The Sinful City Trist (2)
Within the Seven-Goddess Church, the hierarchy of inquisitors who handle necromancers is divided into three ranks.
The third rank is for those who have completed training and are just entering active duty.
Their skills are still too low to face necromancers directly. Usually, they are assigned safe follow-up duties, like handling corpses after an incident or purifying areas tainted by taint.
Once they reach the second rank, they are finally deployed in the field.
The main task at this level is to locate necromancers.
Securing evidence and reporting it to the church is the top priority, but if circumstances demand it, direct combat with necromancers may occur.
Since many lives can be lost during these operations, the church prioritizes supporting second-rank inquisitors.
At the first rank, an inquisitor can exert some control over the situation.
They can locate necromancers, secure evidence, directly punish them, and even manage the church's budget according to their discretion.
Because of this, first-rank inquisitors can borrow outside help. With the authority to spend funds, they can hire skilled adventurers.
A first-rank inquisitor is strong enough to handle most necromancers alone, so forming a team with adventurers allows them to manage incidents independently.
However, in practice, first-rank inquisitors rarely hired adventurers. Instead, they often relied on nearby noble-born knights or mages to handle cases.
Adventurers demand money, but nobles seek prestige.
Wandering adventurers like Bu-Pyeongcho value cash, but nobles who already have influence care more about power and reputation.
It's far more advantageous for them to strengthen ties with the Seven-Goddess Church and enhance their family's prestige than to take a few coins.
This was why Alius had set his sights on Karnak and his party.
Even though the church's budget could be used, why spend money if the case could be resolved without it?
Alius had seen Karnak and Baros's strength with his own eyes. As long as their background was solid, there could be no better partners.
Immediately upon returning to the church, Alius researched the Zestrad family and confirmed that they despised necromancers.
'They lost parents and siblings to necromancers, almost lost their lands too! They have every reason to punish necromancers!'
Dead Randolph might be kicking in frustration, but Alius had no way of knowing that.
Three days after the Gelpa village incident, a formal request for cooperation was made.
"On behalf of the Hatoba Church, we ask you to assist with the church's sacred duties while you remain in Derat City, even if only for a short period."
Karnak accepted the request readily.
"It is truly an honor. On behalf of the Zestrad family, we will gladly assist."
After all, it was about gathering the Darkness of the End.
After all, it was about hunting necromancers.
[And they're giving us related information for free. Why would we refuse?]
Baros, observing from the side, asked via magical communication.
[Why would we refuse?]
It was standard practice in the Seven-Goddess Church to assign competent inquisitors to collaborators handling necromancers.
[This means a Hatoba Church priest will be accompanying us.]
Having someone watch would make it harder to use necromancy freely or siphon Darkness of the End without scrutiny.
Baros pointed this out, but Karnak wasn't concerned.
[I anticipated this and checked beforehand, that's why.]
These days, the Hatoba Church didn't have the capacity to assign inquisitors to every collaborator.
Handling necromancers requires trained clergy—any random priest wouldn't do.
But the number of incidents involving the Darkness of the End was high.
With limited manpower and many tasks, the Hatoba Church—and most of the Seven-Goddess Church—usually provided information to collaborators and let them handle matters themselves unless it was a major incident.
[Oh, so it means it'll just be the two of us?]
[Exactly!]
And the benefits didn't end there.
Alius continued apologetically.
"You may already know, but given current circumstances, it's difficult to assign an inquisitor unless it's a major incident. However, we can provide you with holy water, talismans, and other tools to counter necromancy. Given your skills, I trust it will be sufficient."
[Look! No priest follows us, and they're giving us holy water and talismans for free!]
For others, this might pose a risk worth considering, but for these two, it was purely advantageous.
Was there any reason to refuse? None at all.
Seeing Karnak accept without hesitation, Alius was impressed.
'To face danger without hesitation—truly a righteous nature. Then why is such a person rumored to be a brute?'
