Chapter 143: 3 Stars (4)

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Carl spent the weekend in NOX, trying out various methods to cultivate Divinity according to Gallon For’s advice.

He tried recruiting followers through physical contact, meditation, studying the Bible or prayer texts, and even the unique training methods passed down in Gallon’s religion.

But none of them made the Divinity coiled up in the corner of his danjeon react.

In the end, Carl returned having wasted his time, and resumed his daily life at Bayern.

‘If there was someone I could ask for advice….’

A priest would not do.

They might notice the Divinity dwelling inside his body, so he needed advice not based on experience but knowledge.

As he searched around for a while, Carl managed to find a rather suitable person.

Not someone related directly to Divinity, but a person who might know about the Demigod Kailos.

“Demigod Kailos?”

It was Professor Leblik, the advisor of the Ancient Ruins Exploration Club Carl belonged to, and also the lecturer for History of the Empire I.

While he welcomed Carl who had suddenly come to see him, he also showed surprise at the unexpected question.

“That’s not a name widely known in the world….”

“I happened to find it in records left behind by senior members of the club.”

“Ah, so that remained.”

Professor Leblik put down the pen he had been holding and nodded calmly.

“In fact, there are still several theories in academia regarding that existence. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes. I know the greatest debate is about whether it’s real or fake.”

“Greatest, but still weak. The established theory is that the enemies the heroes fought were Demon Kings who invaded the Middle Realm from the Demon Realm. The Demigod’s existence doesn’t have much impact. That’s why only a minority dig into it.”

“What do you think, Professor?”

“I….”

After pausing for a moment, Professor Leblik answered.

“I think my opinion is probably similar to that of the majority. Considering the prestige of the heroes passed down until now, I find it more plausible that the continent had faced a crisis. The Demigod’s existence is too ambiguous in many ways.”

“Hmm.”

Carl nodded.

He had actually seen and experienced the existence of Demigod Kailos, but for those who hadn’t, this would be the most realistic reaction.

In fact, even Carl himself would never have known of it without the club’s records.

“I don’t know much either. It was only a side subject I studied, so I only know as much as others do.”

“Recently, I found a mention in a text saying that the Territory of Tohochu and Demigod Kailos are connected. Could you perhaps find regions with such links to Kailos?”

Carl pinned his hopes on that.

Demigod Kailos’s Divinity had been torn to shreds by the heroes and sealed piece by piece across the continent.

If he absorbed them one by one, he might not become complete, but he could still gain Divinity rivaling that of a Demigod.

‘Of course, it won’t be easy.’

Even absorbing the first Divinity had been a great struggle.

There was no guarantee that the Heavenly Demon or Bingbaekmok would step forward again to help him subdue Kailos’s Divinity.

From now on, he would likely have to fight and defeat Kailos himself in order to absorb that power.

“Hmm.”

At Carl’s question, Professor Leblik rummaged through a pile of papers.

But soon, as if he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he lightly clicked his tongue and looked up.

“I think I’ve seen related materials somewhere, but my memory is hazy, so I’ll need time to find them.”

“It’s not urgent, so you can take your time.”

“No, since it’s your request, Carl, I should gladly oblige. Thanks to you, my reputation has risen a lot these days.”

Professor Leblik smiled.

Because of Carl’s achievements, his own standing in the academic society had greatly increased.

The accomplishments of an excellent student became the fame of his teacher.

Even when sitting among professors of other academies, he could boast and make use of it, so this much was something he was glad to do.

“I’ll contact you again in a few days. It won’t take too long. …But more importantly, Carl.”

“Yes.”

“Have you decided on your path after this?”

“Hmm.”

Carl closed his mouth with a vague smile.

He had already been urged by Professor Leblik to register in the Bayern graduate school as his assistant.

Considering that other professors were still testing the waters, making such an offer to a first-year cadet was in itself an extraordinary condition.

‘But there’s not much merit in it.’

Carl had chosen the Ruins Exploration Club in order to investigate the traces of heroes within Bayern.

After graduation, there was no need for him to be tied to it, since he could use the information he had gathered so far to move NOX.

“Then, thank you.”

After their discussion about Demigod Kailos, Carl lightly bowed and left his office following a conversation about graduate school and future prospects.

“Ah, you’re out.”

Outside the door, Yuria and Laysis were waiting for him to have lunch.

“What did you talk about for so long?”

“…He told me to come to graduate school.”

“Eh.”

Yuria looked at Carl with a disgusted expression.

“You’re not going, are you?”

“I’m still considering it. I haven’t thought much about what I’ll do yet.”

“No, graduate school is really a no.”

Yuria shook her head vigorously.

“Ah, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat first. I’m tired from waiting for you.”

“Let’s go. I’ll treat you.”

“Nice!”

Although treating only meant the campus cafeteria, Yuria happily chose the most expensive item on the menu.

