Chapter – 52
[<System> The Aura class advancement mission has not been completed, so a core has not been created. Accumulated amount will be temporarily stored.]
What? It gets temporarily stored?
[<System> The size of the core will be determined based on the accumulated amount after awakening Aura.]
Oh! Jackpot!
It was just like divine power.
Just like how divine power guaranteed cardinal-level strength once awakened if prepared beforehand, Aura could also be increased in advance through preliminary training and then yield results all at once upon awakening.
Best system ever!
<Train whenever you have time and increase your Aura sensitivity.>
“Yes!”
I had actually been worried about what to do with my extra time after raising my weapon mastery to level 49 since I couldn’t awaken Aura before divine power.
But now I had the perfect answer: mental cultivation.
<You’re quite motivated. As you know, many swordsmen die without ever earning the title of Sword Master. But if it’s you, cadet, I think you could awaken Aura before turning twenty.>
At Agnes’s encouragement, I just smiled brightly.
Twenty years old meant ten years away.
Ten years? No way.
Three years would be enough.
The age I awakened divine power would be the same age I awakened Aura.
“I’ll work hard!”
✠
Meanwhile, someone was watching the situation at the iron obstacle training ground from the top of a zelkova tree.
“Hmm….”
Through the thick leaves, a small animal-like little girl could be seen.
The pink-haired child stared into the air, nodding enthusiastically, occasionally muttering to herself.
To most people, it would have looked strange.
But the woman secretly watching her thought differently.
My daughter’s teacher seems to be quite a peculiar existence.
Eltea’s eyes shone with interest.
Printz and Ailet were both training diligently in their own ways. At this rate, someday the day would come when her children would cross swords.
Filled with anticipation, Eltea smiled warmly.
✠
Amid peaceful daily life, time passed quickly.
The alchemy business with Father kept succeeding with every new product release, earning enormous profits.
Thanks to consistent training, my Body Strength level had long passed level 50, and my swordsmanship reached level 49.
After that, I adjusted my swordsmanship level by learning other weapons, practicing footwork, and focusing on mental cultivation.
After telling my family I was training in swordsmanship, I sometimes sparred with my brother and mother.
I always beat my brother.
I always lost to my mother.
Each time, Agnes—who had a strong competitive spirit—would double my training volume, which was exhausting.
I also diligently attended the chapel every dawn to awaken divine power.
Since I hadn’t needed to use Divine Descent after clearing the Black Salt Desert dungeon, I no longer missed morning prayers due to divine fever.
There was also no reason to leave the tutorial region.
The master of the Golden Ivory Tower sent an invitation offering the alchemist Rodel an elder position, but it was declined.
And during the annual Thanksgiving, Grandfather couldn’t wait and came to the Baekjak estate himself.
For Mother’s sake—since she still hated the duke’s family—he came under the identity of a wealthy adventurer. Bianca, who knew everything, played along with his clumsy act while making sure he was treated comfortably.
Later it became an annual autumn tradition, and Bianca came to treat him casually like a friend’s grandfather.
While living this calm and ordinary life, the seasons cycled several times.
I experienced three autumns in this world.
Last week marked the third time I ate turkey breast with Grandfather.
Yesterday, with the first sleet-like snow of the year, I turned thirteen.
It had been 2 years and 9 months since I possessed this body.
In days, that was just over one thousand days.
✠
Finally! Finally! Finally!
With a trembling, excited heart, I clasped my hands tightly and stared at the system window with sparkling eyes.
Ding!
The long-awaited message finally appeared!
[<System> ‘Dawn Prayer’ completed.]
[<Quest> ‘1000 Dawn Prayers’ completed (1,000/1,000)]
[<System> Congratulations! You have met the conditions to awaken divine power.]
“…!”
A golden aura wrapped around me.
Like a game level-up effect, three pairs of wings of light briefly spread behind me.
And then—
“Ah!”
[<System> You have awakened divine power!]
[<System> Your divine power is Saint-level.]
“Yes!”
One level higher than Cardinal—Saint level.
Equivalent to 8th-circle magic, or Aura Master level—practically the human limit.
I could feel a new and mysterious energy filling my body. I slowly inhaled, savoring it.
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ wipes tears, moved by your growth.]
[‘The Scales that Judge Souls’ applauds your S-rank growth.]
[‘The Architect of the Trial Tower’ praises that you could easily reach the 100th floor.]
[‘The Caustic Balancer’ encourages you to continue your overpowered journey.]
[‘The Heavenly Secret Inspector’ says they stopped by to congratulate you.]
Even the Caustic Balancer was saying nice things today.
And most surprising was the Inspector. I didn’t expect them to come just to congratulate me.
Ah, I shouldn’t forget my manners.
“Thank you very much!”
I bowed toward all directions of the chapel.
<You’re communicating with the gods again today. Anyway, congratulations on awakening divine power, Ailet.>
“Thank you too, Agnes.”
<Why not try healing as a test? You scraped your hand during training yesterday.>
“Oh, wait. I have something I need to do first before using skills.”
<What? Healing is a basic skill. You should be able to use it immediately after awakening divine power.>
“I’m a bit different.”
I set my satchel down and searched through it carefully. What I was about to take out was quite heavy.
“Ugh!”
Thud!
A heavy treasure chest appeared. Inside were dazzling gold coins.
All earned from alchemy and herb supply businesses.
And this was a chapel.
The perfect place to donate.
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ asks if you’re ready.]
“Yes! I’ll spend everything!”
[<System> 100 million cash payment completed. Refunds available within 7 days…]
“Whatever. Cash shop!”
I opened the Skill Book menu.
There were four skill tiers: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Ultimate.
I checked them one by one.
[<Skill> ‘Heal’
Heals external wounds.]
“Purchase.”
I immediately used it on my scraped left hand.
[<System> Basic skill ‘Heal Lv.11 (+10)’ activated.]
Saint-level divine power poured out as if it had been waiting, and the wound healed instantly.
<Is this really your first time? That’s very stable.>
Agnes sounded impressed seeing me use level 11 healing right away.
But I felt slightly disappointed.
The heal I used when fighting Ardiman was over level 100…
Compared to when I used Divine Descent, the skill level had dropped drastically.
Considering the +10 level bonus from The Word that Builds the World’s Favoritism, that meant my real level was just level 1.
Sadly, it seemed I had to start from the basics again.
[‘The Caustic Balancer’ asks how it feels to be nerfed after abusing Divine Descent.]
The sharp tongue had returned.
It’s not a nerf. This is my real skill. I’ll just level it up properly.
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ praises how well you’ve grown.]
Since I finished testing divine power, it was time to continue what I was doing.
I reopened the cash shop and checked the skills.
‘Antidote’ to cure poison.
‘Consecration’ to infuse divine power into objects.
‘Barrier’ for shields.
‘Purification Baptism’ to remove curses.
‘Healing Field’ to heal allies.
‘Divine Hymn’, a support buff skill.
And many more…
As I read descriptions and bought them one by one, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
“This is annoying.”
So from the next skill onward, I just pointed with my finger.
“From here—”
Scrolled down.
“—to here.”
Selected all.
“Give me everything.”
Purchased.
Ah, whatever. I’ll probably use them someday.
