Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Maru's Homecoming
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The dawn landscape was serene.
Those who had fallen asleep rose silently to begin a new day.
The Sail Kingdom, too, slowly opened its eyes, preparing to greet the morning.
Amid the quiet, one group moved with purpose.
"Alright, everyone, listen up."
It was the Holy Knights of the White Church.
Liana, who commanded the Holy Knights, spoke first.
"Our goal is to gather information. Under no circumstances must our identities be exposed during this."
As she said, they didn't look like Holy Knights at all right now.
They had infiltrated the Sail Kingdom while concealing their identities.
In fact, they had gone to great lengths to hide them through their attire.
They wore leather armor instead of ornate white plate.
They carried ordinary swords instead of the church blades that punished all evil.
Anyone who saw them would think they were just average adventurers—never church affiliates.
"If anyone gets caught, I won't forgive you."
The church's delegation would arrive in the kingdom soon.
And their visit to the Sail Kingdom was anything but friendly.
They were here to investigate the disappearances of priests and Holy Knights.
But that wasn't enough for the White Church—they had sent an advance team ahead.
Secretly, of course.
As this covert vanguard, they had every reason to be paranoid about exposure.
If revealed, diplomatic fallout would be the least of it; above all, they'd lose any pretext against the Sail Kingdom.
Pretext.
That was the true purpose of this advance team.
"If there's no information, make some and bring it back."
Liana was well-informed on church matters.
As acting vice-commander of the Holy Knights and the commander's lieutenant, she had access.
The church planned to use this incident to tighten control over the Sail Kingdom.
And ruling the kingdom was just a stepping stone to their ultimate goal: advancing into the Demon Realm.
This wasn't merely about hiding and collecting intel.
It was about finding—or fabricating—pretext.
And creating that pretext was no great feat.
Everything was breaking in the church's favor.
Disappearances of church personnel.
First, Priest Yuel and his Holy Knight escorts vanished.
Second, twenty Holy Knights disappeared on a mission.
Coincidentally, all had lost contact while en route to the Sail Kingdom.
"We'll focus first on investigating Priest Yuel and his Holy Knight comrades' disappearances. Don't miss a single clue."
Even no intel was fine.
Even if it proved unrelated to the Sail Kingdom, it didn't matter.
From the church's view, they could just push forward.
The priests and Holy Knights had vanished—no one could deny that.
If we find evidence, even better.
With proof, they could brand the Sail Kingdom a heretical nation defying the goddess.
That would give the church leverage externally.
Under the banner of purification, they could deploy more Heretic Inquisitors.
In the end, truth be damned—the kingdom would crumble before the church's authority.
It was a play with a scripted ending.
Clap—
"Now, move out."
Liana clapped, and the group sprang into action.
As everyone dispersed, she remained alone.
"Berter Leobain..."
Berter Leobain, vice-commander of the Holy Knights.
An outsider, sure, but no slouch in skill.
Quite decent, actually.
Yet he had suddenly vanished.
"What happened?"
And that wasn't all.
Starting with Priest Yuel, Holy Knights were disappearing.
There might be something in the Sail Kingdom after all.
She felt the truth would surface soon.
The Holy Knights moved swiftly.
They headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild.
The local branch wasn't far in the Sail Kingdom.
Not everyone went, though.
Only three Holy Knights headed there.
They had to hide their identities.
A large group would draw eyes, so they split into small teams.
"This the place?"
Holy Knight Kairen eyed the guild building.
One thing struck him as off: it was deserted.
No, empty to the point of eerie.
What the hell?
Guilds were usually packed.
Even Holy Knights knew that from dispatches to other regions.
Kairen shook his head and pushed open the door.
The interior was just as barren.
Quest boards that should brim with postings were blank.
Tables and chairs where adventurers bantered were vacant.
Everything was deathly still.
"Hm."
His comrade beside him hummed, scanning around in equal confusion.
At least there was one guild staffer—a woman.
Kairen's group approached her.
He pulled an item from his pocket.
A gold badge.
"Adventurer Kairen."
"A g-gold badge?"
As expected, the woman looked shocked.
"S-sorry! I'm Rally, the receptionist at the Sail Kingdom branch."
She introduced herself as the guide.
"Rally it is, then. We're looking for quests—anything good?"
Kairen kept it casual.
He'd wanted to chat with adventurers for kingdom intel, but no dice.
Plan B.
"Ah, sorry, but there are no active quests right now."
The receptionist bowed apologetically.
No quests at all?
The empty board had been suspicious...
Kairen was thrown.
And why was the guild in this state?
But rushing the point screamed amateur.
He fished out a gold coin and his fake ID.
Nothing disarmed like gold.
"We're from Adonil Kingdom. No quests? That's a shame."
"From Adonil...? You came a long way."
Rally pocketed the coin quick.
Gold badge holders were generous, huh?