After all, Carl had gained quite a bit of profit from the recent ruins exploration, so she could enjoy being treated with a light heart.

“Still, I envy you. I wish I had found some jewels or treasures.”

“Did you find something, Yuria?”

“Me?”

During the meal, Yuria smirked and slipped her hand into her bosom.

Seeing this, Laysis opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“You found something? You never told me that.”

“I wanted to surprise you. Here, look at this.”

Yuria placed a small wooden box on the table.

Click.

When the lid was opened, a dark key inside was revealed.

“A key?”

“It’s an ancient Artifact called Refri’s Key. Depending on the user’s mana, it can open anything. Whether it’s a locked door, a sealed barrier, or even something abstract.”

“…Oh.”

“Hoo.”

Refri’s Key.

At Yuria’s explanation, Carl showed interest.

If what she said was true, it was an Artifact of immense value.

It could be very useful for infiltration missions or breaking magical barriers.

“……”

While showing them Refri’s Key, Yuria carefully observed Carl’s reaction.

‘Is he pretending not to know?’

If he were a Player, there was no way he wouldn’t know Refri’s Key.

It was one of the most common relics found when looting these ruins.

But because his expression looked genuinely amazed, she couldn’t help but be confused.

‘…Does he really not know?’

Was he simply acting well?

Or did he truly not know?

‘Could it be that he hasn’t progressed this far?’

Yuria suddenly realized.

Not every Player was a hardcore one like herself who chewed through every aspect of the game.

If he had been transported here mid-play, he might not know of it.

“Would you consider selling it?”

“Later. I’ll need to use it for a while. But if it’s in the form of a loan, I might consider it.”

“Understood. I’ll contact you again later then.”

“Good.”

Yuria gladly nodded at Carl’s suggestion.

She didn’t ask where he would use it.

The uses for Refri’s Key were obvious.

‘Earning a little pocket money is good enough.’

Surely he wouldn’t just run away with it.

After all, they were all bound together on the same stage called Bayern Academy.

After lunch, Carl intended to spend the remaining time training.

As expected, Laysis followed by his side, while Yuria shook her head at his suggestion to join them.

“I still have assignments left. And besides, I don’t want to sweat.”

“Understood.”

Carl nodded with a wry smile.

Seeing how she kept glancing at him and Laysis, she seemed to have some strange misunderstanding.

But since it didn’t particularly matter, he simply headed to the Training Hall with Laysis.

Clang! Clang!

Since it was after a meal, they decided to replace training with a light spar.

Laysis pressed him with increasingly familiar movements of the Boundless Azure Sword Technique, while Carl broke through her attacks with simple swordsmanship.

At first, it was just a light spar to loosen up, but before long, as their blades swung, the atmosphere grew intense.

With a serious face, Laysis thrust her sword, and Carl responded to her momentum by swinging a rather heavy strike.

Clang!

When it seemed about time, Carl applied force and broke through Laysis’s sword.

Immersed in a trance, Laysis halted her blade with a short sigh.

“…Sorry. I got too heated. It was supposed to be light exercise.”

“That just shows how well the Boundless Azure Sword Technique suits you. It’s good to see your skills steadily growing.”

“Really?”

Laysis let out a small laugh.

Suddenly, as he looked at her, the words Gallon had spoken last weekend flashed across Carl’s mind.

“Laysis.”

“Yes.”

“Do you trust me?”

“…All of a sudden?”

At Carl’s abrupt question, Laysis widened her eyes.

“Well, if I had to say whether I do or don’t… I guess I do?”

She had received much help from him.

Thanks to Carl, she had earned points, learned new swordsmanship, and even made a great deal of money.

For Laysis, Carl had been nothing but helpful, so there was no reason not to trust him.

‘Though it’s a bit different from blind faith like with the Queen.’

It was a trust of a different nature than the one toward the Queen.

But he thought it was worth trying once.

Unlike the Queen, Laysis’s body had once been touched by Kailos.

“Laysis, for a moment.”

“Yes?”

“Would you close your eyes?”

“…!”

At Carl’s words, Laysis’s shoulders flinched.

“W-what is this? Why all of a sudden?”

“If you trust me, please follow.”

“Mmm…”

After a moment’s hesitation, Laysis quietly nodded.

Looking up at Carl, who had stepped just a pace away, she closed her eyes with a slightly trembling expression.

“……”

Carl let out a shallow breath.

Then he slowly drew up the Divinity residing in his danjeon.

Tap.

He reached out and placed his hand on Laysis’s sweat-dampened head.

He could feel her body shudder as if in great surprise, but explanations could come later.

Following Gallon’s words, Carl tried to construct the image of their souls being connected.

“…Hmm.”

But once again, nothing happened.

‘As expected.’

After all, Gallon was a heretic separated from the mainstream religions.

Just as Carl let out a short sigh, thinking he shouldn’t have listened to him—

Flaaash!

Before his eyes, everything was instantly engulfed in a brilliant blue light.

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