Chapter 911. Sera (11)
He had the same hair color as Benigoa and was sporting the armor of the Holy Knights.
The most important part here was his stats. If I had to compare, his stats were similar to Rafael's. He was strong enough to compare to a top adventurer. Obviously, I had never seen or heard of such a strong Templar. In addition, reaching the same heights as Rafael was...
‘Difficult...’
Rafael would only look weak whenever he was compared to Kim Hyun-Sung.
He was actually really strong. It was just that he wasn't as strong as Hyun-Sung. He was a superhuman when it came to stats. He was kind of unreliable before the war with the Outer Gods, but that was no longer the case.
He had finally perfected himself, but the mysterious figure before me was on the same level as Rafael, which was a threatening sight to me.
It was too early to assume that he and I were on opposite sites, but it didn’t hurt to be cautious. It was like the first time I saw the Four Angels during the war with the Outer Gods.
It was natural for Lee Joo-Hyuk to be wary of the mysterious figure
His emotionless face reminded me of Kim Hyun-Sung in his early days, but there was a difference in their appearance.
I wasn't sure whether he had been trained to do that or not, but he looked like he had killed his emotions.
“Sera!” Han Sora shouted.
“A-A-Auntie...” Sera stuttered.
“Are you okay?” Han Sora asked.
“Heuk... Auntieee...” Sera cried.
Meanwhile, Sera and Han Sora were having a tearful reunion,
Sera glanced at Jung Ha-Yan, probing her reaction.
Jung Ha-Yan wanted to reunite with Sera as well.
Han Sora noticed that, so she said, “You should... greet your mother."
“...”
“Miss Jung Ha-Yan, Sera is here. Please hug him,” she said.
“I-I-I’m glad...” Jung Ha-Yan paused.
'You should finish your sentence, Ha-Yan. Be honest.'
Jung Ha-Yan was looking around while we were walking, which made the atmosphere awkward. The three were awkward around each other while the Holy Sword Warrior’s party was minding their own business.
Marian was busy treating Lee Joo-Hyuk, while Rafael was staring ahead while standing next to me.
“Father...” Cheru said.
“Well... I’m sor—”
“Thro and Domi, take Cheru and Sera to their rooms,” I ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
I didn’t bother making eye contact with Cheru because his treatment wasn’t important right now. Moreover, the boys had gotten pretty lucky as well.
My attention was on the Templar, who was standing quietly with his head down. Lee Joo-Hyuk was soon patched up, and he reported the situation to me.
The Templar's wings were still spread wide open as he greeted, “Hello, Father Lee Ki-Young."
“You don’t have to bow your head, um...” I trailed off.
“You can call me Gen,” Gen answered. He looked friendly and was extremely polite. I could also tell that he respected me. He looked so sincere that perhaps I thought badly of him for no reason.
I honestly couldn’t understand why I felt that way, as I was Benigoa’s son and the God of Sacrifice and Revival in his eyes. Of course, he’d act this way to me, as they had a duty to protect me.
However, I was not sure whether they were showing the same respect to the other cardinals or not.
“Okay, Mr. Gen, then,” I said.
For now, I had to behave the same way as him.
I had to become a man devoted to Benigoa. I had to become someone who knew nothing other than being warm and affectionate.
I immediately put on my business smile, and I didn’t forget to sprinkle some soft light on purpose. I looked so holy that just looking at me would make people stop breathing unconsciously.
'This is me, damn it.'
“First of all, I would like to thank you,” I said.
“I was simply doing my job,” Gen said.
“I’m sure it wasn’t easy dealing with this kind of monster... I’m really grateful. I’m sure you expected this, but can I ask for your affiliation?” I asked.
“...”
Gen quietly revealed his hidden badge to me. He didn’t answer, but he had proven that he was a Templar. I wasn't surprised or shocked. I simply nodded quietly.
“I see,” I commented.
The Templars had never really shown their faces to me, so how come they suddenly appeared before me?
“...”
“...”
There was a moment of awkward silence, and I wasn’t exactly happy about it, as I wanted to continue the conversation.
“I don’t know how to say this, but...” I trailed off.
“Please speak comfortably, Father Lee Ki-Young,” Gen said.
“Can I ask why you're here? And... you look like you've obtained a brand-new power,” I asked, going straight to the point. “I assume it's because of the anomalies that’s been happening recently on the continent...”
“You’re right, sir. The Templars have recognized the seriousness of the current situation and are concerned about it. Our mission so far has been solely focused on protecting the cardinals, but I came here because I was dispatched for a special task,” Gen replied.
“That’s...”
“It’s the will of Goddess Benigoa. My appearance right now is proof of that,” Gen added.
'You’ve never heard her voice, so what do you mean by 'the will of Goddess Benigoa'?'
Obviously, I had no time to confirm his words. The anomaly had occurred around the capital of the Democratic Country, and the brand-new that he possessed could be explained by saying that Benigoa had bestowed it upon them.
“Then...”
“We’re conducting our own investigation right now, Father Lee Ki-Young,” Gensaid.
“I see.”
