Chapter 134: Kalosia’s Holy Land (4)

“It was terrifying... I felt like I was standing in front of a wild beast.” Shadranes trembled uncontrollably, all traces of her composed and serene demeanor completely vanished. Instead, she clung desperately to Hayes, who was clearly used to this by now. “Yes, I know.” Hayes soothed her gently. “You don’t understand! I was so scared that tears almost came out!” Shadranes continued pitifully. “You really had it tough,” Hayes said sympathetically, gently patting her friend’s back. Yet, she couldn’t help but smile with amusement as she observed Shadranes’s genuine state. “I wonder what people would say if they saw the real you like this,” Hayes teased softly. The esteemed Saintess of Kalosia, Shadranes famed for her disciplined demeanor and profound spiritual maturity, was revered as a saint with deep enlightenment—such were the glowing praises constantly showered upon her. Yet Hayes, who had known her closely since childhood, understood the truth. It was all just an exhausting, elaborate façade. In reality, Shadranes was no different from any ordinary countryside girl, thrust into a role too big for her own liking. “D-do you think I'm acting like this because I want to?” Shadranes pouted miserably. “It’s all because Kalosia chose me, so now I’m forced to act the way everyone expects me to. It’s exhausting!” She complained, sulking dramatically. Hayes laughed softly. “But isn’t being chosen by Kalosia an incredible honor? You were thrilled when it first happened.” “Well, yes... I was happy at first,” Shadranes admitted reluctantly. “But I had no idea it would be this hard. Still, I’m doing my absolute best to show everyone the perfect Saintess they expect. It’s exhausting, but I will continue doing it.” “That’s certainly true,” Hayes agreed with a knowing nod. It had been years since Shadranes had become the Saintess, yet none of the followers had caught even a glimpse of her true personality. Her performance, her deception—it was flawless. “Why did Kalosia choose someone like me when there must have been so many more suitable candidates?” Shadranes muttered, finally calming down a little. She let out a sigh, and once her breathing steadied, Hayes posed a question she’d been waiting to ask. “Anyway, what do you think about him?” “You mean the barbarian?” “Yes,” Hayes affirmed. Shadranes was the Saintess—a unique figure who could directly communicate with the divine, receiving revelations and delivering them to humanity. “Did Kalosia say anything about the barbarian?” Hayes asked her. If Kalosia had given her a revelation regarding a helper of Ketal’s obvious power, it wouldn’t have been surprising. Yet, Shadranes shook her head. “No, honestly, that’s why I was so shocked myself.” Despite maintaining a flawless composure, Shadranes had indeed been deeply startled when she first saw Ketal. Kalosia had never mentioned anything about such a person—not even a hint. “Really?” Hayes murmured softly. “Well, it must be Kalosia’s will,” Shadranes said, uncertainly. “I’m sure there must be some deeper purpose behind his appearance. Still, even a slight heads-up from Kalosia would’ve been nice...” Shadranes shivered again. The moment she’d first laid eyes on Ketal, her carefully maintained mask had nearly cracked—something that had never happened since becoming the Saintess. “You were traveling with him, right? Shouldn’t you know more about him? What kind of person is he, exactly?” Shadranes asked Hayes. “Honestly... even I don’t really know,” Hayes admitted, genuinely puzzled. To Hayes, Ketal was an enigma. His values were unusual, and his way of thinking was distinctly alien, yet she felt confident in one aspect. “But he’s definitely not a bad person,” Hayes continued. Despite his strange behavior and unfamiliar logic, his actions leaned closer toward kindness rather than malice. At least from everything she had observed, Ketal was closer to being a good man. “He will help us, I’m sure... probably,” Hayes muttered. *** As Shadranes and Hayes quietly discussed Ketal’s arrival, a different conversation was happening outside between Ketal and Rakuza. Rakuza slowly began to explain the ongoing situation. “We do not know exactly when it began, but a group of dark mages known as the Cradle of Darkness secretly prepared a ritual without us noticing.” The moment that ritual was completed, the plains surrounding Kalosia’s holy land became entirely engulfed by darkness, contaminated with evil energy. Overnight, the holy land was surrounded by the dark mages. Ketal raised an eyebrow curiously. “Didn’t your god offer any warnings or prophecies?” From what Ketal had learned, deities usually provided immediate