Chapter 5

A panacea that cures any disease and heals any wound.

The Holy Water of Valtherus.

"I don't understand..."

Why is the main ingredient for making Holy Water, called the Tears of God, growing near the local mine?

Callius could not understand at all. There was nothing notable until he entered the mine based on Leone's guidance.

On the surface, it was impossible to see it as anything but an ordinary copper mine.

It wasn't iron ore, it wasn't gold, it was just copper, so there was nothing special about it.

Still, he'd never been here before, so while he was looking around the mine, he found that that there were flowers blooming which didn't match the image of the mine.

"It's ridiculous."

The flowers were right in front of him, a perfect harmony between white and black.

The Tears of Valtherus were originally an essential material for the cult's Holy Water production, but they were completely burned down in a heathen attack decades ago.

As such, the Church of Valtherus was unable to manufacture Holy Water anymore, and it became the starting point for the Church's strength and reputation to plummet.

The Church that could no longer heal the wounded was unable to draw the people's devotion, and the Kingdom became increasingly impoverished as it could not win its wars due to the lack of Holy Water.

Originally, the Valtherus Church and the Carpe Kingdom had great power on the continent.

However, due to the lack of Holy Water, their strength gradually weakened, and now they have taken on a passive aspect.

"But here it is."

An arc was drawn on the corner of Calius's lips, as he touched his chin.

A medicinal herb that is the main ingredient of Holy Water.

Valtherus' Tears were right in front of his eyes.

And Callius knew how to make Holy Water.

That is to say -

'It means that you can carry Holy Water with you.'

Of course, to make Holy Water properly, you need a manufacturing facility to mix it with the other key ingredients.

But did Callius need that kind of perfect Holy Water right now?

'No. Just in case you don't know, it's not completely necessary.'

In this world where potions are far more precious than gold, what if you could make as many healing potions as you like, even if the quality is a little low?

"That's enough."

Half the potency of the original Holy Water.

That is enough.

Even with the slightest medicinal effect it would be a medicine that heals any wounds as if they were washed away.

"Leone."

"Yes?"

"Who owns the mine?"

"Of course, it belongs to me, the owner of Torrett's estate."

"Then you're saying these flowers are yours too?"

"Yes, yes. Would you like to have one?"

Fuck.

"Leone. You're a really good kid."

Callius patted Leone's head.

"Hey, what's with this. Hehe."

Callius stroked Leone's head and then carefully dug up the Tears of Valtherus that were blooming.

"But how are you going to use it?"

"It's a secret."

"Ah, that's it. The Church's secret..."

"That's roughly it. If the Church finds out that the secret about this flower has been revealed..."

Callius mimed slitting his neck with the back of his hand.

Leone responded with a firm nod of his head as if he had made a desperate determination to never see that bloody look.

"Of course!"

"Okay. God will watch over you."

Callius tapped Leone's shoulder, then grabbed one of the beautiful herbs and placed it on the back of his hand.

Then soon -

The stigmata flashed with a subtle light and made a soft hiss.

The Tear of Valtherus was gone.

'Okay.'

The herb was sucked into the stigma.

You can't put things in that are too big, but if it's just some herbs, you can store them inside the stigmata, just like you would use your inventory.

'This won't damage the Tears of Valtherus.'

If there is a suitable place, it would not be bad to re-plant and culture them.

"Okay. Let's go."

Torrett.

I was a little hesitant at first, but I'm glad I came here.

Not only has the level of divine power risen, but I also got a Life-grade sword and the Tears of Valtherus, the main ingredient of Holy Water. It is a gain that cannot be valued in money.

"By the way, Callius-sama."

"What? Leone."

"Are you leaving?"

"You're asking the obvious. I'm a Pilgrim."

Pilgrims are known to wander.

They are wanderers who never stay at one spot for long.

The reason was also known.

The end of the pilgrimage comes only when you find your sword.

And when you turn the rosary hanging from the neck into a sheath, and put the sword in that sheath.

Only then -

"But why are you asking that?"

"Oh, I actually heard it back then."

During the duel with Arsando.

He'd called out the last name of Callius.

"Callius von Jervain."

Leone repeated his name with admiration.

"Do you know Jervain?"

"That's right! It's Jervain, the Supreme Ruler of the North who are famous for their swordsmanship! Is there anyone my age who doesn't know of Jervain from the north?"

The Ruler of the North, Jervain.

Carpe's Shield, Jervain.

Swordmaster Jervain.

There are so many titles when you speak of Count Jervain.

Jervain, who have been protecting the northern part of the Carpe Kingdom for centuries.

Among those who participated in any important affairs within the Carpe Kingdom, there was no one who did not know this name.

"Are you leaving for the North?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"Uh, that's..."

Leone had a puzzled expression on his face as if asking something obvious.

"This body has left the family and turned to God."

I don't want to hear anything about the family.

'I don't want to go there until I die.'

If you go back to the Jervain family, the characteristics that come with this persona would be revealed, so things would become difficult.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My presumptuous meddling... that's right. Callius-sama is now the Son of God."

