Wizard Alchemist

Chapter 742 Divine Prophecy (4-in-1)

Three months later.

Near Luxis, in the forest.

Tall, ancient trees with intertwined branches and dense canopies that block out the sun.

Before the teleportation array, Roy personally led Zaif to familiarize himself with the route, instructing him, "If necessary, you can use the teleportation scroll I gave you to come here for emergency shelter."

Wald will give you the necessary help.

In addition, I will give you some Mushroom Demons and various alchemical tools.

And then there's the spellcaster's magical pet...

It's about time I configured it for you.

This thing connects to your soul, and sometimes it can be incredibly useful!

He then briefly introduced Zaif's identity to Wald, who had just arrived, and inquired about his recent situation.

Wald said, "Following your instructions, we have successfully infiltrated the temple by developing town churches in Lux and the surrounding kingdoms of Fides, Pistis, and others!"
However, due to a shortage of funds, many operations could not be carried out.

The establishment of intelligence stations and other matters are still progressing slowly.

Roy listened attentively, occasionally asking about the specific details, and then told him, "In the future, funds will be injected gradually. I plan to launch a project called 'Business Kingdom' to prepare for the organization's revival."

"Speaking of this..."

Wald hesitated slightly.

"It seems the temple has recently been having internal discussions about banning books such as 'One Thousand and One Nights,' 'Aesop's Fables,' and 'Andersen's Fairy Tales.'"

"And books like 'How to Get Rich' and 'How to Win Over a Rich Woman' are all prohibited from entering the country..."

"Oh, damn it!"

Before Roy himself could react much, Zaif couldn't help but speak up.

He had read those books and liked them very much.

Everything was fine in Tijjani, but they were banned here?

What reason did the Temple give?

Roy asked with considerable curiosity.

"Vulgar, violent, and violating religious law..."

"Fortunately, there was no blasphemy, otherwise the destruction of the barrier would have been several levels higher."

Roy chuckled softly.

"I heard that it's still under review."

Wald couldn't help but weakly remind Roy that he was laughing too soon.

"There are at least several chapters that involve the crime of blasphemy, and there should be quite a few of them."

"Ok."

Roy was speechless.

……

The sealing of the temple came much faster and more decisively than Roy and the others had anticipated.

Within just a few days, caravans were blocked at border crossings in Tijjala and around Lux.

At the gates of the royal city, a large number of books listed in the prohibited book list were also found among a batch of goods.

"Unload everything!"

The knight commander leading the group shouted sternly.

Several knights immediately lifted the carriage canopy and pushed hard, unloading the boxes of books.

As the box broke and the books scattered, the caravan leader became extremely anxious.

"Sir, we have customs clearance documents..."

Also, we just entered the country...

Implementing the new regulations immediately would also be inconsistent with General Rules of Trade!

"Enough with the nonsense! These are strictly prohibited books and must be destroyed immediately!"

"Please, I went through so much trouble to get this batch of goods..."

Please be lenient!

But the Templars completely ignored him.

The unloaded boxes, along with the books, were moved to the roadside and piled up into a small mountain. Then, a knight who was in charge of keeping the oil and fire lit them.

As flames rose, the smell of burnt ink filled the air.

"These heretical texts deserve to be burned on the spot!"

The knight commander snorted coldly, casually kicked a few forbidden books that had fallen to the ground into the fire, and glanced contemptuously at the stunned merchant.

"And you guys, don't think you can get away with it by playing a little trick!"
As you said, you have customs clearance documents, and the ban was only recently issued, so it is not considered a violation during transit.

But this is merely a reason to spare your lives. Next time you commit the same offense, it won't be the books that are burned, but you heretics!

The caravan leader collapsed to the ground, pounding his chest and stamping his feet in deep regret.

Roy, having changed his appearance, was walking down the street with Zaif when they happened to witness this scene.

"The temple is far too domineering!"

With the Templar Knights nearby, Zaif dared not say much, only glancing sideways while secretly sending messages to express his indignation.

"For the temple to rule the world with divine authority, it is inevitable to achieve the unification of thought and belief."

This has nothing to do with good or evil, right or wrong; if you want to achieve this goal, you have to do it this way.

Roy, on the other hand, took it all in stride.

"To this, I can only say that your story of 'The Wolf and the Lamb'..."

