Riding the Rapids
"Explosive Shot" — a skill that transforms an ordinary arrow into a bomb arrow.
And Novice Howitzer allowed for accurately shooting arrows across relatively long distances.
"…While Intermediate Shield Handling was, quite literally, the technique of handling a shield."
None of these were particularly advanced — they were basic combat skills without even a formal rank designation.
So, even with these in hand, there was still a massive gap between me and Ervia, a six-star cleric.
'My current level is 21.'
If I looked at it objectively, my odds of victory right now were maybe thirty percent.
Sure, she was a holy magician weak in close combat — but I hadn't yet properly built out my gladiator setup.
To defeat a mid-tier cleric like Ervia head-on, I still had a long way to go.
'If I rush in recklessly, I might get swallowed by Kishiris's divine madness and lose my mind.'
But…
That only applied if I fought her honestly.
Needless to say, I had absolutely no intention of doing that.
'It's not like this is some noble duel.'
In a life-or-death brawl, what good is "honor"?
This was nothing like my fight with Marquis Reut.
One wrong move here, and I'd lose my head on the spot.
'So I'll fight like a dog.'
I planned to use everything I knew to smash Ervia from behind and seize victory.
And since I knew a lot, I could afford to be confident.
Ervia's weakness.
'The priests who serve the Goddess of Deception can borrow a fragment of her divine power to cast incredibly strong mind-magic, but…'
That power came with a flaw.
'The moment they incur their goddess's wrath — they lose that power.'
It was a problem shared by all wielders of divine force.
Take, for example, the priests of Aeolem, the god of vengeance:
If they failed their revenge — or worse, were the ones avenged — their power was weakened.
In severe cases, they could even lose the right to use divine powers altogether.
'That's how petty Aeolem is.'
And though to a lesser degree, the Goddess Kishiris was equally ruthless toward priests who disappointed her.
'The Goddess of Deception…'
A divinity hypersensitive to deceit and betrayal.
Ervia Watts was precisely one of her clerics.
And that — was exactly the point I planned to exploit.
***
—E-Ervia! Have you gone mad?!
Through the communication spell, the trembling voice of High Priestess Grace echoed.
—"Why did you unleash the Great Flood already? Why did you ignore my orders?!"
But Ervia spoke calmly.
"I had no choice. One of the children turned out to be a rat who knew about our plan."
—"…What?"
"I'm saying I just ran into a kid who already knew what we were doing, High Priestess."
—"…!"
The other side of the communication fell silent.
In shock — or disbelief.
—"How could this happen…"
Grace murmured that for a long while before she finally spoke again, her tone now chillingly cold.
—"So what happened? Did you deal with the child?"
"…"
That was Grace — a woman who had risen to the rank of High Priestess by mastering her emotions with terrifying composure.
And Ervia, the senior priestess, wasn't much different.
She nodded while gazing at the convulsing orc shaman before her.
"Yes. I've handled it quietly."
—"If there's anyone else who knows about our plan…?"
"I'll deal with them the same way."
—"So that's why you triggered the Great Flood early?"
"Yes. If there are any more rats, they'll have no choice but to come to me. After all, this is where they'd have to stop the flood."
—"You've played a very bold hand. You understand that, don't you?"
"Yes. Even if we lose all the girls, it's more important that our plan doesn't leak."
At that, Grace let out a long sigh.
—"You made the right call. If the plan gets out, both you and I are as good as dead."
"…Understood."
The words made Ervia's stomach twist with irritation — she'd already taken on a nasty job, and now it had turned into something even filthier.
'Well, what can you do?'
…Orders are orders.
"Then if there are no further instructions, I'll proceed with the operation as planned."
—"Fine. If Vice-Chief Kide tries to interfere, I'll contact you again. Be prepared for that."
Hidden beneath Grace's words was a very simple meaning:
'Until the Vice-Chief steps in, summon as many monsters as you can and crush every rat alive.'
That was what she truly meant.
Ervia acknowledged and cut the communication.
Before her, the orc shaman was thrashing wildly, foaming at the mouth.
"Grrrhhhh…"
The iron collar around his neck was activating an illusion spell drawn from the Goddess of Deception's power.
That hallucination-induced frenzy radiated through powerful magical waves, seizing control over the mental systems of every monster nearby.
Run. Run madly and destroy everything!
That was the command now dominating the entire horde.
And thus, the Great Flood began.
It would continue until the shaman took his final breath.
'Roughly an hour.'
For as long as the orc shaman lived, those children might as well be in hell.
"…"
But Ervia felt no pang of conscience.
In wartime against the Empire, she had seen things a hundred times worse.
This was merely another passing storm.
That was all she needed to think.
'And now, all I have to do is wait here for the rat to come to me.'
…And just then—
"Hm?"
Sitting in the darkness of the cave, Ervia turned her head.
From somewhere outside, she felt a faint ripple of magic drift in.
The priestess twisted her lips.
'Already here? That was fast.'
The monster wave should have only just begun tearing through the forest toward the cabin.
Yet somehow, someone had already tracked her down to this cave?
"Whoever this rat is — impressive."
