NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46 - Invitation
Chapter 46: Invitation
Translator: CKtalon
The Eighth Order was also known as the Hermit Order or the Kane Order.
As the Eighth Holy Spirit was the only Holy Spirit that had been promoted from a mortal, the Eighth Order paid more attention to the union of secularism and faith than the other parishes of the Holy Spirits Church. It emphasized the unity of the mortal and holiness.
As for the Eighth Order, it was divided into two factions—Divine Grace and Holy Seminary. The former emphasized the sanctity of the Eighth Holy Spirit and advocated for the Eighth Order to completely integrate into the Holy Spirits Church’s system. At the very least, they didn’t have to carry the title of hidden Holy Spirit.
As for the latter, the Holy Seminary paid more attention to the mortality of the eighth Holy Spirit. The practitioners of the Holy Seminary would search the continent for the holy relics Kane had left behind when he still walked the mortal world. They would imitate his past deeds and work on providing relief, hoping to close the distance between their souls and the Holy Spirit.
“In that case, are you a Holy Seminary nun?”
On the way to Thorn City’s graveyard, Nizemar suddenly introduced Cass to the composition of the Eighth Order for no reason. Cass asked curiously after hearing that.
The reason why he felt this way was very simple.
Judgment 4—apart from being a powerful weapon against the Moon Realm and capable of stopping the duke’s crazy plan—was closely related to Holy Spirit Kane when he was alive, so the Eighth Order was willing to pay such a huge price to obtain such a holy relic.
Pursuing holy relics was undoubtedly the Holy Seminary’s style.
Nizemar nodded and said, “That’s right. I’m a Holy Seminary nun. I’m mainly in charge of the recovery of holy relics.”
Cass continued asking, “Then, why are you suddenly telling me this? Don’t tell me it’s to introduce me to the Eighth Order?”
Nizemar frankly replied to Cass’s question, “As a descendant of the Black Swordsman, you’re the only person who can pull out Judgment 4. Your soul is also the most compatible with that weapon. Therefore, after this matter is resolved, I hope you can consider converting to the Eighth Order and joining the Holy Seminary.”
Before Cass could say anything, Liz—who had been sitting on his shoulder and listening to their conversation—couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“What? No, no, no…”
Liz flew between Cass and Nizemar and crossed her arms at the blond woman.
“He’s a servant I saved with great difficulty. Previously, he promised to take care of my garden until he died. How can I let him serve a Holy Spirit in some church? That’s not going to happen!”
Nizemar glanced at Liz, who was flying in midair, before turning her gaze to Cass and continuing,
“If you choose to convert to Kane, the parish will first guarantee that you’ll be cleared of any injustice. Then, we’ll help you awaken your magic talent. Although you probably don’t have the talent to become a magic chanter, it’s not a problem for you to become a magic swordsman.”
Apart from having an affinity for magic, becoming a magic chanter also required a certain level of mental talent, allowing the caster to construct precise spell models in their ether domain.
However, to people who lacked mental talent, it didn’t mean that they had no fate with magic. They could settle for the next best thing by relying on items engraved with spell models to release specific spells with their limited mana.
The class that used mana like this was a Spellblade.
This was similar to Cass activating the fire spell enchanted on his sword, Breaking Dawn, but it was fundamentally different.
As Cass wasn’t a Spellblade, he could only use the magic power stored in his sword for combat. Furthermore, he couldn’t accurately control the consumption of mana when using it. All he could do was expend his mana.
If he were a true Spellblade, that battle would probably have ended long ago.
Compared to magic chanters, the threshold for Spellblades seemed to be much lower, but, in terms of numbers, the number of Spellblades on the continent was the same as that of magic chanters. It might even be slightly fewer.
Not only that, but most of the Spellblades served in the army or were descendants of nobles. Commoners only accounted for an extremely small portion of Spellblades.
The reason was very simple. Most magic chanters were scholars, and only a small number would become Battle Mages who specialized in combat. Spellblades were without exception born for killing. Therefore, the Empire’s officials allowed a certain number of magic chanters to be maintained among the commoners, but they prohibited a large number of Spellblades to appear amongst them.
Cass knew very well that no matter how much he improved in martial arts, it would only be a slight improvement. If he wanted to continue becoming stronger, Spellblade was his only chance. However, ordinary people had virtually no way of becoming a Spellblade.
The condition he was offered was an irresistible temptation to any warrior, but…
“Sorry, I’ve never been very pious towards the Holy Spirits Church. Moreover, I’m not very interested in a life of serving the Church.”
Cass lowered his head slightly, his tone apologetic.
Liz, who was originally furious, turned around in surprise.
She quickly flew to Cass’s side and calmed down. Then, she patted Cass’s shoulder and said in the tone of an elderly, “I knew you wouldn’t be so heartless. Don’t worry, I’ll tone it down when you’re tidying up the garden in the future.”
It seems like you’ve always been the one harping about me being your slave to help tidy up the garden. I’ve never agreed…
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Cass thought, but he held back from saying it out loud.
Nizemar looked as if she had expected his answer.
“I know what you’re worried about. Your life is completely maintained by this faerie’s Life Scale Powder. In a sense, you’re dead, and you’re only relying on her life force to drive it. You’re worried that if you join the Eighth Order, you’ll be risking her life force?”
Cass remained silent in response.
She was right. If it weren’t for the sake of taking revenge on those people, he wouldn’t have been so thick-skinned as to risk his life with the innocent faerie’s life force.
And after his revenge, there was even less reason for him to do so.
Nizemar continued, “Don’t worry. You may not wish to use her life force, but we too don’t wish for the descendant of a Judge—the holder of Judgment 4—to have their lives bound to a faerie. As long as you’re willing to convert, the Eighth Order will contact seven bishops to use Resuscitation to make up for your missing life force. When that happens, this faerie can completely retrieve her scale powder.”
After providing this proposal, even Liz couldn’t find a reason to object.
She could retrieve her Life Scale Powder, Cass could embark on the path of a Spellblade, and the Eighth Order would have found a descendant who could use Judgment 4.
Everyone got what they wanted.
The two of them and the faerie silently walked along the stone path for a long distance. Only when they were about to reach their destination did Cass say, “If that’s the case…”
However, Nizemar interrupted him.
“There’s no need for you to make a decision now. Think about it carefully.”
As she spoke, the corners of her mouth curled up into an expression that could probably be called a smile.
“After all, it’s hard to say if we can return alive.”
Under the cold moonlight, the city wall of the graveyard not far away cast a strange shadow.