Chapter 75 – Great Tree Sea

The following two months passed in the blink of an eye for Lee Hanseong.

Up to the border region, they were still within the influence of the Sacred Mountain attached to Ten’s Spirit Domain, so it wasn’t much different from the previous pilgrimage journey, allowing them to pass through quickly.

‘If there’s one difference, it’s that Hanna took over the interrogation duties when the Priest Beatus acted as a circuit judge.’

As they neared the border region, the intervals between villages increased, but the number of criminals flocking to each village also grew, giving her plenty of opportunities to test the interrogation methods she learned from Beatus.

And finally, they arrived at the border of the frontier.

In the fortress city surrounding the kingdom’s boundary, enclosed by the great wall, Hanna was interrogating a criminal.

Thwack!

A dull sound echoed as a club struck the criminal’s head.

“Confess your sins and repent willingly!”

“Cough! …I told you. I’m innocent!”

“That’s a lie.”

“…How did you know?”

Around the time she was getting accustomed to interrogations involving physical force, Hanna’s eyes began to distinguish between the truths and lies spoken by the criminals.

In her eyes, which had recently Bloomed the divine art of Lie Detection, a light of Divine power swirled.

“From what I see, it seems you can use the Lie Detection divine art, so why do you insist on interrogating while beating them?”

Dice, who had been subtly observing Hanna’s interrogation methods, cautiously asked.

It was the Priest Beatus who answered.

“To weaken the criminal’s spirit through pain. That way, we can read more from them.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Well, once you’re accustomed to interrogations, you can read the nature of the other’s sins just by looking, but the Saint Candidate is still in the learning process, so there’s no helping it.”

“What if they’re truly innocent?”

“Then the mercy of Radiance will heal them.”

Dice closed his mouth at the shameless priest’s reply.

After that, Hanna’s interrogation continued, and the criminal, unable to hold out any longer, confessed his sins.

At that moment, Lee Hanseong could feel a new Starlight Circuit almost settling into Hanna’s body.

‘…The Interrogation Skill will Bloom soon as well.’

Sure enough.

[Conditions met. The Rare Skill <???> Blooms into <Interrogation>.]

While interrogating the next criminal, Hanna Bloomed the Skill.

“Congratulations. You’ve finally gained the qualification to learn the divine art of judgment.”

“It’s thanks to your teachings, Father Beatus.”

In response to the Interrogation Skill, the higher divine art of Sin Achievement Detection, an advanced form of Lie Detection, was Unlocked.

“May the mercy of Radiance dwell in your mace.”

Hanna had already heard from Beatus about the mindset required for the Miracle of Judgment.

Just as healing-type divine arts require a heart of sacrifice, attack-type divine arts require a heart of mercy.

To obtain the Miracle of Judgment, training that involved always keeping Sin Achievement Detection active and varying the intensity of attacks based on the nature of the opponent’s sins was effective.

“By facing the Awakened Monsters of the Great Flood, you’ll soon come to understand mercy.”

“Yes.”

The day after Hanna Bloomed the Interrogation Skill.

All the patients were healed, and the criminals’ trials were concluded.

Now, it was time to venture beyond the wall into the Great Flood.

* * *

Zzzzzzzz!

Bzzzzzzz!

Fwoooosh!

As they passed through the sacred gate of the wall, the sounds of nature grew louder.

The Priest Beatus, with a familiar expression, gripped the Treasure Vessel made of Divine power—a mace—and remained vigilant of their surroundings.

In a dense forest filled with giant trees, each seemingly several meters in circumference, the mixed noises of various insects and beasts echoed from all directions.

The sky was covered by lush tree branches, making it as dark as evening even during the day, creating a gloomy atmosphere.

In the middle of such a forest, a single path extended from the sacred gate, opening up.

“Do not let your guard down. Awakened Monsters can emerge from underground, atop trees, anywhere. Remember, even the surrounding trees are Awakened Monsters of 1-Star or higher.”

“Blessing: Blessing.”

Hanna’s Blessing was applied to the party.

As if Group Transcendence had been deployed, everyone’s Grade rose by one level.

Amidst the pure white light enveloping the four people and one beast.

“Defense: Protection.”

A protective shield of light was even cast over the packhorse.

Its range was not small, capable of protecting not just the packhorse but the entire party.

“I think we can move in this state for now.”

“Won’t maintaining the divine art be difficult?”

Dice worried about Hanna’s Divine power depletion, but in truth, this level wasn’t a significant burden for her.

Divine power itself was borrowed from the Constellation, and its nature was inherently stable, allowing for long maintenance times.

