Heretic Saintess, Forbidden Nun (4)
“Retreat.”
“...Pardon?”
“Huh?”
It was incredibly hard to spit out even that one word. But I had to. I'd always believed my judgment decided the hero party's fate, and even now, I thought moving our feet was better than dawdling here any longer.
“Move.”
“W-wait a sec, Boss. You mean retreat—like, get the hell out completely?”
“Yeah. Doesn't look like we can handle this on our own.”
“But...”
I knew. My guess might just be delusion, and even if it wasn't, hightailing it out without achieving anything wouldn't look good. Especially not in this situation, with nuns already inside and no telling what might happen if we left them be.
“We've done something amazing, sure. But taking on something this overwhelming with just the three of us? That's hubris. We didn't even come in prepared knowing what we know now. This isn't just about rescuing one kidnapped saintess anymore.”
“Boss.”
“Yeah.”
“Checking up to the fourth room from here... that's too much, right?”
Of course it was. I turned and bolted back the way we'd come. Soon, the clank of heavy plate followed behind me.
The convents were in chaos. Or more precisely, the convents were.
The combat unit dispatched from the Raella Temple Seilroom Branch hadn't returned, and now this unbelievable tale from a three-man hero party...
Such sentiments were voiced, but once the blackened necklaces and the rough map were presented, everyone folded like cheap suits. Not just directly involved groups like the Raella Temple, but even unrelated convents had gathered for an emergency council.
“According to Hendrick, it's a time-sensitive crisis. Our branch's combat unit is elite, but if they've prepared a scheme like that, they'll have far stronger forces ready. Hoping they handle it all is too complacent.”
“Agreed. Time wasted debating is time wasted—dispatch the heresy purge unit immediately.”
“Rush in without grasping their goals, and who knows what sacrifices we'll make.”
“So we just leave it? Those captured nuns... What if right now they're summoning that 'terror' they worship from the dungeon to the surface?”
“Watch your words!”
“Have you ever seen such cowards? Seilroom could be wiped out, spawning a second dungeon! If we dawdle any longer!”
“No word from Seilroom Castle?”
“Not yet...”
It was a mess. Pure chaos. These fundamentally good clergy weren't without their convictions. They knew how to listen, sure, but that didn't mean their views shifted easily. They had firm faiths of their own. Differing by patron deity, sometimes.
Bang! Bang!
“Silence---!!!”
Sestia, the meeting's host, bellowed. The woman who never raised her voice flushed red and shouted, instantly hushing the noisy hall.
“Reasons? Risks? Sorry, but we can't grasp it all from these seats. Until now, we thought it was just a nun kidnapping. If not for the HAT hero party.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Assemble elite forces and dispatch them now. Gather intel on-site and adapt.”
Sestia spread Hendrick's rough map wide and pointed to one spot.
“This shows only part, but there are probably six entrances. HAT entered one and spotted the pattern. Lucky for us.”
She marked the other five besides Hendrick's entry. Connecting them formed a perfect hexagon.
“Enter from all six simultaneously to smash the terror worshippers' plans thoroughly. We'll gather more intel and disrupt more at once. Per the hero party's testimony, at least up to mid-zone, enemies aren't that tough—so each convent's elites should break through easily.”
“And killing the fallen nuns guarding it? That's part of their plan, you said?”
“Assign personnel for that.”
“Then what?”
“Destroy each zone, converge at the center, and execute the culprits behind this.”
Heresy purge. Watching the convents—rooted in the city that bloomed from a terror-spawned dungeon—vow to demolish the worshippers' altar from the next room over, Hendrick felt a strange sensation.
“Pardon? Sister Sestia herself?”
“Yes. I can't stay put after rallying all the convents.”
With convent reps off assembling forces, Sestia visited. She bowed deeply to us—to me, specifically.
“Thank you so much for braving the danger to share vital intel.”
“Uh, sure.”
“Hendrick.”
“Yeah?”
“This time... will you accompany me?”
“...Pardon?”
My jaw dropped. Kaya and Shae's did too. What the hell was this woman saying?
