Chapter 104: Infiltration of the Holy See

“I’m special. Super special and amazing bat! Dam Ion, treasure me. A bat so cute you want to stick your finger in when I yawn, even in a holy site! Doesn’t sting at all!”

“…”

“A bat that feels great to touch. Soft and squishy. I’m precious and adorable.”

Baba rubbed its fluffy body against Ion’s finger. Ion scratched its tiny head, wing joints, and ears while thinking.

Why doesn’t Baba feel pain from divine power?

There was only one answer.

The magic left by the Demon King was stronger than the divine power woven into the Holy See’s barrier.

Even after ten thousand years, this much influence… He could somewhat guess how terrifyingly powerful the Demon King had been.

In the novel—Teacher’s fake Hunter and Hero—the Demon King is destroyed by the subjugation squad the moment he breaks free from the seal. He’s described as weaker than a Demon Grand Duke right after revival. That was why Ion had originally planned to revive him in a near-death state and let the protagonists deliver the final blow.

But reality seemed hundreds of times stronger than the novel.

If he had stuck to the original plan, the Demon King being far stronger than expected would have been a fatal obstacle.

But now that the plan had changed…

The stronger, the better.

The higher the chance of successfully checking an Apostle. There was no reason to dislike it.

After waiting for Bran to adapt to the divine-power static, they entered the Holy See.

The interior was packed with people. Pilgrims around Ion whispered.

“It’s getting more and more crowded.”

“Yeah. His Holiness’s direct mass is still five days away, right?”

“Pilgrimage slowed during the war, but now that it’s ending, everyone’s flooding in. At least there’s no line here.”

One-on-one audiences with the Holy Sovereign were impossible without special circumstances.

But the Sovereign periodically presided over mass himself, and many pilgrims gathered just to catch a glance.

Ion wasn’t here for a glance.

His goal was to speak with the Holy Sovereign.

That required groundwork.

Pretending to be a wide-eyed country bumpkin, Ion looked around.

Holy Knights stood everywhere, swords and muskets at their waists.

Their faces were hidden by helms, but their posture and aura showed no negligence.

Zealots bound by faith in Lord Elida and loyalty to the Sovereign—they would always be on high alert.

The more vigilant, the better.

Ion casually found a good spot. Bran quietly followed, his mouth and cheeks twitching constantly—he looked ready to break into a tap dance from the stinging any second.

Settling in a corner, Ion pretended to pray toward the giant statue of Elida like the others.

Then—

KU-GU-GU-GUNG—!

A tremendous roar and earthquake came from the opposite corner.

“Arghhh!”

“What the—plants?!”

“Beast! It’s a beast! Run!”

In an instant, thick vines shot up to the ceiling, stretching tentacle-like vines in every direction, menacing the crowd.

Remote vine summon.

Ion usually summoned green vines, but this time he made them ugly: yellowish-brown with black spots.

To him they were still pretty, but to everyone else they looked grotesque.

The writhing tentacles looked ready to devour people. But if you looked closely, they only lightly grabbed arms before releasing, barely brushed hair, or just waved threateningly—never actually harming anyone.

“Mommy!”

“Ouch, someone stepped on my foot!”

“Lord Elida, save us!”

People hurt themselves more by tripping and bumping while fleeing.

“Damn it, how did a beast get in here…! Holy Knights, protect the pilgrims!”

“All pilgrims this way!”

“Form a barrier around the vines!”

Tap tap tap.

Holy Knights rushed in and surrounded the vines.

“HUP!”

While forming the barrier, some slashed at the tentacles, but every cut sprouted new growth.

Ion used the vines more threateningly against the knights.

SWOOSH!

A vine grabbed one knight’s ankle and dangled him upside down. The lower part of his helm fell off, revealing a young face.

“Argh!”

“Do not fear! Lord Elida is with us. Use divine power!”

At the commander’s order, the young knight closed his eyes and shouted. White light enveloped him.

So that’s divine power.

Different from aura, magic, or skills—power granted by a god in proportion to faith. Also called “holy force.”

SWOOSH!

The vine holding his ankle recoiled as if burned and released him.

The vine glanced at Ion in panic. Ion was startled too.

It was just raw divine power, not a bullet or blade infused with it—there should have been no damage.

SWISH, SWOOSH!

The vines writhed like snakes again. This time they didn’t flinch at contact with divine power.

They were just startled by a new type of attack.

Ion poured more mana in; the vines grew thicker.

A vine coiled around the wrist of a knight cloaked in divine power.

“What?! The beast is fine even after touching holy force?”

Because it’s not a beast.

“It’s no ordinary beast. An ancient beast? Damn it, stay still!”

Another knight slashed the vine and freed him. The knights huddled like a turtle shell, forming a holy shield.

BAM! BAM!

The vines hammered the glowing shield. Cracks began spreading across the Holy See lobby floor.

“We need reinforcements!”

“Already requested. Barrier status?”

