As soon as I heard that enormous figure, 70 million stones, my heart skipped a beat. However, I forced myself to calm down and continue the conversation. It wouldn't be too late to rejoice after the money was in my hands. «Will this letter serve as proof?»
Upon receiving the letter, Krovitz read it slowly from the beginning, and then completely changed his expression. He didn't speak for a long time.
«...Is there a problem?»
«Oh, I'm sorry. If the content of this letter is true... This is a really serious matter for the church. I'm not doubting you, but could you wait inside for a moment?»
«Clear».
Krovitz led us to a kind of hall inside the church, and then left us the seat with a sense of urgency. Apparently, he needed to confirm the deed before informing his superiors.
«You don't think anything will go wrong, do you?».
«Haha, of course not. They just want to discuss it after verifying it clearly».
«Murad is right. You read it too. The content of that letter is no small feat».
The wait was longer than expected. When little by little new assumptions began to arise between us, Krovitz returned. «I apologize. I've made you wait too long. Now let's go. Everyone is waiting».
The place he led us to was the second floor chapel, a space that could only be used by priests, not ordinary believers.
«I have heard that non-members of the church are not allowed to be here...»
«The goddess has connected our paths. How can we call them strangers?»
Hearing Krovitz's answer to Rotmiller's question, I erased my anxiety. If they had considered the letter to be fake, it would not behave that way.
Crujido.
Soon, Krovitz opened the door and revealed the interior of the chapel. It was a pretty big space, but there were only seven people sitting in it. Seeing their faces, I froze.
Holy…
After the visit to the count's family, I read several books on the positions of the church, so I knew right away. A man and a woman were the only ones wearing armor. The armor patterns were different, but the silver thread adorning the edges meant they were captains of the Paladins. Including Krovitz, it meant that the only three captains of the church were gathered here, but that was not all. There were two High Priests and a Cardinal, and an old man standing in the center as if receiving counsel.
As soon as Rotmiller saw him, he knelt down and made the sign of the cross. «...A servant of the stars greets the holy archbishop». It was understandable. For Catholics, that was like having the Pope in front of us.
But who is that child?
Feeling for a moment a strange pressure from the colorful alignment, I looked at the little boy, about ten years old, sitting in front of the archbishop. Looking at him now, it seemed like everyone was standing up as if to protect the boy. Even the archbishop was standing right behind him. Who could that child be?
While I was wondering, the archbishop made the sign of the cross and all the members looked at us in silence. «May the blessing of the twilight star be with us».
It was a very anomalous vision. Even Rotmiller, who was also a believer, was perplexed and hardened like a stone. Was it because this place was a chapel? A strangely sacred and at the same time majestic atmosphere invaded the atmosphere.
After a moment of silence, the archbishop opened his mouth. «High Priest Ludwig was a very valuable person to us. Thank you for giving us the letter. May I ask you how you had this letter in your possession?».
To be honest, it was a little unexpected. He who, of the three great religions, had the highest authority was speaking too politely and cautiously to mere explorers on the fourth floor.
It won't always be like this. That man must have been that important.
Soon, I slowly opened my mouth and briefly explained to him what had happened in the Labyrinth of Larcaz.
Was this his clerical mentality? «The twilight star sent you to him, since he was lost. Thank you for saving his soul. Although he was possessed by an evil god, his soul will continue to shine forever even in the darkness».
It was a little uncomfortable to listen to. It wasn't a question of right or wrong, but it felt like they were fundamentally the opposite of me. Since the past, he had not had a good relationship with religious people.
«...This belonged to him». Soon, I took out the necklace the high priest was wearing and handed it to him. If it were a sacred relic, it would be worth much more than the reward, but it didn't seem like a waste to me because it was the right thing to do. He was indebted to that high priest.
«Thank you. It is not the object we were looking for, but this should comfort his soul, even a little».
Yes, it was not a sacred relic. Well, if there was something like that, that bastard would have taken it.
«Cardinal Greyond, how much of the reward will it be for them?»
«The relic was not recovered, but considering the importance of the content of the handwritten letter, his belongings and the transmission of his last moments, it would not be insufficient to pay the 70 million stones designated by the Ministry of Finance.»
«So please do it».
I swallowed without realizing it. I expected to receive only half the reward since there was no sacred relic, but they were giving it all to us. I regretted feeling uncomfortable with his words. These were truly excellent believers.
Of course, that wasn't the important thing. «I want to ask you something.»
«Question.»
Since the first deal was over, I got straight to the point, something that could be more important than the reward. «So what are they going to do now?»
«Can I ask what exactly you mean?»
«Haven't you found the culprit who kidnapped High Priest Ludwig? I wonder if you're going to get revenge, since now I'm involved in this too». In asking the question, I naturally implied that they were in some ways responsible.
The response I received was too ambiguous. «I can't confirm it at this time and place».
«Ya veo.»
Well, I figured if these guys were planning revenge, that bastard wouldn't come after me at least for a while. I figured I had no choice but to act on my own. I nodded.
«Don't worry, great warrior». At this moment, the little boy he had been watching since before opened his mouth.
¡Shaaaaa!
