Second Journey (3)

The Pantheon Temple readily granted my request for elixirs.

Of course, someone of my position deserves such privileges.

“Welcome, Cielo-nim. We’ve been expecting you.”

As one would expect, the capital branch of the Pantheon Temple isn’t run by the Pope.

He had merely come down from headquarters to meet me, while the existing high priests and holy knights remained responsible for crucial elements.

One of them is the kind-faced elderly knight before me.

The Paladin of the Pantheon Temple’s Coinur branch, Sir Albus.

“I’ve heard about your request. You need elixirs for mana training.”

“Now that I’ve declared my intent for demon slaying, I’ll need the appropriate strength to match.”

“An admirable mindset. Actually, many among the Temple’s combat forces were moved by your words, Cielo-nim. Myself included. Hohoho.”

Neither those in power nor ordinary people expect military might from the Pantheon Temple. They only seek healing and guidance – how many would look for salvation on bloody battlefields?

That’s precisely why these people must be stronger than others.

Those who do what others won’t, yet what must be done.

Many doubt and distrust this difficult path.

In fact, most priests who have had their holy power revoked belonged to combat groups, including heresy inquisitors.

As prejudice and anxiety build up, leading to more doubt and distrust.

In such a situation…

“Your existence alone gives us courage, Cielo-nim.”

The fact that I, someone like them, was chosen by god – that alone serves as their pillar of support.

“Now then, allow me to guide you personally, Cielo-nim.”

With such goodwill, there’s no need to refuse.

At least the holy knight before me should still be absolutely on my side.

“Hup!”

Sir Albus unlocks various locks, removes magical devices, and finally lifts the holy magic seals before pushing open an iron door nearly three times his height.

Seeing a door that requires structural, magical, and physical methods to open truly makes this feel like an elixir storage vault.

“Phew…!”

Sir Albus lets out a deep sigh and grins. A steel door so heavy it couldn’t be opened with mere physical strength.

His smile conveyed pride in what lay hidden inside.

“This vault normally opens just once a year to support those who pass the tests, but for Cielo-nim, nothing is too precious.”

“…”

The moment the door opens, an elegant fragrance tickles my nose.

Found the right place.

That’s my first thought.

“Now then, let me explain. Over here we have the most common type made by brewing white ginseng and moonwall flower roots for exactly 207 hours…”

“I see.”

Honestly, hearing such explanations doesn’t help me grasp how extraordinary they are.

The only thing I can tell is that the blue energy is visible to the naked eye? It certainly seems like drinking this would greatly increase mana.

Quite fortunate.

“Then this…”

“Ah! We have much better elixirs than that. Rather than that…”

“…I’ll try one of each from here to there.”

“Pardon?”

Sir Albus, who had been enthusiastically explaining the elixirs, pauses and turns to look at me.

“Each elixir has its own effects, and taking them randomly would significantly reduce their efficacy…”

I know that too. Isn’t it common sense?

Elixirs take considerable time just to digest. Taking new ones before properly digesting the previous ones wouldn’t yield much benefit.

However…

“Sir Albus. I am an apostle.”

The important point is that the effects aren’t nonexistent.

As long as there is some effect, it’s certainly better than nothing.

But of course, I don’t intend to say that. Would I say something so crazy to an old man managing the elixir vault?

He might have a heart attack. So I’ll sweeten the deal a bit.

Since this is an elixir vault, that much should be fine.

“Can you see what this is?”

I clench and unclench my fist.

Then show my palm.

A cross-shaped wound with red droplets of blood beading up.

When Sir Albus’s gaze fixes on those droplets, I flip my palm and let the collected blood drip to the floor.

“This is sacred blood.”

As the blood falls onto the wooden floor, it fills with vitality as if the wood were still alive.

Something I realized after becoming an apostle.

“My physical structure is different from ordinary people, you see.”

That I am no longer human.

Perhaps becoming an apostle is the process of humans becoming gods.

Half-human half-god, demigod.

Was there a trial with such a nickname? Though I’ve never met it or heard accurate information about it, perhaps it was similar to me.

Well, that’s irrelevant now.

What’s important right now is…

“So I’ll need to confirm through direct consumption.”

Just how many elixirs this tongue can swallow.

“You understand, don’t you?”

That’s all there is to it.

*     *     *

I started with the most precious one first. To cut to the conclusion, it was certainly worth its high price. The circle I had created not long ago doubled in size at once.

A good thing.

Is this why nobles all possess strength incomparable to ordinary people?

Money really does make life easier. I should make sure to stay on good terms with Línea going forward.

“Let’s see…”

After taking the first elixir,

I tried consuming several more as a test, and it truly lived up to the rumors.

The effects definitely diminished.

While the first elixir doubled my circle’s size, all the ones I took afterward combined barely tripled it from the start.

Of course, this could be because the first one was the most precious.

“So I should try taking each of yesterday’s elixirs one more time.”

“…”

This isn’t greed.

It’s for verification. Don’t I have an obligation to prove that my physical body is different from ordinary people’s?

“Well… very well.”

Sir Albus opens the elixir vault door the same way as yesterday.

Perhaps due to his age, he looks even more tired than when he opened it yesterday.

I enter the vault like that and receive one of each type of elixir just like yesterday.

“Cielo-nim, how about taking a few more of these?”

As I’m holding an armful of elixirs, Sir Albus adds a few more with a kind smile. They’re the cheapest kinds.

His thinking is obvious.

A preventive measure to stop me from coming back with the same excuse tomorrow.

If he adds a few cheap elixirs, it would certainly be a small price to pay.

