Dark Fantasy Normalized

59 – The Talk of the Town (3)

Apprentice priest Berat had never yet experienced the Lord God’s grace.

Because the Lord God, the owner of the holy flame, was always beside those who ignited the flame.

Perhaps because the holy flame he held wasn’t bright enough to reflect His existence.

He still had a long way to go.

But. Could it be that participating in the path of guidance led by High Priest Berodros this time was the deciding factor?

He could finally feel the Lord God’s grace.

The sunset that filled the world flowed in through the window, soaking the room.

In the middle of the room, painted so red, stood the man. Emanating a warm yet intense radiance from his whole body.

The mingling sunset and radiance was the flame of the holy fire.

The figure of the man guarding the center was the firm wick of the holy fire.

It was truly a reverent sight, proving the existence of a sacred and supreme being.

Overwhelmed by the reverence, Berat knelt down and bowed his head.

“…”

Berat, the youngest in the group, influenced the actions of the other priests.

The priests, who were already confused about how to react to the surreal sight before them, began to kneel one by one, following Berat.

“We greet the Lord God’s apostle…”

We greet the Lord God’s apostle.

The priests repeated Berat’s words.

Could the colorful light fractured by the stained glass be more brilliant than the sight before their eyes?

Could the choir’s hymn be more majestic than the silence flowing through the place?

For some reason, the young priests were reminded of the day they first stepped foot in the grand cathedral.

It was then, as the priests’ bodies and minds were filling with the warmth of sanctification.

“…Everyone, get up. It’s not that kind of thing.”

Goje, Barodros, commanded the young priests, a slight headache blooming within her.

“…”

Huh?

The priests, who had been basking in the warmth of sanctification, blinked.

They glared at Berat.

Ah. It’s not that?

I thought it was too reverent, so I just…

The seniors enjoyed it too, so it’s not entirely my fault, right?

Berat smiled sheepishly, glancing at his seniors.

The priests closed their eyes and confessed to their Lord the sins they would commit this night, receiving forgiveness in advance.

It meant: you’re dead tonight.

Then Barodros let out a short sigh, immediately straightening out the chaotic atmosphere.

She looked at the luminous man, still shining brightly, and said,

“I’m sorry. You had to witness such an embarrassing display.”

“No, I’m the one who should be sorry. Shining like this for no reason. Is it hurting your eyes, by any chance?”

“Yes. It’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad, huh. It would be strange if I wasn’t offended, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes. It would seem strange.”

“Alright. Then let’s move on to the main topic, ignoring the shiny Lisir.”

“…”

No.

That’s separate.

How can you just set that aside?

It’s blatantly glowing right in front of our eyes right now.

More than that, Lisir’s problem right now wasn’t just that he was glowing.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Goje’s hand, calloused and thick, gently enveloped Lisir’s hand.

“…”

Information passed through touch.

As that information accumulated, Goje’s usually calm expression became clouded with a disturbing allure.

Lishir, interpreting that expression, spoke.

“Maybe, like, the last flicker before it all goes up in flames? Am I in really bad shape right now?”

“Ah. I apologize for the confusion. It’s nothing like that, so please don’t worry.”

“Then what is it?”

“Your physical condition is so exceptionally good that…”

“…!”

Lishir’s face fell, as if wounded.

My condition is so good it’s made him look troubled?!

“It’s not that either, so again, please don’t worry.”

“Ah. Right? I was wondering if maybe I put too much strain on you, Goje-nim, while I was lying down.”

“Heh. You have caused your fair share of trouble, yes.”

“I heard from my colleague. That you looked after me while I was injured. I’m truly grateful. I will never forget this kindness.”

The young priests, who had been looking down, glanced up at Lishir, startled.

‘What exactly did I just hear?’

Normally, a mage from the magic tower would feel shame at having been indebted to a priest of the order.

-Ggggrrr… It can’t be helped now, tell me what you want…!!!

Even that would be considered extremely polite amongst the mages of the tower.

But look at Lishir’s reaction.

Even if it’s Goje, someone who cannot be treated lightly, for a mage of the tower to express such genuine gratitude for the help of a priest.

He was said to be a prodigy blessed with natural talent, so the mages have always assumed he’d be the typical mage type –

‘There’s a reason Goje-nim is keeping an eye on him…!’

When Goje-nim mentioned that the mage had preserved the ‘tail feather’s’ pure white, it was sacrilegious, but we thought Goje had other motives.

Because Goje, holding a position that represents the order externally, sometimes had to make unavoidable political decisions and actions.

But seeing Lishir’s actions just now, the priests changed their minds.

Someone with innate magical talent, who can still be an agreeable person?

It wouldn’t be strange if he had accumulated as much good karma as the priests who had devoted themselves to the order and accumulated good deeds since childhood.

Since even someone with the destiny to become a priest would turn into an unbearable magic-user once they entered the tower.

‘Perhaps… he really did preserve the pure white of the tail feather…’

The priests’ mood, which had been considerably soured by the prospect of helping the contemptible species known as mages, had completely flipped.

Their gazes toward Rishir were now those of colleagues, or perhaps something even more special.

