Damned System

Chapter 71. Reunion and Meeting (3)

*Kang-!*

A log as large as a human head bounced off the spear blade with an unbelievable sound.

“Right, it’s a prestigious entrance exam after all.”

If it was a test that anyone could pass, it wouldn’t deserve the name of an exam.

But even so…

“Is there really such hard wood?”

Out of curiosity, I picked it up from the floor to examine it, and indeed, it was wood. It had tree rings and bark. However, its hardness was beyond what could typically be considered wood.

I stared at the log with curious eyes before grabbing my spear again. This time, a red haze began to emanate from the spear blade.

The result?

“Huh.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a clean cut; the log remained intact with just the spear blade embedded within it. I stepped on the log and pulled out the spear.

Due to the condition requiring a complete cut, the mission-clear message didn’t appear with a mere halfway cut.

“Hoo.”

Therefore, I infused even more mana into the spear than before. The mana, which waved like a mist, condensed into something resembling a thick fog.

While the server connection was ongoing, my proficiency in Mana Manipulation had surpassed 70, and I managed to successfully employ this technique for the first time back then.

I called it “Condense”.

It enhances the cutting power and destructive force even more than the mist form. However, the reinforced power consumes an absurd amount of mana—four to five times more than maintaining the mist form.

“Thanks to that, my proficiency in Mana Manipulation has increased significantly.”

Despite only training ‘Condense’ for a mere two days, the proficiency rose by over 15%. Consequently, the proficiency level of Mana Manipulation surpassed 85%.

I observed the red mist surrounding the spear blade, then adjusted my posture. Subsequently, I swung the spear precisely towards the black log.

There was a considerable resistance.

It was similar to cutting through a steel dagger.

“No matter how much thicker it is…”

That blackwood substance was as hard as steel.

If I had to compare, it was like the difference between cutting a carrot and cutting a cabbage.

Applying just a bit more force, the log split in two.

As I stared at the blackwood, which defied my common sense, messages popped up sequentially.

「You have passed the entrance exam of the Order of Palao.」

「You have joined the Order of Palao.」

「You absorb a fragment of Palao’s divinity. Your attack power increases by 10%.」

「You can access the Order’s Homepage. Access authorization codename K.」

「A mark of the order does not exist.」

「Please obtain the mark of the order.」

「You are the first player to join one of the Seven Great Orders! Reputation increases by 70.」

「You are the first player to join the Order of Palao! Reputation increases by 10.」

“Divinity fragment?”

I wondered how it would grant a buff, and by reading the messages, it seemed like divinity was involved.

In a previous conversation, it became clear that this game was owned by the system of Earth.

So probably, the divinity given by the Seven Great Gods to the system was utilized in the game.

“Then it also explains the two authorities granted to me previously.”

Of course, given the term ‘fragment’, it’s slightly different from complete divinity.

Still, it appeared the Seven Great Gods were making substantial sacrifices, using us as meat shields.

Even if divided into fragments, it wouldn’t have been easy for them to share divinity with everyone.

Just the confirmed number of players was over 100,000, and it was expected to increase even further.

The divinity given by the Seven Great Gods to the system must not have been too minor.

After roughly assessing the situation, I opened the status window. The primary question was what “attack power” meant, which I needed to clarify.

Finding the answer didn’t take long. As soon as I opened the status window and looked at the numbers, I was able to determine the meaning of the attack power buff.

“505…?”

My attribute mana had increased by 10% of the 455.

“This is insane.”

When thinking about it, no effect better matched the term “attack power increase”.

Mana is a measure of strength.

Especially attribute mana, which holds the unrealistic power to interfere with and resist nature.

However, unlike general mana, acquiring it was limited, causing a constant sense of scarcity.

For it to increase by 10% was an enormous effect.

“Moreover, I am still at Beginner level.”

With a 10% increase at Bronze rank, if I was to be promoted to Eunpae, the increase could be even greater.

The more mana, the higher the rank, the more powerful it would become.

Additionally, attribute mana isn’t used in the shop. It is an ever-growing force with no setbacks, only steady growth.

“Hoo.”

Confirming the support effect from the order made me feel at ease.

It assured me that the benefits from Palao were indeed superior to things like Permanent Skills or growth-type equipment.

Now it was time to review other contents.

The first thing I did was check above my head.

“Why isn’t it showing?”

Ascending the rank came with expectations of a new symbol appearing, but there was none.

I opened the status window to check if anything else displayed, but Palao affiliation wasn’t mentioned; Earth was the only affiliation shown.

“Shouldn’t the Palao affiliation appear?”

Is there something more to do? In that case, I should go out and confirm it.

Before that, I gazed around to see if there was anything else to note, and to my left in the view was a new icon among the lined-up icons.

It bore the emblem of the Order of Palao, surely representing the Order’s Homepage.

Clicking it, a window popped open with various information such as the organization chart, exclusive communities, order missions, and more.

“Hm?”

However, before I could delve into that information, I squinted and stared at the homepage.

There was something strange at the top of the initial screen of the order homepage.

「1/5,000」

What could this unsettling number represent?

* * *

“Ugh.”

After K entered the Prayer Room, Hemar groaned and patted his back.

He then realized he was still holding onto the cloth in his hand.

He now understood the reason why K had such a complex expression the first time he saw him.

But what could he do?

“The spiders keep spinning webs endlessly, no matter how much we clean.”

He had no choice but to help by rolling up his sleeves.

To reopen the closed eastern and western halls, cleaning had started, but manpower was lacking.

