'It's similar to Piote.'
Holy power is largely innate. Increasing holy power after becoming an adult is almost impossible.
Yet, Piote's holy power had grown rapidly since arriving at the Fenris territory.
It wasn't just the quantity that increased. The purity itself was incomparable to other priests.
There was only one reason for this.
'It's most likely because of good deeds. I can't be certain, but there's no other explanation.'
Piote had continually increased his holy power through self-sacrificing acts of kindness. Before that, he was just a lowly priest at the temple.
Now, Deneb was showing a similar transformation.
Of course, it wasn't clear whether this change was due to her recent good deeds or some other reason.
'I'll have to observe a bit longer to find out.'
Ghislain couldn't teach Deneb mana training techniques. Holy power and mana cannot coexist.
Since she was destined to become a saintess, he didn't feel particularly regretful about being unable to teach her.
However, if Deneb's situation was similar to Piote's, then her holy power could increase rapidly as well.
'Ah... That might be a hassle.'
Of course, that method didn't suit Ghislain's style at all.
As Deneb calmed the people and treated their wounds, Yulian stepped forward again.
"Don't fight over the goods. Divide them according to the number of people in each village."
Every village probably had its grievances and reasons to feel wronged. But trying to address each one would take forever.
So Yulian decided to distribute the goods based on the size of the villages.
This time, the villagers bowed their heads without resistance. The will to fight had vanished.
Instead, they repeatedly bowed their heads in gratitude toward the two.
"Thank you, thank you."
"We will never forget this kindness."
"Please forgive our rudeness."
Yulian and Deneb gladly accepted their gratitude. Their faces were filled with the satisfaction of helping those in need.
Kyle stood with his sword resting on his shoulder, pouting and leaning slightly.
On his shoulder, Dark sat with narrowed eyes, matching his posture.
Ghislain stroked his chin and gazed at the two.
"I should conduct an experiment when I get the chance."
If his hypothesis was correct, there was no need to worry about Deneb. She would continue to perform good deeds on her own.
Ghislain and the group of heroes set out once more. They didn't have a specific destination. Their goal was to roam the world, gain experience, and grow stronger.
Ghislain asked Yulian, "You said you'd save the world once you became strong. Don't you have a more concrete plan?"
"Uh, Astion said he'd make a plan for us."
"…Isn't that a bit too careless?"
"Well, if we don't get stronger, there's no point anyway. If we're weak, we can't fight the Demon Realm, and we won't be able to help people."
"With your current skills, you could easily become knights of a small territory."
"We thought about that... but then we'd be tied down to one place. We wouldn't be able to help people."
Yulian glanced at Deneb.
Regardless of the circumstances, she was a traveling priestess. Unless the church issued an assignment, she couldn't officially settle in one place.
There was no problem with wandering as a traveling priestess. The church hadn't set any deadlines, only asking her to perform good deeds and collect donations.
Since she was practically abandoned, no one in the church would care whether she settled or not. But the group didn't seem to know that.
Ghislain smirked.
'So they just want to stay together.'
If they settled in one place and something went wrong, Yulian wouldn't be able to follow Deneb. That's probably why he gave up on becoming a knight.
'Does he like her?'
He didn't show it openly, but it seemed that way. Otherwise, he wouldn't be sticking so closely to protect her.
Thinking about it, Ghislain understood why Yulian didn't have a specific goal. He just wanted to grow stronger and fulfill a vague dream of saving the world with Deneb.
'That won't do.'
Getting stronger was important, but building a foundation was just as crucial. Astion likely had a plan. Ghislain decided to help develop it a little.
As someone who understood the value of information, Ghislain often asked the others about the state of the world.
The more he heard, the more absurd this era seemed.
"There's no territory without bandits."
"Territorial wars break out all the time."
"People are barely surviving."
Greedy nobles squeezed their people dry. Bandit gangs roamed freely, plundering and pillaging.
Monsters formed groups and attacked humans, devouring them.
It was truly an age of chaos. And all these disasters stemmed from the Demon Realm.
When rifts opened, monsters poured out. After such devastation, the world could only fall into ruin.
The cycle of destruction and recovery had repeated for thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of years.
Naturally, people had grown weary. A culture focused on immediate pleasure and profit had taken root.
Killing and stealing became commonplace. Everyone mocked and trampled the weak.
The weak could only suffer. People cynically accepted this truth.
Few stood up for the weak.
The world was turning into hell.
In this world...
Yulian's eyes shone as he spoke.
"I want to change the world."
His voice carried sincerity.
It wasn't just a wishful thought. It held a deep desire for transformation.
Yulian wanted to stand by the weak, break the chains of greed and violence, and establish a new order.
He envisioned a world without the Demon Realm, rifts, greedy nobles, bandits, or monsters.
A world where everyone upheld their dignity and respected one another.
He truly wanted to create such a world.
Deneb shared Yulian's dream.
"It's just a dream, but I want to make it happen."
The two exchanged smiles, fully aware of how unrealistic their dream seemed.
But they still wanted to make it happen. That's why they endured hardships to help others.
"…."
Ghislain didn't know what to say.
The darker the night, the brighter the stars shine. Conversely, for stars to shine brightly, the world must be engulfed in darkness.
These two stars in a dark world would eventually achieve their dream.
And… Ghislain knew how it would end. That's why he couldn't say anything.
Thud.
"Ouch!"
Ghislain's staff smacked Yulian's head. Narrowing his eyes, Ghislain spoke coldly.
"How do you plan to save the world when you're this weak? Do you think it'll be that easy?"
"Ugh…"
Yulian scratched his head. He already knew how impossible his dream seemed.
