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He was so bizarre.

Dressed in minimal clothing, his muscles bulging. His eyes were covered with thick cloth, his hair shaved on the sides and left long in the middle, braided into dreadlocks tied at the ends, and his beard was also braided into multiple strands, tied and left hanging.

Standing barefoot on the eternal snow of the Alps, he struck an unusual pose, one that resembled both a bodybuilding stance and a part of a dance movement.

“Your muscles have become even more impressive.”

Sophia, barely holding her composure, marveled at the man’s muscles.

The muscles, grandly bulked up, also displayed sharp, sculpted contours, showcasing an artistic physique. Whether they were real muscles or ethereal muscles, it didn’t matter.

“Do you know how many nights I spent awake, trying to surpass the lingering echoes of enlightenment that Father Chazel bestowed upon me? How many layers of agony surrounded me, how the quagmire of thoughts obscured my understanding in the abyss?”

As he spoke, he slowly began to change his posture. His muscles and tendons shifted smoothly, altering his form with each movement.

A side chest pose combined with a bizarre stance that could belong on the cover of a fashion magazine. The moment the pose was complete, the man’s presence and pressure exploded, sweeping through the surroundings. The rising heat haze distorted violently, and weaker beings watching felt their spirits crushed by the sheer force.

“But with an unyielding, unretreating heart, I finally achieved it. The true power of light to vanquish the Samayedo!”

Bam!

A declaration so striking it seemed to echo with sound effects. And surprisingly, Sophia and Hildegard witnessed a pure, radiant light power draping over his muscles like a garment.

“Power creates light! And since that day, I have maintained a strong, unwavering feeling. And finally, the light responded.”

No, that’s not how you use that line.

Sophia cursed her past karma, recalling how she had once defeated an innocent clergy member with a witty remark while crossing the Alps.

Regardless, the sight of the muscular man coated in compressed light, like a garment, was honestly majestic and sublime. It felt as if the man himself was a sacred idol.

Regardless, since a guest had arrived, they had to welcome him.

Sophia stood up, her ethereal muscles bulking up before relaxing smoothly into a Tai Chi stance. Soon, a radiant light power, tinged with gold and jade, shimmered like a halo around her.

“Come. I will test you.”

“Ho! Let’s go! Let’s exchange hands!”

The muscular man in the bizarre pose slid closer. Strangely, despite his approach, there was no visible movement in his muscles. Without any change in his posture, he moved like a mannequin on wheels, making Conra feel uneasy.

But upon closer inspection, there was a subtle artistry in his movement. Only Conra, familiar with salmon leaps, could detect the slight foot movements. These movements allowed the clergy-like man to maintain a stable, balanced posture despite his unusual stance.

Soon, Sophia’s forearm met the man’s forearm.

What followed was an intense battle of balance. Sensing each other’s movements, they adjusted accordingly, sometimes resisting, sometimes yielding, pushing and pulling, twisting and turning, employing every technique to control the other’s movements.

Naturally, in such a contest, the larger man had the advantage. But Sophia cleverly used her lightness and gravity-defying techniques to completely negate her size and weight disadvantage.

Gradually, a creaking sound began to emanate from their forearms, but neither Sophia nor the man paid it any mind. Circling each other, they suddenly pushed off with a shout, stepping back a few paces.

“You’ve improved. Your manipulation of strength is incredibly skillful.”

“Father Chazel, your skills haven’t faded. When things reach their peak, they reverse. It seems that to embody enlightenment, one must first embody the laws of nature.”

The two exchanged compliments. Watching them, Conra prepared extra food and drink for both.

After filling their stomachs with thick stew and sharing a cup of herbal tea, the clergy member, Esiocles Emanuele, spoke.

“The stirrings of demons can be felt even here on the holy mountain. Are you planning to attend the council to report on this matter?”

“Indeed, that’s correct. Father Esiocles, have you awakened some mysterious power after long training on the holy mountain? You guessed it eerily well.”

At Sophia’s affirmation, Father Esiocles Emanuele slowly stroked his braided beard.

