Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Star Fall (19)
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"Good heavens. What is that...."
"Blasphemy. We must call a priest right away-"
Whispers, murmurs!
"Hey, Notum. That.... can't you do something about your new friends? Get them to act a bit more subdued...."
"Grok? Buytum and Worcha were meek from the start. Look at them. So gentle, like firefly brides. The rest are following their lead, all meek and cute."
"No, I'm not talking about the spirits' personalities—it's that light! The light! With night falling, the eerie glow from that swarm of spirits is way too conspicuous! Look at how people are staring! Do you know how many priests I and Borca had to hold back from rushing over chanting Turn Undead?"
"Professor! Don't blame Notum! How can you fault him for his talent being beyond imagination! Hmm.... We need to craft him a soul jar as soon as possible.... Moonstone chunk, one bottle of crystal drop, and what else was it.... Where to find souls sturdy enough for that kind of gift.... Elves might work, perhaps...."
Aldric muttered endlessly, calculating away, while Notum trailed behind with a blank expression. And behind Notum stretched a comet's tail of countless spirits, leaving blue afterimages in their wake.
After endless debate settled by majority vote, the group was now crossing the city toward the headquarters of the Church of Luminance.
Clack!
"I spoke to them over there. Told them we were the Hero of Light's party, and they couldn't stop praising us for having such a mighty priest with us."
"Good work, Borca."
"No need. I have to work hard just to feel a little less guilty. In the end, the path the chief chose was tied to his family too, and he had to give it up because of me."
"Family? No way! My decision was purely based on the strategic value of the eastern desert nation and the friendships with key figures there, making negotiations smoother than other routes....!"
"Heh heh heh heh! A lifelong betrothed is family, whether you like it or not! Your look of holding back regret and yielding was truly beautiful."
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: Agreed. He was clearly holding back something he wanted to say, going 'W-well then.... sh-should we.... go west?' It was so heartfelt I nearly teared up.
- Deer Drug Please: Laxa! Charlotte! When do we get a female hero unit! I'm dizzy! Show us a girl quick!
"Th-that.... I..... #@(*$&(*(!!!!"
He should've kept his mouth shut. Why did he vote for the east in front of everyone?!
To cut to the chase: the vote split one for the eastern desert (Professor), two for the southern great forest (Aldric, Notum), two for the western elven forest (Otman, Borca). Tied between south and west. As he agonized over forest versus forest, Borca drew everyone's attention with a deeply conflicted look.
'I have something to say.'
'What?'
'My children. The ones who manage the church's intel visited them and found traces of my kids.'
'What? Those kidnapped ones whose whereabouts are unknown?'
'Yes. Confirmed the slavers came to Lordric. From there, through underground noble auctions, they wandered various places. Last trace: sold to someone crossing the Blue Line. Sorry, but.... any chance?'
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Ding. Case closed.
At Borca's earnest plea, the group unanimously agreed to head west from Lordric, over the Blue Line mountains to the elven forest. Now they headed to the church for supplies.
Ching-!
"Halt! Sorry, but an important council is underway inside the church, so outsiders are strictly forbidden entry—Hero?!"
"Huh?"
"That massive build, those bulging eyes, scarred bare chest in barbaric garb! It is you, Hero! Forgive me for not recognizing you at once. I heard you left as the church's envoy for a mission, so what brings you here....?"
"Ah, uh. Good work. We came for supplies to reach the elven forest."
Perhaps due to the night, the guards were stricter than before. The Professor, pulling out holy relics, was a bit flustered by the changed reception. Decided just this afternoon, yet even holy knights unaware of his envoy status recognized him instantly—his features had spread thoroughly among church folk.
"The elven forest.... You don't mean you're going to persuade those pointy-ears?"
"Well, yeah."
"Good lord.... I heard via message magic, but to think a human must beg even those half-formed fallen subrace...."
"Ratura, Light be with us! Horrifying. We can't comprehend, but it's the archbishop's word, so a divine will beyond our sight. We must trust and obey."
"The road is long and perilous, so take plenty. Come in! The supply depot is this way."
The two holy knights at the gate swiftly stepped aside, guiding the group. They professed obedience to the archbishop, but clearly doubted sending an envoy to subraces, badmouthing elves nonstop.