Seeing Ghislain only made it clearer. With his current skills, it was laughable.
Astion had tried to boost his confidence, but…
Perhaps because they had grown closer over the past few days, even Dark, who sat on Ghislain's shoulder, chimed in.
"Yeah, dreaming big without the skills to back it up will just get you killed early. Don't get cocky."
Dark had also seen the future with Ghislain. He knew the two would ultimately succeed.
But he also knew the cost. That's why he held back, unable to say more.
Dark whispered to Ghislain in his consciousness.
— Master, you're not going to tell them now, are you?
'No.'
— Then who's going to save the world? Are we just going to leave it as it is? Should we do it ourselves?
'I don't know.'
The longer Ghislain stayed in this place, the more his head hurt.
If the world is saved, the two of them die. No—whether the saintess is alive or dead becomes uncertain.
But the world must be saved to bring about the future he knew. That was probably the case.
If the world fell, the Kingdom of Lutania and the House of Perdium would all disappear anyway.
Ghislain turned to Kyle and asked, "You said you didn't believe it, right?"
"Yeah, I just need to get stronger. Honestly, those two are too naïve."
"Naïve?"
"Astion said he was a bit crazy, remember? He spouted nonsense when he was a kid—about saving the world and all that. I didn't buy it. But those two? They believed it. Their eyes even sparkled."
Well, that's what a practical person would think. But what could he do? The crazy-sounding words of Astion turned out to be the truth.
Ghislain frowned slightly in pity. Those kind-hearted three… no, two people, saving the world at the cost of their lives—it wasn't what he wanted.
Yet he couldn't just tell them not to save the world either.
So there was only one solution.
Thwack!
"Ouch! Why'd you hit me again!"
Yulian grabbed his head and staggered back. Ghislain spoke with a blank expression.
"You just need to get strong enough not to die. Stronger than what I've seen."
"What? What do you mean by that?"
"There's something like that. For now, I'll teach you a new sword technique and mana training method."
Ghislain began by teaching them the sword techniques and mana training methods they had originally used. For Deneb, he taught her suitable blunt-weapon techniques.
He spent several days diligently training them. The three were increasingly amazed as time passed.
"Wow, I can't believe there's a technique like this."
"I feel like I'll get stronger really fast if I learn this!"
"The mana training is amazing. Mana gathers so quickly!"
The three were genuinely thrilled. For a brief moment, they even felt grateful that Ghislain had taken over Astion's body.
Once he deemed they had adequately learned the basics, Ghislain announced, "Now, we'll start training as if it's real combat."
"Can't we just practice this slowly in our spare time?"
"No, we can't."
Thwack!
Ghislain's staff flew toward the three of them. That day, the group was beaten mercilessly, like dust in a rainstorm.
The training was brutal. Ghislain ambushed them at every opportunity.
They were hit while eating, hit while sleeping. They were so used to being struck that even in their sleep, they couldn't let their guard down.
Of course, the three didn't just take the beatings. They constantly tried to strike back at Ghislain.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
But each time they attacked, they were beaten back and sent sprawling.
"I quit! How is this even training!"
Thwack!
Kyle shouted in frustration but was knocked out cold by Ghislain's staff.
"Sorry, but if you don't want to die, you need to train like you're dying now."
Ghislain gave a bitter smile.
He only wanted to help them grow stronger. He just adjusted the intensity a little.
'Strong enough to survive saving the world. That's the level they need to reach.'
With that determination, Ghislain pushed them mercilessly.
The harsher the training, the faster the three improved. They had no choice but to grow stronger if they didn't want to die.
Ghislain trained them so hard that even the patient Deneb couldn't take it anymore and shouted,
"I'm leaving! I'm going to train on my own! It's been nice knowing you! Goodbye! Take care!"
"No, you're not. Get back here."
Thwack!
Yulian, who nearly lost Deneb, also picked up his sword angrily.
"Stop this ridiculous training! And get out of Astion's body right now!"
"No. Not happening."
Thwack!
At this point, titles like Hero and Saintess didn't matter. Ghislain trained them so ruthlessly that the three finally realized what kind of being had taken over their friend's body.
'It's a demon! A demon has possessed Astion's body!'
'Goddess, please save us.'
'We've been deceived! A foul-tempered demon has taken over!'
No matter what they said, Ghislain only focused on how to make them stronger.
"They're not ready for sparring yet."
He could adjust the level, but it was still too soon. Right now, they needed to engrain the new sword techniques and mana training into their bodies.
And the best way to do that was to keep beating them until their bodies reacted instinctively.
So the group continued their so-called training, which was really just hellish torment. Since all their energy was spent on training, their travel speed naturally slowed.
"Hmm, should we take a break today?"
After days of relentless travel and training, they neared a small city. Ghislain decided to book an inn and rest properly.
As they approached the city, Kyle suddenly sprinted forward and shouted, "Guards! Guards! Help me! There's a demon possessing my friend's—"
Thwack!
Ghislain knocked Kyle out and slung him over his shoulder.
"Why don't you understand? I'm doing this to save you guys."
Just before Kyle lost consciousness, he muttered his last words with the little strength he had left.
"Just… kill me…"
Ghislain ignored him and strode forward. Yulian and Deneb followed nervously, stealing glances at him.
After entering the city, Ghislain smiled brightly and said, "We've been training hard, so let's take a few days to rest. Rest is also part of training."
"O…kay."
The two nodded with exhausted faces.
Rest was indeed important. Ghislain intended to use this opportunity to pause training and test a few suspicions he had.
[T/L: I need your support, dear readers. I will give discount to all those who will buy the rest of the chapters all together, so please support me the reader on my webnovel platform and read ahead chapters on my ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]