12.
Living diligently truly is a lot of hard work.
Lancel knew that no matter how many times he had regressed, he would never be able to live as diligently as he did during his third life.
It is said that there is a finite amount of effort one can expend, and Lancel suspected that he had used it all up during his days living as the “Knight of Dawn.”
No matter how hard he tried, unless something truly extraordinary happened, he doubted that he could ever reach that level of strength again.
In the end, all that had grown were his cunning and resourcefulness.
How could he achieve maximum skill with minimal effort? How could he produce the greatest effect with the least amount of magical powers?
Lancel had become the most efficient magic user on the continent.
“Holy… Holy Maiden… grant your blessing…”
“Why are you so lacking in confidence?” Lancel pressed Marigold, who was stammering for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
“…I don’t really understand what kind of blessing makes people stronger…”
She looked utterly dejected.
“Believe in yourself. Trust me, you have real talent.”
Truthfully, Lancel hadn’t expected Marigold to suddenly awaken white magic and manifest divine power. He simply wanted to create that impression.
In that sense, her blindness was, though it felt wrong to say, somewhat fortunate.
After all, she needed to deceive herself first.
“In the name of the Holy Maiden.”
As Marigold earnestly recited the prayer, murmurs of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
“D-did something actually happen?”
“Light! It’s glowing!”
These were the reactions of Baron Ibil Shen and Hesti, their sincerity unmistakable. No one had instructed them to feign excitement beforehand.
Indeed, a faint light emanated from Lancel Dante’s sword.
This very light was the secret behind his title as the Knight of Dawn in his third regression. Though only a fraction of its former brilliance shone, it was undeniably light. The blade illuminated the darkness with a perfectly divine glow.
“Huh? Huh?”
Marigold, bewildered by what she had caused, glanced around in confusion.
“You did it, Mary. Thanks to you, my strength is surging. Look at this… Ah, right, you can’t see it.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie. After all, isn’t it true that receiving encouragement from someone can give you a little extra strength?
It was much like how the smell of ammonia at the gym can help with lifting heavier weights. That’s it. That’s exactly it.
“D-did I… did I really do it? Do I truly possess this… this thing called divine power?”
Marigold seemed genuinely overwhelmed with emotion.
She felt a wave of relief and happiness, thinking, ‘Finally, I’ve accomplished something!’
“I told you you had talent.”
From that day onward, Marigold became fixated on something. Whenever she had the chance, she would recite prayers for Lancel and the people at the mansion.
“I’ll share my power with you all! Just trust in me!”
Naturally, no one experienced the visible effects that Lancel did. Yet, for some reason, the mansion’s servants and Baron Ibil Shen began to say things like,
“It’s truly miraculous. I really feel strength coursing through my body. I should visit the Holy Maiden Church when I have time. Honestly, I used to think it was better to earn an extra copper coin than waste time believing in the gods, but now…”
“My shoulder pain seems to have eased a bit too. Perhaps Mary is a more extraordinary girl than we thought, Young Master Lancel.”
Those at the mansion spoke as if divine power was truly working within them.
However, Lancel simply brushed it off, figuring it was likely a placebo effect.
“Mary, are you ready?”
“Yes, Disciple Lancel!”
And so, the day of the demon beast hunt arrived.
.
.
.
It was nearly impossible to keep one’s body from freezing when the eyes of a demonic beast glinted in the darkness of the forest.
Grrrr… …
A beast that appeared to be a wolf several times bigger than its original size came into view, imbued with dark magical powers.
Its black mane, rising along its spine, rippled as if one with the shadows of the forest, and thick, frothing fluid dripped from its grotesquely elongated fangs.
It was large enough to swallow a grown man whole.
It was only natural that the knights of the pilgrimage group, who had confidently gathered, now broke out in cold sweat.
“A demonic beast…!”
“I-into formation!”
“Get the people over here, now!”
The pilgrimage group’s ranks quickly crumbled into disarray.
In the midst of their panic, a voice rang out, “Lancel Dante, you have grown stronger. Bring me the enemy’s head!”
Bang!
A knight surged through the clustered group, charging straight toward the beast.
“In the name of the Holy Maiden!”
The sword in his hand erupted with radiant light, illuminating the forest’s darkness.
Kreeeeong!
Sensing the threat, the demonic beast bared its fangs and leaped into the air. Almost simultaneously, a blinding streak of light sliced through its torso.
Thwack!
Something soared skyward, leaving behind only the gruesome sound of flesh being torn apart. It arced through the air and landed solidly before the pilgrimage group.
Thud!
“…!”
The group belatedly realized that it was the head of a beast.
The wolf-like creature that had been baring its fangs menacingly just moments before now rolled stiffly through the dirt.
Its headless body staggered aimlessly for a few steps before collapsing in a heap.
The man carefully retrieved his sword, not a single drop of blood staining its blade.
“Saintess, yet another evil has been purged today.”
A profound silence settled over the group.
Behind him, the hem of his blue cloak fluttered in the wind as he stood tall, having slain the demonic beast with a single strike.
The knights and priests of the pilgrimage group, the hunters who had volunteered as guides, and the villagers from nearby settlements—all witnessed this moment, etching the name, Lancel Dante, into their memories.
13.
“In recognition of their contributions to the extermination of demonic beasts, the Imperial Court will grant a small reward to the Holy Maiden Church.”
The Imperial Court sent the Holy Maiden Church a flag certifying its status as an “official religious order.”
While the pilgrimage group felt a twinge of bitterness at having their glory stolen, it wasn’t a crushing blow. After all, even a sect like the Salvation Church possessed such a flag. From the perspective of the Martyr’s Church, there was no reason to envy such a paltry reward.
