Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 57

Mage Daze

After slipping away from the guards, Harang took out a tourist guidebook for the Harana Canal and unfolded it.

It might have seemed like he had no plan, but Harang had a method at his disposal that ordinary people could not use.

‘If I scan the area with the Eyes of Truth, something should come up.’

He opened the quest window that he had received as soon as he arrived in this city.

━━━[Sub Quest]━━━

Crime Lurking in the Harana Canal

Details: An unidentified group of dark magicians is hiding in the city’s shadows, trading in the terror of corruption that harms human souls.

Why hasn’t the guard identified them? Could they be blessed by the gods?

Objective: Punish the group of dark magicians producing the Soulbane Flower.

Reward: Potential Awakening Elixir

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The quests assigned by Hero Kaladan were designed to assess situations with extraordinary perceptive abilities and guide Harang toward the actions he needed to take.

Occasionally, as the mission progressed, additional hints would be noted on the quest screen, but the sentence containing the phrase “blessed by the gods” hadn’t been there when Harang first received the quest.

‘In other words, that must be the hint I need right now.’

Blessed by the gods. Isn’t that hint a bit too straightforward?

‘There’s one person who isn’t part of the city council but still holds significant influence over the Harana Canal…’

The Rondel Cathedral. As the church of Saint Benedis, it wielded considerable influence over the city.

Could it be that Kaladan’s intelligence agents hadn’t considered this possibility?

‘It means that investigating the cathedral using ordinary methods would have been difficult.’

The Rondel Cathedral, which presided over the Harana Canal as its bishopric, had more far-reaching influence than expected.

Although it didn’t have the economic dominance of the city council, its control over the city’s education and faith was substantial, making it difficult to dig into its affairs.

Religion in this world was much more significant than in modern Earth.

The gods were real, and they directly bestowed divine power, so most people believed in their existence.

Here, “belief” didn’t necessarily mean worshiping the gods, but knowing that they existed served as a strong deterrent against committing sins.

How else could the church manage criminals and oversee both atonement and judgment?

‘Even though this place is Kaladan’s territory and the influence of the Church of Saint Benedis isn’t overwhelming here…’

In other territories, the church’s power was so strong that even the lords had to be wary of the clergy, but the Harana Canal wasn’t quite like that. The bishop of the Rondel Cathedral probably had no authority to meddle in the economy at all.

‘If I think about it that way, it makes sense why the church might be involved with the dark magician group.’

In a city where large sums of money and valuable items circulated, it must have been frustrating for the church to have no access to that wealth. If the bishop was a greedy person, he would likely do anything to get his hands on that money.

‘This works out perfectly. The Rondel Cathedral was a place I needed to visit anyway.’

With a sly smile, Harang tucked the tourist guidebook back into his coat.

Rondel Cathedral. It was also the place where Hero Kaladan had hidden the Alteria Armor Parts.

* * *

Late in the evening, Harang slowly strolled along the canal paths, heading toward the towering cathedral at the heart of the city.

Rondel Cathedral of the Harana Canal, also famous for the masterpiece The Reception of the Moonlight.

It was said that the painter despaired at his inability to capture all its beauty on canvas and put down his brush for good. The scenery of the Rondel Cathedral under a full moon was so breathtakingly beautiful that it could move one to tears.

Tonight, a full moon was shining brightly, and the world’s waterways glittered as they reflected the moonlight.

‘…It really is beautiful.’

The dazzling view filled Harang’s chest with emotion, but he soon returned to reality.

‘Kaladan’s relics are always kept in places like that. How troublesome…’

Like the Flower Tower of Natalen or the lake where the Tangakhyang slumbered, these were places that no one could find even after hundreds of years, or places that would never disappear, no matter how much time passed.

The Rondel Cathedral, built at the center of the Harana Canal, was precisely such a place.

Rondel was a sanctuary, an area of sacred inviolability, and even though many wars had been waged in the Harana Canal, the nobles had always avoided damaging the cathedral.

This was because it was a cherished landmark of the Holy Nation of Benedis.

Those who wished to avoid war had all taken refuge in the Rondel Cathedral, which is why, to this day, the people of the city still felt a deep sense of peace in their hearts whenever they thought of it.

Ahhh~♬ Haa~♪

When Harang arrived at the cathedral, hymns were echoing from within. People were walking around, holding lamp-like objects that emitted a blue light.

These were symbolic items that only followers of Saint Benedis could possess.

‘There are too many people here.’

Not only were there many believers, but there were also a significant number of tourists.

‘I’ll have to come back at dawn.’

Harang secured a nearby lodging and spent his time meditating. When it was around 1 a.m., he returned to the cathedral.

There were still several worshippers attending the dawn service, but it wasn’t nearly as crowded as it had been in the evening.

As he quietly walked into the cathedral, people passing by gave him strange looks.

It was because of the mage’s robe he was wearing.

“Oh my, a mage?”

“What’s a mage doing here?”

“How unpleasant.”

“But he’s kind of cute.”

“Don’t be fooled by his appearance. Mages are all vile and dirty.”

