Heinrich (1)
"You may pass."
"Thank you. Keep up the good work!"
Heinrich greeted the outer capital guard and stepped inside.
Thanks to Heinz having prepared everything he needed in advance, he was able to enter without a hitch.
‘Honestly, I do have my doubts about whether it’s really okay to enter here at all…’
To the point of casually running into a True Blood vampire near the capital, so its credibility inevitably dropped.
‘But the Church of the Supreme God only has one temple in the Talia Kingdom. Though shrines and chapels are everywhere…’
If he aspired to be a priest or a Crusader, finding a suitable shrine would have been fine, but to become a Holy Knight—a special class—he needed to come to the temple.
Going to a temple in another country would take too much time.
Because he couldn’t be certain the method he had in mind would work unconditionally.
‘First, I’ll try it quickly, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll have to find another way.’
Just then, the [Avatar]’s death cooldown had ended and he could create a new body, so he could leave matters on Earth to that side.
An environment where Heinrich could devote himself to this side had been created.
I asked for directions and made my way to the Church of the Supreme God’s temple.
A massive temple located on the outskirts of the capital.
The place where Holy Knight Heinrich’s grand first step would begin!
***
‘There was a time I thought that…’
Joining the Church of the Supreme God wasn’t difficult.
He went to the temple and donated a massive offering—claiming it was his entire fortune—and declared his ambition to become a Holy Knight.
And so, one month.
I became a trainee and was receiving Crusader education at the training facilities outside the temple.
"Yo~ Heinrich! Training’s over for today, how about a drink?"
"Ah, Max. Sorry, but I can’t for the time being. The exam isn’t far off."
"You’re always working hard. Well, you did say you aspired to be a Holy Knight, didn’t you? Give it your best. If you make it, don’t forget me."
Soon Max laughed heartily, waved his hand, and disappeared.
I watched his retreating figure, sighed, and moved my steps toward the temple library.
Along with combat training, there was studying to do—there was far more than one or two things he needed to learn.
‘Well, becoming a knight isn’t that easy.’
Knights were quasi-nobility to begin with.
Holy Knights weren’t all that different.
On top of that, I hadn’t been a believer from the start, so it was even harder.
In order for me to become a Holy Knight, I first had to master the basics and formally become a Crusader, after which I would have to be recommended and selected as a knight candidate, but…
I knew nothing of the Church of the Supreme God’s rites and doctrines, not to mention its history and hymns; I was completely ignorant of them all, so this unexpected studying was enough to give me a headache.
The standards for becoming a Crusader weren’t that high, but I had to think about what came after.
‘Still, putting doctrines aside, just being able to learn combat techniques professionally was profit enough. Once I learn them, they’ll help me again and again later.’
It wasn’t as if he could always rely on another Avatar whenever something happened, like before.
Basic combat ability was absolutely necessary to prepare for situations where circumstances didn’t permit it.
As it happened, Heinrich was also in an advantageous position when it came to learning combat techniques, thanks to [Martial Bone].
‘…But before that, should I study doctrines for now…’
***
One day, while devoted to training and studying, he suddenly felt the temple grow noisy.
"What’s going on all of a sudden?"
After finishing self-training and heading to the temple entrance, Max was wedged among a crowd of people murmuring and gathered there.
"Max, it’s unusually noisy today. Why is everyone like this all of a sudden? Do you know anything?"
"Oh, Heinrich! Perfect timing! The Archbishop and the Paladin have arrived!"
Looking in the direction he pointed, a group of people could be seen entering the temple interior.
But among the leaders of that group was someone with a familiar face.
Though they probably didn’t know me.
‘…Who is that?’
A middle-aged knight wearing pure white armor engraved with the Church of the Supreme God’s emblem.
He was the one who had led the Holy Knights in cornering Hans.
Come to think of it, some of the Holy Knights following behind him also looked familiar.
"It’s Archbishop Latius and Lord Paladin Tuskin from the Central Order! They led our temple’s Holy Knight Order and Crusader Army to carry out some mission and are returning, it seems."
