Chapter 161: Temple Knights 1
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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The day after hearing of the temple's participation from Ellis, the eyes of the group gathered around the guilds table were sparkling with curiosity.The initial posting of this chapter occurred via N0v3l.B11n.
It goes without saying but the temple is not just filled with priests and nuns.
The temple is its own group and acts according to the oracles of the Goddess, so it is essential to have military power.
In this world where ferocious beasts and wandering monsters appear when you go to remote valleys far from the city, can you just send out priests and nuns?
The temple trains monks and temple knights to subdue monsters and escort priests and nuns on their pilgrimages.
They are beings that you won't meet under normal circumstances.
I never thought Id climb the tower with temple knights. When I was in the north, I never even saw their faces.
It feels like Ive become the hero of a story my dad used to read to me when I was a child.
Monks, fighters who train their bodies endlessly under the pretext of pilgrimage and subdue enemies using martial arts, and temple knights who use divine energy instead of mana to wield heavy armor and shields.
There usually aren't any occasions that require their direct involvement.
They only step in when ignorant bandits attack pilgrimage priests or when someone tries to scam the temple and blaspheme against the Goddess.
In a world where the Goddess has proven her existence through divine energy, how many such ignorant fools could there be?
In addition, they have no business cooperating with mercenaries or adventurers.
Priests and nuns face all kinds of hardships in the name of pilgrimage, so there is no reason for those on a holy mission to ask for help from adventurers and mercenaries.
"Roland, have you ever met a monk or a temple knight?
Ive seen them fight, but I've never fought alongside them."
Even I, who have been rolling in this fantasy world for 10 years, can count the number of times I've seen them on one hand.
When I was busy traveling around the kingdom for requests Like when I helped Graces village, I met them once when I went to the southern mountains to deal with wandering monsters or giant species that flowed into remote areas of the kingdom. They were monks dispatched to subdue bandits who had plundered food sent to the temple.
The party members were listening attentively to my story with sparkling eyes.
Even Irene, a saint candidate, listened with interest.
Although she grew up in the temple, perhaps she hasnt had the chance to meet monks and temple knights.
To put it in game terms, monks trained in martial arts are specialized for PVP, while temple knights in thick armor are specialized for PVE.
It's nearly impossible for monks dispatched to capture bandits to defeat a tribe of giants.
There was a time when I helped them carry out a bandit subjugation mission by hunting a giant creature that was blocking the path there.
I dont know about the temple knights, but the monks were really good fighters. Of course, their opponents were bandits, not undead... The way they kicked off trees and dodged arrows as they rushed forward was quite impressive.
The monks fighting style is, how should I put it, acrobatic?
They were not satisfied just pushing off the ground; they used trees and wooden fences as stepping stones, fighting in mid-air like martial arts experts.
Adventurers, as people who risk their lives climbing the tower, strongly believe in religion, almost to the point of superstition.
There are those who believe that if they donate offerings, they will be able to avoid death, diligently offering large sums to the temple; and others who believe that if they disrespect priests or nuns, the Goddess's wrath will befall them.
This superstition is prevalent amongst mercenaries and adventurers alike.
Even amongst the highest ranks.
There are many who believe their lucky survival in battles with large species or named monsters is due to the Goddess's grace.
Um, Roland? What should we do?
What do you mean?
The temple knight, having finished reading the scroll, turns on his heel and leaves the guild without a moment's hesitation.
Han Se-ah, like the other adventurers who began to murmur amongst themselves, tilts her head towards me and asks a question.
Though her head is turned my way, her eyes stealthily shift towards Irene.
It seems like Irene's intense attitude is worrying her a little.
Sitting at the table, listening to the temple knights announcement, Irenes eyes were blazing with passion, so much so that you might say they were on fire.
Even the corners of her eyes, usually softly downturned, were sharply lifted, changing her expression noticeably.
Hanna, don't tell me we're not going to the 31st floor...
No! Of course we are. I was just wondering whether we should thoroughly search the 31st floor and slowly make our way up, or if we should quickly break through to the 40th floor.
Whenever there are anomalies in the tower, they always happen every 10 floors."
"Um, well... thats true. Could the number 10 be associated with the Demon Kings dark magic? If thats the case, we should probably aim for the 40th floor."
-Mommy is angry, hehe
-It can't be helped that a boss appears every 10 floors, lol.
-From an NPCs perspective, it must be suspicious
-The tower itself is suspicious, but what can they do even if they suspect something?
-I hope the game ends with Han Se-ah being accused of witchcraft.
"I would find it strange too. At least with golems, they appear all over the 20s, so I dont think there are any NPCs that are too suspicious. Orcs gathered on the 20th floor, but golems appeared evenly from the 21st to the 30th floor. But still, bosses keep appearing every 10 floors and if I keep being the one to clear them, wont they start getting suspicious?"
-Considering the filtering, it shouldnt go in that direction
-Theyd probably favor the player as a hero, I cant imagine them going on a witch hunt
-If I get to the 70th floor and end up getting executed due to some political nonsense, thats just f*cked up lol
-If theres an ending like that, the company would be on fire
-Fire? Considering K-gamers, they'll probably show up at their door with swords
Han Se-ah breaks into a cold sweat at Irenes speculation.
And so, the course of action for our party was decided, influenced significantly by Irene, who was unusually assertive this time around.
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