------------------
[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
------------------
Chapter 5: The Solar Theocracy
It was Ray's first time leaving the village of Obello. He had always stayed in the church where evil spirits couldn't approach.
Like most children, he had played in the hills behind the village during his childhood, but after nearly being devoured by an evil spirit, he never ventured there again.
[Hehehe! It's been a while!]
[You've been hiding in the church every day!]
As the sun set and night fell, evil spirits came swarming with their sinister shadows.
These spirits, always targeting Ray's soul, had become much more numerous and malevolent than they had been on Earth.
Whether they were nature spirits or evil ones, even the souls of mindless beasts targeted Ray's soul.
"It was a time of humiliation."
To the evil spirits, Ray's reaction was similar to how humans might react if meat started talking.
In their eyes, Ray, with his enormous spiritual vessel, couldn't look more delicious.
To them, Ray was like the finest beef.
But now this "beef" had caught one of them.
Physically.
[???]
The evil spirit, accustomed to existing in the spiritual realm and moving through different laws of reality, was bewildered when Ray grabbed it.
It was the ghost of a notorious bandit who, even after being beheaded and becoming a spirit, had killed three more travelers.
After confirming the bandit ghost's sufficient evil deeds, Ray smiled and grabbed the spirit's shoulders.
"Until now, I held back for fear of accumulating evil karma, but not anymore."
[What are you doing...]
Riiip!
The bandit ghost couldn't understand what had just happened. Its arms had been torn apart like paper.
[AAAAAAARGH!]
The bandit ghost screamed.
The pain was no different from when it had its throat cut while alive.
"Indeed, you feel pain normally. Good, very good."
What's so good about...!
The bandit ghost felt an ominous foreboding as Ray grabbed its neck.
It was similar to the foreboding it felt when a knight from the domain forces beheaded it with one stroke during a raid on its mountain hideout... no, this was even more terrible.
Crack! Rrrip!
With unbelievable strength, Ray tore off the bandit ghost's head.
This was the same bandit ghost whose head had been severed by a knight's sword in life.
When Ray exerted his inhuman strength, the spirit's neck was physically torn.
....................!!
A grotesque scream echoed.
But only other evil spirits, wild animals, and Ray could hear it.
Even that scream didn't last long.
When Ray pierced the bandit ghost's heart and burst something inside it, the spirit vanished without a trace.
The evil karma accumulated by the bandit ghost was absorbed by Ray, and his righteous merit increased.
"It was a time of humiliation and disgrace."
Ray smiled maliciously.
Last night's battle with evil spirits possessing beasts had proven a fact:
Killing evil spirits increased his holy power.
"Hehe, there's a certain pleasure in killing evil spirits."
People need motivation to improve their performance, right? Ray's gaze turned toward the trembling evil spirits.
They were shocked to witness a soul being destroyed in real time.
They had always fed safely from places unbound by physical laws. But for Ray to not only physically grab souls but also annihilate them?
The unfamiliar fear of death approached these spirits.
[KYAAAAAAAH!]
The evil spirits screamed and fled.
Ray chased after them, engaging in a pursuit under the moonlight.
To think he could accumulate righteous merit just by catching and punishing these wicked evil spirits!
Moreover, Ray now had the sun's blessing. His physical strength had increased at least three or four times.
With his increased physical strength and the ability to grab souls, the evil spirits didn't stand a chance.
"Phew...! Phew...! Running around in the mountains at night is still tiring."
Besides, being spirits, they wouldn't die just from having their heads smashed.
Just as souls have a concept of a heart, it seems certain parts must be destroyed for them to vanish.
For simple spirits, tearing them apart completely worked, but ghosts maintaining their living forms were not easy to catch and kill.
'Perhaps I should become an armed priest after all.'
Ray was on his way to the Solar Theocracy to join the armed organization.
'A Theocracy... They train practitioners for direct field deployment rather than theology college, right?'
In this era, the concept of theology college didn't exist.
More precisely, the Theocracy itself was like a theology college.
Those ordained there could officially conduct mass and manage churches as priests.
Normally, Ray would need to serve as a deacon for about ten years before being eligible to take the exam, but there was an exception.
Namely, taking the "armed organization" entrance exam through a letter of recommendation.
They were permitted to bear arms, received missions from the Theocracy, and exterminated heretics and infidels across the continent.
A profession with an obviously difficult path ahead.
But for Ray, nothing could be better.
'They just give me bounties on red-level or higher souls that I'd gladly kill anyway?'
For Ray, who had always been threatened by evil spirits and had to avoid things like gods and demons, what could be more appealing?
Both Ray's current life and previous life had been about resisting fate.
He was normally plagued by evil spirits, but on days with particularly strong mana, waves came from all directions.
