The Month of Death and Destruction had already passed its halfway point.
During the few days since returning to Knoroya, Kanzaki Rei had felt a growing sense of security.
It seemed that staying in one place for a long time inevitably created a subconscious attachment.
Of course, it was also very likely because he had emptied the entire treasury of Ruijia Kingdom.
There was no way he could just linger out in some unfamiliar wilderness.
Thinking about it carefully, the safest place for him in the world right now was probably Knoroya.
"Iz."
Rei walked into Iz Palut's office.
"You're here."
Iz smiled when she saw him.
"Kumironi has been avoiding us these past few days."
"…That's understandable."
Kumironi's moral standards were higher than anyone else's.
If Iz could be considered Neutral Good—someone who didn't kill indiscriminately and usually followed the law—she still wouldn't let legal codes stop her if something genuinely interested her.
If no one was watching in some forgotten corner of the world, Iz wouldn't care much about laws at all.
As Iz once put it:
"Rules are made by people. And rules created by people are not the ultimate truth of the world."
"Whether to follow them or not simply depends on the individual."
"Those laws and regulations bind the citizens of a nation. I'm not one of their citizens. I have no obligation to obey them."
"But if those rules truly represented the fundamental truth of existence, then perhaps I would consider following them."
Truly worthy of Iz Palut.
Even when breaking the law, she did it with complete confidence.
Rei's own thinking was much simpler.
He knew very well that what he had done counted as theft and robbery.
But once he had gone through the mental debate and convinced himself…
Then he would do it.
And once he had done it, he would not regret it.
Even if it was wrong.
Besides, in this world there was rarely any absolute distinction between right and wrong.
More often than not, it was simply a matter of position, perspective, power, and capability.
But Kumironi was different.
She possessed a very traditional Lawful Good personality.
She obeyed the law most of the time and genuinely loved helping those in need.
Knowing that her friends had emptied the forbidden halls of multiple churches and looted an entire national treasury…
Kumironi was probably undergoing a severe moral struggle.
And because the Life Church—her church—would indirectly benefit from the weakening of other churches, her feelings were even more complicated.
Iz took out a letter.
"If Kumironi sees this, she might feel a little better."
"What's this?"
Rei took the letter.
"I've been studying the forbidden books we brought back these past few days."
"I found this hidden in a layer between the pages."
"The King of Ruijia actually maintains close ties with the Church of Death."
"He's been secretly cultivating cultists and continuously supplying fresh recruits to them."
"If Kumironi learns that, she'll probably feel less conflicted."
So there was that connection too.
During the past five days since returning, Rei had been extremely busy.
He had been studying the magic and combat techniques they brought back from the churches.
At the same time, he was researching the dungeon generation mechanism of the "Source of Calamity."
He had also been interrogating captured sentient monster prisoners together with Yuna, trying to gather intelligence about monster nests.
And at his own residence, he had begun experimenting with setting up magical restrictions.
He hadn't had time to investigate matters related to the Church of Death.
Although he had become their Pontiff, he hadn't handled a single internal affair since taking the position.
"Alright."
"Should I go find Kumironi now?"
"No need to rush. I've already sent her a message about it."
Iz lifted a finger.
A chair slid smoothly across the room and stopped opposite her desk.
Rei sat down.
"How is your mastery of those spells?" Iz asked.
Rei replied,
"I've already mastered everything I can currently learn."
"And your Second Origin Magic?"
Rei's mouth twitched slightly.
"…Still thinking about it."
"Don't slack off on comprehending your Second Origin Magic."
"Even though your magical talent isn't as good as mine, if you put in some effort, a second origin shouldn't be difficult for you."
"Mm. I will."
It felt like being nagged about unfinished homework.
Afterward, Iz casually waved her hand.
Stacks of books appeared in the empty space beside them.
"The knowledge in these books should all be readable for you."
"I've already checked them. Nothing problematic."
"There are still a few exceptions—for example, this one."
She held up a book titled:
Forbidden Origin
"You'll probably need to reach Level 5 Mage before reading it."
"As for the other items you brought back, I've already handled them."
Iz handed him a bracelet.
Rei scanned the inside with his perception.
Everything they had taken that day was inside.
"I kept a few items that interested me. The rest are yours."
"But remember—these are merely external tools."
"When you reach my level, you'll realize that things like this aren't all that important."
Rei nodded.
"I understand, Master Iz."
"Go on. I still need to study these books."
Iz opened Forbidden Origin.
The moment it was opened, Rei saw distortion and corruption leaking visibly from the pages.