However, the Imperial Knights’ Tournament was an entirely different matter. It was about money.
* * *
“All knights, advance!”
Ten knights appearing on horseback galloped into the vast clearing.
Most bore the winged emblem of the Martyr’s Church, but one stood apart.
His cloak displayed a symbol of clasped hands within a circular wreath—the mark of the Holy Maiden Church. Lancel Dante.
“Only the last knight remaining on horseback will advance to the finals. Prepare yourselves!”
Eyes darted between the knights of the pilgrimage group. Even among them, this was a competition. Only one would survive.
But at least one agreement was clear:
First, we take down Lancel Dante!
The knights’ gazes locked onto the man with a wooden lance slung over his shoulder—Lancel Dante of the Holy Maiden Church. He was their primary target. Their true competition would begin only after he had fallen from his horse.
“Begin!”
Boom!
Ten horses surged forward simultaneously, hooves pounding the prairie.
A deafening roar erupted from the spectators beyond the fence.
“If I lose my money, I’ll make sure you knights pay!”
“Audley! My entire fortune is riding on you!”
Even those who normally wouldn’t dare meet a knight’s gaze were shouting wildly, clutching wooden betting tokens in their hands.
“Please, Sir Lancel, if you fall here, we’re ruined!”
Baron Ibil Shen was among the crowd of spectators, nervously licking his lips as he stared at the wooden token representing his massive bet.
Lancel Dante, though renowned as a monster-slaying knight, was the clear underdog in this competition.
It was inevitable.
He was too young, and very few believed he could triumph in a tournament dominated by knights of the Martyr’s Church.
Baron Ibil Shen might have been the only one who had placed such a substantial wager on him.
“No!”
The baron’s face paled as he watched nine cavalry knights close in on Lancel.
* * *
“Seize him!”
Cavalrymen closed in on Lancel, galloping alongside him across the open field.
Lancel paid no attention to the men glaring at him. Instead, he spurred his horse onward, chasing down a knight from the pilgrimage group’s order.
“Knock him off! Now!”
“Too late.”
Lancel’s wooden spear struck the fleeing knight squarely in the shoulder. An overwhelming force literally grabbed the man and hurled him from his saddle.
“Arrgggh!”
The knight flew through the air, rolling across the ground as the cavalrymen thundered past him, desperately trying to keep up with Lancel.
Lancel neither defended against nor countered his pursuers’ attacks. He simply continued to flee, relentlessly chasing down his next prey.
“Hiiiigh!”
Thud!
Another knight was thrown from his horse. As the fourth rider fell in the same manner, a sense of crisis began to spread among the knights.
Perhaps they sensed it in their bones—the realization that they, not Lancel, might be the hunted prey.
“Too slow,” Lancel murmured.
“No… Aaaah!”
The fifth knight was flung from his saddle.
“Come back after more practice,” Lancel said, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The knights of the pilgrimage group who saw that smile felt a chill run down their spines.
The moment fear took hold, the outcome was all but certain.
In less than ten minutes, only one knight remained mounted.
“The victor is… Lancel Dante!”
Baron Ibil Shen threw his arms into the air and charged into the arena, shouting, “I’m rich! Sir Lancel, you are a god!”
Lancel lightly brushed past the charging baron and approached Marigold, who was standing beneath the shade of a tree.
Amidst the deafening cheers, the horse carrying Lancel and Marigold galloped across the open field.
==========
Fame Event: The Church of Marigold’s knight, Lancel Dante, has advanced to the main event. Everyone in the Imperial Capital is now paying attention to the Holy Maiden Church.
==========
“Is this all that the knights of the pilgrimage group can muster? Is there still no one who can surpass Lancel Dante of the Holy Maiden Church?”
His taunting voice echoed in the minds of the pilgrimage group’s knights who were sprawled on the ground long after he had spoken.
.
.
.
==========
—Fame Event: The eleventh church has been built!
※Marigold’s Karma has decreased by 1 point.
—Fame Event: The twelfth church has been built!
※Marigold’s Karma has decreased by 1 point.
—Fame Event: The thirteenth church has been built!
※Marigold’s Karma has decreased by 1 point.
==========
.
.
.
==========
—Fame Event: The thirtieth church has been built!
※Marigold’s Karma has decreased by 1 point.
==========
A few months had passed since Lancel started causing trouble here and there.
In just those few months, rumors began to quietly circulate that Marigold was a divinely gifted priestess.
The number of statues of the Saintess erected within the Imperial Capital of Rodnis increased to a whopping total of thirty.
* * *
“Pathetic fools.”
Duke Meryll Dunn’s face flushed crimson the moment he heard the news.
With each blunder by the knights of the pilgrimage group in the tournament, his reputation suffered another crack.
This is supposed to be a festival for the Martyr’s Church. Surely they can’t let some outsider steal the show?
The words of the Imperial Archbishop, who had summoned him, still echoed in his mind. Though spoken softly, their meaning was clear: “This isn’t my responsibility, is it? If you had a problem, you should have won.”
It was a matter he couldn’t deny. Duke Dunn himself had assembled the knights and formed the pilgrimage order.
The pilgrimage order.
The extermination of the demonic beats.
The Imperial Knights’ Tournament.
He had approved them all.
Only for all the glory to be stolen beneath his very nose.
Having volunteered to take charge, it was imperative that he delivered flawless results. Once the game was set, he had to win.
That was the law of the Martyr’s Church.
“Make sure he’s eliminated in the next match. By any means necessary.”
