That morning I was asked to visit the chamber of Astor. This time, it was an unfamiliar priest that decided to call for me. By how he looked at me when he saw me open the door, I could tell that he was nervous for some reason. As I did not want to overstep the rule of seniority, I did not try and start a conversation and followed him quietly. He looked fairly young for a priest as he looked like he did not reach the age of thirty yet. No wrinkles on his face, but bags under his eyes showed that he too was tired just like everyone here. His hair was dark brown, and under a shade could be mistaken as black, if one could see closely, he would actually have strands of white hair. All I could was observe him and the surroundings as we quietly walk to Astor's chamber.

Upon arriving, he finally decided to say something.

"High Priest Noblesa informed of something very confidential. I'm not going to say it here on the risk that someone that might be secretly listening, but as I can't ask you this anymore later once the [Pact] has been made, then I would like to ask confirmation from you. Is all this true?"

I simply nodded.

This unfamiliar priest sighed, and then with a bit more confidence and relief in his tone, "Praise Goddess Hure for the hope she brought to us."

"Praise Goddess Hure."

I had no choice but to respond as well.

Before this priest could knock on the [Barrier], Astor inside might have already heard of our conversation and arrival, thus releasing the [Barrier] which signaled for us to enter.

"Priest Rogen and Alkef, good morning."

"Good morning High Priest Noblesa", both of us greeted formally.

"Has the pain from work yesterday subsided already Alkef?"

"Yes sir, although the backlash from failing my invocation and the stress piling up from the tasks yesterday were indeed extreme, thankfully I was thought how to thoroughly invoke [Stabilize] and [Stamina Boost] to keep me from collapsing."

"That's good. Actually, I called you here today for a special lecture. As I said earlier, this is Priest Rogen Belaigo. Out of all the priests in this branch, he is the most skilled and knowledgeable of matters involving arcanes. He's quite an inquisitive fellow who, in his spare time, has learned a lot of new and helpful arcanes; although he does also learn some pretty useless ones as well."

I looked at Priest Rogen, nodding my head to formally recognize him as he was finally introduced. He did so as well.

"Although I appreciate High Priest Noblesa's introduction of me, I would have to say that there is no such thing as a 'useless' arcane. They have a use, but only in specific circumstances."

"Yes, yes. Do inform me if ever you truly had a chance to use them then, and it should be something that is brought upon by chance, not by your own arrangements. Anyway, Priest Rogen here can be considered as my colleague and friend."

Colleague!? Is Rogen actually as old as Astor!? I could not hide my surprise from that statement and Rogen was keen enough to notice that.

"I know what you are thinking and no, I'm not as old as Astor. In our batch, Astor was the oldest, and he was also the most insightful. Despite his age when we were all just acolytes, he was not outshined or overshadowed by the younger and more gifted ones. His wisdom and discipline was a shining example to us all, and he was considered a promising leader while we were all just acolytes. A lot of the priests here are actually his fellow colleagues who decided to follow him here when he was assigned as the High Priest."

"Again, I'm not a High Priest. There's no ceremony or formal declaration of that. Sure I'll accept being addressed like that for the sake of formality, but it's still not official."

"This conversation has sidetracked a bit. I do apologize."

Rogen then faced me once again after his banter with Astor was over.

"As mentioned by High Priest Astor, I'm knowledgeable with certain arcane that might be helpful for you. After your discussion regarding the future of this branch, I was called to specifically find a solution to your current situation."

"Thank you, Priest Rogen for your effort.", I decided to legitimately thank him. I might've been a serial killer in my previous life but I'm not so inhumane as to disregard goodwill.

"Don't thank me just yet as I'm also not sure if this solution will work. I will be using three arcanes on you when you start feeling pain all over your body once again. When lunch is over, don't resume work but head straight to here, and we'll then these arcanes."

"Before I can let you begin with your plan Alkef, I thought it would only be wise to find a solution for your current predicament. Although Goddess Hure may be protecting you, She can't protect you from the harm you inflict to yourself."

I nodded. Although, I really don't believe that and all this may have been the influence of [The True Pacifist]. Seriously, do they not know the effects of this [Blessing] or are they just that blinded by their faith?

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"That would be most preferable, sir. Thank you for your consideration."

The [Barrier] blocking the door was opened once again, and so I left while Rogen stayed inside. What was the [Pact]? Although it was briefly mentioned by Rogen earlier, I don't what that really means. Since it wasn't brought up again, it might've not been as important as I thought.

...

Lunch is now over and as discussed earlier, I went directly to Astor's chamber. I excused myself from the company of Marcs and his friends and walked hurriedly to create a notion that I had to immediately go. When I arrived, I saw Priest Rogen arriving as well, and as he knocked at the [Barrier], it immediately disappeared.

Entering this familiar room once again, I greeted Astor who seemed to have just finished eating his lunch. Wiping his mouth with a napkin and standing from his seat, he asked me, "How is your current state, Alkef?"

"Slight pain sir, but bearable compared to yesterday."

"Well then Priest Rogen, you may proceed."

"Alright."

Rogen's hands then started to glow, and as he hovered his hands towards me, I start to feel a familiar sensation. It's the feeling of being blessed by an arcane. As Rogen's hands were still at work, he started to explain what he was trying to do.

