Heretic Rewards

Day of Sunar, 6:12 p.m.

At the Temple of Priests building.

When Vivian along with the old woman and her children arrived at Luxen City, they immediately headed straight to the building of the Temple of Priests.

And since Vivian was a Priest, the old woman left everything to her.

But although Vivian didn't know what to do, she couldn't decline so she accepted it and pretended that she knew what she was doing.

Vivian entered the main hall of the Temple of Priests building and swept her gaze around.

And when she spotted the kind-looking man, Joshua, at one of the counters, she immediately went over to him.

"Brother Joshua."

"Sister Vivian…?" he asked with a confused expression on his face but immediately switched back to his usual kind and friendly demeanor. "It's been a while. How are you?"

Although Joshua wasn't expecting to see Vivian here, he was more surprised with her appearance.

The last time he saw her, she looked healthy.

But now, not only did she lose some weight but she also looked abnormally pale that even her lips were close to purple as if she was a walking corpse.

"I'm very sorry for bothering you, brother, but can I ask for your help? I encountered some travelers on the road being attacked by a group of bandits who turned out to be demon worshipers."

Joshua's face suddenly became serious, gone was the friendly demeanor that he usually projected.

"Where are they?" he asked in a serious tone.

Vivian quickly explained everything that happened.

And of course, she left out the part where she learned [Greater Origin (Greater Chaos) Mastery].

***

At the back of the Temple of Priests building.

The old woman clung to Joshua and cried.

"Sir Priest, please revive my husband and the driver! We are but a small and poor family from Marble Town who came here to search for a better life but were attacked by demon worshipers!"

Joshua wore his usual kind and friendly demeanor.

"Don't worry, ma'am. Since you and your family faced such tragedy at the hands of demon-worshipers, you don't have to pay the 1,000 gold fee, the Temple of Priests will revive them for free. We will also provide you and your family a month's worth of food, shelter and clothing for the pain and trauma that you and your family suffered."

"Thank you, Sir Priest! Thank you!"

The old woman fell to her knees and continued crying as kissed the hands of Joshua.

Meanwhile, her grandchildren who were standing on the side cried as well.

"You don't have to thank us. As a Priest, it is our solemn vow to ease the world from pain and suffering and eradicate the demons, demon-worshipers, the forces of darkness and heretics."

Joshua turned to 2 White Cloak Priests standing nearby.

"I'll leave them to you."

The 2 White Cloak Priests nodded and stepped forward to assist the old woman and her grandchildren.

As they were being helped, the old woman got up and rushed over to Vivian.

She knelt down in front of her and began kissing her hands as well.

"Thank you, Lady Priestess! If you didn't come to save us, my family and I wouldn't be here!"

She continued kissing her hands.

This old woman wasn't this dramatic back on the road…

Well, I guess she was just bottling everything up…

Vivian flashed a kind and warm smile.

"It's okay, ma'am. As my colleague said, as a Priest, it is our solemn vow to ease the world from pain and suffering and also eradicate the demons, demon-worshipers, the forces of darkness and heretics."

"May I ask what's the name of my family's savior?"

"Vivian."

"Thank you, Lady Priestess Vivian! We swear that our family will never forget this! We will be forever grateful to you, the Temple of Priests and the God of Light!" she said and kissed Vivian's hands one last time before she was escorted by the 2 White Cloak Priests.

Vivian turned to Joshua.

"Sister Vivian, I'm very proud of you. You did well."

"Thanks, brother."

Good thing I'm wearing gloves…

If not, my entire hands would've been covered by tears and saliva…

It was then 4 Priests -- Brown and White Cloaks -- arrived and were pulling a wagon.

"The bodies are inside the carriage," Joshua said with a hint of disgust evident from his tone.

"Yes, Brother Joshua," said one of the White Cloaks who was carrying 2 rods in his hand.

Each rod was about 15 inches long and had a crystal on its tip.

When the Priests transferred the 6 demon bandit bodies on the wagon, the Priest carrying the 2 rods pressed one of the rods, specifically the crystal, onto the bodies, causing the crystal to glow.

The Priest turned to Joshua.

"They're all Lesser Demons."

Joshua turned to Vivian.

"Sister Vivian, you've fought them, were they strong?"

Vivian, who has never directly fought someone strong other than Marie, couldn't answer.

"Um… I'm not sure…"

"I understand," Joshua said and nodded before turning to the Priests. "Revive them and extract EVERY ounce of information you can."

"Yes, Brother Joshua."

The 4 Priests left, leaving Vivian and Joshua alone.

Vivian was about to say goodbye when Joshua stopped her.

"You've killed 6 Lesser Demons and it's time to collect your reward, sister," Joshua said in his usual kind and friendly demeanor.

"Reward?"

"Yes. Killing a Lesser Demon is 1 gold and killing a Demon is 10 gold coins or 1 platinum coin. And if we revive them and are able to extract the location of their base and who they're associated with, you will receive another reward of 20 platinum coins."

"Really?!" Vivian exclaimed and her eyes sparkled.

"Of course, sister," he said a flashed his usual kind and friendly smile. "These are demon-worshipers, traitors to humanity after all and must be eradicated at all costs."

"Brother, that rod with a crystal earlier, was it an Affinity Crystal?"

"Yes. One was for identifying Lesser Chaos and the other was for Chaos."

"Are those the only 2 types of Chaos?"

Since Vivian did a "great thing" today for her identity as a Priest, she became bold to ask questions that she believes all adults in this world must know.

"There are actually 3 Chaos Affinities: Lesser Chaos, Chaos and Greater Chaos. However, only Greater Demons from the demon world have the Greater Chaos Affinity and we don't have an Affinity Crystal for that Affinity because they're very rare and would rarely come to our world."

Vivian's heart skipped a bit. But after remembering that her x5 boost gives her access to all Affinities, her heart sank.

I should avoid touching crystals from now on…

"Brother… Those demon worshipers… Are they still human…? It's like you can never tell unless they transform or you let them touch an Affinity Crystal. I will admit: I'm afraid…" she said as hugged herself and wore a fearful expression.

Joshua nodded.

"I understand, sister. Which is why we must be vigilant at all times. For all we know they could be anyone -- our neighbor, our friends or our own family. They are a plague that must be eradicated at all costs. And we are the first shield against them."

Wait…

So demon worshipers would have their body taken over by a demon…

Like possession…?

Joshua formed a fist and gritted his teeth.

"To think that there are still humans in this world who would still choose to serve a demon in exchange for power and immortality! Such weakness! Such hubris! Damn heretics!"

What…?

Did he say immortality…?

She then recalled how the demon bandits she fought were able to heal from fatal wounds, causing her brows to knit together.

If that is immortality, then I must've read a different dictionary…

But if being serving a demon would make one un-aging, now that would make sense…

Even I would take that deal in a heartbeat…

Of course, assuming that it's a fair deal…

But what about me who has the [Greater Origin (Greater Chaos) Mastery]…?

This is an Affinity that only Greater Demons have, right…?

Assuming what this man is saying is true…

Because I honestly don't feel any immortality or whatsoever running in my veins right now…

But then again, it is still Level 1…

So maybe if I level it up, the immortality part will come…

Also, why does mine have the word Greater Origin…?

Well, at least --

"Come, sister," said Joshua, interrupting Vivian's thoughts. "Let us go fetch your reward."

"Yes, brother," Vivian said and suppressed the urge to jump in excitement.