What is this?! What’s happening?!

This isn’t how a baptism is supposed to be.

In the game, receiving a baptism was just a simple effect, and that was it. Has something changed now that this is reality?

I glanced over at Phoebe beyond the magical power to see her reaction.

She was wide-eyed with surprise, which told me this wasn’t a normal situation.

What are you up to now, useless Armadi?!

Do you not realize what will happen to me if it’s revealed that I’m your apostle?

Or were you actually planning to assassinate me all along?!

“Lady Allen, could you please close your eyes?”

Despite clearly being flustered, Phoebe continued as if nothing unusual was happening.

Her ability to proceed calmly, regardless of her emotions, showed her professionalism.

...Let's just go along with it and get this baptism over with quickly.

As long as I don’t say anything, no one will know I’m Armadi’s apostle.

I can just pretend I don’t know.

As I closed my eyes and took a prayerful posture, Phoebe began reciting the baptismal prayer.

As I let her words pass in one ear and out the other, a ding sound interrupted my thoughts.

A message?

Curious, I peeked through one eye and saw a window appear in front of me.

[Quest Cleared] [Upon receiving baptism, you have become a follower of Armadi.] [Armadi is watching you.] [Your existence has been elevated to that of Armadi’s apostle.] [Rewards are granted.] [You can now use the ‘Quest’ feature.]

“What?”

Quest feature?

“Lady Allen, is something wrong?”

‘No! Nothing at all!’ “It’s nothing you need to worry about, sloppy saint.”

“...I see. Then let’s continue.”

A series of question marks kept popping up in my mind.

Becoming Armadi’s apostle was something I already knew about, so that’s fine, but what is this quest feature?

Could it be what I’m thinking of?

When I muttered the word ‘quest’ in my mind, the familiar window that greeted me every morning in Soul Academy appeared before me.

It is! The quest window from Soul Academy.

“Phew.”

There were so many thoughts running through my mind.

Ever since Armadi started communicating with me through messages, I thought something was off.

Getting messages like ‘Armadi is watching you’ or ‘Blessings are granted’ is one thing, but actually talking through messages? That’s strange.

Normally, a divine revelation is communicated directly, like Grandfather Ruel does, not through messages.

Messages are a function from the game, after all.

I overlooked it back then because the situation was urgent, but now that I’ve unlocked the quest window, I’m full of questions again.

Armadi, just what are you, to be able to manipulate game functions?

Could this have something to do with why I got pulled into the game world?

But asking about that would be pointless since you won’t answer, so let’s move on to something else.

If you can control game features, couldn’t you give me something more useful?

A quest window? Seriously?

What about a status window, emotion functions, skill lists, a map? There are so many better options, and you give me a quest window?!

You really just want to mess with me, don’t you, useless Armadi?

Countless other questions swirled around in my head.

But no answers came.

That cursed, useless god remained silent.

Even though I’m sure he knows exactly what I’m thinking right now.

“You are now under the protection of Armadi,” Phoebe declared, as the holy power surrounding me seeped into my body.

I felt a strange tingling sensation as the sacred energy permeated my heart and spread through my veins.

It was a peculiar feeling.

Something within my body was changing.

Similar to when I drank the elixir.

But unlike that time, there was no pain.

When the energy coursing through my body finally settled, Phoebe spoke again, as if making an announcement.

“With this, the baptism is complete.”

"You’ve entered the path of the Holy Knight."

After leaving the church, I recounted my experience during the baptism to Grandfather Ruel, and that’s the response I received.

"When you become a knight of the gods, their holy power causes changes in your body. What you experienced was part of that process."

So, I automatically changed classes during the baptism?

A Holy Knight, huh.

Not bad.

Considering the stats and skills I’ve been building, it’s pretty optimal.

I was already planning on becoming a Holy Knight anyway.

But why does this still feel so unsettling?

Is it because it feels like everything is going exactly according to that cursed god’s plan?

"Normally, one must undergo many trials to become a Holy Knight, but it seems Armadi has taken quite an interest in you." “Yeah.”

Not that I asked for his attention.

Sigh. What’s the point of worrying about it?

Things are progressing as I wanted, after all.

I should focus on what to do next.

“Grandfather, can you teach me about the techniques used by Holy Knights?” "Of course." “I’m counting on you.”

Now that I’ve become Armadi’s apostle, Agra will likely become even more obsessed with me.

He’ll try harder than ever to erase me from existence.

So, if I don’t want to die, I need to become stronger.

Strong enough to survive any trials that come my way.

