Yuder thought he understood the reason why the priests hesitated, looking at each other with faces filled with uncertainty.

'I'm reminded of Bertrail Shand Apeto.'

Though his divine power was not of a significant level, he was a man who had risen to the position of one of the twelve Elder Priests solely because he came from one of the four great ducal families. Although he had long since passed away, there were still many like him within the temple.

But just because such occurrences were common did not mean they were not shameful.

The reason Kishiar had mentioned Lusan's divine power and had him attend this gathering was all for this very moment.

"Then... I'll go first."

After some time of exchanging hesitant glances about who should go first, one of the priests stepped forward, his face displaying discomfort. Perhaps worried that even the hem of his garment might touch the divine sword, he stretched his hand from as far away as possible.

As he began to mumble a prayer, white divine power started to flow. The faintness of it was laughable, not even coming close to the level of divine power Lusan usually exhibited, and only half as strong as what Kishiar could produce. What's more, because he sent his power from a distance, the light that actually reached the sword was negligible.

"Wouldn't it be better to come a bit closer?" Kishiar kindly suggested, looking at the sword that had not changed at all. But the light emitted by the priest abruptly stopped at that moment.

"Oh dear."

"...I apologize."

The priest tried a few more times to gather his strength but no more light came forth. He withdrew dejectedly, and the second priest stepped forward. Although he bravely approached the divine sword, unfortunately, the amount of divine power he could produce was much less than the first priest's. Even after struggling and squeezing out his divine power, the divine sword showed no reaction.

The third priest was a man who had been standing near Baron Willhem, continuously eyeing Kishiar with suspicion.

"I regret to say that I'll need a little preparation before I begin."

It wasn't a question of whether it was okay to prepare; it was merely a polite announcement.

The third priest then drank two bottles of a special holy water made for the priests, excusing that his health had deteriorated due to being busy with temple affairs recently, and that gathering strength seemed to be difficult.

"Huueeugh...!"

However, despite the effect of the holy water, the divine power he produced was the weakest of the three.

'A candle on the verge of going out would be brighter than that.'

The other two priests hastily averted their eyes, as if finding it difficult to watch his earnest and strained efforts. Embarrassed, flushed necks were visible in between their pained sounds. Baron Willhem bit his lip, and Micalin, who had been quietly observing, couldn't help but cough to hide his laughter.

"Priest Futo, perhaps that's enough for now."

Micalin, who had barely suppressed his laughter, spoke with difficulty, causing the third priest to bow his head.

"I can still do more. It's just that the speed at which the divine power is coming out is much slower than usual."

"I understand how hard it is to exert strength in an unhealthy state, even as a mage. Speaking as someone who admires Priest Futo's excellent sermons, please don't take my concerns the wrong way."

Micalin soothed the other party with remarkable skill. Only after being cajoled several times did the third priest finally, yet reluctantly, withdraw his hand.

"I am still fine, but since the Head Mage is so worried, I suppose I have no choice."

Though he tried desperately to appear composed, he couldn't hide the sweat that burst forth from his face, nor his trembling hands. As he was about to withdraw his hand, Baron Willhem twisted his lips into a smirk and raised his voice.

"Ah, how can this be? Despite accepting the divine power of three excellent priests, there's no change in the divine sword... I don't know what to think."

"I'm just as surprised," Kishiar said, calmly nodding in agreement.

As Kishiar played along, Baron Willhem twitched his lips momentarily before opening them with a feigned worried expression.

"Your Highness, have you ever previously confirmed the information that the divine sword reacts to divine power?"

"Do you wish to say that I lied?"

"Far from it, Your Majesty. I'm just concerned that if the information you have isn't something you've confirmed yourself, but rather something known through old records, there might be a possibility that the records were mistaken."

Although his explanation was long, in short, he meant that the three priests' divine power wasn't the problem; the suspicion lay with the divine sword.

"How fortunate we are to be the only ones here. If others knew about this, imagine how surprised and worried they would be..."

Despite the Baron's skill in steering the conversation in a direction unfavorable to Kishiar, Kishiar merely smiled.

"Indeed. It's a valid concern. I've always been deeply impressed by the Baron's loyalty."

"Not at all. In this situation, anyone would..."

"But don't worry. There are three priests here, are there not?"

"Yes?"

"High Priest Lusan. Come here."

Baron Willhem knew that the only priest in the Cavalry was also scheduled to attend with Kishiar today. And he had long since heard through his servants that the priest was an utterly ordinary young initiate. He didn't give it much thought.

But for some reason, the wooden holy symbol around the young priest's neck, his thick green hair carelessly tied back, made Baron Willhem suspicious and uneasy.

"Would you be able to prove it by pouring divine power over this sword?"

"Of course."

Lusan approached the sword without hesitation. Without reciting a prayer or drinking holy water, he simply raised his hand.

And a moment later, a bright white light poured out from his hand like a waterfall, literally covering the blade of the divine sword.

"..."

The three elder priests couldn't hide their shock. Even Baron Willhem closed his mouth. After pouring out the light for a long time, Lusan pulled back his divine power with an unlabored face, and as if it had been waiting, a new light gently rose above the silver blade. Moments later, it shimmered, lifting beautiful characters like a sentence above the blade.

"That's from the scripture...!"

Someone among the elder priests muttered unconsciously. Someone else staggered back. In front of the pure and powerful divine power that no one could doubt, Yuder too felt an overwhelming sensation.

This was the first time he had felt such a dense and unique divine power. It was completely different from the divine power that the priests emitted for healing, yet even more astonishing was the fact that he could feel that it was essentially the same. Lusan also looked surprised, but he soon knelt down, joined his hands, and assumed a praying position.

A long time passed, but the light did not easily show signs of dimming. Kishiar clicked his tongue as he pushed the sword back into its scabbard. For some reason, the sword seemed to resist going in, emitting an even stronger light, but when its master shoved it in without hesitation, all its energy instantly ceased as if it had never existed. Only then did the sound of relieved breaths come from the direction of the elder priests.

Kishiar, looking down at it indifferently, sheathed the sword at his waist and spoke.

“Do you believe now?”

No one dared to open their mouths.

Baron Willhem, and the three elder priests, simply maintained their stunned expressions.

“I won't expressly forbid mentioning what was seen today. If there is someone who worries excessively again, let them remember that it is tantamount to doubting the God. Please convey that to them.”

His red eyes swept over Baron Willhem's parched face, warningly.

“Baron Willhem, I can trust and ask this of you, can't I?”

The look was intensely affectionate, yet at the same time, chillingly cold. Baron Willhem, feeling a strange chill running down his back, finally managed to open his dry mouth.

“...Yes, Your Highness.”

“I too will never forget the honor of witnessing this holy miracle and will pass it on.”

Micalin followed with a respectful salute, placing his hand over his chest. Yuder saw for the first time since meeting Micalin Punt, a look of pure happiness on his face.

“And you?”

The elder priests, receiving Kishiar's gaze, also bowed their heads. The priest who seemed friendly with Baron Willhem answered with a voice as small as a mosquito's, appearing to want to maintain his pride, but the other two showed a demeanor incomparably more subdued than before.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Baron Willhem's defeat was as clear as day, beyond doubt to anyone who saw. Yuder looked at the magnificent figure of the man, proudly standing even with the splendid sheath of the divine sword revealed, and unexpectedly felt his heart pound.

The new master chosen by the Divine Sword Orr.

This time, that sword would not lose its master.

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