"Heh."
With Mana imbued in his right hand, York casually dispelled the wave coming toward him with a swing of his arm, relying solely on his powerful physical fitness. He silently accepted the mission.
[Mission accepted successfully]
Hearing the prompt, York directly pulled out a Holy Hand Grenade that had already been imbued with double buffs: a total of 65 points of Holy Imbuement and 160 points of Enchantment.
In a situation like being pulled into a mental space, using a Holy Hand Grenade directly was the best choice to deal with a mere projection worth only eight points in rewards.
This was an opportunity to test its power, because everything would only happen in the mental space and wouldn't affect reality.
"Pulling me in was your mistake. I'll blow you to bits!"
His thoughts shifted rapidly. Watching the darkness spreading quickly from all directions, York unscrewed the grenade's pin with one hand and threw it toward The Nun, who had been hiding in the dark corner downstairs.
The Mana-imbued grenade had just left his hand and spun in the air for a second when York decisively and quickly moved away. He had experienced the power of a 120-point enchanted grenade; this 160-point enchanted grenade could probably blow this entire house away.
Slamming open the door to a nearby room and rushing inside, York didn't stop. He softly chanted the Exorcio spell, consuming ten points of Mana as he swung his hand to cleave through the encroaching dark stream, breaking open the room's window.
Two seconds.
York smashed through the window and was already in the air four or five meters away from the house.
Three seconds.
BOOM!!!!!
A deafening explosion rang out. Brilliant holy light and firepower instantly took over everything. In the eyes of the floating York, the house looked like a porcupine, with holy light refracting from within and filling his vision.
The impact formed a water-like ripple that spread rapidly, destroying all obstacles in its path with unstoppable force. The house, like a powder keg, was blown to pieces on the spot.
The Nun took the brunt of it, and a scream followed.
"Protego (Shield)"
York' pupils constricted. Before the shockwave reached him, he estimated the power of the explosion's impact and whispered softly.
[Thirty points of Mana used]
A transparent circle appeared within milliseconds. While it shielded him, York whispered another spell, Repello, wanting to offset some of the impact.
[Twenty points of Mana used]
Through the spell's conversion, surging Mana crashed against the incoming shockwave. Although it was instantly crushed, it wasn't without effect; the shockwave from the explosion seemed to be somewhat neutralized. The remaining shockwave continued to slam into York' protective circle.
Bang!
York was still blown away, crashing through this layer of the mental space that was already on the verge of shattering.
In the final moment, The Nun, bathed in holy light and screaming as she struggled like a drowning person, was reflected in his eyes.
Crack!
The space shattered, the shards bursting like a glass bottle.
"..."
"I only know that He comes from Hell."
"Hmm?" Fragments of the battle and The Nun's screams flashed through York' eyes. He blinked again and found himself still standing in the hallway. Simultaneously, the notifications for mission completion began to ring in his ears. York instinctively looked down at the Hunchback who had reappeared beneath his foot.
He had returned.
[...]
[Clear the Demon's Projection (Completed)]
[Success Reward: Points +8 (Issued)]
[...]
"I don't know who He is. Just kill me!"
The Hunchback's voice revealed its unwillingness.
York didn't respond. He looked back at Janet, who was in a daze, and confirmed she was safe. Letting the Hunchback keep talking, he continued to look at the virtual window in front of him, staring first at his Health.
[Health: 120.5/125]
"As expected. It's fine. Just the matter of one Holy Hand Grenade. It's just that the greatest damage wasn't from the Enchantment, but from the Holy Imbuement..."
Recalling the way The Nun was bathed in holy light, York looked down at the Hunchback at his feet and continued to summarize the battle just now.
"The grenade really does explode too quickly. If it were timed, I should be able to move away in time..."
"Just kill me already!!!" the Hunchback struggled and roared.
York stopped thinking. Looking at the Hunchback beneath his foot, he thought seriously for a moment and decided to pull the trigger.
This guy had been cooperating with The Nun earlier.
Boom... York emptied the SHAK-12's magazine in one go. Twenty consecutive 12.7mm holy bullets were instantly unleashed into the back of the Hunchback's head.
The gunfire roared incessantly until the Hunchback beneath York' foot exploded into a mist of starlight and vanished into nothingness.
"Phew,"
Seeing that it was now empty beneath his foot, York let out a soft breath and stopped pulling the trigger. After listening to the screams downstairs for a moment, he took out his phone and clicked the pause button to stop the Bluetooth speaker's recitation.
"I'll consider that you've passed..."
The Spirit downstairs had passed his test. Even in such pain, it hadn't come up to attack.
With the Bluetooth speaker stopped, the house returned to peace for a moment. Hearing the old voice downstairs seemingly sighing in relief, York pressed the nearby switch, and the dim hallway was lit up again.
Janet called out weakly.
"Father Yorkes..."
York turned to look at Janet, who was standing obediently in place. While putting away the SHAK-12, he smiled easily.
"It's over now."
...It was a sunny day.
Having confirmed the exorcism was complete and that no residual problems remained, York didn't stay long and decided to leave, even though there was still a loose end that hadn't been cleared up.
"Father Yorkes!"
Janet, who had been seeing him off with her family and had regained her vitality, watched the priest gradually move away. She couldn't help but break free from her mother's hand on her shoulder and rushed out, giving the priest, who turned around in surprise, a tight hug.
"Thank you!"
York grinned, patted the top of the brown-haired head below him, and looked ahead.
The Peggy Family was standing in front of the yard gate, everyone from old to young wearing smiles. The gloom seen before had vanished without a trace.
He had saved another family; it was a very special feeling... "You're welcome." York felt refreshed and looked down at the brown-haired head, speaking gently.
"Do you remember what I said before?"
Janet looked up at the priest, who was like a mountain in her heart, and nodded vigorously. "I remember. If I want to learn about exorcism, I'll call you."
York' smile remained. Although Janet's talent was good, it also depended on her own will. After all, once one stepped into this world that was different from that of ordinary people, the chances of danger increased accordingly.
"It's good that you remember. Go back to your mother now."
Janet was a bit reluctant. After only a few days together, she already considered the priest before her as an imaginary father in her heart.
Sensing the strength of her hug, York smiled and said.
"Child, we will meet again."
Peggy also called out from behind, "Janet! Don't make things difficult for the Father!"
Hearing this, Janet could only let go and said softly.
"Goodbye, Father Yorkes."
"Mhm."
York patted Janet once more, nodded to the Peggy Family, and strode toward the eight-seater SUV waiting for him... Bang! The car door closed.
York settled into the back seat and spoke calmly to Ed, who was looking back at him.
"Let's go, Ed."
"Alright, Father."
Ed, still responsible for driving, nodded and straightened up to shift gears and step on the gas.
The car moved slowly.
"Father Yorkes!"
Just then, Janet suddenly shouted.
York looked through the half-open car window. He noticed that the little girl's eyes seemed to be sparkling, frighteningly bright.
"I will definitely call you!" she shouted earnestly.
"So she's made her choice?"
York was silent for a moment, then let out a light laugh. He simply waved his hand and closed the window, shutting everything out as the car began to move away from the Peggy Family's sight.
"Father, are you really going to take her under your wing?" Lorraine's voice rang out from beside him.
"If she wants to, I will respect the child's choice." York replied as he took out his constantly vibrating phone.