Back in my room, I took out the Keter’s Crystal Sphere that I obtained from Soul Academy.

I knew it would be painful, just like when I drank the elixir, and the thought of that brought countless worries and fears to my mind, but soon enough, the fear suppression kicked in and erased them all.

I took a deep breath and shattered the Keter’s Crystal Sphere in my hand.

Then, writhing in pain, I lost consciousness.

It was even more painful than I could have imagined.

Really.

A few days later, when I returned to the estate, Benedict had the most over-the-top reaction I’ve ever seen.

Even though we had been talking every night through communication magic since the incident in the dungeon, he still reacted this way.

On second thought, maybe it’s because I reassured him through communication magic that it’s only this bad.

If we hadn’t had those talks, he probably would have stormed Soul Academy before I even got back.

That day, as soon as I returned to the estate, I was stuck with Benedict for the entire day.

This time, I couldn’t even get him to back off with words like "I hate you," "you’re annoying," or "go away."

So, I had no choice but to endure.

After a night that was even more mentally exhausting than meeting the alchemist, I left the house early the next morning.

Normally, I would have enjoyed some training time with Fossel, but I had something else to take care of first.

“What new achievement have you accomplished this time?”

Bishop Johan of the Church of the Lord greeted me with his usual bright smile, even though it had been months since we last met.

‘I don’t know if you’re aware…’ “I don’t know if you know this, but I received the baptism from this useless church and became a follower.”

“I am aware. I heard the saint herself performed the baptism.”

The news had already reached him?

How is it that information about me spreads so quickly?

Well, that’s actually convenient. If he already knows, I don’t have to explain it.

‘Please help me learn holy magic.’ “Teach me holy magic, useless bishop.”

Even though I now possess holy power after receiving the baptism, I still can’t use holy magic.

Because you need the church’s teachings to learn holy magic.

The reason I sought out Johan, despite how awkward it is to talk to him, was precisely for this.

To learn holy magic.

I need to build up some proficiency before I enter Soul Academy.

After hearing my request, Johan raised one eyebrow before responding.

“Lady Allen, holy magic isn’t something that can be learned just because one becomes a follower of Armadi. It requires proving one’s faith over a long time before a priest can teach it.”

Johan listed various reasons to refuse my request, but I knew they were all excuses.

There are certain holy spells that do require a high level of divine power.

But there are others that don’t.

Where does he get off saying there’s nothing I can learn?

He just doesn’t like me, that’s all.

Sneaky old man.

I expected this kind of response, but he’s more blatant than I thought.

I let his words go in one ear and out the other, then pulled a small glass bottle from my pocket and placed it on the table.

“What is this?”

‘A potion that increases magic power.’ “A potion that increases magic power. Something a useless person like you would rarely see in their lifetime.”

“...Is that true?”

‘I swear by Armadi.’ “I swear by that useless god. This is the real thing.”

Johan, who had remained impassive despite all my insults, pressed his lips into a thin line when I called Armadi a useless god.

It was a natural reaction. Despite being a sneaky old man, he’s also a devout priest.

For a believer to hear their god insulted, it’s only natural to expect some harsh words.

But Johan merely composed himself and said nothing.

The potion that increases magic power was too tempting to pass up.

The potion immediately boosts your stats upon consumption.

Whether your stats are low or have reached their limit.

Of course, the potion’s value increases significantly in the latter case.

It’s not hard to raise low stats, but as they increase, it takes more effort to raise them further.

In Johan’s case, he’s already reached the pinnacle of a priest’s potential.

Raising his stats is nearly impossible, leaving skill proficiency as the only way to grow stronger.

For someone like him, a potion is irresistibly appealing.

Especially for Johan, who hasn’t given up on reaching even higher.

‘If you teach me…’ “If you promise to help me, I’ll give you this potion.”

Even in the game, you couldn’t resist the allure of a potion.

Would it be any different now?

I doubt it.

Johan stared at the potion in silence for a long moment, then sighed deeply and nodded.

“What would you like to learn?”

Haha. I knew it.

No matter how noble you try to appear, you can’t help but give in to what you desire.

You really are a useless priest.

When I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh, Johan bit his lip.

"Is this really the behavior of an apostle of Armadi?"

Grandfather, who had been watching me tempt Johan, spoke up after seeing how Johan gave in.

‘What does it matter? It’s not like I wanted to be an apostle.’ "Huh. I really wonder what Armadi is thinking." ‘Exactly.’

If I could ask, I’d really like to know.