Chapter 453: Aernor Delegation (4)

"Uhh, mm..." The reporter who had been commentating passionately slurred with a dumbfounded expression.

It was not just the reporter; everyone looking at Aernor's delegation was lost for words. The same went for the people in the live chat.

[Live stream of the first encounter with Aernor's delegation: 403,271 watching]

JerryM: ???

BestTaeSoo: Whut?

Lemme out of bronze: The hell? Is this a cult?

Tresha: Holy shit LMFAO

Ro Yu-Mi: It's for sure a cult

Ro Yu-Jin: Holy mother of God. It's a blonde elf!! A real blonde elf!!

Wooden Spoon: LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Ro Yu-Mi: That's all you can think about in this situation?

Fuck Rogues: Guys, this isn't the issue! I hit it big! I found a dungeon hidden within a Gate!

Butterfly Valley: plz ban spammers

'What a fucking mess.'

However optimistically one looked, Aernor's delegation looked like nothing but a fanatical cult. Negative opinions of the delegation accumulated to the point that Iris's looks were not enough to cover for them.

'This isn't good.'

It was the worst possible first impression. Oh Kang-Woo was sure that the people of Earth would consider the people of Aernor, whom they needed to cooperate with to prepare for future dangers, as a world of cultists.

'I need to demonstrate somehow that they're not cultists.'

It was far too late to stop the delegation's actions since the entire world had already seen them preaching Ohmen as they prayed to the God of Splendor. It was impossible even for Kang-Woo to erase the memories of every single person who saw it.

'Now that it has come to this...'

Kang-Woo had no other choice. He needed to make them devotees who had received the blessing of the God of Splendor instead of a group of fanatical cultists.

'At least they didn't reveal my name.'

The situation would have been irreparable if the delegation had mentioned Kang-Woo by name.

"Fuuu," Kang-Woo sighed deeply and snapped his finger.

Whoooom!!

[Whooooaaaa!]

[O light of splendor!]

[Ohmen! Ohmen! Ohmen!]

Golden light poured out from the bodies of the delegates praising the light. The entire delegation glowed gold.

'Now.'

Kang-Woo turned to look at the blonde woman standing at the forefront of the delegation. She was the only one who could resolve this chaos.

- Iris.

- Ah, yes! Sir Kang-Woo!

Iris smiled brightly after finding Kang-Woo, giving him a proud expression as if she wanted to be praised. Kang-Woo's head hurt.

- Stop this goddamn bullshit.

- B-bull... shit?

- Yeah. Tell them all to shut the fuck up.

- B-but...

Iris flinched as she heard Kang-Woo's furious voice. It seemed she was sure that Kang-Woo would like it.

- Do exactly as I say from now on.

- I understand.

Iris nodded in dejection. Kang-Woo felt bad after seeing her face but now was not the time. He relayed his plan that would resolve the situation as best as possible.

"Th-this is..."

[Fufu. You all seem to be surprised.]

Iris smiled softly and raised her hand. Fortunately, the delegation was made up of people within her full control; the delegates screaming Ohmen quieted down immediately once they saw Iris's hand.

[I apologize for the discourtesy. I was just so excited to relay the blessing of light to the people of Earth with whom we will be maintaining an amicable alliance from now on.]

Iris bowed politely by slightly raising the hem of her clerical robe. She was treated like an incompetent princess before Kang-Woo arrived on Aernor, but the education that she received due to being born into royalty did not disappear. The confused people around the Gate slightly lowered their guard as they witnessed Iris's elegance.

"Umm... may I ask what the blessing of light is?" asked one of the reporters through an interpretation magic tool.

[I am referring to the blessing of the God of Splendor who takes care of the people of Aernor. Mm... Just a second, please.]

Iris slowly raised her right hand.

Whoooom!

Blinding golden light surged from her hand; a pillar of light shot up several dozens of kilometers and spread like a tent. Light particles akin to raindrops fell from the sky.

'Authority of Enhancement.'

Kang-Woo activated an Authority at the same time; it filled one with energy and improved one's condition to be ideal for combat. Kang-Woo did not need such an Authority since his body was in its best condition at all times, but it was a different story for the regular people and Players here.

"Wow."

"Why am I surging with power all of a sudden?"

"I-it's up! After twenty long flaccid years!!"

The people who received the blessing of splendor touched themselves in shock. Their fatigue and irritation had vanished as if they had never existed. The people who had gathered to watch the historic moment of Earth and Aernor's first interaction were naturally in terrible condition since they had been stuck among the massive crowd for an entire day. The crowd of people worked in Kang-Woo's favor.

