Jackpot (4)
"Goodness, you're saying all the Saint candidates are being gathered?"
Isaac furrowed his brows.
It looked like things were getting big.
His attendant was so excited, his voice rose.
"That means everyone from the Papal family to heirs of the other Five Great Houses are coming, right?"
"Not just them. Every single Saint candidate, even the ones we've only heard rumors about, are gathering."
"Even His Imperial Majesty is fully supporting this."
"The citizens are all looking forward to it too."
A doljabi turning into a national-scale festival.
At this point, it wasn't a doljabi anymore. It was practically a full-on Saint selection tournament.
Of course, this was welcome news for Isaac.
'The more competitors, the better for me.'
Why was more competition a good thing?
"Young Master, all the candidates enter the Treasury at once, right?"
"Yeah."
Exactly!
Isaac, who was sucking on a milk bottle, clenched his tiny fist.
What he was after wasn't some filthy holy relic—it was the body of the Skull King.
But heading straight for the Skull King's remains would definitely draw unwanted attention.
If he went in with a group, eyes would be scattered, and it would be easier to recover the remains.
And as for the best relic?
Would a bunch of one-year-olds even recognize anything valuable? Or would someone like him, who'd been through centuries of conflict with the holy faction, be the better judge?
All he had to do was grab something flashy enough to make the clergy faint.
Sure, people said the Treasury was so dangerous that anyone who wasn't a Saint candidate could die, but come on.
'It's just a doljabi spot for kids—how dangerous could it really be…'
"They say captured demons are guarding the inside, right?"
Huh, so it wasn't that divine power was absolutely necessary—it was just that demon gatekeepers were posted?
But demons weren't anything to worry about.
For a former (and current) Demon King, demon guards were just nobodies.
Sure, as a baby right now, anything above a 7th-tier would be tricky to deal with, but high-tier demons wouldn't be gatekeeping anyway.
As long as they were 6th-tier or below, he could take them out with [Overwhelm] in a single blow…
"I heard there's even an 8th-tier demon inside?"
"..."
What the hell… why is there a high-tier 8th-class demon acting as a damn gatekeeper?
Who is it? Who the hell's in there?
More importantly, 8th-tier meant they could actually put up a fight—that was kind of dangerous?
Was that why there were casualties?
Still, it was fine.
Demons were easy to sense, which made them easy to avoid.
Just ignore them and find the remains…
"Apparently there's even a 9th-tier dragon guarding the place too?"
F*ck!
What kind of perverted psychos throw a doljabi in a place like that!?
Dragons were violent apex creatures completely beyond human control.
Did they seriously think a baby could survive in a place like that?
And besides, Isaac and dragons were on the worst terms imaginable.
For multiple reasons, but the main ones were…
"That bastard scammed our young dragons!""What did he even sell them!?""That bony bastard's face pisses me off!"
He was wanted—literally.
And even after that, he'd scammed the Elder Dragon sent to arrest him and put it into eternal sleep, so yeah… not great relations.
Worse yet, a dragon might even recognize his soul.
But still, if he could take the risk, it was a huge opportunity.
Even Rilai, who brought him back to his room, said as much.
"The Papacy probably doesn't even plan to acknowledge Isaac as a candidate anyway."
Yeah, figures.
Even the bishop had gone on about how the Saint had basically already been decided.
"But once you come back from the Treasury, they won't be able to ignore you anymore."
"Exactly. We don't know what item you'll bring back, but…"
"Slay the demon inside! Isaac!"
"Uh, no, Young Master. The goal isn't to kill the gatekeepers, you're supposed to bring back an item…"
"Forget the item. Kill a demon and prove your strength!"
"No, you still have to bring back something…!!"
The attendants were flustered, but it wasn't like Rilai hadn't prepared anything.
"Here, Isaac! Try holding this again!"
Rilai handed him a toy dagger. Just like how some parents make their babies grab money to set their future path.
"Here! A sword! You carry the blood that will destroy the Skull King—bring back the holy sword! Smash the Skull King's skull with it!"
Holy sword, my ass.
I'm gonna smash your head.