Thus, Rivan, Hemar, and the temple workers joined in the cleaning efforts.

While deeply engaged in cleaning, such an occurrence happened.

“Already an Outsider has arrived.”

In the past, the oracle left by Meferoseta’s apostle had meant reinforcements from another world.

News of this quickly spread across the continent.

In reality, receiving more accurate inside information from each god, the leadership of the orders hurriedly prepared to welcome the Outsiders.

Even the Order of Palao, which had lost the god they served, was no exception.

Although no god was there to narrate the news, a sphere named “Order Homepage” appeared on the altar in the headquarters.

It stated that apostles and priests must learn the usage of something bizarre called a homepage.

Accordingly, individuals associated with Habon, Loborre, and Viceta Temples were summoned.

Upon hearing the details, Hemar made a brief decision.

“I’ll stay and fill the gap; Revan alone cannot hold the fort even if no visitors come.”

Revan was an apprentice priest not yet formally ordained.

He couldn’t even touch the authority through a ceremony, so leaving him alone and vacating the post was out of the question.

Thus, Hemar volunteered to stay while his disciples were sent.

“The affairs to come are yours to handle, not mine. Moreover, learning something new at my age takes a long time.”

He was now old. Overseeing practical matters, not to mention playing an elder role in offering advice, was too much.

Blessed with the grace of divinity, he maintained health longer than ordinary people, but he would be 100 next year.

His eyesight was failing, and in the mornings, even getting up from bed wasn’t easy.

It was an age where he should consider retiring.

Eventually, Hemar’s training was postponed until his disciples returned to Habon.

That was why both Hemar and Revan had been guarding the Habon Temple alone.

Given his firm stance, the order headquarters selected someone to take charge of the Habon Temple in Hemar’s stead.

“While Viceta and Loborre have a person in charge, Habon seems to be a problem.”

“It seems the age of Priest Hemar plays a role…”

“How about appointing Rashar as a successor? She is stationed at Habon due to the Resistance.”

“Surely having an apostle would facilitate dealing with potential conflicts with Outsiders.”

“It seems the dissolution of the Resistance will soon occur; if we coordinate well…”

Rashar, one of the five remaining apostles of Palao.

“What do you think of it, Rashar?” asked the Supreme Priest.

Rashar nodded without hesitation.

“I will inform the division commander and sort things out with the Resistance as soon as possible.”

A person in charge was decided, but it was only a minor hurdle crossed.

Selecting the practical workers to function under that authority took far longer than choosing a person in charge.

It required extracting extra manpower from temples scattered across regions.

Already, everyone was suffering from a lack of manpower; taking more people from them took quite a while.

In the meantime, Hemar received only very basic operational instructions to fill the vacancy.

“The test site has been designated as two Prayer Rooms named Ansik and Pyonghwa. Should an Outsider wish to join, kindly guide them there.”

Receiving news through telegrams, days passed while awaiting.

People from another world arrived eventually.

From the morning, a large sphere formed over the World Tree statue, and unfamiliar individuals started appearing.

Hemar wasn’t greatly disturbed.

According to the information received, there was no immediate reason for Outsiders to seek out and get involved with the order.

However, as if rebuking this complacency…

“Priest Hemar, Priest Hemar!”

Rushing out with a shrill voice, Rivan brought shocking news.

“An Outsider came wanting to join!”

“Is it possible for Outsiders to serve Palao as we do?”

Hemar, in the midst of polishing the statue, rushed out in shock.

He prided himself on having lived a long life, but never had he been so flustered.

He could barely recall how he had dashed over.

“Wasn’t it said that no Outsiders would arrive so soon…?”

The Outsider, who introduced himself as K, wanted to join from the first day.

After guiding K to the designated prayer room, Hemar anxiously paced back and forth by the door.

His mind was filled with noise.

Could he allow this Outsider to join the greatly diminished Order of Palao?

“Should I stop them…”

The headquarters directed that Outsiders be supported so they wouldn’t perish aimlessly.

But given the current state of the Order of Palao, what could they actually provide in terms of support?

“We can’t provide potions or weapons.”

This person could receive better treatment if they went to another order.

“If nobody comes, it would be embarrassing, but…”

Such feelings were familiar enough already.

“Let’s send him to a order where he can receive even slightly better care.”

Reaching a conclusion to stop K, Hemar was about to knock.

At that moment, he sensed the divinity of Palao, whom he had served his entire life.

Faint but unmistakably the divinity that once blessed him.

Hemar froze, awkwardly raising his hand.

Just then, the prayer room door smoothly opened.

Coming out from within was K, whose eyes had a faint golden hue around the edges.

“Is there a limit to how many players can enter the organization?”

He began asking questions immediately upon stepping out.

“… Excuse me?”

Momentarily flustered, Hemar didn’t quite grasp his question.

Thankfully, K didn’t point out Hemar’s rudeness and repeated his question.

“Is there a limit to the number of Outsiders who can join the order?”

Unfortunately, Hemar didn’t have an answer to this crucial question.

“I’m… I haven’t received my education from the headquarters yet. I’ve only received a few directives.”

“Really? Then I’ll have to ask someone else.”

Someone else? Who could this Outsider ask about matters of the Order of Palao?

“Is Rashar Bennett present in the temple?”

“Oh, no. But how do you know of Rashar…”

“We have a connection. If she’s not here, I guess there’s no choice.”

An Outsider was saying they had connections with Rashar? Hearing this, a story flashed through Hemar’s mind.

Damned System