Chapter 30

Chapter 30
## Chapter 30

Heinrich (3)

A blade slices through the air.

Lifting the shield on my left arm, I deflected the incoming downward slash…

Clang!

“Not deep enough!”

The blade slid lightly along the shield’s surface, bending slightly before redirecting its trajectory toward my lower legs.

I rapidly brought my right-hand longsword around to parry the counter, but the adversary pressed the assault without pause.

Clang! Clang! Shwaang—

Utilizing both sword and shield, I managed to contain the relentless barrage.

It was only through a heightened sense of anticipation forged from brutal conditioning, combined with a physique pushed to its absolute limits, that I managed to react in the nick of time.

Then, in a flash,

“An opening!”

The swordsman swinging at me inadvertently exposed a brief vulnerability.

It was far from flawless.

Exploiting it meant I would have to absorb a significant blow myself.

Yet, if I had to trade a fractured bone for the chance to draw blood!

Decisively, I unleashed my blade…

Swish—

The sheer force of an impact slammed against my shield, driving me backward.

“Ugh…”

“Heh, heh, whew… You caught me off guard there. Have you lost your mind?”

Off-balance and dragging one leg, my opponent shook his head while attempting to steady his breathing.

At the final second, he had aborted his swing, executing a kick against my shield to force a separation.

The maneuver clearly demanded immense effort, as he grimaced and steadied his swaying frame.

“Alright, let’s call it a day. Why risk throwing your life away in a simple practice bout? We might not worry about a few scratches, but there has to be a boundary.”

The veteran paladin acting as my training partner voiced his complaints.

Gathering around upon hearing the commotion, spectators began reviewing the exchange as if analyzing a real engagement.

“Heinrich possesses truly remarkable endurance. Factoring that in, isn’t this approach to fighting perfectly viable?”

“Even so, there are limits. What good is endurance if you absorb a lethal strike that defies recovery?”

“If managed correctly, it could prove highly potent. Take a minor blow, rapidly eliminate the threat, and heal afterward…”

“True, provided your reservoir of divine power is sufficient. And that lad’s reserves… well, nobody denies his capacity. Eventually, he’ll ascend to a rank so lofty we won’t even be able to catch a glimpse of him.”

Just as they noted, with only a few months having passed since my ceremony, my internal divine power nearly rivaled that of an archbishop.

Given that an archbishop oversaw sacred matters within an entire minor municipality, it was an impressively high standing.

‘The bishop overseeing this Talia temple ranks just above the archbishop. Naturally, the chasm between those ranks is vast.’

The higher one ascends, the wider the gap becomes in any hierarchy.

Lately, however, a nagging concern plagued me; the progression of my divine power seemed to have hit a plateau.

‘It feels as though I’ve hit a ceiling. Advancing further requires shattering this barrier. I still haven’t figured out how.’

That boundary was likely the very threshold separating a common paladin from a true holy knight.

For the moment, my only recourse was to commit myself even more intensely to my drills.

《The Entity has attained a breakthrough through persistent practice. Unlocks the capability “Holy Warrior Combat Tactics.”》

Discovering tangible advancement brought a sense of relief.

* Entity Name: Heinrich
* Common Traits: “Mind Hub,” “Persona,” “Rapid Recovery,” “Enlightment Index”
* Entity Traits: “Sacred Baptism,” “Undaunted,” “Holy Warrior Combat Tactics”
* Special Note: Aligned with Outerica’s divinity and the terrestrial ley lines, internal mana stores have been fully converted into divine power.

Driven by conditioning that tests all boundaries, physical attributes are enhancing remarkably.

Stepping toward the veteran paladin who had tested my skills, I offered a respectful bow.

“I appreciate the match!”

“Ah, yes. Well fought. Your progression is truly remarkable. Initially, you were just a brute relying on raw muscle, but in a mere matter of months, you’ve advanced to this degree. Talk about innate gift…”

“Very true. In the beginning, you relied solely on physical strength, but now you’ve mastered tactical fighting as well. These days, even the drill masters are forced to step in because the average trainees simply can’t match your pace.”

A barrage of compliments came my way.

I offered an uncomfortable grin, merely reiterating my appreciation.

“By the by, wasn’t your ultimate objective to join the holy knights?”

“Correct, that is my goal.”

“Right, speaking of which, the holy knights who occasionally drop by the grounds have been keeping tabs on you. Keep this up, and positive developments are bound to follow shortly.”

“Hahaha, that would be ideal.”

While the holy knights maintained a dedicated training area, combined drills were occasionally organized to ensure fluid cooperation during actual deployments.

Ever since the initial ceremony, I had drawn focus during drills, earning a fair amount of scrutiny from the higher echelons.

