Wizard Alchemist

Chapter 735 The Temple World (4-in-1)

Before we knew it, it was June 3th.

Roy walked through the woods.

The surrounding mountains are high and the forests are dense, with towering trees rising from the ground, their canopies forming a continuous expanse that almost blocks out all the sunlight.

This creates a sense of darkness and oppression below, hence the name of the Dark Forest in southwestern Eglis.

"We seem to be almost there!"
I sensed the presence of water!

Suddenly, Beryl, who was scouting ahead with her spear, gave a warning.

Upon hearing this, Prandtse leaped up to a high vantage point and exclaimed with delight, "It really is! There's a river ahead!"

Roy didn't say much upon hearing this, but simply tightened the cloak he was wearing and quickened his pace.

Artedia and the others quickly followed.

To avoid the "divine prophecy" feeling that might result from his first visit, Roy accepted the academy's advice and quietly led his followers to practice here for more than half a month.

This is to absorb the local flavor, gradually exchange magic with heaven and earth and nature, and adapt to the environment.

While the nature of alien species cannot be changed, adapting to the local environment and disguising themselves as natives can be done through experience.

To avoid trouble caused by his handsome appearance, he even toned down his charm and wore a little makeup, making him look much more ordinary.

"If the map provided by the academy is correct, this should be the Potamos River."

Following this river northwards, you can reach the Free Kingdom of Tijjara...

Then we went to Kepang, a city known as a commercial capital.

That was where the Temple's power was weakest, and also the most likely place to become a base for resistance.

As Roy pondered, he quickened his pace and walked out of the dense forest.

Sure enough, a rushing river appeared in the valley below.

"More than half a month has passed, and we have gradually become tainted by the atmosphere of this world, allowing the world's will to adapt to our existence."

"Using a little magic shouldn't be a problem..."

Recalling the knowledge about world will and prophecy from "Plane Science," Roy adjusted his power.

He began to summon the magic carpet, allowing everyone to climb aboard, conceal themselves, and fly along the valley.

After this incredible acceleration, they quickly arrived several hundred kilometers to the north.

……

Kaipang City.

In front of the tall city wall.

Roy led everyone into the mage's mansion to hide, taking only Freya and Prandtse with him as they circled around to the city gate.

The place was bustling with activity, with merchants and travelers from all over coming and going in carriages and horses, creating a lively and extraordinary atmosphere.

Roy and his two companions followed the flow of people into the city, where they were immediately struck by the intense commercial atmosphere.

"As expected of a commercial capital, even in ancient times near the Middle Ages, there is such a lively scene!"

Just then, Roy suddenly saw a missionary in a white robe preaching on the street.

He held a thick book of scriptures in his hands, and was accompanied by several servants and believers who helped distribute leaflets.

"Believing in the Holy Light can bring salvation..."

However, most of the people around seemed uninterested. Some were more patient, but they only took the flyer, glanced at it briefly, and then shook their heads and left.

"What kind of holy light is this? Can it help me make money?"

"This is absolutely hilarious..."

"They didn't even give us an egg..."

Previously, the followers of the Earth Mother Goddess even gave out eggs…

"Oh, these money-grubbing heretics!"
May the Lord save their defiled souls and help them escape the sea of ​​suffering caused by greed!

Even the missionaries were angered by these unruly people, and couldn't help but gesture the holy emblem on their chest, shaking their heads and sighing.

Seeing this, Roy chuckled inwardly and secretly sent a message to Freya, saying, "This intelligence is quite reliable."

The Kingdom of Tijara in the southwest of this continent is heavily commercialized, and its people mostly value tangible benefits, showing little enthusiasm for such ethereal beliefs in holy light.

However, after laughing, he said, "But the kingdoms of Fides, Pistis, Lux, and others in the east of the continent have already converted to the Holy Light."

Especially Luxembourg, where the faith in the Holy Light first emerged and where several 'miracles' are said to have occurred, has already established it as the sole state religion, achieving a church rule based on the divine right of kings!

The magical universe has a true god; if you pay a little attention, you can continuously create "miracles" and send down "divine pronouncements".

Conquering the creatures on earth is no problem at all.

