IRM Chapter 101

Even now, Evan could still remember the events from a year ago very clearly.

That day had been during the Church’s annual Pilgrimage Assembly. Every year during those seven days, tens of thousands of Light worshippers from the Saint Trilley Empire would travel great distances, coming from far and wide to gather outside the Church of Light in the capital city to listen to the Pope’s chanting and the prayers of the Saintess of Light.

But ever since the Church of Light’s devastating defeat in the Dark Night Forest, where their high-ranking combat forces were almost completely wiped out, and the dirty deeds they had committed in the past were spread everywhere by a group of demons who thrived on chaos, the Church had shown signs of collapse in just a few short months.

Evan sat on his bed, staring blankly at the faint dawn rising outside the window.

He had thought his emotions had mostly calmed down, yet on this special day, he still woke up early without feeling sleepy at all.

At this time in previous years, he should have been traveling with the priest, riding several thin magical beasts overnight from a small town at the edge of the capital city, in pursuit of the first ray of dawn bathing the peak of the Holy Church.

They would have offered their most devout faith amid the Saintess’s nightingale-like melodious prayers.

But today, there was no priest, no Saintess, and no faith either.

For a moment, Evan felt lost. He felt hollow inside, like a blank, weightless dandelion, not knowing where to fly.

He turned on his side and gently pulled open the cabinet beside his bed. The dim light made it hard to find what he wanted. His fingers accidentally touched the Light amulet in the cloth bag while searching, producing a series of crisp clattering sounds.

The noise was especially clear in the quiet dawn, causing the lump on the other bed to shift and let out a displeased grunt.

Evan smiled and pressed his lips together, making his movements even gentler. With some effort, he finally pulled out a heavy Holy Scripture.

He leaned back against the headboard, stroking the Holy Scripture stained with deep brown bloodstains. The faint smile that had just appeared on his face was like a candle in the wind, extinguishing instantly, while the emotions in his eyes became extremely complex.

This Holy Scripture was an item the priest had carried with him at all times, forbidding anyone else to touch it. Every time he prayed, he would hold this thick Holy Scripture, and tiny glimmers of light would rise from the ancient pages, surrounding the priest and making him appear solemn and sacred.

Whenever that happened, little Evan would always gaze at the Holy Scripture with his bright, shining eyes, full of worship and awe, not caring even if he felt exhausted after listening to the prayers each time.

Thinking of this, Evan couldn’t help but curl his lips into a mocking smile.

He had recently been studying magic arrays diligently, having gone through almost all the records about magic arrays in the academy library. Of course, now he knew that carved on the pages of the Holy Scripture in his hands was a small sacrificial magic array.

This array was very hidden. When it operated, the Light magic power from believers’ bodies within a large area would be absorbed, transforming into points of light that slowly seeped into the magical patterns, sacrificed to the God of Light they worshipped.

This array wouldn’t extract too much magic power from the same person—it would only make those being drained feel somewhat tired, and they could recover after resting for a day or two.

But taking without asking was theft. This disgusting practice disguised as a ritual had completely extinguished the last glimmer of light at the bottom of Evan’s heart.

With a somber expression, he opened the Holy Scripture, then suddenly sat bolt upright!

In the Holy Scripture, the magic array that should have been dormant was flickering and emitting a faint glow. The symbol representing the God of Light was especially bright, as if greedily devouring something.

Cold sweat broke out on Evan’s forehead—within the capital city… someone was performing a sacrifice!

The sacrifice itself wasn’t frightening. What was frightening was that the magic power being absorbed by this sacrifice was so abundant that it caused the Holy Scripture in his hands to react!

This could only mean one thing—the Church of Light was trying to revive.

Evan’s eyes were full of shock. He suddenly turned his head toward the small lump beside him. Ji Chi, completely oblivious, was sleeping soundly, his peaceful and shallow breathing rising and falling rhythmically.