guidance in situations involving evil entities. However, judging from the current state of affairs, it seemed Kalosia hadn’t offered any particular warnings. Rakuza shook his head slowly. “No. Perhaps this ordeal itself is a test bestowed upon us by Kalosia.” “I see.” Ketal stroked his chin thoughtfully. Practically speaking, it was more likely that even Kalosia had failed to notice in advance. It wasn’t unheard of—a long time ago, divine prophecies faltered around significant events involving the Demon King. However, Rakuza was a loyal follower; pointing out his god’s shortcomings wasn’t something he would openly accept. Ketal understood this and decided against pressing further. “Currently, the dark mages and their monsters have completely surrounded us.” Rakuza gestured toward the dark plains beyond the sanctuary’s perimeter. “Our holy land is effectively under siege.” “So, what’s the next step?” Ketal asked him directly. “Should I just smash through them? From what I’ve seen, it looks quite dangerous.” “No, there’s no need for that,” Rakuza quickly replied, startled by Ketal’s blunt approach. “Please follow me; I will show you.” Rakuza guided Ketal to the edge of the sacred city. “Graaah!” Monsters surged aggressively from the corrupted plains, charging straight toward the sanctuary. Among them were creatures Ketal had faced earlier. One of the monsters reached the edge and swung a massive club furiously. At that instant, a dazzling burst of light erupted. Cling! “Grrruuuh.” The approaching monsters were violently repelled, sent sprawling back by an unseen force. Ketal’s eyes widened in genuine interest. The creatures rallied again, throwing themselves forward repeatedly, but each time the shimmering wall of light effortlessly pushed them away. “This place is Kalosia’s holy land,” Rakuza explained calmly. “Entities tainted by evil cannot easily breach its barrier.” Ketal studied the translucent, glowing barrier that encompassed the sanctuary, visibly impressed. “It’s magnificent.” Rakuza gently waved his hand, summoning blades of pure light that flew outward, effortlessly slicing apart several monsters battering against the barrier. “We don’t have to react to every minor attack, as they cannot penetrate the sanctuary’s protection,” Rakuza continued. “The enemies understand this as well.” That was why the dark mages were patiently gathering strength, waiting until they felt confident enough to mount a full-scale assault capable of breaking through. “We only need to respond decisively at those critical moments,” Rakuza explained. “In fact, the battle earlier, when you arrived to help, was exactly that situation.” “I understand the basic situation,” Ketal acknowledged. “But is purely defensive action enough? Just holding out doesn’t seem like it will resolve things.” “The enemy’s ritual has its limits,” Rakuza clarified. They couldn’t sustain the corrupted plains indefinitely. At most, they could maintain this state for only a few months. “Outside reinforcements will eventually arrive. Until then, their goal is to weaken us gradually or breach our defenses before the ritual ends. Our mission is simply to endure.” “It’s essentially a test of endurance, then,” Ketal noted, understanding clearly. “A sort of stalemate.” Rakuza nodded. “Then what’s their combat strength like?” Ketal asked him, assessing the threat. “They have two Transcendent dark mages, numerous Advanced and Intermediate mages, and an uncountable number of summoned monsters,” Rakuza said. Ketal whistled softly, impressed by the sheer scale. Such a force was powerful enough to easily annihilate a small country. “Quite the impressive gathering. No demons involved, though?” Ketal asked him. “What? Of course not!” Rakuza shook his head, clearly alarmed by Ketal’s casual mention. Demonic appearances were exceedingly rare events. Even a single demon’s descent was enough to shake entire continents and earn a prominent spot in historical records. “Really?” Ketal tilted his head skeptically. I’ve already seen demons three times. He found it odd that such events were considered rare. “Then, what about our side?” Ketal continued. “What’s the fighting strength of the holy land?” Rakuza hesitated briefly before answering honestly. “We have only one Transcendent holy knight, myself. There’s also the Saintess, around ten Advanced priests, and many Intermediate priests.” “The difference in strength is enormous,” Ketal observed calmly. It was clear that without the sanctuary’s protection, they would have been overwhelmed long ago. “You must have faced great difficulties until now,” Ketal said. Rather than denying it, Rakuza only offered a bitter smile. “There were two Transcendent