The Celestial Maiden’s Young Master in Another World - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17. Condemnation
After the Iron Pipe was finished, Mother called for me.
‘What is it?’
Her expression was remarkably serious.
“Rian. Have you decided on dormitory accommodations at the Academy?”
No, wait—that wasn’t a serious face. That was a frightening one.
“Ah, well… I’m still considering my options.”
“You have the Condemnation talent, don’t you? You take after your mother.”
Mother, you’re scaring me.
That smile was far too radiant and kind.
“I’m actually a Specialty Talent of all types—”
“Oh ho, but shouldn’t a cleric handle Condemnation well above all else?”
Mother cut me off mid-sentence.
She had no intention of hearing my opinion, it seemed.
Since it was a fair point, I nodded along.
“So this mother has prepared something for you!”
Screech—
Servants dragged an iron cage into the training grounds.
‘…?’
“Grrraaagh!”
A monster?
Inside the cage was a creature that resembled a wolf.
The Holy War that took place five hundred years ago.
The Demonic Energy left behind by the Demon God had twisted animals, transforming them into monsters.
These creatures now inhabited the Great Forest at the northernmost tip of the continent, corrupted by Demonic Energy.
‘Why on earth is there a monster inside this sacred house…?’
I wanted to protest, but Mother’s expression was too serene.
Well, I’d listen for now.
“I want to teach you how to properly handle Condemnation. After all, it manifests quite differently from other powers, doesn’t it?”
Well, you’re right about that.
The fundamental attributes of Holy Power are light, purification, and blessing.
The talent to convert these attributes is called a Specialty Talent.
Specialty Talents are divided into five schools: Holy Aura, Healing, Reinforcement, Manifestation, and Condemnation.
Simply put, think of it as using Holy Magic of each school, powered by Holy Power as fuel.
Holy Aura literally creates an aura of Holy Power, and Healing, as the name suggests, is a Specialty Talent specialized in treating targets.
Reinforcement encompasses all forms of power that use Holy Power to enhance physical abilities.
Manifestation is like ordinary magic—power that can be realized through imagination, such as conjuring a Holy Flame Sphere. Holy Magic barriers and constructs fall into this category.
‘But Condemnation… I can’t quite grasp what it actually does.’
It’s supposed to be the best power against enemies with Demonic Energy.
‘Isn’t it essentially the same as Demon Exorcism?’
I understand the fundamental nature of the power, but I can’t get a feel for how to use it.
“I’ll show you directly.”
Mother stepped forward gracefully.
She didn’t even grip a Mace in her hands.
‘That monster was definitely… a Silver-Maned Wolf, wasn’t it?’
Monsters were named according to their distinguishing features.
Since they didn’t divide into clear grades like demons, they had to be classified by assigning them a Danger Rank.
“Monsters have a clear hierarchy of power, you know. Do you remember the Danger Rank of this Silver-Maned Wolf?”
“Yes, Mother.”
I did remember learning this.
‘It was around Rank 4 among the Danger Ranks, which go from 1 to 5.’
Rank 1 was the highest Danger Rank, and Rank 5 the lowest.
Compared to demons, Rank 4 meant it had surpassed the lower tiers!
‘Mother might tear it apart with her bare hands.’
I straightened my posture.
“Monsters with Demonic Energy are best countered using Holy Power, much like demons.”
Of course, they could be defeated with ordinary magic or martial arts as well.
But Demonic Energy ultimately brings corruption.
Therefore, using Holy Power is absolutely essential to cleanse the corruption caused by Demonic Energy.
“Using the fundamental attributes of Holy Power is also effective. Holy power drives back darkness, after all.”
But Condemnation was different.
“It’s a power specialized against Demonic Energy.”
My mother raised her hand to demonstrate.
‘Today she’s not using the Mace.’
—Really, barehanded?
Ugh. Don’t say things like that, even as a joke, Eli.
It scares me too much; I’m getting goosebumps.
Pushing my worry aside, white light gathered at my mother’s fingertips.
“What I’m about to use is called the Purification Veil. It’s the only technique you can manifest with the basic properties of Holy Power.”
There was only one technique that could be manifested using the basic properties of Holy Power, she explained.
It poured down purifying light in the shape of a veil.
By its very nature, it was specialized in purifying Demonic Energy.
“Shriek!”
As the Purification Veil descended to envelop the monster, the parts it touched burned white.
“Fundamentally, the Purification Veil isn’t an offensive technique. It’s sufficient to dispose of low-rank demons, but—”
Thud—! Thud-thud!
The monster thrashed against the iron bars in resistance.
The Purification Veil could cause pain to the silver-maned wolf, but it couldn’t deliver a fatal blow.
