How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Guidance

Mikel Farner was the abbot of Yarnelli Monastery, and a quite sincere one at that.

However, being a sincere abbot was one thing, and he knew that he wasn’t a very devout believer himself. Displaying sincerity befitting his profession and truly believing and following the meaning within were completely different matters.

And naturally, he hadn’t given much thought to that fact until now.

“Oh God……”

A small voice escaped from Abbot Mikel’s mouth.

Most of the priests, including the abbot, bowed their heads and made the sign of the cross, and some even knelt down.

The sight of those who were old enough to know better kneeling on the dirty floor and repeatedly making the sign of the cross with surprised faces, unlike their usual demeanor, was even a little comical, but fortunately, they couldn’t see each other.

Whoosh!

The small prayer room was filled with pure white light.

The light, which filled the room to the point of making it difficult to distinguish anything, was emanating from a small symbol held in the man’s hand.

“……!”

A look of surprise also appeared on Inquisitor Anton Lebecht’s face. But it was a slightly different kind of emotion than the other priests.

Despite the fact that holy power was a special power originating from God, he knew very well that this phenomenon was not a miracle or the descent of an angel.

This was just proof.

Proof of an astonishingly outstanding talent.

In his hand was the holy relic, ‘Eye of Kahadir’.

It was the first time that the holy power contained in this high-ranking holy relic had reacted so sensitively.

He had only intended to release a little power for the test, but the holy power that had flowed out of the holy relic like water was all sucked into the boy standing in front of him.

Holy power was a mysterious power, different from mana. No matter how much effort one put in, without basic talent, one could only handle a meager level of holy power.

But this……

Anton Lebecht closed his eyes.

“In the exalted name of God, I earnestly beseech you……”

Soon, the Lord’s Prayer flowed from his lips.

He would have been satisfied with just a slightly better level than ordinary people. They were in the midst of a war against heresy, and the number of Inquisitors was always lacking.

But this wasn’t just ‘a slightly better level’.

To be guided by such a talented young Inquisitor in these turbulent times……

Wasn’t this truly God’s grace?

Looking down at the holy relic, now empty and devoid of any holy power, Anton smiled, thinking that he would have to replenish the depleted holy power through consecration as soon as he returned.

“……Thus, finally, casting off all transgressions, you shall save yourself.”

After finishing the Lord’s Prayer, Anton slowly opened his eyes. The light in the room was gradually subsiding.

Instead of the fading light, a heavy silence filled the room. Anton, who broke the silence that had lingered for a while, moved his feet with a limping sound.

With everyone’s attention focused on him, Anton approached the boy standing in the middle of the room.

Despite being in a rather unfamiliar situation that he wouldn’t have commonly experienced, the boy named Luciel’s expression was calm.

He was a composed and intelligent fellow. He seemed to have inherited the Lumineger family’s talent in abundance.

Anton, who was quietly observing Luciel, eventually smiled gently and extended his hand.

“Welcome, new Inquisitor. May God’s grace be with you on your path.”

His tone was surprisingly friendly, enough to surprise the other brothers. It seemed that Anton had already fully acknowledged the boy named Luciel.

Luciel, who looked at Anton with an unreadable expression for a moment, eventually nodded and clasped his firm hand.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

And only then, a small smile appeared on Luciel’s face.

🔹🔹🔹

Of course, he wouldn’t become a full-fledged Inquisitor right away.

He had to receive a simple ordination at the Cathedral located in Hesterica, the City of the Shining Sun, and successfully complete the subsequent probationary period and exams before receiving a formal appointment to become a true Inquisitor.

However, as he had said before while shaking hands, Inquisitor Anton seemed to think that I would pass those processes without much difficulty.

“Of course, since we are currently in a war against heresy, it can be said to be quite simplified. In the past, only those who had undergone at least ten years of rigorous training were appointed.”

Inquisitor Anton Lebecht continued, examining the small, burning bonfire.