Its value is still increasing!

Zaif said helplessly.

……

After that, Roy and Zaif parted ways temporarily, each going about their own business.

Now that Zaif is new to the area, the Temple may have some doubts about him.

It is not advisable to take any rash actions for the time being.

However, normal business activities, and even various attempts to win over and bribe the Temple personnel, are permissible.

Roy had also gathered a lot of intelligence over the years and provided Zaif with a specific list of people to visit one by one.

During this period, the new Hermitage organization was finally able to successfully revive in Lux.

However, this situation has been accompanied by increasingly stringent censorship and arrests.

The temple seemed to sense something and was taking action.

Another week later.

In the central square of Luxis City.

Iron stakes were erected, and the Templars escorted a dozen foreign merchants and their accomplices, accused of being "heretics," onto the stake and bound them.

"I'm innocent! I'm innocent!"

"Lord of Light, forgive me!"

"My lords, please, please spare me..."

"Waaah... I, I'll never do it again!"

"In the name of the Holy Light, purify these fallen sinners!"

The purifying voice of the court rang out, and the sentence for execution was pronounced.

Soon, thick smoke billowed up.

The victims screamed and cried out in agony for a long time before gradually ceasing their struggles.

The onlookers were all horrified.

However, many devout believers applauded the event.

"it is good!"

"Well done!"

"These sinful bastards, who are used to blasphemy outside, still don't restrain themselves here. They deserve to die!"

Zaif hid in the crowd, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"These guys..."

Although he was already a formally ranked wizard, he was essentially still just a young man in his early twenties, and he couldn't help but tremble with anger.

It was only at this moment that Zaif truly understood why the hermitage had to hide, and why the mentors had repeatedly warned that seekers of truth should conceal their identities and information and act in secret.

Under Lux's divine authority, the Holy Light Messenger acts on behalf of the Lord of Light and is intolerant of any wrongdoing.

They also have the strength and determination to eliminate those who practice magic and prevent any extraordinary paths from exceeding the control of the temple!

******
Another month later.

In the city of Luxis.

Black flags fluttered, and horses galloped swiftly.

A group of knights in silver helmets and armor sped across the central square of the city.

Passersby quickly moved away, and only after they were far away did they whisper among themselves.

"Another manhunt has begun..."

Roy and Prandtse, disguised, strolled along the street below the clock tower, seemingly indifferent, but actually joining in the discussion.

“They’ve certainly been very active lately,” Pranje said, frowning slightly. “All their planned operations, which used business as a pretext, have failed!”

"The contact information of those peripheral members is also leaked like a sieve."

Roy sighed inwardly.

"But that's not the point. The temple has long been able to completely ignore the content of the communication and directly bypass the witchcraft communication to capture behavioral characteristics."

The "divine prophecy" they relied on pointed directly to key figures at crucial moments in an almost irrational manner.

The high-ranking wizard in charge here previously underestimated this point, which led to his complete defeat.

So-called "divine prophecy" is essentially a type of "prophecy".

The difference is that it is performed by relying on the power of gods and using divine magic.

Like viewing a maze from a high vantage point, the twists and turns of a two-dimensional maze become immediately apparent from a three-dimensional perspective.

Sometimes, we are blinded by our own perspective when it comes to many things in life.

There is a kind of divine magic that allows priests to temporarily gain a higher-dimensional perception like that of gods, transcending their own world and indeed enabling them to foresee the future to a certain extent.

Sometimes, it's even through the subtle influence of fate that things unfold in accordance with prophecy!

This has a strong sense of reversing cause and effect, making it quite troublesome.

However, the world is full of complexities and the future is inherently unpredictable. Furthermore, the practitioner has their own limitations and may have blind spots.

People from the wizarding world and other high-magic worlds are naturally imbued with the power of destiny of those of higher status.

Roy is now using his identity as "Kirick" to attract attention and protect various assets, pawns, and sparks that need protection.

Suddenly, the two men, who had been chatting, fell silent at the same time. Then, they straightened their expressions and, like out-of-town merchants looking up at a temple building, looked up at the tall clock tower.

Behind them, another group of Inquisition knights appeared.

They didn't notice the two people so close by, hurrying past them on their way to their mission location in the distance.