Good lord.

That precious thing is at the mage tower…!

Meanwhile, Rishir and Barodros finished their perfunctory “thanks,” “you’re welcome,” and got back to the main topic.

“I believe you were informed about your physical condition by my colleagues.”

“Indeed. I have taken it to heart; it has become part of me.”

“Is that… so? Then I suppose we can call it a stroke of luck… At this point, you can forget everything you were told. Your depleted energy has fully recovered.”

“High Priest!?”

Lotrang, the formal priest who’d looked after Rishir’s condition the most after Barodros, exclaimed.

“Your energy fully recovered, what does that mean!?”

“It means what it sounds like.”

“Good heavens… by the grace of the Gods…”

Lotrang brought his palm to his chest again, making the sign of the cross.

Rishir watched him, thinking:

*My lord must be exceptionally kind, judging by how often the priests seek his favor.*

Separate from that, Rishir could understand the priests’ reactions to a degree.

That sensation when the empty void that had been controlling your entire body disappears without a trace.

It was an unrealistic experience, like in a game, when you drink a potion and ‘shara-rang~’ all your problems are solved.

“Rishir. What in the world did you do?”

Barodros asked.

His expression was not merely that of a priest concerned for a patient but also that of a scholar filled with curiosity.

Energy was a finite resource that one was born with, and even the priests, who commanded the power of the divine, could not influence it.

“Your energy depletion was a problem that needed at least years of rest to recover from. But, how could it recover like this in a single day…?”

“And it’s even all sparkly…”

Berrit, the novice priest from behind, added quietly.

Rishir answered nonchalantly.

“An acquaintance spirit gave me a marble-like thing. When I ate it, I became like this.”

It was a casual remark, but the priests struggled to comprehend the meaning of the words within.

“You’re… you’re talking about a spirit core, right?”

“But, did spirit cores have such an effect?”

“At least, I’ve never heard of it.”

The most important virtue the Order pursued was the ability to do ‘good.’

The ability to save those who walked the righteous path, and to guide those who walked the path of the apostle.

If a spirit core contained the power to restore vitality, the Order would have long since discovered it and actively used it.

In fact, the uses for certain spirit cores were already known, and they were used for specific purposes by priests and healers.

But, a spirit core that could completely restore severe vitality depletion?

A rare treasure that even the Archmage or the Master of the Magic Tower couldn’t handle carelessly.

Such an effect couldn’t be found even in ‘intermediate spirit cores.’

Therefore, if what Ricir was saying was true, its meaning was clear.

He had consumed a spirit core of a higher grade than intermediate spirits.

“…”

The priests were all speechless.

High-grade spirits.

Transcendent beings, they were not entities one could connect with simply by wanting to.

Having pondered for eons, they possessed thoughts and perspectives beyond the grasp of mere mortals.

According to rumors, even among the elves of the Great Forest, who were beloved by spirits, the number of those who could commune with high-grade spirits was extremely small.

And yet.

Not only did he commune with such a high-grade spirit, he received its core as a gift?

It was a hard story to believe.

The core was a crystal of the spirit’s fundamental energy.

A spirit that lost its core had its grade severely reduced, and some even ceased to exist altogether.

A spirit gifting its core?

It was akin to a human gifting their own heart.

Due to this peculiarity, even among the extremely rare intermediate spirit cores that circulated, those with their energy completely preserved were extremely scarce.

In other words.

A spirit core with a grade higher than intermediate was usually a ‘trophy of subjugation,’ not a ‘result of communion.’

Even for excellent spirit users, receiving a core as a gift from a spirit was rare.

“Are you… sure…?”

Even the sinners who breathed deceit became defenseless, like naive children, before her.

For Goje, who possessed a clear insight into essence, there was no need for questioning.

…However, this time was an exception.

No. This time, too, was an exception.

Each time she faced Risir, Barodros found herself losing her own self.

But what could she do?

If there was a fault, it lay in this man’s existence, which was so far beyond the norm.

Now, Barodros understood the nature of the radiance emanating from Risir’s body.

It was the result of an untamed divinity reacting with some element within him.

Yes.

This man had suddenly awakened to divinity.

“Why would I lie?”

He claimed it was because he had eaten some kind of spirit core–

“…I see, that makes sense!”

Goje, who considered herself an understanding of the supreme, gave up trying to understand the glowing man before her.

Having already followed in the footsteps of her predecessors who had walked the same path, she reached the same conclusion.

‘Let it be.’

Afterward.

Barodros decided to teach Risir how to suppress his divinity.

Suppression, not control, because control clearly fell into the category of ‘divine magic’.

Divine magic was not something that could be awakened overnight.

On the other hand, simple divine suppression could be learned within a week, if not overnight, depending on one’s innate talent.

Barodros clarified her course of action.

She wouldn’t be able to turn him into a proper priest, as the time she could stay at the magic tower was limited, but she would at least prevent him from being left as a glowing man.

And so, Goje’s unexpected teaching began.

***

Risir was so bright that she hadn’t noticed the day was fading outside.

Barodros confirmed that the sky was already turning dusk outside the window.