Freya shared the same sentiment, saying with a hint of worry, "Yes, their influence is expanding very quickly..."

If those kingdom nobles hadn't known the dangers of a single dominant power, they probably would have completely sided with the Holy Light.

However, as the temple continues to grow and expand, complete conversion is only a matter of time.

The number of believers in the middle and lower classes is growing larger and larger.

They dared not make up their minds to stop it.

Sooner or later, they'll be like frogs being slowly boiled in lukewarm water, gradually being devoured.

At that time, with the three major kingdoms at the forefront and dozens of other small kingdoms of all sizes jointly recognizing it, it would probably not be a problem for the Holy Temple to unify the world.

That situation was unacceptable to Akademia, but Roy came not to stop it, but to preserve the flame in a more pessimistic way.

……

Before the missionaries noticed him, Roy took Freya and Prandtse to a decent-looking luxury hotel in the city to stay in.

Then, they began to investigate the situation.

With money paving the way, the innkeeper wiped his wine glass as he said, "Our Kingdom of Tijala has always made a living by trading. We're so busy every day that we don't have time to pray or attend Mass."

Besides, we worship Proulse, the goddess of wealth; golden coins are the greatest blessing. What good is holy light?

I hope that when you are healed by the Holy Light or blessed, you can still be this stubborn.

Roy shook his head inwardly.

It appears that the Kingdom of Tijjara is indeed relying on the inertia of its traditional culture and the worship of the goddess of wealth to resist.

However, perhaps because they dared not offend the Temple, the nobles did not dare to make a firm decision to reject missionary work, and at most they simply stood by and did nothing.

Even groups like the Church of the Goddess of Wealth rely on popular inertia to resist.

They themselves were also hesitant.

"Never mind that for now, I'll go contact the mage. Pranje, you also help gather information and continue to observe!"
Although this isn't temple territory, it's best not to be too conspicuous, lest we attract attention..."

After settling in briefly, Roy prepared to go out.

Prior to this, he specifically instructed Prandtse.

This temple seems to have some merit; the Inquisition and the Knights Templar are both quite powerful.

Apart from Tijjara, the monarchy has been largely suppressed and brought under control in most other areas.

Before Roy came here, he was warned to be prepared for Tijala to also fall into their hands and then operate in the secret front.

Therefore, disguising one's identity is very important.

******
Shortly after.

West of Kaipang City.

The residence at 43 Grand Duke of Od Street.

Roy discreetly visited the mansion under a false identity and successfully met the owner using a secret communication code provided by the academy.

"Who are you, and why do you know the secret code?" The other person looked at Roy, who had suddenly appeared, with a hint of wariness in their eyes.

Roy smiled slightly and took out an exquisite badge, which was a faith amulet made using a special method.

These creations from a high-magic world are something that the temple world of Egris does not possess.

Its main purpose is to disguise believers; whether it is a church of a benevolent and righteous god or a church of an evil and wicked god, it can be used to disguise itself.

Its working principle is similar to the Rose Emblem that Roy had previously crafted.

Upon seeing this, the owner of the mansion's expression softened slightly.

Because it is impossible for someone from the Temple to possess such a thing, even if it is only used for fishing, as that would be a desecration.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Kiric, a high-ranking wizard appointed by Archadmia."

Roy touched his chest and nodded slightly in greeting.

“Achinila, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Religion, Level 3 Mage, Sumak.”

The owner of the mansion returned the gift.

"I'm sure you already know why I'm here..."

The organization previously established here has suffered severe damage, and the transmission of its legacy may be interrupted.

Now, both of our families, whether wizards or mages, are thorns in the side of the Temple, and a battle between us is inevitable in the future.

Therefore, we should cooperate sincerely.

"This is natural."

The Yachinila side has notified Syria, and there is a general consensus.

"I would like to understand the general situation and your thoughts."

Roy got straight to the point.

After a moment's thought, Symarco said, "We came here after the wizards and also have a similar mission to your Fire Seed Project, but our progress has been slower."

But it was precisely because of this that they were able to hide deep enough and thus escape disaster...

Therefore, I personally believe that the primary task at present is to maintain a defensive posture and lie low as much as possible.