……

After the covert struggles on the hidden front, Roy was disappointed to find that his "business empire" plan, on which he had placed great hopes, was progressing slowly.

His original intention was to use Zaif and his newly trained group of elite apprentices to unite with spies in the kingdoms of Fides, Pistis, and Lux ​​in the east of the continent to secretly establish a large-scale cross-border commercial organization, laying a solid foundation for future development.

As a result, the Inquisition intervened frequently, and after a series of intentional or unintentional severe crackdowns, it actually hit the nail on the head regarding the plan.

He had to assess the situation and instruct Zaif and others to focus on stabilizing their position and preserving the flame of revolution.

After that, he took some time to return to Kepang City, where he combined information from various sources with his own observations from the past few years in the Kingdom of Lux, and together with Symako, he reviewed and analyzed the process of this witch hunt.

"On the surface, this is a religious trial, an action against the mystics, but in reality, it is also mixed with a struggle for secular power..."

A conflict arose between the temple and the secular lords.

The Temple's hawks, raising the banner of eradicating heresy, began to wield their butcher's knives.

The former leader wasn't actually that reckless; he genuinely saw an opportunity to unite with the lords to deal with the Temple and wanted to take a gamble.

But unexpectedly, the Temple's strength far exceeded expectations, completely destroying years of hard work!

"Actually, I've always thought that those of us who infiltrated the temple could be even more devout and extreme than them!"

After years of scheming, Syrmac came up with another wicked idea.

"We can also raise the banner of holy light, and we can also fight against heretics!"
Kill the legitimate businessmen!

Honest craftsmen and workers, kill them!

Kill the farmers who are focused on growing grain!

Kill all the little knights, soldiers, clerks, and believers!

"Destroy their foundations of rule and disrupt divine prophecies as much as possible!"

A cold smile crept across his lips as he told Roy what he knew.

"Those so-called holy judges, holding the hammer of judgment, can stir up bloodshed wherever they go."

Sometimes, when there weren't enough people, they would find some local thugs and scoundrels to act as 'witch hunters,' hanging and burning people without any mercy.

In the early days, there were also government grants to support the execution of wizard apprentices, earning 15 gold coins each time, which was faster than earning money by working.

Later, those bastards were also burned down for killing innocent people, claiming credit for others' work, and swindling funds from the temple. What a fitting end!

Roy knew he was telling the truth.

The Lord of Light is a lawful and good deity, and is good in nature.

But once one ascends to the throne of divinity and becomes the agent of the laws, humanity and emotions become increasingly indifferent, replaced by a divinity akin to that of heaven and earth.

His understanding of lawful good may not be the same as the lawful good of mortal human desires.

The gods are immortal and have long life. They hold the reins of their divine kingdom and have the power to determine the fate of souls. They do not care about the short lives of mortals, which are only a hundred years or so, as fleeting as mayflies.

Roy guessed that some fanatical believers in the temple might actually believe that doing this was for the good of sinners, helping them to cleanse themselves of their sins and be redeemed.

As for the secular lords and officials, they were a mixed bag with differing interests, and this only intensified when it came to implementation.

For example, some local lords were originally only forced to carry out religious laws by the temple, but they found that it was actually a good deal.

It's much easier to catch an old woman than a robber, and you can confiscate the "witch's" property and get a lot of benefits for free, so why not be proactive?

In Fides, many knights made a fortune by confiscating and destroying homes, and they even developed a knack for it, targeting the impoverished, orphans, and widows.

Ordinary people who use their personal interests to harm others and report others everywhere for petty gains and trivial matters are also quite disgusting.

In Pistis, there was a country woman who, simply because she envied the vegetable garden of the widow next door, reported that the widow had used witchcraft to infest her potatoes. As a result, the widow was stripped naked, scrubbed all over her body with an iron brush, and finally drowned in a cesspool.

When it was his turn to be reported, he was so scared that he soiled himself. It was karma.

Even more ironic are those inquisitors, cleansers, and witch hunters.

During the most frequent and extreme periods of witch hunts, those who were high-ranking judges and enforcers yesterday might become prisoners themselves the next day, judged and convicted by others.

However, because the temple was short-staffed at the time, he had no choice but to redeem himself by continuing the unfinished work while still wearing prison clothes.

******
"I understand everything you're saying."

But I feel that we've passed the period of extreme, frenzied chaos, and it's not the right time to do that.

