**#247. The One Who Radiates Light (2)**
—
The Terranote in Ray’s hand showed no reaction.
“……”
He wasn’t particularly disappointed.
The condition of a Saint was to be someone who could worry about all things in the world without condition.
But for someone like him, emotionally dry, there were only a rare few he could genuinely worry about.
And, more than anything—
*‘Just like I tested yesterday.’*
He had anticipated this outcome.
Just yesterday—
He had received a piece of the Terranote from the dwarves under Rael Row.
He had already tested it on everyone in the mansion, himself included.
Except for Veronica, that is.
*‘She became strangely sharp after I asked about love yesterday.’*
Judging by the pattern so far, she’d likely return to normal soon enough… but for now, it wasn’t the right time to ask her for help.
Just as Ray was recalling the other piece of Terranote tucked inside his robe—
The bishop’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Haha, there’s no need to be disappointed just because the Terranote doesn’t emit any light. Even devout priests can only make it glow faintly when they hold it. The reaction you saw is perfectly normal for a layperson.”
It seemed the bishop hadn’t expected anything from Ray to begin with.
“……”
A faint hint of disappointment appeared in Solite’s eyes.
*
*
A few days later—
Outskirts of the northern sector.
A procession of black sedans came to a halt one by one in front of the grand cathedral.
Vrrrm— screech.
Clack! Clack! Thud! Thud!
People stepped out from the vehicles and warmly greeted those waiting in front of the cathedral.
“Oh my! Priest Rita! How long has it been? Nearly ten years since we graduated from the central seminary!”
“May the blessings of the warm sunlight be with you. It brings me joy beyond words to see you again like this.”
“Yes, Bishop Python. Bishop Sardio will be finishing the service shortly and will be out soon.”
Those who had arrived at the cathedral were the artificial sun transport unit from Sectors 38 to 40.
Each sector dispatched one bishop, eight priests, and about ten attendants—making for a large group of around sixty people.
Some embraced one another, some shed tears—overcome with emotion.
Watching them from the cathedral entrance, Ray spoke to Solite.
“They all look like people who haven’t seen each other in a long time.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Priests of the Order are primarily trained at the central seminary, and after that, they’re assigned to each diocese where they spend their entire lives—unless something extraordinary happens.”
In other words—
This mass relocation triggered by the discovery of the Saint was an unprecedented event in the Order’s history.
“By the way, what do you think? The people who just arrived….”
There was tension and anxiety in Solite’s voice.
Ray carefully observed each individual, then spoke as if concluding something.
“Twenty-seven.”
“Did I… hear that correctly?”
“I recounted them. It’s twenty-seven.”
Twenty-seven.
That was the number of individuals whose circles were completely dark navy—the sign of a mixed circle.
It meant that all three bishops and twenty-four priests from those three sectors were spies of the Azure Dawn.
Solite felt like he might explode under the weight of confusion and pressure.
“That can’t be…! All the ones I see now are people I had connections with back at the central seminary. I swear by the Sun—they were all sincere believers, free from a speck of shame…!”
Ray silently met Solite’s gaze.
Because he knew Solite’s ability—to distinguish truth from lies through one’s eyes.
“……”
“……”
The blond young man, facing the boy’s white irises, passed through confusion, disbelief, and emptiness, then slowly calmed.
Finally, he spoke with difficulty.
“It’s true… then.”
“I doubt they were spies from the beginning. Most likely, something happened after they were assigned to their dioceses.”
“They must’ve turned due to some incident, despite living a pious life… Yes, that’s the most plausible.”
Many thoughts ran through Solite’s mind.
If the number of enemies were small, they could be purged with help from the other priests.
*‘But to think they all turned…’*
The situation was far more serious than expected.
If the higher sectors had a similar infiltration rate, not only would stopping the Dawn’s scheme be impossible—but survival itself could be in jeopardy.
“Sir Ray.”
“Yeah?”
“I recommend you withdraw from the convoy. I understand how powerful you are, but this situation is beyond what a few individuals can overturn.”
It was a sincere concern for Ray’s safety.
But the person in question answered calmly.
“I can’t do that. I have something I want to achieve—quickly.”
“……”
“And I’m still fine. This number of mages is manageable.”
Meeting his eyes, Solite could tell that Ray was speaking the truth again.
It wasn’t the reckless pride of a child—it was confidence built on solid ground.
*‘……’*
Solite trembled.
What kind of life had this child lived to possess such certainty at his age?
Faith, by nature, was easily shaken.
Solite knew that better than anyone—so Ray’s unwavering confidence was nothing short of a shock to him.
Vrrrm──!
Trailer trucks carrying the artificial suns of each diocese arrived next.
Screech! Clack! Clack!
The massive spheres, each over ten meters tall and chained to the trailer floors, exuded an overwhelming presence.
But they emitted no light.
Red, orange, and yellow—
Mosaic-like symbols resembling starlight covered the white surfaces, but none of them glowed.
The transport unit stayed in Sector 37 for a full day.
They rested, repaired vehicles, and reunited with long-lost companions.
They also went out to the slums to aid local priests—distributing food, repairing facilities, and performing relief work.
“Thank you so much! Huh? I’ve never seen you priests before.”
“Priests! Is it true what they’re saying? That the sun will soon rise in the sky?”
“They say even those sickened by black rain can be saved… Is it really true?”
The transport unit kindly answered each question that was thrown at them.
“Yes. The time has come for your long-held faith to be rewarded.”
“A world is coming—one bathed in warm sunlight, where everyone can live in abundance and equality.”
With kind smiles and gentle tones—
They acted like devout religious figures as they helped the poor with genuine sincerity.
But to Ray’s eyes, it was all transparent.