Her curiosity sharpened.
Could there be someone pulling the strings?
'If so, I'll be sure to capture them alive and have a very honest conversation — right alongside that woman.'
…But where were those attendant priests of hers?
Just as the thought crossed her mind—
Ping!
A red arrow shot through the air toward her.
Ervia stepped back instinctively — and the explosive arrow landed squarely on its mark.
BOOM!
"…!"
A thunderous explosion ripped through the cavern, and the already-twisted body of the orc shaman was blown to pieces.
It happened before she even had time to react.
"Damn it…"
The explosion's flames spread quickly, devouring the tools and furniture in the cave.
But Ervia merely smirked.
'Oh, I see—kill the shaman first to stop the Great Flood, then come for me?'
Sorry, but that wasn't going to work.
'That was just an illusion.'
Did anyone think the Goddess of Deception earned her name for nothing?
The moment Ervia arrived at the cave, she'd hidden the shaman's real body somewhere else.
Then, using a divine spell known as Scarecrow Game, she created a decoy.
Because of that, the cave had turned into a blazing inferno in seconds, but—
Tsss, tsss, tsss!
The magic waves that stirred the monsters' consciousness and triggered the Great Flood hadn't stopped.
They continued to pulse outward, uninterrupted.
Having laid her traps in advance, Ervia looked toward the cave entrance with a cold smile.
'Come then.'
Let's see that proud little face of yours.
Almost as if responding to her anticipation—
"…"
A human silhouette appeared at the mouth of the cave.
The newcomer was a boy holding a crimson shield.
"Ervia Watts!"
He spoke her name clearly—then—
Thunk!
He slammed his shield into the ground at the entrance as if declaring war.
The oddly shaped red shield stood upright, sealing the cave like a gravestone.
Then the boy spoke in a solemn, resolute voice.
"The Great Flood of monsters ends here! You won't be leaving this place today."
At that, Ervia burst out laughing.
"Ahahahaha!"
It was too absurd.
"Boy, are you trying to play hero?"
"…"
"Such a foolish child."
Suppressing the grin spreading across her face, Ervia slowly gathered her power.
The divine magic of the Goddess Kishiris merged with her own, perfectly suited for illusions.
Facing this boy was child's play—something she could do with her eyes closed.
'I'll toy with you for a while.'
She could slowly crush his mind and make him spill everything he knew.
The fire raging behind her was a nuisance, sure, but it was beginning to die down.
'The smoke will flow out through the cave entrance anyway.'
Ssssss…
The magic began.
"I'll show you a hell made from your deepest fears."
Dream Machine. Death Experience. Endless Orbit.
These illusion spells bestowed by the Goddess Kishiris would utterly shatter his psyche.
Ervia was certain of it.
…But.
"Hm?"
As she felt the power gather in her hands, confusion crossed her face.
'What's going on?'
Strangely, the divine magic infused with her goddess's power was far weaker than usual—
Half her usual strength?
No—barely a quarter.
And even that much was fading fast.
"What… what is this? Don't tell me—!"
Even amidst her panic, the veteran priestess quickly grasped the situation and snapped her head up.
The boy stood before her, expressionless, sword at the ready.
"You… you tricked me, didn't you? That's why the Goddess is—"
Her trembling voice was cut off as Gilroshan smirked.
"That's right. So now, why don't you start thinking real hard? Figure out when and how you got deceived."
Though she probably wouldn't have the composure to do much thinking while defending herself.
***
I lunged straight at her.
Needless to say, a cleric unable to use divine magic was no different from a knight stripped of sword and shield.
So when my Sword Spirit sliced through her wrist, it wasn't anything extraordinary.
"Aaaagh!"
Clutching her severed arm, she stumbled back and raised a defensive spell — Heavy Wall —
"Ha!"
Shhhhkk!
I held my breath and cleaved right through it, charging in.
Stripped of Kishiris's divine support, holy magic was pathetically weak.
"Cough, cough!"
The bleeding priestess staggered backward, coughing violently.
Then suddenly, realization dawned in her wide eyes as she looked from the flames to the cave entrance.
"Th-this is…?"
Only now did she understand.
But it was too late.
I activated my skill and swung.
[Offensive Magic: Commissioned Sword Dance]
In an instant, my blade accelerated—
—and sliced off Ervia's remaining wrist before she could even move.
To keep her from fleeing, I drove my sword through her foot.
Crack!
"Kuh… gahhh! Guh!"
The priestess convulsed, choking on screams, then finally collapsed to the ground.
That was the price of being deceived—
and the result of briefly losing the favor of the goddess she served.
"Ugh, the smoke stings."
I had succeeded in deceiving a priestess of the Goddess of Deception herself.
And that was why, despite the vast difference in power, I'd been able to subdue her so easily.
A subtle battle of wits—
It had all begun with this:
'Make her believe her illusion is working.'
The moment that orc shaman's illusionary body was hit by my explosive arrow…
…I'd already started the fight with victory in hand.
[You have subdued the 'Senior Priestess of the Grand Cathedral of Kishiris'!]
[Level up!]
[Hidden quest objective achieved!]
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