The Healing Solaris Cleric
Chapter 337: A Short Break (3)

Chapter 337: A Short Break (3)

From the perspective of regular players, the civil war within the Kingdom of Rashion was quite a shocking event. Most of the territories they were active in were revealed to have colluded with the Church of Muldine, and had even started a rebellion.

The players quickly found out that the one who resolved the incident was Count Kai, and the community forums blazed with activity, fueled by this new news.

-What’s up with Kai? I logged in after a nap and everyone's calling him a war hero. They say he beat 50,000 with just 5,000 at Siris Fortress.

└ Siris Fortress has a terrain advantage. Even I could probably win there.

└ There it is again, more nonsense. As always.

-The Siris Fortress fight was wild, but what I really don’t get is the border battle. He achieved a major victory while fighting 100,000 with just 50,000.

└ It’s just a 2:1 difference, doesn’t seem that hard?

└ Ugh, another one who knows nothing about war... Dude, think about it. If 5 people are fighting 10, maybe it’s manageable like you say. But is it still easy when 500 fight 1,000? 5,000 vs. 10,000? The higher the number, the harder it gets, even if the ratio’s the same. And this was a 50,000 difference. Flipping that is seriously insane.

-What kind of magic do you think he used? Did he pull off some encirclement annihilation tactic or something?

-I bet he used the undead army he showed off during the Invasion Event and at the Sanctuary of Corruption.

-Probably used quadruple casting too. Saying this just makes me feel worse. Is this even a game anymore?

The reactions were on fire. Of course, while many praised Kai’s achievements, there were also plenty who were desperate to criticize him. It wasn’t surprising, as they were probably sick of hearing NPCs mention Kai’s name every time they walked through town.

“The real joke is those Black Dragon guys. Seriously, they’re scheming is something else...”

Soon, the players’ focus shifted to the Black Dragon guild, which had just so happened to be pressuring the border. Naturally, suspicions arose about whether they were somehow connected to the Church of Muldine.

However, the Black Dragon guild stuck to denial, and they even bribed a bunch of reporters and began their PR campaign.

[Black Dragon guild denies all ties with the Church of Muldine. Claims it's all coincidence.]

[Black Dragon guild says they were just hunting near the border. Includes photo evidence.]

[Xao Lin speaks out. Says the Church of Muldine is the final evil for players to defeat. Claims Black Dragon is at the forefront of game’s main story progression and calls for understanding.]

However, the players weren’t fools. They knew there was no way it was all just coincidence. Still, the most important thing, of course, was evidence. There was plenty of suspicion, but no hard proof.

“Well, Xao Lin’s not dumb enough to get caught that easily.”

Unless he was hiding a hundred snakes up his sleeves, that is.

Kai closed the community window and turned his head.

The two girls, clutching their heads and groaning as they studied, were busy rationalizing things to themselves.

“Ugh... Rashya, I’ve been thinking, maybe addition and subtraction aren’t really necessary in life.”

“No, addition is necessary. But subtraction? Not so much.”

With a faint smile, Kai turned back and checked his status.

“Status window.”

[Kai]

Class: Solaris Cleric

Level: 524

Title: Envoy of God

HP: 222,700

Holy Power: 395,000

Stats

Strength: 3,102 Stamina: 2,227

Intelligence: 2,719 Agility: 1,557

Holiness: 3,950 Dignity: 1,569

Benevolence: 699

Remaining Stat Points: 250

Poison Resistance +30

Magic Resistance +101.5%

Nature Affinity +200

Kai’s status window easily explained why the community had gone into a frenzy.

Level 524... that’s a big jump.

He gained 50 levels from this war alone. He had taken nearly all the XP points in the Siris Gorge, and the dullahans had done very well on the great plains.

Not that there weren’t disappointments.

Kai had personally taken down fifteen nobles who had colluded with the Church of Muldine, but the Poetic Justice effect only applied once when he captured Count Mediff.

So it only applies to the one with the highest status when capturing multiple nobles, is that it?

That was a bit disappointing, though he hadn’t expected much in the first place. If the Poetic Justice had applied to all of them, his Benevolence stat would’ve jumped by several hundred points.

I hate to say it myself, but that’s practically game-breaking.

Therefore, the Benevolence stat Kai earned through Poetic Justice came from one person, Count Mediff, which amounted to 45 points.

With the Lord of East title, all my stats also went up by 50... and I still have plenty of remaining points.

Honestly, at this point, it was almost impossible to make a bad investment no matter where he placed his stat points. Back in his beginner days, when every stat point was precious, he had calculated the pros and cons of each investment, but now, he wasn’t lacking in any stat.

“Hmm. Plus, if I use the stat points directly to boost my stats, the Witness titles inflate them even further...”

In short, it meant there was no disadvantage to spreading out his stat distribution evenly. As a result, Kai allocated 50 points each into Strength, Stamina, Agility, Intelligence, and Holiness.