“Since the purification property is fundamental to Holy Power, its essence won’t change even if you convert it to another attribute.”
‘So there’s no need to use the Purification Veil on its own.’
Even if you converted it to another attribute, the fundamental properties of light, purification, and blessing remained.
However, if you went through attribute conversion, Holy Power consumption increased slightly—which made it highly practical when dealing with low-rank demons.
I nodded. I understood that much.
“It’s similar even when you manifest Holy Magic through Manifestation.”
My mother created a small purple flame smaller than her fist using Manifestation and hurled it at the monster.
“Growl!”
It took the hit, but it didn’t look fatal!
Of course not—the flame was tiny.
The purification property and the flame burned away the Demonic Energy bit by bit, but that was all.
“Fundamentally, Demonic Energy hardens the outer shell and makes the creature stronger. You can dispose of it if you increase the firepower, but—”
If you could strip away the Demonic Energy, that was the ideal.
“This is the Condemnation Flame—fire manifested through Manifestation mixed with the property of Condemnation.”
My mother created another small flame this time.
The flame manifested through Manifestation clearly shone purple.
Then, as she mixed in the power of Condemnation, the flame shifted to a red hue.
A vivid red, similar to the color of burning fire.
‘Ah—so the colors don’t mix together.’
The Condemnation Flame flew toward the monster without hesitation.
“Shriek!”
Thud! Thud-thud-thud! Boom—!
A response on an entirely different scale from when she’d cast the Purification Veil or the purple flame sphere!
Though it was clearly a flame of the same small size as before, the visible damage was completely different.
‘Melting away into the flame…?’
—Didn’t Rian do something similar when Aileen attacked before?
That’s right.
Its head had shattered and melted into the ground from the work of my father’s nursing bottle.
‘So that’s why. She was so certain it was the Condemnation Flame back then.’
Wherever the flame touched, the Demonic Energy melted and dripped down to the floor.
‘Condemnation is definitely a powerful ability.’
Its effectiveness against Demonic Energy especially was undeniable.
The wolf tried to wrap Demonic Energy around itself for protection when the Condemnation Flame struck.
But the Condemnation Flame simply melted the Demonic Energy away.
And through that gap, the flame burned the wolf, dealing damage.
“Shriek! Shriek!”
The efficiency was starkly different from how the Purification Veil or the flame sphere from Manifestation had gradually burned away the Demonic Energy.
‘Wait. What happens if you use it together with the characters for Demon Exorcism?’
This isn’t funny anymore.
The corners of my mouth twitched upward.
“Rian, what do you think? If you go to the Heresy Inquisition Bureau, you can learn methods to efficiently hone this Condemnation.”
Definitely.
It seemed far more efficient than becoming an ordinary Combat Priest.
‘And it should synergize well with the Demon Exorcism character.’
Good grief.
I had the strange feeling I’d walked straight into Mother’s plan.
-My career path was always going to be the Heresy Inquisition Bureau anyway~
‘Ugh—’
-And I’d probably become an Inspectional Priest before long?
‘No, that won’t do. I’ll absolutely go the Inspectional Priest route.’
“Yes. I’ll go with the Heresy Inquisition Bureau.”
Mother broke into a broad smile at my answer.
“Once you’re at the Academy, just choose Zerotil for your dormitory.”
“Understood.”
The dormitory was Zerotil anyway, wasn’t it?
I realized my worrying had been pointless.
***
A few days later.
A welcome face came calling at House Rudersk.
It was Corin who had come.
And he’d arrived with his father, a Cardinal no less—quite the busy man.
‘So that’s Cardinal Armel Dalopez.’
Armel Dalopez.
Renowned as the youngest Cardinal of our time.
‘Though in truth, he and Father aren’t that far apart in age.’
His features bore a striking resemblance to Corin’s—round eyes, gentle expression, and that same deep black hair worn long.
Cardinal Dalopez had grown his hair completely long, braiding it down his back.
“It has been some time, Cardinal Rudersk.”
“Cardinal Dalopez! How kind of you to visit us along with Corin. We’re truly grateful.”
Ordinarily, Cardinals do not openly fraternize with one another.
This is because Cardinals hold voting rights in the succession of the Holy Emperor.
Any careless socialization could be misconstrued as political alliance.
Cardinal Dalopez in particular was scrupulously careful about such things.
Yet here he was, paying an unexpected house call? It had to be something serious.
‘What could this be about?’
I couldn’t help but wonder.
Railaike received them graciously, despite the oddness of the visit.
“Rian! How have you been?”
“Good. You’ve been well too, Corin?”
“Great!”
Corin’s face was bright as he greeted me.
‘He seems fine, but them… something’s serious.’
-Should I drift over closer to them?
‘Yes, just for a moment, please.’
