CHAPTER 63
The next day, I visited the Holy Church as always.
Just as I was about to begin training with the Paladin Commander, Aigis, I heard something completely unexpected.
That I now possessed Divine Power.
“I have Divine Power?”
“Yes! This refreshing energy is definitely Divine Power, I’m sure of it!”
Aigis said with an extremely excited face. I, on the other hand, just felt incredibly skeptical.
Why would I, a person who felt nothing but skepticism toward the Transcendents, let alone faith, suddenly develop Divine Power?
But then I remembered yesterday’s event, which was the most likely cause of this change.
The potion I bought from the Designated Merchant, Dark Hood.
Someone’s milk.
After drinking that milk, I had gained Divine Power.
Whose milk was it that it could grant Divine Power?
Could it have been the milk of a Transcendent?
Since it came from the Designated Merchant who always sold suspicious items, there was no way to know its origin.
“It must be that your faith was so profound that the Embrace of Holy Light has bestowed this grace upon you!”
Unfortunately, I didn't have a shred of faith; I just drank some milk.
“Sir Harua, you could surely become a Saint, just like the Saintess!”
Aigis’s expectations for me were far too high.
If she knew my true personality, she would never say such a thing.
“Lady Aigis, would there be any disadvantages if I possessed Divine Power but didn't belong to the Church?”
“No, nothing like that. It is simply His will!”
Aigis seemed convinced that the source of my Divine Power was unconditionally the Embrace of Holy Light.
“What do you say? Won’t you take this opportunity to join the Holy Church?”
“I’m sorry, but I haven’t considered it yet.”
“Haha, I’m sure you will join our cause soon enough, Sir Harua.”
Aigis showed no sign of backing down.
Her determination to one day convert me was clear.
“Rumors about you are already circulating among the Archbishops. They will be even more delighted when they hear about your Divine Power!”
Just how far was my name spreading?
In the past, I would have put a stop to it immediately, but given the current situation, it didn't seem like a bad thing.
If war breaks out, requesting protection from the Holy Church would increase my chances of survival.
There’s no harm in expanding my network of connections.
This thought became more firm as time passed.
The more influential I became, the more people there would be who would want to protect my life.
“As long as the rumors aren’t bad, I suppose it’s fine. I’m in your care for today’s training as well.”
“Haha, yes! Let’s have fun again today!”
It was a far cry from ‘fun,’ but my hand-to-hand combat training began once more.

After being brutally beaten and forcibly healing my body several times, I was finally given a break from Aigis. As I was resting, I saw a familiar face in the distance.
“Babiyen.”
When I called her name, she stepped out from a spot where the sun didn’t reach.
Babiyen’s eyes were swollen shut.
It looked like she had cried all night.
And her expression was that of someone who had finally accepted that she had been abandoned by her family.
“Harua, I am no longer an Asteria.”
To Babiyen, the barony of Asteria now held no value.
They were strangers, a place she would have no connection with in the future.
“Babiyen… this name is all I have.”
Her lips trembled pitifully.
“Is someone like me… still okay?”
“Babiyen.”
I answered her nonchalantly.
“Stop talking nonsense and let’s go to the 2nd World.”
Babiyen bowed her head.
It was a sign of acceptance.
Babiyen, who resembled a red bleeding heart flower.
The flower’s meaning is humility.
She had finally accepted her life and circumstances, surrendering to humility.
The flamboyant and arrogant Babiyen Asteria was no more.
In her place was only the Babiyen I had always known.
“Go find Aranseol. She was worried about you. And try to get along from now on.”
The two of them still couldn’t be called close. I hoped they would become friends now.
“Hmph, what do you know about relationships between women?”
Babiyen retorted sharply and turned away.
She’s still a handful even when I’m being nice.
“Thank you for always treating me as just me.”
I mostly ignored her last comment.
Babiyen herself seemed embarrassed, as the tips of her ears had turned bright red.
As Babiyen left, Aigis, who had been watching from a distance, approached me.
“Sir Harua, you certainly are popular. It seems you’re never without a woman around you.”
“It’s because I’m more popular than I look. I aim to live the life of a casanova.”
“Hah, does that mean you’re aiming for me as well?”
“Yes, I’m flirting hard by clashing bodies with you every day.”
“What a shame. If I weren’t devoted to Him, I might have fallen head over heels for you, Sir Harua.”
We were now close enough to joke around like this.

“Let’s just get back to training.”
The situation was changing drastically by the day.
To keep up with it, I had to get stronger, no matter what.
Aigis smiled brightly at my firm resolve.
“Excellent. I will be sure to drill the techniques into you so thoroughly that you won’t forget them even when I’m gone.”
I feel like I’ll explode if you drill any more into me.
But I had brought this on myself.
Time to get beaten up again today.