‘…I think I know what that mission was.’
It must have been to capture Hans.
But it had been over two months since he clashed with the Church, so the fact that they were only returning now…
‘Don’t tell me they’ve been chasing Hans this entire time?’
Since that day, I had summoned Hans in Auterica only for very brief moments.
To move the subspace treasures to Earth.
Once the summoning was dispelled, there should have been no way to track him no matter what method they used, so their persistence was terrifying.
"The senior Crusaders who went with them are back too; shall we go greet them?"
Hoping to gain some information on those words, I followed Max out, but we couldn’t meet them.
They needed rest after their long journey, and perhaps for security reasons, meetings were not permitted.
But his regret was short-lived…
The next day, a senior Crusader gathered the trainees and declared.
"Soon, among the trainees, those who pass the standards will undergo the Baptism Ceremony."
Murmur, murmur—
"Quiet, quiet! I know it is early, but this is a decision from above. Not only you, but monks will also be selected as apprentice priests, so continue to devote yourselves in the remaining time."
As the senior Crusader who called dismissal disappeared, the trainees began murmuring and talking among themselves again.
"Weren’t there still a few months left until the baptism period? We’d love to become formal Crusaders quickly, but so suddenly?"
"Shortening the original schedule this much must be burdensome. Is there a reason?"
"…Like suddenly needing to increase their forces…?"
Right, the schedule wouldn’t have changed suddenly without any reason.
It was probably related to the punitive force that returned yesterday.
‘Anyway, this is an opportunity to save time for me.’
This Talia temple selected new Crusaders through the Baptism Ceremony once every half year.
So originally there should have been two more months, but the situation had changed abruptly.
‘Through the Baptism Ceremony, all the mana in the body is converted into holy power… That is the first step as a Crusader.’
If he proceeded as he had been doing until now, becoming a Crusader wouldn’t be very difficult.
And so he continued training as he had been doing.
His efforts until now weren’t in vain, and he proudly secured a place at the Baptism Ceremony.
***
"It must have been an unreasonable request, so thank you for accepting so readily, Bishop Cromville."
"Not at all, Archbishop Latius. Is this not all necessary for our Church? And it is a good thing for our Talia diocese as well."
Just before the Baptism Ceremony began.
Archbishop Latius, leading the Undead King Suppression Force, was conversing with Bishop Cromville, the person in charge of the diocese encompassing the entire Talia Kingdom.
"The vampires’ influence was rooted more deeply in the kingdom than I thought. Because of that, the suppression force suffered greatly during the search process."
"…I am deeply ashamed. As the one responsible for the Talia diocese, I should have prepared in advance…"
"No, how could that be solely Bishop Cromville’s fault? It is the Central Order’s responsibility for failing to pay attention beforehand. I shall do my best to increase support for the diocese going forward."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Excellency."
The Church of the Supreme God’s influence had never been great in Talia, a small frontier kingdom.
The kingdom had reluctantly permitted only a single temple in the capital.
The number of clergy deployed across the country barely exceeded the minimum standard.
"To fill the power vacuum created this time, keep the vampires in check, and continue tracking the Undead King’s descendant, strengthening the Church’s forces is absolutely essential. I have finished speaking with the Talia Kingdom as well, so things will be easier going forward."
There had been some political pressure in that process, but it was unavoidable.
There had been fierce backlash, perhaps because the vampires’ reach extended to the political sphere, but they could not go against the Church of the Supreme God’s will, which stood on the grounds of a great cause.
"Now, we should begin the Baptism Ceremony. As planned, I shall lend a hand as well."
"…There is no need for Your Excellency to step in personally. With the suppression force priests’ help, there should be no great problem in conducting the ceremony."
The reason the Baptism Ceremony was held periodically at set intervals.
It required clergy of High Priest rank or higher to proceed smoothly, and it was a heavy burden even for them.
If performed indiscriminately, the high-ranking clergy would all collapse from exhaustion, leaving no one standing.