We understand that there have always been many indigenous nobles who are dissatisfied with the rule of the Temple.

Experience from various worlds tells us that the struggle between royal power and divine power will always continue.

Even in the most devoutly religious countries, those who sit on the throne and become nobles are not truly willing to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly.

There will always be some people who can be used by us.

Roy listened patiently to what the other person had to say and nodded secretly.

"Then, may I ask, sir, what stage have you reached so far?"

“We have successfully established ourselves in this Tijjah.”

I cannot tell you the specific organization and covert contacts, but we have people inside the palace.

I now serve as a royal advisor and have successfully wielded considerable influence over the King, capable of shaping the political landscape to some extent and providing strategies for dealing with the Temple.

"Go through the upper echelons?"

Roy was not surprised by the other party's choice, after all, in this world with extraordinary power, seizing worldly power is very convenient.

"However, doing this seems quite dangerous."

This is tantamount to putting oneself in the open.

"I know, but there's no better way."

"Sumako said with a sense of helplessness."

"So far, I am the only one in the open, ostensibly an economic advisor offering suggestions on market reforms, but in reality, I secretly teach the king and princes magical knowledge, helping them master extraordinary powers."

Only by witnessing the wonders of magic and grasping the truth...

Only then can they further solidify their will to control power and not be influenced by the temple.

As for the education of commoners and other magical geniuses, selection and implementation are also carried out covertly.

Then I briefly introduced the specific steps.

Once again, unsurprisingly, it was the style of esotericism.

Spellcasters generally believe that in such a world, knowledge is not easily disseminated and can only be taught to specific groups of people.

Because the minds of the general public are already filled with faith, public preaching can easily lead to conflict with organizations such as churches or temples.

Only those who have been selected or enlightened can access the core content.

They usually disguise magical knowledge and spell truths as natural science, philosophy, mysticism...

Even novels, fairy tales, and fables!

It's worth mentioning that many spellcasters like to include runes of will or other spells that check magical talents in their books, and this is also for this reason.

Publications that are distributed in large quantities are difficult to completely destroy.

Thousands upon thousands of novels, fairy tales, fables, and the like, occasionally interspersed with some magic books, await their destined readers.

Perhaps, without even realizing it, a perceptive reader will discover the secrets of magic between the lines, thus opening the door to a new world.

"The transmission efficiency is very low..."

But there's nothing we can do; after all, this isn't like the previous worlds where we invaded by force and then acted as rulers.

"Think about it from another perspective, doing this actually ensures the quality of the students."

Without a certain amount of talent and luck, it is impossible for an ordinary person to embark on this path.

As long as the quality of teaching can be guaranteed, the final success rate will actually not be too low.

"That's true."

Roy agreed.

"By the way," said Simako, "these are some folk tales and fables that I collected after I came to Eglis..."

I intend to publish some manuscripts secretly as a bard, and at the same time, use the king's connections to write books.

Under the expectant gaze of the other party, Roy cast a small spell called "Quick Reading," glanced through it briefly, and said perfunctorily, "The content is wonderful, the work of a great mage. Update quickly, I can't sleep at night."

Simako rubbed his forehead.

He was also good at reading people and could tell that Roy was being perfunctory.

However, he was helpless about it, since he wasn't very good at writing.

As a high-level spellcaster, one should have a broad range of knowledge, including politics, economics, astronomy, geography, mathematics, art, and many other fields.

With enough time, one can read many books, learn a lot of knowledge, and transform oneself into a well-rounded scholar.

but……

There are some things I just can't do.

The two talked about other things, and finally, Symako told him, "I can introduce you to the king. It just so happens that the Tijjara court is currently recruiting tutors for the princes and princesses, and they need to find learned and talented people..."

With the titles of court advisor and tutor to the crown prince, many other matters could be easily resolved with the help of the nobility.

Roy thought about it for a moment and had no objection.

Although most members of the "Fire Seed Project" remained hidden, high-level wizards and mages like them had to stand in the open and attract attention.
Two days later.

In the royal palace of Kepang.

Symako introduced Roy to King Rex Magnus XVIII of Tijjara.

