Church’s Partner (1)
In a clean white shrine to the north of Highten City, chatter could be heard.
Two priests of the Althea Church, the Church that serves the Goddess of Light, were having a conversation.
It was the Bishop of Highten, Winfred, and Priest Emile.
Winfred had to confirm if the news were trustworthy.
“Is he a real Valtara warrior?”
Thanks to the Sword King Baotolt, the story of the Valtara clan also spread across the Continent.
As a result, there were cases where big people with good bodies pretended to be the Sword King’s blood relatives.
“There’s no mistake.”
Priest Emile responded firmly.
“Only Valtara warriors can smash measuring stones with bare hands without using Aura.”
With such a tremendous feat, it really no longer mattered if he was real or not.
It already meant he had an ability comparable to Valtara warriors.
“It’s rare for a Valtara warrior to make their way here. They’re usually at the center of the Continent.”
“I heard he’s quite young. Maybe he had just arrived at Latna?”
“Maybe.”
Winfred once again looked at the recommended documents.
Valtara Warrior, Felard Bean.
And his companion, a level 40 Mage, Artis Venetian.
With a thoughtful look, Winfred nodded.
“Give the two of them an offer to cooperate, Priest Emile.”
“I understand, Bishop. I hope they will accept the offer.”
In hopes of getting the Goddesses’ blessing of eternal youth, many aimed for a position as a Church’s partner.
However, it wasn’t uncommon for the Church’s invitations to be rejected.
The Church’s partner had quite annoying duties.
On the other hand, only one person was allowed to receive the Goddesses’ blessing every few years.
Rather than seeking eternal youth, many refused the offer and focused on making money instead.
Winfried smiled nicely.
“I agree. No matter how good some people are, it’s still not enough.”
* * *
In a backyard surrounded by a high wall, a muscular warrior was training tirelessly.
Taats! Hump! Taaaats!
He repeated a striking and lifting motion in a restrained position.
He intentionally wielded the sword slowly, making each movement thoroughly his own.
His movements were simple but powerful.
It was Ryu Han-bin’s own swordsmanship.
No matter how great his body was, his skill would rust if he didn’t train. He was still human, after all.
He had to train from time to time.
Taats!
Sweating, he kept swinging his sword.
Artis, who was looking at a golden scroll, felt a bit puzzled.
“I heard that no matter how dormant Aliens become, their level never goes down, Han-bin. Shouldn’t you be the same?”
Ryu Han-bin shrugged while wiping his forehead.
“Honestly, I don’t understand that logic. How can you not lose your ability even while dormant? I’m not getting any older, though, so my skills definitely won’t weaken due to age.”
“I don’t understand it either, but what can I do? It’s factual anyway.”
Artis turned his attention towards the scroll again.
Han-bin glanced at him.
“Is that the new spell scroll you bought?”
“Yeah. No matter how much energy I absorb, it won’t create spells.”
Artis complained.
“Alien mages gain new magic spells just by leveling up. It’s unfair!”
He recently bought seven spell scrolls that contained level 37 to level 40 spells from the Highten Mage Guild.
Upon reaching level 40, new magic spells became available for him to learn.
Ryu Han-bin stuck out his tongue.
“Aren’t spell scrolls expensive?”
The total price of the seven new spells was just over 18,000 X.
Converting it to Korean Won, it was equivalent to 180 million Won.
Thanks to that, Artis was broke again.
However, he had no regrets.
“It’s not expensive considering the effort and cost involved in making spell scrolls.”
There were usually two ways a Mage could learn new spells.
The first was the traditional method of learning magic by learning under the teachings of a higher-ranking Mage. They could also study the Mages themselves to gain knowledge and wisdom to apply in training to control and operate Mana better.
The second was to buy and decipher spell scrolls.
It was a new method that was developed through magical science.
Each spell scroll detailed all the knowledge related to the spell it contained, including the operation and flow of Mana required to use it.
If the Mage was qualified, they could learn spells through scrolls.
It was incredibly convenient.
“Although the price is quite high.”
Artis was used to studying magic spells alone and only relied on others’ guidance for complicated ones.
The first time he met Ryu Han-bin, he was on a quest to collect materials for his studies.
“I made a lot of profit, thanks to you. It was enough to buy me some spells.”
Ryu Han-bin picked up the spell scroll and surveyed it.
“If I tear this apart, will the magic be activated?”
Surprised, Artis immediately stopped him.
“Are you crazy!? Why would you destroy such an expensive item? What made you even think magic spells would active by tearing the scrolls?”
The scrolls became useless after tearing them apart, just like how cellphones became useless after being smashed.
“Oh, the concept is a little different.”
It didn’t function the same way spell scrolls did in games and cartoons.
It was a magical tool that made it easier to learn magic.
“It’s even more confusing because the concepts differ in the little details.”
Another thought came into his mind, causing Ryu Han-bin’s eyes to light up.
“Is there any scroll for Warriors to learn Aura?”
If a scroll meant to awaken Aura existed, then he’d be able to become an Aura user quickly.