"Just so you know, don't trust their words! Pointy-ears are vile and vicious by nature, incapable of truth!"
"The priests say their long lives are because Roharam despises their sight, forcing them to linger on earth away from His side. Please don't suffer at those wicked elves' hands—return safe. Beasts like them suit iron fists over gentle hands."
"Uh.... Got it. I'll keep that in mind."
"Remember! Subraces are all unfit to be— Mmph!"
"I get it! Go guard the gate! How long will you leave it empty? Dismissed.... before I report your sloth to Lord Gregorius myself!"
"Gasp! Not the captain!"
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
Clank clank clank clank!
Only after threats chased off the knights did they escape the uncomfortable chatter.
-Huuuuh.
Behind, Borca, lips tight, finally exhaled.
"Sorry, Borca. Must've been rough to hear."
"No need. Wandering human lands from the forest, I've heard it all too often."
"How not to mind? You clamped your mouth shut, barely breathing. You were pissed, right? That growl—holding back a roar?"
"......"
"I'll apologize for them. Not all humans are like that—don't hate us too much."
Step, step, step, step.
Borca closed his eyes, gazing at the church buildings aglow like daylight even at dusk.
"I know. If such exist, then humans like the chief, Aldric, Otman treat us as equals. I'm not disillusioned enough to hate all. Just...."
Eyes shut, vivid past flashed: his children, clad in animal hides he made, racing through green woods.
'Dalia, Tusan, Marca. Just stay alive.'
"No guarantee for my kids. From homeland to Lordric, then slavers to the west. Every human they met treated them like beasts. Depending on their state.... I might end up the same."
"Hey...."
"No comfort needed. Not the time or reason yet."
Seeing Borca swallow rage inwardly, the Professor was speechless.
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"Urgh—cha!"
"H-Hero! Calm down and hear me out! My judgment was poor! On second thought, with your light-filled power, the west journey might not be so hard...."
"Ehey, supply priest! What talk! Spreading the Light's will with even 1% chance of error? Don't worry about weight—I'm freakishly strong. Oh, this looks good too. [Holy oil-soaked rope].... Taking this?"
Rattle—
"Chief. More holy oil pouches here."
"Oho! Good eye, Borca! Grab 'em!"
"N-No! Please leave now! I beg you!"
Ten minutes after the Professor's group entered the church supply depot, the managing priest's face turned ashen by the minute. He'd inwardly invoked Roharam dozens of times. Why greet that mad hero smiling? Should've locked the door and called holy knights and monks!
Of course, ashen or shit-faced, Professor and Borca ignored the chasing priest, locust-like stripping the vast warehouse bare.
"Ah, hold on. What idiot made this depot so cluttered? Hiding good stuff deep inside. O? Haystack for horse feed has a chest?"
"Out! Out! You gonna bankrupt the church? You insatiable hero!"
"Whoa! Swinging that in a hay-filled spot...."
Whoosh!
"No! Fire in the church depot!"
"Thanks for the help! Say hi to the archbishop!"
"F-Fire! Fire! Fiiire!"
Finally, the frenzied priest's candlestick sparked the hay, flames spreading fast through dry stacks. The Professor coolly turned away.
"Alright, we've got plenty—let's go!"
"Leaving it like that?"
"No worry. This is the Church of Luminance HQ. A little fire like that? Out in seconds. Real valuables won't burn easy."
"....Sure? Flames look fierce...."
"If they can't handle this, war's off the table."
"Right you are, chief. That depot manager needs to value goods more."
Borca, stuffing his massive Tobrunn bag to bursting, looked relieved. Church stress? Vanished—fresh-faced, he eagerly joined the 'supply run.'
"Yeah. Swinging a candlestick in a valuable warehouse. That's why it happens."
"Hmm.... [Aqua Orb], [Aqua Orb], [Aqua Orb]. This'll do."
"Old man! Hurry! We'll get caught!"
"Otman, aren't we the Hero's party here to 'request' supplies?"
"Beats me, Aldric. Since Pellas, when he buried me in the woods and ditched, I gave up understanding him.... [Aqua Orb]."
Confirming the final orb doused the flames, Otman averted his eyes from the priest's despairing gaze through the broken gate. Far off, the Professor leaped the wall carrying a cart overflowing, strapped tight atop. Otman sighed deeply.
