The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 203: Holy Blood Order (3)

The main church of the Church of Solaris had a total of fourteen training grounds. Core forces like the Solarian Knights, who played a central role in the church, as well as priests who dealt with holy spells, or figures like inquisitors, used the first to third training grounds.

In other words, using the fourteenth training ground among the fourteen available meant that the organization’s position within the church was low.

Because of this, most members of the Holy Blood Order had given up hope the moment they received their orders. But what was this? Upon arriving at the training ground, they found that the other members were far beyond their expectations.

A newly established force of this caliber was assigned to the fourteenth training ground?

Even just among the people I recognize here, we should at least be using the eighth training ground!

What on earth is going on here?

Before they could even make sense of the situation, High Priest Albert arrived with the man introduced as the commander of the Holy Blood Order. At the same time, the members nodded in understanding.

I see.

Now I understand why a force of this caliber was assigned to the fourteenth training ground.

It’s because the man appointed as commander is some adventurer from who knows where.

Which bishop’s line is he from? It’s surprising that such a young adventurer was given the commander position.

This realization led to resignation, and they couldn’t muster much interest in the sudden challenge.

This naive brother trying to assert himself is just going to get thoroughly beaten.

He probably picked the Holy Laterre because he looks young and easy to handle.

He’ll regret it soon enough.

I’m curious how many seconds it’ll take to end this.

Teferen, the Holy Laterre, was one of the orphans raised by the Solarian Church branch in the city-kingdom of Laterre.

Thanks to his deep faith and exceptional swordsmanship, his name quickly reached the main church. However, in the previously corrupt main church, it was incredibly difficult to gain recognition on skill alone.

Unable to bear the injustice, Teferen refused to conform to the system, and the result was ultimately a demotion. The outcome of the paladin choosing his pride was terrible.

I was stuck organizing paperwork and cleaning up trash all day.

But he had no regrets about his choice. He took pride in having made an honorable choice as a paladin.

Therefore, he had high expectations when he heard rumors that the corrupt bishops and priests were being removed and the main church was being restructured.

High Priest Albert is the only person in this main church whom I respect. He finally drew the sword he had kept hidden.

No one knew who this “sword” was. They only assumed that this sword was sharp and ruthless enough to cleanse the main church of corrupt bishops.

And yet, this is the result...

Teferen wondered if everyone became the same once they gained power. He briefly cast a resentful glance at High Priest Albert, then placed his hand on his sword hilt.

“I’ll give you a warning first. This is your chance to withdraw now. Someone may get injured.”

Of course, everyone understood that the one he was referring to was Kai, and that he wasn’t bluffing. It was a sincere warning from the young prodigy once called the New Star of the Solarian Church.

“No one will be injured. I’ll go easy on you.”

When Kai spoke in a calm voice, everyone shook their heads.

This guy needs a dose of reality.

Well, I’m in a bad mood anyway, so this isn’t bad.

He could use a bit of a lesson.

Teferen, who usually repeated the word patience three times in his head before acting, looked at Kai with a dumbfounded expression. “Well, it’s your choice, so don’t regret it later.”

“Of course.”

As Teferen drew his sword, Kai lightly placed his hand on the hilt of his own and thought, I sure am disliked.

Kai glanced indifferently at the Holy Blood Order members gathered in the training hall. All he received were hostile gazes. The only friendly looks were from the Pray guild members in the corner.

I never thought I’d get these kinds of looks at the main church of the Church of Solaris.

Still, he could understand their attitude. The Holy Blood Order members here were all individuals with limited backgrounds and no powerful connections, relying solely on their skills.

When Albert had told him about the kind of people who made up the Holy Blood Order, it was actually Kai who made a request.

“Please assign us to the fourteenth training ground.”

“Pardon? We’ve cleared out the first training ground for you. Why insist on the fourteenth...?”

“The main church has changed too suddenly.”

