A Priest with No Faith

Before he could finish reading *The Drowsy Years*, Karen fell asleep on the sofa. He slept until he sensed someone draping a blanket over him. Opening his eyes, he saw Eunice standing before him, tiptoeing carefully to avoid making a sound. Seeing him wake, she whispered, "You looked exhausted. Sleep a while longer." Karen smiled. "But you're awake." With that, he took Eunice's hand and pulled her down to sit beside him on the sofa. Karen draped an arm around her shoulders, and Eunice leaned her head against his shoulder. Beyond that, neither made another move. "I didn't even know you were back. When I woke up, I thought I was dreaming." "Are you surprised to find yourself dreaming of me?" "Not really. Isn't that normal?" Eunice smiled. "Even if I wanted to dream of someone else, I'd need a subject first, wouldn't I? But you're the only one I've ever been close to." "So I'm not the one and only—just the only one available?" "What about you? I'm sure other girls must like you out there. Are there any?" "There are." "And then?" "I told her I have a girlfriend." "Did you feel disappointed or regretful?" "Not at all. I didn't feel that way. When you're already full, you have no appetite to try other dishes." "Won't you get tired of it?" Eunice asked curiously. "If you eat only one dish all the time?" Karen shook his head. "No, because it comes in many colors and styles." Eunice gently bit her lower lip and pressed her forehead against his shoulder. After a long pause, she spoke softly. "I'll go change." Karen held her back. "No rush. Save it for next time." "Next time?" "I'll be staying at the manor for two or three days, so next time should be tomorrow when you wake up." "Whatever you decide." "Have you been bored these days?" Karen asked. "Not really. Time just seems to pass quickly. Aunt says this state will last a few more months." "Can you feel the power inside you?" "Power?" Eunice opened her palm. A ball of fire appeared above it like an obedient sprite. "Do you mean this?" "Yes." "It feels very intimate, like a part of my body." Eunice moved the fireball in front of Karen, and he blew gently at it. *Whoosh.* The fireball went out instantly. "Eunice, I bought a home." "Oh?" Eunice asked, intrigued. "How big is it?" "A duplex. Do you know the type? In an apartment building, spanning two floors—not two full floors, just..." "I know. I'm not that silly," Eunice said, swatting him playfully. "I've lived out in the world, and I used to be a teacher." "Haha, it's plenty big enough for us. I kept the previous owner's decor and furnishings. There's also a sunroom on the roof terrace, but I've been too busy lately to go up and lounge in the sun." "Sounds very cozy." "It is. I really like that apartment. Still, Uncle and Aunt covered the down payment and the mortgage. I'll do my best to make money soon and pay off the loan for them early." "Yes, as you should." "Also, a friend of mine who ran a funeral parlor went far away and left it for me to manage. I have Alfred remodeling the backyard right now. When I head back to the city, I'll probably stay there." "So you're running a funeral parlor again?" "Yes. When I got back into a hearse earlier, you know what? I actually felt a little excited." "I'll go learn mortuary makeup." Karen looked down at Eunice and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Eunice hugged him, resting her cheek against his chest. "Don't you ever feel it's a pity, when you're still so young?" "Are you old?" Karen countered. "I don't know. I just feel a bit insecure." "Life is often like gambling. When placing a bet, as long as it's done willingly, that's enough, because the only thing to enjoy is the thrill and pleasure of making the wager. That's usually what I say when comforting others." "Then what do you say when comforting yourself?" "I don't like gambling. I only cherish what I already have." "Karen, do you know, ever since I first met you, I've felt you resemble my father. Both of you speak so methodically." "Mm, I don't mind you calling me that right now." ... "I didn't hear you." ... "A little louder?" ... "Louder still." ...... When Karen woke up, he saw Purr standing on the pillow beside him, staring down at him. "You're awake?" Karen habitually reached out and rubbed the soft fur beneath Purr's chin. "What time is it?" "Noon. You only came back to the bedroom this morning." "Mm." "Tell me, are you and my great-great-great-great-niece dating across dimensions? You haven't seen each other in so long, yet the moment you meet, you seem closer than ever." "Were you eavesdropping last night?" "Of course not! I was just passing by to ask if you wanted a late-night snack, then realized you didn't seem to have the time." "Do you have any dignity as an elder?" "Oh, please! What elder doesn't enjoy keeping an eye on their junior's romantic developments?" "Have you eaten?" "We did. The only reason I came home was to laze around and eat all kinds of delicious food. Do you know how good that feels?" "Mm, congratulations." "Congratulations for what?" "Congratulations on experiencing what it feels like to visit your maiden home, even though you've never been married." "*Meow!