Chapter 123: Heretic Rewards
This chapter is sponsored by The Bitch in the Fantasy World Patrons:
• Adventurer The orc warrior 261
• Adventurer GrimV
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5:43 p.m.
A strange-looking carriage was traveling down a dirt road that was surrounded by a forest on the sides.
Anyone looking at the carriage may consider it “strange” because instead of an animal pulling it, it was being pulled by a man in his mid-20s.
And that man was none other than Robbie.
He didn’t mind pulling it because his Physical Force was actually Silver or around 60 points while his Magic Force was somewhere between Iron-Silver and Silver or 45 and 60 points. It was tiring but it wasn’t impossible.
Vivian, on the other hand, was walking behind the carriage with her sword on her hand in case an enemy appeared.
And as for the rest of their companions, the mother and the three children were inside the carriage along with the deceased father. There was also the corpse of the bandit who didn’t transform but it was tied on top of the carriage with the luggage.
Was it stupid…?
After causing the animal to run away with the carriage and the 4 bandits to chase it…
Should’ve I also followed them and dealt with them first…?
I mean…
At the time, my main focus was the leader and was trying to base the strength of his companions on him...
If he’s weak, then his companions are weaker…
That was it…
But then again…
If he was stronger than me, wouldn’t that be pointless…?
I’d still be captured or defeated regardless…
She shook her head mentally.
I have to admit…
I got lucky…
I literally have plot armor…
Beak! Beak!
Tch!
She clicked her tongue.
Not this again…
She turned to wear the direction of the crowing came from and saw the Bukaroo flying towards her.
Whooosh!
Thud, thud!
She swung her sword and the bird was sliced in two in mid-air without bothering to stop and extract the tail.
She let out a sigh.
This is already the fifth time…
And that’s just for the Bukaroo…
She threw her gaze at the corpse tied on top of the carriage.
Now that I think about it…
I just killed people…
Not just one person, but ---…
Wait…
How many was it again…?
She recalled the bandits she killed.
4...
She glanced at the blade of her sword and then at her left hand.
Bu how come I don’t feel anything…?
I remember watching videos and reading comments of soldiers, policemen and people about taking a life…
And how it made them appreciate life or some shit…
Her brows knitted together.
Is it because these people are bandits…?
Also…
Now that I also think about it…
They weren’t exactly humans when I cut them down…
An image of the 3-meter-tall alien-humanoid-octupus-like being flashed inside her head.
Demons, huh...
These people called them demons or Lesser Demons...
Like really...?
They look more like aliens to be honest...
Hmm...
Are these people aware of the concept of aliens and UFOs...?
An image of her father dressed in a police uniform flashed inside her head.
Hmm…
I wonder if my father feels the same…
I’ve never heard him kill a suspect or talk about killing a suspect…
But if he did…
Would he feel the same…?
Criminals are nothing but useless parasistes…
A waste of tax-payers' money…
And also space…
They literally have no use in a society of law-abiding citizens…
Rawr!
Rawr!
Two Yellow Wakos came running to Vivian and then leaped with their jaws wide open.
Whooosh!
Whooosh!
Thud, thud!
Thud, thud!
Whiiip!
Vivian sliced both of them in mid-air and then swung her sword, whipping off the blood on its blade before resuming walking.
Wait…!
There are…
Sweatshops…
Yeah…
That’s the only use they have…
But then again…
The government still has to house them and feed them…
On top of that...
Having them work in sweatshops will only be taking work and business opportunities from the law-abiding citizens…
She nodded.
Yeah…
They really have no use in a society with law-abiding citizens…
“Honored Priestess!” a female voice called out.
Vivian turned her head and saw the head of the mother sticking out of the window carriage.
“We’re almost at the gates!” the mother said.
Vivian nodded and then moved to the side.
Up ahead about 2 miles away was a large gate surrounded by high walls of Luxen City.
Hmm…
Is it just me or does the gate look different…?