“Almost… now! Barrier complete!”

A white barrier enveloped and tightened around the vines like a glass bottle trapping a rose.

But—

Tap, tap.

After testing the strength, the vines pulled back and then slammed into the barrier with full force.

CRAAACK!

One hit spider-webbed the barrier.

“How…?!”

“A beast breaking a pure divine barrier—this is impossible!”

“Do not falter! God is watching!”

Now it was time.

Ion summoned his staff and flew toward the knights.

“Everyone, heads down!”

“…!”

Startled by the sudden child’s voice, the knights obeyed the moment they saw he was a mage.

Ion soared to the ceiling and raised his staff high.

For a split second, he locked eyes(?) with the vines.

The leaf at the tip nodded solemnly, as if accepting its fate.

Sorry.

Ion silently apologized, then pointed the staff at the vines.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—

From top to bottom, the vines flash-froze. Ice magic.

Without further strikes, they shattered like glass—CRASH!

The broken vines dissolved into mist, leaving only ice fragments and puddles on the floor.

“How did he instantly defeat a beast immune to holy force…?”

“A Grand Mage…?”

The knights murmured in awe, though some wariness remained.

Ion slowly descended.

The commander removed his helm and approached—a stern middle-aged man. Sensing the wary gaze, Ion spoke first.

“Ah, sorry. Weapons are prohibited… I took out my staff without thinking.”

“…From sub-space?”

He was asking if Ion was an aura awakener.

“Yes, from sub-space.”

“…”

In Idea, aura awakeners were seen as righteous heroes who fought to prevent Idea’s destruction.

Someone who instantly killed a beast immune to divine power claimed to be an awakener.

It was only natural for the commander’s wariness to melt away.

Ion’s exploits reached the Holy Sovereign, who wished to express gratitude personally.

Ion and Bran were safely escorted deep into the Holy See by the commander.

The inner area, closed to ordinary believers, was modest compared to the lavish exterior.

Desks with partitions and busy saints reminded Ion of the Hunter Bureau.

I wonder if Kim Min-jun is doing well.

The saints paid little attention—escorting someone in and out wasn’t rare.

Past the large office was a corridor. The commander opened a white door.

Sofas, a round table, and on the wall the emblem of Elida: a branch cradled by wings. A reception room.

“Please wait here. We have Sundran tea and Ildran tea—which would you prefer?”

Both were tea-like beverages made by steeping plants.

Plants really are amazing.

Regardless of plants’ greatness, Ion felt tea might lower his guard.

“Just water, please. Water for him too.”

“Understood.”

Instead of sending a subordinate, the commander fetched the water himself.

“Then please wait a moment.”

“Yes.”

The commander left. Ion and Bran sat side by side on the not-very-spacious sofa.

Either they trusted Ion too much or were careless—no knight was left to watch.

Ion stroked the beautiful scarlet ranunculus in the vase on the table.

There was no point wondering why an Earth-bred garden cultivar existed in Idea. An Apostle had simply set it that way.

After touching it for a while, Ion flinched, let go, and hugged Sanse.

“Ah, I only like Sanse. That flower is really not pretty. Plants should be green.”

“…”

Baba climbed onto the back of Ion’s hand as he made the excuse.

“Sanse isn’t jealous right now. Dam Ion really doesn’t understand plants.”

What exactly was Sanse’s jealousy criterion…? He’d probably never figure out Sanse’s heart.

Since Sanse wasn’t jealous, Ion relaxed and fiddled with the petals again.

Baba spoke up.

“That doesn’t mean touch them again. Dam Ion really doesn’t get Sanse. Study.”

“…”

What even were plants…? No matter how much he studied, plant feelings seemed incomprehensible.

While Ion grew complicated, Bran scratched his forearm and cursed.

“This is driving me insane. It stung outside, but in here it’s all sticky. Ugh, I want to peel off my skin, wash it clean, and put it back on.”

“You can leave now.”

“Damn it. I can’t abandon Baba-nim in front of the damn dog.”

“I’m fine. You go.”

“Baba-nim doesn’t know, so he says that. The current dog’s reign has lasted over two hundred years—the longest ever. That means the divine power is insanely strong.”

“Wait. You’re saying the current Holy Sovereign has ruled for over two hundred years? She’s over two hundred years old?”

“Yeah. Over two hundred. A total granny.”

A pure human living past two hundred.

Not impossible.

Records said great mages and swordmasters used to live hundreds of years, and post-Cataclysm awakeners clearly surpassed average human lifespan.

But the Holy Sovereign was neither mage nor swordmaster.

“Does divine power slow aging?”

“Yeah. Once holy force accumulates enough, aging slows. That commander looked forty but is probably over seventy—an old lady. Still, two hundred like the dog is ridiculous. Must be chugging divine power extract or something… suspicious. She knows it’s weird herself, so she never reveals her real age.”

Ion fell into thought.

What if the Holy Sovereign wasn’t human?