*" Karen got out of bed, took a shower, washed up, and changed into looser clothes. Purr had already rung the bedside bell. Boge entered carrying lunch. As usual, it was lavish yet dull, but Karen ate with great relish this time. Although he had a kitchen back in the city, he had lacked the time and energy to cook lately, often making do with whatever was at hand. In any case, when it came to making do, the Allen family's head chef stood at the absolute pinnacle. Once Karen finished eating, Boge offered a warm, damp cloth and said, "Young Master, Mr. Mike is ready." "Good." "Are you going to spar with Mr. Mike, Young Master?" "I'm having Mr. Mike guide me, because I still don't know how to fight." Karen went downstairs and saw Mike sitting in the ground-floor parlor drinking tea. Spotting Karen, he wheeled himself over. "Young Master, where do you think is suitable?" "The cemetery. It's quiet and has a nice setting." If anyone else—even an honored guest—dared show such disrespect toward the family cemetery, Mr. Mike would have turned hostile on the spot, as disrespecting the ancestors was an insult to the living. Karen was different, however; Mike had witnessed with his own eyes Karen's "Awakening" of an ancestor. Since the ancestor himself didn't mind, Mike had no reason to object. Karen rode on horseback while Boge pushed Mr. Mike in his wheelchair. Without rushing, they made their way to the cemetery at a leisurely, stroll-like pace. It was a vast estate with stables, a castle, and emerald lawns year-round. Yet Karen did not think it foolish of him to boast to Eunice last night about buying an apartment on a mortgage. In this sprawling manor, Eunice had once been treated like a blind-box prize meant for a political marriage; once she moved into his duplex, she would be the lady of the house. Karen spotted the small wooden cabin at the edge of the cemetery. Sitting on the steps before the cabin in simple clothes was Judia, resting her chin on her hands as she watched him approach. "Are you here to pay respects to the ancestors?" Judia asked. "Heh." Karen smiled without answering. Last time, Count Rekar had knelt before him. "Let's do it here," Karen said to Mr. Mike. "Very well, Young Master." Karen dismounted. Flames ignited across Mr. Mike's body, and a pair of fiery legs formed beneath him as he stood upright. "Are you going to fight?" Judia ran over curiously. "You're fighting Mr. Mike?" "I'm having Mr. Mike give me some pointers." "Then let me do it! I'm bored out of my mind anyway. I'll guide you," Judia said eagerly. "No," Karen refused. "Come on, let me! It's just a fight. Mr. Mike wouldn't dare actually hit you, so what pointers could you possibly get from him? It's not like I'm going to kill you, right?" "Judia, do not be impudent with the Young Master!" Mr. Mike scolded. "No, she has a point." Karen raised a hand to stop Mike. "She and I can spar first." The reason he hadn't chosen Alfred was that Alfred wouldn't dare fight him seriously, and Mike was the same. "Alright!" Judia took several steps back. "How much distance do you need?" "A hundred meters. Is that fine?" "That far? Oh, right, you're a junior priest. Greater distance is better." "Young Master, I will keep watch," Mr. Mike said, seeing Karen's insistence. He remained standing in his shroud of flames, ready to intervene at any moment. "Don't worry, Mr. Mike, I know my limits," Judia said, rolling her neck lightly. "You'd better know your limits," Karen warned her. Judia's expression darkened at once. Karen sighed helplessly. "I wasn't being sarcastic." Judia scrutinized Karen suspiciously for a moment, then nodded. "Fine, I understand. You really are cautious." Karen turned back to Mr. Mike. "Mr. Mike, if anything goes wrong, please step in immediately." "Understood, Young Master." "Good." Karen took a few more steps back and raised a hand. "We can begin." Judia pressed her hands downward, conjuring two sharp icicles in her palms, and flung them straight at Karen. Infused with water-attribute power, they shot forward like bullets from a barrel. "Order—Guardian Wall." A massive black barrier materialized before Karen, blocking the two icicles. The ice shattered, blasting two large holes through the barrier, but Karen's spiritual infusion quickly repaired the damage. That was merely a warm-up. A layer of frost instantly coated Judia's body as she dashed toward Karen at high speed. Watching this, Mr. Mike felt a flicker of surprise. The Allen family faith system encompassed both water and fire attributes. Within these two, the essence of water was ice, and the essence of fire was magma. Thus, although Judia was only at the third rank of the faith system, her control over water-attribute power had reached an exquisite level of refinement—a qualitative difference. Facing Judia, who had chosen close combat, Karen did not hesitate. He understood all too well the despair a junior priest faced when closed in upon, just like the tall and short pair he had slain yesterday. "Sea God's Armor!" A set of azure armor formed over Karen's body, carrying an aura of mysterious power. Judia was slightly surprised to see this, but she still conjured an ice dagger in her left hand. As she closed the distance in a flash, she lunged straight for Karen's abdomen! *Buzz!