Chapter 46
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Timid Genius
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Yuhyeon headed straight for the Temple of Lutetia.
So this is the temple...
Yuhyeons eyes widened as he looked up at the temple.
It was so massive he had to crane his neck for a long time just to see the top.
Its enormous.
The exterior was adorned with colossal stone statues of the gods.
The main gate, engraved with a golden crest, shimmered with a spectrum of colors as it caught the light.
Wow...
Yuhyeons jaw dropped as he stepped inside the temple.
Massive tapestries hung on every wall, the altars were crafted from pure silver and gold, and the floors were covered in delicate mosaic tiles.
Crystal chandeliers cast a faint glow, mystically illuminating everything within.
It was a building that embodied both grandeur and piety.
The main reason players visit the temple is for holy water, right?
In Wonderland, players primarily visited the temple to purchase holy water and blessings.
Buying holy water to preserve equipment durability and prevent it from breaking, or receiving a blessing buff from a priest, were crucial preparations for battle.
There were also additional benefits based on the insignias rank.
The daily purchase limit for holy water increased from three for the normal rank to a maximum of ten, and you could even receive a blessing from a high priest if needed.
Furthermore, depending on the rank, you could hire a temple-affiliated knight as your mercenary.
As you progressed to higher-level content, undead monsters became more common, making holy attributes from holy water, blessings, and knights increasingly important.
As such, it had become common practice for players to invest significant time into raising their insignias rank.
For these reasons, the temple always echoed with the grumbles of players.
Hey, Father, I've got five pieces of gear equipped. What am I supposed to do if you only sell me three vials of holy water?
With a Normal-rank insignia, you can only purchase a maximum of three.
Shouldn't you sell five, just as a matter of common sense?
I repeat, the maximum for Normal rank is three.
Agh, this is driving me crazy!
There were players who couldn't buy as much holy water as they wanted due to their low rank.
I heard I could hire a knight.
Pardon me, but what is your insignias rank?
Normal.
I'm sorry, but knight dispatch is only available from Silver rank and above.
I can't hire one even if I pay?
Correct. They cannot be hired with money in the first place.
What the...
There were also players with bulging wallets who couldn't hire a knight because of their low insignia rank.
Would you like to sing a hymn for the Goddess?
Of course.
Please repeat after me. Glory to the Goddess in the highest
Glory!!
And there were players desperately completing achievement quests to raise their insignia rank.
Our Goddess, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come...
...hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come...
It was a bizarre scene, making it hard to tell if they were playing a game or attending an actual religious service.
The quests mainly consisted of raising one's reputation with the temple, so players, without exception, had to memorize prayers and hymns.
This applied to high-level and low-level players alike; even the number one ranker was no exception.
It was a well-known fact that even 'Yuryeong (Ghost),' the number one ranker, had sung hymns in the temple.
And for a very long time at thathalf a year!
Now, where should I go?
This was the place Yuhyeon had arrived at.
Holding the Gold-rank insignia that the number one ranker, 'Yuryeong,' had obtained after half a year of toil.
The knight dispatch seems to be over there...
Just as he spotted the knight order stationed inside and started to head over.
Excuse me, may I see some identification?
An intermediate priest approached and stopped Yuhyeon in his tracks.
Identification?
Yes, do you have a believer's insignia?
The priest sized Yuhyeon up and thought to himself.
I wonder if he even knows what a believer's insignia is.
Yuhyeons appearance screamed 'newbie' to anyone who looked.
A plain-looking bastard sword, a recorder at his hip, and a beginner's tunic for both top and bottom.
While he had a rather refined air about him, his gear marked him as a complete beginner.
Will this do?
But when he saw the believer's insignia Yuhyeon handed him.
G-Gold?
The intermediate priest's eyes widened like saucers.
A Gold-rank insignia?
The ranks most commonly seen in the temple were Normal and Silver.
The majority of players who hadn't grinded for reputation had Normal-rank insignias.
Even Silver, despite its name, was a precious item that required at least two months of investment to obtain.
Isn't this the first time I've seen a Gold rank here...?