However, Symako preferred to call him King Kepang, since as an outsider spellcaster, he was too lazy to remember such complicated native names.

King Capon was a middle-aged man with a small mustache and small eyes. He sat on a gilded throne, wearing a scarlet cloak embroidered with gold thread, and looked fair and clean.

"You are the Wizard Kiric?"

As an upper-class nobleman, he knew many secrets unknown to ordinary people, such as the identities of outsiders like mages and wizards. King Kepan was also aware of these secrets.

But, that's all.

The natives only had this concept in mind; they didn't know about divisions like first, second, or third level, nor did they know about planes or the universe.

"Your Majesty, greetings."

I have been invited by His Excellency Syrmako to apply for the position of court advisor, hoping to make good use of my talents here.

King Kai Pang said, "That's excellent, but I wonder what your expertise is?"

Roy smiled slightly and looked at Syracuse.

Simako chimed in, "He is proficient in both literature and martial arts."

"Please show us your talent!"

"King Kepong said."

"Here comes the pen!"

Roy called out, and soon a palace servant brought him a paintbrush, and he immediately used his [Master Artist] alchemical talent to create a painting.

He used sketching and quick sketching techniques to outline King Cappadocia's majestic demeanor with just a few strokes. The interplay of light and shadow seemed to possess a magical power flowing across the paper, leaving everyone breathless in amazement.

King Caspian had never seen such brushwork before and was immediately delighted.

Even Symarko was somewhat surprised.

Are all the people of Akademia this talented? Wasn't there supposed to be a sorcerer alchemist? How come there's a great sorcerer painter here?

But this only proves that he has the potential to be a painting teacher; King Cappadocia wanted to see more.

As he wished, Roy had plaster and carving knives brought out, showcasing his carving skills.

Then came poetry, tailoring, music, jewelry making, craftsmanship…

These talents, though seemingly "miscellaneous," can play a crucial role in court politics, sometimes even more influential than mere combat or magic.

For example, paintings portrayed King Capone's majestic image, and alchemy imbued the paintings with magic, making them a symbol of royal authority.

Many noble families have portraits of their ancestors that have been passed down through generations; these classic works are symbols of inheritance.

In a world like this, where low-magic natives lack historical records and experience in documenting history, having a castle and a collection of oil paintings in one's home is the true mark of nobility and dignity.

This is enough to distinguish it from those without historical heritage.

Sculptures can serve a similar purpose, either for palace decoration or as diplomatic gifts, enhancing cultural influence.

Sketching skills are used to secretly draw maps and depict human features, assisting in espionage activities and military deployments.

The other abilities are similar, and they are useful in various aspects such as social interaction and politics.

At this point, the matter of being hired as a court advisor was practically settled.

However, King Kepan clearly had other ambitions, and quietly asked, "Um... does Lord Kiric know about that?"

Roy knew what he meant, and, feigning mystery, muttered a spell as if to himself.

“, ……

(Activation Technique)

In a mysterious atmosphere, magical light emanated from the painting, and driven by sorcery energy, the image of the king depicted in the painting seemed to step out of the paper like a ghost.

A Silent Illusion!

This is a manifestation of mental power that even advanced apprentices could achieve. Combined with his own understanding as a high-level wizard and the inherited wisdom of the True Dragon, he has mastered the first-level spell "Silent Illusion".

In an instant, the ghostly figure came to life!

The king was indeed intimidated.

Then, the plaster-carved cat also came to life.

It first lazily arched its back, stretched out a long yawn, then raised its tail high, nimbly leaped off the platform, and ran to the king to wipe its trouser leg amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd.

King Capone couldn't resist picking it up to examine it; it was absolutely lifelike!
"Wonderful magic, truly extraordinary!"

These are truly valuable talents for the kingdom and the family!
"I would like to appoint you as a court count and royal advisor, responsible for instructing the palace servants and artisans."

In addition, she served as a tutor to princes and princesses.

The annual salary is 3500 gold coins, plus some materials that spellcasters might find useful..."

The latter is paid based on the condition of successful teaching.

The fees these native nobles could offer for learning magic were actually quite considerable.