It had been restructured to regain its characteristic purity and clarity, but what about the people’s perceptions? Did this restructuring wash away the suspicions of the believers?

No way.

People were always filled with suspicion and doubt. Even if one whispered the truth a hundred times, the moment they whispered a single lie, others would begin to doubt everything that person said.

So I need to show them.

Kai wanted to imprint the new face of the Solarian Church onto their eyes, ears, skin, and bones. That was why he chose the fourteenth training ground for the Holy Blood Order and why he initiated this sparring.

Waving his sword, Teferen asked mockingly, “Shall I start? Since you’re the commander, you’ll accept at least three of my attacks, won’t you?”

The Holy Blood Order members watching from outside the stage lowered their heads, trying to hold in their laughter.

Teferen is nasty.

Of course, it is customary for a higher-ranked person to let a weaker opponent have three attacks in sparring...

But that guy is only a commander in title; he looks weaker than me.

In other words, Teferen was mocking Kai using the typical sparring rule.

To that, Kai nodded nonchalantly.

In fact, he took it a step further and replied cheerfully, “I’ll give you five chances to go first.”

“Are you serious?” Teferen asked with a hardened expression, his smile completely gone.

He didn’t mind organizing documents or cleaning trash. But as a knight, it was humiliating for someone to insult his sword when he held it.

Taking a severe hit to his pride, Teferen’s gaze grew sharper.

I like that look.

Kai slightly smirked and made a small beckoning gesture with his fingers. That signal caused Teferen to lunge forward like a flash of light.

I was going to go easy on him out of respect for High Priest Albert...!

However, he couldn’t forgive someone who mocked and disregarded his sword and effort.

Teferen aimed to smash Kai’s side with the flat of his blade.

This should put him in recovery for two months. Then again, he’s an adventurer, so maybe not.

He had no doubt that his strike would send Kai flying across the training hall. However, as his world flipped upside down, his mind was filled with questions.

“Huh...?”

Before he could say more, an overwhelming pain surged through his body, and he let out a scream.

“Gah!”

He couldn't even recall how long it had been since he had felt pain like this.

With shocked eyes, Teferen slowly raised his aching body and looked at Kai.

“Now, four more.”

Kai gestured to come at him.

Teferen could no longer disregard Kai, who spoke in the same calm tone as before.

***

A deep, haunting silence—there was no better word to describe this situation.

“Kugh!”

As the massive man, Deck, fell backward with his eyes rolling up, Kai repeated the same phrase he had uttered sixty-four times before in a calm voice.

“Next.”

Gulp.

Only the sound of swallowing and eyes darting around filled the training hall. The Holy Blood Order members, their eyes wide with disbelief, held their dizzy heads.

What on earth...

Is this even possible?

The sixty-four paladins, including Holy Laterre, had failed to even brush Kai’s collar. Instead, Kai, who had looked weak and scrawny, radiated an aura like a god of battle the moment the sparring started.

It’s already shocking that he took on sixty-four people...

And he did it straight through without a break! How monstrous is his Stamina?

It’s not that this man’s level was poor...

It was our sight! Our eyes were rotten and worthless!

No more challengers came forward. Kai had already proven his overwhelming charisma and combat skill, establishing his right to lead this group.

Not bad.

Letting out an even breath without a hint of strain, Kai nodded.

So this is the effect of all those special titles I’ve gradually collected.

Kai subtly looked down and checked the effects of the special titles aiding him.

[Courageous Knight: +10 to all stats when fighting an enemy at a higher level than you.]

[Reaper of the Battlefield: Recover a certain amount of Stamina with each attack.]

[First Dragonslayer: +30 to all stats, user always emits Dragon Fear.]

All the NPCs in the Holy Blood Order had levels higher than Kai’s.

Though the average level is a bit lower thanks to the Pray guild members.

In other words, once they entered a sparring match and became hostile, the Courageous Knight title activated without fail. And that wasn’t all. The title he had earned by taking down the Titan Guild alone, the Reaper of the Battlefield, displayed effects that were nothing short of perfect for battles like these against multiple opponents.