“Yes, you don’t need to worry too much.”

“Let’s go.”

With the Priest Beatus leading the way, Hanna’s party began moving deeper into the Great Flood.

But they hadn’t taken more than a few steps before an Awakened Monster leaped out in front of them.

Rumble.

The ground split open, and a giant mole emerged from below.

Crack— Crack—

A horn protruded from its forehead, and dull gray sparks continuously crackled from the tips of its fur.

“A Four-Star Beast, Thunder Horn Mole.”

Tsk.

Almost as soon as Beatus identified the Awakened Monster, Dice rushed forward.

Bang—!

A sword imbued with Sword Qi shot toward the Thunder Mole like a beam of light, but.

Vwoooom!

Dice’s sword stopped just an inch short of the mole’s head.

The gray sparks surrounding the mole formed a kind of magnetic field, blocking the sword’s advance.

And a failed attack meant the danger of a counterattack.

Whoosh—!

The magnetic field surged violently, flinging Dice backward.

“Ugh…!”

Of course, he dissipated most of the impact upon being repelled, so the damage wasn’t severe, but.

Taking advantage of the distance created, the mole raised both front paws above its head.

Sparks discharged from the horn on its forehead condensed like beads onto its front paws.

The moment the mole brought its front paws down onto the ground.

The Thunder Horn Mole’s Third awakening skill 《Earth Thunder》.

Koo—woong!

The ground shook as if a landmine had exploded, overturning the terrain in the area.

Crash—!

Just as they were about to be swept away by the soil and rock Fragments rushing toward the party.

Beatus stepped forward.

“Pressure: Press.”

Doo—thump!

Concentrated Divine power pressed down on the area in front of Beatus, forcibly halting the advancing soil.

The shaking ground and even the mole that had unleashed Earth Thunder were restrained by the pressure, unable to move.

Looking at the mole, the Priest Beatus spoke with a cold expression.

“I heard there was a cunning mole that preyed only on the weak among those traveling the Pilgrimage Path. It seems this was the one.”

Hanna, who could see the mole’s crimson sin achievements through the divine art of Sin Achievement Detection, immediately understood Beatus’s words.

The sin achievements they saw were determined based on human standards.

Simply killing among beasts did not incur sin achievements.

An Awakened Monster’s sin achievements increased only in one case: when it harmed humans.

And judging by the mole’s sin achievements, it had killed at least a dozen humans.

“I’ll leave its judgment to the Saint Candidate.”

“Yes.”

Nodding slightly and stepping forward, Hanna was slightly surprised that the Priest Beatus’s Press had no effect on her.

Pressing only desired targets was more difficult than pressing everything.

Step.

Hanna looked at the mole, struggling to break free from the Press with pitying eyes, then.

“May you be born into the grace of Radiance in your next life.”

She swung the mace she had obtained at the fortress before entering the Great Flood.

Kwaaaang!

Originally at the 5-Star Rank, her strength, enhanced to the 6-Star level by the Blessing, was more than enough to end the Four-Star Beast’s life.

The mole’s head shattered and slumped.

Its once-proud horn was also broken, rolling on the ground.

But Beatus seemed dissatisfied with something.

“That time, you used too much force. You must hold a bit more mercy in your hand to obtain the Miracle of Judgment.”

“Yes. I’ll focus more next time.”

* * *

Even after defeating the Thunder Horn Mole, Awakened Monsters continued to appear.

Shadow Spiders, Fire Monkeys, Frost Wolves, Wind Weasels, Ember Bears, Mirror Snakes, Ghost Trees, and more.

Most were Awakened Monsters around 3-Star to 4-Star.

The battles generally followed a pattern: Dice would step forward first; if he was overwhelmed, Duren or Beatus would step in to weaken the Awakened Monster’s strength, and Hanna would finish it off.

“The level of Awakened Monsters appearing is all similar, isn’t it?”

When Dice asked about it, the Priest Beatus explained.

“1-Star or 2-Star level Awakened Monsters instinctively sense the smell of death accumulated on the Pilgrimage Path, which knights periodically clean, and avoid approaching. Only at 3-Star can they suppress their instincts and approach the Pilgrimage Path.”

“Then why don’t 5-Star or 6-Star level Awakened Monsters appear?”

“They possess sufficient intelligence and thus avoid bothering humans. Through experience, they know that if they kill humans, more humans will come hunting them.”

“Aha. Whatever the reason, it’s good for me.”

Engaging in consecutive battles with similarly leveled Awakened Monsters, Dice’s talent was explosively demonstrated.