HP: 242,700

Holy Power: 415,000

Stats

Strength: 3,302 Stamina: 2,427

Intelligence: 2,919 Agility: 1,757

Holiness: 4,150 Dignity: 1,569

These were his stats after assigning the points. They had an extra zero at the end compared to other players’ stats. If he posted this on the community forums, people would definitely accuse him of editing the screenshots for clout.

“Alright. Holy Power has broken through 4,000.”

With a satisfied expression, Kai closed his status window and began thinking about what was to come.

Atroc... I might be able to handle others, but facing him with my current skills would probably be too much.

To be honest, he didn’t feel like he was lacking in stats. In fact, during their strength fight, he had been the one with the upper hand.

Which means it’s not a matter of stats, but a matter of technique...

Kai scratched his head, deep in thought.

His stats were high. Not just high, but so high that even among MID Online’s top-tier NPCs, it would be hard to find a match, and that was a huge advantage. Considering that most rankers had to compensate for lacking stats with technical skill, it was an overwhelming advantage.

But if someone asked whether I’m actually using these stats to their fullest... well.

In that regard, he had to admit he was skeptical. For example, Kai’s Strength had already surpassed 3,000, but the way he fought hadn’t progressed since his training sessions with Bach. His most frequently used weapon was the sword, and if his Strength was that high, it made him wonder how much use he was getting out of the other stats.

The moment Kai realized that, he nodded.

It’s time for another round of training.

Whenever he had encountered a wall while playing the game, he always found answers from instructors like Master Huey or the white-bearded master in Aquaria, or from powerful figures like Zirukan or Bach. But this time, things were a little different.

Honestly, it’ll be hard to find anyone with higher stats than me.

Which meant, in the end, he had to find the answer himself.

I need to find the answer...

After brief contemplation, Kai got up.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to meet a guide.”

“A guide?”

“Yes, not someone who can give me the answer, but someone who can point me in the right direction. Someone I really need right now.”

“Okay! Then make sure to take your time.”

“I will, but when I come back, I’m testing you guys right away.”

“Noooo!” Helik collapsed like a disintegrating steamed bun.

***

Kai looked at the place he hadn’t visited in a long time, the same old faded sign, walls that hadn’t been properly cleaned, with a gaze full of nostalgia.

Creeeaaak!

“Hm?”

It seemed the habit of sweeping the front of the training hall every morning hadn’t changed. Master Huey, stepping out of the entrance with a broom in hand, showed a slightly surprised expression.

“The sun must be rising in the west tomorrow. What brings you here, Count?”

Glancing at Kai once, Huey began sweeping as he asked.

“I realized I’d hit a wall in my path, so I’ve come to ask for help. And you don’t need to speak formally to me.”

“You’re probably way stronger than me now. And you think asking me will get you answers? Step aside!”

Changing his tone as easily as flipping a hand, Huey tapped Kai’s legs with the broom.

Kai stepped aside and replied, “Just because someone’s good at studying doesn’t mean they’re a good teacher. Isn’t the same true for swordsmanship?”

Master Huey stayed silent.

“Please help me.”

At Kai’s repeated request, Master Huey stopped moving and narrowed his eyes. “Have you come empty-handed?”

“Of course not.”

Kai pulled out a bottle of top-tier wine from his inventory—one that was hard to find even on the market. It cost twelve million won per bottle, which was more than enough to ignite the heart of a wine lover like Huey.

Sure enough, when Master Huey saw the label on the bottle, his nostrils flared. “Is that...?”

“Yes, a 30-year-aged Undine’s Tear.”

Dropping the broom, Huey spread his arms wide, welcomed Kai, and walked into the training hall with the wine. “Welcome back to you sweet home, my disciple.”

As Kai tried to follow him inside, the door shut, and a booming voice rang from within.

“Finish sweeping before you come in!”

Kai swept the floor, recalling old memories after a long time.

***

“Hm. So you're saying your abilities have definitely gotten stronger, but you can't control that power?”

“Yes. I can’t control my strength. I feel like I have to completely master it... but I don’t know how.”

Staring at Kai, who asked with a serious expression, Huey gave him a look like he was examining a strange patient.

He asked in a voice with a hint of distance, “Tell me, do you feel intense pain in your left arm, or like a black dragon is about to go wild... any symptoms like that?”

“No.”

“Ugh, giving me a headache in my twilight years, are you?” Letting out a deep sigh, Huey picked up a wooden sword and stood up. “Alright then. Show me this amazing strength you supposedly can’t control.”

Waving the tip of the wooden sword to provoke Kai, Huey looked completely unguarded.

Fourteen visible weaknesses already...

As Kai watched him closely, something clicked in his mind.

Now that I think about it, the last version of me Master Huey remembers is from way back. I was around level 50 then, wasn’t I?

No wonder he was being underestimated. No matter how much fame Kai had gained or that he had risen to the rank of Count, Huey had never seen his current level of skill.

Alright, if I’m going to show him anyway, I’ll have to make it count.

With his eyes gleaming, Kai lightly kicked off the ground. He instantly moved behind Huey and thrust his wooden sword toward Huey’s throat. However, just before he could make contact, Huey’s wooden sword was already gently pressed against Kai’s throat.

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