Isaac nearly smacked him, but held back.
Rilai was actually pretty useful.
He had promoted Isaac within the family, even made the accessible.
"This uncle will now teach you sacred arts personally."
"Young Master!"
This so-called uncle was even planning to use his own hands to teach Isaac sacred spells.
Of course, he had no interest in the holy priests' techniques or anything like that, but this place was crawling with them.
Normally, it would be wise to use divine arts instead of magic here.
So, lectures on divine arts like this were a welcome change for him.
The standard way to learn divine arts was through fasting while studying sacred texts, hymns, and introductory books on divine law—but was he crazy?
"Why the hell would I starve myself? Bunch of pain-loving perverts."
What's more, the hymns and sacred texts themselves carried power within the stories, making them poison to demons.
What if he was unlucky enough to read a story about the Skull King getting attacked?
"Damn it, it'd be mental torture."
Well, divine arts were something even a being like the Skull King could grasp instantly after hearing them once.
Though it would take time to listen, just that alone would cut learning time in half. That alone was enough for now…
But it was at that moment—
[Gyaaah! You cursed holy knight bastard! What are you injecting into the master's body?!]
"!"
The whisper of magic flared up in frothy rage at the divine power pouring in.
Isaac flinched at the strong divine energy but soon opened his eyes wide.
Wait—this guy wasn't just teaching by explaining through words… was he letting him experience it directly?
At a glance, it looked like he was casting a defensive divine art, but Isaac immediately caught on.
"Divine Power Circulation!"
He was opening up pathways in the body so divine energy could flow properly.
The people around looked flustered, but that didn't matter.
"Does the young master really need to go this far? Using this much divine energy…!"
"It's nothing. It's just adaptation training. The real stuff hasn't even started yet."
Hasn't even started yet?!
"Tta-ya-ya-ya! (Hell yeah, jackpot!)"
Isaac cheered.
He only wanted to listen to a theory lecture because he didn't know how to move divine power. Once he got a feel for it, it was easy.
In the end, it was just a difference of whether you were moving fire or water.
And though Lila simply dunked him in like a baby getting used to water, the problem was that Isaac was no ordinary baby.
"Now, can you feel the flow, Isaac?"
Hell yes, Uncle. I can feel it really damn well!
So well, in fact, that he didn't even need the lecture anymore!
With this, he could manipulate divine energy however he wanted.
And divine arts?
If he just saw them, he could imitate most of them.
He stole others' techniques to survive.
His survival trait even included spell analysis.
Though Lila called it simple "adaptation training," the reality was, it wasn't something just anyone could pull off unless they were quite skilled.
And judging by the way the captain of the 6th Order placed his trust in him, this uncle was probably a genius holy knight approaching the 7th Order.
So, capable and beautiful uncle of mine…
Let's keep going!
Divine energy's all set, now show me the divine arts!
"The first divine art I'll teach you is an offensive one."
"What?! Not a defensive one?"
"If we're going to eliminate the Skull King, we need to go on the attack. Against that monster, anything but offense is a luxury."
Hell yeah!
That's it!
The best offense is the best defense!
So hurry up and show me more!
The moment he learned offensive divine arts, he was totally going to blow Uncle's head off…
"But this much is enough for today. Any more would be a burden for the child."
What the hell?! Hey!
"Oh wow, it's already that late. I've got to head to training. Let's put the child to sleep."
"Yes, sir."
Hey! Don't just walk off!
Show me more before you leave!
But Lila gently held Isaac and laid him down on the bed.
"Oh, and this is dangerous, so I'll take it."
He even took away the Shadow Lich, which had transformed into a totem, from Isaac's tiny hand.
"This is the first precious totem Isaac ever made. Keep it in the best spot in the house."
"Yes, sir."
Hey! I need that for resurrection! How could you take it away and leave a pacifier instead?!
"Well then, sleep tight. Behave until the first birthday grab ritual in a few days."
Damn it! Forget divine arts—maybe I should just kill them all with magic instead?!
Fury flashed in Isaac's eyes—but then he smirked like it was fine.
