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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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Even with the unexpected additions, the overall strategy remained the same.
The important thing was that Veronica had arrived.
“So, Sage. What’s our next move?”
General Leoden clearly understood my importance in completing the “Pale Moon” event.
He seemed content to let me take the lead.
Good.
If he interfered, I would have to exclude him.
It seemed my efforts to build good relationships were finally paying off.
I surveyed the faces looking at me expectantly. With the third condition met, it was time to move on to the fourth.
The fourth condition for progressing the “Pale Moon” event was to fight the members of the White Moon Cult.
They would be on the move, knowing their ritual was being disrupted by our hunting of the White Beasts.
We had to fight them and clear a path to their temple.
“The White Moon Cult will make their move soon.”
Veronica spoke coldly, her voice sharp. General Leoden gripped the hilt of his sword.
“Then the kingdom’s army will intercept them.”
To Leoden, they were traitors who had attempted to assassinate his liege lord. He would want to deal with them himself.
That was probably why he was looking at me so expectantly.
But that didn’t concern me.
“No. The kingdom’s army should continue their current duties… I’d like the Church to handle the cultists. That’s alright with you, Veronica?”
“I always welcome a fight against heretics.”
So reliable. I applauded her, and Veronica gave a faint smile, her grip tightening on her massive mace.
“Then what?”
“Next…”
Once we captured some cultists and located their temple, the final stage would begin—the assault on the Moon Temple.
In the game, the Moon Temple was treated as a dungeon with a limited party size, so we needed to decide who would go.
But that could wait. Fighting the cultists was the priority right now.
“The Moon Temple is a very dangerous dungeon.”
“I’ve always wondered, Sage. How do you know these things?”
The lizardman bard asked, combing his rooster-like crest. I smiled.
“Why do you think they call me the Sage?”
“Ah, you got me there.”
“Just go with it. Not everything in this world makes sense.”
Supporting the Hero’s Party as a Sage had earned me some renown, and I had further boosted my reputation through various quests and events.
So, my words now carried some weight, and no one questioned me further.
“As expected of the Sage! You’re amazing! Oh, in that case, do you know what’s causing the small problem in my village?”
“No idea. Anyway, now that you adventurers are here, join the Church’s forces. Ah, Lark, and you, Wilkers, you’re with me.”
These two were a special case among the adventurers who had arrived.
They were special kinds of trolls, so it was better if I managed them myself.
Even if it meant putting up with the stress.
“So, the kingdom’s army won’t be fighting the cultists?”
“They’re heretics, and they use wicked magic.”
Priests and paladins were best suited to counter such magic.
And adventurers often encountered dark sorcery in dungeons. If these guys were any good, they’d know how to handle it.
“I see. Understood.”
As we finalized our preparations for the battle against the cultists,
“W- Wait!”
“Huh?”
Claire, who had been listening silently, raised her hand.
“Hyun-woo, is there… anything we can do to help? I- I’m not saying that Cardinal Veronica and those adventurers are weak, but…”
In terms of overall combat power, wasn’t it better to include them, who had played a crucial role in defeating the Demon King? Claire asked, her voice lacking its usual confidence.
I looked back and forth between her and Leventia, who was staring at me pleadingly, and thought.
Something for them to do…
Hmm…
I couldn’t think of anything.
After assigning tasks to everyone, I started on my usual chores. Today’s chore was cooking.
As I was preparing and serving a large meal for the soldiers, I noticed Claire in front of me.
She had waited in line, no cutting. She was just staring at me.
“Do you have something to say?”
“…Is there really nothing we can do to help you? I know they’re dangerous, but…”
“Your duty is to stay here with the kingdom’s army and hunt monsters.”
The “Pale Moon” event was difficult, and the final boss in the Moon Temple was powerful.
A normal player would naturally include the high-level Hero in their party.
But I was a veteran player.
And unlike in the beginning, when I was still unfamiliar with this world, I was now experienced.
There was no need to pull the Hero’s Party from the front lines and increase the kingdom’s casualties.
The monsters would still be there, even during the “Pale Moon” event.
“O- Oh…? I see…”
Claire’s shoulders slumped, and she walked away dejectedly. I served the next knight in line, then looked at the person after him.
“Huh?”
It was Veronica.
I thought the members of the Church were eating elsewhere.
She smiled faintly at my surprised expression.
“Being served by you like this brings back memories.”
It had happened before. During the original “Pale Moon” event, after defending Silver Village, I had prepared breakfast and served it to the survivors.
Veronica had been there, mess tin in hand.
It had been a long time. I was surprised a cardinal would remember something like that.
“How could I forget?”
“Really?”
“It was the most difficult, most desperate battle I had ever fought. And because of that, the victory was all the sweeter. I will never forget it, not until I meet the light.”