Until now, he had endured under the protection of the church's mystical energy and Father Johan, but that too had reached its limit.
If he hadn't fortunately received the sun's blessing, he would have struggled against even the wolf spirit last night.
In that sense, the armed organization's operating method was optimal for Ray's situation.
Already lacking in faith in this life, which made it difficult to accumulate holy power, now he could increase his holy power by tearing apart souls? Gain divine abilities?
Wasn't this absolutely perfect?
Ray excitedly headed for the Solar Theocracy, but it wasn't an easy journey.
Pastor Kim from modern Earth, in his second life, was traveling with only his feet to rely on.
Although he could somehow navigate with the map he received from Maxcel, the problem was this harsh medieval world.
"My, a priest crossing mountains alone. What's your hurry?"
"Ah, I'm a deacon, not yet ordained as a priest."
"That's not my concern."
In this harsh medieval period, not only were there unpaved roads and inadequate means of transport, but also countless independent regional customs officers.
Thugs who extorted money and even lives without even building toll gates.
"Would it help if I said, 'Don't you fear the sun?'"
"Hehe, of course not. Sorry, priest, but if word got out that we messed with the Solar Theocracy, it could get problematic if armed priests showed up."
So they would kill him without leaving evidence and let the crows feast on him.
Ray sized up the bandits. One red. Two pink-red.
Though called bandits, they were more like a robber gang than a bandit group.
"I see. But may I pray for you all before that?"
"What?"
"Even if I die, I hope you all repent someday. I will pray to Sol Invictus for you."
"Huh, this one's funny. Fine. Go ahead and pray—AAAAARGH!"
"B-Boss!"
The bandit group was horrified.
For good reason.
Ray had grabbed the bandit leader's shoulder and crushed his collarbone with just his grip.
"Do you understand? This is the sun's blessing. Under sunlight, I exert several times my normal strength."
"B-but it's night..."
Well, moonlight is reflected sunlight. Ray took the sword from the bandit whose collarbone he had crushed and swung it at another bandit.
The bandit reflexively blocked, but his sword shattered against Ray's monstrous strength. Ray's sword was also half-broken, but it was enough to sever the bandit's head.
"M-monster...!"
"I want to compare the difference between red and pink-red."
Ray killed all the bandits without hesitation.
This was the price for underestimating a cleric of the Solar Theocracy on a night journey.
'Indeed, compared to dark red, this is definitely red.'
Not all dark reds are the same. There was a clear difference between the warlock Velik and his two apprentices.
Still, the difference between a soul corrupted by demonic mana and the evil karma of a simple but heinous murderer was significant.
And there was also a meaningful difference between red and pink-red.
Numerically, if pink-red is 1 and red is 5, then dark red would be at least 10.
A warlock would be around 100.
So, is the criterion for gaining divine abilities tearing apart a warlock-level soul and accumulating righteous merit?
Perhaps killing another warlock or tearing apart about ten red-level human scum would give him a feel for it?
But even in this backward medieval era, it wasn't easy to find red-soul serial killers who cut people to pieces.
'Bandits really are perfect for this.'
Ray wasn't a pleasure killer who deliberately sought out people to kill. But he wasn't merciful enough to spare those who came to kill him.
After catching bandits, killing approaching evil spirits, crossing mountains and rivers, he finally arrived at the Solar Theocracy.
The metropolis, said to be comparable to the empire's capital, was a different world from rural places like Obello.
"Folks are flocking in from all over this year too."
"What does it matter? Most don't even meet the criteria and fail."
Ray heard these voices at the inn where he'd unpacked. After ordering soup and rye bread from the waitress, he eavesdropped on their conversation.
"Being a combat pilgrim of the Theocracy is certainly a coveted position, higher than a village guard captain, and potentially above knights or nobles if one rises in rank."
"The problem is mercenaries with no faith come too. People who've never read scripture once in their lives come flocking for money and status."
"Just getting the monastic position lets you pass through most cities. That's something."
So the Theocracy's armed organization even hired mercenaries.
Well, as a Theocracy that had to send combatants across the continent, manpower wouldn't be easy to come by.
It would be difficult to find clerics with divine abilities who were also good at combat.
"The Solar Theocracy is impressive though. Did you see the dispatch of the Holy Knight Order three years ago? When a demon appeared in the south."
"Wasn't that when the Saintess herself took action? If you don't know that, you're not from Solar Theocracy!"
There was such an incident? For Ray, who had never left his remote village, this was the first he'd heard of it.
"Are you also applying for the armed organization exam, brother?"
Just then, a boy sat down next to Ray. The boy, who appeared to be Ray's peer, offered his hand with an untroubled smile.