Recalling past events, Baros muttered.
"Alius said he couldn't assign inquisitors unless it was a major incident, right?"
"That's right."
"He's been sending information about necromancers in the western regions all along."
The letter they just received was slightly different from usual.
Previously, Alius had sent only information about necromancers in the Derat City area whose existence was plausible.
Now, there was nothing specific—just an invitation to meet in person.
It indicated that Alius was being cautious about information leaks.
"So that means…"
The streets of Derat City were busy as dusk approached.
Walking among people trying to head home before sunset, Baros continued.
"Does this mean a pretty serious incident has occurred?"
"Seems likely."
Karnak shrugged.
"It does seem urgent. Usually, they don't contact us this quickly."
Normally, after dealing with a necromancer, they had about three days of leeway. But this time, barely half a day after handling Luke and reporting to the church, they were contacted.
Baros frowned.
"Is that safe? If it's a big incident, an inquisitor could be assigned to us. Looking at the situation, Alius himself is most likely to intervene."
"Of course I'm a little concerned, but…"
Karnak gave a small smile toward the worried Baros.
"Think of it the other way—it could be a good thing. It must be a serious incident if he wants to meet in person."
As great power attracts great incidents, major incidents bring significant rewards.
Soon, the Hatoba Church temple came into view on the other side of the street.
With a tone of anticipation, Karnak said,
"If we're lucky, maybe we can take care of ten more Lords of Darkness in one shot."
Karnak and Baros arrived at the Hatoba Temple and were immediately guided to the audience chamber.
As they entered, Alius greeted them warmly.
"Welcome, both of you."
Besides Alius, there were two more people in the room.
One was a man in his mid-thirties wearing robes, and the other a young woman in her twenties with light armor, her physique toned and strong.
Karnak asked cautiously,
"And these are…?"
From their attire, it was clear the man was a mage and the woman a swordswoman, but neither face was familiar.
The brown-haired man spoke first.
"It is an honor to meet such renowned figures as you, Lord Karnak and Sir Baros. I am Riltein, a practitioner of the Sixth Circle."
Baros nodded knowingly.
"Ah, so you're the high-level mage Riltein."
Karnak sent a subtle magical message.
[Do you know him?]
[He's our competitor. Didn't Alius say he has another high-ranking mage among his collaborators besides you?]
[Ah, the guy who got to it first twice, huh?]
Now Karnak remembered.
Alius had a few other collaborators besides Karnak's party, and Riltein was the one who stood out the most.
The number of necromancers he had hunted so far was eight—numerically even more than Karnak himself.
Riltein, however, seemed more impressed by them.
"You've dealt with six necromancers in less than two months? Quite an impressive feat."
"Just happened to be lucky, I suppose."
Karnak feigned modesty as he assessed Riltein.
Although his mana was suppressed and he couldn't measure it precisely, the aura radiating from him gave a good sense of his strength.
'Looks like he's just reached the Sixth Circle. His mana isn't fully stable yet.'
Even so, he was one of the strongest in the Derat City region.
Magic works by channeling mana into a personal mental space called a mana hall, forming circular patterns called circles, and manifesting effects in reality.
The more powerful the spell, the more mana and complex the circles required.
Mages increase the number of circles to achieve higher-level magic, and the number of circles determines the level of mastery.
Circles 1–2: Entry level, usually called apprentice mages. They can cast magic but aren't yet confident to claim the title of 'mage.'
Circles 3–5: Regular mages, the most common level. They can perform practical magic as well as some combat spells. When people think of a mage, this is usually what comes to mind.
Circles 6–8: Advanced mages, respected wherever they go. A single mage can slaughter dozens, and in groups, they can determine the outcome of a battlefield. They are combat mages comparable to aura users.
Circle 9: Master mages, renowned across the continent. They are court mages, heads of mage guilds, or famed tower mages.
