CHAPTER 57
The Holy Church’s cathedral, built in the Valterion Empire, was the second largest in the world.
Excluding the Holy Land, where the entire city is the Holy Church, it was effectively the largest.
There, I was being guided by a bishop of the Holy Church named Eden.
I’d assumed he was just a regular bishop since Babiyen had approached him so readily, but Eden held a higher rank than I expected.
According to Babiyen, he had been raised in the Holy Church since birth and had a great deal of seniority. He was apparently a bishop who made sure to get his face known among the capital’s nobility, which said it all.
As such, he promptly arranged a Paladin trial for me.
“A 1st Grade Holy Mage is something we don’t even see among the Cardinals, save for the Saintess herself. We are truly honored to have such a distinguished guest!”
Ever since hearing the news, Eden had been beaming from ear to ear.
To think being a 1st Grade Holy Mage would get me this kind of treatment. It was surprising.
“By the way, is it alright that I’m a Transferee?”
Perhaps it was because I’d lived a life of discrimination as a Transferee.
I had a slight sense of unease.
On top of that, although I had casually mentioned my name, there was also the fact that I was Rapiel's former disciple.
Even though I was officially considered dead by the hands of the Red Flame Lord, there was a chance this could be used against me.
‘Ah, then again, the fact that I'm a 1st Grade Holy Mage was never widely known in the first place.’
The only thing known about me, Rapiel's disciple, was the single anecdote of surviving an encounter with Cosmic Jac, the Sin of Sloth.
I had only been Rapiel’s disciple for a few months, so it was only natural.
Heck, most of my fellow disciples from that time didn't even know my name.
My former identity was so thoroughly forgotten there wasn't even enough left to exhume.
Several months had already passed since then.
At this point, besides the people around me, there was no one who could equate Harua, Rapiel’s disciple, with the person I was now.
“Haha, do you think the Embrace of Holy Light would be unable to embrace someone just because they are a Transferee?”
Eden chuckled as if he’d heard a funny story.
“Before the Transcendent, we are all but young lambs. The only difference is whether one is a lost lamb or a lamb walking the righteous path. There is no other difference between us.”
Huh, is the Holy Church a better place than I thought?
Eden's eyes held a sincere emotion.
As he invoked the name of a Transcendent, there seemed to be not a shred of falsehood in his words.
Well, even in a world where the existence of divine beings is uncertain, humans crave and have faith in a god.
In this world, divine beings called Transcendents clearly exist.
With real gods around, there would be no reason to doubt them.
It made sense that places like the Church would flourish all the more.
“That’s a fine teaching. I hope for a world where everyone thinks that way.”
“To think you would understand my sincerity. I do hope you will consider converting to the Holy Church, Sir Harua.”
As I chatted and smiled with Bishop Eden, Babiyen, who was following behind, had a face like death. Even Aranseol, who usually didn’t get along with Babiyen, was looking at her with pity.
I'd have to treat her to something tasty later.
“This is the Paladin training grounds.”
In the meantime, Bishop Eden finished his guidance.
A training ground set up inside the cathedral.
An open space spread out before us.
The training ground was filled with able-bodied men, and my eyes rotted on the spot.
The reason was simple.
They were all wearing nothing but loincloths, violently clashing against each other.
The sight of muscular men, stripped down and fighting fiercely, was something I couldn’t bear to watch.
This place was clearly possessed by Satan.
“They are in the middle of training.”
But Bishop Eden had an expression that said this was a very familiar scene.
Aranseol and Babiyen’s expressions didn't change either.
In other words, this was how Paladins normally trained.
Something is very wrong with this world.
“Um, Bishop Eden, why are the Paladins dressed like that?”
“Ah, is this your first time seeing it? The Paladins’ training is based on the premise of getting injured. Regular clothes wouldn’t last. So, this reverent appearance is more practical.”
So he was saying this was a rational choice, in a way.
Indeed, the Paladins were all covered in wounds.
It was only natural, as they were all wielding real weapons like swords.
They were like wild animals.
Wielding their weapons, they fought desperately, crying out gutturally for victory alone.
The scene, spattered with blood and flying flesh, was truly reminiscent of hell.

It was a horrific sight that could hardly be called training.
After this spectacle continued for some time, the Paladins collapsed in rows.
They had passed out from accumulated fatigue and blood loss.
But they didn't stop there.
Lying scattered on the ground, they all began to heal themselves.
The wound-covered Paladins gradually started to recover.
Those who couldn't heal enough on their own were approached by waiting acolytes who forcibly healed them.
A moment later, as soon as the Paladins were healed, they resumed their training.
It seemed this scene would continue until the day ended.
I now understood why Paladins had long been regarded as a symbol of terror.
By always treating training as real combat, they enhanced their fighting skills and Divine Power, so they feared neither battle nor injury.
They were bound to be treated like monsters.
“This, too, is all a path guided by the Embrace of Holy Light.”
Bishop Eden maintained his consistently benevolent smile.
So this is what religion is like in this world.
It was on a completely different level from the religions I’d seen on Earth.
“What do you think? Would you like to try it right away? I am certain you can become the greatest of Paladins, Sir Harua!”
Well, I’m a guy who resurrects even if I die.
If I had to say, my aptitude as a Paladin would be top-tier.
As I was hesitating, my eyes met Aranseol’s.
The moment our eyes met, Aranseol smiled brightly.
Seeing that smile, for some reason, strength flowed through my entire body.
“Let’s do it.”
Yeah, what’s the worst that could happen? I’d just die.

