21 Congregation
Upon reaching the Cathedral, Cairn expected to encounter the Bishop or one of the Neophytes monitoring the nave or cleaning the atrium. Instead, when he, Kaia, and Tarou stepped through the massive stone arch leading into the Cathedral's interior, a strange 'giddiness' permeated their bodies, remarkably similar to the feeling one might get before confessing to the person they like.
"What the heck...?" muttered Cairn, placing his hand on his chest, noticing his heart was beating faster.
"It's Divine Energy..." explained Kaia, the fur on her body standing on end as anxiety washed over her. The number of people that could emit such a potent Divine Energy could be counted on one hand, so she instinctively kneeled when the person exuding the energy, a kind-looking woman with pale blonde hair fastened into a circular braided bun, turned to face them from her position at the base of the beautiful winged statue. Her outfit, consisting of muted silver armor and pristine white cloth, was reminiscent of the uniform worn by a female Inquisitor, but the embroidery decorating her gown denoted her status as a Cardinal. Not just any Cardinal, but one of the Five Pillars of the Restia Church...
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Name: Andrika Benedictus
Species: High Human(84%), Angel(16%)
Gender: Female
Age: 93
Title: Southern Pillar(Vit and Cha+100%)
Class: Angelic Squire(Unique)
[Attributes]
Level: 68/93(2,549,001/2,618,020)[Neophyte(20), Priestess(20), High Priestess(20), Angelic Squire(8)]
HP: 859,836/859,836
MP: 232,348/232,348
Str: 135+43
Agi: 215+69
Vit: 738+2,096
Int: 536+493
Dex: 275+88
Cha: 492+1,398
Talent(s): [Goddess of Light's Blessing(68/80)], [Corruption Resistance(68/80)], [Prayer(20/20)], [Traveling Church(20/20)], [Angelic Physique(8/20)], [Undead Slayer(85/100)], [Sword Mastery(79/100)], [Mental Fortitude(75/100)], [Man Eater(69/95)], [Bedroom Arts(63/88)], [Disease Resistance(59/76)], [Serene Mind(44/71)], [Cooking(4/7)]
Skill(s): [Divine Sight(MAX)], [Light Healing(MAX)], [Purification(MAX)], [Cross Slash(MAX)], [Ground Shrinking(MAX)], [Healing Rain(MAX)], [Resurrection(MAX)], [Sacred Field(MAX)], [Southern Cross(MAX)], [Blessing of Light(MAX)], [Benediction(MAX)], [Turn Undead(MAX)], [Light Imbue(MAX)], [Smite(MAX)], [Penitent Sword(MAX), [Aura Sword(MAX)], [Aura Shield(MAX)], [Lifestyle Magic(5/5)]
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"Holy mother..." muttered Cairn, his pupils briefly contracting to the size of pinholes as he saw the blonde-haired woman's stats. He knew people grew exponentially more powerful as their Levels increased and they acquired stronger Classes, but seeing a delicate-looking woman with nearly a million HP was just...he couldn't even find the words to describe it.
'Staring' at Cairn, Kaia, and Tarou with closed eyes, the delicate beauty adopted a faint smile that seemed to light up the room. Then, in less time than it took to blink, she appeared right in front of Cairn, bluish-white light dispersing from her body as she asserted, "You must be Cairn." in a faint, strangely 'ticklish' tone.
Though the woman, Cardinal Benedictus, was nearly a head shorter than him, Cairn felt like a Chihuahua in front of a Rottweiler as he stepped back, forcing a smile as he replied, "Yes...?" in a manner that made it appear he wasn't sure of his own identity.
Covering her mouth with her gloved white hand, Cardinal Benedictus, still with her eyes closed, giggled playfully. Then, turning to Kaia, she added, "And that makes you Kai'ankh. It's a pleasure to make your-oh? It appears there is one more among your group."
Staring at the space between Kaia's ears, Cardinal Benedictus's smile widened. She still had her eyes closed, but it seemed like she could see 'more' than an ordinary person as she mused, "Well, aren't you just the most darling little thing? Lord Mamongatarou, was it~?"
Blinking in surprise, Tarou stood on his hind legs, gesturing with his tiny hands around as he issued a series of loud squeaks. In response, Cardinal Benedictus nodded affirmingly, maintaining her smile as she mused, "Lord Mamongatarou is very insightful. Indeed, I am blind. However, with the Light as my shepherd and the grace of Lady Restia supporting me, there are few things I cannot see."
Shifting her 'gaze' to Cairn, Cardinal Benedictus smiled teasingly as she asked, "Isn't that right, Mr. Masterson?"
"It sure seems that way..." replied Cairn, feeling an almost overwhelming urge to extricate himself from the situation. He didn't struggle as much as some, but he was an introvert at heart. Dealing with people like Cardinal Benedictus made him exposed and uncomfortable...
Seemingly sensing Cairn's discomfort, the [Invisibility] enchantment of his Ookami's Visage activated, causing him to vanish abruptly. Unfortunately, even with the stealth bonuses granted to him by his Shadowsilk Set, there was nothing he could do to avoid the gaze of the 'maneater' before him...