“Well, now……”

The Inquisitor glanced at me. He seemed to be trying to gauge my reaction.

“Our mission is intertwined with death, so the number of Inquisitors is always lacking. The initiation process won’t take that long.”

Seeing him frankly talk about the harsh reality behind the glorious and plausible appearance, rather than boasting about it, it seemed he had no intention of hiding or deceiving me. Those who trembled with fear to this extent probably weren’t fit to be Inquisitors in the first place.

Thud.

I cut a dry branch and tossed it into the bonfire, saying,

“I see.”

A life intertwined with death was my specialty.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Inquisitor Anton, as if trying to reassure me, handed me a cup of warm tea and said,

“You have talent, a talent that shines brighter than anyone else’s.”

It was quite a compliment, considering it came from the mouth of an Inquisitor who would calmly eat after slaughtering civilians in the name of God’s will.

It meant that the potential I had shown was that great.

“……”

Such outstanding talent for holy power. Now that I had decided to become an Inquisitor, it was certainly a good thing, but it was a little unsettling.

‘Perhaps……’

A thought flashed through my mind. Could it be that being abandoned at the monastery wasn’t a coincidence?

What if the family knew about my talent for holy power beforehand?

Then, instead of this rural monastery, shouldn’t they have sent me to the Hesterica Cathedral, the Grand Temple on Mount Calimphus, or the Cradle of Lactya Sibellia?

Perhaps they decided it wasn’t worth paying that much attention to an illegitimate child who they didn’t know when they would have to eliminate. Sending me to a monastery far away from the family might have been their minimal consideration.

Of course, now that an assassin had come looking for me, none of that mattered anymore.

It seemed that Inquisitor Anton Lebecht only knew that I was an illegitimate child of the Lumineger family. Well, for now, that was all there was to it.

For now, just going to Hesterica, where the Inquisition was located, was a great opportunity and a stroke of luck for me.

The family wouldn’t be able to send anyone that far. It seemed I wouldn’t have to worry about that side of things for the time being.

Gulp.

Finishing my thoughts, I downed the bitter tea in the crude wooden cup.

“……”

It was the kind of tea that only Inquisitors would drink. In other words, it was awfully disgusting.

Putting down the cup, I stuffed the remaining bread into my mouth in one bite. I was pleased that it wasn’t stale bread, so I didn’t have to soak it in this horrible tea.

It was soft and savory white bread, not the hard and astringent bread I used to eat during mealtimes after prayers.

It was the food the monastery had prepared for us, who were leaving for Hesterica, where the Cathedral was located.

“It is said that the connection with God was much deeper in the past.”

He slowly began to speak, savoring the brown tea with its nauseating aroma.

“After angels appeared on earth riding beams of brilliant light, devout believers even heard God’s voice directly.”

‘That’s right, unfortunately.’

He continued, wrapping his cloak-covered hand around the kettle hanging over the bonfire.

“However, for some reason, the radiance descending from the heavens can no longer be found, and God’s answers have become faint.”

‘That’s a relief.’

Click.

After opening the lid of the kettle, dented in many places from the long journey, to check the remaining amount, he suddenly asked me,

“Would you like some more?”

“……I’m fine.”

He nodded and poured the brown-tinged tea into the empty wooden cup once more, closing his eyes as if savoring the aroma.

“I don’t know whether evil has gained power and God’s answers have become faint, or whether evil has gained power by taking advantage of the faintness of God’s answers……”

Emptying the small cup once more, he opened his eyes and said,

“All we can do for God is to eliminate all heretics living and breathing on this earth.”

He closed his mouth after finishing his words, which sounded as if they were half-directed at himself.

“……”

The silence that followed.

The crackling of the bonfire and the faint chirping of crickets in the distance filled the stillness that lingered between me, accustomed to silence, and the Inquisitor.