It was literally visible to the naked eye.
No wonder he wasn't allowed to read it yet.
After leaving Iz's office, Rei returned to his residence.
His mansion was now surrounded by layers upon layers of magical restrictions.
Rei applied everything he had learned.
Any restriction he successfully破解 could also be learned and recreated.
The only limitation was materials.
Over the past few days, he had purchased materials and set up numerous formations around his home.
Now within the estate's territory there existed:
Illusion formations
Killing formations
Detection arrays
Entry prohibition barriers
Perception isolation arrays
Spatial lockdown arrays
Even if Rei didn't personally intervene, any Level-5 adventurer entering the estate would be trapped and killed by the formations alone.
Even Level-6 adventurers would struggle to escape quickly.
As for why they couldn't kill Level-6 adventurers outright…
The materials available on the market were limited.
And constructing formations was far more difficult than dismantling them.
Rei didn't even possess a Formation Master profession.
Achieving this much without any related class was already impressive.
"Bow of Eternal Frost… Bone-Freezing War Spear."
Rei didn't know how to use a bow.
But he could wield a spear.
In the basement training area, the spear swept through the air.
A streak of frost followed its arc.
This weapon…
It should rival equipment made from 6th-Tier Sinking-Continent monsters.
No.
Perhaps even stronger.
Next—
Boots of Light Reversal.
Golden runic patterns flowed endlessly across the surface of the boots.
They drastically increased burst movement speed, allowing the wearer to move like a streak of light for a brief moment.
After putting them on, Rei's explosive speed increased again.
His figure flickered.
In a single instant—
He moved from the basement to outside the mansion.
Another instant—
He arrived at the White Tower.
Crack!
A flash of light later—
He stood atop the city wall.
At peak burst speed, he could cross two hundred kilometers instantly.
Unlike normal acceleration, the boots started at maximum speed and gradually slowed.
After one second, speed dropped to roughly half the initial burst, becoming the user's normal movement speed.
Even so…
Rei looked at the vast wilderness behind him.
One second of movement could carry him over a thousand kilometers.
This speed was ridiculous.
Before this, his limit was roughly 100 km per second at peak burst.
Maintaining that speed continuously would slow him significantly.
Now the boots had increased his speed tenfold.
And the recovery time between bursts was shorter as well.
"Church equipment really is incredible."
Since he was already outside…
He decided to run more tests here.
Rei scanned the surroundings.
Then he took out a scroll and several dozen nails.
These were portable formation diagrams engraved by a Formation Master.
While powerful restrictions couldn't be shared, lower-tier formations could be sold or commissioned.
With these diagrams, setting up restrictions required far less preparation.
The diagram activated on the ground.
A massive magic circle formed.
This was a ritual-type restriction.
Rei scattered the nails around the formation's corners.
A hemispherical light barrier expanded outward.
The area was now completely concealed.
From outside, no one could perceive Rei's presence.
Rei then took out a banner.
Banner of Victorious Illumination.
A treasure from the Church of Light.
When he raised the banner, brilliant light radiated outward.
Rei felt a sacred blessing envelop his body.
Every spell and combat skill he used now gained the Holy Light attribute.
The light also possessed mild healing properties.
This was a group buff.
Rei produced a dagger and slashed his arm.
As the blade passed—
Soft holy light followed the cut.
The wound healed instantly.
It looked almost like he had used a laser scalpel to seal the wound while cutting.
Even without this effect, Rei's Supreme War Body already healed rapidly.
Previously, wounds began healing immediately after being inflicted.
Now they healed during the act of being cut.
Under this effect, if an enemy tried to cut him in half—
His body might regenerate before the blade finished slicing through.
The buff's range appeared to match the banner's illuminated area.
If Ruijia used this banner in war…
Its impact would be unimaginable.
Though in Rei's hands, its group-battle potential seemed somewhat wasted.
…Or perhaps not.
With a thought, Level-6 Monarch Undead emerged from his Minor Netherworld.
Under the holy light—
Every undead body also gained a faint sacred glow.
Even more shocking—
Their vulnerability to light and holy damage disappeared.
"So it works…"
"And there are no negative effects."
Each undead received pure benefits.
No weakening whatsoever.
The strength increase seemed based on each individual's base power.
Perhaps around 20–30%.
Hard to measure precisely.
Different combat styles produced different results.
But on average, a 20% increase per unit seemed reasonable.
More importantly, eliminating their holy weakness removed one of the undead race's greatest flaws.
