Chapter 159: The Inquisitor of the Sun God and the Mage from the Mage Tower (6)

Baker wore an expression of profound gloom. In this world, gods held a value far exceeding any other existence. If Ketal had truly earned the acknowledgment of a god, he possessed an authority and honor greater than that of a Transcendent mage. In fact, it wouldn't even be strange if Ketal were to look down on him now. "Hmph. Fine." Baker, a mage dedicated to uncovering the world's truths, decided to acknowledge Ketal, just a little. But that was the extent of it. He still thought he was superior to a mere barbarian. They continued their journey. Calculating the remaining distance, Aquaz spoke up. "We still have quite a long way to go. We might need to pick up the pace." They were deep inland, and their destination was a coastal city, necessitating a significant journey. At their current speed, it would likely take several months. Hearing Aquaz, Baker’s eyes lit up. "Oh? Is that so? Then perhaps we should get a little serious? Hmm. How about this?" he suggested, acting as if the idea had just struck him. "We keep moving until one person runs out of stamina. When someone gets tired, we rest there. What do you think?" "Hmm, that doesn't sound like a bad idea," Aquaz considered. "Ketal, what are your thoughts?" "Sounds like a plan," Ketal agreed readily. With Ketal's assent, Aquaz nodded. "Alright. Since we have far to go, let's proceed that way." The decision was made, and Baker secretly clenched his fist, his plan falling into place perfectly. ‘Yes!’ .bg-container-63276437b6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } He was a mage. Accustomed to being cooped up in the Mage Tower for research, his physical stamina was naturally poor. Furthermore, the Startail School specialized in fields of magic that didn't particularly involve strengthening or supporting the physical body. Nevertheless, he was still a Transcendent mage. Even by crudely reinforcing his body with mana, he believed he could cover vastly more distance than a barbarian who couldn't even handle Myst. Baker’s plan was simple: he would force Aquaz to witness Ketal collapsing pathetically from exhaustion, hoping it would diminish her budding positive feelings for the barbarian. "Alright then, let's go!" Baker declared, stepping forward energetically. This time, I’ll show you who’s superior, Baker resolved. And so, they pressed onward toward their destination. They didn't stop. For hours upon hours, they moved at a speed unimaginable to ordinary people, covering an immense distance. This pace was only possible because all three were highly skilled individuals. And the first person to show signs of fatigue was none other than Baker himself. "Huff, huff..." Baker struggled to control his ragged breathing. He stared at Ketal through strained eyes, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Why... why isn’t he tired? They had run for half a day without a single break. It was a distance that would have left even Advanced individuals utterly exhausted and left behind long ago. Yet, Ketal seemed perfectly fine. Instead, it was Baker who was faltering. His mana, once like an endless spring, was nearing empty. Sweat poured down his face, and his breathing grew harsh and labored. He desperately tried to push through, but his frail body reached its limit almost instantly. "Haah..." Baker grabbed onto a nearby tree, bending over to catch his breath. Ketal halted their advance. "Looks like you're tired." Ketal observed plainly. "We should rest here." Baker wanted to deny it, but he couldn't even form the words properly. Aquaz nodded in agreement. "It's getting late anyway, so let's make camp here for the night." "Good idea," Ketal said agreeably. "I'll prepare the sleeping arrangements." He casually pulled out sleeping bags. Baker stared, dumbfounded by Ketal’s relaxed demeanor. How can a barbarian who doesn’t even wield Myst be completely fine?! Baker thought. Ketal wasn't just relaxed; he wasn't even sweating. His breathing was perfectly steady. Aquaz, too, was looking at Ketal with an astonished expression. "Ketal, you seem completely unaffected. That's incredible." "This body is about all I have," Ketal replied simply. "But you seem alright too, Aquaz." "Holy power is a special kind of energy," she explained. Compared to mana or Aura, holy power recovered much faster and was consumed far more efficiently. Significant expenditure typically only occurred when using powerful abilities like the holy scriptures. "Oh, is that how it works?" Ketal mused. It made sense that power received from another source, like a deity, would have a high baseline efficiency. That fight must have been quite intense then, Ketal thought, recalling how Shadranes and Lubitra had been so utterly drained they couldn't even draw out their holy power after their battle. It was a stark reminder of just how fierce the confrontation with the demon had been. Baker collapsed onto the ground, focusing on slowly recovering his depleted mana. Aquaz approached him, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright? You should drink plenty of water." "Th-thanks..." Baker felt a mix of pleasure at her attention and shame at the pity he perceived in her gaze. "You seem pretty worn out," Ketal noted. "Alright, I'll handle dinner tonight. You two just rest." "Who would want to eat barbarian cooking...," Baker muttered weakly under his breath. Aquaz heard him but said nothing. Barbarian cuisine wasn't exactly considered cooking. They often didn't bother with seasoning or even properly cleaning the meat, sometimes just throwing it onto a fire without even draining the blood. