Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 110 - 106 "Purification

The panic caused by the plague among the blood servants was far more terrifying than the Power of Holy Light; they were in utter chaos, dragging their battered bodies towards their mistress, hoping that she, who they viewed as omnipotent, would offer her help.

"Help me, my master, my power is ebbing away."

What met them was but an afterimage, and a head that wailed fell to the ground. Blood gushed from the fresh severance, with so much pressure that the droplets wetted the verdant leaves, as if the trees were laden with bright red fruits.

"Don’t come near me! You’ve been infected!"

Porifan screamed madly, loathing the pitiable creatures before her. Having lived as a vampire for a century, she understood well the nature of the plague. The terror that once laid waste to a city was, in the eyes of all creatures, much more fearsome than the cleansing of the Holy Light or the destruction by magic.

When a tool is broken, it should be replaced, not allowed to cause injury to one’s own fingers.

Tool-people are the same.

Eliminating the servant closest to her, even the shadow used for the killing, Porifan discarded them into the void. Realizing she stood no chance, she dodged Karen’s attack and, with agile movements, fled deep into the mountains.

"Don’t think you can escape, monster!" Karen yelled in the direction of Porifan, but did not pursue. The safety of her companions was more important.

Karen turned around, facing Lyle, but the shadow armor on her body did not dissipate. Instead, it thickened. Using the Fire of the Holy Light, she set the vampire corpses ablaze. The burning of the flesh didn’t emit the nauseating scent typical of roasting, unlike that of a fat-containing animal. In fact, the burning traits of vampires were closer to that of plants—quickly drying out, with a stench of blood spreading until, with the odor all but dissipated, nothing was left but a cloud of ashes drifting in the wind.

Karen took Lyle by the hand, and, with Verlet and Ralph in tow, moved a hundred meters upwind.

Surveying the battlefield that was slightly ruined by the combat, Karen let out a sigh.

"It seems this plague isn’t too virulent, praise the Holy Light, none of us are infected," Karen, removing her armor, turned her head to Lyle, "Lord Lyle, just to be safe, please release the Purification spell upon us."

The power of Aryan had long dissipated, and the angelic figure behind him had also finished its role like a scene’s end.

Lyle was once again that inept Spirit Summoning Apprentice.

"Ah?" The day’s performance had ended, and Lyle planned to bluff his way through.

"Please release the Purification spell, Lord Lyle, on all of us. We need to make sure the plague hasn’t infected us." Karen’s face was grave, seemingly impossible to deceive.

"What should I do?" Lyle attempted to pass the quandary back to Karen.

"The Purification spell," Karen frowned, Lord Lyle in a non-combat state seemed unreliable. Was it because he had just awakened and his control over his power was still weak? After all, he had mastered even higher-order blessing spells. "I am not certain of the praying methods of the Purifiers, but common monks would probably touch the brow of the person being spelled upon to release it."

Were there differences in the spell casting between Purifiers and ordinary Light Chasers? Lyle felt he had found an opportunity.

"All right, Karen, I shall release the Purification on you, using the methods of the Purifiers."

"All right, Lord Lyle." Karen’s eyes fluttered, as if stars dwelled within them.

Lyle extended his hand, gently touched her brow, and then flicked it.

"Ow!" Karen covered her forehead, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Lord Lyle! Why did you hit me?"

Lyle remained composed, "I am casting the Purification spell on you."

After all, I am the only Purifier; my word dictates how the spell is cast.

"But, didn’t Lord Lyle only hit me once? And I also didn’t feel you using the Power of Holy Light."

"Don’t you feel your forehead growing warm? That’s the Power of Holy Light, it’s just that your ability is too weak to sense it, after all, the Holy Light of a Purifier is much gentler."

Karen, feeling the warmth, had a look of sudden realization on her face. "It is getting warmer, Lord Lyle!"

Nonsense, your forehead is all red, it must be hurting like fire, how could it not be hot?

"Lord Lyle, cast the Purification spell on them too, will you?"

Lyle’s gaze collided with Verlet’s, the entirety of his playful deception towards Karen witnessed by Verlet.

Karen was a fool and had been easily fooled, but could Verlet be deceived?

As Lyle struggled with what to say, Verlet opened her lips.

"Lyle, is your method truly effective?"

"It is effective, Verlet."

I am the one who released the plague; of course, I can prevent it from infecting you all. It doesn’t matter if I slap you or just blow a breath; both are effective.

"Come on, little Bugle." Verlet closed her eyes, perhaps convinced by the impressive Power of Holy Light that Lyle had shown before, deciding to trust this joke-like method Lyle had concocted.

With Karen watching closely, Lyle had no choice but to slap Verlet’s forehead.

"Lord Lyle, was the force you used on Sister Verlet too light to ensure its effectiveness?"

"Of course not, Verlet’s susceptibility is slightly weaker than yours. You’ve been battling and your body is in an active state, with a robust metabolism, which makes the plague more likely to invade."

"I see," Karen said, propping up her chin, seemingly understanding as she nodded, "Lord Lyle, Officer Ralph also needs purification."

Yes, there’s also my cheap uncle.

Looking at the unconscious Ralph and remembering the force with which he had once hit him, a wicked courage surged within Lyle, causing his palm to tremble.

He muttered to himself as if hypnotizing himself, "I’m not mixing personal matters with public duties; I’m just treating him; there’s nothing wrong. Ralph is the source of infection; he’s the most dangerous, so I must use more force. Yes, this is for Uncle’s own good."

Lyle’s face was tightly strained, lest the reckless smile within betray him, and he raised his hand high.

Smack!

There were no living creatures in this forest; otherwise, the sound would have certainly startled a flock of birds.

Frightened by the act, Lyle checked to make sure Ralph wouldn’t wake up anytime soon and breathed a sigh of relief.

Karen kept casting the Spell of Holy Light over and over, her attitude towards the plague arousing Lyle’s curiosity.

"Karen, why do you, value the plague so highly?"

Karen turned her face towards Lyle, "Because the plague is a disaster that deserves attention."

"At the end of the world, there will be a lamb that will break the seven seals of the scroll, summoning four horsemen riding horses of different colors, bringing war, famine, plague, and death, marking the end of human destiny."

"In the scroll, the plague is a disaster that destroys the world."

"And in fact, a few years ago, there was an outbreak of the plague in some places, though it was halted by the Power of Holy Light."

"Since it was halted, Karen, why are you still so concerned?"

"Because the Holy Light only stopped the spread of the plague; for those already tormented by the infection, the Holy Light could only provide relief."

"Lokarot City was the epicenter of the last outbreak. We stopped the plague at the cost of half it’s population; fifty thousand people died, and all the Apostles of the Holy Light perished."

"Lord Lyle, the fact that the Purifier can stop the power of the plague truly is our fortune."

Lyle became silent, just like Karen. He observed his own palm, his power, the power of disaster, needing constant caution.

He must not reveal it, nor lose control.

For himself, and for everyone.