It had been about a month or so since I woke up in the body of Eli. Ever since then, I had spent most of my time making preparations to make my way to the Holy Academy of the Church of Life, all the while tying up any loose ends so that the boy’s lingering soul would be able to rest easy.

  And now, I was finally heading for the Capital City of the Sanctus Empire. Or more specifically, I was heading for Lux.

  It was a common misconception to believe that the Church of Life and the Sanctus Empire were one in the same. Or at the very least, that was what I thought was the case for the longest time back in my past life. But while the Church of Life held incredible influence over the Sanctus Empire, they were still two separate entities.

  The Church of Life resided over the small city state of Lux that was founded by the First [Hero] of the Goddess of Life thousands of years ago. And this city state was located near the center of Albus— the Capital City of the Sanctus Empire.

  That was why, to get to Lux, we were going to have to get through Albus first.

  It was not going to be a short trip. According to Richard— the [Trader] who was in charge of our caravan— it would take approximately three to four weeks of traveling, because they were going to make stops at a few other cities, before we were finally going to arrive at Albus.

  And after that, it was just up to Sister Frida and I to make it to Lux. But I highly doubted that we would run into any trouble once we were in Albus, so I didn’t have to worry about anything happening while I was there.

  My biggest concern was the journey to Albus in the first place. After all, according to Richard…

  “We’ll be passing by the eastern regions of the Sanctus Empire to get to Albus, and word has it that there’s been a surge in monster attacks around the area lately,” the [Trader] said as he tilted his head back to face the blue sky above. “Apparently, there was an Avatar of Death that appeared there and destroyed a small city.”

  Hearing that had made me quirk a brow in curiosity. But Richard just continued, trying to reassure me.

  “Don’t worry— the Lady of Light has already dealt with it, but the monsters in the area are all riled up because of that. And that’s why I hired them to guard us.” He nodded at the team of Silver Rank adventurers he hired

  “Don’t worry!” Bran— the leader of the adventurers— flexed an arm reassuringly at me, riding alongside the caravan on horseback. “We’ve dealt with plenty of tough monsters before— we’ll keep you safe, so you can count on us!”

  His three team members cheered in unison behind him.

  Unfortunately, they didn’t instill a shred of confidence in me. Silver was not a high Rank in the slightest. They still wouldn’t be able to do a thing if a group of Gold Rank monsters attacked the caravan.

  At most, they’d be able to bring down a Gold Rank monster or two with their teamwork— but nothing more than that. So if a flock of galith bats or even meerok vultures attacked the caravan in the middle of the night, Bran and his team would be slaughtered.

  And while there was not a high possibility of that happening, it could still happen. Especially considering the circumstances that Richard had mentioned. As someone who had spent his fair share of time around destroyed cities and ruined towns, I knew the dangers that came with spending the night around the area.

  The chances weren’t high. But they weren’t low enough for my liking. So I resolved myself to stay on guard, and I finally distributed my Free Points, which I had left unspent during the duration of my stay in Velmond.

  Name: Nox (Eli)

  Race: Human

  Rank: Bronze - Level 8

  Class: [Healer Of The Hearth]

  Class Skills: [Lesser Domain Of Light], [Heal], [Sacred Flame], [Basic Light Magic Control], [Boon Of Vitality]

  Titles: [Nascent Death God], [Velmond’s Blessing]

  Title Skills: [Death Magic Mastery], [Basic Blessing Of Life]

  General Skills: [Quick Dash]

  Attributes:

  [Strength: 25]

  [Speed: 34]

  [Magic: 548]

  [Vitality: 50]

  [Dexterity: 40]

  Free Points: 0

  I split my Free Points relatively equally between most of my Attributes, except for my [Magic] and my [Dexterity]. I spent all the Free Points I would otherwise spend on my [Magic] on my [Dexterity], since I already had an abundant pool of mana to draw from. And I needed a high [Dexterity] if I intended to operate discreetly, especially once I arrived in Lux.

  Besides, I thought as I looked towards the [Nun] who was seated in the same wagon as me. I have to keep things on the down low as long as she’s watching over me too.

  Her name was Sister Frida, and she worked at the temple under Reverend Donovan. I never interacted with her much beyond simple greetings and mundane questions, since she mostly kept to herself. But she had been the one who was tasked to accompany me on my journey to Lux.

