[Holy Light Is Fooling You – Completed]
[Unlock Condition: Convince 15 Villains to Change Their Minds (15/15)]
[Reward Unlocked: Super High School-Level Priest]
[Would you like to equip the title?]
Robert didn't hesitate. Still seated in the quiet hush of the confessional booth, he selected "Yes."
[Title Equipped: Super High School-Level Priest]
[Description: May the Holy Light guide your path.]
[Effect Unlocked: Mana]
The moment the title activated, Robert felt a strange, warm pulse surge through his body. It wasn't heat or electricity—something else entirely. Something… divine?
His perception sharpened. The air in the church felt clearer. Brighter. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing hidden textures in the world around him.
Robert glanced down and blinked.
A faint silhouette shimmered into view above the slumped priest nearby—an outline of pale light, translucent and thin. It was like looking at someone's reflection on the surface of still water.
Was this a… soul?
Robert leaned closer, studying the hovering figure. It glowed faintly, but dark splotches mottled its form, like someone had spilled ink on white silk.
He reached out instinctively.
The mana within him stirred like a tide, surging into the priest's soul without resistance. It passed through the man's body as if it weren't even there and began washing over the dark stains.
Like soap on grime, the mana scrubbed the blackness away until the soul shimmered clean and white.
The priest stirred, letting out a groggy groan.
Robert's brows lifted. "He's waking up?"
That wasn't supposed to happen. The dosage in that tranquilizer was enough to drop a grown man for four hours—and it had only been two.
So it wasn't just healing… It was restorative. Cleansing.
"I've got holy mana now," Robert muttered under his breath. "I'm basically a magical healer."
He paused.
"Wait. If I've got mana… then I can cast spells, right? Like, fireball or something?"
He dramatically raised his hand and whispered, "Fireball."
Nothing happened.
Right. He didn't actually know any spells. Harry Potter magic words didn't count.
Still, worth a try.
"Stupefy," Robert said, pointing at the priest for good measure.
Nothing.
Then the priest blinked, locking eyes with Robert through bleary confusion. His lips parted—
Pft— The anesthesia dart hit him clean in the leg again.
"Yeah, how about you go back to sleep, my guy."
The priest slumped over once more. As he did, Robert noticed a much smaller dark spot reappear on his soul. Not the same as before, but still something.
"Hmm. So the dark marks aren't from me knocking you out... Must be leftover toxins or sickness. Meaning… you should probably be thanking me."
Robert smiled serenely. "May the light bless you."
He adjusted his stolen priest's robe and stepped out of the confessional—only to be greeted by Matt Murdock's utterly blank, unimpressed expression.
"You're a menace," Matt said flatly.
Robert held his hands up like a peaceful friar. "Now that's just hurtful. I'm clearly a man of God."
Matt's face twitched. "You assaulted a priest. And then impersonated him. You do realize that's at least three felonies?"
"Allegedly." Robert placed a gentle hand over his heart. "Also, I prefer the term 'freelance exorcist.'"
Matt opened his mouth to deliver a blistering rebuttal—but was interrupted by a black man in a Sunday suit who entered the church, eyes wide as he spotted the two of them.
"You…"
Matt tensed immediately.
He recognized Robert! It's over.
Matt's muscles coiled. If Robert so much as flinched, he'd be tackled to the floor before he could get a word out.
The man turned to Matt with an apologetic bow.
"Forgive me, Father. I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation with this lost soul."
Matt's brain momentarily short-circuited.
Wait, what?
The man was looking at Robert. The fake priest. With utter sincerity.
Robert put on his most beatific smile and gestured gracefully. "It's alright, my child. No conversation is more important than confession."
And just like that, the man dropped to his knees and began praying devoutly in front of Robert.
Matt looked between the two of them in disbelief.
Did he seriously buy this act?
Robert's "Super High School-Level Priest" title was doing its job. To any ordinary person, he looked like the most divine, pure-hearted cleric this side of the Vatican. The stained-glass sunlight caught him at just the right angle, casting a warm glow around his silhouette.
Even Matt felt it. A strange peace washed over him as Robert spoke. For a moment, he even considered opening up. To Robert. Of all people.
Matt blinked rapidly and shook his head.
What the hell was this? Magic? Mind control? Pure con artistry?
He scowled at the stained-glass windows as if God Himself had betrayed him.
Meanwhile, the devout man clasped his hands, tears in his eyes. "Father, I've sinned so many times… I need to confess everything."
Robert gave a kind smile. "I'd love to listen, truly. But the confessional is closed for the day. Come back tomorrow."
The man's eyes went blank.
Robert walked calmly toward the doors, his robe flowing like a halo behind him.
Matt took one last, long look at him, then turned toward the altar.
He knelt slowly, face solemn.
"God," he whispered, "I don't ask for much. I've seen evil. I've fought it. I know it exists. But if you don't do something soon…"
He glanced toward the church entrance where Robert had j
ust left.
"Your flock might start praying to him instead."
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