I sent Eli ahead to listen in, just in case.
“Rian. Have you decided on a weapon yet?”
“Yeah. I’m thinking of going with a staff.”
“A staff?”
“Yeah.”
Corin tilted his head, puzzled.
Unfamiliar choice, right? I know it myself.
In a land where swords and magic are the norm, it’s not exactly a popular primary weapon.
“It just seems like the weapon I’d use best.”
“I see…?”
He still looked uncertain, though he nodded along.
“Since it’s your choice, Rian, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
Right, thanks for that.
“What about you, Corin? Have you decided?”
“Actually, I’m still a bit uncertain about it…”
“What’s the dilemma?”
“Well, it’s just… everything in general…”
True to form, Corin hemmed and hawed, fidgeting with his hands as he spoke.
‘If he’s a Healing Priest, couldn’t he just use an appropriate Staff?’
Corin looked too slender and gentle to wield a brutal blunt weapon in combat.
Besides, Healing Priests didn’t use blunt weapons in the first place.
But that wasn’t what was troubling him, apparently.
“Um… by any chance, if I joined the Heresy Inquisition Bureau too… could I become an Inspectional Priest?”
‘Huh?’
Corin as an Inspectional Priest?
An Inspectional Priest was essentially an investigator, when you thought about it.
Infiltration and reconnaissance were basics to root out hidden heresy, and one had to endure combat from time to time.
It was a heavy burden for a Healing Priest to bear.
‘If he had some combat ability, maybe. But…’
Unfortunately, I had no idea how strong Corin was in combat. In fact, I barely knew his Healing ability either.
Which made sense.
‘I handled everything in the Labyrinth myself.’
There’d been no chance to observe him.
I was simply assuming he had latent potential.
If he could fight well and had Healing ability, he’d be an invaluable asset. But that was wishful thinking.
“What was your Specialty Talent again?”
“I have Healing, Manifestation, and Condemnation.”
“Wait? If you have a Condemnation-type talent, doesn’t that give you bonus points when choosing a dorm?”
Surprisingly, Condemnation was Corin’s specialty.
“Actually, my father said his specialty was Condemnation-type too.”
He’d stood out for his healing prowess, but the implication was clear—he had talent against demons after all.
“Then… wouldn’t it be fine if you just honed your combat skills?”
“D-do you think so?”
Corin’s face lit up brightly.
But then.
That had been my assessment before I knew anything about Corin’s athletic ability.
***
Crash!
‘Wow.’
Corin was something else, all right.
“Ugh!”
What was remarkable about him was this:
“Urrghhh!”
His athletic ability was remarkable.
‘In a thoroughly negative direction.’
Across all my lives—past and present—I’d never witnessed coordination this catastrophic.
‘This is just a squat. Just a squat.’
I’d wanted to assess Corin’s combat ability, sure.
Basic physical conditioning would’ve been enough.
He had Manifestation and Condemnation, after all!
‘He could just cast Holy Magic from a distance while keeping his distance.’
That’s why I’d invited him to do the foundational strength training I did regularly.
But then.
This was already his fifth fall during squats.
‘His coordination is absolutely catastrophic.’
It was devastating—could anyone really be this uncoordinated?
Even if he had talent in Manifestation and could cast Holy Magic from range.
He needed to learn basic hand-to-hand fundamentals before seeing any combat deployment.
Combat could turn into close quarters without warning. But… he was hopeless.
‘The question isn’t whether he can be a Healing Priest. It’s whether he can even reach the front lines.’
Should I seriously consider steering him toward the Clerical Governance Council instead, composed entirely of administrative staff?
Forward positions were absolutely out of the question.
Even staying safely in the rear as pure support was pushing his limits.
‘At this rate, he’d trip just walking across the field.’
How was Corin even standing upright to begin with?
Did he grasp the meaning in my gaze?
Corin gritted his teeth, attempted another squat, and promptly landed on his rear with another crash.
A sigh escaped me.
***
‘Even a Healing Priest would be in serious trouble with that level of stamina.’
‘Hmm. It seems I should focus on physical conditioning when he’s home.’
The two fathers watching exchanged unspoken thoughts.
They’d planned to run through basic training, but what was actually happening now wasn’t even basic training—it was merely warm-up stretches!
“Well. He was doing reasonably well at home, at least.”
“Haha… I see.”
Both of them knew better, but neither bothered to mention it.
“But tell me—is there a reason you’ve come to visit?”
Railaike opened the conversation.
She’d never believed that Armel Dalopez, patriarch of House Dalopez and a Cardinal, would have traveled to Rudersk’s territory merely over his son’s affairs.
“We’ve discovered something curious.”
“Something curious?”
“An altar.”
!!
“An altar belonging to Dark Mages.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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