a bag, it became a favorite because of its convenience.
‘Because subspace magic tools are rare.’
Heinz took the precious metal and headed to the window.
It was past 10 p.m. It was a good time to be active.
Heinz opened the window and disappeared into the darkness of the night.
How to dispose of it had already been decided.
Because while Heinrich suffered, we didn’t just sit idle.
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