"I'm Henry."
“Ray Anderson, brother."
"Ah! Brother Ray! Um, hmm..."
Despite being the one to approach first, Henry hesitated. Ray, as the elder, skillfully took the lead in conversation.
"You're here for the exam too, I presume?"
"That's right! I came down from the mountains for this exam."
Mountains, is it? Usually, clerical buildings in the mountains were established for specific purposes.
"You're a monk, then."
"How did you know? I belong to the Granville Monastery."
"Well, clerics living in the mountains are usually monks."
It's a matter of accessibility. Churches are typically built in villages or cities. This is for the convenience of regular worshippers.
After all, if you want to collect donations, the Theocracy's main source of income, you need to build where worshippers can come.
In contrast, monasteries are gatherings of monks dedicated to spiritual life and discipline.
Unlike churches that must mingle with regular worshippers and collect donations, monasteries focus solely on discipline, which is why they often reside in mountains.
"I received my deacon ordination at the church in Obello village."
"Ah! You're a deacon! I'm envious!"
Monks don't officially receive the sacrament of the Theocracies, but they must strictly follow doctrine and accumulate practice.
From their perspective, those who received Theocracies like priests or deacons might be seen as a kind of intellectual profession.
"I've heard monks don't come down from monasteries often, so why did you, Brother Henry?"
"Ah, our Granville Monastery is actively engaged in combat against heretics. Many monks have joined the armed organization since ancient times."
"Oh, so it's a tradition of a prestigious lineage."
At those words, Henry scratched his head shyly and smiled.
"Actually, that's why I'm worried. Unlike my seniors, what if I fail..."
Ray understood the boy's honest concern. It was the kind of worry typical for adolescents of this age.
"So, Brother Ray, have you heard anything about the exam?"
"I'm also from a remote mountain village, so I don't have much information."
If anything, the monastery that regularly produced combat clerics for the armed organization would know more.
"I see..."
"Didn't your seniors tell you anything?"
"They said the exam content always changes. Well, I'll just have to do my best!"
He recovered quickly. Despite approaching a stranger and gaining nothing, Henry didn't seem to mind.
"Ah, but they did tell me this. Top-ranking passers receive holy relics!"
"Holy relics?"
"Yes! They say just carrying it cures all diseases. Is that true?"
To think they'd give away such impressive items? Though Ray was close to fifty if you added Pastor Kim's Earth age, he couldn't help being interested at the mention of holy relics.
"Oh right! Did you know? The Cardinal's son is taking the entrance exam this time. They say he's the son of the Cardinal and a Holy Knight, so he's guaranteed to take first place, right?"
Henry chattered about things Ray hadn't even asked about.
He was a boy overflowing with energy in many ways.
***
On the day of the entrance exam.
Ray's travel funds were almost depleted, to the point where he was considering sleeping outdoors.
'How can there be so many people...'
The number of people visiting the Papal Office for the entrance exam was on a scale Ray had never seen in this world. It seemed like even if you gathered all the residents of Obello village before the plague spread, it wouldn't reach even a tenth of this crowd.
Out of all these people, only about a hundred would pass?
That means the acceptance rate is dozens to one. Even among those, most would be apprentices or provisional members, and those who actually receive priestly ordination would be even fewer.
"Brother Ray! We meet again!"
The person Ray encountered while standing in line was Henry.
This enthusiastic boy was fifteen, one year younger than Ray.
Although he might seem a bit young to join the armed organization, apparently Ray's peers were the main demographic joining.
They say it's difficult to educate those who are too old.
As the two stood in line, fortunately, Ray's line shortened quickly.
Those with official priest recommendations were allowed to pass immediately.
Conversely, applicants without recommendations were screened based on the presence of holy power, so the line diminished rapidly.
Well, for a place meant to train armed clerics of the Theocracy, one couldn't enter without holy power, the evidence of faith.
'I was cutting it close too.'
Ray also didn't have much holy power as his faith wasn't particularly devout.
Of course, having divine abilities would give him a free pass if he could prove it.
But unfortunately, Ray didn't get a chance to talk about his divine abilities.
"A recommendation from Father Maxcel. Pass."
In this world, connections resolved most things.
The Papal Office they entered was an array of astonishingly massive buildings.
The central Papal Office building was a magnificent castle-like structure covered in white ivory, and not far from it stood a church large enough to accommodate all the Theocracy's citizens.
The exam applicants headed to a location circling behind the Papal Office building, where the Eclipse Inquisition building was located.
"We will now begin the first entrance exam."
The examiner guiding the applicants stopped and announced.
"The first exam is the reformation exam."
"Hm?"
Ray tilted his head at the familiar term.
------------------
[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
------------------