“Thank you, Sir Albus.”

I decided to accept gratefully.

*     *     *

After consuming the same items as yesterday, I clearly felt the effects had diminished compared to the first time.

Even the elixir that had doubled my circle’s size yesterday barely increased it by 1/10 now.

This confirms it. The effects diminish with each elixir consumed.

Unless I take time to completely dissolve and settle the effects already in my body, there won’t be dramatic changes.

That’s certain.

“Good to see you, Sir Albus. Actually, I felt something unusual about one of yesterday’s elixirs. I’d like to verify it – would you mind opening the vault?”

“…”

It’s certain, but a little more confirmation wouldn’t hurt.

*     *     *

Day 3 of elixir consumption.

Surprisingly, I was able to reach my mana circle’s limit by pouring in elixirs like water.

Now I just need the mana overflowing beyond the circle’s bounds to spread throughout my body to be ready for aura use.

“Sir Albus, good news. I’ve reached the end of 1st circle.”

“Oh! Then!”

“However, thinking about it, my physical body is different from ordinary people’s, isn’t it? I created my mana circle the same way as others, so there might not have been much difference from the start. But my body is different. To verify the changes in my body as mana not contained by the circle flows through… I’ll need those from yesterday…”

“…I suppose so.”

Sir Albus, who had smiled brightly at the news of me reaching 1st circle’s end, quietly began placing yesterday’s elixirs in my arms.

Indeed, great minds think alike.

He understands what I need before I even finish speaking.

“May the gods’ blessings be with you, Sir Albus.”

“With your blessing, Saint, I shall believe. Yes, I shall.”

When I blessed his future in gratitude, he responded devoutly.

Though it might sound sarcastic, it must surely be sincere.

“Then tomorrow… no, I’ll gratefully partake of these.”

*     *     *

Day 4.

“Sir Albus.”

“Cielo-nim. Haven’t you had quite enough by now? Let’s stop here.”

“Ah…”

Sir Albus firmly shakes his head at just the mention of his name.

Right, I’ve had quite enough.

I’ve been too forceful all this time. Sweet-talking probably won’t work anymore.

“Then I suppose there’s no choice.”

I decided to back down gracefully.

Sir Albus is also an important figure who cultivates the Pantheon Temple’s holy knights.

It’s not good to bully him using my position as a saint.

“How DAAARE youuu! How can you speak of refusal! Losing one’s faith is…”

So I called Cotinus instead.

I don’t bully people using my position as a saint.

I bully them using both the saint and pope positions.

“…Just take them.”

*     *     *

Day 5 of elixir consumption.

Now I could no longer increase my total mana through elixirs alone.

When I tried consuming several of the cheapest ones and one expensive one as a test, it felt like the medicine wasn’t being digested but gathering in the center of my circle.

Right, I’ve had enough. I achieved my original goal on day 3, so anything more is greed.

“Um, excuse me!”

“…Ah, you must be Cielo-nim’s companion. Línea Spirin, was it? What’s wrong? Why do you look so pale?”

“It’s terrible! Lost has!”

“Lost…? Ah! You mean Cielo-nim. More importantly, what terrible thing has happened?”

“He collapsed, maybe from problems with the elixirs he was taking!”

“Oh dear! I knew this would happen! Drinking elixirs like water!”

Sir Albus began wailing while pounding his chest as if frustrated.

But despite such behavior, his actions were swift.

“So I asked another doctor and they said the ingredients would be here, could you possibly provide them?”

“If it’s to save Cielo-nim, I must provide anything! Here! The door is open, so take whatever ingredients you need! Quickly now, quickly!”

“Then I’ll take the elixirs from here to there!”

“Yes! Then… huh?”

*     *     *

Day 6 in the elixir vault.

I set aside the elixirs Línea brought out of concern for my health.

By the way, I had only collapsed because the weather was nice and I fell asleep, so Línea’s desperate acting… I mean, concern turned out to be unfounded.

“Lost! Did I do well?”

“Of course, of course. Though there was some misunderstanding, how could I not appreciate such noble concern for a companion?”

“Hehe.”

Gathering supplies like this in case something happens in the future.

Our fox truly is the best. I hope she keeps this up.

“…You two are quite the scam artist couple. Could you not teach Línea-unnie strange things?”

“Alright Claire, then how about you go try yourself this time?”

Claire doesn’t need to act.

Every moment of her life is a constant struggle.

If she just goes and asks for elixirs, they’ll likely give them to her.

Our walking corpse. Her time to shine has finally come.

“Please don’t try to drag me into your crimes too.”

“Those elixirs are really good for your body. If you take one, you’ll feel more energetic than usual…”

“…Are they really that good?”

*     *     *

Day 7 in the elixir vault.

Albus, the Paladin of the Pantheon Temple’s Coinur branch and manager of the elixir storage vault, stood alert in front of the vault.

He won’t fall for it today.

Even if the Pope comes again to lecture him, he won’t hand over any elixirs.

‘Though that little one from yesterday is an exception. She needs to eat more.’

Of course, being the outstanding person he was, Albus couldn’t ignore Claire. Knowing her circumstances well, he even wanted to secretly provide her with beneficial elixirs.

“Hmm, so this is the elixir vault?”

Just as Albus was organizing excuses to reject Cielo’s demands in his head, the most ruthless of Saint Cielo’s companions appeared before him.

“Hand over the elixirs if you don’t want your head cracked open.”

“…Pardon?”

At that moment, Albus’s mind, which had been preparing all sorts of excuses, went completely blank.