Chapter 415: Know Your Enemy and Know Yourself (1)

The first place Kai hurried off to after logging into the game was the Information Guild.

“Congratulations.” The branch manager who oversaw the capital’s Information Guild greeted him with a gentle smile.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m congratulating you on achieving the historic feat of becoming the greatest swordsman on the continent.”

As expected of the Information Guild, he already knew that Kai had reached a new level as if it were common knowledge.

“But where did this greatest swordsman on the continent title come from?”

“It was, of course, a conclusion inferred from our guild’s internal database.”

“

Hm,

and how credible is it?”

“99.7%.”

Kai tilted his head at the branch manager’s confident answer.

“That’s interesting. There was only one person who actually saw me use swordsmanship after I reached the new level...”

He doubted Bach would have sold the story just for money.

The branch manager let out a low chuckle. “Kai, do you know what kind of information is most useful when catching a criminal?”

“

Hmm

. A witness?”

The branch manager shook his head. “Unfortunately, that’s incorrect. There are far fewer eyewitnesses to a crime scene than you would expect. And even then, many stay silent out of fear of retaliation.”

“Then what kind of information is useful?”

“Obviously, the scene itself.”

“

Oh!

” Kai let out an exclamation of realization.

He had sliced the royal palace’s training ground wall like tofu using Formless Sword. Even Bach had been impressed by the cut, so the Information Guild would have been more thorough.

“I can confidently say that among all existing swordsmen, you are the only one who could produce such a strike using a training sword.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

In truth, he hadn’t even used a sword at all, but Kai kept that to himself. A dagger only served its purpose when completely hidden, after all.

“We’ve had enough small talk. What brings you to our guild today?”

“I’d like to buy information.”

“Understood.”

Kai had already used the Information Guild several times before, so he was well aware of how information deals were handled.

“I would like to acquire data on the gods.”

The branch manager’s hand, which had been drafting a contract, froze. “That scope is too broad. If you don’t narrow it down to specific gods...”

“

Hm

. Then let’s prioritize Muldine and Helik.”

“That’s an interesting combination.” The branch manager murmured, and resumed writing.

“And ancient myths will do as well. Please gather information on the gods’ traits. It would be best if it included content related to sealing and divine ranks.”

“If we go back as far as ancient myths, the scope becomes very wide again.”

“That’s okay.”

The branch manager wore a troubled expression at Kai’s response. “Excuse me, sir, but to be direct, I mean that the price will become significantly higher.”

This was data on gods, and it wasn’t even a clearly defined request, but a demand for vast information. Naturally, the commission fee would rise to astronomical levels.

“Did you not understand what I said?” Kai asked with a slight tilt of his head. “I already said I don’t mind.”

“

Huh?

” The branch manager stared at the contract with a shocked expression. “

Um

... But if you request all of that, the total cost will be...”

He calculated in his head and then said, “It comes out to 32,000 gold.”

In Korean currency, that was 3.2 billion won. However, Kai simply smiled even after hearing the amount.

“

Oh

, that’s less than I expected.”

Thud.

Kai opened his inventory and dropped the gold that he prepared in advance. In an instant, four heavy gold pouches landed on the floor.

“Each pouch contains 10,000 gold. The lighter pouch on the far right has 2,000 gold.”

“J-just a moment while I verify...”

The branch manager checked the pouches with trembling hands. Even though he ran the capital branch of the Kingdom of Rashion, this was the first time he had handled such a vast amount of money.

“Verification is... complete.”

“Is there a problem?”

“N-no, no problem. I confirm receipt of the 32,000 gold request fee.”

This was the weight of money. A force that could instantly make even the most composed person tense up.

It’s even more so for someone whose job revolves around money.

He had maintained perfect composure while praising Kai as the greatest swordsman. Strictly speaking, the title of being the greatest swordsman on the continent was far more impressive than 32,000 gold. But no matter how much one talked about sword mastery or continental rankings to a merchant, it didn’t feel real. However, someone who could pay 32,000 gold on the spot—that alone instantly changed the branch manager’s attitude.

“Is there anything else you would like to add?”

The branch manager was much more polite and careful now. The attitude of knowing everything, which had been present at the beginning of their conversation, had completely disappeared.

“I’d like it done as quickly as possible.”

“

Hm,

we’ll aim to have it ready in about two weeks.”

“Can’t it be done sooner?”

“Even the two-week timeline is already stretched to the limit because you are the client, Kai. We have to go through every legend and myth on the continent and sort each piece of data. I wouldn’t be surprised if hundreds of guild members end up involved in this request.”

“Alright. I’ll take the two weeks, so don’t look so worried.”

The branch manager stood up and bowed at a ninety-degree angle. “Thank you for your consideration.”

“

Oh,

right. May I ask of one more thing?”

“You may ask for anything.”

“If you have any data on the Demon King’s horn, I’d like you to get that too.”

“The Demon King’s horn? Understood. Should I also include information on other demon horns?”

“That would be great.”

“I’ll only charge 200 gold for that.”

Kai paid the money right away and stood up. “Then I’ll be going now.”

“I’ll see you out.”

That day, the branch manager personally led dozens of guild members to escort Kai out of the building. They bowed at a ninety-degree angle until he disappeared from view.

***

“

Huh,

isn’t that Commander?”

As Kai strolled through the Solarian Church’s main temple for the first time in a while, a familiar face approached him.