* The icy blade stabbed into Karen's armor, but caused him no harm whatsoever. The surging currents beneath the armor dissolved the blade on contact. Judia stared at Karen in shock. What kind of spell was this?! "Dark Moon Blade!" Two curved blades formed along Karen's forearms as he slashed directly downward at Judia. He did not aim for her upper body, targeting her lower body instead. Since she had only aimed for his abdomen—which would have put him in bed for half a month at most—he had also avoided her vitals. If an accident occurred, she would at most end up sharing a wheelchair with Mr. Mike. Two ice shields formed at Judia's flanks. Karen's curved blades slammed into them, sticking as if bound together. Then the ice shields began to melt, and Karen's blades cut deeper. Finally, the blades broke through the ice shields and struck Judia's legs, melting the protective frost covering her body. Judia's face flushed with shame and anger. A white ice flower bloomed at her chest and detonated with tremendous explosive force. Even protected by Sea God's Armor, Karen was blasted backward, allowing Judia to break away. Her combat experience was clearly far superior to Karen's. As she pulled back, she continuously condensed ice flowers and hurled them at him, nearly exhausting her body's spiritual energy in the process. There was no small amount of humiliated fury behind the barrage after that close call. *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* Explosions echoed repeatedly around Karen's position, sending snow and shards of ice flying in every direction. "Stop!" Mr. Mike dashed toward Karen on his own initiative. He hadn't grown complacent; he simply realized his strength was no longer enough to control the field from the sidelines. Judia halted because she was utterly exhausted and had run out of strength. At the same time, regret washed over her. Had she really blown him to pieces? Just then, an ancient, solemn black spear pierced straight through the ice and snow, flying directly toward Judia! "Not good!" Mid-dash toward Karen, Mr. Mike was forced to change course and sprint toward Judia. Terror flashed across Judia's face as she squeezed out the last dregs of her spirituality to conjure an ice dome before herself. *Bang!* The Spear of Punishment shattered the ice dome on impact, and the spear itself detonated! *Boom!* "Ahhh!" Judia was blasted into the air. Fortunately, Mr. Mike arrived just in time to shield her from the brunt of the remaining blast; otherwise, she might well have been killed. Even so, her clothes were shredded, her body covered in cuts and bruises, and blood leaked from the corner of her mouth. Boge stood nearby, his gaze entirely dazed. Was this... what the Young Master meant by not knowing how to fight? Over where Karen stood, the snow and dust cleared to reveal him still clad in the Sea God's Armor. "Phew..." Karen began to pant, though he was still far from exhaustion. He looked across the field and called out, "Mr. Mike, is Judia alright?" As if hearing his words, Judia spat out another mouthful of blood. "Rest assured, Young Master, she is fine." Hearing she was alright, Karen finally relaxed. The girl's reckless bombardment had panicked him earlier, prompting him to summon a Spear of Punishment and hurl it on reflex. He had regretted it the moment it left his hand; thankfully, disaster had been averted. "Master Karen, are you unhurt?" Karen inspected himself and confirmed he was unharmed. "I'm fine. Not a scratch." It was a simple statement of fact, as he truly hadn't suffered any injury beyond feeling as though he had just gone for a run. Upon hearing those words, Judia, lying in Mr. Mike's arms, spat out yet another mouthful of blood. Karen dispelled the Sea God's Armor and Dark Moon Blades. He finally understood why these two spells were so monstrous: both the defensive power of the armor and the offensive might of the blades were fluid. In other words, as long as he could supply them with a steady stream of spirituality, they could maintain high-efficiency defense and continuous output indefinitely. And as for his own spirituality... thanks to his unique purification method, his reserves were downright astonishing, something he often likened to a reservoir. With this trait, at his current stage, he was virtually invincible against any opponent who lacked the absolute power to shatter his defenses outright. Furthermore, whenever his Dark Moon Blades clashed and locked with an opponent's weapons, as long as the other party's spiritual reserves were shallower than his, he could grind them down with absolute certainty! It was a thoroughly shameless way of fighting, yet devastatingly practical. In the distance, Kevin stood atop a knoll with Purr perched on his back. As Karen's tutors, they naturally observed the fight from afar. "The girl from the Gloria—pah, pah, pah! The girl from our family really is no match for Karen." "*Woof! Woof! Woof!*" "Yes, yes. Purification reserves triggered by the God of Light and personally unsealed by the God of Order, a body remodeled by you in person, and Diss's bloodline blessing... Combined with those two Secret Archive-tier advanced spells we picked out for him, even if he still doesn't know how to fight, he's already the toughest brawler among his peers." "*Woof!*" "I noticed that too. He's using the power of Light as a converter, but why does it look like there's no conversion loss at all? Logically, converting across faith systems should incur a massive loss, yet he lasted this long and still has energy to spare. That shouldn't be possible." "*Woof!*" "Are you saying it's because during God's Revelation, he rejected the God of Order's revelation? No, not just that! During God's Shepherd, he didn't put a god into his heart—he said he put himself in there! So when converting powers of other attributes, there's no extra loss, and he can use them just like Church of Order spells? *Meow, meow, meow!* That's complete nonsense!" "*Woof!*" Kevin nodded furiously, his paws violently ripping up clumps of grass from the ground. Purr smacked Kevin over the head with a paw and let out a wistful sigh. "A priest with not a shred of faith in the gods has somehow become a priest who can harmonize perfectly with the powers of other faith systems."