Thinking about the divine revelation, Leone fell into his own delusion and kept his head down.

"Let's go. I've seen everything there is to see."

"Yes."

Except for the Tears of Valtherus, the mines here were mediocre.

However, the amount of copper seems to be quite large, so if you exchange with a suitable upper level and export it, the estate will gradually become abundant.

"Callius, this mine has become Torrett's hope."

"Copper is a mineral that has many uses here and there, so the area is bound to improve."

"Can I do well...?"

"......"

Leone's eyes looking up at him were full of anxiety.

He was about as tall as Callius' chest.

His youthful face still had the look of a child.

'You're too young.'

Rumours will spread in Torrett that the copper mines are profitable, and the vanished vassals will turn their faces to devour the profits. Then they will become more and more greedy, and might even end up trying to kill Leone.

"...I'll write you an introduction letter."

Callius had some connections with a merchant family suitable for entrusting the distribution of copper.

It was a pretty famous merchant family within the Carpe Kingdom, so it won't be difficult to distribute Torrett's copper.

'Helena de Bolivian.'

If it were her from the family of Viscount Bolivian -

She'll take care of it so I won't have to worry about Torrett anymore.

"Don't worry. You'll do just fine."

Stroking Leone's head, Callius stepped forward.

'She's going to kill me, right?'

Callius remembered two years ago.

A relationship with her that could be called a bad relationship, if anything.

Her accusations against him held up.

A few days later -

Crackle, crackle.

Callius flicked the bag of gold coins Leone had given him and put it in his pocket.

"You didn't need to give me this."

"No. I apologize for only being able to do this much."

"..."

"Callius, I don't know where you're going, but be careful on the way to Oliorro."

"Why?"

"I don't know what's going to happen in that town right now because there's a rebellion in Fortress Oliorro."

"Oliorro...!?"

"Yes, do you know?"

Oliorro's Rebellion.

In fact, it was one of the peasant uprisings stirred up by the pagans.

'But it's too early.'

It should have been done at least three years later.

'Has the timeline accelerated?'

If so, it means you don't have time to relax like this.

The shadow of the pagans is getting darker, so this side can't stand still either.

'I'm going to the North.'

To the master of the Spirit Sword who is waiting there.

A few days later.

Inside the Torrett Mine.

The spot where Valtherus' Tears used to be was picked clean as if there had never been anything there.

The man, who was looking at that place with sharp eyes, did not match well with the environment of the mine due to his neat and luxurious attire.

Click.

"Ryburn. Callius has already left Torrett a few days ago."

"Is that so. We were one step late. Where would you say his destination is?"

"Neither the Lord of Torrett nor the local residents know where he is going."

"The whole of Torrett is covering for him... Is it okay to leave things like that?"

"Not yet..."

Tuk, tuk.

Inquisitor Ryburn, who patted his index finger with his arms crossed, sighed as he shook his head.

Tuk, tuk.

"If you're not sure, wouldn't it be better to not say anything?"

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were sharp as frost.

He is Steel Justice Heretic Inquisitor Ryburn.

A powerful Paladin with a level 3 divine power and a Spirit Sword.

During interrogations, he is a bloodthirsty Heretic Inquisitor before whom it was said that only the truth could be confessed.

"Sorry, I'm sorry! I'll correct it!"

Ryburn walked past the man with an indifferent gaze and exited the mine.

Inquisitor Ryburn raised his glasses and murmured.

"Bishop Milliman said that there might be a relic of the Order hidden here."

The Church was aware of the possibility.

However, Inquisitor Ryburn confirmed that there were no relics here.

'Is Bishop Milliman wrong?'

Or did someone take it?

Inquisitor Ryburn put more weight on the latter possibility.

'Callius von Jervain.'

Trash of the Swordmasters.

Talentless bastard.

He, who possessed such a foolish swordsmanship, won the duel against Arsando Mirinae and quietly disappeared.

"Maybe, he took the power of the relic."

I don't know what kind of relic it is or what power it has, but the Church's relic is a mystery itself.

Even if something's not likely to happen.

The relic could have been enough to make it happen.

If Callius, who had that garbage talent, monopolized the miracle of the relic -

"Any sign of paganism?"

"I'm looking around the area, but still..."

There were no signs of paganism.

Arsando, who was investigating under orders from the Church, died.

The probability is high that it is a relic.

That incompetent Callius killed Arsando?

Callius took on the power of the relic?

He killed Arsando and disappeared.

Even though he took the power of the relic, he did not report it to the Church.

Why would you do that -

Because there was something to hide.

Then he -?

"It's heresy."

Steel Justice Heretic Inquisitor Ryburn.

A faint smile spread across his lips.

"Heresy in the name of God."

Clean up -

Ryburn's usually indifferent eyes were full of joy.

"Callius von Jervain is a heretic."

And the residents of Torrett who covered for him, as well the Lord of this place, are all heretics too!

"They will be thoroughly interrogated."

Editor's Notes:

None for this chapter.