“Long time no see, Teferen.”

Teferen, one of the Holy Blood Order knights, was just a boy when they first met, but now he began to look like a young man.

“What brings you to the main temple all of a sudden?”

“I came to look into something. How’s the Holy Blood Order these days?”

“Still busy as ever. Why are there so many bad guys in the world anyway?”

“People tend to prefer shortcuts over the hard and long road. Living without conscience is easier than living righteously.”

“

Tsk

. Feels like we’re fighting something that never disappears.”

“Even if the Holy Blood Order works for a lifetime, bad guys will never vanish completely.”

“

Ugh

, that’s horrifying,” Teferen shuddered and suddenly looked at Kai. “Right. There have been a lot of rumors about you lately, Commander.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“That your swordsmanship has reached the heavens and that you can now kill enemies dozens of kilometers away with just your will.”

“If I could do that, I would have founded my own church by now.”

“

Hahaha

, I knew it was an exaggeration.”

“Well, maybe within a few thousand meters if I can see them.”

At Kai’s muttering, Teferen opened his mouth in shock. “I-it’s actually possible?”

“I’ll tell you the results if I get a chance to test it later.”

“Please do.”

“Sure, and let me ask you something.”

“Just give me the command, sir.”

“I heard the main temple of the Solarian Church holds a scripture that records the history of the church since its founding. Do you know where I can find it?”

“That should be in the church library. Of course, not just anyone can access it... but you, Commander, surely have the qualifications.”

“

Oh

, don’t worry about that.”

There was no one in the Solarian Church ranked higher than Kai at the moment. As the Solaris Cleric, he held a rank even one step above the High Priest.

“Get back to work then.”

“Yes, Commander.”

After parting with Teferen, Kai headed for the church’s library. Run by an automated system, the library was structured like a royal treasury, with access divided by holy power and rank. Naturally, Kai was able to enter the deepest section without any restrictions.

“I’ll read this one...

oh,

and that one too.”

Kai slowly wandered through the library, using a gravity field to pull out books. Each time he took a step, dozens of books floated in the air and followed behind him.

“This should be enough.”

Kai took a seat in the empty library, stacked the carefully preserved documents, and began reading one by one. Only the sound of turning pages echoed through the library.

***

“

Hmmm

.”

Kai rubbed under his eyes, where dark circles had started to form.

It had already been ten days since he holed himself up in the church library. All he had learned so far was that Shimizu really liked tea, and that the average muscle mass of believers was 20% higher than in other eras during the time Cherantia served as an apostle—completely useless information.

“

Tsk,

I hope I find at least something today.”

Reading for extended periods required immense focus. Even for someone with Kai's high level of focus, going ten days without any results slowly wore down his body and mind.

So this is what I’m reading starting today.

Since he had finished reading most of the regular books by yesterday, Kai pulled out papyrus scrolls that looked like they had been made in ancient times.

“Doubt there’s anything useful in here but...”

The Information Guild would be contacting him in four days anyway. Until then, he intended to give it his all. If he still found nothing by then, he would have no choice but to rely on whatever the guild could uncover.

“

Oh?

” Kai unrolled one of the scrolls and let out a small exclamation.

The texture of the papyrus felt like hemp, and its condition was surprisingly well preserved.

“Let’s see, what’s the topic here...”

Kai, who had been reading without much thought, suddenly straightened his slouched posture.

The World’s Administrators and Holy Power. The author was unknown. At the phrase “world’s administrators,” Kai vividly recalled something.

Helik once said the celestial gods were beings created by the Supreme God to manage this world.

In fact, the church library held very few books about the gods. Most were about the church’s history, events, incidents, or the notable figures it had produced.

Kai quietly continued reading the lines.

[The source of all holy power in this world are the world’s administrators.]

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

[When the world’s administrators firmly established their convictions, those ideologies became divine power, a powerful formless energy.]

[The reason the administrators wished to have followers was simple. The more followers they had, the deeper their convictions would take root in the world.]

[Of course, it was not a one-sided benefit that the administrators gained from their followers. By sharing their convictions with beings of the lower realm, they allowed those beings to dream the same dream. In other words, they enabled their followers to use their power, which was holy power.]

[Holy power was a noble energy that existed solely on its own. Holy power was the very conviction of the administrator. It must never be corrupted under any circumstances...]

[Conversely, for a conviction to be corrupted would mean the divine... essence...]

“What the? Why is it cut off here?”

Kai stared at the papyrus with a puzzled look.

Perhaps because it was such an old record, there were parts where the characters between the lines had been damaged. Still, it was the first useful discovery he had made in ten days. And it wasn’t just some trivial information. It looked like something quite important.

So holy power is the very conviction a god pursues.

Kai suddenly stood up from his seat and paced around inside the library. Something in his chest kept tingling. It felt like a good idea was on the verge of surfacing but kept slipping away and tormenting him.

“This is driving me crazy.”

Kai scratched the back of his head. After staring at the spot where he had been sitting, he let out a short, strong breath.

“

Whew!

”

Then he slapped both his cheeks hard, collected himself, and sat back down.

There’s definitely something here.

His instincts, an animal-like intuition that had saved him from danger more than once, echoed in his mind. It was telling him to think more deeply about what was written on the papyrus. That this was no trivial information.

“Let’s do this.”

With a hardened expression like a warrior heading into battle, Kai read through the papyrus over and over again.