Too bright silver light gushed out of him. When I came to, a ring of three intertwined vines rested on my thick finger. I didn't know what the hell was going on, but I realized what it was when I heard the cardinal's cry that followed.
«An oracle...! An oracle has descended!»
It was something I only heard from the NPCs in the game and had never experienced myself.
Damn sea.
He was an oracle, and apparently the first to descend in a long time. The mystery had finally been resolved. As to why that archbishop treated this child as if he were a treasure box, the answer was really simple.
To think it was un santo.
A saint was a vessel who could hear the voices of the gods and sometimes harbor their power. A child with the qualities of that vessel spoke. «The goddess just spoke. That ring will chase away three strong, dire connections».
«Do you mean the dragon hunter, Regal Vagos?»
An ordinary fortune teller would have said yes or no to this question, but the oracle was different. «Yeah. He said he can only avoid connections with that man. So you must be prepared to defeat fate when all the stems of that ring are cut».
I felt like I had become a warrior who would defeat the demon lord or something. To be honest, I was dumbfounded. I may have defeated that bitch Elisa and dealt with the High Priest, but why would the goddess give me such a gift? Especially as someone called evil spirit.
What is this? It's a joke?
Suddenly, I wondered if all these people were scamming me with that child, but the ring on my hand erased that doubt. Even the shocked faces seemed too sincere to be acting.
«May the blessing of the twilight star be with us».
«Let it flow as it should».
All the major religious figures in this world looked at me and traced the sign of the cross. I looked at the faces of my classmates.
«Bjorrrn, who the hell are you?!»
«Are you really meant to be a hero?!»
«No, this is not a problem. W-how can a barbarian be chosen by a human god?»
Even if they look at me like that, the truth is that I don't know either.
Only then did I stare at the little boy, realizing that this was nothing to be happy about. There were many things I wanted to ask.
He collapsed.
However, the boy collapsed weakly, perhaps the price of receiving an oracle. The archbishop picked up the child and with that ended today's meeting. «Mr. Krovitz, please guide these people outside».
«No, wait! I still have to ask...»
«I ask for your understanding. We'll meet again later and I'll explain everything to you. Until then, please keep today's matter a secret. Otherwise, a big disaster could happen to you».
«That? A big disaster?» That was absurd, but the conversation ended there.
«Sir Krovitz will explain the details to you». The archbishop's stubborn attitude forced us to leave. Then, guided by Krovitz, we headed to the room where we had been waiting before.
«Krovitz, what's going on here?»
«I'm also not sure why he chose to give an oracle to someone of another race».
«...Has it never happened to a non-human?»
«No, as far as I know, this is the third time».
«So what happened to them?»
«According to records, we know that they were marked as heretics within their tribes and expelled».
Ha, this was a pain in the ass. It was like I had been given another suicide button besides the evil spirit thing. «I see why you told me to keep it a secret».
«Yes, because if it becomes known, there will be more harm than good».
The core of the barbarian's growth was the Soul Footprint. If I was kicked out of the tribe, from that day on, I would be no different from a failed character. Barbarian shamans only existed in the sacred land.
«However, don't worry about us. Nothing will be revealed by us first». Saying that, Krovitz looked at his colleagues. They didn't say anything, but the intention was clear.
Therefore, I also looked at my teammates.
«Ah! I'll keep my mouth shut! Really! You trust me, right? Bjorn?»
«Don't worry. I haven't heard anything today».
Of course he wasn't worried about Missha, nor Rotmiller that much. He wasn't that kind of person, and this man was also a follower of Reatlas. The problem was...
«H-hey! Why are you looking at me with those eyes?».
«Why do you think?»
«...I will stop drinking in the future».
I let out a sigh as Hikurod lowered his head in a dejected expression. Ugh, we shouldn't have all come together. Were all gods like that? Instead of removing the largest stone that weighed on my heart, I felt as if they were putting a smaller one on it.
But it's not that light in the mouth, so...
I decided to focus on the positive side. If this ring really prevented the encounter with the dragon slayer, then this level of risk could not be called risk. When it came to profits and losses, it was unconditionally beneficial. I gained what I wanted most, time.
It is the first time I have obtained a sacred relic through an oracle.
The objects given by the gods were called sacred relics. Most of them had deception abilities. That's why I didn't doubt the performance of the ring. I didn't know how long it would last, but I wouldn't find it until all three strands were cut.
The problem is how long they take to cut.
Two years? Three years? I wondered if so much was possible, since it was a hot sacred relic that had just fallen, but... it would be better to think that the duration was as short as possible and prepare. I decided to assume that it lasted between half a year and a year and finished organizing my thoughts.
The moment I got up from the couch, one of the intertwined vines broke.
Rip.
«Uh, Bjorn? It looks like one just broke».
«...No. It can not be.» I rubbed the broken vine with a finger soaked in saliva, as if trying to twist a rope. But, as always, reality was cold. «Look. Stay stuck».
The moment I reached out with the ring to show him, the cut vine radiated silver light and dispersed into the air.
¡Shaaaaa!
I was left staring into space.
[The conditions to activate Blessing of the Stars have been met].
I didn't even laugh.