Epic of Caterpillar
chapter-279

[Central Continent of Eden] [The Holy Kingdom of Heavenly Tears Helgen]

[Holy City of Sanctification] [Isaac's Manor]

Since I was dragged here with my group, we haven't even met that so-called "Holy Mother" at all… However, we have met some other freaks.

First of all, this city, compared to Athetosea, is completely different, the technology used here is incredibly advanced Magic Technology, the people seem to be different as well, diligently working in the beautiful city, keeping things moving. I thought that this place was filled with weird fanatics, but it seems that everyone has better living conditions than in the other continent.

My group began to be immediately trained by high-rank knights and officials, led by two weirdos who are incredibly strong, their strength can barely be sensed, as if their entire presence didn't exist, however, there is an eerie aura about these two…

The [Heavenly Commandment of Chastity] Ariel, a young man, seemingly of my age, but on a different level. He's blonde and has golden eyes, his entire presence is shining and celestial in a sense, and he likes to talk like a kid. His personality seems rather twisted, but he's an avid fanatic of the church of Supreme Gods.

The other guy, the [Heavenly Commandment of Patience] is a young man, around 21 years old, he's rather tall, and has a similar appearance to Ariel, his name is Bernard. Both freaks seem to be brothers. This guy is rather different than his little brother in the sense of being calmer and more composed, yet he still has that twisted look on his eyes. He usually keeps his eyes shut all the time, but when he opens them and glares at me, I can feel him looking through my entire soul.

I was now just talking with these two freaks, in the middle of one of the Manors gardens, where we have been rigorously trained by the Knights, Generals, and these two guys.

"Now, Isaac san, please, release your Magic Aura…" (Bernard)

"Aura… Got it"

Aura is something that they have taught to me recently, by infusing my intent into my body, and by slowly gathering my Magic and Life Energy inside of my body, it is possible to manipulate these things as a single thing… These two brothers have trained their Auras to insane levels, being able to use them as second limbs, and even to float or walk without the need of using magic or their limbs.

I released my Aura, which had a pale-yellow color, with small dazzling star-like phantom shapes floating around, it was rather hard to shape it, and it has been taking me several days to figure it out. Thankfully these two guys are rather patient and don't mind repeating heir lessons a million times over and over again for me to understand, always with a calm yet creepy smile.

Ariel seemed surprised by my performance, and clapped his hands with happiness like a small child would do, Ariel had a strange feminine personality, his good looks didn't help us, without the short hair, he would really resemble a beautiful little girl.

"Oooh~! Isaac san has learned so fast! Wonderfully done! You get ten points!"

Bernard nodded in affirmation.

"Hm, indeed, you have advanced incredibly fast in your training, to be expected from a Heavenly Hero…"

"T-Thanks… Now, when will I be able to meet the Holy Mother? Can I finally get my task already? Or do I need to keep training?"

"Oh? Mother? Hmm… I don't think that you can go meet her yet…" (Ariel)

"Indeed. Although Mother called you here to be given the title of Heavenly Hero, she wants you to be personally trained by us, afterward, if you have proven your worth, you shall be rewarded by seeing her heavenly presence… I assure you, it will be worth it" (Bernard)

Ugh, more training it seems… I can't believe that I miss being in that little and crappy town, at least there I had control over my life and could do as I wanted, there were still a lot of dungeons that I wanted to explore and get even stronger… These damned church fanatics, taking on me as if I were an object!

Sigh… I must calm my anger; these freaks can easily look through my mind and soul…

Ariel gave me a playful look, as he winked his left eye in a coquettish way.

"Hm, say, Isaac san if you're craving for task and adventure, how about you explore the dungeons around Helgen? What do you say, brother? Can he do it?"

Bernard nodded once again, and opened his right eye, quickly glancing over my physique, and then closing it again.

"Indeed… He has come very far; I think a Class C dungeon should be fine for him"

Class C…? Are they underestimating me…? I can explore harder ones!

"Class C? C-Can I explore something harder?"

Ariel and Bernard looked at each other with a confused look.

"It seems that you cannot understand your strength yet, Isaac san?"

"Isaac, you must be diligent and patient, don't be blinded by greediness and rage. Maintain your composure, a Class C Dungeon is enough for your inexperienced party, assuring your life is our biggest task, we can't risk it by sending you into dangerous situations willingly"

I better not discuss with these guys; you cannot reason with them. I only nodded.

"I understand… Which Dungeon will it be?"

Isaac then clapped his hands once again in a playful manner.

"I got the perfect dungeon for you, Isaac san~! It's the dungeon that I a big brother went when we were mere Priest Warriors… The Holy Garden Dungeon! Aah~ Such a beautiful place too!"

Bernard nodded.

"Hm, it is a wonderful place. However, be wary, as plant type monsters wander around and mimic normal plants. They aren't dangerous enough to endanger your life, but it may be different for your party"

"Oh! Talking about your party… How are they going? Are the Knights and Generals being too rough with them~? Fufu" (Ariel)

"Those guys… Well, they are doing fine enough, my Titles and Skills let them have a fast growth just like me, giving them unique classes as well… But there are some complaints about the rough treatment…" (Isaac)

"Ah! Well, that's how it is, they should get used to it already after two weeks~" (Ariel)

"Indeed… It would be best if Isaac san could talk with them, and make them understand. If they dare deny the orders of Mother… I cannot assure their lives" (Bernard)

"I see… I will… Tell them" (Isaac)

These dammed freaks… They are threatening the lives of my companions as if they were nothing…

[The Skill [Dazzling Starlight Aura; Level 2] gained one level!] [Current Level; 3]

[The Skill [Star Ocean's Psyche; Level 1] gained one level!] [Current Level; 2]

[The Skill [Heavenly Starlight Attribute Magic; Level 2] gained one level!] [Current Level; 3]

After the tiring Aura training, where these two guys pressure my Aura with a small pinch of their own, I was able to finally have some free time to rest. Aura training gives immense headaches, I don't know how could someone even do this without the abilities I have learned. These two guys were clearly monster and possessed insane talent, that's for sure.