Although resources are scarce in the low-magic world, nobles have plenty of opportunities to collect them, and there is a lack of other spellcasters to consume them, so they accumulate quite a lot.

However, those materials and resources are generally not high-end items.

It's thanks to Roy that they were able to fully utilize the beauty of jewelry or other things that their value was brought to the fullest.

In order to play the role of a wise man, Roy did not haggle and readily agreed.

Subsequently, King Kepon subtly inquired about the "mysterious world" and "magic" from Roy and Symako.

These were his primary concerns from beginning to end.

However, knowledge such as "plane studies" and "soul studies" is strictly forbidden from being spread from high-magic worlds to low-magic worlds. Only a very few lucky natives can receive guidance and thus embark on the path of formal cultivation.

This king is not qualified, nor does he offer Roy and the others a reward that is compelling enough to allow him to easily acquire the corresponding inheritance.

So they just gave a perfunctory answer.

Just then, a guard suddenly came to report.

Missionary Keligoma requests an audience.

"welcome."

King Kepan's expression remained calm, revealing nothing at all.

Roy subtly cast an inquiring glance at Symarko, who frowned slightly: "That damn guy must have found out somewhere and came here specifically to see you!"
He was also a court advisor, just like us.

What is his rank?

"He's just a level two priest. If it weren't for the 'Blessing' he possesses, he could be directly controlled by someone with 'Dominate Humanity'..."

They might even kill him!

Generally speaking, making threats is a result of being powerless. Symarco actually didn't have a good way to deal with that missionary, which is why he said those words.

However, there were actually two high-level spellcasters and one level-two spellcaster in this palace.

Such a configuration is absolutely luxurious in a low-magic world.

King Kepan was clearly someone who knew how to play both sides, and was carefully seeking to gain an advantage through strategic maneuvering.

His family had ancestors who reached the level of a second-level warrior, and the royal family also had quite a few second-level trump cards and first-level secret guards.

These are the foundations for maintaining rule.

******
Soon after, Roy met the missionary, Kerrigan.

He wore a simple but clean white pastor's robe, had a neatly trimmed gray-white beard, and a solemn face with an upright demeanor.

As he entered, his gaze fell upon Roy, his eyes not sharp, but carrying a hint of judgment, as if scrutinizing a heretic.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. May I ask who this gentleman is...?"

"Oh, let me introduce you. This is His Excellency Kirik, whom His Excellency Symak ​​recently introduced. I have already appointed him as a court advisor and tutor to the Crown Prince."

Kairigma frowned immediately: "Didn't you promise before that..."

King Kepang interrupted, saying, “I have four sons and eight daughters. My eldest son is now under the care of His Excellency Symarco, my second son is learning the mysteries of the Holy Light from you, and my other children are growing up. They all need to read, write, and learn skills.”

That old fox!
Roy, Symarko, and Kairigma glanced at him discreetly.

In other words, a confluence of circumstances allowed him to catch a good wave.

Although there is a risk of accidentally becoming a puppet and being completely controlled.

But if you're involved with several people at once, and everyone gets a little something, it's really easy to get carried away and end up with a lot of unpleasantness!

Kairigma ignored him and turned her attention back to Roy.

Roy was also observing him.

Missionaries are grassroots personnel who specialize in spreading religion, and their main job is to preach doctrines among non-believers.

The pastor is responsible for managing the fixed church and presiding over daily religious activities such as worship services, weddings, and funerals.

Functionally, pastors can also serve as missionaries, and many denominations do allow pastors to go out and preach; this is where the term "Keligma" comes from.

He could definitely be considered a high-ranking member of the temple, and might even be a so-called "divine descendant"!
That means that one can summon angels at any time to become a level three combatant.

The former wizard whom Diev described as "misjudging the situation and acting rashly" was actually related to these saviors.

Sylmarko carefully relayed, "Don't underestimate this person, because missionaries often have an elitist tradition, especially during the current period of temple expansion. Those who can be sent to Tijjara must be elite talents who have undergone rigorous selection."

Roy said, "I know."

Using knowledge as a springboard, while subtly inserting religious agendas, is a common tactic used by many clergy to pry open doors.

