……This Actually Works.

……This actually works.

It was an utterly brutish method. Cloak yourself in holy power, beat the crap out of your target, then toss a single word at the bewildered victim—"Purified"—and done. It was the epitome of extralegal, extrapowerful overreach. Sure, divine and royal authority were supposed to be separate, but this was the kind of thing that could easily stir up trouble if anyone decided to make an issue of it. Even with the lord's request, it was dicey.

But Tiran showed zero concern, pressing on relentlessly—and astonishingly, her approach yielded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠results. Some in the Lord's Castle started retching, vomiting up Pain Eater corpses. That meant the curse and those maggot-like demon larvae had already infiltrated Rezina territory.

A few tried to flee in the chaos, but it was futile. No one could escape Tiran, and the priests and temple knights of the Roona Temple had already sealed off the entire village, standing watch like a fence.

What if even the lord…?

The reckless purification rite continued all the way to the top of the Lord's Castle. Was she seriously about to deck the lord too? Vulcan felt a flicker of anticipation, but Tiran's handling of the lord was unexpectedly restrained.

"Purification."

Instead of punches, she showered him with holy power, invoking her purification skill.

Wait, then why the beatdowns downstairs…?

Vulcan stared in bewilderment, but Tiran reacted as if it were the most natural thing.

"It'd be fine to treat me the same way."

"No, no. A steadfast knight like you, my lord, needs no such thing. It is the will of Roona."

She explained that someone like the lord, whose body was honed to its limits, didn't require physical blows. After all, one of Roona's core doctrines held that a robust physique housed an upright mind and unshakeable faith.

The lord nodded in agreement, and proper discussions began. They shared all the intel on the incident with Tiran.

"If you'll permit, I'd like to join you."

"Oh, you would?"

"Yes. We can't sit idle when heretics colluding with evil forces might pull who-knows-what. My temple wishes to dispatch personnel to join your investigation team."

Tiran promptly declared she'd join the probe herself. It wasn't a full-blown investigation team, really—just a plan to ambush the rendezvous time noted in the goblins' scheme—so the lord welcomed her eagerly.

"Um, then… can I…?"

Vulcan, who'd hung back listening, tried to slip in. It was a main scenario quest, after all; diving deep would pay off big-time.

"No, that won't do."

"Pardon?"

He was shot down cleanly.

"For one, I'm not convinced you'd be useful. And frankly, I don't fully trust you yet. Your translation hasn't been verified, and if you fed us false info on purpose, we can't rule out ulterior motives. I can't risk having you tag along. So, I request you stay here until the investigation concludes."

The lord flat-out said he didn't trust Vulcan. If Vulcan had hidden agendas, he might act suspiciously or bolt while ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠embedded in the team. Better to lock him down.

"Stay here… you mean imprisoned?"

"Precisely."

Vulcan's face hardened. It wasn't wrong. Once his innocence was proven, he'd be freed with extra rewards, sure—but confinement chafed. Levels to grind, cash to make in that time.

"I'll vouch for him."

"Vouch? For his safety?"

"Yes. He's passed our temple's trials and received the gods' blessing—we confirmed it. No reason not to trust him. His combat prowess may be lacking, but as the first to uncover this, he could prove useful. Bringing him along wouldn't hurt."

"……?"

Tiran stepped up, guaranteeing Vulcan's credentials. If anything went south, it'd burn her—and the whole Roona Temple.

"Hm. Very well, then. Prepare yourselves. We depart in five hours."

Again?

Thanks to her, the main scenario quest shifted once more. The lord grumbled but couldn't keep objecting. Distrusting someone vouched for by the temple would slight the temple itself—and as a High Temple Knight, Tiran spoke for it.

"You're dismissed. I have matters to attend."

With Tiran joining, other variables seemed unlikely. Her power could handle any trouble, and even the knights on-site outleveled Vulcan enough to subdue him.

The lord relented, ordering them to prep by departure and ushering them out with a guest dismissal.

"Thank you for the help."

"No need. No one can mistreat one acknowledged by Roona. And though time was short, take this."

Exiting the audience chamber, Vulcan thanked Tiran first. He could've grinded crafting during lockup, but this let him dive deeper into the main scenario.

Tiran brushed it off as obvious, even handing over the temple's insignia, the Divine Mark.

A Roona Temple hallmark: just keeping it in your inventory boosted physical stats. As Rare-grade, the gains were solid—and the holy effect amp would shine in future parties.

"See you in five hours."

She delivered that and hurried off. As High Temple Knight, she had plenty to do: report to the temple, assemble her team for the investigation. Regon Village wasn't far, but prep was needed.

Traveling with my beloved—how nice. Kekekeke!

"……Knock it off."

Tud teased the now-alone Vulcan, but the haul was worth it. Now, kill the five hours till the team readied.

Level grind? Or…

Basic prep was done, and tagging with knights, soldiers, and temple folk meant no extra gear needed. Simplest: hunt nearby.

The lord was right—he was still weak. Most productive option, but Vulcan felt uneasy.

Main scenario quests don't go quietly.

This was the main scenario. Just tag along uneventfully? No incidents, straight to the next quest? Possible, but unlikely. His experience: these quests were grandiose, turbulent affairs. At higher tiers, they reshaped the continent. Made sense.

"Guess it boils down to item power after all."

Finally getting it. A bit of gear makes you top dog same-level, full gear transcends tiers.

To weather the storm and contribute, he needed a spec boost now. Leveling helped, but wasn't enough. Vulcan resolved to amp his gear.

He'd slapped on old equipment, but it was half-assed—no real setup.

"Accessories first, for immediate use…."

Prime slots first. Sword and armor from his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stash would hold till level 100, but accessories were empty.

He wore the goblin warrior's necklace, but rings and earrings? Nada. Other gear gave attack/defense despite level locks via Item Master, but option-less accessories were worthless.

"Huh… wait a sec?"

A thought struck. The Roona Temple ignored gear options, right? Accessories too—maybe ignore some equip restrictions?

Likely level locks. Test with no-level-restriction pieces?

"Damn. Way too pricey."

Scouring auction house, Vulcan quit fast. Accessories cost a fortune. Low-level trash fit his budget but had garbage options—not worth forcing.

Instead, he bought materials.

"No choice. Craft my own."

Not pro enough for fancy gear, but from his carriage-ride recipe list, solid ring/earring recipes beckoned. Plus, remake the goblin champion's longsword he'd been forced to surrender. Bulk craft now—cheaper than buying, math checked out.

Not guaranteed, but I can aim for desired options.

Plus, recipes skewed toward wanted options. Win-win.

Back from material shopping, Vulcan hit the Lord's Castle forge.

Hold up! You didn't forget our deal, right?

First, chocolate bread for Tud—as promised. Beginner-area village, slim chocolate ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠picks.

Hmm. Tasty enough, but bolder flavor next time. Plenty of chocolate left?

Just bread lightly coated—Tud griped but seemed pleased with the novelty.

"……That's your 30th. No, 31st."

Shoving in another chocolate bread.

"Whew, let's get started."

The Lord's Castle forge, run by his personal smith, had decent gear. Low-grade, sure, but better heat and buffs than portable junk. Free during team prep? No-brainer.

4.5 hours left. Knew the crafting ropes now; with Dragon Eye, plenty of time.

Vulcan grabbed the hammer, no hesitation. Recalling his marked recipes, he began crafting one by one.