“So, on behalf of the other Templars, I would like to ask you this...” Gen paused.
'Did he come here with a purpose, or is it coincidence?'
“What is it?” I asked.
“I would like you to leave this to us,” Gen requested.
“What?”
“The brand-new power that Goddess Benigoa had bestowed upon us exists for calming this chaos. Dealing with these otherworldly monsters is a mission bestowed upon us by the Goddess Herself, and we’ll use this power to do that,” Gen said.
‘This bastard definitely came here to tell me that, but it's also because of that monster's presence. However, he knew my location as well...’
“I’m sorry, but I have no control over this,” I informed him.
“...”
“Mr. Rafael’s party has control over this... so I can’t make that decision,” I said.
“Ah...”
“Mr. Rafael believes that these anomalies are happening because the dungeons nearby are running rampant,” I added.
'I'm sure you know that a dungeon has appeared beneath your house.'
“I believe... that you'd be able to... convince him somehow...” Gen mumbled.
'How am I supposed to convince him? I mean, I could tell him not to do it, and Rafael will just agree, but I can’t do that.'
“Unfortunately, Mr. Rafael isn’t part of the Blue Guild. To be exact, he’s a free adventurer with the right to access all quests and dungeons on the continent. The Democratic Country and the Continental Protection Management Committee have issued him his license, and I don’t have the power to stop him. I’d like to help you, but...” I trailed off.
“There has to be a way...” Gen muttered.
'I just told you there isn't a way...'
“Mr. Rafael was also chosen by Goddess Benigoa. I understand what you’re saying, but I'm sure Goddess Benigoa doesn't want you to exclude Mr. Rafael and the other groups that she has chosen.
"Ah! Of course, I’m not denying your words here. I'm simply thinking from her point of view, as I am her son, after all,” I explained.
“...”
“Many things had happened to the continent. There was that crisis, and there have been many incidents that affected the fate of the continent.
"In the end, those incidents were resolved, but I wasn't the only one who made the effort to resolve those incidents. Everyone on the continent—the adventurers, the men, and the women... they made the continent into what it is today, and it's all because they wanted to protect it. If there really is a new threat to the continent, then...” I trailed off.
“...”
“The Templars don't have to take care of it alone. It’s a problem that all of us will have to handle,” I added.
Gen frowned. He probably thought I'd agree to his request. What would those people know when all they had been doing was praying and having shady parties in their basement? Actually, some of them knew something, but this guy definitely had no idea.
“In that case... are you willing to hand over this monster’s corpse?” Gen asked.
“I’ll leave that up to Mr. Rafael,” I replied.
Obviously, Gen was trying to steal our loot here.
He had appeared out of nowhere and decapitated the head of the monster that we were hunting. To make matters worse, he was demanding ownership of the corpse.
'If we sue you for this, you’ll definitely get punished, man.'
Killstealing had recently become a social issue, after all.
“Mr. Rafael?” I called out.
“Ah... I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible,” Rafael said.
I knew I could trust you.
“Of course, we fully recognize your contribution, and we can acknowledge some ownership, but the only offer we can make is forty percent... I think it’s best if I talk to my party’s lawyer about the details,” Rafael said.
It was my first time seeing Rafael acting in such a business-like manner.
“Whoo...”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of much help,” I said.
“It’s okay, sir. However...” Gen paused.
“Yes?”
“I beg you once again... Can’t you hand this over to us?” Gen asked.
“ I don’t get it,” I said.
“...”
“Why must you go that far?” I questioned.
“I can’t... tell you right now,” Gen answered.
'You must be thinking that someone will be in trouble if you say it. Who is it? Will it be me? Or will it be you guys?'
I wanted more information, as I really didn't have that much information no matter which angle I looked at the matter.
What if I was just making a mountain out of a molehill?
I’d look incredibly stupid by then.
'Perhaps I should just test the waters first.'
“Actually, there’s something I would like to discuss with you as well, Mr. Gen,” I said.
“What is it?” Gen asked.
“It’s not something we should discuss here... Do you mind if we move elsewhere?” I asked.
“Sure,” Gen replied.
'Well, it’s nothing special, but I’ll set the mood by looking all serious and solemn.'
“Actually, I’ve been dreaming of Goddess Benigoa these days,” I said.
“...”
“I can’t really describe it, and it wasn’t a familiar sight either.
"However, I suspect that I was in a den of demons in those dreams. I saw a scene so terrible that I don’t dare describe it with my own mouth.
"Those filthy demons, who deserve to be punished by the heavens, have injured her holy body and were drinking her blood. In my dreams, she spoke but in a tired and agonized voice,” I explained.
'Dirty demon bastards. They’re seriously psychopathic and crazy monsters. Can you even imagine how horrible that sight was?'
I started crying without realizing it.
Benigoa's lips were trembling, and her face was ashen gray; her holy teardrops fell like jade beads to the cold ground.
I stared at Gen with a guilty face, looking like I had told him something I wasn't supposed to say to him, which could result in him becoming cursed. Anyway, I started breathing in ragged pants as well.
“'Help me. Help me.' That’s what she said...” I told him.