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that eating an animal found dead after a forest fire wouldn't taste much different. Naturally, one would feel hesitant about barbarian food. However, Ketal confidently rolled up his sleeves. "I'm quite confident in my cooking, so just watch." Ketal retrieved ingredients and cooking utensils from his artifact pouch. To Aquaz's and Baker's surprise, he began preparing the ingredients with practiced, skillful hands. They were first astonished by the seemingly endless supply of food emerging from the small pouch, and then by Ketal's considerable culinary talent. He cleaned the ingredients neatly, seasoned them carefully, and periodically tasted his work. His movements were clearly those of someone very familiar with cooking. "Y-you're actually quite good at this," Aquaz stammered, surprised. "I told you, didn't I?" Ketal replied with a grin. "I'm confident when it comes to cooking." Before long, a pot of white stew was bubbling merrily over the fire. "Here, have some." Ketal offered a bowl to Aquaz first. "Um... thank you." Aquaz accepted the stew and cautiously took a spoonful. She chewed for a moment, her eyes widening slightly. "This is... delicious." "Not bad, right?" Ketal smiled, then filled another bowl and brought it over to Baker. "You have some too. I kept the seasoning light, so it should be fine on an empty stomach." Who would eat barbarian cooking? Baker thought. He wanted to decline Ketal’s offer, but the words wouldn't come out. The delicious aroma wafted directly under his nose. The creamy white stew looked incredibly appetizing. As if mesmerized, he reached out and took the bowl. That night, Baker devoured three entire bowls of stew. *** The next day, Baker woke up with a sullen expression. It was mortifying for him that he ate a dish made by a barbarian, and actually found it delicious. The deepest shame came from the fact that he, a mage, had lost all semblance of dignity and devoured three whole bowls of it. Baker was a mage, someone capable of observing and judging matters objectively. He decided, once again, to raise his estimation of Ketal slightly higher. But it doesn’t matter, he immediately told himself. He still considered himself superior to Ketal. This barbarian might have divine recognition, impressive stamina, and surprisingly decent cooking skills, but that was it. While those were significant advantages, Baker refused to yield an inch. Ketal was still just an ignorant barbarian, completely lacking in true knowledge. As they continued their journey, Baker turned to Aquaz, eager to demonstrate his intellectual prowess. "Aquaz, shall I continue our discussion about the stars from before?" "Ah, yes, please. I would appreciate that," Aquaz replied politely. "Where did we leave off?" "You had explained that this land revolves around the sun." "Correct," Baker nodded. "As I said, this land orbits the sun. And it’s not alone. Countless stars revolve around the sun. We’ve confirmed over ten such stars so far." "Is that so?" Aquaz listened intently. Baker belonged to the Startail School, mages who specialized in observing the heavens. His knowledge of the stars and the sun was naturally extensive, and for Aquaz, a devout follower of the Sun God, his insights were incredibly captivating. Baker deliberately raised his voice, ensuring Ketal could hear clearly. "And how do you think that's possible?" "Is it not the divine power of the Sun God?" Aquaz suggested. "And what kind of divine power might that be?" Baker pressed. "That... I do not know. What is it?" "It's simple," Baker explained confidently. "The sun possesses an immense pulling force. That powerful force captures dozens of stars, preventing them from escaping its grasp." "Astounding...," Aquaz murmured in awe. Believing all this to be the work of the great Sun God filled her with pride as a follower. After pondering for a moment, a question arose, and she asked in a curious tone, "Then I have one question. You mentioned the sun's pulling force maintains the distance between the stars." "Yes, exactly. You understand correctly," Baker confirmed, pleased. "But that raises a question," Aquaz continued. "Why don't we get closer to the sun? If, as you say, it is pulling us, shouldn't we eventually draw nearer to it?" "Uh...," Baker froze. He had learned this part, but it was during his younger years, and the specific details escaped him for a moment. As he scrambled to recall the explanation, Ketal spoke up. "It’s revolution," Ketal stated simply. "Excuse me?" Aquaz asked Ketal. "What are you pretending to know now, barbarian?" Baker scoffed immediately. "Hm? Isn't it about revolution?" Ketal elaborated slightly. "The force exerted between each star, I mean." "Ha," Baker laughed scornfully. The knowledge he possessed came from the great Startail School; there was no way an outsider, especially a barbarian, could possibly understand it. Baker assumed Ketal was just showing off, repeating something he'd vaguely overheard somewhere. "Alright then, tell us. What is revolution?" Baker asked Ketal. "It's the ratio of force exerted between masses," Ketal began. "Let me explain simply. Aquaz, if you and I held hands and started spinning, using only our pure physical strength, who would we revolve around?" "Um... around you, Ketal, I suppose," Aquaz reasoned. Ketal's strength far surpassed hers. If they spun while pulling against each other, she would naturally be the one swinging around him. "Exactly," Ketal nodded. "Great mass possesses its own pulling force. The sun is the largest and most powerful star around. Therefore, the surrounding stars revolve in accordance with it." "Then, the reason this star isn't pulled into the sun is..." Aquaz prompted. "It’s because this star also exerts its own pulling force," Ketal explained. "If I grab you and pull, but you resist, we maintain a certain distance, don't we? We just end up spinning. It's the same principle." "Aha! I understand now," Aquaz exclaimed, clearly impressed. It was a plausible explanation. She turned to Baker. "Is what Ketal says correct?" Baker didn't answer immediately, his face stiff. Aquaz looked at him questioningly. "Baker?" "Uh, yeah... He’s probably right," Baker mumbled reluctantly. He dredged up his own memories of his studies and realized, with dawning horror, that Ketal's explanation was indeed correct. "Hmm, so it seems I was right," Ketal murmured, sounding slightly surprised himself. He hadn't been entirely sure. The laws he knew were those of Earth; he couldn't be certain they applied identically in this world. But based on the conversation, the principles appeared similar. The Sun God, huh? Ketal thought about the great deity of the sun. He wondered how the god was related to the actual sun. Ketal felt a growing fascination with the gods of this world. However, Baker couldn't hide his shock. How... how could he possibly know that? The information Ketal had just casually explained was something that required extensive education even within the Startail School, the foremost experts on celestial bodies. For an outsider, a barbarian no less, to possess such accurate knowledge was utterly unbelievable. It’s... it’s fine. Baker desperately tried to reassure himself. Even if this barbarian somehow possesses knowledge, it doesn’t matter. The fact remains that I am superior. The foolish young man, lost in love, clung fiercely to his self-perceived status. I am... still superior, right? But somewhere deep inside, the unwavering confidence he’d felt initially had vanished.