Volume 1 Chapter 9 ACT.8 The Day the Avenger Was Born (III)
Five years had passed since Rai began his training under Aslan.
Now 13 years old, Rai was achieving results that surpassed Aslan's expectations.
Aslan was a man who simply could not hold back.
Even when training a boy who had just turned 8, he never slacked off in his methods.
From the early morning runs to build basic stamina,
to the rigorous practical training in swordplay and shield stances,
and even the theoretical studies of human anatomy──
he poured all his skills and experiences into Rai.
Aslan had his own reasoning behind this strict approach.
He believed that eventually, Rai would be unable to keep up with such intensity,
and when that time came, he hoped to guide him toward a life not solely focused on strength──
a life that, while ordinary, could lead to happiness.
However, he underestimated Rai.
Rai approached every training session with utmost seriousness, steadily absorbing the techniques.
Far exceeding Aslan's expectations, the boy's martial talent was exceptional.
Moreover, the dark hatred boiling within him fortified his spirit,
allowing him to overcome even the slightest adversity.
With a steel-like resolve, unparalleled martial prowess,
and the correct methods of effort instilled by Aslan,
Rai Conwell had become a warrior capable of surpassing even the official Holy Knights at just 13 years of age.
It was only natural that he would set his sights on a certain goal.
"Master, I aim to become a Purge Knight, just like you."
On that day, in Aslan's office at the Holy Church headquarters, he gazed at Rai with a solemn expression, as if to say, "So it has finally come."
"Rai, do not aim for me. You know what a Purge Knight is, don't you?"
"Yes, they are knights burdened with the mission to purge heretics."
Over the years leading up to this moment, Aslan had shared various stories with Rai.
Many of those tales revolved around the teachings of the Holy Church and the nature of the Purge Knights.
In this world, there were 2 creator gods.
The Goddess of Hope and Order, and the God of Truth and Chaos.
The two deities shared a bond forged in the creation of the world, but at times, the God of Truth and Chaos, driving the goddess to the brink of exasperation.
In a cunning turn, she conspired against him and cast him out from this realm.
As a result, peace descended upon the world──this is the myth conveyed by the Holy Church, venerating the Goddess of Hope and Order.
However, there was a continuation to this tale that was not widely known.
Even in the dimension of exile, the God of Truth and Chaos sought to influence this world once more, occasionally sending forth those whom he had bestowed his blessings upon.
──These were the Reincarnators.
His servants sent to grant protection to the souls summoned in that forsaken realm, tasked with plunging this world back into chaos.
If left unchecked, this world would once again become a cauldron of tumult.
──To prevent such an outcome, the goddess entrusted the task to the Holy Maiden, able to discern the true identity of the Reincarnators through divine revelation, and the Purge Knight, who possessed the strength to defeat those blessed Reincarnators.
This is why Rai's words were not entirely wrong.
Yet, an important circumstance was overlooked.
"Rai, as a Purge Knight, you would have to slay even innocent infants merely for being Reincarnators. That's a heavy burden to bear."
At Aslan's question, Rai felt a stirring doubt and spoke without hesitation.
"Master, that's not right. Being born as a Reincarnator is a sin in itself. Even if it's an infant, if they are a Reincarnator──"
As Rai spoke, Aslan caught a glimpse of an unwavering flame of wrath deep within his eyes.
Aslan realized he could not erase the hatred swirling within Rai's heart.
It seemed as if Rai was determined to walk this path to extinguish the malice nesting in his soul.
But Aslan struggled with the question──did he have the right to stop him?
Finally, what escaped his lips were these words.
"Rai, while that notion has merit, first focus on passing the Holy Knight recruitment exam when you turn 15. We can talk about this afterward."
In the end, all he could offer were words that merely bought time.
* * *
"Hehe, you are Rai──Aslan's disciple, aren't you?"
The first time Rai met her was right after Aslan had said something like that.
As Rai stepped out of Aslan's office and walked down the corridor of the Holy Knight building, bathed in the hues of dusk, he was suddenly addressed from behind.
When he turned around, there stood a delicate maiden, one who seemed out of place in the Holy Knight building.
Dressed in a beautiful gown that resembled a white lily, the girl, about the same age as Rai, who was covered in a black cloth, spoke to him with a tinkling, bell-like laugh.
"Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter who I am at this point. More importantly, you have such an interesting color."
With that, she turned her face toward Rai, moving as if she could see everything, despite her blindfold, leaving him bewildered.
"Color, you say?"
"Yes, color. It's so uneven and not blended, a beautiful and rare color."
Rai couldn't grasp the meaning behind the girl's words, but as he stared into the unfolding situation within himself, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
It was as if she could see right through him, and standing before this girl felt incredibly daunting.
However, my emotions did not reach Rai.
Therefore, the conversation continued.
"──I've heard rumors, you want to become a Purge Knight, don't you, Rai?"
"Yes, but first I need to aim for recruitment as a Holy Knight in 2 years──"
"──There's no need for that."
He tried to convey what his master, Aslan, had told him, but his words were cut off mid-sentence.
"With your abilities, I think you could be immediately recruited as a Purge Knight. Just the other day, there was an opening, and I was looking for a replacement, so doesn't that seem quite perfect?"
With her beautiful voice, the girl spoke in a mysterious manner.
Not knowing her true identity, Rai and I felt an increasing sense of wariness toward her, despite the beautiful and pure aura she exuded.
"I'll put in a good word for you. So, look forward to tomorrow──I'm on your side, my Rai."
With those meaningful words, she turned her back on Rai and walked away.
A rare purity paired with an otherworldly quality.
The name of the girl who left such conflicting impressions on Rai was Stella.
She held the unique role of the "Blind Saint," tasked by divine oracle to convey information about the Reincarnator to the Purge Knights.
It was only after everything had ended that Rai would learn her true nature.
And later, I would look back.
Meeting the saint, Stella, during this twilight hour was, in many ways, the greatest turning point in Rai's life.
* * *
The following day.
A messenger from the Holy Church was sent to the orphanage where Rai lived.
The messenger delivered a message for Rai.
'In 3 days, a trial will be imposed on Rai Conwell to determine his suitability as a Purge Knight. Under the supervision of Purge Knight Leone, you are to confront the Reincarnator.'
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