Chapter 483: The Land Running on the Sea (5)

The sensation of the Penteract pulsating within his arms.

The Apostle’s presence, looking at Lennok askance before his eyes.

Gazes from all directions gathered, noticing the sudden commotion.

Feeling the presence of Piyo and Rapperd, trembling as if ready to move at any moment, Lennok fell into thought.

“Things are tangled.”

It was clear that no matter how he dealt with this, it would be worse than not being discovered at all.

Whether it was Lennok or the other Watchers, they would have to put in considerable effort to return the situation to normal.

But instead of regretting that fact or lingering on it, Lennok began to contemplate how to use the remaining time.

More precisely, whether he should gamble on the Penteract, which was now pulsating within his arms.

“Artifacts aren’t omnipotent. I know that very well, but…”

Even in this world where magic and mystery breathed, artifacts were ultimately just tools.

No matter how powerful the item or how ancient the artifact, they were objects designed based on a specific purpose or direction.

They might exhibit unparalleled efficiency when used for purposes and in situations suitable to their design.

But to flexibly deal with a situation as complicated as this was virtually impossible.

However, the reason Lennok fell into contemplation in this fleeting moment, despite clearly knowing this, was because he remembered how the Penteract had helped him the first time he used it.

It wasn’t a matter of it conveniently transforming into a powerful artifact to overwhelm the surroundings.

Was the Penteract’s transformation into a life support device in Lennok’s hand at that moment truly just a random variable, a mere coincidence?

The Penteract’s ability had been useful in a very indirect way, rather than simply transforming to resolve that specific moment.

And Lennok had kept the thought in his mind that it might not be a simple coincidence or luck.

Above all, Lennok himself knew too well how far he was from the word ‘luck’.

“Apostle Zaif? What are you doing there right now?”

“Please return to the stage quickly. Isn’t Archbishop Nidri waiting for you?”

The commotion had slowly reached the stage, and the delegates who had been sitting indifferently in their chairs began to look in their direction.

Among them, several delegates with rather arrogant words and actions urged the Apostle called Zaif.

They not only spoke directly to an Apostle but also seemed to be formidable individuals whose own skill appeared to be at least Level 7.

Perhaps they were figures of status, representing the strongholds of each branch of the Cult.

Even with the urgings of a bishop with a particularly strong presence among the delegates, who wore an eyepatch, and a fat priest, Zaif did not turn back.

This was likely because he felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu from Lennok.

There was no time to think long.

“…Alright.”

The answer that escaped from under his hood was not directed at the Apostle before him.

As Lennok’s hand slowly moved inside his priestly robes, he grasped the pulsating Penteract.

Simultaneously with infusing magical power into the artifact, he secretly signaled Piyo with his other hand.

If the Penteract’s ability produced a result worse than failure, he would immediately use Piyo’s mutation ability to draw attention and escape from this place.

Rather than fully relying on the Penteract’s power, he would prepare a clear alternative and take the gamble first.

Thinking so, Lennok swallowed hard, and even before he could confirm the transformed Penteract.

Zaif abruptly seized the front of Lennok’s priestly robes.

“What are you hiding?”

Wham! (Sudden movement/impact sound)

His reaction was slow, as he hadn’t anticipated combat.

The transformed Penteract, which Lennok himself hadn’t properly seen, came into both their fields of vision almost simultaneously.

Both Zaif and Lennok fell silent.

“…This is?”

A nameplate, engraved with the Cult’s emblem.

It was nothing more than a rusted, faded name tag, completely devoid of any power.

At the very edge of the nameplate, the name ‘Martinez’ was faintly discernible.

Lennok was slightly lost in thought at the Penteract’s unexpectedly mundane transformation, but Zaif’s reaction was entirely different.

“…”

The Apostle’s eyes were wide, staring intently at the nameplate, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have in this very place.

His gaze darted around, alternating between Lennok and the nameplate with an unbelievable expression, as if plunged into extreme confusion.

“Zaif!!”

“…I’m coming.”

It didn’t take long for the matter to conclude.

Zaif, his hand trembling faintly, tossed a small ticket to Lennok and turned away.

Lennok held it, quietly gazing at Zaif’s retreating back.

His demeanor, which had just been interrogating Lennok, now seemed strangely unattached.

As he strode through the crowd and climbed onto the stage, the delegates scolded him.

But Zaif was brushing them off, saying he was mistaken, that the man seemed to be an outsider.

The sermon, led by Archbishop Nidri, began.

Lennok quietly listened to the conversations going on up on the stage, then subtly signaled Piyo and Rapperd, who were silently watching him nearby.

The three quietly exited the plaza, walking quickly through the streets, and spoke.

“How did this happen?”

“I almost thought something had definitely gone wrong, but suddenly things got weird.”

“What trick did you use to deceive the Cult’s Apostle?”

“Well…”

Lennok said, glancing down at the Cult’s nameplate with ‘Martinez’ written on it.

Considering how the Penteract had previously changed its form to help Lennok, and the events that transpired during that process, he didn’t think it was a coincidence.