dark mages, both remarkably strong.” Especially after thoroughly preparing their rituals, they were extremely dangerous. Even though holy energy naturally countered dark magic, the difference wasn’t enough to give Rakuza an easy victory. That was why they had struggled up until now. However, now a clear change had arrived. “But from this point onward... things will likely be different,” Rakuza said quietly, looking respectfully at Ketal. Ketal had easily overpowered a Transcendent dark mage with pure physical strength alone. His overwhelming abilities gave Rakuza newfound hope, making him gulp nervously at the thought. “At any rate, there’s nothing you urgently need to do right now,” Rakuza concluded politely. “You’re free to move about as you please.” “Then I suppose I can take my time sightseeing for a while,” Ketal said cheerfully. “As you wish,” Rakuza replied, bowing deeply once again. “Allow me to thank you again for your timely assistance. Thanks to you, we’ve successfully weathered this crisis.” “No need to keep thanking me,” Ketal said with an easy smile. After parting ways with Rakuza, Ketal was left alone at last. “Now then, what should I do?” he murmured. With light, relaxed steps, he began leisurely exploring the holy land. *** This was a sanctuary belonging to an actual, existing god—a place Ketal had never visited before. Naturally, everything around him piqued his curiosity. There was much to see, explore, and understand. In fact, it felt almost like being on a leisurely tour; even during his earlier conversation with Rakuza, Ketal’s eyes had continuously wandered, captivated by the surrounding sights. With the relaxed attitude of a traveler exploring an unfamiliar city, Ketal began wandering the holy land. The overall layout isn’t that different from the capital of the Denian Kingdom, he thought idly. Numerous houses and shops were arranged neatly around a massive church at the center, a familiar cityscape he’d encountered before. However, one clear difference stood out: statues of the deity Kalosia were everywhere, appearing at regular intervals—practically one per city block. Ketal paused in front of one of the statues, silently observing it. So, this must be what Kalosia looks like. The statue depicted a figure dressed in a robe, face hidden entirely beneath a deep hood. In a world where gods truly existed, this statue was likely an accurate portrayal of Kalosia’s actual form. Yet, due to the concealing hood, it was impossible to discern the god’s true identity—male or female, youthful or elderly—none could be known. Only the eyes beneath the hood were visible, gazing forward with remarkable clarity. For a moment, those stone eyes seemed to meet his—and in that silent exchange, Ketal felt something watching back. Ketal continued his casual exploration, but it soon became apparent that he wasn’t alone. At a careful distance, a group of Kalosia’s followers discreetly trailed behind him, whispering among themselves. “So... he’s really the one who came here voluntarily to help us?” “A barbarian? Seriously?” “That’s what Lady Hayes said...” The followers’ intense curiosity was understandable. Their holy land had been surrounded by evil and placed under siege. Worse yet, because of past deeds and religious controversies, they’d essentially been abandoned—no outsiders had stepped forward to aid them until now. Yet this stranger, a barbarian no less, had willingly come here to help them. Naturally, their curiosity about Ketal was immense. Under normal circumstances, they’d have approached him immediately with a flood of questions. But strangely enough, none dared to get close. Instead, they maintained a respectful—though anxious—distance. “He’s terrifying...” “Do you think it’s even safe to talk to him?” After all, it was common knowledge across the continent that barbarians openly rejected the gods and often despised religious followers. They had grown up hearing countless rumors—stories of barbarians who attacked religious followers without hesitation or reason. Thus, confusion reigned. People wondered why someone like Ketal would willingly help them. They didn’t know how they should interact with such a man. Their uncertainty created an invisible barrier around Ketal, forming a circle of people who watched but refused to approach. What’s with this? Ketal thought curiously. As they were clearly wary and reluctant to come closer, he himself found it awkward to approach first, maintaining his own neutral distance. A peculiar stalemate settled over the scene, neither side willing to take the first step. Just as this strange confrontation seemed like it would persist indefinitely, something finally broke the tension.