To get a Gold insignia, one had to either spend nearly half a year in the temple or receive a recommendation from a village elder.
Between the two, the latter was by far the more difficult path.
He must have received an elder's recommendation, which is granted only once in a lifetime.
An insignia obtained through an elder's recommendation was the same rank as one earned by grinding reputation, but the treatment one received was entirely different.
It meant one was recommended by someone who had devoted their entire life to the gods, and thus deserved commensurate respect.
In short, it meant they were a distinguished guest.
Tiring!
This insignia was recommended by Elder Germano.
Upon discovering Germano's signature of recommendation on Yuhyeon's insignia.
My apologies for not recognizing a distinguished guest. What brings you to our temple?
The intermediate priest instantly adopted a respectful tone.
If you require holy water, up to ten vials will be provided free of charge. Likewise, you can also receive a blessing from a high priest for free.
His treatment shifted from that of a common stranger to one befitting a distinguished guest recommended by an elder, one of the highest-ranking priests.
Because of this, the eyes of nearby players were drawn to Yuhyeon.
What the? They told me I could only get three vials of holy water.
They said knight dispatch isn't for just anyone, so why only him...
He looked like a total beginner, yet he was being offered free holy water and blessings they couldn't get.
I'm fine on holy water and blessings. I'm here to find a knight.
You wish to dispatch a knight. I will guide you there.
He was even offered a 'personal' escort to the knight dispatch area, a privilege ordinary players could only dream of.
But when the players saw the insignia Yuhyeon held, their eyes began to fill with astonishment.
I-I-Is that a Gold-rank insignia?!
Holy crap! This is the first time I've ever seen one in person!
Is he a Unique-or-higher class in the priest line? How else could he have gotten a Gold rank?
The reaction was explosive.
Well then, shall we go?
Thank you.
For Yuhyeon with his Gold rank, this was all a matter of course.
This way, please.
Following the intermediate priest's guidance, they arrived at the knight order located within the temple.
Some knights, having apparently finished their training, were removing their helmets and armor for personal maintenance, while others remained in the training yard, still practicing.
With a Gold insignia, the highest rank of knight we can offer is Intermediate. Is there a specific knight you wish to dispatch?
No, this is my first visit.
Then you may look them over and point out the one you desire.
The intermediate priest continued his explanation.
Since this is your first time, I should explain this part in advance. Knight dispatch can only be done using Contribution Points. Are you aware of this?
Contribution Points, you say?
We only consider how much you have contributed to the temple. If your contribution is high, you can even receive the aid of the Knight Commander. Conversely, if it's low, it will be difficult to even get help from an apprentice knight.
Yuhyeon's eyes narrowed as he listened to the explanation.
...Contribution Points. Was there such a thing?
He had encountered an unexpected hurdle.
Since this was his first time visiting the temple, it was impossible for him to have any Contribution Points.
An unintentional crisis had befallen Yuhyeon, who had planned to solve things with money.
You need not worry so much. You should have an initial amount of Contribution Points from receiving the Gold insignia.
The intermediate priest's explanation continued.
The Contribution Points earned by completing temple quests to obtain a Gold-rank insignia were roughly around 100.
While there was a margin of error depending on the quest's content, the average was between 100 and 150.
Yuhyeon then checked his insignia to see his Contribution Points.
It says 500 here.
500...
The intermediate priest murmured softly.
But as he mulled over the answer, his eyes widened.
...F-Five hundred, you say?
It was a number that far exceeded the range obtainable through normal quests.
It was even three times higher than the average Gold-rank player.
In other words, it was a level of contribution that could only be earned by making a very significant contribution to the temple.
I-If you don't mind my asking, may I inquire as to what you did in your previous town?
Hmm.
Yuhyeon smiled faintly and said.
I assisted with a ritual ceremony for the Goddess Cecilia.
...!!
A ritual for the Goddess. He had definitely heard of it.
There had been an incident in a nearby town where a ritual was performed, causing the Goddess Cecilia to manifest in the world.
I thought the elder's name sounded familiar...