I returned her smile and served her a generous portion of stir-fried sausages and vegetables.
Veronica looked down at her plate and smiled again.
Was she always this smiley? I didn’t remember her smiling much in the game.
“You remembered.”
Her plate was piled high with bell peppers and other vegetables.
Anyone else might have thought I was teasing her, but Veronica looked pleased.
“I remember you prefer vegetables over meat. I’m the Sage, after all. I have a good memory.”
“Haha. You do.”
She nodded slightly and said nothing more. She seemed to have more to say, but the line was long.
She gave me a small bow and left. Next in line was Lark.
“Hey! Sage! The cardinal didn’t get any sausages, right? Can I have hers? Come on, we’re friends!”
“Ah! That’s mine! Mr. Sage! You’re going to give me more, right?! Right?! You and I, we’re friends! You know I like sausages more than vegetables! Please?! More sausages! I’ll skip the vegetables if you give me more sausages!”
Good heavens!
Trying to eat only the sausages from a stir-fry?!
And what did he mean, friends…?
After dinner, I joined the leatherworking detail.
I needed to work on my achievements whenever I had the chance.
As always, the soldiers protested, saying I didn’t need to help, but I insisted, and they eventually gave me a spot.
“Skinning monsters isn’t easy, Mr. Sage. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“It’s fine.”
I began skinning a one-eyed ox monster with a sharpened knife. I wasn’t a professional leatherworker, but I was more skilled than the soldiers.
I skinned the monster faster than them and set the hide aside. As I reached for the second monster,
“There you are.”
It was Veronica. I had expected her to be praying with her paladins. I plunged my knife into the neck of a five-horned deer monster.
–Squelch!
Black blood spurted out, staining my leather apron. Veronica, watching me, raised the Divine Mark hanging around her neck.
“Light, purify the darkness.”
A gentle holy aura cleansed the evil energy lingering in the monster’s blood, and the stress caused by the gore began to subside.
As the workers’ expressions eased, Veronica said with a hint of bitterness,
“The conditions on this battlefield are quite poor. I thought the Church was sending priests and paladins.”
“There aren’t enough to cover everything.”
“Is that so? Then can’t you do it? You can use holy power as well.”
“I can. And I do, whenever I have the chance.”
“You haven’t changed. Just like in Silver Village.”
A smile touched Veronica’s lips. A few of the workers stared at her, mesmerized. It didn’t last long. At my glare, they quickly returned to their work.
“So? Did you want to say something?”
“Well…”
Veronica fiddled with her Divine Mark, then shrugged.
“It seems you’re still not on good terms with the Hero’s Party.”
“That’s right. Do you have a problem with that?”
“They’re not bothering you, are they?”
“No.”
They were annoying, and they had tried to talk to me while I was hunting White Beasts,
But I had no desire to speak with Leventia and Evangeline, so I had been ignoring them completely.
Veronica, knowing about my history with the Hero’s Party, was probably just concerned, but her worry was misplaced.
“Do I look like someone who would let themselves be bullied?”
“You’re too soft. If you joined the Inquisition, you’d be properly disciplined.”
“No, thanks.”
I returned my attention to the monster carcass. As I began skinning the third one, Veronica sighed softly.
“My offer still stands. Are you sure you don’t want to become an inquisitor?”
“I’m sure.”
“I see.”
Her voice was tinged with disappointment, but I was more focused on skinning the crocodile-headed, lion-bodied monster. Feeling her gaze on me, I looked up. Veronica hesitated, then said,
“…Have you considered rejoining the Hero’s Party?”
With them?
“Never.”
“…That’s a relief.”
“Why is it a relief? Is there some conflict between the Church and the Hero’s Party? A power struggle?”
I didn’t remember any events, quests, or achievements related to that.
At my question, Veronica smiled faintly.
“It’s nothing like that. It’s just…”
She took a step back and looked at me intently.
Her serious expression, as if she were about to say something important, made me tilt my head.
“It’s just… Ah, this isn’t the right place to talk about it. Would you mind joining me for a cup of tea in my tent?”
“Hmm? Sure. Just let me finish this up.”
This was the last monster. As Veronica waited, I finished skinning the monster and removed my apron.
“Making a cardinal wait like this… you’re truly something.”
“You could have just left.”
“You haven’t changed, have you? Well then, shall we—?”
Veronica, who had been crouching in the gore-splattered workshop, stood up.
–BOOM!!
An explosion echoed from the edge of the encampment, followed by screams.
I threw off my apron. Veronica gripped her mace.
The “Pale Moon” event.
The fourth condition.
The White Moon Cult’s invasion had begun.
“We’ll have to have that tea later— Gah.”
Good heavens.
As I rushed out, I was startled to see Veronica standing beside me.
Her beautiful face was twisted in a furious scowl.
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