episode_0199

197. Sacrifice (3)

At my suggestion that we should at least listen to each other’s story, the bishop bowed his head deeply once again.

“First of all, let me relieve the burden on Miss Sia.”

Bishop Carlos shouted to the priests he had brought when he saw Sia on the verge of spreading.

“Healing Priests!! Auxiliary Priests, hurry and heal the wounded!!!”

“Yes…! Bishop!!”

Priests carrying backpacks containing bandages and first aid supplies quickly approached the injured.

In the meantime, a priest with the power of vitality relieved Sia, who was exhausted.

“Cain…”

“You worked hard, Sia. Now get some rest.”

“Yeah…”

I stroked Sia’s head for a moment as she whined in my arms and left her in Lauren’s care.

“Paladins…! Join the ranks and stop the monsters…!”

“””””Yes!!!”””””

The knights wearing pure white armor immediately joined the battle line.

First of all, since the religious sect came here after cutting down the monsters, there weren’t many monsters.

A situation where you have some free time.

The eyes of my colleagues, including myself, are fixed on the bishop.

“But. You…..”

“This is Carlos. Bishop Carlos.”

“Yes, Bishop, let me tell you something.”

“First of all…”

He explained that he was only slightly concerned at first because the archbishop’s words and actions were typical of the radicals within the church, and he could not even discern any suspicious circumstances.

“About a week ago. He returned to the church when countless monsters were flooding in.”

It is said that the flood of demons has begun, and an archbishop who uses strange powers mixed with magic and divine power has invaded the church.

“He was killing members of the sect and getting excited, and he was planning to destroy the relics in the explorers and association that were mentioned as the next saint. So….”

Although there were rare priests who gained divine power as a protection, they were able to block it, but it is said that the divine power, which causes an explosive backlash when touched by magic, was halved in effect against the archbishop’s alien power, causing damage that was almost catastrophic.

“Thanks to the believers and priests who shielded us, we divided the personnel into those who would guard the relics and those who would guard the Shia sheep.”

And it is said that the personnel of Kalos came to our side to protect Sia, who is closest to the saint.

It is said that Sia was easy to detect thanks to her use of divine power.

“Meanwhile. I didn’t know that Miss Sia would receive the protection of the divine power… but I was lucky.”

“I guess so.”

Since I was still in the ‘I’ll listen’ position, no kind words came out of my mouth.

But the bishop laughed as if he was happy with that kind of attitude.

“I didn’t know you had this many people… but we brought quite a few.”

As Carlos turned and nodded, the porters at the back of the group approached.

Then, ten porters place wooden crates that look to be two or three times their size on the floor.

Boom-!! Kuuung!!

Click!

“and.”

Even I, who was looking at the podium crookedly, was impressed.

I thought it was just a simple item, but when I opened the box, it was a recovery potion that could only be made at the church.

That too, intermediate or advanced. There were more advanced potions in number.

When I explored the mentoring program with Tanya and Roy back in the day, I dipped one of my arms in slime to save Roy, and it almost melted in the acid solution, but it was instantly fixed with a bottle of intermediate healing potion, so what about advanced?

“It’s not enough, but it will help Miss Sia.”

“Thank you.”

I had to look at this crookedly and express my gratitude.

I can’t even imagine how long the monsters will keep pushing, and yet they’re giving me this kind of support.

From Sia alone tending to the wounded to the healing priests and paladins joining the battle.

It definitely helps.

“How many people did you bring?”

“80 people, excluding me. 10 porters, 30 healers, 20 assistant priests, and 20 paladins.”

Healing priests are priests who train in first aid techniques like doctors and have at least one of the following blessings: recovery, relief, and detoxification.

An assistant priest is said to be a priest who assists first aid and healing priests.

He looked at the bishop’s face for a moment as he explained everything, then turned his head to his colleagues.

“That’s what they say. What should I do?”

Everyone had different reactions.

The expressions on the faces of Kyle’s sub-party members and the people in the building next door looked like they had met a savior.

Our party members and Juri’s subordinates could not refuse their joining and just made faces.

While things were a little chaotic, I told people that I was accepting members of the church, and asked for their understanding for a moment.

“Mr. Kyle. Number 2 for a moment.”

“Huh? Huh…”

“Yes, Mr. Cain.”

I called Kyle and Number 2 and went into the lounge on the first floor of the dormitory used by Uncle Frank.

“Listen to the story and then decide.”

“What are you talking about?”

“First of all…”

Leaving other stories aside, I gave a rough outline of what happened in the city with a brief description of the anonymity.

The reason I brought in No. 2 and talked to him was because Kyle is a level 5 explorer and knows Juri well, so I brought him in to verify his trustworthiness.

“Ha… It sucks even more after hearing it.”

“That’s right.”

“Because of those kids, we….”

Thud-!!

Phagec!!

Sparks fly from Kyle’s body as he grinds his teeth.

“But Cain. You must have another intention for calling me out and talking to me about this, right?”

“Of course.”

“Tell me.”

Kyle asked me a question, smoothing back his hair, which was slightly sticking up from the static electricity.