Whatever.
Honestly, it was better if they all left.
"Now I can escape and get to the annex."
He had planned to go absorb the stockpiled mana cores there anyway.
And then it happened.
The servant left, and finally even his uncle closed the door and exited.
The moment the door shut, Isaac slipped out of bed and crawled to the door.
Facing the massive doors, Isaac grinned wickedly.
The door was closed, but this puny doorknob—if he just materialized Whisper and turned it—it'd be nothing…
Click.
…Click?
Isaac furrowed his brows as he tried to open the door.
…Click-clack?
[It's locked. That uncle bastard did it.]
That son of a—!!!
He locked the door and left in the meantime?
Isaac's tiny fists trembled with murderous intent.
"Dda-ya (Open it)."
[The lock is on the outside, and there's a holy seal on it. I can't get out.]
I don't care—break it, you bastard!
[If I do that, everyone'll think it's an attack and come running.]
Damn it, seriously!
Isaac scrunched up his face.
And that wasn't even the biggest problem.
Come to think of it, this was the duke's mansion. In short, it meant the place was absurdly large and that the annex was annoyingly far away.
How long would it take with a toddler's steps?
'You need to be at least 5th-tier to use levitation magic.'
And there were no other means of transport…
But just then—
Clack!
"!"
The door, which had been shut, swung open.
Isaac thought maybe that uncle bastard had come back, but the face that appeared was unexpected.
"What the—this brat's supposed to be my rival?"
Isaac's lips curled into a grin without even meaning to.
Shuri Eshua.
A direct descendant of the Eshua line, Shuri had recently received some very unpleasant news.
"What do you mean, I'm not the only candidate for saint?"
The Eshua men were usually regarded as mostly useless compared to the saintesses.
Sure, a few were acknowledged and allowed to inherit the family business—but those were extremely rare.
Most ended up in political marriages once they came of age, and those who tried to become Holy Knights usually capped out at 3rd-tier.
They were seen as nothing more than pretty gene donors.
But Shuri Eshua was different.
He was especially intelligent, even among Eshua boys, and had grown up being called a prodigy.
While most people only reached 3rd-tier around age fifteen, he'd surpassed it by age three, and now at five, he was already approaching 4th-tier.
Not long ago, he even manifested a stigmata—his father had been overjoyed, convinced Shuri was a true saint candidate.
So he thought he'd finally escape this cursed Eshua name and become Pope.
And now—"The Saintess' son?"
Uncle Lylai brought him in, saying he was a candidate?
Shuri was not happy.
Worse yet, the attendants had tried to display a totem made by that toddler.
And not just anywhere—in the nicest display case that even the head of the house used!
—This is a totem, right? Why are you putting it in here?
—Ah, yes, this? Young Master Isaac, the new arrival, apparently made it using saintly power. Isn't it amazing? So we—
—Whatever. Why are you displaying a totem? What if something happens to the Lord? Are you gonna take responsibility?
—Uh… but Sir Lylai said—
—Give it!
So he snatched it away.
Some brat made a totem? Hah. Even he couldn't make one—what made this kid think he could?
Most likely, crazy uncle Lylai had just handed him a gift, being all obsessed with the Skeleton King hunt and whatnot.
Filled with discontent, Shuri brought the totem and went to meet his baby cousin.
He was going to settle the pecking order—once and for all…
No, wait.
Wouldn't this kid make a perfect practice dummy for sacred arts? He could alternate between attacking and healing—and the kid wouldn't even be able to talk or rat him out.
So Shuri opened his uncle's room door with a smile.
But what he saw was a kid even younger than he expected, crouched as if trying to open the door.
He had no idea why the brat was in front of the door like that, but it didn't matter.
"What the—this brat's my rival?"
"Dda-ya?"
"You—Puughk!!!"
Shuri didn't even get to finish his sentence before he was sent flying.
Thud!
Isaac had no clue who this kid was.
But he had thrown his golden rattle straight at the kid's face without hesitation—and now, eyes flashing, he shouted:
"Dduya-ya dda-ya (Found it. My boom-boom car)."
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