The Hunted Regressor: Rise of the Heretic Saint-Chapter 149: House Of Strangers

Ignotus sat on a mat.

His legs were crossed, his back was straight, and his eyes were closed.

He looked peaceful, or at least he was trying to be.

A faint hum surrounded him, his Divinity swirling…

Until it suddenly fizzled out with a weak pop.

He exhaled through his nose.

"...still nothing."

Despite becoming a Priest, despite meeting all the damned requirements, he still couldn't use Synaxis, the signature ability of Priests, the whole point of this damned class.

Every time he called for it… nothing.

"Figures."

Opening one eye, he looked at his hand.

It didn't change in appearance even a tiny bit.

He'd gone over this a dozen times already.

Ignotus had the Will.

He had the Rune resonance.

He had the Soul Fragments and the "knowing of himself" part.

So why not Synaxis?

Maybe his Soul wasn't calibrated to his regression yet.

Maybe his link with Eris was messing with the transformation.

Maybe Synaxis didn't like that his entire Divinity flow was luck-based.

Or maybe, the simplest answer—

"It's just being annoying."

He leaned back, sighed, and let his head fall against the mat.

'Fine. I guess I'll just… slow down for once.'

And of course, the moment he thought that—

Knock, knock.

"Young—My Lord?"

A somewhat calm voice came from the door.

"We've got another batch."

Ignotus cracked his other eye open.

"Hm?"

A familiar butler entered and bowed, holding a tray stacked with sealed letters and scrolls.

"More applications, my Lord."

Ignotus waved lazily toward the desk.

"Put it there, Felix. Maybe this time I'll find someone interesting."

For the past few days, since the Colosseum Trial, this had become routine.

Training, stabilizing his Runes, building up his new territory, and sorting through endless waves of applicants.

With the help of his new head butler, he'd already expanded its scope and staffed it, hiring guards, gardeners, cooks, tailors, and carriage hands. He bought horses and carriages, replaced all the old furniture, and even had the training barracks refurbished with newer and more personal stuff.

The gold he made that day was put to good use.

Gaia, unfortunately, wasn't around, busy with House Gift. She'd hopefully join him later; for now, though, it was just him, his butlers, and a mountain of paperwork.

Ignotus stood up, stretched his neck, and sat behind his desk, an annoyingly clean one.

Normally, he would've never touched paperwork, deeming it too boring, leaving it to Felix and the butlers he hired only recently, but this?

It was too important and interesting.

And yes, it was 'interesting,' for there were applications from many to join his House.

Each one was a potential piece in the House he was building.

He'd unsurprisingly gotten many applications, mostly from those without a House, the Nameless, people without any well-established lineage, desperate for a banner to serve or a thigh to hug. But some from other Lower Houses sent a letter as well, clearly trying to curry favor with the rising "Stranger."

Ignotus didn't care for most of them.

He was searching for any talent that he knew from his past life, as he'd need them for the war that was soon to come. After all, if the quick Corruption of the land around him was any indication, it wouldn't be too long before the entire Third Stratum was caught up in that extinction event once more.

Indeed, it'd be taken over by Hell itself!

That would make the entirety of the Third Stratum a 'Dive.'

And to prepare for that future, Ignotus needed these people.

Picking up a letter, he tore it open.

"'My name is Don, a chef of twelve years—'"

He stopped there.

"I already have a chef."

Next.

"'I am Daria, former scribe of the—'"

Nope.

"'Greetings, my Lord, I am a prostitute—'"

It was not that kind of House.

He skimmed another and another, his eyes half-lidded but oddly focused.

Letter after letter, each one filled with pleasantries, titles, and desperate attempts to impress.

Ignotus didn't care for flowery words; he only saw them as a way to pad out the letter.

He cared for potential.

After an hour, the desk was covered in opened envelopes, and only two letters sat neatly by his hand.

A Divine Forger and a Divine Alchemist.

Two names he recognized very well.

Vulcan, son of Jupiter, and Mary, daughter of Jabir.

Both were obscure right now, still young and relatively inexperienced, but in his past life, they became key figures that led entire Houses.

Ignotus smiled faintly, tapping his finger against the desk.

'Perfect.'

They were exactly what he wanted.

They were seeds, and House Calamity needed seeds.

Leaning back once more, he glanced at the pile again.

"It would be nice if I found an analyst too…"

Someone who could just handle all this nonsense for him.

The taxes, the staffing, and the supply lines—just everything.

"But of course, these people can barely write properly."

That was something he quite missed from the Second Stratum.

Especially a certain therapist in his past life.

'Unfortunate... a merchant too—'

Knock, knock.

He turned to what cut him off a second time.

"What now?"

Felix entered again, but this time, he looked hesitant.

In his hands was a single, rough letter with no seal or family insignia.

"My Lord. There's… one more."

Ignotus raised a brow.

"From whom?"

Felix shook his head.

"There's no name. It was… delivered by hand."

Ignotus took the letter.

The parchment was rough, its edges torn.

He unfolded it, his eyes scanning the messy handwriting—

"Oh."

A smile slowly crept onto his face.

"They've finally come."

...

Outside the manor, the air was crisp and cool.

The afternoon sun caught on bright marble pillars.

Ignotus walked out from beneath them, adjusting his gloves.

Waiting at the gates was a group of blessed folk, muscular wolfmen clad in armor.

At their head stood Ulv, straight-backed and calm as always.

Before him was a smaller wolf.

Fluffier, lighter gray fur.

His posture was rigid, and his expression was obviously strained.

There could be no mistaking the boy.

It was Lykos.

The very moment their eyes met, the younger wolf stepped forward, took a deep breath, and dropped to one knee.

"I, Lykos, once of House Death..."

His voice carried through the entire estate.

"Kneel before Ignotus of House Calamity as his First Sword!"

The words stunned all who heard them.

Even Ignotus was surprised.

"…huh."

He hadn't expected that much intensity from the little wolf.

Everyone behind Lykos froze for half a second before following suit, dropping to one knee.

Next came Ulv's roar, who bowed his head and pressed his fist against the dirt:

"I wish to swear my allegiance to Lord Ignotus!"

Once more, the rest followed right after:

"I wish to swear my allegiance to Lord Ignotus!"

"I wish to swear my allegiance to Lord Ignotus!"

"I wish to swear my allegiance to Lord Ignotus!"

Far above them, the wind howled, and the clouds shifted.

The sky itself seemed to part, light spilling down over the courtyard.

Ignotus stood silent for a long moment before stepping forward.

He reached out a hand.

"Welcome to House Calamity."

Ignotus looked up and clasped his Lord's hand.

Behind them, the banner of House Calamity fluttered.

Its insignia was a weighted scale, circled by a snake.

The House of Luck.

The House of Calamity.

The House of Strangers.

The beginning of something that would shake the entire realm.

{End of Volume Two: House Of Strangers}