Chapter 142: 3 Stars (3)

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Gallon For had given up an ordinary life ever since he entered NOX.

After all, wasn’t NOX itself an organization where those in the shadows indulged in the extraordinary?

Even Master Carl’s refinement alone had been unusual from the beginning.

Gallon often thought that once the organization grew larger, they would end up digging into secret conspiracies lingering somewhere or uncovering hidden truths sleeping within the world.

‘In fact, starting this year, there really have been more cases where I got involved in such things.’

To be honest, it suited his aptitude well.

Gallon himself specialized in investigating history, mysteries, and conspiracies.

One of the reasons he became a priest had been because it matched his nature, but above all, it had been the most efficient way.

His compatibility with Divine Power and his natural talent for martial arts had simply been bonuses.

That was why NOX had been the perfect workplace for Gallon, where he could comfortably study divine history and explore ruins without any responsibility or burden.

What’s more, he wasn’t even slacking off, but rather dispatched under direct orders from the Master.

‘To be honest, I still don’t know for what purpose the Master is searching for those things.’

Unlike him, it was unlikely to be just curiosity-driven historical exploration.

For it to be a mere hobby, NOX had invested far too many resources in that direction.

Since he was a man of many secrets to begin with, Gallon figured there must be a purpose.

He simply decided to be satisfied and enjoy his current life.

Even if it meant dying as Number Four of NOX.

But the news the Master suddenly brought was shocking enough for him.

‘He said he absorbed a Divinity.’

Even if it was a Demigod, such an existence could not be compared with humans.

Gallon had already known the Master was extraordinary, but to think he would absorb the power of a Demigod?

Could something like that even be possible with a human body?

It was an incomprehensible phenomenon for Gallon, but he gave up trying to understand it with common sense.

The Master had even displayed Divine Power, so there was no denying it.

Though all of his previous knowledge and experience had been overturned, it only made the situation even more intriguing.

‘At least he’s not a dragon.’

Gallon nodded to himself.

The executives of NOX, including him, had been suspecting that perhaps their Master was a dragon amusing itself.

Gallon, too, had considered that the most likely.

But seeing him wield Divine Power proved he was not a dragon.

‘He’s simply a being born different from us.’

Heroes, too, each carried their own strange legends.

If the Master was thought of as something similar, it became somewhat easier to understand.

“It’s a shame. If the Master had been a man of the light, he could have left behind a glory remembered in the continent’s history.”

“He’s not exactly tied solely to the shadows even now.”

“Well, the name Carlos still thrives, after all.”

He was not only of Imperial noble blood but also steadily building his reputation in Bayern.

Along with the title of Top Theorist, he had achieved notable feats in the field of ancient ruins and history, drawing the attention of academic societies.

Over there, it seemed he was even regarded as a newly risen Divinity.

‘What exactly lies within him, that he can display such performance with a human body?’

He could only admire, like peeling away an onion that revealed layer after layer without end.

“In any case, let’s return to the main subject.”

“Right. About how to cultivate Divine Power.”

Gallon nodded.

“The best way is to endure personal trials and hardships.”

“…That sounds the same as the method I used, doesn’t it?”

Carl frowned.

Through the Space of Mental Imagery, he had been able to undergo such training without physical injuries.

“I don’t mean some brutish method of cutting away your own flesh, but rather a discipline of the mind. Master, sometimes you’re too rough.”

For once, Gallon spoke his sincere thoughts.

Even if it was the Master, what was wrong was wrong.

Especially since this was directly tied to the Master’s safety.

If endurance and hardship meant pushing his body to the extreme, it would undoubtedly leave side effects.

Even if it was within that so-called Space of Mental Imagery.

‘That kind of training only ends up wearing down the practitioner.’

Having experienced it himself, Gallon knew that all too well.

The Master was the core of NOX.

If something went wrong with him, no one could know what would become of the organization.

There was a reason Queen coddled and protected him so carefully.

“In the end, the mental side is what matters. Meditating in seclusion, reading the scriptures, studying—those form the foundation. Only after achieving both mental and physical completion does further training hold meaning. Otherwise, it’s nothing more than self-inflicted torture.”

“Hmm.”

Carl nodded, seeming to faintly grasp Gallon’s words.

“So, should I study Demigod Kailos, then?”

“No. Since the Master absorbed it, that power is already yours.”

“…Are you telling me to write a scripture myself?”

“That’s not what I meant, but, hmm.”

Gallon scratched his chin.

“It may be close to blasphemy, but there’s nothing particularly special about a scripture. It’s merely stories about gods, sermons on faith, doctrines woven in, and content meant to provide enlightenment. In a way, it’s an autobiography.”

“…Hmm.”

Carl pressed firmly against his brow.

If it came to that, even if he ended up writing one, he could never show it to anyone.

For it would have to include everything since the era of Mu-ak the Unkillable.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Queen poked her head inside, cautiously observing them, and spoke.

“I’ve prepared some refreshments, would that be all right?”

“Of course.”

