A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

It was after the kraken had retreated, their ship had safely docked at the port, and Maria, who had not participated in the battle against the kraken as her training had only recently begun, had disembarked and joined the group.

“I’ll begin now.”

As Conra raised Ogma’s Cane to purify the seawater polluted by the kraken’s ink, a verdant green aura began emanating from his body.

The aura rising from Conra’s body amplified as it passed through the raised spear.

At this point, alchemical reagents prepared by the City of Bordeaux had already been dispersed into the sea. These reagents were concocted by mobilizing Bordeaux’s workforce and alchemists following the recipe Conra had provided. The city had recognized the need to swiftly purify and restore the sea polluted by the kraken’s ink.

The kraken’s ink was highly toxic, capable of eroding the wood composing ships and shortening their lifespan. A port city could not afford to leave such a pollutant obstructing ship traffic.

According to Conra’s estimate, even with just the alchemical reagents dispersed, the seawater would be purified within a week. It would have been faster aided by currents and waves if not in a port environment, where breakwaters, jetties, and groins hindered water flow.

However, from Bordeaux’s perspective, where an unusable port and docks would cause immense economic issues, waiting a week seemed intolerable. Unless there were truly no other options, why endure such a wait when a solution was at hand?

After receiving Bordeaux City Council’s request through the Church, the group had prepared to purify the seawater. Now, Conra had taken the lead.

As Conra’s aura resonated with the ambient mana currents and extended to the sea, the pre-dispersed reagents reacted by resonating with his aura, emitting the same verdant light.

When the illumination peaked, Conra scattered five stone fragments from his pocket. These were rune stones inscribed with runic letters beforehand. Upon meeting the luminescent sea, the scattered rune stones flashed before disintegrating into powder, releasing the power imbued in their runic inscriptions.

The rune stones each contained one of five powers: Uruz (ᚢ) for strength, Laguz (ᛚ) for flow, Othila (ᛟ) for separation, Hagalaz (ᚺ) for disintegration, and finally, Raido (ᚱ) for reunification.

Symbolizing the flow of power that separates and disintegrates something mixed within the water before properly reuniting it.

In sync, Conra began chanting a spell:

“O uwaisle ata phauwe blas ai barenis! Brỹ-se! Glac-reis! Gran-swas! (Resplendent purity blossoming amid barrenness! Shatter! Embrace! Cleanse!)”

What he scattered along with the chant were seeds of some plant. Aided by the spell, they plunged into the sea and grew at an astonishing rate, their presence intensifying.

Stems matured, roots spread, and lush leaves unfurled – an instantaneous compression of the mystery of life’s growth that left observing spellcasters sighing in awe.

As if to assist, Hildegard then raised her halberd, dipping the axe blade’s edge into the water as she called out:

“Saturnus! Ameretat! Hahurapti! Njordhr! Eostre!”

The divine names governing agriculture, plants, water, the sea, and life resounded from Hildegard’s vocal cords, and in response, celestial blessings descended upon the surface. As an avatar, Hildegard became the catalyst and conduit channeling those blessings.

The blessings that flowed forth through Hildegard merged with Conra’s druidic spell. Perhaps due to the druidic origins being rooted in ancient spirit worship, the celestial blessings, typically incompatible with secular mysteries, harmonized seamlessly with Conra’s druidic casting.

Sophia, Ezio, and Maria observed from a distance. Ezio, striking his signature peculiar poses with Saraswati, suddenly asked Sophia, “Hmm, Lady Chagelle. Is there a particular reason you are not assisting your disciple and merely watching?”

Sophia smiled wryly in response, “What a sudden question. Did we not just lend our vigorous assistance by dispersing the alchemical reagents into the sea?”

“We did provide some physical effort toward that end. However, while I possess only my muscles, the same cannot be said for you, Lady Chagelle.”

Ezio’s point was this: Sophia was not only an unparalleled martial arts master but also well-versed in spellcasting, worthy of being called a sage. Surely as such, she possessed ample means to aid Conra’s spellcasting if she so wished, yet she merely observed.

However, Sophia did not elaborate on her reasons, simply smiling and remaining silent. Instead, she said, “Father Emmanuele, you will naturally understand when you take on a disciple yourself.”

“Indeed, it seems this is a sensibility I cannot yet comprehend.”

Ezio acquiesced without further prying. Perhaps one day he too would gain a disciple and eventually realize the same insight. The barefoot monk who had learned to govern himself amidst the Alp mountain streams quietly withdrew his consciousness inward once more.