Her favor shot up.
She checked the ID.
Adonil Kingdom native, legit.
Adonil bordered the church at the far south.
Coming this far north—short of the Demon Realm—took serious time.
Should I even take this?
Rally felt a twinge of guilt.
"Really sorry. The mountains are under lockdown—no quests, no entry."
Most quests in Sail Kingdom came via the mountains.
And it had one unique draw for adventurers: the Demon Realm.
Beyond those vast peaks lay the Demon Realm.
The entrance was low-risk, but the guild strictly controlled access.
Silver badges and up got temporary Demon Realm entry.
But now the mountains were sealed.
Quests from mountains or Demon Realm dried up.
Adventurer traffic halted overnight.
This would last until the royals lifted the ban.
Kairen perked up at Rally's mountain lockdown mention.
"Lockdown?"
"Yes, royals ordered it—no related quests, no entry at all."
"Why? What's the royal family playing at?"
Why ban mountain access?
Kairen needed answers.
But Rally, as receptionist, didn't know details.
Royals say ban, guild obeys—no more to it.
Kairen's brow furrowed as Rally claimed ignorance.
Why?
No incident or disaster from the sound of it.
High-grade monster? They'd send a subjugation force, not lock it down.
Yet suddenly, out of nowhere, the royals banned entry.
No one knew why.
Kairen met his comrades' eyes and nodded slightly.
The situation reeked.
Something's up.
Why lock the mountains?
Where did the priests and Holy Knights go?
Those questions didn't feel separate.
But proof was impossible now.
Mountains were off-limits.
Reveal church ties for entry? Blows the cover.
Regrettable, but pull back.
As the disguised Holy Knights turned to leave—
Someone emerged from the back office.
"Ah, Branch Chief."
Kairen turned at Rally's words.
The branch chief approached her, murmuring.
"Rally, just got word from the Sail Kingdom Defense Bureau..."
Minding the outsiders, his voice dropped.
Inaudible.
Defense Bureau?
But Rally's expression told the tale.
The longer they talked, the brighter she got.
Soon, the chief retreated inside.
Rally beamed.
"Oh! Kairen, good news!"
Good news?
Kairen waited.
"The kingdom just lifted the mountain lockdown! Talk about lucky!"
Her face lit with unbridled joy.
Maru's departure loomed.
"Maru, come back as fast as you can."
This was sincere.
Short as the four hours were, Coco was never touching dishes again.
Maybe rethink delegating chores altogether.
Who knew skeletons had gacha too...
Everyone like Maru? Big mistake.
Maru was the exception.
This might take longer.
"Oh, and deliver my message exactly. Got it?"
Maru nodded.
System-locked from Eldorado Continent travel.
So, proxy via Maru.
Dungeons, mechanisms, units—he'd set them up.
More intuitive than smartphone control, better intent relay.
Trained Maru specially for it.
Time up.
I summoned Maru to Eldorado.
Smartphone flared, swallowing him.
Light gone, Maru vanished.
A dim cave stretched before Maru.
Clack.
Home sweet home.
Maru stepped down from the altar.
Straight to Celia.
Maru realized.
Earth had the great master.
Here, the overseer.
"Clack clack!"
Celia passed by, eyes meeting Maru's.
"Ah, Mr. Maru, you're back."
Maru.
Learned the name from the Arch-Lich notebook, master's aide.
Met once on Earth—too brief.
For Celia, the regret was less time with master.
Now Maru came directly.
"This way. I've been waiting."
She invited him to her office.
Maru ranked lower.
But position differed.
Maru aided the supreme master directly—like a lieutenant.
Enviable.
She longed to go too, but couldn't.
Shifted gears.
Summon master here pronto.
Needed prep.
Maru's help key.
"Well, Mr. Maru."
Celia's expression turned serious.
"What does master like?"
Maru pondered her question.
What was the point?
Earth culture sharpened his thinking.
What master liked.
One thing.
"Clack."
(Handmade cooking)
Master denied it, but always enjoyed it—devoured Maru's ramen.
What did that mean?
Master's mercy, sparing subordinates toil.
"Indeed! Handmade it is. Got it."
Celia listened intently.
"Then, what's master's recent interest?"
Second question—Maru delved deep.
Recent focus...
One clicked.
Maru's kin: Skeleton Black Knight.
Body pitch-black.
Master tweaked him—black lightened.
Holy aura stirred within.
All master's power.
But master said:
—Pity. More holy power would've been nice.
Maru nodded.
Earth media honed his interpretation.
Holy power: Holy Knights and priests.
"More holy power" meant needing them.
"Clack clack clack!"
(Big interest in Holy Knights and priests)
"Perfect!"
Celia lit up.
Interest in Holy Knights and priests?
One meaning: Offer them as sacrifices.
"Knew I was right to ask!"
A smile bloomed on Celia's face.