Upon hearing this, Symarko was slightly disappointed.

But he would listen carefully to what Roy said, because without the support of this ally, many things would be difficult to accomplish.

"The ultimate goal of the temple is to combat magic and science, not to commit mindless suicide."

Initially, it was just that some people with ulterior motives had infiltrated the area, but as they were gradually eliminated, the situation became clear.

Besides, when it comes to chaos and destruction, are these small-scale skirmishes really that efficient? It would be better to spread a plague and cause mass extinction!

That would be more destructive to the secular world and more efficient at cleaning things up, so why not do it that way?

Roy patiently persuaded him, saying, "Firstly, we don't want to incur the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, and suffer the backlash from the will of the world."

Secondly, this also means it has no effect on those in power or those who are strong, and it cannot solve the fundamental problems related to the extraordinary.

Our goal has never been to indiscriminately kill innocent people; on the contrary, we must try our best to avoid doing so.

Roy was actually trying to tell him not to treat the Temple like fools.

Ultimately, it still comes down to long-term dedication and hard work!
Only by nurturing local communities and passing on the torch can we remain invincible.

Only in this way can we better mobilize the world's will and win the blessing of a legendary destiny.

"In the years before I came here, I painstakingly cultivated the first batch of wizards and elite apprentices, accumulating a few useful pieces and the seeds of preaching."

In the coming years, we intend to continue in this manner and carry out the Spark Project.

You'd better also save up some capital, so that when the two of you work together, it can come in handy.

The crucial moment he spoke of had already been decided long ago.

Once the Temple unifies the world and integrates all resources and talent, the secret cult, which has been developing in secret, will be no match for it.

Therefore, it is highly likely that the situation in Tijjara will change before that point.

For example, when King Kepan died of old age, the eldest and second princes fought for the throne, which involved Lux's forces and the power of the Temple.

But they are not ready yet, and neither is the temple.

Neither side will engage in any unnecessary actions such as assassination; instead, they will secretly plot and wait for the other to make a mistake.

Even King Kaipang may have realized this situation. His earlier act of helping them without hesitation and driving away Kairigma was also a way to ensure his own safety.

Syrmac nodded helplessly.

He understands the reasoning, but it's just a bit hard to get through.

……

end of June.

Luxis.

In a secret room.

Zaif arrived at the local hermit gathering wearing a cloak and mask, carrying a token.

The host of the secret meeting solemnly introduced, "This is Mr. 'Gold Coin,' who will henceforth serve as the new mentor of this district, and will also be our direct superior and main person in charge..."

This was the first time he had "participated in an organizational activity" since arriving in this place.

Therefore, his local apprentices, who were also seekers of truth, warmly welcomed his arrival.

Zaif was very satisfied with the organizational atmosphere.

This place is both mysterious and solemn. The members are cautious in their words and actions, yet they are full of enthusiasm. Returning here is like returning to Tijjara, our hometown...

Soon after, a local elite apprentice handed over a thick classic book.

Zaif paused slightly: "The Wizard's Hammer?"

“This is a hunting guide recently compiled by the authorities of the Temple.” In response to Zaif’s doubts, the wizard explained, “The book not only analyzes the nature of witchcraft from a theological and philosophical perspective, but also records in detail the complete process from identifying witches, interrogating and extracting confessions to conviction and punishment.”

"In a place like ours, we can't afford not to study this book carefully."

I suggest you take a good look at it.

Zaif opened it, glanced at it briefly, and his face darkened.

"If you lead a dissolute life, it means you're having an affair with the devil;"
If you are honest and upright, it means you are pretending and trying to deceive people;
If you're trembling with fear, it means you're feeling guilty;
If you remain calm and composed, it means you have nothing to fear.
If you try to explain yourself, you're just making excuses.

If you remain silent, it is an admission of guilt;

When you are being tortured, the pain and your thrashing around means you are seeking help from the devil.

If you don't move, it means the devil is right in front of you;
If you can withstand the torture, it means you've been possessed by a demon, and you have to keep beating you to death;
If you are tortured to death, it means the devil is trying to silence you and prevent you from confessing.

……

In short, no matter what you do, you're still a wizard, and you'll die!

"What the hell is this?"

Zaif continued reading.