"Everything really is top-tier equipment…"
Previously, Iz hadn't allowed him to test these items to prevent divination tracking.
Only now did Rei truly feel their power.
Next was the Majestic Radiant Armor.
A straightforward defensive piece.
No fancy effects.
Just incredibly high defense.
Its only special feature…
It was blindingly bright.
The wearer constantly emitted radiant light.
Probably not suitable for everyday use.
Too conspicuous.
Staff of Pure Light.
An extremely pure Light-element staff.
It massively amplified all Light-element magic.
Comparable to the Astral Ring Staff of the Void Star, though only for Light magic.
If Rei focused purely on Light spells in the future, this staff would be ideal.
It was surprising that a single church possessed so many treasures comparable to Iz's staff.
Iz had been right.
The churches' foundations far exceeded those of ordinary kingdoms.
The churches were colossal organizations spanning the entire world.
Ruijia Kingdom was merely one kingdom on the Ruilun Continent.
Even if one could break their restrictions…
It was still wise not to provoke them.
Or steal their treasures.
"But with me around, it's fine."
Those were Iz Palut's words.
Finally—
The Holy Severing Sword.
A lightweight Light-element weapon.
With a simple swing, a brilliant sword beam shot forward.
Strangely, it felt as if the sword itself guided his movements.
When he used the Slash Sword Style, the techniques flowed instantly.
Before his body even fully moved—
The sword techniques had already completed.
Fast.
Too fast.
Slash!
Slash Sword Style — Forms Two, Three, Four, Five!
Four techniques erupted in an instant.
Dozens of sword lights tore across the land.
A deep trench carved through the earth.
The sword beams dissipated only after traveling roughly 300 meters.
Fast.
Powerful.
Not a single useless item.
Every piece of equipment was exceptional.
The Dark Church equipment had been given to Rei Seiyin:
The twin daggers
The shadow-merging garment
Rei had actually wanted the shadow-merging outfit himself.
But since he had promised it to her, it was hers.
If necessary, he could always borrow it.
It just wouldn't be as convenient.
Rei picked up the frost bow.
"I really can't use a bow…"
"Luluwi would probably like this."
Next time they organized another operation like this, he could bring her along.
Luluwi's scouting ability was excellent.
And with her Observer class, her counter-reconnaissance ability should also be strong.
He also wanted her help searching Lorren for any hidden restrictions.
Though stealing from Lorren wouldn't feel right.
Rei had some attachment to Lorren.
It was the first country he lived in after arriving in this world.
And it had treated him well.
Rei wasn't a purely good person.
If something made him stronger, and he could justify it to himself—
He would do it.
Using death cultists to craft storage bracelets.
Considering poisoning Luluwi to win the War God Cup.
Stealing church relics.
All of it was for himself.
Rei clearly understood his own motivations.
But he still needed a reason that satisfied his conscience.
Not to excuse his actions.
Not to pretend to be righteous.
If he did something, he acknowledged it.
Reality wouldn't change just because he justified it.
But if he couldn't find any reason at all to convince himself…
Then that meant the act had crossed his moral boundary.
And that would make it unacceptable.
A reason was necessary.
Otherwise, without any restraint—
He would become no different from a monster.
"This bow goes to Luluwi."
"This kitchen knife… I'll give it to Obadis. He'll love it."
"The rest… I can use."
After returning to Knoroya, Rei gave the frozen kitchen knife to Obadis.
Obadis was overjoyed.
He promised to protect Rei with his life.
As for the bow…
Luluwi wasn't home.
He would find her later.
After thinking for a moment, Rei decided to visit Yuna at the White Tower.
He wanted to invite her to help interpret the forbidden books from Ruijia.
Reading them together would double efficiency.
Yuna was also close to advancing to Level-3 Scholar.
Perhaps thanks to the vast knowledge Rei had fed her—knowledge most people would never encounter.
Her Heart of Knowledge had begun to emerge.
Now the question was whether she would pursue deep specialization in one field…
Or become a broad-knowledge scholar.
The difference between those two paths was enormous.
Rei climbed the White Tower's stairs.
But when he reached the third floor, he saw a very familiar figure.
Short light-purple hair.
A sleepy expression.
Leaning lazily on one hand while flipping pages with the other.
"I'm a Scholar too. It's not strange for me to be here."
Pari had already divined the question Rei wanted to ask.
Why are you here?
She closed her book and looked at him lazily.
"Recently, the Ruijia Kingdom and their churches have been searching everywhere for me…"
She tilted her head slightly.
"What do you think, Chief Rei?"
"Do you have any leads?"