Meanwhile, the plants scattered across the sea had fully matured, revealing their true nature. Upon confirming their appearance, Sophia let out a derisive laugh.

“To think you even went so far as to modify the seeds. Your talent is simply outrageous.”

The revealed plants were none other than duckweed. The only difference from ordinary broad, round-leaved duckweed was that these had thick, knotted stems protruding.

They were duckweed modified with saltgrass genes, optimized for seawater purification.

These saltgrass duckweed, having bloomed en masse, immediately took root on the water’s surface and, aided by the spell, began absorbing the surrounding ink and pollutants.

However, Sophia’s remark of admiration was not solely directed at the visible saltgrass duckweed.

“Hahaha, so you’ve even mastered handling microorganisms now! You’ve been quite tight-lipped about your progress!”

What her eyes perceived were tiny beings silently moving amidst the luminous mist. Within the localized areas of the sea invisible to the naked eye, diminutive conjured lifeforms were actively breaking down the kraken’s ink and various toxic pollutants dispersed in the water.

“To create microorganisms using the alchemical reagents as material and spellcasting as the energy source.”

In essence, the microorganisms Conra had created and controlled were similar to the Will-o’-the-Wisps his parents Settanta and Calliastrae had handled in Ogma’s Forest. Perhaps the underlying principles were not vastly different.

However, Conra’s technique differed significantly in direction from the Will-o’-the-Wisps while still qualifying as an esoteric art.

Unlike the higher cognition of Will-o’-the-Wisps, generating swarms of lifeforms reacting like true microorganisms and programming those swarms with sophisticated algorithms to selectively break down pollutants and toxins was no simple feat.

‘Then again, for one who skillfully wields barnacle propagation spells, this may not have been too challenging.’

Barnacles are crustacean-like organisms that drift in the ocean as tiny larvae before attaching themselves and maturing in suitable locations. To wield barnacle propagation spells effectively, one must be adept at handling those minute larval forms, or the spell’s potency would be halved.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the saltgrass duckweed and microorganisms, it took less than two hours for the waters off the Port of Bordeaux to regain their original azure hue, as if they had never been blackened.

“Welcome, heroic figures who have relieved Bordeaux of its plight!”

‘And it was more than ample time for troublesome sorts to catch wind of it and come swarming.’

The mayor, city council members, various guild leaders, administrators of public institutions and facilities, and more – the influential figures of Bordeaux had gradually appeared, surrounding Conra. Sophia clicked her tongue at the sight.

Hildegard had already sensed the situation and promptly extricated herself, but Conra, having just completed his spellcasting, found himself caught up in the tide of people before he could react.

As Sophia watched with a sigh, her gaze happened to meet that of her disciple struggling amidst the difficult situation. Conra, too, seemed to realize this, giving his mentor a pitiful look. He must have understood that in this circumstance, only Sophia could rescue him.

With that plaintive expression, Conra silently mouthed a plea for help:

‘H-e-l-p m-e, M-a-s-t-e-r.’

Perceiving his lip movements through ventriloquism, Sophia shrugged and let out a sigh.

“I suppose I have no choice. A master cannot coldly turn their back on a disciple in need.”

Shaking her head, Sophia took two steps forward. In the next moment, her hand gripped the nape of Conra’s neck. One step brought her beside him, the next returned her to her original position – the pinnacle of heart technique’s footwork, the axial relocation method.

As his surroundings changed in an instant, Conra realized he had been extricated from that predicament and said with relief:

“Whew, I really thought I was done for there.”

“Such incidents are quite common in this line of work. You should gradually develop countermeasures yourself – either charm them appropriately to establish a mutually beneficial relationship without ill will, or swiftly perceive the situation and make your escape.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Master…”

With a sigh, Conra acknowledged Sophia’s advice.

Leaving the flustered Bordeaux officials looking around bewilderedly at Conra’s sudden disappearance, Sophia’s group headed toward the Church of Bordeaux along their intended paths.

While the Bordeaux City Council comprised many influential city figures wielding considerable power and authority, there were a few places beyond their relative influence – one being the Church of Bordeaux.

“At least once we reach the church, we can expect comfortable accommodations and meals without concern.”

While such mundane matters did not particularly concern Sophia, it was undoubtedly different for her disciples. Especially for Maria, who had only recently begun receiving Sophia’s tutelage and endured forced marches, and Conra, presently exhausted from his recent endeavors, some consideration was necessary.

However, even as Sophia decided to visit the Church of Bordeaux with such thoughts in mind, she could not have foreseen the joyful reunion with an old childhood connection awaiting her there.