He had already had enough physical strength, after all.
Artis replied with a firm answer.
“You’re really asking me if a scroll like that existed?”
Spell scrolls were magic tools that allowed Mages to use new magic.
It didn’t make ordinary people a Mage.
“If such a scroll existed, there would’ve been Aura users everywhere already.”
He stopped for a moment, then smiled.
“And, even if it existed, you wouldn’t be able to use it anyway.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you wouldn’t meet the level requirement.”
Artis shook the scroll in his hand.
“The level requirement for this is 40. That’s why I only bought it now.”
Ryu Han-bin’s shoulders drooped.
“Is there any way for me to learn Aura by myself?”
Still, regret remained, and he asked again.
“Then, is there at least some kind of swordsmanship book with an awakening method written in it?”
Reading books had no level requirements.
But Artis shook his head again.
“There must be, but…”
Basarada-style, Ascalon Arts, and Maxbrid martial arts were revered as the Continent’s three major swordsmanships.
And each of the most prestigious families in each region had their own version of awakening.
“None of them are probably for sale.”
Books like that were hidden from the public and passed on to the next generations.
It wasn’t probable for Artis and Han-bin to get their hands on such swordsmanships without any connection.
“The swordsmanship of the Valtara clan isn’t one of the major styles?”
“The clan of Valtara isn’t strong because of their swordsmanship.
Their strength came from the virtue of being born with a transcendental body.
Culturally speaking, they were nothing more than barbarians; hence they didn’t develop any form of swordsmanship.
“Of course, Sword King Baotolt rose to the top by himself.”
If the target was cut when they cut it and stabbed when they stabbed it, that was enough for the Valtara clan.
If the attack was stopped, then it only meant that it wasn’t strong enough!
The Valtara clan believed that a true warrior sharpened a simple blow more than a brilliant technique.
Thanks to their conversation, Han-bin resolved another question.
“So that’s why nobody doubted me due to my swordsmanship…”
No matter how much he disguised himself as a Valtara warrior, he didn’t use Valtara’s swordsmanship, but everyone was still deceived.
For that reason, it made sense.
After their conversation, Ryu Han-bin continued his training.
Artis also focused on the scrolls again.
Spell scrolls were also Magic Tools, so there was a limit to the number of times it could be used.
Mages had to understand the magic scroll in 12 attempts.
They devoted themselves to their craft until the sun began to set.
Han-bin spoke as he wiped his sweat off.
“By the way, when will the offer for a partnership come? Seven days have passed since I started pretending to be a Valtara warrior.”
“It should arrive soon.”
There was no television or internet in this world.
News didn’t spread as fast as it did on Earth.
Still, seven days had already passed. Anyone would’ve known by now.
The fact that a legendary Valtara warrior appeared in the Dungeon city of Highten.
* * *
The two rested at home after their training.
As they made themselves comfortable, someone knocked on their door.
“Anyone there?”
Ryu Han-bin looked out the window cautiously.
‘Who is it?’
A young man who appeared to be in his late 20s to early 30s stood in front of their home. He wore a white coat with an intricate symbol on his chest.
Han-bin muttered while looking at the other person with the Guidelines.
“A level 45 spiritist. That’s quite a high level.”
Artis’s lips began to smile.
There were only two high-ranking Spiritists in Highten.
And one of them was standing right outside their door.
“It’s Priest Emile of the Althea Church.”
* * *
Ryu Han-bin and Artis became partners of the Althea Church without any problem.
“If promising people like you move for the world, it’ll be a great blessing for the people of Latna, and Goddess Althea will be pleased!”
Presenting the signs of the Church to the two, the Bishop of Highten, Winfred continued.
“I have something to ask the both of you.”
There was a rugged mountain called Gessen about three days away from the dungeon city of Highten.
Recently, a group of bandits that went by the name of Zachroldan settled there. Since then, they had been harassing the locals, forcing the locals to request to subdue the bandits.
While listening to Winfred’s explanation, Han-bin clicked his tongue.
‘I think I can see why there are many Hunters who refuse the offer to be any Church’s partner. Isn’t this just volunteer work?’
A lot of people had dedicated themselves to raiding Dungeons.
However, dungeons were not the only places in the world that needed Hunters.
Latna’s native monsters also harmed people every now and then.
There were thieves among humans, and criminals hid around across the Continent.
But Hunters weren’t interested in things like that.
None of it offered any money.
However, the world’s ruling powers weren’t powerful enough to solve all of the world’s problems.
Partnerships were the Churches’ way of making up for what they lacked.
It was more appropriate to call it volunteer work.
After a detailed explanation, Winfred asked the intentions of the two.
“What do you think? Can you do it?”
He wasn’t asking because he thought they wouldn’t have enough power.
He was a Valtara warrior!
The Mage was also Level 40!
It was a request to invest money and time to the Church’s objectives without any form of compensation.
It wasn’t easy to accept.
But Artis nodded.
In the first place, that “contribution” was the main goal of the duo.
“Of course. We’ll leave right away tomorrow morning.”
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