Once the merit of education is achieved and a successor inclined towards oneself is cultivated, the subsequent peaceful evolution will proceed much more smoothly.

While Roy secretly communicated with Symako, he also engaged in verbal exchanges with Nakairigma, testing each other's abilities.

Unable to find a flaw in his argument, Kerigma turned his attention back to King Kepan and suggested, "Since Your Majesty needs more tutors, I am willing to write back to the Temple and request the most outstanding colleagues from Lux to come over..."

"Well, they're still too young. We'll see how it goes..."

King Kai Pang dodged the question.

"May I ask what skills Your Excellency Kirick possesses, and what subjects you intend to teach?"

Keligoma couldn't be too forceful, so he had to continue testing Roy.

"I have some knowledge of art. Before I mastered my craft, I worked as a jeweler to make a living."

However, this skill is hardly refined enough for formal occasions, so I can only teach jewelry appraisal techniques.

I understand. Magical jewelry studies, appraisal, and perhaps other treasure knowledge interspersed among them!

The king and the missionaries suddenly realized what was going on.

King Kepang, in particular, understood that Roy also possessed the mysterious sorcery of "resurrection"!

……

After leaving the palace, Roy and Symako discussed finding a place to live.

Simako enthusiastically suggested, "Number 42 next to mine is vacant. Why don't you move there? It'll be good for us to look after each other."

The Temple had the Inquisition and the Knights Templar, as well as some "divine beings".

This also led to an unclear understanding of the enemy's situation!

"Ok."

Roy did not refuse his kindness.

Just then, Kairigma also caught up.

With the king no longer present, his expression toward the two men was much sharper than before.

“The glory of God will surely shine upon Tijjah, and you cannot stop it.”

He glanced at the two of them, left with that remark, and strode away.

Roy asked, "Did he work at the tribunal before?"

"How did you know?" said Simako.

Roy shrugged: "Just guessing. Ordinary priests, especially those of the Lawful Good alignment, wouldn't be that aggressive!"

"In fact, the Temple did prioritize the Inquisition, and many clergy members needed to have work experience in related departments before they could be entrusted with important responsibilities in other positions."

"So that's what happened..."

The two talked as they left.

……

In the blink of an eye, a few days had passed.

Roy officially assumed his post on March 10, serving as Magnus XVIII's court advisor and tutor to the crown prince.

It was at this time that he finally met King Copenhagen's children.

"This newly arrived Lord Kiric will select one student from among the princes and carefully instruct him..."

The waiter introduced him as the person in question.

These people also vaguely knew about the legend of the "mysterious one," and their words and expressions showed great respect.

In addition, legitimate forces also have a tradition of respecting teachers and valuing the way. Therefore, the princes and princesses were arranged to stand obediently in two rows, one in front and one behind, according to their age and height, for Roy to choose from.

Roy's gaze swept over them and found that of King Kepan's twelve children, all but the eldest and second princes, who already had teachers, were present.

Their ages and qualifications vary, so careful selection is indeed necessary.

"The so-called 'Spark Project' is to plant the seeds of witchcraft here..."

If we can help them ascend the throne and expand their influence, that would be best.

As Roy pondered this, he silently cast a spell commonly used by wizards to select apprentices: "Willpower Appraisal."

This is usually related to spiritual attributes. In a state of non-cultivation, the naturally formed spiritual power is often also linked to the essence of the soul.

While this is not the only criterion, it can largely select talented individuals with excellent aptitude and understanding who are more likely to achieve success in their studies.

Just as Symako had privately revealed beforehand, the fourth princess, Serafina, was the most outstanding.

She wore a pale gold dress embroidered with silver thread, her face as cold as the moon, exuding an innate elegance and pride like a white swan.

Although she is only a little over ten years old, she has already shown a unique temperament.

"Alright, let's go with the Fourth Princess."

Roy nodded and selected her as his new disciple.

Serafina smiled upon hearing this, seemingly unsurprised by the outcome, and stepped forward to gracefully curtsy.

"Thank you for your kindness. You will know that you have made the right choice."

She really is a proud little swan.

Just then, a palace guard announced, "The Queen has arrived!"

(End of this chapter)