WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Natty
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◈ The Regressor and the Blind Saintess ◈
Chapter 11: Holy Combat Arts - 2
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To infuse divine power with Authority.
It was an explanation too vague to grasp from words alone.
When Vera’s brow creased slightly, Trevo gave a small laugh and elaborated.
“Hmm, to put it simply, it is like that. Do you know about enchantment magic?”
“...Yes.”
Enchantments. Magic that bestowed properties on an object through special magical treatment.
Most of the weapons Vera had used in his previous life had been enchanted, so Vera knew the magic well.
“Holy Combat Arts using a Holy Mark are similar. Hmm, let us use the twins outside as an example.”
The blue tattoos etched across Trevo’s skin faded away. Having withdrawn his divine power, Trevo leaned forward and continued.
“The Holy Marks of Protection inscribed on the twins contain the Authority of ‘Unyielding.’ Unyielding is an Authority that gives one the strength to rise again, so long as their spirit remains unbroken, even if their entire body is crushed.”
Vera nodded at Trevo’s words.
Vera knew that Authority well.
How could he not? In his previous life, he had heard enough to make his ears ring about what the twins had accomplished with it.
“When the twins use their Authority as it is, its effects are limited to the body. In other words, only their bodies recover. If something else, such as their divine power, is depleted, they become little more than meat shields.”
After saying that, Trevo briefly caught his breath before continuing.
“However, the story changes when you use Holy Combat Arts to infuse divine power with Authority. Then, divine power gains the restorative quality of Unyielding.”
Only after hearing that much did Vera understand what Trevo meant.
“...Does that mean depleted divine power is restored?”
“Excellent.”
A broad smile crossed Trevo’s lips.
“As long as their mental strength holds, the twins can fight with an endless supply of divine power while using divine power imbued with Unyielding.”
Vera’s lips parted slightly at the explanation.
Something was finally beginning to make sense.
‘...Now I understand how they endured it.’
This was how the two of them had held back the Demon King’s forces invading the Holy Kingdom in Vera’s previous life.
The secret had been revealed.
Moreover, the potential of Holy Combat Arts had become much clearer.
Vera felt his heart begin to race.
The desire to improve.
It came from the anticipation of wielding far greater power than when he had handled divine power by trial and error in his past life.
“How do you infuse it?”
Excitement naturally colored Vera’s voice.
At the liveliest expression Vera had shown yet, Trevo let out a quiet laugh and continued.
“It is simple. You only need to think that you will do it.”
It sounded, in a way, deeply disappointing. Yet Vera knew it was anything but easy.
“...Could you explain in more detail?”
“Hmm...”
Thought crossed Trevo’s face. Trevo pondered for a moment, then nodded and continued.
“When you raise your divine power, focus on the divine power flowing around your Holy Mark and think, ‘Infuse it.’ The process itself should not be too difficult.”
As Vera started to roll up his sleeve at that explanation, Trevo stopped him.
“Ah, not here. Later. This is not a place we can afford to mess up.”
Vera nodded lightly in acknowledgment, then asked another question.
“Then do I just apply the divine power infused with it to existing Holy Combat Arts?”
“No. You must create your own Holy Combat Arts, Vera.”
“...Pardon?”
“The Authority of Covenant is a power only you can use, is it not? What do you think would happen if you applied the Authority of Covenant to ordinary Holy Combat Arts?”
Vera fell silent at Trevo’s question.
Adding the Authority of Covenant to combat arts that enhanced the body.
The first thing that came to mind was redistributing physical ability, but that would be no different from how Vera had used it until now.
Vera thought for a long time.
Eventually, Vera concluded that the Authority of Covenant was not the kind of Authority that could be infused into combat arts, and his lips moved.
“...It would be like wearing clothes that do not fit.”
“That is right. Every Authority has a method of use suited to it. I would like to give you the records of the previous apostles, but regrettably, the Holy Kingdom’s policy prevents me from doing so.”
Vera let out a short, hollow laugh at the answer.
Had he thought of it too easily?
The process was more complicated than Vera had expected.
Vera frowned. The worries rising in his mind made his head ache.
This time, Trevo opened his palm and raised divine power over it as he asked, “What does this look like to you, Vera? Does it look like combat arts? Or spell arts?”
Vera’s gaze turned to Trevo’s fingertips.
“...It simply looks like raw divine power.”
“Yes, that is correct. This is simply divine power. Whether it is combat arts or spell arts, in the end, the difference lies only in how it is used. If you inscribe it onto the body, it is combat arts. If you inscribe it onto an object, it is spell arts. You came here because His Holiness spoke to you about Form, correct?”
“Yes.”
“By Form, His Holiness likely means that you should use divine power efficiently.”