As if sensing Evan’s burning gaze, he turned over, flinging his slender white arm out from under the covers. He giggled foolishly a few times and mumbled, “Look… look at my muscles… aren’t they cool?”

At this moment, an intense fear surged in Evan’s heart. He remembered Antoine hoarsely and brokenly roaring about the Divine Taboo, and he also remembered the Demon King’s helpless and sorrowful expression.

Ji Chi was very powerful, but was he currently powerful enough to oppose the God of Light? What kind of fate would await him, bearing the Divine Taboo, once the God of Light noticed him?

Evan dared not imagine. He equally dared not imagine what he would become if one day, those companions who also bore the Divine Taboo died miserably like those children from before.

“No…” Evan trembled as he got out of bed, slowly putting on his pitch-black cloak. “I won’t… won’t let you all lose too…”

Evan’s footsteps changed from trembling to firm. Standing at the dormitory door, he looked back at Ji Chi, who was still having pleasant dreams. His hand gripping the bronze doorknob tightened as he concealed the room’s peaceful sleepiness behind the door.

Evan held the Holy Scripture and, following the frequency of the magic array’s flickering, quietly made his way to the vicinity of the Holy Church.

The Holy Church was much more desolate now. Outside the church, there were no longer crowds of believers. A thin layer of dust had settled on the long, snow-white stairs, making the solemn and dignified Holy Church appear somewhat dilapidated.

At this time, faint chanting and prayers could be heard from inside the church. Evan cast a concealment Light magic spell on himself and, avoiding several patrolling Holy Knights, crouched beneath the church’s colorful rose window, looking inside through the somewhat cloudy glass.

Under the devout prayers of the churchful of believers, a coronation ceremony was being held inside. Flickering holy light filled the church—part of it converging around the compassionate statue of the God of Light, and part surrounding several figures standing quietly with bowed heads before the statue.

“O my benevolent and merciful God of Light, please bestow your divine blessing and grant these excellent children the power to protect you!” An unfamiliar middle-aged man, wearing the sacred robes of an Archbishop, spread his arms wide and chanted loudly toward the statue.

The statue burst forth with gentle yet intense radiance, enveloping the several figures before it. Rich Light elements seeped into their bodies, and each person’s aura gradually became more profound.

If Ji Chi had been here, he would have been able to clearly see that the levels above those people’s heads were rising rapidly. Before long, they had risen to near the lv.60 level of a mage.

Evan frowned, his breathing growing heavier.

“Who’s there!” The Archbishop suddenly turned around and shouted sharply! His hawk-like gaze seemed ready to pierce through the rose-stained glass and stab into Evan!

Evan’s scalp tingled, and he turned and ran!

The Archbishop’s expression darkened. He took out his staff from his sleeve and, with low chanting, a point of faint light condensed at the tip of his staff.

“Archbishop sir, let me catch that little mouse. Don’t let dirty blood stain your sleeves!” A man raised his head from before the statue and said solemnly.

The several people standing beside him reluctantly swallowed the words in their mouths, shooting him covert glares while cursing inwardly: Always so eager!

The Archbishop, as if not seeing their internal strife, thought for a moment, then withdrew his spell and nodded with satisfaction, saying gently, “Then go test the priest’s blessing.”

The man smiled gratefully. With a flash of bright light, he vanished from the spacious church in the blink of an eye.

Evan didn’t care at all who would come to capture him. He understood that his clumsy disguise couldn’t escape the Church’s detection, so he could only run at his fastest speed under the sunlight.

Seeing that he would escape the church’s forecourt if he ran just a bit further, Evan let out a light sigh of relief. But before he could relax, the back of his neck was seized by a scorching large hand.

“Well, let me see who this is?” A familiar voice filled with laughter sounded from behind him. Evan, like a small animal whose scruff had been grasped by fate, stared wide-eyed in fear and confusion!

“Evan, you really have some nerve… daring to come close at a time like this.” Reize smiled helplessly behind him, placing one hand on his shoulder and spinning him around.