“No, what are you—”
“It'll be tough. You've already achieved plenty. But... could you see it through with me? You're not walking Raella's path, but she seems to have taken an interest in you.”
“What does that—”
Just a few prayers and oaths overheard?
“Not empty words. The goddess mentioned you herself.”
No, Raella! We don't need that kind of attention!
“I have a feeling this op succeeds only with you and the sisters. And whereas before our convent prepared solo rewards, this time we'll represent Seilroom's convents. Sorry if it sounds like I'm baiting you with rewards—think of it as how desperate we are.”
Basically, come along and double-dip. A large-scale purge warranting two-plus sub-parties? Rewards go without saying. But...
This is gonna piss me off big time.
Barley six hours since escaping the dungeon alive, and here I was marching back into the tiger's den.
'Terror Nuns' were manageable, but stepping into that 'central' zone screamed boss monster.
I glanced subtly at Kaya and Shae. Retreat was my call given the circumstances, but now I needed their input.
“Sorry to Boss, but I think we must go. Even setting rewards aside, skipping this purge—win or lose—would burden my heart.”
“Plus safety shouldn't be an issue. Sister Sestia requested us personally? She's Seilroom's top Curing Vestal. Won't be like the dungeon's dire straits.”
And snag those rewards too. I eyed Sestia at Shae's near-certain words. She smiled awkwardly, embarrassed.
“Overpraise from Crusader Shae. But I won't be a liability.”
Modest words, but no denial. Basically admitting it.
Seilroom's top Curing Vestal? Game changer.
“One condition.”
“I'm listening.”
“While with my hero party, you're temporarily a member.”
“Yes. Consider it done.”
“Wait, you agree that easily without knowing what it means?”
“Command authority, right?”
“...Yes. Once inside, follow my orders.”
“Of course. I requested it, after all.”
She shouldered a small bag from the corner, ready to roll.
“Our branch sent its elites already—no extra nuns. I'm Raella Temple's sole dispatch. I'll work extra hard.”
Sestia, whom I'd pegged as hesitant, proved surprisingly decisive.
“Assembly's soon. We should head out.”
“...Yeah. Let's go.”
“Yes, Hendrick. Thanks again for this favor. Our convent and I won't forget HAT's grace.”
“Save the thanks for after we return.”
“Heehee. Take care of Kaya Sister and Crusader Shae too.”
Some six hours after crushing three Terror Nuns and fleeing, we re-entered Heresy and Taboo Between.
“We'll blitz to our prior entry point.”
“Hendrick.”
“Yes, Sestia.”
After Kaya and Shae's curt replies, I picked up the pace. Sestia chatted en route, so I responded.
“No need to formalize on my account. I'm temporarily in your hero party—speak freely. Easier for commands too.”
“...Got it. Sestia.”
“There you go, Hendrick.”
Odd feeling. Half-flirty big sis vibe—mid-30s at least, despite youthful looks. Not Kaya or Shae level, but a beauty, with a figure radiating 'compassion'...
Anyway, that weird vibe vanished with the new message.
• Warmth: Healing skill efficiency +10%
• Diligence: Speed +0.5
• Resolute: Slight crit chance increase
• Devoted: Self-healing effects -10%, others +10%
• Lucky: Better odds in rolls
• Lewd: Lustful
• Seductress: Male ally mentality gain +20%, female mentality loss +20%
• Masochist: Low chance to take ally attacks instead
...What the hell kind of nun is this woman?
Raella? Hello? Raella? What's the deal here?
Daughters too many to keep track?
Level 9 once, gear 6/6 again, five positive traits—three chest-expanding buffs total. Rock solid. Shae's 'Seilroom's top Curing Vestal' was no exaggeration. Even sans skills, those positives screamed top-tier build.
Shae was raw potential gemstone; Sestia was the fully cut, glittering jewel.
But those negatives below...
“Feeling ill, Hendrick?”
“N-no, nothing.”
“Heehee, you were casual just now.”
Femme fatale. Poisoned chalice.
The tiny spark of 'maybe recruit her like Shae' fizzled out before igniting.