The suspect was tied to a stone and thrown into the water; if he floated, he was a sorcerer; if he sank, he was innocent.

Legend has it that witches could fly on broomsticks, making them very light-weight, and thus could be judged by weight.

Suspicious birthmarks, moles, or scars on the body are also signs of a pact with the devil, so the accused must be publicly stripped naked or have their hair shaved for a thorough physical examination.

Furthermore, tests using the needle prick method showed that the wizard would not bleed or experience pain...

Such absurd things happened one after another, which were simply unbelievable.

However, even Zaif had to admit that some forms of body modification or magical runes could indeed be identified using this method.

"Oh no! After being modified by the Blood Mercury Witch Body, my blood is already different from that of ordinary people."

Normally, he can fake it, but if he's actually pricked with needles and his body releases blood containing magical energy, he'll be exposed immediately!

After much thought, the best approach is to avoid suspicion, capture, and interrogation from the very beginning.

It's like Professor, who is clearly serving as the Crown Prince's tutor and royal advisor at the palace.

The Templars knew all along, but they just wouldn't make a move.

Because they are not crazy, there is no need to overturn the table before they are absolutely certain.

"That's the ultimate level of stealth!"

When will I be able to cultivate to the level of a high-level wizard? To the point where I can roam freely in the material world?

Zaif couldn't help but dream about it.

However, after the fantasy period ends, we still have to honestly think of a solution.

It is unlikely that I will be able to reach that level for at least the next few hundred years.

We still need to be down-to-earth and cultivate ourselves step by step.

Just then, unusual bird calls rang out from outside.

The crowd at the gathering immediately fell silent, listening intently.

Immediately following, a scream rang out, then silence fell again.

"Oh no, they're from the Temple!"

The local apprentices' expressions changed drastically, and they looked at each other in disbelief.

There were no problems at previous gatherings, but something happened as soon as Mr. Gold Coin arrived. Could there be something wrong with him?
Zaif jumped up as if he had been stabbed.

"Is there a mole?"

To encounter something like this so soon after arriving—if it's not directed at me, then who is it directed at?
But he soon realized that now was not the time to dwell on that.

"Let's get out of here first!"

******
"Damn it, what's going on?"

In the courtyard not far away, the knight in charge of cleaning up the guards had a grim face.

He was careful enough to slit the throat from behind.

But to my surprise, the other party still managed to make a sound.

"The wizards' body modification can create many incredible abilities. This person should have a second set of vocal organs."

The experienced witch hunter captain walked in and made his judgment.

"You don't need to blame yourself, because even we, with our rich experience, were unable to defend against it."

The teammates next to him nodded in agreement.

It can survive being stabbed in the heart, its limbs can regenerate after being severed, it has four kidneys, and it has multiple tentacles growing from its front and back...

The various forms of body modification are also quite diverse.

"According to our informant, there's a big fish coming today. We mustn't let them get away!"

"The knight captain gave the order."

A moment later, the barking of hunting dogs came from ahead.

The knight captain listened intently.

"That way, chase them!"

……

"Damn it, I was careless!"

They even brought hunting dogs!
We must find a place to use the odor-removing powder as soon as possible!

Zaif tried his best to avoid the sight of passersby, while simultaneously scaling walls and rooftops in an attempt to break through the encirclement as quickly as possible.

But to his surprise, several groups of people approached in an orderly fashion and soon blocked him in the alley.

Boom!

The alchemical bomb emitted a violent explosion, injuring several people who fell to the ground.

But at the same time, crossbow bolts came flying, along with a fist-sized Judgment Hammer.

Zaif tried his best to dodge, but he was still hit by several arrows and found himself in a dangerous and desperate situation.

Seeing that more than a dozen Grand Knights, along with two Level 1 "Holy Knights," were about to surround him, Zaif had no choice but to tear up the precious scroll.

In the blink of an eye, the figure vanished, teleported away out of thin air.

……

in the forest.

In front of the teleportation array, which serves as the anchor point.

Zaif appeared out of nowhere, patting his chest with lingering fear.

"That was close!"
I almost didn't make it out...

Oh no, if I leave like this, the Chamber of Commerce might cooperate with an inspection.

If the Temple takes the opportunity to come knocking, we'll definitely be exposed!

Zaif became increasingly worried, realizing that this encounter was not simple.