Although Harang knew that the relationship between clergy and mages wasn’t good, he didn’t bother to remove his robe. Doing so would only reveal his physique, making it obvious that he had trained in swordsmanship.

Harang, who had seated himself appropriately, pretended to pray while discreetly observing his surroundings. It was impossible to fully activate the Eyes of Truth, as doing so would reveal his silver pupils.

However, even without fully opening the Eyes of Truth, the ability to observe and analyze objects within his field of vision was incredibly sharp.

The first thing he sought was the hidden passage.

This passage could only be found using the Eyes of Truth, and it was a path that only members of the Kaladan bloodline could enter, hidden somewhere within the cathedral.

‘…Hmm, I can’t see it.’

No matter how much he surveyed the interior of the cathedral while controlling the silver light of the Eyes of Truth, he couldn’t spot any such place.

‘No, more than that. Something feels off.’

He slightly altered his gaze as he continued searching for the secret door, narrowing his eyes. His black pupils faded, and a faint silver light emerged, though he had no other choice.

‘The holy barrier surrounding Rondel Cathedral seems to have almost lost its power… No, it’s not that it’s lost power, it’s been neglected?’

The Eyes of Truth were capable of nearly perfect interpretation, even of holy barriers, and to Harang’s eyes, the barrier of Rondel Cathedral appeared significantly weakened.

‘…Hmm. So that’s how it is. The bishop has already fallen, losing most of his divine power. He’s unable to perform the most important duty of maintaining the cathedral’s barrier.’

With just a quick glance around the cathedral, Harang had roughly grasped what was happening in this place and what kind of man the archbishop was.

‘This might be worth investigating further…’

On the first day, he had intended to focus more on finding the Kaladan legacy than on his mission.

“Everyone, let us pray.”

“Let us pray.”

The early morning mass was gradually coming to an end. After the final prayer by the sub-priest leading the service, it was time for the offering.

Harang followed the others in giving an offering. He had to in order to receive the “blessing” that would come afterward.

Unlike on Earth, the blessings here were real and had tangible effects.

The blessings received from modest offerings usually did no more than relieve fatigue or heal stiff muscles, but the genuine “Great Blessing” given in private prayer rooms, for which one had to pay a fortune, could cure incurable diseases or even regenerate severed limbs.

In fact, cardinals sometimes accepted commissions from martial artists to regenerate severed arms.

However, since regenerating mana circuits and muscles was beyond their power, it was impossible to regain one’s original abilities, so most martial artists refrained from such actions.

This was because the cardinals and dozens of believers would pray for days, risking their own life force to invoke regeneration, a service that required a payment equivalent to the cost of an entire building.

Harang had no intention of receiving such an extraordinary Great Blessing, but he still decided that it would be wise to invest a significant amount of money to meet with them.

After all, if they were capable of performing a Great Blessing, they must hold a fairly high rank within the cathedral.

“…We cannot bestow blessings upon mages.”

“We apologize. The pastor has refused to consult with you for a blessing.”

“Ahem, there’s no availability right now.”

There were five pastors at Harana Canal who could bestow a Great Blessing. This fact alone indicated the prestige of Rondel Cathedral, as these pastors would hold at least a bishop’s rank in other dioceses. However, that wasn’t what concerned him.

‘So, they see mages as enemies.’

It was something he had anticipated. Harang was persistent and didn’t give up easily. If he kept at it, eventually, one of the pastors who had ties to mages, or who wanted to, would emerge.

‘Come on, who is it? Show yourself already.’

It didn’t matter which of the five appeared. Although he didn’t have detailed information, he had thoroughly researched all of them beforehand.

No matter who he met, he had already simulated his approach in his mind and was confident he could steer the conversation in his favor.

“Ah, Sir Mage. Pastor Ezakt’s prayer room has just become available, and he has requested that you be brought in.”

“!”

At last, the moment had come. Harang allowed himself a slight smile.

“Please, follow me to this prayer room.”

As Harang followed the priest to the innermost prayer room, he felt a strange presence. It wasn’t just his imagination.

As a warrior and a mage, Harang’s trained instincts detected an immense, unusual divine power.

‘No, wait. This level of divine power… from just a pastor?’

He had assumed the archbishop had lost his divine power, but to think there was another person here with power on par with an archbishop?

Click! The door to the prayer room opened, revealing the man with this overwhelming divine power.

A young man of striking beauty with red hair flowing down past his waist.

He was nearly 190 cm tall, so tall that Harang had to look up to see him, and the man was smiling gently as he looked at Harang.

“Welcome, brother mage.”

As soon as their eyes met, Harang instantly recalled the name from the information he had researched in advance.

‘Pastor Ezakt.’

Information about Ezakt quickly flashed through Harang’s mind.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a mage disciple, so it’s truly a pleasure. Please, have a seat here.”

After Harang sat down on a small, single-seat sofa, Pastor Ezakt took a seat across from him, smiling warmly.

“Have you come to receive a blessing?”

“Yes.”

“You appear to be in good health. May I ask what troubles you?”

“I have a terminal illness.”

“Oh, that’s… Excuse me, what?”

