Chapter 16: Turmoil in the Royal Capital – 09
After returning to the inn, we gathered once more to discuss the recent events concerning the church.
As I recounted the details, the first to react was Freinir.
“So, that’s what happened… So, Soushi, you accepted the request, didn’t you?”
“There wasn’t really a reason to decline. I can’t say I’m enthusiastic about it, but when the request comes from a cardinal of the church, especially one that’s framed as a favor, you need a solid reason to turn it down.”
“I understand that. But is it really just a simple request…?”
Freinir’s skepticism seemed to stem from her strong feelings about the church. I shared her doubts, and I suspected the others felt the same.
Logically speaking, we weren’t in direct conflict with the church. However, the fact that Freinir had been expelled from it and had now reached A-Rank could lead to resentment, especially since ‘Soul’s Guidance’ had overshadowed ‘Supreme Radiance.’ Organizations can sometimes cling obsessively to their pride, and that kind of resentment can be the most troublesome…
“It definitely felt like there was something more going on behind the scenes. I might be overthinking it, though.”
“With that kind of vibe, it’s hard to believe there’s nothing else at play. That man gave off a really unpleasant aura.”
“Indeed. I think it’s safe to say that his words shouldn’t be taken at face value. He hinted at the possibility of stirring up trouble regarding ‘Supreme Radiance,’ and it was clear he had intentions to lead us in a certain direction.”
Larni’s instincts about the unpleasant aura were quite reliable, and Sfenia’s analysis was spot on. The cardinal had clearly been steering the conversation to limit our options. With that in mind, it was evident that there was something sinister afoot.
As the conversation paused for a moment, Karma spoke up.
“Well, what’s done is done. So, what’s the plan? Are we all going to participate in this request?”
“I’d like to say yes, but since it’s a public request, it’s probably best to keep Geshura out of it. I’m afraid we’ll have to hide her with the royal family for a while…”
“No, Soushi. If you could arrange for me to stay in a house in the nearby forest, I could spend some time there. Just come back to pick me up when you leave the city.”
“If that works for you, then let’s do it.”
Geshura’s suggestion was a stroke of luck. I wanted to avoid leaving her alone at the inn or handing her over to the royal family if possible.
With one concern resolved, Larni perked up her ears.
“By the way, Soushi, that person named Geika who came to the room earlier had a really strange smell. It was kind of… undead-like, if that makes sense.”
“Undead…? That’s not a comforting thought, but he certainly didn’t seem normal.”
“Yes. He appeared to be in a dazed state. If the Pope was in such a condition, it would surely be the talk of the town, yet I don’t think it’s been mentioned in the guild either.”
If what Mariane said was true, then the public perception was that the Pope was just fine. Am I the only one feeling that something is off?
The church’s request was set to begin in four days, so we took the opportunity to conquer the D and C-class dungeons around the royal capital that we hadn’t explored yet.
In the D-class dungeons, everyone leveled up their resistance skills.
In the C-class, I acquired ‘Penetration,’ which might have been a result of piercing Argi’s heart during our recent battle. As for whether a mace attack has any significance with ‘Penetration,’ it’s hard to gauge given the overwhelming power I wielded.
Freinir and Sfenia both gained ‘Steel Core,’ which should enhance their defensive capabilities.
Larni and Karma also acquired ‘Penetration,’ which seems to strengthen their thrusting attacks with swords.
Mariane gained ‘Vitality Surge,’ a skill that accelerates stamina recovery, which could be quite useful for an adventurer like her who relies on rapid skill usage for mobility.
Shizuna also received ‘Steel Core,’ which would likely enhance her spirit golem.
It seems we’re starting to acquire the same skills among the members, likely because we’re all reaching a point where we can obtain skills available up to C-class. However, even with the same skills, the speed of leveling up can vary based on innate qualities and fighting styles. Thus, even with the same skill, strengths and weaknesses will emerge.
As for the treasure chests, we found an unusual amount of seasonings like ‘salt’ and ‘sugar.’ While salt is common, dungeon-produced white sugar is apparently a luxury item, which I’m saving for camp cooking. Personally, I’d love to have soy sauce or miso, but I’m not even sure if they exist in this world.
Among the useful equipment, we found a piece of armor called the ‘Spirit Priestess Dress,’ which seems tailor-made for Shizuna. It has the effect of ‘Spirit Evolution +1.’
We also acquired a short bow called the ‘Great Phoenix Bow,’ allowing us to finally upgrade Sfenia’s bow after quite some time. While the ‘White Heron Bow’ had a powerful ‘Action Stop’ effect, its lack of firepower was undeniable, so a high-rank short bow with ‘Penetration +2’ is a welcome addition.
And so, the first day of the church’s escort request arrived.
While it was labeled as an escort for a transport team, the actual task involved retrieving sacred relics necessary for the ‘Saint’s Succession Ceremony’ from the ruins to the west of the royal capital, making it more of a ceremonial escort event.
The escort included four church priests and a single carriage. Of course, we weren’t the only ones providing protection; twelve knight-priests (former adventurers affiliated with the church) accompanied us as well.
Inside the carriage was a girl in priestly attire, one of the members of ‘Supreme Radiance.’ She was a stunning beauty with beautiful silver hair, but there was something about her eyes that hinted at a shallow or cunning nature, suggesting a calculating personality. I felt a bit guilty, but I was genuinely surprised when Cardinal Holwood introduced her as a ‘Saint Candidate.’ Her name was Mirannera Armand, and given her surname, it was clear she was a member of the Armand family, the same noble house to which Freinir belonged.
I had been curious about her staring at Freinir when we crossed paths in the ‘Wandering Dungeon’ the other day, but if she was indeed related to the Armand family and a ‘Saint Candidate,’ it made sense.
After half a day of walking along the road, we finally caught sight of a large stone ruin in the distance. It was a trapezoidal pyramid with a flat top, featuring stairs leading up to it. Several crumbling pillars stood at the top, suggesting it might have been a massive altar.
By the time we arrived at the ruins, evening was already approaching. We planned to spend the night here and retrieve the relics early the next morning before heading back to the royal capital.
Among the escort knights, two possessed an ‘Item Box,’ so they were in charge of setting up camp for the ‘Saint Candidate’ and the priests. They also had someone capable of using ‘Barrier Magic,’ and it seemed they were setting up a barrier as well.
We set up our camp as usual, but given their superior equipment, I noticed the knight-priests occasionally glancing our way.
Before night fell, we finished dinner and gathered around the campfire, enjoying tea together.
Of course, I kept ‘Presence Detection’ active. With Larni and Karma, who were both perceptive beastfolk, along with Freinir, who was sensitive to evil auras, and Sfenia, who had enhanced vision, our detection capabilities were quite formidable.
The area around the ruins was flat, with a forest in the distance, but there were no signs of monsters within our detection range.
After a while, there was movement near the carriage.
The aforementioned ‘Saint Candidate,’ Mirannera, stepped down from the carriage, flanked by two knight-priests as she approached us.
Noticing this, Freinir leaned closer to me, her expression filled with unease.