"Light! Why! What sin merits this trial from Youuuu—!"
Behind, the priest knelt amid smoke, wailing prayers.
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- Speed Wagon: Can't even comment. Lunatic.
- Jokasss: Boldly, a true wastelander's deed.
- Heung An Mandu: Nah, Professor did nothing wrong? Supply priest said himself 'Oh! For the Hero's mission, take as much as needed! Money's no object for Roharam's work! That's why the church exists!' That nuked whatever conscience Professor had left. All his fault.
- Holy: Still.... there's common sense, right? Like, at a place giving free drinks with meals, people don't guzzle endlessly. My 'ancient morals' video lecture said so.
- Deer Drug Please: High schooler spewing dogshit from her mouth?
- Number Three: Free drinks? Order food, bring a drum, fill and go—why leave it?
- Nutria Pass: Yeah. Does Dome turn people retarded?
- Holy: You're mean!
- Whale is Coming: Apologizing instead. Survivors are all like this.
- Holy: Still.... Professor would understand! Right, Professor? You had reasons, yeah?
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"Heh heh heh.... Of course.... Vast as the sea, deep intent in stripping—er, receiving support from that depot, right, folks...."
The Professor ignored raging opinions. Before him glittered a cart heaped with church supplies.
[Items:
- Low priest holy-blessed wheat bread x 187: Stamina boost (small) on consumption / Non-perishable
- Halmanen Strauss fish x 40: Rare species from select regions. Famous for scales' bright glow; skin used in ornaments, also church offering to Roharam. Vision boost (15m / 30min) on consumption.
- Holy oil of Luminance x 50: Church holy oil emitting bright light.
- Supreme charcoal x 83
- Holy oil-soaked rope (50m x 1cm): Church-made ultra-fine rope. Mostly for rituals, highly practical. Superior to tarred ship ropes; sometimes used as weapon.
- Handful of Light x 130: Thrown weapon. Small holy-infused glass vial by church. Sturdy, but press top hook to crack bottom for easy break. Shatters to emit brief intense holy light.
- Supreme camping gear set
- Premium fruit wine (700ml) x 15: Citrin, apirac, topom etc. sweet fruits with sunflower seeds (church symbol), aged 120+ days. Fit for gods, but fragile—value slightly down from shaking.
- Monk's gauntlets of great miracles: For issues faith alone can't solve. Monks lament violating non-violence doctrine, train harder. Gauntlets born of wish to strike less, yet pack strong attack power.
- Martial arts skill book, Luminous Fist Strike: Church doctrine shuns violence for harmony; many monks feel guilt over training. Created by one believing 'punches faster than light unseen by Roharam.' Describes swift, lightning strikes for heavy hits. Learned on use.
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Slurp!
"Heh heh heh.... What's this worth? Church HQ depot! Every item's top-tier!"
Big intent, yeah. Huge payoff—that's the big intent!
No time for pursuit, he dashed out, rubbing relic on gate guards' foreheads for hasty pass beyond Kingsland. In deep dark woods, he spread loot, basking bank-robber bliss.
Item list endless—skimmed just yellow-glowing rares above common. More piled on cart, Borca's rage-filled bag too. More to find.
"Huff! Huff! Help carry!"
"Hm? Oh, sorry Otman, Aldric. Too far for mages to run?"
"Grok. I carried you. Both flopped like wet rags."
"Uweeeck!"
"Ghost geezer master. That's ectoplasm? Right?"
"Ugh.... Mad thief bastard.... So much needed? Could've taken moderately...."
As the group gathered in the woods, the Professor grinned ear to ear.
"Ah, if asked, I'd share, but wartime—they'd hoard anything useful beyond food and basics. Bet they'd demand endless procedures for one oil box. Depot priests are the church's strictest."
Take freely? Bull. From revealing Hero status and requesting supplies, the priest eyed like a warrior. Verbal? A week of haggling. So he went for it. Not my problem. Archbishop'll handle. Church has cash. And we needed it?
The Professor chuckled, fiddling a 'Handful of Light' from fancy box, cotton-wrapped tenderly. Regardless, essential for Blue Line crossing. This many? Stroll through undead hordes.
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