To earn the rank of holy knight, outshining the rest of the paladins was mandatory, making this a highly favorable development.

A few days later, it became clear the veteran’s predictions were entirely accurate.

“Pardon? Transferring to the Roselia Grand Temple?”

The Roselia Grand Temple.

The primary seat of Outerica’s faith situated at the center of the Ion Continent, marking it as one of the most prominent grand sanctuaries within Outerica.

It stood as the spiritual epicenter where both the Pope and the Holy Maiden resided.

An invitation had been extended for me to journey there.

“Indeed, if the central authority is summoning you to headquarters, they must hold you in incredibly high regard. They likely intend to groom you for greater things.”

The veteran paladin delivering the news scratched his scalp.

As he indicated, this represented an immense advancement.

A chance to transition beyond the local confines of the Talia Kingdom onto a far grander stage.

“For now, they require your consent. After all, it involves relocating from your birthplace. The journey between headquarters and this location is substantial, and returning home won’t be easy except under dire circumstances.”

As someone who did not truly originate from this region, the relocation caused me no distress.

Naturally, having fabricated my background, I could not voice this thought openly.

“It is perfectly fine. I have no remaining kin in this territory anyway. Furthermore, a grand temple! Serving the divinity there is a lifelong aspiration. I am eager to accept!”

“Excellent, you made the right choice. This is a phenomenal path forward. I shall convey your acceptance. Ensure your gear is packed.”

With that, the paladin departed to deliver his brief, expressing a touch of jealousy regarding the transfer while lamenting that family commitments kept him from seeking a similar path.

“Roselia Grand Temple…”

A destination situated far across the land, on the western fringes of the continent.

The prospect of exploring a grander domain of Outerica sent a thrill through my chest.

—

The alliance designated for the Immortal King Subjugation Force had officially dissolved.

Though their engagements were fought primarily against legions of vampires and dark practitioners rather than the direct lineage of the Immortal King, the campaign had stretched across several months and remained a significant endeavor.

Following a brief celebratory send-off, the members dispersed back to their respective duties.

The primary authority, Archbishop Latius, alongside his subordinate, Paladin Tooskin.

Seven elite battle clerics operating under a local bishop.

Ten knights from the Silver Winged Holy Knight Order assigned to Tooskin.

And a solitary accompanying holy knight.

These individuals comprised the contingent departing the Talia Kingdom.

“My word… Are you Heinrich, the aspiring holy knight? A remarkably dedicated young fellow indeed.”

“Aiming for the knighthood? Have you ever weighed the prospects of entering the priesthood instead?”

“Nonsense! His aptitude for divine power is exceptional, quite apart from raw capability. With continued dedication, he will undoubtedly make a phenomenal holy knight.”

“Word from the practice fields is that your resolve and natural aptitude are extraordinary. A future as a top paladin is well within reach.”

Standing amidst a gathering exceeding twenty individuals, I offered courteous responses to everyone showing an interest in my future.

The clerics and knights assembled here held ranks equivalent to elite statuses.

Rank was determined by divine power born of devotion; the more potent the energy, the higher an individual could rise within the hierarchy.

Elite echelons demanded unyielding devotion, rendering betrayal or internal subversion highly improbable.

Consequently, the leadership harbored few anxieties regarding infiltrators.

This reality explained how Heinrich had integrated into the ranks with such minimal friction.

Any hidden malice or spiritual decay would diminish a person’s devotion, reflecting instantly as a drop in divine power.

This mechanism allowed the Central Temple to maintain its position as the undisputed dominant faith.

‘My circumstances are uniquely anomalous. Still, given that the divinity is aware, I assume it meets approval.’

Because of this, individuals pursuing paths as holy knights or battle clerics were granted a degree of autonomy.

This freedom aligned perfectly with my desire to attain the rank of holy knight—allowing me to propagate the divinity’s influence while traversing the world.

As conversations continued, a side entrance swung open, admitting Archbishop Latius and Paladin Tooskin.

“Is the contingent assembled? The array is active, so we shall depart immediately.”

Following Tooskin’s directive, we advanced into the inner recesses of the structure.

Traveling light per our instructions, I kept pace with the group.

The chamber we eventually entered matched my assumptions.

‘Traveling from the western rim to the continent’s core… Considering the current state of infrastructure, an overland trek would consume months. It makes sense why they opted for a compact group for this rapid deployment.’

A grand arched portal constructed from pristine marble dominated the expansive hall.

The alabaster structure was adorned with exquisite gilded patterns, casting a soft, shimmering golden radiance across the immediate area.

-… And so the guardian declared, “Grant the devoted followers the fortitude to bear His decrees.” A single stride scales the ridges, and a pair of strides clears the oceans…

-… Disseminate His teachings to every corner, and by this decree, the terrain compressed, rendering all destinations accessible. The vision extends a thousand leagues, and the stride covers a thousand leagues…

Upon closer inspection, these inscriptions revealed themselves as sacred passages delicately detailed in gold leaf.

