Chapter 336: A Short Break (2)

Now seated, Kai explained in as much detail as possible his encounter with Atroc.

After listening to everything, Tardal slowly closed his eyes and let out a faint sigh. “

Hm

... Atroc. So even time couldn’t bring that monster down.”

After muttering that, Tardal fell silent for a while. An extended silence followed, and Kai waited patiently for Tardal within that quietness, which lasted for about ten minutes.

“If...”

Perhaps it was a reward for his patience.

Tardal, with eyes half-closed, began to say, “If the Atroc you speak of is the same person I know... then he was likely a cardinal of the Church of Muldine. I’ve read in old records that when the Church of Muldine invaded the continent centuries ago, the name of the cardinal leading them was Atroc.”

“What? Someone from centuries ago?” Kai repeated in disbelief.

Of course, he knew that archmages or those who had mastered swordsmanship could have long lifespans in this world, but even then, 150 years was considered the limit. Yet centuries?

As Kai gave him a questioning look, Tardal said, “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just as confused as you are right now.”

“A human living for hundreds of years... honestly, I can’t believe it. Maybe he’s just an imposter.”

“An imposter?”

“Yes. The Atroc you read about in those records may already be dead, and this one either inherited his will... or could be a descendant.”

Tardal nodded, as if the idea made sense. “

Hm

. That’s a fair point. The name Atroc has long been forgotten, but those who know still remember it. And in every book kept by the kingdoms and empires regarding the Church of Muldine, that name is always included. If their goal is to invoke fear about the Church of Muldine, using that name is undoubtedly the most effective way.”

“Then my guess is probably right. I mean, the idea of a human living for hundreds of years just doesn’t make sense.”

“

Hmm

.” Tardal repeatedly thought about Kai’s words in his mind, and replied, “Of course, if what you say is true, then that would be the best-case scenario. However, I have to assume the worst.”

“The worst-case scenario...?”

At Kai’s question, Tardal narrowed his eyes. “The situation where Atroc is, in fact, the same individual from centuries ago.”

“No way. That’s impossible, isn’t it?”

Kai gave a nervous laugh and waved his hand dismissively, but Tardal’s expression remained serious.

Seeing that, Kai’s expression also hardened. “Wait... You’re serious?”

“Yes, and while we’re on the topic, let me ask you something. During your duel with the one who called himself Atroc, did you ever see his true form?”

“No. As I mentioned, he was controlling the body of an Inquisitor named Krom when we fought. I never saw his actual body or form.”

“I see... That’s the biggest problem.” Tardal furrowed his brow and stroked his chin. “Right now, we don’t even know if he’s human or not.”

“Not even know if he’s human...?” Kai tilted his head, not understanding what that meant.

To that, Tardal said with a mysterious tone, “Think about it. There’s simply no way an ordinary human could survive for hundreds of years. Unless you sell your soul to a demon and become a demonic being, or get bitten by a vampire, it’s impossible.”

“Right.”

“But those two options come with major disadvantages. Demonic beings suffer a fatal weakness to divine power, and vampires lose much of their physical ability under sunlight.”

“Exactly,” Kai agreed.

For reference, Desmond, who had become a Warrior of Light, no longer had such weaknesses.

“However, there is one method to achieve immortality without any of those downsides.”

“There is?!”

“Yes. Becoming a lich.”

“A lich... I see.”

In games and other media, liches were typically powerful wizards who rejected death and modified their bodies to become undead. They were immortal beings that neither aged nor needed food, and would never die as long as the phylactery sealing their soul remained intact.

At that point, a question arose.

“But Cardinal Atroc was a priest of the Church of Muldine, wasn’t he? I thought only grand wizards could become liches.”

“According to the records, Cardinal Atroc was a once-in-a-century genius. If you hear the sentence that’s often attached to his description you’ll understand.”

“What does it say?”

“Atroc. He was described as a being born by Muldine to conquer the human world. It’s said that he mastered both martial arts and divine magic, and even extended into the realm of dark magic, creating countless monsters.”

“I see...” Kai's expression became grim.

That would mean Atroc was the very one who created beings like Aosa, Zatan, and Harley. And based on what Kai experienced, their martial skill was by no means inferior to his own.

On top of that, he uses divine spells of the Church of Muldine?

He truly felt like a flawless final boss.

“Of course, I can’t verify if it’s all true. It was hundreds of years ago. Facts tend to become exaggerated and inflated over time. However, this incident made one thing perfectly clear.” Tardal’s eyes gleamed. “Whether he’s the real Atroc or not, his martial prowess is exceptional.”

“If he really is the real Atroc, then that’s an even bigger problem, right?”

“Of course. No matter what method he used, if he’s in a state where he can still use power after hundreds of years... he would only have grown stronger, not weaker.”

“That’s a big problem. Shouldn’t we start preparing then?”

“There’s nothing we can do right now. So for now, strengthen yourself,” Tardal placed strong emphasis on the word ‘strengthen.’ “Become strong enough that you won’t lose, no matter where or when you face him.”

“Strength... Understood.”

“I’ll begin gathering information on Atroc on my own.”

***

Where Kai went next was the Celestial Garden. His mind was a mess, so he had come hoping to relax by stretching out Helik’s cheeks.

“

Oh!

It’s Kai!”

Helik, who had been sitting and blankly watching the drifting clouds, lit up at the sight of him. She looked just like a puppy wagging its tail as its owner returned.