Each successful attack restores Stamina. However...

The Reaper of the Battlefield also had a hidden effect that wasn’t listed.

Ding!

[You have won a duel against Holy Laterre, Teferen.]

[+15% of your total Stamina has been restored due to the Reaper of the Battlefield effect.]

Each time he emerged victorious in battle, a significant portion of his total Stamina was restored.

This would probably apply to killing enemies too.

With the Reaper of the Battlefield effect, he wouldn’t have to worry about exhaustion during hunting, raids, or wars.

Is this what those scientists once called perpetual motion?

He was like an unstoppable war machine that never got tired!

Kai silently looked around the training hall. Even his every move carried a power akin to Dragon Fear.

“Uhm...”

“Ahem.”

The members of the Holy Blood Order naturally averted their gazes! Though they were all strong and capable of resisting Dragon Fear to some extent, the sight of Kai’s overwhelming strength had already left them mentally shaken. Thus, even if they didn’t feel fear, they saw in Kai the presence of an absolute authority.

Despite having such incredible skill...

He doesn’t show off, nor is he arrogant.

He didn’t try to smooth things over with empty words but instead quietly proved his skills as a leader.

He even shows benevolent nature by not blaming us for our lack of insight.

Once someone was captivated, even flaws could start to seem endearing! The members of the Holy Blood Order began to see qualities in Kai that made them want to follow him as their leader.

“Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge me?”

At Kai’s question, the Holy Blood Order members remained silent. After a moment, Teferen, who had been resting and gathering himself at the back, returned to the training ground.

“Oh, a rematch?”

“No, that’s not it.” Shaking his head, Teferen knelt down on one knee forcefully. “Please blame my lack of insight for failing to recognize the commander’s level and recklessly challenging you! From now on, I will follow without further complaints!”

Following Teferen’s lead, the three hundred members of the Holy Blood Order each knelt on one knee and pressed their fists to their chests in a sign of respect.

The pledge of three hundred Holy Blood Order members surrounded Kai in a circle!

Smiling at the sight that made his heart full, Kai quietly began to say, “You must have felt sorrow and frustration. You likely wanted to fight against the injustice but lacked the strength, and when you wanted to vent, you had no one willing to listen.”

Kai’s words struck a deep part of emotions buried within the members of the Holy Blood Order. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Speaking gently and touching on their emotions was, after all, the best way to connect with people!

When I volunteered at the orphanage, I learned that understanding and empathizing with the kids was the key to connecting with them.

Understanding why they were struggling and sincerely empathizing with their feelings was Kai’s favorite method when approaching people.

“But from now on, everything will change.”

Kai’s calm voice suddenly turned fierce, like that of an enraged bull.

“The restructured Solarian Church will distance itself from corruption and become a pure and transparent organization where only individual skill and faith determine one’s position. The Holy Blood Order will carry forward this new beginning of the Solarian Church, which has cut away its rotten parts.”

“Whoo...!”

“The Holy Blood Order will be the sword and shield for the weak, a cold dagger at the throats of the corrupt, and will operate throughout the continent. Those who wish to be part of the Holy Blood Order and spread the teachings of the Solarian God Helik on this land may stay. Those who do not may leave.”

Kai turned and met the gaze of each member of the Holy Blood Order one by one.

Ding!

[Teferen’s affinity has greatly increased.]

[Deck’s affinity has greatly increased.]

[Saladin’s affinity has greatly increased.]

[Dutaros’s affinity has greatly increased.]

.

.

.

A flood of notifications popped up at a speed too fast to follow!

With a satisfied expression, Kai sheathed his sword.

“Then, I hereby assign the first mission to the Holy Blood Order.”

The mission was simple, of course.

The Dwarf Rescue Operation.

With the sharp sword of the Holy Blood Order now in his hands, Kai wore a charming smile on his face.