Chapter 167 (1/2)

Servants of Magic (2)

What was the reason behind it?

“Why would they want to see me all of a sudden?”

– It’s nothing strange. They just finally got to know you.

“Only now?”

– Actually, the information about you having the sacred wound wasn’t a famous story until recently. Should I say only the high-ranking members and the elite warriors of the Union knew about it before? The rumor hasn’t spread to the point that it’s strange or to the point that someone might have taken measures about it.

If there would be anyone to cover up the information from, who would that be?

What was the purpose?

– Anyway, the information about a human from Earth having four incarnation-grade marks stamped on the back of his hand had become an issue far too big for others to silence any longer. Besides, you’ve got rid of Mercadius on your own, haven’t you?

That meant that to call out for eradicating Mercadius in all dimensions, they would have to explain the reason behind it. Ultimately, they wouldn’t be able to leave out the parts of the story that involved me.

And while talking about how the fight against the fragment of a god went and explaining the method required to put an end to their species, they would naturally mention the seals.

Someone who did their best to contain my information would no longer have been able to continue building the wall around my identity and holding on to it in secrecy.

– I can feel the atmosphere just by looking at the letter… I think Igras-Sho’s order has been turned upside down right now. That’s understandable. They say you’re the first incarnation that appeared in hundreds of years.

It seemed that the number of incarnations that appeared had decreased significantly over the past few hundred years, regardless of the order.

I remembered what the sacred beast that I met at the Tower of Choice once told me.

‘Those who serve it at lower levels, such as priests, can also sense the holy wound. They will show you the utmost respect that can be offered to the beings of Earth as I have now, regardless of how many holy scars there are left on your finger.’

I also remembered what Nate said as a joke.

He asked if that would be enough to make me a pope or something someday.

“But why did they come into contact with me in this way?”

– They didn’t mention the reason in the letter. I think the intention behind contacting you through me is to be as careful they possibly can.

I spent a few moments thinking about it.

Adam was still digging up information about the Adgon commissioner. Hence, I did have some free time…

However, There was the question of whether it was necessary to accept their invitation or if I should just decline it entirely.

“What do you think?”

– One thing for sure is that they won’t be able to imagine doing anything to you or forcing you to do something. It’s a given since you must be the being with the highest authority next to the deity they worship in that congregation.

Those words made me feel even more concerned.

‘However, there’s going to be no instance that I will become the real incarnation as they expect me to be.‘

Of course, it was information that I didn’t have to explain in front of them to the fullest extent.

‘However, for Mercadius’s transdimensional eradication, there is a need for all congregations’ growth in the long run. Will my visit help build up their power?’

While I was lost in my thoughts in that manner…

Driip!

– Hmm?

“Huh?”

Adam and I simultaneously noticed an anomaly.

The sacred wound of Igras-Sho wasn’t recollected even after it engraved its symbol on the back of my hand as part of the divine seal.

The two marks akin to that of bugs remained on my finger.

And there were two slow drops of blood flowing down.

‘At this time?’

It didn’t react with other divine powers.

After my fight with Mercadius, I could faintly feel, regardless of [The Successor’s Eyes], that it was a divine power of another deity.

Although there was no violent reaction like the devil’s sword yet, I should have felt it if it came that close.

Despite the absence of such external stimuli, the sudden flow of blood meant…

Adam spoke with a bitter smile on his lips.

– The god is urging you to go. No, is it more of a protest? It’s as if it’s questioning what you’re hesitant about.

Since I didn’t surrender my soul, only if I made the wish first would the magic god be able to show up in front of me to possess me or squeeze my soul as it wished.

Therefore, it had no choice but to use passive and indirect methods to convey and make me aware of its will.

“The god of magic wants me to pay them a visit.”

Since I wasn’t a servant, there was no need for me to follow its orders blindly.

However, since we had built a cooperative relationship and had found a common purpose, it would be better to visit and at least listen to the situation first.

“Okay, I’ll go check them out and return. Would you forward my acceptance of their invitation for my sake?”

– Alright.

The moment I uttered those words, the blood flowing on my finger ceased to exist as if it was an illusion all along.

*

The formal invitation sent by the Igras-Sho’s congregation was also secretly delivered through Adam.

The invitations exchanged between dimensions that entered the Main Quest were nothing much but a bundle of teleport scrolls.

It was similar to what was delivered when the Union Headquarters invited me back then and when I was dispatched to the Gorangsha dimension.

On one of the days when Hibiki and Nate were sent for one of the Main Quest’s Clear, I tore several scrolls in a row and moved quietly, crossing the Gates it led me to.

The place that I arrived in that manner was a dimension where the congregation headquarters was located.

As I stepped out of the Gate, the fresh night winds brushed past my skin.

Only silence flowed in the surroundings.

‘Forest?’

There was nobody around me.

All I could hear was a gentle breeze blowing through the vicinity.

Colonies of foreign plants I had never seen before densely surrounded the area.

‘I’ve arrived a little earlier than the schedule. Should I wait?’

Looking around, I realized that I didn’t have to.

‘As expected, I can’t see ‘such magic’ using [The Successor’s Eyes]’

It was obvious what the grace given by the god of magic to its followers was.

Those that bore a deep faith in Igras-Sho and were cultured as a suitable vessel to receive a fragment of its power could use that borrowed ability after taking an oath of subordination.

As a result, they could use magic spells that they hadn’t learned in proportion to the divine power they received.

It was natural that it was invisible to [The Successor’s Eyes] since no Mana was required for such a miracle to occur.

But at that moment, I could sense the divine power as well.

‘They mean to test me.’

Should I say they were exhibiting extreme caution?

Without a word, I concentrated the non-elemental sacred power within me on the seal of Igras-Sho among the four symbols.

Soon, the black Sacred Flame representing the god densely spread around.

The fire was originally used as a sign of faith.

As I did so, immediately…

“!”

An invisible shape was lined out, causing the air to waver.

What appeared in its stead was a green-skinned alien.

“Ah…!”

A wide-opened jaw.

The bull-like eyes staring at me were watering.

I didn’t know anything about their race, but he looked like he was about to burst into tears.

I was baffled for a moment when I saw it.

‘Huh? No way, here? Suddenly?’

Drizzle!

I doubted for a moment if he really would, but the alien began to shed hot tears from his eyes.

Then he stretched out his hands and legs close to the ground and bowed to express respect and obedience.