Having said that much, Trevo cleared his throat briefly and asked Vera another question.
“You do not yet know how to arrange divine power, do you?”
Vera nodded.
As someone who had used Authority for an entire lifetime, Vera felt ashamed to nod, but he could not deny it.
In his previous life, Vera had not arranged and used divine power. He had simply amplified the divine power he possessed to increase its raw output.
Trevo nodded back at Vera and continued.
“It does not necessarily have to be combat arts. The Form His Holiness speaks of is the arrangement of divine power itself. If you somehow refine divine power infused with Authority into a usable form, that becomes Form. If that form falls within the category of divine arts, it may be combat arts or spell arts.”
It was an explanation easier to understand than the previous one. Trevo continued with another question.
“Also, you have probably heard something about Intent. Is that right?”
“...Yes.”
“Intent is the same. Intent is ultimately the theme of the combat arts you will create. It means you should clearly establish the purpose of the combat arts you make. What are these divine arts for? You must keep that in mind.”
Trevo smiled and added, “I heard that you use swordsmanship, so you may be drawn to combat arts, but you need not cling to that path.”
The long explanation ended, and Trevo straightened his upper body. As Vera watched, surprise filled him.
‘So he’s not just a madman...’
Trevo spoke far more coherently than Vera had expected. No, Trevo was much more logical than the Holy Emperor.
Thinking Trevo did not seem as much of an idiot as he looked, Vera bowed his head in thanks.
“Thank you. You have been a great help.”
“It is only natural. Ah, could you wait a moment?”
“Pardon?”
At Vera’s questioning reply, Trevo rose and headed to one corner of the room. Trevo took several books from a shelf and handed them to Vera.
“These are books that may help you create Holy Combat Arts. These are textbooks on existing combat arts, and this is an annotated text interpreting the spell formations used in spell arts. Reading through them should help.”
Vera nodded and accepted the books.
“Thank you again. When should I return these books?”
“Whenever it is convenient for you.”
Trevo answered with a kindly smile. Vera nodded and was preparing to leave when Trevo added, “On one condition.”
Vera turned his gaze toward Trevo.
Trevo was looking at Vera’s right forearm, where his Holy Mark lay, with an oddly excited expression.
“Could you show me your Holy Mark just once?”
Goosebumps rose all over Vera’s body.
Vera glared at Trevo with open disgust. Then he backed away hesitantly, leaving behind only a few words before departing the room.
“Another time.”
Bang.
Vera gave the door a hard kick and walked down the corridor without looking back.
‘He might be sane, my ass.’
Trevo really was a madman.
As expected, the Holy Kingdom was harmful no matter how Vera looked at it.
* * *
What greeted Vera when he returned to the cottage were two sturdily built paladins.
‘The twins?’
Krek and Marek stood before the cottage door.
Vera tried to figure out why they were here, but no answer came to him. He deliberately made his presence known and approached.
Rustle.
As grass was crushed beneath Vera’s feet, the twins turned toward him at the same time.
The moment they spotted Vera, they both bowed in the exact same posture and greeted him.
“Nice to meet you. We came to repair things.”
“Me too.”
Their words came with stiff expressions.
Vera narrowed his brow and asked, “Shouldn’t you be guarding the gate?”
“His Holiness said to be flexible.”
“His Holiness told us to help.”
The Holy Emperor had ordered them here.
‘What are they plotting?’
The Holy Emperor was an old person whose thoughts Vera could never read, so every action made him search for a reason.
‘Surveillance?’
The possibility came to Vera as he thought. His gaze turned to the twins.
At some point, the twins had raised their heads and were staring blankly at Vera.
‘...As if.’
No one would entrust surveillance to idiots like them.
If the old person really had assigned them that task, he must have dementia.
‘If it’s not surveillance, I can’t think of another reason...’
As Vera racked his brain to guess why the twins were here, they spoke again.
“So, should we repair things? What do we repair?”
“I am good at hammering nails.”
Their words swept away Vera’s thoughts, and he looked at the twins again.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I had something to think about.”
“Thinking is good. But it is hard.”
“I do not like thinking.”
Vera pressed his lips together.
For every word Vera gave them, two came back. Yet their answers were so frustrating that Vera did not want to open his mouth.
Still, Vera thought that if he remained silent, those fools would stand there all day. He frowned slightly and spoke again.
“...First, I think the door and some furniture need repairs.”
“I will do the furniture. I am more delicate than Marek.”
“I will fix the door. I am good at hammering nails.”
Having answered, the twins headed for the cottage.
Watching the two figures walk away with heavy footsteps, Vera felt an inexplicable anger building inside him.
A possibility occurred to Vera.
What if the Holy Emperor had sent them to annoy Vera?
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