🔹🔹🔹

After several days of travel, the Inquisitor and I finally reached our destination. It was the result of riding the Inquisitor’s large, exceptionally fast horse without rest.

Anton and I paused on a hill, overlooking the city.

Hesterica, the great city where the Hesterica Cathedral was located.

The view of Hesterica from the hill was magnificent and beautiful. The city shone brightly, bathed in the sunlight pouring down from the sky.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

Inquisitor Anton asked, looking down at the brilliant city of the sun.

“It is.”

I answered honestly. Unlike some black mages who used to decorate their dwellings with human corpses, monsters, and all sorts of grotesque creatures, my aesthetic sense was perfectly normal.

Of course, what was beautiful and what I liked were separate matters.

The last time I saw this city……

‘It was burning.’

Much more than five hundred years ago.

Back then, when my power was at its peak, this City of the Shining Sun burned before the power of me and my followers, befitting its name as the City of Light.

Briefly reminiscing about the pleasure of that time, I tilted my head and looked up at the sky above the city.

Something faintly shimmering.

‘A new barrier?’

Judging by its shape and scale, it was a quite solidly constructed barrier. They weren’t going to be caught off guard twice.

I narrowed my eyes, focusing on the faintly shimmering barrier to try and grasp its general structure, even if only roughly.

After the holy power within the holy relic that Anton had handed me for the test was absorbed into me, my senses felt a bit sharper.

“……You, could it be that……?”

The Inquisitor, following my gaze, eventually noticed that my eyes were fixed on the area above the city where there were no structures. He seemed to know that there was a barrier there as well.

“Good heavens.”

The Inquisitor, looking back and forth between me and the city above with a somewhat surprised face, spoke in a tone mixed with admiration.

“To be able to see Hesterica’s aerial barrier without undergoing any ordination. Truly, it’s astonishing.”

“Yes, well……”

Anton made the sign of the cross and nodded. His expression was filled with satisfaction.

“Indeed, it seems that your arrival here was guided by God.”

Those fanatics, honestly.

I chuckled softly at his words and replied,

“Wasn’t it the Inquisitor-nim who recognized and chose me?”

Not God.

It could have sounded impertinent, but he seemed to think that there was no malice in my words, with the latter part omitted, as he slowly opened his mouth.

“Well. If I had to say another factor, it would be……”

He paused for a moment, choosing his words, then continued, looking directly at me.

“An inexplicable pull, would be more accurate. It could also be called my destiny, or yours.”

I scoffed inwardly.

God’s guidance, destiny.

The outcome of a clear cause and effect. And the futile faith of fanatics who dressed up mere coincidence in a plausible way. I had seen the end of it all until I was sick of it.

Most of them had desperately sought God and fallen at my hands.

“Is that so.”

I said, turning my gaze from the Inquisitor back to the city.

“It’s truly beautiful. It’s a sight befitting a city where God’s will remains.”

Anton smiled faintly and made the sign of the cross at my seemingly impressed reply. I smiled back at him.

“Now, let’s go. Luciel.”

“Yes.”

The Inquisitor and I moved towards the massive city ahead, the City of the Shining Sun where the Hesterica Cathedral was located.

I watched Anton’s back and smiled coldly.

‘Inquisitor.’

Their ultimate goal, to seize and burn evil, was to destroy all seven Catacombs on earth and sever the link between the Great Demons and the earth forever.

Of course, the goal of the black mages of the Catacombs, who stood in opposition to them, wasn’t much different.

The eternal destruction of the five Sanctuaries.

Of course, from my perspective, having been resurrected after forcibly severing the connection with the Great Demons, both sides weren’t that different.

The seven Catacombs and the five Sanctuaries. The great symbols representing both sides were, at least in my eyes, nothing more than targets to be destroyed.

‘Let’s see then.’

I followed the Inquisitor with a chilling expression.

Let’s see if those esteemed beings will guide you to the very end this time as well.

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