The road that Vivian and company were traveling on was the Western Road and the gate they were about to enter was the West Gate. The road and gate that Vivian always uses were the Southern Road and South Gate.
Beak! Beak!
Vivian rolled her eyes.
“Seriously?” she said and then turned to where the crowing was coming from.
***
5:55 p.m.
Vivian and her companions finally arrived at the West Gate.
One of the Guards approached Robbie who was in front of the carriage pulling it like an animal.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
Robbie turned to Vivian, causing the Guard to turn to her as well.
Eh…?
I have to explain it…?
“Guard Captain! There’s a dead body on top!” another Guard said.
A confused expression appeared on the Guard who approached Robbie and his gaze bounced between Robbie, Vivian and the top of the carriage.
“Wait! I can explain!” Vivian said.
***
6:13 p.m.
Somewhere in Luxen City.
This is so embarrassing…
Robbie was still pulling the carriage, the mother and children along with the body of the deceased father are still inside the carriage, the body of the bandit was still tied on top of the carriage with the luggage, and Vivian was walking behind the carriage with her sword on her left hip while they were traveling down the streets of Luxen City. Because of this sight, they caught the eyes of many people that some even decided to follow them. But when word got out that the body tied on top of the carriage was a suspected demon-worshipper, the number of people who decided to follow them greatly diminished. However, many people still watched from afar.
I really didn’t think this through…
I should’ve agreed to be escorted…
Back at the West Gate, after Vivian explained what happened, not only did the Guards immediately let them pass, but they also offered to let one of their animals pull their carriage and escort them. However, due to Vivian’s Lore Magic [Nemesis of Beasts], she rejected them.
Hmm…
There’s something I’m confused about…
Those Guards…
I can’t tell if they were kind and so eager to help because...
I’m a beautiful woman…
I’m a Priestess…
I killed a bunch of demon-worshippers and captured one…
I helped a group of civilians from the hands of demon-worshippers…
Or all of the above…
The carriage in front of Vivian stopped and she turned to her right.
In front of her was the entrance of the Temple of Priests office building was located outside of the Private Compound of the Temple of Priests.
Well…
I guess I still have to do the talking…
She went over to the main entrance.
And God I can’t wait to go home and change…!
How dare that bastard piece of shit how touch me…!
As she entered the main lobby, she swept her gaze around.
He’s here…
She spotted Joshua standing in the middle of the lobby and wearing his usual kind and friendly demeanor while talking to a White Cloak Priest in his early 30s.
She made her way to him.
"Excuse me, Brother Joshua."
Joshua and the Priest turned to her.
"Sister Vivian…?" Joshua said in surprise.
It was now past 6:00 p.m. so half of the employees inside the building already left. However, that wasn’t the part that surprised him. What surprised him was Vivian’s appearance. Aside from her dirty and crumpled clothes, her skin was so pale and her lips were close to purple as if she was sick or something which was a stark contrast from the last time he saw her that she even had a slight tan. Furthermore, the more he looked at her, he also noticed that she lost some weight.
"Sorry for bothering you, brother, but can I ask for your help? I encountered some travelers on the road who were attacked by a group of bandits that turned out to be demon-worshippers."
The faces of Joshua and the White Cloak Priest beside him immediately turned serious.
"Where are the demon-worshippers?"
Vivian subconsciously leaned back and blinked a few times.
What...?
***
Joshua, Vivian, Robbie, the mother, the children, and the carriage were gathered at the back of the Temple of Priests office building.
There were also two White Cloak Priests who were standing beside a wagon with the body of the bandit suspected to be demon-worshipper lying on top of it. Among the Priests, one was in his late 20s while the other was the same Priest Joshua was talking to earlier and he was now holding two scepters, each with a crystal on its tip.
The Priest holding two scepters turned to the bandit’s corpse and pressed one of the crystals on the bandit’s skin.
Nothing happened.
He pulled back the scepter and did the same procedure with the other scepter.
This time, the crystal glowed.
He pulled back the scepter and then turned to Joshua.
