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164th Chapter. Four Saints (1)

[Erosion Rate Decline: -100%]

[+10000 Credits]

[Experience has exceeded a certain limit! Acquired 1 Stat Point.]

It looks like they’ve already caught on to the change in the erosion rate.

But how did they figure it out so quickly? That was truly fascinating.

I hadn’t actually asked the knights to participate in the act. It was quite possible that the clueless Trisha had buttered up the knights and ended up getting squashed.

Thus, it was likely they sensed something amiss based on that.

‘Thank you for providing me with sustenance.’

After all the effort of squeezing out a fake script, I had gained merely a stat point. While I was used to seeing this, it was still a bit bitter.

Leveling up had become difficult since my class change to Outlaw. However, in this world, levels weren’t expressed as numbers.

You can’t distinguish strength like saying “level this” or “level that.” There are only fundamental stats or the character’s level of mastery.

Looking back, I think it’s a rather wise system. Until now, as a ‘Scammer,’ I’ve repeatedly exceeded experience points and obtained stat points.

I estimate that I’ve exceeded that number at least over 120 times. That means my level is about 120.

It’s a significantly high figure, yet as I mentioned earlier, such a system has its flaws.

This applies not just to me but to other characters as well.

Playable characters like Jenny and Luska gain experience through hard training.

They earn experience in increments like me through exceeding the cap. Of course, there are instances when they gain levels through realizations during training… but can they really catch up to me that quickly?

Let’s think about how much experience I gain from spreading a single false knight rumor. Besides, I gain experience just from fishing.

Very few can accumulate experience at a speed comparable to mine.

But consider this: are those two weaker than me?

‘….’

Is Mary, who’s always doing bizarre things, weaker than me?

‘….’

Powerful beings who should logically be at a higher level than me are abundant in this world.

Then their levels would likely leap over 120, reaching 200, then 300… soaring into the mountains and beyond into the cosmos.

Not including levels in the game system was a brilliant move. If anything were to be attached, it would probably only be skill levels.

That’s why class changes are prioritized based on various other conditions rather than levels.

————=

<Class Change Mission: Spirit Summoner>

[Clear Conditions]

– Achieve Spirit Power Gauge of 80 or higher (Achieved!)

– Contract with two or more Spirits (Achieved!)

– Must be done on the brink of life and death during the class change

– Must not lose your sanity

————=

Clearly, the clear conditions have become more challenging compared to when I was an ‘Outlaw.’ Especially the part about being on the brink of life and death, it was a bit unsettling.

I wondered if the opposite concept, a Spirit Sorcerer, went through such horrific conditions as well.

Aside from the differences of yin and yang, they seem generally similar.

“It’s eerie. It feels just like being in a graveyard.”

“I thought the Spirit King’s Realm would be a bit more mystical.”

Mary and Trisha expressed their impressions about the surroundings.

Amid the chaotic trees, fog lingered. The inexplicable mysterious gas brushing against my cheek felt cold as if I had been caught in the rain.

It was like a forest path you’d find in an Asian horror movie.

“Is this really the Spirit Realm?”

『No doubt about it.』

Muto suddenly appeared. Given his long life, he seemed knowledgeable.

『Though it’s strange, this is undoubtedly the Spirit World.』

“Is it possible that the Spirit Realm and the Spirit Summoner Realm have swapped places?”

『Not to that extent, but it’s true that it’s dangerous for a Spirit Realm. I wonder if that prisoner managed to survive, having escaped to a place like this.』

While there weren’t any clear dangers visible yet, the fact that Muto said that made it seem true.

Before long, the Spirit Sorcerers from the mercenary group each stood in the cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West.

They were walking, explosively bringing out their sensitivity, almost as if forming a barricade.

“I wonder why those prisoners fled to a place like this.”

“Surely it’s not a suicide attempt, right?”

“Probably not. Otherwise, why would they deliberately topple the train?”

Riplain, like me, was filled with puzzling thoughts. Even the knights and train personnel inside had disappeared at the same time.

Since no corpses were found, it seems they weren’t killed but rather taken away. What exactly their aim was, I couldn’t grasp.

Did they have some sort of contingency plan to survive here?

“Over there, friends!”

At that moment, Mary suddenly pointed at the air in surprise.

In the direction of her finger, there was nothing at first. Just as I was about to question what was happening… something emerged from the fog.

Initially, a red light, like a traffic signal, blinked. The light grew closer and soon revealed the figure of a huge lizard.

Its body was green, and I quickly realized that the lizard, seemingly passing us by, was a spirit.

It wasn’t just that lizard surrounding us.

As we progressed further, more gigantic creatures of similar colors started appearing, and I finally sensed the reality of being in the Spirit Realm.

However, oddly enough, the fog remained thick. No matter how many spirits roamed around, it felt like we were stuck in place.

“Hmm… it’s a complete maze. With human mana and spirit mana mixed up, it’ll be hard to find our way.”

Even Mary, boasting the highest sensitivity to mana, found it impossible to detect humans here.

It was proof that this place wasn’t the human realm but the Spirit Realm. Ultimately, it was a place where common sense did not apply.

“From this perspective, it doesn’t feel like spirits but rather spirits that could be misconstrued.”

“That’s definitely not the case! They’re kind-hearted spirits, I’m sure of it!”

“Remove that last part, Mary. Setting that aside, it just feels strange. In my introduction to spirit studies, I heard the Spirit Realm was a peaceful place like heaven.”

As Trisha stated, I had often heard lectures about it too. Even if it could be described as a gap between what I heard and what I saw, it still felt entirely unnatural.

“Discussing such matters won’t bear any fruit.”