The Sword Qi enveloping his sword mimicked the attributes of the Awakened Monsters he had faced so far.

Thunder, shadow, flame, frost, wind, ember, mirror, death, and more.

The form of the Sword Qi, shifting through various attributes, eventually converged into thunder.

It was because thunder was the attribute most suited to Dice’s enlightenment and Quick Sword Art.

“With this, I can properly use acceleration through Aura explosion.”

Rumble— Bang!

As Dice said, the next 4-Star Beast that appeared was neutralized by him alone, without Duren or Beatus needing to step in.

By the time a thunderous Explosive Sound echoed, his sword had already pierced the opponent like a lightning-fast thrust.

“Thunder Thrust… it is.”

It was a unique technique where the new inherent Skill <Aura of Thunder> was linked with <Quick Sword Art>.

For now, linking them was the best approach, but once fully mastered, it was a combination with ample potential to be integrated into a legendary Skill.

Fwoosh!

“Dice, your Grade…!”

“He’s Awakened.”

And with that, Dice, who had remained at 3-Star, Awakened to 4-Star.

At that moment, Lee Hanseong realized that Mirinae’s presence, which had almost vanished, had recovered to the point where he could faintly sense it.

A change larger than when Pheidippides, Hanna, or Duren completed their Promotions.

‘Did the addition of a new star to the Constellation have an impact?’

It was clear that the Promotions of the Spirits already under contract with Lee Hanseong also helped restore Mirinae’s Grade.

However, the addition of stars and Causality from uncontacted Spirits who Promoted under the influence of the History Alteration process seemed more effective.

‘Now that I think about it, when Hanna underwent Historical Alteration before, Alex obtained a Miracle and Promoted, which also accelerated Mirinae’s change.’

Inducing the Promotion of not just contracted Spirits but also other Spirits around them was a Shortcut to awakening Mirinae.

And likely, the stronger the Spirit influenced, the more effective it would be.

‘If that’s the case… I must visit Elysion.’

Whether it’s Lee Hanseong’s Transcendence or Hanna’s Blessing, both can accelerate Promotion through experiences of higher realms.

If even one of the beings described in Arcadia’s legends, of Seven Star or above, could be Promoted during a Historical Alteration, the time to reunite with Mirinae would come even sooner.

While Lee Hanseong was determining a new direction for History Alteration.

The Priest Beatus halted their first day’s movement in the Great Flood there.

Considering the intermittent battles, they hadn’t traveled very far in terms of distance, but greed invites danger.

“It’ll be difficult to immediately adapt to your enhanced abilities, so let’s camp here today.”

“We can go further, you know.”

“No. Night is approaching soon, so it’s better to conserve our strength.”

Whoosh!

Saying so, the Priest Beatus spread Divine power onto the ground, deploying a Temporary Sanctuary without any special effects.

A sacred ground unfolded in a narrow space just enough for camping.

“Stealth: Hide.”

To this, the Miracle of Stealth, mainly practiced by heretic inquisitors, was added.

“Saint Candidate, please add the Miracles of Blessing and Protection as well.”

“Yes, Blessing, Protection.”

Finally, with Hanna’s Blessing and Protection added, a limited safe zone was formed.

“Then I’ll prepare the meal. Mr. Duren and Young Dice, please take care of lighting the fire and setting up the tent with Father Beatus.”

“Understood.”

“Yes.”

Thus, through role division, they quickly completed camp preparations and began their meal.

The menu was a simple stew made of bread, jerky, dried vegetables, and such.

“But won’t the smell attract beasts?”

“Don’t underestimate the Miracle of Stealth. It erases presence, appearance, and even smell, so there’s no need to worry about that.”

“That’s a relief then.”

After filling their stomachs with the meal, they took turns keeping watch through the night.

Even with the Temporary Sanctuary, it didn’t guarantee perfect safety.

As time passed without incident, Lee Hanseong, watching over them through Hanna and Duren, was about to Fast Forward when.

Thump!

Something invisible collided with the sanctuary’s barrier.

It was an event that occurred during Duren’s watch.

“What’s that?”

Thump! Thump! Crackle.

The impacts didn’t stop at one but continued repeatedly, causing small cracks to gradually appear in the Temporary Sanctuary’s barrier.

But even looking beyond the cracked sanctuary, Duren’s eyes saw nothing.

“Single Flash.”

Swish!

So, he simply slashed through empty air.

Even if he couldn’t see it, it was certain something was there.

Slice!

Sure enough, a sword mark appeared in the air, and blood splattered from it.

As Concealment lifted, the revealed opponent was…

“…A person?”

It was a person, not an Awakened Monster.