Evan was shocked into a daze. “Teacher Reize! How are you…”

“Shh—” Reize raised his finger, his purple eyes flashing with a cunning smile. “Impressive, right? I’m now a Bishop!”

He raised his hand to close Evan’s mouth, which had been hanging open for ages, and said, “Don’t overthink it. I still really hate those hypocritical people who claim righteousness, so I need to stand at a higher position, and then—”

Reize narrowed his eyes and licked his fangs, a trace of malice flashing in his eyes. “Then crush them with divinely bestowed power.”

The melancholy and despair he had shown in Bien Village had disappeared. At this moment, he was like a weed growing vigorously in desperate circumstances, brandishing its claws against the fierce hurricane.

Evan really envied his kind of conviction. After a moment of silence, he grabbed Reize’s sacred robe and said softly, “I also want to stop them. The Church can’t be allowed to grow any more.”

Reize raised an eyebrow, looking him up and down. “Just you alone?”

“Yes, just me alone. Ji Chi… they can’t know.” Evan shook his head, lowering his eyes. “They would be in great danger.”

Reize fell silent then too. After pondering for a while, he said, “It’s too dangerous for you alone, and it’s too late to infiltrate the Church again. You need some people to help you draw attention…”

Reize remembered something, raised his eyes to look at Evan, and said, “I know of a force within the Empire. Their original intentions were good, but they’ve been too radical lately. However, that’s perfect for drawing attention… I think joining them would be your best choice right now.”

Evan looked up at him, waiting for him to continue, his eyes full of trust.

“The Gladiolus Guild.” Reize’s expression was flat. “An organization formed by commoners to support each other and resist injustice.”

…….

Evan struggled free from his memories, looking at Ji Chi in panic and confusion, not knowing how he had managed to guess. “How… how did you know…”

Ji Chi sneered. “Just because I don’t live with you doesn’t mean I don’t have eyes or a brain.”

He turned to look at the complex magic arrays covering the entire arena, narrowed his eyes to examine the health bar and level above Evan’s head, and sneered again. “You even had Harvey conceal your strength? He really has nothing better to do…”

Evan’s body stiffened, becoming even more panicked. “How did you know that too!”

The power of the God of Time made the aura Evan emitted stagnate at his level from a year ago, so even though Evan was the top student at the Magic Academy, no one took this small Mage seriously. Similarly, no one could see through his lightning-fast improvement speed.

Including Ji Chi.

Ji Chi had only discovered today just how much commotion that obedient, well-behaved, quiet roommate of his had caused without his knowledge!

“The Gladiolus Guild told you to cause trouble at the arena and you just came?” Ji Chi grabbed Evan’s face. “What if you got hurt? What if you got caught? What if you lost your reason because of your own magic array?”

Ji Chi poked the sleeping face of the child in Evan’s arms, glaring at him sideways.

Evan lowered his eyes, pressing his lips together tightly, and said softly, “This is the best opportunity for the Gladiolus Guild to appear before everyone. Resistance inevitably involves bloodshed, fighting for rights inevitably involves collateral damage. I… will inevitably get my hands dirty.”

As soon as he finished speaking, ominous blood-red light coiled toward him from all directions, surrounding Evan.

But his eyes at this moment were resolute. “But I won’t feel guilty, and I won’t go mad, because I’m walking the right path.”

Ji Chi stared at him, then suddenly smiled. He stepped back and surveyed the chaotic arena. “You know… I originally thought that as long as I was cautious enough and hid my power, I could avoid most dangers, and the people around me would be much safer too.”

“But I’ve discovered that seems to have had the opposite effect.” Ji Chi looked seriously at Evan. “Thank you, Evan, for making me understand that protection also needs to come with edges.”

He poured the remaining half bottle of potion in his hand into his mouth, spread open his palm toward the arena stage, and smiled sideways. “Since it’s the right path, everyone should walk it together.”

In an instant, a blood-red summoning array appeared above the magic arrays covering the arena, and densely packed human figures emerged from the summoning array!