“I saw everything from up above! I congratulate you for winning the war.”

“You saw it all?”

“

Yeup

. But I didn’t quite understand the ending. Why did you get hit by an opponent you had been defeating?”

“

Ah

, that is...”

Kai subtly hinted that the opponent had been Atroc.

Helik gasped, “Atroc?!”

Her hair stood on end as she repeated the name in horror.

“

Huh

, you know who he is?”

“Of course I do! That bad guy! That bad servant of bad Muldine!”

Helik, having used the word bad three times in a row, puffed up both her cheeks. It was a habit of hers whenever something really displeased her. She looked just like a pufferfish, far from intimidating, and incredibly adorable.

“What did that guy say to you?”

“Not much, really. Something like, ‘Are you the Solaric Cleric? I am Atroc.’ That’s about all we exchanged in conversation.”

“What a bold guy.”

“You mean bland.”

Correcting Helik’s word choice, Kai sat down across from her and reached out, tugging on her cheeks.

Huh.

They felt like they stretched even more than a few days ago.

Tilting his head, Kai asked, “Helik, have you gained weight?”

He was too blunt.

“

Eek!

” Helik let out a strange noise and jumped to her feet, scooting backward. “T-to think you’d say something like that to a goddess! You’re being rude!”

She definitely has.

Kai gave her a side glance and decided to keep the snack he was going to offer her tucked away in his inventory for now. Instead, he pulled out a few new items.

“What are those?”

As Kai began taking out one item after another, Helik’s curiosity returned and she cautiously crept over.

“Exercise equipment. This is a jump rope, that’s a hula hoop, and this is a stationary bike.”

Helik nodded as if she understood, “I see, so you’ve started caring about your health. I’ll cheer for you, good luck.”

“They’re not for me.”

“Then whose are they?”

“Obviously, yours. No snacks until you lose weight.”

“

Waaah!

” Helik let out a sorrowful cry at the sudden announcement. “H-how could you suddenly do that? You said just seeing me eat makes you full, and that I was beautiful! That’s why I ate so much! Are you a liar?!”

“Well... I didn’t expect you to be this out of control. It’s hurting your health, so please exercise a little.”

Kai wasn’t done pulling things out. He then took out a few more books.

“And these are textbooks for basic subjects. You said before you wanted to try attending school, right? You’ll need to study all of these in advance.”

Just then, a portal opened, and a girl with sky-blue hair stepped out.

“

Oh?

Kai.”

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

“Hello, Rashya.”

The moment Helik saw her best friend, she fled behind her.

“

Waaah!

Rashya, listen to me. Kai is being so mean to me.”

After hearing all of Helik’s whispered tattling, Rashya laughed. “Told you. I said you should cut back a little when eating, didn’t I?”

“But everything just tastes too good.”

Rashya patted Helik like a caring older sister. “

Aw

. I’ll exercise with you too, so let’s try hard together, okay?”

“

Mhm

...”

They say raising daughters is useless, that they listen to their friends much better.

Feeling slightly hurt, Kai held up the study books. “By the way, Helik said she wanted to experience a human school. How about you, Rashya?”

“School...?”

When he explained Arkan Academy to wide-eyed Rashya, her eyes sparkled brightly as she said, “I’ll go too. I’d worry about Helik going alone.”

“Alright then, please study these as well.”

Kai handed her books on basic arithmetic, history, magic, and swordsmanship.

Helik puffed her cheeks again. “Your problem is that you see me as too much of a child. Studying basic arithmetic at my age... really...”

Rashya flipped through the arithmetic book and burst into laughter. “W

ow,

it starts with addition. You don’t know this stuff.”

“Y-yes I do.” Helik’s gaze slightly wavered.

Catching that, Kai suddenly asked, “What’s nine plus sixteen?”

“

Huh?

Uh, um...!

” Her gaze started trembling even more like an earthquake. “Nine... Nine comes after eight, sixteen comes after fifteen, so...”

Looking down at her tiny hands with just ten fingers, Helik visibly panicked. Of course, Kai, watching this, also panicked a little.

This is worse than I thought. There’s no way she could come up with the answer looking at that.

The answer was twenty-five, more than she could count with all her fingers.

Watching this, Rashya turned her head, struggling to suppress her laughter. “

Pfft!

”

Kai decided to ask her a question too. “Rashya, what’s twenty-five plus seven?”

“Do you think I’m a fool? It’s thirty-two,” Rasha turned her head gracefully and said with an arrogant smile.

“

Wow

, that’s correct.” Kai, slightly impressed, threw out another problem. “Fifteen plus twenty-three.”

“Thirty-eight.”

“Fifty-seven plus thirteen.”

“

Ugh

, really. It’s seventy.”

With each correct answer, Rashya’s shoulders lifted higher in pride.

As it started getting a little less fun, Kai gave one last question. “

Hm

. You’re really good at this. Okay then, last one. Twenty-six minus twelve.”

Rashya pressed her lips together tightly, and her throat bobbed with a large swallow. Moreover, as if to prove she was Helik’s best friend, her gaze began trembling at exactly the same pace.

Letting out a soft sigh, Kai rolled up the textbooks and lightly tapped both girls on the head.

“

Ow!

”

“

Ouch!

”

Then he said to the two foolish goddesses rubbing their heads with both hands, “You both need to study. There will be a test later.”

The two girls pouted, but obediently nodded.