Bishop Eden immediately introduced me to the Captain of the Capital Paladin Order.
Aigis, the Captain of the Capital Paladin Order.
Instead of the burly man I had imagined, a platinum-blonde woman appeared.
Flawless white skin and well-maintained hair.
Based on looks alone, she was a beautiful woman.
However, she was taller than me.
And her muscles, excluding her face, exuded an overwhelming sense of intimidation.
This person.
Isn’t she a Lord-class powerhouse?
“The Divine Lord.”
Babiyen muttered in a surprised voice.
Not just Lord-class, but an actual Lord.
“A pleasure to meet you, Sir Harua! I am Aigis, Captain of the Capital Paladin Order!”
A tremendously loud voice echoed resoundingly.
The moment Aigis heard I was a 1st Grade Holy Mage, she showed an intense welcome.
Even the Captain of the Paladin Order was welcoming me.
Honestly, was the Holy Church built just for me?
I don’t think I’ve ever been this welcomed since coming to this world.
If I had ended up at the Holy Church instead of the Radiance Faith when I was first transferred, my life would have been so much more peaceful.
They were both religions, but they were worlds apart.
“Harua, you can do it.”
Cheered on by Aranseol, none other than the Divine Lord herself personally assisted with my training.
She checked my body, part by part.
Being groped all over by a giant woman made me feel like a doll.
Just how does a person’s hand get to be the size of a cauldron lid?
It’s terrifying.
“Hmm, upon inspection, it seems you have already undergone excellent training. The one who taught you must have been very knowledgeable about Holy Magic.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Holy energy has taken root evenly throughout your entire body. At this rate, there’s no need to go through the basic stages! You have the makings of a great Paladin.”
It seems all the times Rapiel beat me up weren’t meaningless after all.
I felt a renewed sense of gratitude towards my former master.
“More importantly, Sir Harua, have you ever healed a major injury by activating Holy Magic yourself?”
Just then, Aigis’s gaze turned sharp.
Healing a major injury.
Of course, at my current level, that was impossible.
However, I had an inkling of what she was referring to.
I had been resurrected time and time again.
If we were talking about injuries, that was the only thing that came to mind.
“Why do you ask? Is there something wrong?”
I couldn't let my Resurrection magic be discovered here.
The Holy Church was clearly favorable towards me, but I didn't know what would happen if Resurrection magic was mentioned.
So I deliberately feigned ignorance, and Aigis smiled brightly.
Because her body is so big, when her face smiles, it feels like her whole body is smiling too. It's scary.
“Not at all. I was just remarking on the excellent recovery resilience embedded in your body. Your Seed has only just sprouted, yet I’ve never seen such outstanding resilience. I was surprised and had to ask.”
After saying that, she didn’t press further.
Seeing as there was no suspicion in her eyes, it seemed she had genuinely asked out of curiosity.

I get needlessly tense whenever Resurrection magic is involved.
But separate from that, I had a question.
“By the way, is it really alright for you to help me this much? It’s not like I’ve donated anything to the Holy Church.”
Honestly, I was a bit taken aback that the Captain of the Capital Paladin Order was training me herself.
No matter how you looked at it, this kindness was excessive.
“Sir Harua, you haven’t often told others that you are a 1st Grade Holy Mage, have you?”
The people of the Holy Church all have kind smiles.
That was also true for Aigis, the Captain of the Capital Paladin Order.
As she said, I had almost never revealed that I was a 1st Grade Holy Mage.
The only ones who knew were Rapiel and Bulldog.
“Sir Harua, you need to better understand the value of being a 1st Grade Light Attribute. It is a rare talent, even within the Holy Church. If you ever so choose, the Embrace of Holy Light will personally bestow power upon you. You might even be able to glimpse a part of the Transcendent’s form.”
“The Embrace of Holy Light will?”
“Yes. Attributes are originally powers bestowed by the Transcendents. The purer the crystal of a single attribute, the closer one becomes to the Transcendents.”
I wasn't sure if this was a belief unique to the Holy Church or a commonly held one.
Rapiel had never told me anything like this.
Despite my ambiguous reaction, Aigis smiled brightly.
“You are but a small sprout now, so it is understandable that you do not know. But as time passes and you grow into a great tree, you will surely come to understand the grace bestowed by the Embrace of Holy Light.”
What in the world are these things called Transcendents?
It's true that religions tend to portray their divine beings as omnipotent.

But in this world, Transcendents really do exist.
As long as Transcendents exist, the faith of the Paladin Captain and the Bishop is real.
But is it alright to believe everything they say at face value?
Perhaps they are just interpreting the actions of these divine beings in their own arbitrary way.
Just as scientists, before understanding the world through science, considered the stars in the sky to be gods.
“Well then, shall we begin the training in earnest?”
In any case, one thing was certain.
The Paladin Order is strong.
And their methods are something that I, a fellow Holy Mage, can also learn.
For me, who needed to become stronger, nothing was more important.

“I’m in your hands.”
The endurance I had forged through Rapiel.
I would train tenaciously, using that endurance as my foundation.
Aigis, as if moved by my firm resolve, smiled brightly.
“Excellent, Sir Harua! What is the most important thing for a Paladin? It is, in the end, to endure without falling. Therefore, what is needed is stamina.”
As Aigis spoke, she formed Divine Power in her palm.
“From now on, I will make your body heavy.”
The moment her hand touched me, my body became drastically heavier.
It felt like my entire body was clad in iron.
“Now, let’s run.”
“What?”
She stood next to me, as if to join me.
“You will run with me for the entire day today!”
Faced with that dazzlingly bright smile, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
I now knew for sure.
Paladins really are maniacs.