The key that had suddenly resolved this situation, or allowed them to navigate it, must lie within this nameplate and name.

“Martinez…”

A figure from the Cult, someone named Martinez.

It would be a lie to say that name wasn’t still in Lennok’s memory.

Indeed, what the Penteract placed in Lennok’s hands was never some unfamiliar or transcendent artifact he had never seen or heard of before.

Instead, it was a clue that thoroughly retraced Lennok’s own memories or the situation, capable of decisively turning the current dynamic in his favor–

“Evan?”

“…My apologies. I was just organizing my thoughts.”

Lennok said, then, mingling with the crowd, he casually spoke to the two.

“I need a decoy. Can you prepare one?”

“Uh, I’ll prepare it. With a mutation spell, I can make you look like yourself in about 20 seconds…”

“No, not you two. I need to make someone completely different look like me.”

“What?”

Leaving Piyo, who was rolling her eyes, Lennok subtly shifted his gaze.

Since Apostle Zaif retreated from Lennok, none of the delegates on the stage had made any further moves.

Nevertheless, it was almost certain that all the delegates present had clearly recognized Lennok’s presence.

It was even possible they knew that Lennok, Piyo, and Rapperd were currently moving together through the streets.

At this point, if Piyo disappeared and only Evan’s form appeared, it might actually arouse suspicion.

They needed a decoy to replace Lennok, while Piyo and Rapperd maintained their current appearances.

“…”

“If you can’t think of anything, I’ll prepare it. It will require a lot of magical power, but if I cast an illusion centered on an artifact…”

“No. I will do it.”

Rapperd, who had been walking by Lennok’s feet with his tongue out, spoke.

“I have a way. Let’s go somewhere secluded for a moment.”

An unused railway track located down a quiet alley.

The abandoned tracks were littered with all sorts of trash.

As Rapperd, who had returned to his dog-headed giant form, made hand seals, a faint, white glow appeared behind his back.

Whoosh…!!

The glow, which had descended behind him, slowly transformed into a human shape and stood before the three.

Rapperd, wiping the sweat from his brow, nodded to Piyo while maintaining his hand seals.

“I deliberately didn’t fix its appearance, so overlay Evan’s mutation data onto it with your spell.”

“W-wait a minute… What is this, exactly?”

Piyo pointed at the human-shaped glow that had appeared before them, a slightly surprised expression on her face.

“Is it really okay to overlay a spell on something with such high mana density?”

“It’s power designed for that purpose from the start. You don’t have to worry.”

Lennok also gazed at the form with a somewhat curious expression and mumbled.

“An Avatar.”

“You remembered?”

“You showed it during the battle just before we entered the Hanghasa Labyrinth.”

A small battle where Lennok and Rapperd had repelled pursuers on the floating island summoned by Lapis.

Hadn’t Rapperd then displayed considerable power in both close-quarters and group combat through primitive faith, Sanctuary, and the manifestation of his Avatar?

Avatar. Also known as a spiritual embodiment.

It was a power closer to spiritual energy that manipulates spiritual bodies rather than systematic spells like magic, but its usefulness and power were widely known.

It was not simply treated as the caster’s duplicate, but rather, in a spell-based sense, closer to a representation of the self.

A spell with a complex meaning, sometimes defined as the embodiment of a self that is both the caster and yet distinct from them.

Lennok had briefly tried to emulate the manifestation of an Avatar as well, but at the time of the labyrinth, his sense for manipulating spiritual bodies was too vague, so he had forgotten it.

Rapperd had arbitrarily summoned his own Avatar precisely to create a dummy that would serve as a decoy in Lennok’s place.

“Hmm, I see… That’s very interesting…”

Lennok circled the Avatar, not even giving Piyo a chance to apply the mutation spell, with an enthusiasm he hadn’t shown before.

“Evan?”

“It feels more like a magical auxiliary and coordination, resonance and correspondence, rather than physical force… I like it even more. In this way, it could be very useful in many respects…”

When he had no knowledge of spiritual bodies, he had just passed it by, but now, having deeply understood spirit command magic through the battle with Madrich Onnion, it was different.

Lennok could tell at a glance how magically valuable and useful a weapon this Avatar, manifested through Rapperd’s primitive faith, could be.

Enough to make him momentarily forget the current situation and focus on the Avatar’s principles.

Lennok, who had been intently observing the Avatar for a while, suddenly turned his gaze to Rapperd.

“To use this feeling, do I have to believe in your religion?”

“…Why would that be?”

Rapperd replied with an incredulous expression.

“Manifesting an Avatar is simply proof that one has refined their spiritual talent to a high level. The methods vary greatly from person to person.”

“…”

“It would be best not to dabble in a faith you don’t even believe in just because you covet this. It will only bring you harm.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Even if you ask me…”

Rapperd coughed uncomfortably and said,

“If you’re looking for a way, it would be good to visit Yorta. There should be plenty of researchers and sorcerers there who specialize in handling Avatars.”

“Good.”

Lennok nodded.

“I’ll have to remember that.”

It was more akin to a magically cooperative entity than a simple clone.