Just as she was about to say, “Let’s stop here for today. Oh, and can you clear your schedule for the next week?”

“Uh, hold on a sec-“

Lishir’s face contorted, like something was caught in his throat, and he fell into a deep contemplation.

How long had it been?

“Oh, it’s done.”

He muttered, looking down at his hands.

The glow stopped.

Lishir had learned how to suppress his divinity.

Barodros, who had been teaching Lishir with a strange expression for some time now.

The priests, who had been observing the scene with peculiar looks from the sidelines.

They nodded gently.

‘Oh, it’s done, my ass.’

For a fleeting moment, they had questioned the existence of their god.

“Lishir,”

Barodros, having regained his composure, spoke as if in a trance.

“Perhaps, have you considered devoting yourself to the main god? Your existence would be an inspiration to many, and in itself, a bright sacred flame, guiding the lost onto the right path.”

The priests were aghast, snapping back to their senses in unison.

The High Priest was proselytizing in person.

And to a mage from the Magic Tower, of all people.

If Lishir accepted the offer, it was highly likely to escalate into political conflict between the Order and the Tower.

Yet, the priests did not doubt the High Priest’s judgment.

Oh, dear.

That precious thing is with the Tower…!

We must take it!

That was the shared thought of the priests who had witnessed the anomaly that was Lishir.

Their unwavering gazes shone in the darkness, fixed upon Lishir.

Overwhelmed by the pressure, Lishir emitted light once more.

“Agh!”

The priests, who were becoming accustomed to the darkness, turned away from what was called a ‘flashbang’.

“Oh, I’m sorry. It seemed a little dark. I didn’t even realize.”

“…Illuminating the darkness is also a form of divine magic, isn’t it?”

“Oh, is that so?”

“But, there’s no case of someone using their own body like a lightbulb. Not even a firefly.”

“Ah, is that so… Well, anyway, to answer your question – as you’ve just witnessed, I’m not someone suited for the Order.”

Barodros shook her head without a moment’s hesitation.

“I swear on my name. There aren’t many people more suited for the Order than you. You can put aside some of your self-doubt. You are a much nobler person than you believe yourself to be.”

“But I’ve already—”

“I know. About the fact that the Magic Tower plans to appoint you as an honorary wizard.”

“…”

Lisir stared blankly at Barodros.

*Isn’t that unethical?*

*Isn’t the Lord watching?*

It was as if such voices were echoing.

Ahem.

Barodros, feeling unjustly guilty, averted her gaze.

“It’s what the Lord would want as well. Everything your choice may bring. There’s no need to worry about any of it. I, High Priest Barodros, and the Order will take responsibility.”

“…”

Feeling the resolve in Barodros’s eyes, Lisir began to seriously consider her proposal.

Finally, he opened his mouth in a serious tone.

“This might be a rude question, but may I ask one thing?”

“…!”

That earnest attitude.

Surely a profound question encompassing his beliefs and philosophy was about to be uttered.

And within that question would probably lie a religious query.

Barodros nodded without hesitation.

The faith and wisdom she had accumulated could provide sufficient answers to his religious questions.

“A priest of your status, High Priestess, what is your annual income?”

“Oh…”

*Oh Lord.*

Barodros closed her eyes tightly and confessed to Him.

It was lamentable.

The Order wasn’t ready to embrace the very talent they so desperately needed.

***

Late night.

I got out of bed and left the lodging.

The priests’ words about the spirit core bothered me so much I couldn’t fall asleep.

‘Spirits who lose their core greatly diminish in rank, and some even vanish?’

To think what I thought was a hairball was actually an internal organ.

I quickly walked across the grounds, heading to the alchemist’s tower where Perrin was staying.

It was around the time I got close to the alchemist’s tower.

A shadow fell from the rooftop, then charged directly at me.

It was Perrin, bathed in moonlight, in his wolf form (?)

Perrin shifted back to his human form and immediately rushed at me, repeating the usual routine.

First.

“Heeeeeeng…”

Charging my energy.

Second.

“Must not have much to do, huh? Seeing you wandering around this late.”

Finishing his business and immediately distancing himself, acting cold.

His healthy, bordering on brazen, attitude made me feel somewhat relieved, so I brought up what I needed to say.

“What about you then?”

“Idiot. I’m a wolf. Of course I’m nocturnal.”

“Most humans are nocturnal too.”

“?”

“Anyway, Perrin. About that thing you gave me back then-“

“…Oh. You ate it?”

Hmph.

I’m not interested in you.

Perrin, who was conveying that with his whole body, looked at me with shining eyes.

“Oh? Ah. Yeah. Thanks. It was a big help.”

“…Really? Is that so.”

“Huh? Hey, hold on, Perrin?”

I didn’t even have time to stop her.

“Bweeeeh…”

Suddenly, Perrin dropped to the floor and threw something up.

In human form, mind you.

Having produced yet another hairball, Perrin proudly showed it to me, saying,

“How is it? I think I made this one a bit better.”

“?”

Perrin looked absolutely relieved as she spoke.

Like she’d just emptied a full bucket.