“If we accept the religious forces first, our survival power and military power will increase by leaps and bounds.”

“That’s right.”

“First of all, let’s assume that our party members, Juri’s subordinates, and Kyle are all on the same boat.”

“What’s first?”

“Yes. Kyle is still close to the people who moved in with him from the dorm he was staying in, but they are not colleagues.”

“Uh.”

Even though we’ve crossed the line together and fought in the same party for about a week, our bond isn’t that deep yet.

“Instead, we will be closer than the new members.”

“Ah.”

Kyle exclaims in admiration, as if he understood my intentions.

“The last thirty people we received. The church told us to manage them, and Mr. Kyle, get to know the people who came over with you.”

“Are you telling me to keep the religious people in check?”

“Yes. Even if everyone in the building next door rushes in, it won’t be a big deal. The sect only has a large number of people, and the actual combat personnel are twenty paladins and a bishop… Well, the bishop might not be much of a deal, but just in case.”

Let’s assume that the members of the sect have a secret plan and are trying to trick everyone except our party and Juri’s subordinates into a confrontation.

Certainly, the level of the paladins, whose main job is to help the followers explore and level up, is high.

Level 4 is average.

60 people from the religious order, excluding the paladins, and 30 people who were instructed to stay in the building next door.

Since his fighting ability is almost non-existent, he can easily be dealt with by 40 of Juri’s subordinates.

And while there would be no problem if the bishop and the paladins were part of our party, it was likely to be a bit more difficult if we considered dealing with Kyle and the group that came over from the lodge as well.

“The people in the next building will be reassured by the number of people from the church, and the church will have no choice but to accept it since they are indebted to us.”

“Then, until there is a problem later or we have to accept other people, I can definitely keep the people who came over from our dorm on my side and keep them in check.”

“That’s right.”

Luckily, Kyle was quick-witted and was able to cut down on the time it took to explain things.

“Well… That won’t necessarily take that long.”

“Really?”

“What do you think of me as?”

As I watched him confidently snorting with his arms folded, the name of a certain party suddenly flashed through my mind.

“Brain check Kyle?”

“Kya…! You’re noticing now? I’m dead too. Claude recognized me right away.”

“Haha… I thought you were just a thug before the fight.”

“What…what!!”

Kyle, who had been tapping my shoulder with a proud expression, looks flustered at my words.

“I’m joking. I’ll call you hyung from now on.”

“Oh! Good~”

“Let’s go out slowly. It’s been quite some time, so I think the monsters have piled up again.”

“Yeah.”

“2, loosen up a bit too.”

“Yep!”

After we finished our conversation and went back outside, we saw people moving around in a flurry.

Zion and Mila were holding onto someone who appeared to be a senior healing priest and asking him about the recipe for a healing potion and the dilution concentration ratio, while the priests themselves were making beds to treat the wounded using the spare tables.

There were quite a few people involved in the battle near the barrier outside the accommodation, so there was no need to jump in right away.

“Are you here?”

“Yes. Ms. Julie doesn’t fight?”

“I need to rest.”

“Ah…”

Looking at her leaning against the wall with a slight frown, it seems like the deleted quirks are running wild again.

“Bishop…!!”

“Cain!!!!”

I ran near the barrier at the shouts of the knight and Claude.

“Over there!!!”

Following the fingertips that Claude pointed at, I saw a large mass of magical energy gathered in the sky.

Not only the magic, but also the faint halo of light is intertwined.

“Archbishop…!”

The bishop who saw the energy shouted.

“Where is that?”

“Combination direction..!!”

Julie came to me staggeringly and shouted with a frown.

“This can’t be happening…! A relic…!!”

Bishop Carlos shouted in confusion.

The people in the religious sect who split up and went to the union will all be wiped out.

A mass of magic slowly floating through the sky soon lands in the area where the union is presumed to be located.

Kwaaaa …

Kururururung!!!!

A huge explosion and thick clouds of dust rise into the sky.

The magical energy lumps that fell into the combination disperse, scattering magical energy throughout the city.

“Keee!!!”

“Kweeek!!!”

Those who were hit by the magic could not move their bodies, and the monsters screamed and moved more roughly.

“No…..!!”

Someone’s scream.

I too couldn’t move my body well due to the magic waves, but when I turned my head, I saw one of Juri’s subordinates about to be attacked by a monster.

At that moment.

Paaaa …

A strong pillar of light emanated from the direction where the combination was.

Kugugugugugugugugugugugu!!!!

The light could not pierce the darkness that enveloped the city.

Chaaah!!!

It hits the dark ceiling and sprays out into the entire city.

The monsters that were hit by the light melted away all at once, and we were left dumbfounded.

and.

Tiring!!

[Gaia System Activation Conditions Met]

[Activate status window menu]

[You can check your own status window by shouting ‘status window’]

“…what?”

A hologram and alarm sound appear out of nowhere even though Hitomi’s stats aren’t 100% filled.

I once joked with Claude and my girls to shout out ‘status window’.

But there was no reaction at that time.

Now everyone was just staring blankly into space.

As if reading something floating in the air like me.

“Sa….Status window?”

And then Claude’s trembling voice rang out.