But soon, he calmed down.

Since worrying about these things now is pointless, it's better to think about how to deal with the situation.

He pulled out the arrow, drank a bottle of healing potion, and then simply bandaged his wound.

Fortunately, the Chamber of Commerce has other arrangements.

"Professor, just in case, you also gave me some Mushroom Demons and contracted magical pets..."

……

When Roy returned to Luxis to check on the development, he learned of Zaif's ordeal.

"They were actually attacked by the Temple's witch hunters?"

“That’s right. I suspect there’s a mole among the local apprentices, and I’ve cut off all contact with them.”

Fortunately, I followed your instructions and left a Mushroom Demon inside the guild as a decoy. My pet crow controlled it to handle the situation for me, successfully clearing me of suspicion!

Roy hesitated for a moment: "No, you still have a hidden danger."

Zayef's expression changed slightly: "What potential danger?"

"You've been spotted by the hunting dogs before, and if you encounter them again, you might be at risk of being exposed."

Roy said.

"Oh, what should we do then?"

Zaif was momentarily at a loss.

"It's alright, we can just do a little gland modification to change your body odor."

Roy offered words of comfort.

Then they gave him a bottle of medicine.

"It's a potion that can alter smells and counteract witchcraft like 'olfactory enhancement,' and you drank it."

Among the witchcraft practices of sorcerers, there are many that target and counteract scents or corresponding characteristics.

That's the advantage of a high-magic world: a wealth of knowledge about various spells and combat experience.

If it were Zayef and others, many lives would have to be lost to fill the gap.

However, it's difficult for Roy and his team to foresee the future and prepare all the necessary countermeasures.

This requires chess pieces, constant exchanges, and continuous strategic maneuvering.

"With the professor here, I feel so safe..."

Thinking about how he had escaped this time thanks to the treasures given to him by the other party, Zaif couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude.

Roy said, "I thought that since you've just been promoted, it would be better for you to consolidate your position first."

But now it seems it's time to teach you "Summoning the Impure World Hound" and the accompanying "Beast Forging".

This is a unique secret technique of my "Luo's Alchemy" school..."

Then, he gave a brief explanation.

The results of all the previous efforts are now evident.

He originally intended for his disciples and followers to advance to the next level battlefield.

For a quick upgrade, first learn "Summon Edo Tensei Dog" to rapidly increase your combat power.

After that, you learn "Beastcraft" in return, which is equivalent to taking out a loan and then repaying it.

This kind of summoning of magical beasts has the backing of a "centralized procurement" system. If one obtains the true teachings, it is equivalent to receiving a "school subsidy," allowing one to use it in a cost-effective manner.

With all the discounts factored in, repayment is still very convenient.

Of course, according to the principle of "equivalent exchange", these will all be made up for in the future.

The "Kennel" Kareni, founded for the school, maintains a balanced and stable overall income and expenditure, using its resources to help weaker disciples through their apprenticeship and the difficult years of newly minted wizards.

"Is this still possible?"

Zaif felt his eyes were opened.

Professor, you really have a brilliant idea!

……

"Your Honor, our previous attempts to probe you have failed, and we have been unable to identify the new wizard foretold in the prophecy."

Should the search area be expanded further?

At the same time, on the other side.

Several knights and battle priests belonging to the Inquisition came to the inner court and reported the results of the operation before a large desk.

The person sitting at the head of the table was none other than Kerigma, who had previously slunk away from the Kingdom of Tijala.

"No need. Although the operation failed, I have a feeling that the person we are looking for is among the suspects."

Just keep a close eye on them!

He concealed his expression well, but when he lowered his head slightly to look at the documents, a fleeting resentment revealed that he harbored a special affection for those people.

“I know the Tijala people very well; they are all cunning, treacherous, and despicable people who abandon morality for profit.”

Moreover, Kepang is the long-established stronghold of those wizards and mages, so all merchants coming from there must be kept a close eye on.

If it really doesn't work...

Better to kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free!

"Yes!"

The knights, upon hearing this, were awed and solemnly agreed.

Privately, they looked at each other in bewilderment and secretly complained.

Boss, you're acting a bit too impulsively.

Don't think we don't know what you went through in Kaipan City. This is revenge!

Sigh, what a mess this is.

(End of this chapter)