When Carl nodded lightly to grant permission, Queen trotted inside.

Was the Master really that precious to her?

Seeing Queen’s bright smile, Gallon suddenly realized something.

“…If that method proves too difficult, creating followers might be fine too.”

“Followers?”

“…?”

Queen tilted her head at the sudden words.

Meanwhile, Carl looked at Gallon with interest.

Under the Master’s urging gaze, Gallon signaled toward Queen.

It was a silent question—if it was fine to speak before her.

Carl gave a small nod.

The fewer who knew about his absorption of Divinity, the better.

But if it was Queen, it was no problem.

“…And so, that’s what happened.”

Soon, Gallon explained on Carl’s behalf about the incident at the ruin site during their recent external expedition.

After hearing everything, Queen turned to Carl with a shocked expression.

“You absorbed a Divinity?”

“Strictly speaking, a fragment—just a part of it.”

“But still a Divinity. In terms of rank alone, that would put you above most Cardinals or Paladins.”

“Papal rank?”

“I’ve never reached that far myself, so I don’t know well, but I’ve heard that once someone reaches papal rank, they can draw on and use a fragment of Divinity.

It depends on how much the god favors them.”

“Hm.”

Carl nodded.

The more he listened, the more astonishing it was.

Unlike the Central Plains, this was a world where gods truly existed.

They observed humans and occasionally granted their power directly, and that was what was called Divine Power.

A miracle utterly unattainable in the Central Plains.

Of course, a mere assassin like himself would never have been granted such power.

‘Unless there were a god of assassins.’

If such a god existed, then as the Greatest Assassin of the Central Plains, wouldn’t he qualify as a pope?

While Carl was indulging in idle thoughts, Gallon spoke to the two with a thoroughly serious expression.

“Even if it’s faint, the fact that you hold Divinity means, theoretically, you can wield the divine.

In practice, Master can already use it.

So I think imitating a god may be possible to some degree.”

“You’re saying to create followers.”

“Exactly.

And there’s no one more fitting than Queen as the very first follower.

The first and foremost condition for a follower is unconditional trust and faith—in other words, belief in the subject.”

“And just that alone is enough?”

“That’s both the greatest condition and the biggest obstacle.

It’s not easy for people to completely surrender themselves to believing in someone.”

Gallon spoke candidly.

Even he couldn’t claim to hold pure faith.

His service was mixed with thoughts of benefit and necessity.

But what he had observed of Queen was blind, almost frightening devotion and obsession toward Carl.

Since love was also a form of belief, didn’t she meet the condition?

Recalling his knowledge, Gallon continued.

“There would also need to be a rite of becoming a follower.

Offering tribute, passing a trial, or in some cases, uniting physically with a divine representative—whatever the form, one must pass through hardships and trials given by the god…”

“I’ll do it.”

Queen, who had been silently listening, suddenly opened her eyes wide, burning with intensity.

The heat in that gaze was enough to make even Carl flinch.

Startled, Gallon gave an awkward smile and corrected his careless words.

“I only meant that figuratively.

That path was limited to a tiny minority, and it wasn’t a normal religion.”

“There’s no harm in trying, is there?”

“…Well, the simplest method is contact.

By directly bestowing spirituality, the path between god and follower is opened, and power is granted.”

Gallon pointed near his heart and then to the sky.

That had been how he connected with his god and received Divine Power.

“…So how should I do it?”

Carl asked Gallon with a troubled smile.

Queen’s eager gaze was unbearably heavy.

Since his words carried double meaning, Gallon hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Place your hand over her head and intertwine your energy with the image of connecting your soul to Queen’s.

I’ve never done this myself, so I can only speak abstractly.”

“And that will allow me to grow my Divinity?”

“In theory.

A god’s power ultimately comes from the number of followers.

That’s why every religion actively preaches and increases its followers.

The more power a god grants, the deeper the faith becomes, and that faith determines the god’s rank.”

Though in truth, the god he served had never been greedy for followers or rank.

He only wondered whether there were even other followers like him across the continent.

“Hm.”

Carl nodded after sorting through Gallon’s words.

When he turned his gaze to Queen, she sat before him and bowed her head lightly.

Carl reached his hand toward her, and soon a blue Divine Power surged forth and touched Queen’s head.

Bzzzz.

The bright blue Divine Power filled the room with light.

After a brief moment, Queen closed her eyes and spoke with a deeply moved expression.

“…It’s warm.”

“That’s just the warmth from the Master’s hand.”

“It feels like I’m connected to the Master.

I can feel the gaze with which Master looks upon me.”

“Hm.”

Gallon watched them carefully.

Despite Queen’s words and his faint expectation, her soul remained unchanged.

“Queen, that’s just your imagination.

Your soul and the Master’s are still separate.”

“…Don’t nitpick so much.

Gallon, what do you know to speak with such certainty?

Maybe Master and I really did become connected.”

“…I used to be a priest, you know.”

At the sharp rebuke from the zealous devotee, Gallon could only raise his hands with a bitter smile.

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