Auras are also incredibly hard to form, and only the most talented of people can even fathom to get one… However, if one master their Aura good enough, they could even create their own domains, where the user's primary element governs, suppressing the rest, giving him a boost of strength and defense, while lowering the power of other elements that enter its domain.

I've only managed to expand my Aura for around fifteen meters, being my limit. The way and Aura are trained is by diminishing it slowly and then making it regenerate, it is a harsh training with a lot of pain, due to Auras being connected to one's Soul, and Soul Pain being around ten times as painful as physical pain.

However, even at fifteen meters, I can see the power of a domain, my physique strength is boosted by a tenfold, and my muscles bulge with power. My magic also dances around happily, while connecting itself with the environment, granting me a faster MP Regeneration. Although I still cannot shape my Aura into physical form, it will take some time…

The brothers like to talk a lot about Auras, even to the point of giving me facts that I don't even care about, like Monsters and demi-humans not having the talent to generate them, and that they can only develop a lesser pressure. However, some special Bosses can manipulate Aura and create domains; however, these beings are seen as incredibly strong monsters, that only the brothers could handle.

My companions cannot develop an Aura, they are talentless in that regard. However, they can benefit from mine, if they keep closer to me while fighting, they gain extra stats and abilities from it. This is why it's important to strengthen my Aura if I can, then my companions will also become stronger. If I could manage to expand it over one hundred meters, they wouldn't have to care about being too close to me, fighting on their own while still receiving the boost.

Talking about my companions, there they were. I was too tired, so I was sitting on a chair while lying my torso and head over the table. Noticing my tired expression, Ana ran towards me with a worried look, she also had a tired expression on her face, but she masked it very well, I know that the Knights are training them with incredibly hard regimes.

"Isaac…! Are you okay? Sigh… Those two once again trained you until you couldn't stand anymore?! Ugh, I should really put a complaint or something… If I could, I would just beat them to death!"

"Ana, don't say such insane things, we are in the Manor… If they were to hear you…"

"Hahaha! That's how Ana is! Don't worry, the two brothers are pretty chill~ they don't even care about a few bad words here and there…!" Said Ray, as he rested his Axe over the table, wait, you can't put an Axe over such a luxuries table!

"Ray… Take that Axe out of the table…"

"Eh? What's wrong? It's my trusty friend, I can't sleep well without him"

"Sigh…"

Ana and Ray are my two strongest companions in the group of five of them, then there is Sagrid, Tanya, and Sate. They're all a colorful bunch, and for being all orphans, they have very bright personalities.

Ana is the oldest girl, she doesn't remember her birthday, but she estimates to be around 14 to 15 years old. However, due to my titles and abilities, she grew and matured very quickly, now she resembles a woman in her 19's, and her beauty rivals even the most graceful of maidens in this city.

Her hair is emerald-colored, with yellow eyes, her facial features are fine and smooth, with a small pointed nose and thin eyebrows, she has the charming beauty of an elf, according to some Knights. She always had good aim, and from an early stage, she became an archer, now her class is named [Starlight Sniper] and her training is being done by various Archer Knights.

Ana has… a rough personality, to put it lightly. After taking over the orphan kids, she immediately became my right hand and is very serviceable, but sometimes she acts like my older sister, and it's rather annoying. And she likes to complain a lot, and enter into unnecessary fights with complete strangers.

"Isaac! Are you really not going to do anything?! We worked hard to gain such commodities back then, and now we are once again being treated like trash! Do something, or else, I will!"

"Ana, calm down… Ugh, my back…"

"But Isaac!"

"Isaac sama, does your back hurt? Do you want a massage? Tanya can help you out!"

A little girl, named Tanya, came rushing towards me. Tanya is the youngest in my group, being 12 years old. After my takeover of the orphans, she was being mistreated and starved to almost death. However, after I distributed the food to everyone, she naturally grew healthier and became attached to me. Tanya has a small yet adorable voice, her personality is that of a very serviceable maid at times, however not as possessive as Ana.

Her hair is ruby-colored, with aquamarine eyes, after leveling for a while with my group, and by the effect of my titles and skills, she matured quite a lot and resembles a young girl at her 17's. She has an excessively pale white skin, plump yet adorable cheeks, and a charming and pure smile.

Tanya is talented with Magic, especially Fire Attribute Magic and Healing Magic. Back then, aside from me, she was the main healer and long-ranged damage dealer alongside Ana, having the [Healing Flames Priest] Class. Now, after changing Classes for a long time, she has grown very strong, becoming an [Starlight Flames Archbishop].

"But Isaac sama! Your back must hurt a lot, please, let me help you out, it's the minimum that this servant could do"

"Tanya, you're not my serva- Ugh… Aah… Tanya, p-please… Oh, gods…"

Completely ignoring what I said, Tanya started to massage my back and shoulders, while infusing Healing Magic on her hands. I feel kind of bad for saying this, but Tanya has developed an amazing talent for massaging.

"Hehehe~ How does it feel, Isaac sama? Are you feeling better? I'm so glad!"

Tanya seems to be desperate for my attention, and honestly, I can understand her. The life she had before has an orphan was terrible perhaps even worst, as she had to endure years like that, where I only endured months. Although her mind seems broken, she is always cheerful somehow and works hard.