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Though Cairn would have preferred to return to the Neophyte barracks and unwind, he, Kaia, and Tarou were roped into a meeting with several high-ranking members of Austral Church's clergy. The incident of their alms being misappropriated couldn't just be swept under the rug, so they temporarily withdrew support of the Duke's forces, forcing the Knights to seal the underground until the individuals responsible could be brought to justice.
"And what of the Duke's son?" asked one of the Bishop's representing the Seven Chapters of Austral, a fairly lax-looking gentleman with white hair, a pointed beard, and a mustache. He was responsible for the Chapter that trained Martial Disciples and Monks, so he wore loose robes and exuded the air of an 'expert,' a sentiment backed by his Level of 53.
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Name: Josef Alder
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 63
Title: Holy Fist(Unarmed damage increased by 500%)
Class: Monk(Epic)
[Attributes]
Level: 53/71(948,111/951,492)[Neophyte(20), Martial Disciple(20), Monk(13)
HP: 184,495/211,630
MP: 24,005/40,092
Str: 205
Agi: 176+174
Vit: 457+635
Int: 199+80
Dex: 271+268
Cha: 105+42
Talent(s): [Goddess of Light's Blessing(53/60)], [Proprioception(20/20)], [Qi Conversion(13/20)], [Martial Arts(65/79)], [Fist Mastery(61/77)], [Pain Tolerance(58/72)], [Staff Mastery(52/69)], [Footwork(50/64)], [Alcohol Tolerance(45/58)], [Abstinence(33/-)]
Skill(s): [Light Healing(MAX)], [Purification(MAX)], [Strike(MAX)], [Drill Kick(MAX)], [Iron Body(MAX)], [Meditation(MAX)], [Qi Combustion(MAX)], [Qi Shield(MAX)], [Qi Eruption(MAX)], [Lifestyle Magic(5/5)]
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"We knew from the beginning that the Duke's son was likely responsible for the change in the Dungeon," replied Cardinal Benedictus. "It has also been seventeen days since the initial outbreak, so the odds of him being alive are slim."
Shifting her 'gaze' to Cairn, Cardinal Benedictus added, "That's one of the reasons I asked the Champion and his companions here. I believe he can provide some 'insight' into the situation belowground."
Though he didn't enjoy being put on the spot, Cairn endured the gazes directed his way, forcing a smile as he asked, "What do you want me to do...?"
"We would like you to use your power to confirm whether a boy named Cornelius Elseforde Lionheart is currently within the Dungeon," explained Cardinal Benedictus.
"Sure, give me a moment..." said Cairn, taking the [Map of the Southlands] from his Inventory and laying it on the circular table everyone was seated around. A few moments later, his brows perked up as he revealed, "Unless there's someone with the same name, he's still alive."
"Oh, my..." muttered Cardinal Benedictus, genuinely astonished by the news. The leading theory was that Cornelius's [Statue of the Goddess] had been stolen or misplaced, resulting in him tragically losing his life in the Dungeon. If he was still alive after all this time...
"Suspicious..." said a hooded figure wearing black, gold-trimmed robes. More notably, he had a pair of large, grey, bird-like wings protruding from his back, denoting his status as a member of the Corvidae Tribe.
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Name: Brahm Corvus
Species: Corvidae
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Title: Inquisitor(Damage doubled against Followers of Darkness)
Class: Magus(Epic)
[Attributes]
Level: 49/85(749,777/773,336)[Neophyte(20), Mage Apprentice(20), Magus(9)
HP: 24,038/24,502
MP: 599,102/615,437
Str: 47
Agi: 71+36
Vit: 289+116
Int: 485+897
Dex: 249+237
Cha: 76+30
Talent(s): [Goddess of Light's Blessing(20/20)], [Magecraft(29/40)], [Arcane Mastery(9/20), [Corvidae Physiology(49/85), [Light Elemental Mastery(59/73)], [Darkess Elemental Mastery(55/69)], [Forbidden Knowledge(47/66)], [High-Speed Casting(45/65)], [Wind Elemental Mastery(45/62)], [Earth Elemental Mastery(44/50)], [Ancient Runeology(38/40)], [Water Elemental Mastery(29/39)], [Fire Elemental Mastery(25/38)], [Medicine Resistance(19/34)]
Skill(s): [Light Healing(MAX)], [Purification(MAX)], [Magic Missile(MAX)], [Magic Shield(MAX)], [Magic Hand(MAX)], [Channeling(MAX)], [Dazzling Gleam(MAX)], [Photon(MAX)], [Darkness(MAX)], [Gravity(MAX)], [Wind Cutter(MAX)], [Tornado(MAX)], [Earth Spike(MAX)], [Fissure(7/10)], [Water Ball(MAX)], [Icicle(4/10)], [Fire Ball(MAX)], [Flame Lance(2/10)], [Lifestyle Magic(9/9)]
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Directing his hooded gaze to Cairn, Bishop Corvus asked, "Champion Cairn. Could I trouble you to write down the names of everyone in the Dungeon at this exact moment? Since we've cordoned all the entrances, the only people present should be the young Dukeling, his conspirators, or those holding him hostage..."