Circle 10: The ultimate, transcending human limits. Only three exist in the entire continent, known as the Three Archmages. Their power is incomparable, wielding abilities on a different plane entirely.
Currently, Karnak posed as a Fourth Circle practitioner—a typical regular mage.
In contrast, Sixth Circle Riltein was far above him.
'Of course, this is only in terms of chaos mana.'
Meanwhile, Baros was staring at the woman with curiosity.
[Don't recognize her. Was there a beautiful swordswoman among Alius's collaborators?]
Her vibrant red hair and subtle reddish-brown eyes were striking—not world-shattering beauty, but undeniably pretty.
Her physique showed clear signs of long-term training; even through her light armor, the vitality of a wild horse was evident.
[With that appearance and skill, she must be well-known.]
Indeed, she was famous.
Even Baros, and Karnak—who generally had little interest in others—had heard her name before.
"I am Serati Allen of the Adventurers' Guild," the woman introduced herself.
Karnak raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Ah, Lady Serati. I've heard of your reputation."
While exploring the city's various eateries, it's hard to avoid hearing local rumors.
She was currently one of the most talked-about adventurers.
Born as a commoner's daughter and pursuing the traditionally male path of a warrior, she had made a name for herself as an adventurer from the age of twenty. Recently, she had even awakened a combat art that every knight dreamed of mastering—a prodigy truly born from the heavens.
Serati shook her head, showing humility.
"I'm just an ordinary adventurer. I'm not even a knight, so the title of 'Sir' is undeserved."
"But as an Aura user, you could receive a knighthood whenever you wish, couldn't you?"
"I was simply fortunate to awaken my combat art a little earlier than others. I still have a long way to go."
She didn't seem to be speaking out of mere courtesy—she genuinely believed it.
After all, among Aura users, she had only just begun her journey. She was at the very start, the rank of Red Knight, so naturally she would feel inexperienced.
By Karnak's standards, she wasn't particularly extraordinary.
'At her age, she's certainly a prodigy, but if you look across the entire continent, there must be at least a few hundred with comparable talent.'
Still, in this region, she was famous, and it was only proper to respond accordingly.
Karnak made a bit of a show.
"It is truly an honor for ordinary folk like us to meet such a renowned Aura user in person."
Serati's expression turned incredulous.
"Ordinary folk? What are you saying to us, when you are so renowned yourselves?"
"Renowned?"
"Us?"
Karnak and Baros' eyes went wide.
[Wait, since when are we famous?]
[Yeah. All we did was deal with a few third-rate guys.]
Riltein let out a faint smile.
"You truly are modest. Did you really think you wouldn't gain fame after catching so many necromancers in just two months?"
"Ah, well…"
Baros scratched his head.
'Come to think of it, that is something worth talking about.'
Though they had grown used to dealing with necromancers, even a third-rate necromancer possesses more power than an average top-tier mage.
Take Luke, for instance. A typical knight or mage would have needed at least five or six people to subdue him.
And yet, they had dealt with so many in such a short time. As a result, Karnak and Baros had earned considerable fame as the Hatoba Church's dark hunters in the Derat City region.
[Is it okay to become famous, my lord? Didn't we agree not to live like we used to?]
In their previous lives, Karnak's fame had far exceeded the bounds of normal recognition—there was hardly anyone in the world who didn't know his name.
All of humanity had called for the destruction of the Death King with fear and hatred.
[This isn't infamy, so it should be fine, right?]
[Right? We're not living like before, are we?]
Only after confirming once more did Baros let out a deep sigh.
[Ah, living like a normal person really isn't easy.]
[Indeed. So many things to worry about.]
In any case, from Alius' perspective, it was clear he had recruited heavy hitters.
A Sixth Circle mage and an Aura user are formidable anywhere and command respect.
Karnak asked seriously,
"This doesn't look like an ordinary matter, does it?"
"Yes," Alius replied, nodding, and gestured for them to sit.
"Let's have a seat first."