  I wasn’t worried about Richard or the adventurers noticing me if I secretly cast a death magic spell. After all, it was not difficult to mask the nature of the spell I cast to those who did not have much experience around death magic. However, as a [Nun], Frida would be more perceptive to the dark nature of my magic.

  If I took my time with casting the spell though, I knew that I’d be able to elude her gaze. But it also depended on her Rank. If she was Sapphire or higher, I would very likely be caught if I made even a single mistake.

  In any case, I highly doubted that she was at that Rank. So I didn’t need to worry too much, beyond keeping a low profile as long as I was around here— only using my death magic repertoire if necessary and doing so discreetly.

  But still, I wasn’t going to just hope that she wasn’t capable of detecting my death magic. That was why I wanted to get to know more about her.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Tell me, Sister Frida,” I said, drawing her attention— although she only craned her neck to face me ever-so-slightly. “Why did Reverend Donovan choose you to be my guardian on this journey?”

  I leaned closer, feigning the excitement and curiosity of a child.

  “Do you have a special Class that will help you protect me on this journey?” I asked, tilting my head at her.

  However, the expression on the [Nun]’s face didn’t change as she answered, “Since Reverend Donovan is unable to abandon his duties at the temple, I believe he simply saw me as the next best candidate to be your guide at Lux. After all, I grew up in the Capital, unlike Sister Elia.”

  “Aw,” I feigned disappointment. “So you don’t have a special Class, huh? You’re just a regular [Nun]?”

  I stared expectantly at Frida. But she did not give an immediate response. Instead, she looked back at me for a long moment, before shaking her head.

  “We have a long journey ahead of us, so you should take this time to study. Reverend Donovan has high expectations of you. He believes you are someone who’s special. As you are right now, you will be rejected from the Holy Academy.”

  The [Nun] spoke apathetically as she looked towards the road behind us— in the distance, the last of Velmond disappeared over the horizon alongside the setting sun. I narrowed my eyes as I saw this.

  “I see.”

  It was evident that Sister Frida had no interest in sharing more about herself to me. And that made me quite suspicious of her— that she was not just a random [Nun] like Sister Elia. Not only that, but she didn’t quite view me in the same light as everyone else back in Velmond did. It was almost like she was… unimpressed?

  No— that was not right. But at the very least, she didn’t believe I had the same potential Reverend Donovan thought I did. And her opinion of me honestly didn’t really matter, so I wasn’t going to try to change her mind.

  Instead, I just leant back in the wagon and observed her. Because if she wasn’t going to answer my questions, then the next best thing would be to pay attention to her actions…

  ***

  Fortunately for me, the first few days of our journey went by smoothly. The only obstacle we had encountered was a group of Eldwolves blocking the road— Iron Rank monsters Bran and his team dispatched with ease. The day after that, we arrived at Wachen.

  It was a relatively large city compared to Velmond, and we stayed there for two days as Richard sold off some cheaper goods in his inventory that he had been wanting to get rid of anyway. During this time, I simply read up on the books that Jay had given me, all the while keeping an eye on Sister Frida.

  However, it had all been uneventful. Until two days after we left Wachen…

  It was around the middle of the afternoon, and we were planning to stop and take a break for some lunch, when the horses leading the caravan suddenly came to a halt and began to whine. Richard’s helpers tried to rein them in, but they refused to listen.

  “What’s going on?” he demanded as he ran up to the front of the caravan, staring at the [Wagon Master] in shock.

  The [Wagon Master] shook his head in response. “I don’t know— they aren’t listening to me!”

  My eyes flickered as this was going on. I already knew what was happening, but it took the adventurers until the ground started trembling beneath the wagon to realize it. They hopped off their horses and raised

  “Everyone get back— there’s something coming!” Bran shouted as he drew his longsword from his side.

  Next to him, his companions— Jerome, Elise, and Mark— drew their weapons too. Respectively, they were a [Warrior], [Rogue], [Mage], and [Archer]. They readied themselves as the ground continued to tremble more and more violently.

  Richard ran up to Bran with a terrified look on his face.

  “What is it? Is it a stampede?” the [Trader] asked, his voice filled with fear.

  Bran hesitated as he looked up. “I… I’m not sure. But just stay back, everyone!”