“Well, my intuition has just improved a bit. More importantly, if that’s the case, I have a request.”

“Hmm, what is it?”

Sophia tensed. What could this eccentric possibly want? What kind of demand would someone whose thoughts were so inscrutable make? But contrary to her worries, Father Esiocles’ request was surprisingly ordinary.

“Let me accompany you.”

“What?”

But while ordinary, it wasn’t a simple request.

The clergy and nuns of the Alps were known for doing all sorts of strange things in their pursuit of enlightenment. They were like mad scientists or ancient figures wearing black pants and paper bags over their heads.

Just look at the man before her with his devastating fashion sense.

As Esiocles changed his pose again, amplifying his bizarre presence, Sophia felt a wave of agony. Each time his strange aura intensified, it felt as if the density of the light power coating her skin increased, but it must be an illusion. It had to be. Sophia deliberately ignored Father Esiocles’ presence.

“If you wish to accompany us, there’s no reason to stop you, but why? For you, leaving the holy mountain—the Alps—must be a harder choice than taking your own life.”

The Alps were known as a place where clergy members went to train but rarely returned.

It made sense. The clergy here were all doing strange things, so no matter how bizarre someone’s actions were, as long as they didn’t violate human morality, no one would interfere. In fact, they would empathize and even discuss each other’s oddities.

This place, a religious aspiration combined with such a training environment, was a paradise detached from the mortal world. So, when Father Esiocles spoke of leaving the mountain, Sophia couldn’t help but doubt his words.

“Of course, this mountain range is my home, my place of return. There is no other place for me. But these are not ordinary times, are they?”

Evil is stirring. Not just the Great Demon’s declaration of war, but some malevolent force is blocking humanity’s path in this Iron Age. A sensation awakened during his training foretold this, Father Esiocles explained.

“As a human, I must lend a hand in such times. No matter how much one seeks enlightenment, abandoning human duty would be putting the cart before the horse, wouldn’t it?”

“Then why do you want to accompany us?”

“Because there is a flow in Father Chazel’s path.”

Everyone lives their life with their own flow, but some are caught in a strong current that sweeps away those around them, Father Esiocles explained.

“I don’t know what lies at the end of that flow, but if I wish to contribute to the world, following Father Chazel seems the best choice. Will you allow it?”

Impressed by his words, Hildegard and Conra nodded. Truly a noble and sublime heart. They felt a sense of shame and resolved to reconsider their prejudices against the clergy of the Alps. But Sophia, hearing this, remained expressionless and asked again.

“Hmm, so what’s your real intention?”

“I want to empathize with the struggles and agonies the Grand Master experienced while burying the remains of the ancient Grand Masters.”

Of course.

I knew there was an ulterior motive.

At Father Esiocles’ immediate answer, Sophia finally nodded in understanding. Of course. Humanitarian sentiments? As far as she remembered, the clergy and nuns of the Alps weren’t the type to have such noble thoughts.

Of course, they were clergy and trained in light power, so their basic character was among the top percentile on the continent, but their priorities were a bit skewed, evident in their way of thinking and behavior.

“Fine. If you accompany us, you’ll surely be of help. Your skills, at least, are genuine.”

“So, is Father here joining us?”

Hildegard asked. Sophia nodded in agreement. Father Esiocles spoke.

“Don’t call me Father. Just call me Father Esiocles. Of course, that’s too long, so if you call me Esiocles, I’d be even more grateful.”

“Hmm, I look forward to working with you, Father Esiocles.”

“Ah, I look forward to it as well.”

Conra also welcomed him. With only himself as the male in the group, it had been awkward, but having a proper adult male join was a welcome change. But unlike the others, Sophia, with a somewhat awkward expression, asked Father Esiocles.

“So, you. Do you plan to continue dressing like that when we descend the mountain?”

Sophia’s question hit an important point. His current attire was minimal, barefoot, with a large stone rosary around his neck, and his beard and hairstyle were avant-garde. If he descended the mountain like this, he would undoubtedly be treated as a heretic. But Father Esiocles answered with a serious expression.

“Of course I will.” (Certo che lo farò.)

 

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