After several days of being thoroughly thrashed at the Holy Church, the time finally came for Aigis to depart for the Holy Land.
Swallowing her tears, Aigis said the terrifying words, “Let’s train in hand-to-hand combat again when I return.”
Still, I learned a lot thanks to her.
Even someone as uncoordinated as me was able to learn Divine Close Quarters Combat somehow.
Now I was at a level where I wouldn’t lose to some street thugs!
What a magnificent growth!
In addition, I also received lessons on Divine Power from Archbishop Aigis.
Divine Power was a further processed form of Holy Magic.
The biggest difference between the two was that Divine Power had its own unique Divine Magic.
Divine Magic.
Unlike Holy Magic, which was mostly buffs and healing, Divine Magic was capable of offense.
However, it had a rather unique characteristic among offensive magics.
The proof of that was the sphere of light currently floating beside me.
A being born from Divine Power.
A Minor Apostle.
It was a kind of apostle that fed on its master’s Divine Power.
In other words, Divine Magic was the magic that allowed an individual with Divine Power to create an apostle.
The apostle grows in stages depending on the user’s capabilities.
My apostle, the Minor Apostle, was currently in its first stage, the Seed phase.
It was a time when it had just barely sprouted as an apostle.
“It’s cute, I guess.”
When I held up my finger, the Minor Apostle fluttered over and perched on it. It seemed like it would be helpful once it grew, but for now, I honestly wasn’t sure.
Still, it would be useful for lighting up dark paths.
“You’re weak because your master is weak.”
Whether it understood me or not, the Minor Apostle just fluttered around. Seeing a cotton ball-like thing with a will of its own flying around was heartwarming.
“I wonder if Bulldog is back today.”
With Aigis gone to the Holy Land, it was time for me to head back to the 2nd World.
Even if the world was on the brink of war, I still had to earn money.
That way, I could deal with whatever happened.
So, hoping Bulldog had returned, I knocked on his door.
If there was no answer, I was prepared to head straight to the 2nd World.
Creeak—
Just as I was about to turn away, the door suddenly opened.
I whipped around to see Bulldog standing there.
“Mister!”
“Harua, I’m back.”
Bulldog smiled warmly.
He looked more worn out, as if he’d been through a lot, but his expression was much brighter than before.
“You brought your wife back.”
“Yeah. Those Radiance Faith bastards had her hidden away pretty well. It was a real pain.”
Bulldog led me into the room.
Soon after, I saw his wife’s well-preserved body lying peacefully on the bed.
“Elena.”
Bulldog swallowed hard just looking at her.
It must have been unbearable to see the body of the wife he loved.
“Please wait a moment.”
I knelt before his wife.
Then, I placed my hand on her body.
Light began to seep out from my palm.
The light slowly permeated her body.
The moment the light was fully absorbed, I removed my hand. The Resurrection magic was complete.
Bulldog’s wife would wake up soon.
Her chest slowly rose and fell.
Proof that she was breathing.
I heard Bulldog’s gasp from behind me.
He didn't blink, watching intently for his wife to wake up.
She should open her eyes any moment now.
Opening her eyes.
Opening…
Opening?
My brow began to furrow.
Seeing my reaction, Bulldog also showed a hint of confusion.
I quickly placed my hand on her neck to check her pulse. I could feel her heart beating steadily.
His wife was definitely alive.
But why.
Why wasn't she opening her eyes?
“Harua?”
Bulldog called out to me, his eyes wavering.
At his desperate call, I bit my lip.
“Your wife is alive. Her heart is beating and I can feel a clear pulse. But for some reason, she’s not regaining consciousness.”
“What do you mean? Does Resurrection magic sometimes do this?”

“No. At least, I’ve never seen it happen before.”
Bulldog rushed to his wife’s side.
He shook her by the shoulders.
“Elena! Elena, I’m begging you, please open your eyes!”
But his wife didn't stir.
That fact plunged Bulldog into even greater despair.
I was also extremely confused by the situation.
Her body was clearly alive, so why couldn’t she wake up?
My expression was complicated, but then my eyes gradually widened.
The body was definitely alive.
But if she couldn’t wake up, that meant…
Could her soul already be alive somewhere else?
When that thought occurred to me, I remembered the Radiance Faith.
The Radiance Faith, which had spread the bizarre rumor that they could revive the dead.
They might have done something to his wife.
“Mister.”
“……Yeah. This must be the result of my mistake.”
Bulldog also seemed to have realized where things went wrong.
He gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly.
“Elena’s soul is with the Radiance Faith, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Other than that, there’s no explanation for her current state.”
Bulldog looked at his wife with a bitter expression.
Then he stood up.
“Harua, do you think Elena’s soul will return if it’s freed?”
Could his wife’s soul return to her body?
As if answering his question, the Minor Apostle landed on his wife’s body.
It shone like a small beacon.

“Yes. I’m sure it will return.”
“Thank you for the reassurance.”
Bulldog swept his hair back, his expression turning grim.
“I’ll be back.”
“This time, I’ll…”
“Kid, you’ve helped enough. Elena is my wife. I’ll be the one to save her.”
Seeing his firm resolve, I decided not to say any more.
I was sure Bulldog would succeed this time as well.
“Mister, Lieutenant General Inferno of the Regular Army is keeping an eye on the Radiance Faith. If you tell him my name and mention my Resurrection magic, he’ll help you. Tell him to consider helping you as my reward.”
Inferno would definitely help.
“……Lieutenant General Inferno? Harua, you’ve become a big shot while I was gone.”
“I was always destined for greatness.”
Bulldog let out a hollow laugh, then bowed his head to me.
“Thank you again.”
“Think of it as a reward for having lived a good life.”
With that, Bulldog set off on another journey.
All I could do was hope that he would return safely this time, too.