  Up ahead, a plume of dust began to rise into the air, rapidly approaching the caravan as I hopped off the back of the wagon. Frida also stepped out, but she looked unphased.

  Interesting, I thought, observing her reaction. Or rather, her lack-of a reaction.

  And as the plume of dust drew closer, a single shadowed figure made itself visible over the horizon. It grew larger and larger as it made its approach, and Bran backed away as he paled at the sight.

  “That’s—” he tried to work his jaw.

  But it was Richard who spoke up, tripping over a rock and falling to the ground as he pointed. “That’s a stone mammoth!”

  The giant four-legged beast galloped down the road, its eyes burning red as it charged straight for us. It was a massive monster— it had to be at least a dozen feet in height, although it was very likely even taller.

  Just like its name implied, its body was practically made of stone. It had no fur covering its skin, and it had four long tusks that protruded from its front. Some stone mammoths were even capable of shooting out fire from its trunks, however that was a rarity. Ordinarily, they did not have much destructive capabilities beyond their physical prowess.

  Instead, they were most well-known for their durability. Due to their stone-like skin, they were extremely difficult to kill.

  Even for a Gold Rank monster.

  And that was why Bran and his team scrambled into action.

  “We can’t let it get close!” he shouted as he turned to Elise and Mark. “The two of you will have to slow down its approach! Jerome and I will try to draw its attention away from the caravan!”

  “On it!” his three teammates exclaimed, and they all moved.

  Elise unleashed ice spells at the stone mammoth to block its path and knock it off balance, while Mark shot arrows at its legs. Meanwhile, Bran and Jerome both dashed forward, moving to flank the monster.

  But the stone mammoth simply barreled straight through the ice barriers blocking its path. And when Elise froze the ground beneath its feet, it simply stomped the ground, shattering the layer of sleet in an instant. Not only that, but every since arrow Mark fired just bounced off its stone-like skin.

  “How about this— [Piercing Shot]!” Mark exclaimed as he loosed a glowing arrow straight at the monster’s legs.

  However, the stone mammoth sensed the attack coming, and it swung out with its tusk, knocking the arrow out of the air. Both Mark and Elise cursed as their attacks and spells proved to be completely ineffective. And when Bran and Jerome reached the stone mammoth a moment after…

  The monster simply swung out with its trunk, knocking them to the side before they could even attack it. They were flung to the side— into a thicket of trees— as the stone mammoth continued galloping straight fro the caravan.

  “It’s going to reach us…” Richard picked himself up and stared at the charging monster in horror. “We’re going to die!”

  “Calm down!” Mark said as he nocked another arrow onto his bow.

  Elise nodded beside him, raising her staff. “It must be drawn to our food supplies. If we just get away from the caravan—”

  But before the adventurers could finish formulating their plan, a figure stepped past them. It was Sister Frida. She walked forward casually as the stone mammoth rapidly made its approach. My eyes narrowed as I watched her come to a halt before the charging monster.

  “Wait, what are you doing—” Mark called out.

  He tried to stop the [Nun]. However, she just brushed him off as she raised a hand above her head. And with a flash of light, a giant hammer came into existence in her fingertips.

  “W-what…?” Richard blinked at that, and my eyes flickered.

  Oh? I thought as a grin slipped onto my face.

  All the while, Frida waited for the charging stone mammoth to get closer. And the moment it was about ten feet away from her, she dashed forward and leapt into the air. Richard, Elise, Mark, the [Wagon Drivers]— and even both Bran and Jerome who were picking themselves up— all watched as the [Nun] came down onto the stone mammoth, swinging her giant hammer with a flash of golden light.

  “[Heavenly Smite],” she said in a soft voice.

  There was a flash— then a thunderous clap resounded, followed by a deafening crunch. Everyone gaped in shock as the light dissipated, revealing Sister Frida standing over a small crater. The stone mammoth lay crumpled at the bottom of the small crater, its skull crushed from her hammer’s strike.

  With a single strike, she defeated the stone mammoth. Even though it was a Gold Rank monster. The adventurers, the [Wagon Drivers], and even Richard could only stare at this scene with wide eyes, trying to process what happened.

  And I just raised an amused brow, eyeing her as she stepped back from the dead monster. Just as I suspected, you are not just an ordinary [Nun], huh? Well, that just means I’ll have to be wary around you…