"Sure," replied Cairn. "The Church has provided me support and a place to stay, so I might as well return the favor when I can. Got a piece of paper and something I can use to write?"
"Certainly. Here you are," responded Cardinal Benedictus, producing the stack of paper and the gold-encrusted pen she had prepared in advance. A few minutes later, Cairn finished transcribing the names, current Levels, Classes, and Titles of everyone in the Dungeon. As an additional bonus, he even included information on the various Slimes found within, including the 'Guardian,' the now Level 45 Slime Monarch.
Before perusing the papers, Cardinal Benedictus entrusted them to Bishop Corvus, allowing him to create multiple copies using magic. Afterward, everyone at the table was given a copy, causing silence to permeate the chamber until Bishop Alder hissed, "Slime Monarch..." in visible shock.
"It appears the situation belowground is far more precarious than we anticipated," noted Cardinal Benedictus, turning to the confused Cairn to explain, "A Slime Monarch is an intelligent creature formed from hundreds, sometimes even thousands of lesser Slimes."
Piggybacking off the Cardinal's words, Bishop Corvus added, "Any Slime that becomes a part of its biomass increases its intellect and enhances the Monarch's power, resistances, and elemental capabilities. A thousand years ago, before Champion Alfred became the First King of Man, the feat that allowed him to unify Cliabhaan was his conquest of a Slime Emperor, the form a Slime Monarch achieves after siphoning enough Mana from the Dungeon Core to escape..."
"Then you just need to kill it before then," said Cairn, looking to Cardinal Benedictus as he added, "With the strength of the people here, defeating a Level 45 monster should be no problem."
Interjecting on the Cardinal's behalf, Bishop Alder remarked, "That's the problem with Slime Monarchs. They are intelligent enough to exploit the Dungeon's restrictions in their favor. If the Party that first encounters it cannot defeat it, they become prisoners of the Slime Monarch, making the Guardian's Chamber inaccessible to others."
"Ah..."
Realizing what the Bishop was insinuating, Cairn could only offer a silent prayer for the Duke's youngest son. Being held captive and forced to stay alive by a giant, opportunistic Slime probably wasn't the most pleasant of experiences...
"Worry not," said Cardinal Benedictus, offering a faint smile as she added, "A lot has changed since the era of Champion Alfred. Now that we have a better understanding of the situation underground, we have many ways to address it. The more concerning matter is what set this incident in motion. With how frequently the Dungeons of Austral are cleared, the likelihood of one evolving was functionally 0%. Even more so to the extent that a Slime Monarch could be produced..."
"I agree," said Bishop Corvus, rising to his feet and adding, "I will send word to His Holiness and request the presence of the Grand Inquisitor. If there is even a slight possibility this incident was induced, we need to get to the bottom of it."
"Then I will contact the Dwarves," said another Bishop, a man with swept-back blonde hair and red eyes that made him seem like a vampire. He was the youngest and weakest of the Bishops present, but he exuded a proud and noble aura.
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Name: Alexander Pierce
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Title: Viscount(Cha+50%)
Class: High Priest(Unique)
[Attributes]
Level: 44/72(563,894/589,750)[Neophyte(20), Priest(20), High Priest(4)
HP: 171,134/171,134
MP: 105,458/105,458
Str: 47
Agi: 49
Vit: 404+452
Int: 257+288
Dex: 100+20
Cha: 163+356
Talent(s): [Goddess of Light's Blessing(44/60)], [Corruption Resistance(44/60)], [Prayer(20/20)], [Traveling Church(4/20)], [Etiquette(68/77)], [Politics(62/75)], [Undead Slayer(58/69)], [Mace Mastery(39/55)], [Shield Mastery(35/49)], [Hunting(25/42)], [Archery(21/40)], [Riding(20/39)], [Bedroom Arts(19/30)]
Skill(s): [Helmet Breaker(MAX)], [Light Healing(MAX)], [Purification(MAX)], [Blessing of Light(MAX)], [Benediction(MAX)], [Turn Undead(MAX)], [Light Imbue(MAX)], [Smite(MAX)], [Shield Bash(8/10)], [Healing Rain(7/10)], [Resurrection(5/10)], [Sacred Field(4/10)], [Longshot(3/10)], [Lifestyle Magic(6/6)]
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Nodding in affirmation, Cardinal Benedictus remarked, "You are certainly the most qualified to do so. As for me, I will escort the Champion and his companions to their quarters before retiring to the Sanctum to commune with Lady Restia."
Following her words, Cardinal Benedictus rose gracefully to her feet, prompting everyone else to do the same. Then, once the seven presiding Bishops departed, the blind Cardinal adopted a faint smile, sending chills through Cairn's body as she turned to Kaia and said, "I would be grateful if Lady Kai'ankh and Lord Mamongatarou went on ahead. I have a private matter to discuss with the Champion..."
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(A/N: O_O...)