“Lesser Chaos Affinity.”
Joshua nodded.
“Thank you, Brother Gerald.”
Chud!
All of a sudden, the mother rushed to Joshua and clung to his clothes as she cried and slowly knelt down.
"Honored Sir Priest, please cast [Resurrection] on my husband…! We are but a small and poor family from Sierra Village who lost our entire livelihood from the tragedy that came to our village…! We came to this city to search for a better life but were attacked by demon-worshippers on our way here…!” she said and then lowered her head. “We don’t have the coins to pay you at the moment, but we swear to the God of Light that we will pay you in the future…! I beg you, Honored Sir Priest…!"
Seeing their mother beg and cry, the children hugged each other and cried.
“Please, Honored Sir Priest…!” the 15-year-old female said.
“We promise to do anything, Honored Sir Priest…!” the 13-year-old female said.
“Please resurrect our father...!” the 10-year-old boy said.
Robbie, on the other hand, didn’t say anything. But he was trying his best not to cry.
Joshua flashed his usual kind and friendly demeanor.
"Please stand up, madam,” he said and then gently pulled the mother up. “Since you and your family faced such tragedy at the hands of demon-worshippers, your family doesn't have to pay the 1,000 gold fee. The Temple of Priests will resurrect him for free. In addition to that, we will also provide you and your family a month's worth of food, shelter, clothing and some coins for the pain and trauma that you and your family have suffered."
The mother fell to her knees once again and cried even more. She grabbed Joshua’s hands.
Smooch.
Smooch.
She kissed his hands.
"Thank you, Honored Sir Priest…! Thank you…!"
Meanwhile, her children started crying with tears of joy.
And as for Robbie, he wiped the tears from his eyes.
“Thank you, Honored Sir Priest and the Temple of Priests!” he said and smiled before turning to Vivian. “Especially you, Honored Lady Priestess. Thank you so much!”
Vivian held out her hand.
“It’s fine, really.”
The mother got up on her knees, rushed over to Vivian, knelt down, and grabbed her hands.
Smooch.
Smooch.
"Thank you, Honored Lady Priestess…! If you didn't come to save us, only the Elemental Gods would know what would happen to our family…!"
“Thank you, Honored Lady Priestess…!” the children said and lowered their heads.
Vivian’s face twitched.
Oh my God…!
Saliva and snot are on my hands…!
“Like I said, it’s fine back in the forest, it’s fine. You don’t have to thank me,” she said as she forced a smile and tried to slowly pull her gloved-hands away.
Joshua nodded.
"Sister Vivian is correct. You don't have to thank us. As members of the Temple of Priest, it is our duty and solemn vow to ease the world from pain and suffering and also eradicate the demons, demon-worshippers, the Cult of Infinity and the heretics," he said and smiled.
Vivian glanced at her hands.
She’s still not letting go…
Joshua turned to the other Priest.
"Brother, I'll leave them to you."
He nodded.
“Yes, brother,” he said and then turned to mother. “Madam, I need you and your family to accompany me.”
Come on…
Let go of my hands already…
"May I ask what's the name of my family's savior?" the mother asked.
"Vivian."
"Thank you, Honored 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…!"
Smoooch.
Smoooch.
She kissed Vivian's hands one last time before finally letting go and getting escorted away along with Robbie and the children.
Joshua turned to Gerald who was holding the two scepters.
“Brother, Sister Vivian and I will be at the Treasure Room. I’ll leave that disgusting and vile demon-worshipper to you.”
He nodded.
“I’ll make sure to extract every piece of information out of him!” he said and then pulled the wagon away.
Joshua turned to Vivian.
"Sister.”
Vivian turned to him.
“Yes?”
“I'm very proud of you. You did well."
She scratched the side of her face.
"Thanks… But it’s really nothing… I just happened to pass by… That’s all…"
“Let’s go back inside the building so that I can issue your rewards -- I’ll also include the ones you killed,” Joshua said and then began walking.
“Okay,” Vivian said as she followed him.
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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
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