At that moment, Tariel, who had been at the forefront, interrupted the two’s conversation. He seemed to gesture as if trying to grasp the fog in the air and said,

“Whether spirits or elementals, it’s merely a matter of a thin sheet of paper. They share roots, so what’s the difference?”

“Were you also a Spirit Sorcerer, sir?”

“That’s not the case. I merely observed the actions of the previous Saint from the sidelines.”

“You weren’t just an ordinary cleric, were you?”

“That’s not entirely wrong. At the time, there was a group known as the Four Saints that protected the head of the Sect. Though they no longer exist, I was one of them.”

Riplain and Trisha silently expressed their awe. They were mentioned in the countless lectures related to the sect. If only the mission hadn’t been ongoing, they would have shouted in excitement.

“Myself and the other three were responsible for imparting the teachings of the Saint. Since she was beloved by the Spirit King, we had to help nurture that talent. But…”

Tragedy struck in an instant.

Of the four saints who fought to protect the Divine Holy Lady, three were all killed by the Demon King.

Tariel was fortunate enough to have survived, but the deaths of the other three greatly angered the Saint.

Fueled by vengeance, she participated in the Demon King extermination, and though she succeeded in beheading him, she was left in tatters as a result.

“Since that day, the Saint lost her sensitivity. Though she could no longer fight, the conflicts still continued, meaning she had no choice but to go out with what little Divine Power remained.”

I thought things might have stabilized after the Demon King’s demise. Still, due to the lingering foes, the chaos persisted.

Those affected by that chaos were consumed by madness, to the extent of abandoning their children and coming to the relief sites just to see the Saint.

“Even now, just recalling that gruesome scene makes me nauseate. But the Saint’s reaction was beyond words. Yet, she welcomed them with her extraordinary patience…”

As time went on, the Saint’s heart grew weary, ultimately choosing to flee. From the fleeing Saint arose a ‘dark aura.’

As Tariel recognized it as Spirit Power, it was only natural for tremors to occur in his eyes.

It was but a single moment when that incredible white sensitivity turned black.

“In that moment, my physical condition was still not normal. I wanted to rush over quickly, but I could not prevent the death of the Saint.”

By the time I led the Knights’ Order and arrived, it was already too late. The death of my dearly beloved fell like a crashing burden, but even more profound was the loss of a daughter raised with love.

The fury of Shaikar manifested as quakes and tsunamis throughout the regions once she perished. At that moment, the King of Spirits, who governed life, transformed into the King of Death.

“So even now….”

“Yes, we have effectively entered the realm of the dead.”

Because his anger towards humanity hadn’t dissipated, it was only natural that this place became a danger zone. Human sins must be paid for by humans. Tariel repeated this in his mind.

“Huh? There’s a person over there!”

Trisha yelled as a shadow of a person emerged from the fog.

Everyone grew cautious as the figure calmly approached among the spirits.

It could very well be the prisoners we had been searching for.

Although mana detection was non-functional, there shouldn’t be anyone else in this place aside from us.

Since they were escapees, they might struggle not to get caught. To avoid falling victim to their struggles, we cautiously advanced towards them.

“They’re coming this way…!”

Without needing to approach, they began walking toward us. It seemed they had noticed our presence.

Collectively, our bodies froze, and silence filled the air.

Three people were approaching. Uncertain of who they might be, I held my breath.

At last, the figures of those individuals began to become clear.

“Who are you?!”

Simultaneously, somewhere, a sound like a strong current could be heard. The atmosphere was eerie, but the sound was calm, like awakening memories.

The three walked in sync with that noise. Strangely, the clothes they wore bore no prisoner numbers.

Could they possibly be folks on the same mission as us?

Yet I had never heard of another party being here.

As I was puzzled about who they were… Tariel shuddered.

“You… you’re…”

“Do you know who we are?”

His reaction seemed unusual, so I directly asked.

Two men and one woman. They all wore intricate clerical garments, but I still couldn’t recognize them.

It couldn’t be a dispatched cleric, and seeing Tariel tremble suggested they must be someone he knew…

“Kale… Acra… Rima…”

As Tariel trembled, he spoke what seemed to be their names.

“Kale, Acra, Rima…?”

I couldn’t help but repeat those names, but nothing came to mind.

However, was this some minor setting I had overlooked? It felt as if my head was spinning rapidly.

In the meantime, the atmosphere grew tumultuous because of those names.

“What?!”

“I-it’s really them?!”

“No way!”

“Looking closely, they really do look like the pictures!”

The members that formed 90% of the Saint Arrow mercenaries raised a ruckus in unison.

And like Tariel, they too began to tremble.

Riplain, who stood by my side, was the same way.

“No way… why are they here…”

“Do you know who they are?”

“Ah… Radon, you’re unfamiliar with the cleric side, so you wouldn’t know.”

Listening closely revealed that most of the mercenaries were closely tied to the clerical side. Given it was a faction led by Tariel, it was entirely possible.

But only those involved with the clergy were so shocked. I instinctively felt goosebumps at this scene.

And it was exactly as I thought.

“Those individuals… are the four clerics killed by the Demon King during the Demon Beast War!”

Past dear companions of Tariel, and individuals who no longer existed in this world.

The chilling space where they appeared. The cold fog.

I instantly understood what these things represented.

“Kale… Acra… Rima…!!”

And I quickly recalled the settings I had forgotten.

『Hey, vomit-inducing… this doesn’t seem like the real world.』

Before I knew it, a murderous intent radiated from the three dead figures.

Before I could blink, weapons—sword, staff, bow—flew into their hands.

Fiery light blazed from each of their respective weapons.

Surviving as the Academy Scammer.

 

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