[This is the God of Splendor's blessing. Of course, this is only a fragment of his power,] Iris answered the reporter with an elegant smile.

"Ah..."

The reporter also looked down at himself in disbelief and shock. He could feel himself brimming with vitality despite having spent several all-nighters preparing to report on the delegation from Aernor.

The people began to look at Iris and the delegation differently; they were not fanatical cultists but those who could invoke the blessing and miracle of a real god.

"Umm... Are there Players among you?" the reporter asked.

Some Players of Earth could perform miracles like this as well with their abilities, but even fewer were able to cast such a wide-area buff to thousands of people at once.

[Players? What are those?]

"I mean, people who have been given benefits from the System to level up and awaken Traits—"

[Hoho. No, nothing of the sort.] Iris giggled and shook her head. [All you need is faith toward the light. The God of Splendor grants us such blessings just from believing in him.]

"Pardon?"

The reporter's eyes were filled with doubt again. It did not make sense that someone could perform such acts just by believing despite a very few number of Players being able to.

[Do you believe it is absurd?]

"Ah, I-I wouldn't say that, but..."

[Hoho. There is no need to be so confused. It is only natural for you to think that way since you have not received the blessing of Splendor.] Iris smiled gently and held the reporter's hands. [Now, why don't you try reciting Ohmen? It usually takes time for one to receive a blessing, but... I will try to pray to the God of Splendor for an exception.]

"Mm... O-Ohmen?" the reporters stuttered. Just then...

Whoooom!

"Gasp!"

Golden light shot down from the sky and flowed into the reporter. The reporter took a few steps back in terror but then stared at the golden light enveloping him.

"This is..."

Kim Seon-Kyung, the reporter interviewing Iris, was brimming with power. She was a Player who had achieved her Third Awakening. She had turned to the path of reporting after being unable to enter high-ranking Gates due to her low Trait rank, but she was most definitely stronger than a regular person, which was why she was able to figure it out much more quickly.

Riiing.

[You have received the 'Blessing of Splendor(???).']

[You have become a devotee of the 'God of Splendor(???).']

[Dramatically raising all stats!]

[Raising the rank of 'Deceptive Footwork (Rank: E)' to D!]

"This is..." the reporter mumbled as she read through the message window.

"Wh-what the hell?"

"Can we really gain power just from believing?"

The people looked back and forth between Iris and the reporter in disbelief. Their mumbles grew louder. Iris looked back at them and spread her arms wide.

[The blessing of splendor does not discriminate between race, sex, age... or even what world you're from.]

Only Iris's voice echoed clearly in the deathly silence.

[If the people of Earth trust the blessing of light as we do...] Iris stared at the camera that the reporter was holding and continued, [It will become proof that although our worlds are different, we are one.]

"Yeaaaaaaaahhh!"

Cheers sounded out from all over. The people who had been staring at the Aernor delegation like a bunch of crazy fanatics were now staring passionately at the light flowing out of the delegates.

'Fuck yeah.' Kang-Woo clenched his fists as he looked at the surrounding reactions. 'This is it! It worked!'

He had successfully managed to steer a bus on the brink of cracking.

'I ended up with an apostle I don't even want.'

Kang-Woo smiled bitterly as he stared at Seon-Kyung, the reporter interviewing Iris.

'Thank God I learned how to make apostles back in the divine realm.'

Those with Deific Essence were able to create incarnations and apostles. As for creating an incarnation, the god needed to take the risk of sharing the damage that their incarnation suffered. Of course, like how Layla had been stuck in a wheelchair, any damages that Gaia suffered would go back to Layla. It was impossible to give apostles Deific Essence, but blessing them through a small portion of Divinity would permanently raise their power. Kang-Woo had also become Gaia's apostle through her blessing.

'My Divinity went down a little, but whatever. At least he came up with something interesting.'

There was nothing more important than the fact that he had managed to turn this crisis around. Kang-Woo sighed in relief. Just then...

"... Ohmen."

"Ohmen, ohmen, ohmen."

"Ohmeeeeeeeeeeeen!!"

'The hell is this now?'

Kang-Woo looked around dumbfoundedly. The people who witnessed what had happened between Iris and the reporter quickly began to chant Ohmen.

Riiing.

[The Church of Splendor's Korean branch has been formed.]

[You can collect Divinity based on their faith.]

The Church of Splendor, which had practically taken over Aernor, had made its way to Earth.