He was only now starting to remember the name Germano.
It was the name of one who had devoted himself to the gods for over 50 years in the village of Hemona.
I-I'm in the presence of someone truly incredible.
The intermediate priest's perception of Yuhyeon changed in real-time.
From a distinguished guest to someone on par with Lutetia's highest priest, the Elder.
At the same time, he adopted a manner of treatment befitting an Elder.
I must assist him to the best of my ability.
And so, the priest's explanation resumed.
There are two main ways to use Contribution Points.
It was a special explanation, one not given to other players, meant only for Yuhyeon.
I've heard there is a Contribution Shop for outsiders. Would you like to take a look?
Yes, I'll look for it.
Yuhyeon opened his interface window to browse.
Settings, Guide, Cash Shop... Among the numerous categories, he found and clicked 'Contribution Shop.'
Tiring!
Contribution Shop
Current Usable Contribution: 500
PurchaseRental List
1. Lutetia Holy Knight Order's Equipment Rental (1 day) - 100 Points
2. Hymn for the Goddess (Sheet Music) - 200 Points
.
.
.
A large shop then unfolded before his eyes.
There are a ton of items you can buy with Contribution Points?
From hymn sheet music to equipment enchanted with the holy attribute for fighting the undead.
The list of items for sale, reminiscent of an auction house, made Yuhyeon's eyes widen.
It seems you've found it. There, you can use Contribution Points to purchase equipment and items imbued with mystical power. There's even a special elixir that fully restores your health the moment you drink it. Of course, that would require an immense amount of contribution.
The priest's explanation continued.
And the second method is knight dispatch. Since there's no one better than a holy knight for taking down undead-type monsters, they've become very popular among the outsiders recently.
He spoke with pride, as if boasting about Lutetia's Holy Knight Order.
The Lutetia Holy Knight Order is no different. It's a system where one must complete at least 10 years of training to advance from apprentice to intermediate! You could say they are the finest knights, forged through systematic training.
The priest gestured towards the training yard and exclaimed.
Allow me to introduce them one by one. The knight polishing his sword over there is Apprentice Knight Fern. He joined at the age of ten and is famous for having slain a bear.
Tiring!
Apprentice Knight Fern (Requires 300 Contribution)
Current Talents: Toughness (D), Fortitude (D), Lutetian Swordsmanship (C)
Description: An apprentice knight distinguished by his toughness and fortitude. His unyielding spirit is sure to help you escape from crises.
With his gesture, the knight's status window appeared before Yuhyeon.
Oh, so it's like this.
It felt like looking at a character on a fighting game's selection screen.
Next is Apprentice Knight Eddie. A knight distinguished by his agile body and keen eye. He is skilled at lighting the way and has a knack for exploration.
Tiring!
Apprentice Knight Eddie (Requires 300 Contribution)
Current Talents: Agility (C), Keen Eye (C), Lutetian Swordsmanship (D)
The priest's introductions continued.
Next is Apprentice Knight Fire. He has good dexterity and a wise mind...
The one over there is Apprentice Knight Norton...
Yuhyeon's eyes narrowed as he listened.
Overall, there are a lot of C and D ranks.
The average stats of the knights he introduced hovered between C and D.
He had no sense of how impressive a D-rank talent was at the moment.
In this situation, he had to spend 300 Contribution Points, but he didn't know who to choose.
It was then.
Well, next up.
The intermediate priest walked up to a knight and announced to his face.
This here is Intermediate Knight Perlman! The alpha and omega of the Lutetia Holy Knight Order! He is currently the knight closest to becoming the Knight Commander.
Tiring!
Intermediate Knight Perlman (Requires 500 Contribution)
Current Talents: Lutetian Swordsmanship (B), Fortitude (B), Toughness (B), Agility (C)
Oh.
The most talented knight he had seen so far had appeared.
He was an outstanding knight who maintained B-rank in everything except for his C-rank Agility.
However...
Tiring!