Each line chronicled manifestations that disregarded the limitations of terrain and distance.

“Commence the ritual.”

Upon entering, our leaders exchanged nods with the attendant clerics stationed in the room. Immediately, the attendants began intoning their recitations, causing the gilded passages to ignite with light, flowing from the outer frame toward the central archway.

A brilliant golden illumination enveloped the structure as a azure vortex materialized in the center, presenting a magnificent display.

This remained a manifestation that Heinrich could not fully comprehend given his basic mastery of the Holy Laws.

An entirely different discipline that could not be deciphered through Hans’s familiarity with “Black Magic” or Heinz’s mastery over “Blood Magic.”

Wooong—

Accompanied by a low resonance, the central azure vortex expanded outward, filling the space within the marble frame.

Concurrently, the golden radiance that had illuminated the chamber began to dim.

A softly pulsating azure portal remained.

“Let us proceed.”

Following the archbishop’s lead, the contingent stepped into the gateway as though it were a routine occurrence.

‘They must have used this method to arrive here. Am I truly the sole individual experiencing this for the first time?’

After bidding farewell to Bishop Cromville, the overseer of the Talia Temple, the travelers vanished sequentially past the threshold.

At last, my moment arrived…

Stepping forward with resolve, I plunged directly into the azure vortex.

‘Farewell to the Talia Kingdom! I venture forth toward unfamiliar territories!’

Past this threshold, the sacred core of the continent, the true center of faith, awaited my arrival!

—

Though I had crossed the boundary with immense confidence, our initial destination was not the central sanctuary.

Instead, we emerged within a temple belonging to the Sharoti Kingdom, situated northeast of the Talia Kingdom.

I learned that traversing half the landmass in a single transition was an incredibly demanding feat.

“There is no pressing emergency requiring a reckless pace. We shall advance methodically, breaking up the trek.”

“Ah, understood.”

This arrangement afforded us the luxury of daily rest, allowing me to explore the local urban landscape alongside the youngest holy knight of our party.

Recognizing that this was my maiden voyage outside the borders of Talia, he graciously offered his services as a local guide.

Several days later, the announcement came: “This is our final transition. Everyone, compose yourselves before we step into the sanctuary.”

“Understood!”

Wooong—

Passing through the azure vortex once more.

At long last, we materialized within the Roselia Grand Temple at the heart of the sanctuary.

The initial sight greeting me was a relocation chamber, sharing a strong resemblance to the ones found in minor temples.

Waiting along the perimeter was a assembly of clerics clad in ceremonial vestments.

“Welcome. Your efforts during this campaign are greatly appreciated.”

A young woman positioned amid the clerics glided forward, offering a warm expression of greeting.

Luminous platinum hair complemented radiant amber eyes that seemed to catch and reflect the ambient light.

Her mere presence seemed to elevate the brightness of the entire room.

‘No, is that an effect of the architecture? Hold on, is that an actual radiant ring above her?’

This marked my initial introduction to Hatiannus, the revered Saint of the Roselia Grand Temple situated at the heart of the Central Temple.

—

“Heinrich has established a solid framework for steady advancement; from this point forward, it is simply a matter of allowing time to pass.”

Reflecting on the journey, transferring to the sanctuary had proven immensely advantageous, granting me firsthand exposure to various settlements along our route.

Once a specific threshold of capability was attained, I would possess the freedom to navigate the continent at will under the mantle of clerical duties.

‘Revered by the populace as a respected holy knight!’

Such an existence would contrast sharply with the frustrations of Hans, who was forced to avoid public scrutiny, or Heinze II, who had to live a cautious, hidden life.

Now, that restrictive existence was a thing of the past.

“I ought to begin converting these items now that we have relocated.”

I cast a satisfied glance into the secure storage area.

An assortment of high-value commodities, including stacks of gold bullion, occupied the far corner.

This represented the fruits of my strenuous undertakings.

Swoosh—

Heinz, materializing without a sound, transferred a portion of the valuable commodities into his band-shaped dimensional storage instrument.

The wristband was an item recovered during the exploration of the vampire estate.

Though its internal volume was restricted to roughly the size of a standard pack, its sheer practicality made it an indispensable tool.

‘An authentic spatial artifact is a rare find.’

Securing the precious commodities, Heinz glided toward the casement.

The hour had drifted well past ten at night, providing an ideal window for covert operations.

Unhatching the casement, Heinz dissolved effortlessly into the shadows of the evening.

A strategy for converting the assets had already been established.

We had hardly been passive observers while Heinrich was executing his duties.