"The arcane I'm using right now is called [Torpefy: Minor]. This arcane was specifically developed by the arcane scholars of Calsio-Aswiz Federation. It's the weakened version of the [Debuff-type] arcane [Torpefy] that is capable of paralyzing living monsters and animals, but it rarely takes effect on arkind. With a bit of tinkering done by the Federation's arcane scholars, [Torpefy: Minor] became a [Support-type] arcane that can help numb the pain that someone is experiencing."

I did not respond much to his explanation as I try to feel if this arcane was actually taking effect. Unfortunately, it hasn't, or it might've been because the pain I'm experiencing isn't too extreme. Thus, I shook my head, and the sensation of being blessed disappeared.

"That's unfortunate. Well, this is usually used to help in numbing extreme pain, so this outcome might've been expected. On to the next one."

Rogen's hands glow once more and the sensation in my body resurfaces. This time, I feel the pain subsiding, but I also start feeling dizzy. I requested Rogen to stop.

"It's working, the pain is subsiding but, I feel dizzy as well."

"I see. I actually invoked two arcanes on you. I first blessed you with [Frenzy Bestowal], then [De-Frenzy]. Shamans from the Great Evergreen Forest used this on their Berserkers to put them in a state of violent berserk where they could not feel any pain inflicted on them, then they invoke [De-Frenzy] later to calm them down. Apparently, the numbing effect of the [Frenzy Bestowal] remains for a while and it takes a considerable time before it subsides if these two arcanes are invoked continuously on someone. Unfortunately, I didn't know that it also makes someone feel dizzy."

I didn't even feel the state of 'violent berserk'. It just made me want to vomit. In fact, the dizziness has not subsided.

"Is there an arcane that cures dizziness?"

"There's actually one. It's called [Clear Mind]."

As he said that his hands glowed again. The dizziness disappeared, and the pain was also gone.

"It might've worked. I don't feel the pain anymore."

"That's good!", Rogen said with a hint of cheer in his voice.

Although I'm glad that there's a solution for the pain I feel now, I'm more interested now in the vast amount of arcanes that actually exist in this world. All coming different parts of the world, and having similar yet also varied effects and applications. I decided to ask what the third solution was.

"Well, the third solution was this."

Rogen then went nearby Astor desks and took the inconspicuous and small container on it. He opened it and inside was a red gelatin-like transparent object. Before he took the item from inside the container, he took a glove from his pocket and wore it on one of his hands and the gloved hand was the one that was used to hold the object.

"That is?"

"This is a monster. To be specific, a domesticated Blood Gloop that is currently in a state of hibernation. This monster has been specifically bred and raised by a Tier 3 Tamer, so it doesn't pose any danger to arkind. Its primary function is to act as a life-saving creature that will absorb any fatal attack or damage to the owner that it's bonded with at cost of its own life. It has a secondary function that's not a one-time use which is to absorb the pain or damage that the owner may experience. Unlike the first function, the damage that the Blood Gloop absorbs accumulates, and if the Blood Gloop is not given enough arcana and time to recuperate itself, it eventually perishes."

I stared at this 'monster'. This was my first encounter with a non-arkind creature. It honestly looks like a red-colored ball of resin, and since Rogen has been holding it with his gloved hand, it might actually come alive once again if it comes in direct contact with a living creature. Seeing my obvious fascination towards this thing, Astor decided to explain.

"Even if this didn't work, we still plan to give this to you. Fortunately, the budget that was used for purchasing this will be shouldered by the branch in Sevis City. When I informed Tianle of our talk regarding your current predicament as well as your suggestion, he was worried first, but also overjoyed. He said that he would personally shoulder the expenses for this one."

"I owe a lot to you, sir, and High Priest Tianle. I thank you as well Priest Rogen.", I bowed sincerely.

Although I feel glad for them taking care of me, I can't help but wonder if they expect something in return when I actually become the Saint of the Church of Hure. More importantly, however, I feel conflicted. These acts of kindness towards me are certainly appreciated, but at the end of it all, I'm still dancing in the palm of Notpil's hands. Remembering the things he said before he sent me to get reincarnated, everything that he has said back then is happening. I have no freedom. I now realize that what he said was not a warning, but a mockery. He knew that all this will happen to me, and I am powerless against it.

Fine then. If he plans to drown me in the middle of the ocean, then I'll learn to swim in it. Then I'll drag other people in, who can also drag others in. Although I can't drown people, eventually, someone's going to. He may have his way now, but that won't last forever.

I then turned to Rogen and asked him, "Priest Rogen, can you still teach me the [Torpefy: Minor] arcane? It might be useful someday. Also, do you know of other arcanes that I can learn that might be helpful?"

Upon hearing my inquiry, Rogen seemed glad. He might've thought that he finally found a fellow enthusiast of unique arcanes. Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really interested.

If I plan to start my own religion, I have to become the brightest figure. A symbol of worship. As this is also somewhat Notpil's plan for me, then I'll partially surrender for now. But just like back then, I'll keep quiet and ride with his plans as this world drives through this road he made for me. Then when the time is right, I'll steer it offroad once again.