He could see the dark navy—almost pitch-black—emotions writhing in their souls.
A mixture of intense contempt and malice toward others.
And then, the next morning—
“Lead vehicle, moving out!”
With Sector 37 now part of it, the convoy had grown to around 80 people and began racing down the highway through the wilderness.
The scene of nearly twenty vehicles escorting four trailers was a spectacle.
At the rear of the convoy—
In the back seat of a black sedan—
“Master Ray! Look over there! It’s a herd of Rockdeer! Do you think Franc is among them? The one we saw before?”
Veronica exclaimed excitedly, looking out the window.
Ray replied without lifting his eyes from the art theory book he was reading.
“We saw Franc near the outskirts of Sector 48. It’s unlikely that herd made it this far. And Veronica, you only need to call me ‘Master’ when we’re around others.”
“Nope! For a perfect performance, you have to stay in character even when no one’s watching! That’s how you avoid mistakes in real situations!”
A servant attending to a noble young master.
That was the undercover identity the red-haired girl was currently obsessed with.
Then, as she looked out the window, she turned and asked:
“But, Master! Bishop Sardio only allowed one attendant. Why did you pick me? I mean, in terms of magic, Ms. Grine or Ms. Ayla are much more skilled.”
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
But Ray, oblivious to such things, answered seriously after thinking it over.
“You’re the one I coordinate best with during battle.”
“Anything else?”
“You also use healing magic at the highest output when I’m injured.”
“Anything more?”
“You’re good with barriers, too.”
“Nothing beyond magical reasons?”
All of Ray’s answers continued in the same vein.
“Hmm, yes. I’m happy to have earned the Master’s trust.”
Veronica gave a small nod.
She actually had a very specific answer in mind—but considering Ray’s insensitivity, hearing that answer in this lifetime might be impossible.
Vrrrroooom──!
The convoy sped forward.
Sandworms and other monsters sometimes attacked along the way—
Boom! Boom!
Screeeeech!
But they were quickly engulfed in flames and left behind.
That was because the convoy now had more than twenty mages.
As they traveled further up the Elton River, the distance between sectors shrank—
“May the warm blessings of the sun be upon you! Welcome, brothers! We’ve been waiting for you!”
With each stop, more members joined, quickly expanding the group.
“How about this group, Sir Ray? The bishop and priests from this diocese…?”
“All but one priest. The rest have mixed circles.”
The expressions of Solite and his eight-priest team hardened.
The ratio of spies remained high.
While the numbers improved slightly as they moved upward, it was insignificant.
By the time they reached Sector 31 and the total headcount approached 200, those with pure circles still didn’t number even thirty.
Fortunately—
*‘Most are Circle 1 or 2.’*
Even in the worst-case scenario of being surrounded, the odds weren’t hopeless.
Hummm!
Ray focused his mind and felt the thick current of mana flowing through his four circles.
Since entering Circle 4, his sensitivity to and control over mana had surpassed yet another wall.
He could now dismantle most spells at the elemental level and crush them on the spot—
Or emit high-density mana to suffocate his enemies.
He had already confirmed this through—well, not live experiments, but rather active cooperation from the mansion’s children.
In other words—
*‘Only Circle 3-level mages and above are factors in battle.’*
The ones to watch were the bishops, or the leaders of the priest teams—just a small number of individuals.
“If maintenance is complete, the lead vehicle will now depart!”
Vrrroooom──!
Racing once again through the wasteland, the convoy arrived at Sector 30, which felt noticeably different from the sectors they had passed through until now.
Clack, tap!
Stepping out of the car, Veronica looked at the streets, thick with rising heat, and murmured in bewilderment.
“Something’s… off. Everyone seems really worked up. It’s almost frightening. Sure, the other sectors were excited too, but not like this. Even if word of the Saint has spread….”
“Sector 30. This is where the Saint was discovered.”
The answer came from Solite, who had just stepped out behind her.
“There are probably people here who witnessed the miracle firsthand. Strong sunlight and a clear sky—those are things people of all classes have longed for their entire lives. So it’s not surprising that they’re this ecstatic.”
The transport convoy, having parked in neat lines on the sector’s outskirts, began moving toward the grand cathedral along the street.
Following the principle that a cathedral must be close to the poor and hungry, it was located on the edge of the sector—so the walk didn’t take long.
Around the cathedral’s fence, a swarm of impoverished people had gathered like bees.
“Saint! Saint! Please, grant us a miracle!”
“A sliver of light, please!”
“Save us!”
“My son is dying from exposure to the black rain!”
They shook the bars of the fence in a frenzy that bordered on madness.
The convoy passed them and entered through the main gate, and at the cathedral entrance, they met the Saint—who was waiting alongside the priests of Sector 30.
Veronica whispered to Ray.
“Master, look at the Saint’s height. She looks about the same as me. I think she’s around our age.”
“You’re a bit bigger in build. Though, in terms of weight, there’s probably a differe—”
“Ray. Do you want to die?”
The Saint wore a navy-blue veil, concealing her face.
She didn’t speak, so her voice couldn’t be heard. Instead, a bishop with a kind expression stepped forward on her behalf to welcome the transport unit.
“You’ve endured a long journey. Brothers, the glory we seek is not far off. Please bear with us just a little longer.”
Words of praise and encouragement followed.
And at the end—
*Rustle.*
The Saint extended a slender arm from beneath the long veil.
In her outstretched palm rested a small fragment of stone.
Terranote—a miracle demonstration.
────!
The moment the Saint wrapped her hand around the Terranote, a blinding white light engulfed the scene.
Bathed in the halo of light, Ray whispered softly to Veronica:
“That girl—she’s a fake Saint.”