"It is shameful, but it has been over two months since we failed to track the Undead King’s descendant. I haven’t had a proper chance to exert myself during that time, so I would like to be of some help, even if small, in this way."
"…If you insist, we shall be honored. It will be of great help to the ceremony."
Talking as they walked, they soon arrived at the massive chapel.
It was bustling with those about to receive baptism and priests preparing for the ceremony.
"Ah! Archbishop Latius, Bishop Cromville. You have come. All preparations for the ceremony are complete. We may begin at any time."
One of the High Priests in charge spotted them and approached.
Latius nodded and ascended the chapel’s pulpit.
There, receiving the gazes of hundreds of people, he put his hands together and offered a prayer to God.
"O Supreme God. The children who seek to emulate You have gathered here to follow that will. ……Bestow upon them Your warm touch and grace, and I pray that Your blessing may be with Your children. [Sanctuary of Blessing]"
As the roughly one-minute prayer ended, silver radiance erupted from his entire body along with massive holy power, dyeing the entire chapel.
The softly glowing interior evoked a sacred atmosphere, as if blessing everyone within.
While everyone was marveling, Bishop Cromville, who had been standing beside the praying Archbishop, stepped forward.
"We shall now begin the Baptism Ceremony. Come forth in turn and proceed with the ceremony."
Though spoken softly, his voice spread throughout the space and awakened everyone’s minds, and soon the full-fledged ceremony began.
More than ten High Priests lined up before the pulpit.
Guided by priests assisting the ceremony, people came out one by one and knelt before them.
"What is your name?"
"I am Theron."
"O Supreme God. One who wishes to become the light of the world in Your embrace is here. ……Therefore, I ask that he be permitted to become a guide for the lost, following Your will. Theron, do you swear to devote yourself to the Supreme God?"
"I swear."
"Then pray to God. He shall answer your faith."
The High Priests placed their hands on the heads of those kneeling and praying before them, proceeding with the Baptism Ceremony.
The holy power pouring incessantly through those hands dyed the interior of the praying person’s body.
And the Archbishop’s [Sanctuary of Blessing] assisted the process, reducing the burden on those conducting the baptism.
The Baptism Ceremony proceeding simultaneously with more than ten people at a time.
As time passed, those who received baptism began to emit faint holy power one by one.
The process of offering all one’s mana to God and becoming a body that could no longer handle magical power, in exchange creating a channel to receive God’s power.
Those who finished the ceremony staggered, unable to adapt to the sudden change, then were assisted by priests supporting the ceremony and moved aside.
After a brief adaptation period, they would become excellent members of the Church.
Bishop Cromville looked around the chapel where the ceremony was in full swing.
The holy power emanating from those freshly baptized was all more or less the same.
Barely at the level to be called apprentice priests.
There were occasional cases of possessing priest-level or higher holy power immediately after baptism, but such cases were extremely rare.
‘They will continue to grow through prayer and mental discipline. As their faith in the Supreme God and mental strength grow, their holy power will become stronger.’
Watching the ceremony, he looked at Archbishop Latius, who was unfolding the holy technique atop the pulpit, with eyes full of awe, and offered a prayer to God.
As he was responsible for the diocese, he couldn’t assist in the sudden ceremony, but seeing the Archbishop, it seemed his worries had been unnecessary from the start.
…At that moment, as the ceremony continued.
"Hmm?"
Sensing holy power suddenly, Bishop Cromville turned his gaze to look in one direction.
Archbishop Latius, who had been maintaining the holy technique with eyes closed atop the pulpit, had also opened his eyes at some point and was looking there.
Flare—
The one who had just received baptism and was emitting holy power.
His appearance was no different from those before him, but one thing was clearly different.
"Huh, he has undoubtedly just received baptism… Yet such holy power. He would be at the level of a chief priest."
An intermediate level between an ordinary priest and a High Priest conducting the ceremony.
It was the holy power that Heinrich, who had just been baptized, now possessed.
────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────────────────