But if adjusted and used well, it might even be possible to clumsily play two roles at once.

“Alright. So, I just need to overlay the mutation spell on Rapperd’s Avatar, right?”

Piyo swallowed hard, looking tense, and extended both hands.

“Damn it, this is my first time trying mutation on something that’s neither living nor inanimate…”

Whoosh!!

Contrary to Piyo’s tense words, the spell extending from her hands directly overlaid the Avatar’s body, instantly changing its appearance.

The light within the Avatar’s body faded, and its appearance and physique naturally changed to that of Evan.

Evan’s form stood up with an expressionless face, planted his feet, and stared blankly around.

Even Piyo hesitated, looking tense.

“D-did it work…?”

“The Avatar’s magical sensitivity and mana absorption capacity are truly exceptional. The possibility of it resisting your spell was low.”

Rapperd also said this, while examining his own Avatar with a curious expression.

“However, I don’t feel a significant rapid deterioration of condition, like when Piyo transforms… Was the mutation data itself not wrong?”

“Well, I’m not sure about that either. Maybe it’s less sensitive in that regard precisely because it’s not human.”

“A reasonable deduction. It finished much faster than I expected, so you two go out into the street with this Avatar and–”

At that moment, the Avatar, which had been standing expressionless, suddenly spat out blood.

“Cough!!”

Even though it covered its mouth with one hand, red fresh blood streamed between its fingers.

The Avatar, unable to stop coughing, slumped to the ground and began to tremble.

Everyone gaped, unable to say a word.

“Kugh…! Ugh!!”

Its eyes were wide open, and its hands stretched above its head, a truly desperate sight.

If the Avatar, which had been perfectly fine moments ago, suddenly started spitting blood and suffering, what on earth was the cause?

“…”

Piyo and Rapperd looked at Lennok with shocked eyes.

There was no need to say what emotions were conveyed by their gaze.

Lennok, catching their gazes, inadvertently looked away.

“The mutation spell… seems to have a serious error.”

“…”

Lennok mumbled, gazing into the distance. But this time, no one readily agreed with his words.

Lennok sent Piyo, Rapperd, and the Avatar disguised as Evan away, remaining alone on the railway tracks.

It would have been troublesome if the Avatar’s condition hadn’t stabilized by significantly reducing the mana within it.

There must have been a good reason why the Avatar’s condition was worse than when Piyo directly mimicked someone, but there wasn’t much time to ponder it.

In any case, Evan’s appearance would be properly seen by people out on the street, and that alone was enough.

Thinking so, Lennok glanced towards the very end of the railway track.

Whoosh…!!

The end of the quiet railway track, where there had been no sign of anyone just moments ago.

As the wind swept by, momentarily obscuring Lennok’s vision, a middle-aged man was now standing there.

It was Apostle Zaif, who had noticed Lennok’s presence on the stage and interrogated him.

The man who had pretended not to know Lennok and let him go in the plaza, now stood face to face with Lennok, having sought him out again.

Zaif, who had been staring at Lennok for a long time, finally spoke.

“You managed to evade the surveillance. There must have been delegates keeping a close eye on you.”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted from the start?”

Lennok said, shaking the small ticket he held.

The ticket Zaif had almost thrown at him just before letting him go.

It was an old ticket, used only on the tracks of this long-abandoned railway station.

It was clear as day that the Apostle before him had intended this place to be their meeting point.

All that remained was to resolve the small doubt lingering within him.

As Lennok took out the nameplate from his robes, he felt Zaif flinch.

“You must have had something you wanted to ask me after seeing this.”

“…Martinez of the Cult. I know that name.”

Zaif, after a moment of silence, spoke with difficulty.

“A missionary dispatched to the megacity Vulcan. The rumor of his successful Apostle Descent was widespread even in the main headquarters.”

“You’re well informed.”

“I heard he died, so how do you possess that nameplate?”

Zaif’s eyes seemed to tremble faintly.

“Or, did Martinez truly succeed in becoming an Apostle without undergoing the selection ritual?”

“…”

Lennok lightly composed himself before answering.

He too needed to prepare himself for what he was about to say.

The reason the Penteract had transformed specifically into this nameplate.

The reason Zaif had been so visibly agitated upon seeing this nameplate.

The answer to all these questions lay with Lennok. All that remained was to act.

Thinking so, Lennok unhesitatingly pulled out a shrunken object from his robes and placed it before Zaif.

Thump…!!

What landed with a heavy thud was a colossal carapace shield, taller than Lennok himself.

It was one of Lennok’s favorite weapons in combat due to its incredible solidity and heavy weight, but that wasn’t the important part.

This carapace shield was the remnant left by Walter Martinez after he transformed into an Apostle.

And there was no way Zaif, being an Apostle himself, wouldn’t recognize it.

“This is…!!”

“My name is Evan Martinez.”

Lennok smiled, watching Zaif’s eyes widen as he took a step forward.

It was a step that hammered a wedge into the doubt lingering within Zaif.

To complete this entire play, one more word would suffice.

“As a fellow Apostle, I’ve come to tell you the secret the Archbishop is hiding.”