Personality Traits: Arrogance (A), Controllability (F)
Description: A knight who only ever ranked first during his 10 years as a trainee. A true elite knight. However, his unique temperament and stubbornness make him difficult to control. Powerful charisma will be needed to handle him.
Perlman was a man with a difficult personality that contrasted with his powerful talents.
Perlman then looked at Yuhyeon and said boastfully.
The name's Perlman. I'm also the most outstanding of the intermediate knights in the Lutetia Holy Knight Order.
He'd just declared himself "the most outstanding" with his own mouth.
Wouldn't it be a waste to spend your precious Contribution Points on a less capable knight? Please, take me with you.
...Hmm, haha. You're a strong-willed one.
Yuhyeon was about to reply but stopped himself.
This type is difficult to deal with.
It was obvious at a glance that this man named Perlman had a personality that wouldn't mesh with his.
I need to hunt an elite monster, not a normal one... A personality like this is too much of a risk.
No matter how skilled he was, it would be meaningless if they couldn't work together.
This wasn't solo play; it was clearly 'party' play.
The description explicitly stated he was uncontrollable, making the risk too great.
Just hearing you say that is reassuring. Would it be alright if I took a look around first?
Haha, of course. Once you look around, you'll want to take me even more.
Perlman thumped his chest plate, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Yuhyeon simply offered him a silent smile.
The one sharpening his sword over there is Apprentice Knight Sent...
After the introduction to Perlman, the priest's explanations continued.
He had just been introduced to about twenty knights after a tour of the training yard.
Except for that knight Perlman, everyone's abilities are more or less the same.
Unfortunately, besides Perlman, there were only knights whose skills hovered around D-rank.
Just as he was thinking it might be better to just pick Perlman and find a way to control him.
We're already at the last one. The knight over there... hmm, I'm not sure if I should even bother with an explanation. It's certain he won't be dispatched anyway.
The priest's introduction was different from the others.
Pardon? What do you mean he won't be dispatched?
Hmm, he's a knight currently undergoing rehabilitation for severe trauma. His talent, however, is said to be the best among all the knights here. Enough to surpass Perlman.
Talent that surpasses Perlman? Yuhyeon's eyes sparkled.
Could you at least introduce him?
Of course, an introduction is no trouble. His training seems to be over, so let's go and greet him in person.
The priest walked over to the knight first and whispered something to him.
As if to inform him of the current situation in advance.
When they were ready.
This is Intermediate Knight Cedric.
Ah, h-hello. My name is Cedric.
Cedric replied quietly, his eyes looking hollow.
Hello, Sir Cedric.
Yes... by the way, what brings you to me...?
He spoke with a lost look in his eyes.
His dispirited attitude was draining to hear even in a single sentence.
Yuhyeon's eyes narrowed as he looked at Cedric.
This is the man with the greatest talent, surpassing even Perlman...?
Just as Yuhyeon was thinking this to himself.
As for Knight Cedric, he is the youngest son of the Belvern family, a renowned house of swordsmanship...
Y-You don't have to introduce me like that.
Tiring!
Along with the priest's introduction, Cedric's status window appeared.
Huh...?
Yuhyeon's eyes blinked as he stared at the status window.
And for good reason...
Tiring!
Intermediate Knight Cedric (Requires 100 Contribution)
Current Talents: Sword Prodigy (S), Secret Swordsmanship of the Belvern Family (A), Genius's Aptitude (A)...
A veritable feast of talents poured out.
S-rank...?
Not only did he possess an S-rank talent, but all his other talents were top-tier, hovering at A-rank.
He was literally on a different level from the other knights, a remarkable individual who surpassed even Perlman.
And that wasn't even the end of it.
Tiring!
Personality Traits: Timid (S) - When facing a stronger opponent, becomes paralyzed with extreme fear, reducing abilities by 90.
Description: Cedric of the Belvern family is a tragic figure who, despite possessing talent befitting a genius, is unable to display his abilities due to his timid nature.
The appearance of a tremendous personality trait that reduced his abilities by 90 when fear was triggered.
What kind of personality is this...
It was the moment he encountered a knight with the greatest talent and the greatest debuff of all time.