When Harang bluntly made such a statement without any preamble, Ezakt was momentarily taken aback.

In truth, Harang was well aware that speaking with such a calm and brazen expression wouldn’t exactly inspire trust in the other party.

But he truly had no talent for acting. He wanted to lie, but since he couldn’t perform, he decided to utilize everything he had at his disposal.

For instance, the “Stigmata Curse.”

“Even though I may seem fine now… there’s a massive, untreatable fireball lodged in my chest. Every doctor I’ve visited shook their head, and one priest even demanded an astronomical sum in exchange for a cure.”

“How dreadful…”

Since he was already speaking with a shameless expression, it didn’t matter whether Ezakt believed him or not.

Regardless of how Ezakt reacted, Harang was prepared to respond accordingly.

“Let me take a look at your condition.”

Rolling up his sleeve, Ezakt approached Harang and began to slowly infuse him with divine power.

Thump!

‘…!’

Ezakt’s eyes widened as he stared at Harang in shock. He had thought Harang was just spouting some ridiculous lie with that shameless face, but there really was something enormous lodged in the boy’s heart!

‘How… How is he living with something like this…?’

At best, he had five years left.

Ezakt, who realized this after just one examination, was at a loss for words, while Harang straightened his clothes and spoke up.

“What’s wrong? Do I not have much time left?”

“…You’re aware of your condition, then?”

“I know it well. I’ve seen plenty of doctors, after all.”

Half of it was a lie, and half of it was the truth.

The Stigmata Curse was a hereditary affliction unique to the direct bloodline of the Kaladan family. Without lifelong training, one would indeed die young. However, thanks to obtaining the Silver Heart, Harang no longer had to worry about his lifespan, and he had never even seen a doctor.

‘If anything, the Stigmata Curse feels more like a mana reservoir to me.’

Ezakt, unaware of this, was left utterly stunned.

How could a boy, just fourteen years old, carry the knowledge that he was living on borrowed time?

“You mentioned that you’re a mage? Has your affiliated magic tower not provided any measures?”

“I’ve been wandering without a fixed destination in search of a cure, so I’m not affiliated with any magic tower.”

“And your parents…?”

“They passed away when I was young. My father died of the same illness.”

Clerics generally possess a slight ability to detect lies. However, because Harang’s eyes showed almost no hint of deceit, Ezakt had no reason to doubt him.

“As a commoner mage, no church has accepted me, and now my funds are depleted, so this place is my last hope.”

“….”

“If I can’t be cured here… well, there’s nothing I can do. At least I’ll have the comfort of leaving this beautiful city.”

Harang truly wasn’t skilled at acting.

That’s why, even when lying, Harang maintained a shameless and stoic expression. He wasn’t naturally expressive, but when he tried to act, his face would become even more rigid.

In other words, it was like reading a textbook aloud!

Yet, to someone like Ezakt, Harang’s unembellished tone came across as more genuine than any emotionally charged performance could have.

“…I will do it.”

“Pardon?”

Harang was slightly taken aback. He had been just about to bring up the topic of a donation. After all, he couldn’t accept a blessing for free; he didn’t want to appear as if he was begging for sympathy.

“For the next month, come here every day. I’ll give you the Great Blessing each day, without fail.”

“Wait a minute… Isn’t it true that the Great Blessing can only be given once a day?”

The Great Blessing was so expensive that most people could only afford it once, if at all, in their lifetime.

“I don’t have that kind of money.”

Ezakt smiled—a smile completely different from the one before, making Harang feel as if something had just clicked in his mind.

‘…Could it be? This person…?’

“Yes, the Great Blessing is indeed costly. It’s one of a pastor’s main sources of income, so it would be a significant sacrifice for me. However…”

He leaned in slightly toward Harang and said,

“When I scanned your heart, I felt it. You possess an enormous amount of mana, don’t you?”

“….”

Although it’s not easy to scan someone else’s mana, the direct physical contact and Harang’s deliberate release of his mana waves during the scan allowed Ezakt to fully sense Harang’s incredible mana.

“If you survive, you’ll undoubtedly become a great mage. If, when that day comes, you remember me, that will be enough.”

Rondel Cathedral at Harana Canal had never fully restored its relationship with mages since the holy war fought long ago. As a result, ambitious priests were reluctant to serve at Rondel Cathedral, knowing that their future prospects were limited in a church that had severed ties with mages.

Despite Pastor Ezakt’s popularity among ordinary citizens, he, too, had never forged a single connection with mages.

In essence, Ezakt was making an investment—driven by both genuine concern for Harang and the hope of securing his own future.

“If that’s the case… it sounds like an excellent offer for me.”

Harang, who hadn’t expected Ezakt to go this far, found himself nodding, somewhat bewildered.

“Very well. Let’s consider the deal made, and I’ll give you the Great Blessing right now.”

Watching Ezakt, who seemed intent on bestowing the blessing without asking for anything in return, Harang couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘It seems I might have come to the right place after all.’

What had started as a simple plan to extract information from a priest had unexpectedly led Harang to discover a surprisingly valuable ally in an unexpected place.