Chapter 282: To She'kel Village

This chapter is sponsored by The Bitch in the Fantasy World Patrons:

• Adventurer GrimV

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Octus 22, 3023 A.M., day of Sunar, 7:57 a.m.

Airport Terminal Building 7, Holy City, Holy Kingdom.

Vivian had a suitcase on her hand and was wearing her Inquisitor Full-Mask as she was walking down a hall.

There were a few new noticeable things on her.

The first one was her hair. Aside from wearing her real hair color, she was back into sporting a short hairstyle that barely touches her traps but now with bangs. Not surprisingly, she messed up on the night of Thura, but finally figured it out on the night of Satur.

The second one was her clothes. She was still wearing the same “type” of clothes -- a long-sleeved turtleneck short dress, gloves, stockings, and boots. But instead of the colors black and brown, it was now white and gold, and the only gold-colored items on her were her Class Crystal necklace, the cuffs on her gloves, her belt and the accents on her long boots. Furthermore, her long-sleeved turtleneck short dress was no longer backless because it was currently autumn season, she had [Mana Fist], [Mana Claw] and [Mana Finger] that allowed her to summon a demonic arm made out of the blue mana to represent that skill, she had [Mana Tail], and she could jump over a 4-story building because of Physical Force.

To give it some context, assuming that the average height of a floor is 10ft or 3.048  meters, ignoring the basic and raw safety principle of construction where if the 1st floor is 12ft in height, the 2nd floor should be 11ft, and then the 3rd floor should be 10ft in order to make the overall building safer, and considering gravity:

Physical Force - 10

• basically the average vertical jump of a normal human

Physical Force - 50

• allows a human to jump to the 2nd floor with [Power Leg]

Physical Force - 100

• allows a human to jump to the 2nd floor

Physical Force - 160

• allows a human to jump to the 3rd floor with [Power Leg]

Physical Force - 220

• allows a human to jump to the 3rd floor

Physical Force - 290

• allows a human to jump to the 4th floor with [Power Leg]

Physical Force - 360

• allows a human to jump to the 4th floor

Physical Force - 440

• allows a human to jump to the 5th floor with [Power Leg]

Physical Force - 520

• allows a human to jump to the 5th floor

Dismissing Vivian’s Greater Demon side and simply judging her based on her stats alone, to label her as “human” or put her in the category of “human” was already debatable.

In fact, if someone were to cut her skin and then observe how fast her body could heal the wound without relying on any medicine and spell, the speed would still be grossly inhuman.

So at this point, one could say that the human appearance of people like her, the Kings, the Light Saints, the Aristocratic Noble leaders, and etc. was the only thing remaining that’s still “genuinely human” while the rest was “completely alien”.

Vivian raised her left hand and did an open-and-close motion.

Is my overall white outfit too much…?

For some reason, I’m feeling a bit more conscious than usual…

Maybe because it’s white and I’m conscious of getting dirty…?

But what can I do…?

Aside from black, this is the safest color I can think of to go with my White Cloak and hair color…

And plus…

She flipped her slightly.

A new haircut deserves a new set of clothes…

That’s simply an irrefutable universal law…

An image flashed inside her head.

What happens when I become Gold Cloak…?

Aside from black, what goes well with it…?

I can’t picture myself wearing white and then with my hair color…

Purple clothes…?

No…

Purple is too bright…

Doesn’t blend in…

Dark purple…?

Gold…?

Double kill…

She shook her head mentally.

Whatever…

Anyway….

This is just the usual wearing-a-new-type-of-outfit-that-I’m-not-used-to feeling…

After a couple of hours, I won’t feel it anymore…

She glanced at the person walking beside her.

It was Wind who was also wearing an Inquisitor full-mask and a set of civilian clothing under his White Cloak while also carrying a suitcase on his hand.

Her brows knitted together slightly as she noticed the strand of green hair protruding from the side of his mask and under his hood.

Hold on…

Was his hair always green…?

She tried to recall her memory.

I thought it was white…?

Was I just imagining things…?

Whatever…

When they finally exited the building and stepped into a wide and open green field with several buildings in the distance, in the middle of the field, there were 2 Crusaders, 1 gray-colored Rhonea and 1 blue-colored Draghorn.

However, there was something odd about the 2 Crusaders, the Rhonea and the Draghorn.

Instead of standing close to each other or about 5 meters apart, the Crusader with the Rhonea were standing at least 15 meters away from the Crusader with the Draghorn.

Wind secretly glanced at Vivian.

Back in the afternoon on the day of Fratur, Wind visited Vivian because she didn’t come to him to discuss the case they would be handling at She’kle Village, so he thought of inviting her for dinner so that they could discuss it. However, she told him that she was currently handling a personal problem so she rejected his invitation.

Wind didn’t take any offense from it. Instead, he even asked her if there was anything he could help with her personal problem.

She continued to just say that it was a personal problem and she would personally deal with it.

The truth was, she couldn’t tell him it was because her hair was still in a bad situation due to her messing up cutting her hair last night or on the night of the day of Thura and she was currently waiting for her hair to grow.

Wind then nodded and wished her well. But he was about to leave, she requested 5 things for their departure:

• She would choose who her ride would be

• On the day of their departure, before they ride, their rides should be at least 15 meters apart

• During their flight, their rides must maintain a distance of at least 15 meters from each other

• When they finally arrive at the Branch Chapter Temple in She’kel Village, their rides must still maintain a distance of at least 15 meters apart

• The Crusader she has chosen as her ride would be her personal ride until the Field Mission ends

When Wind first heard of her requests, he was, of course, confused. But then decided to just accept it after remembering what Pen told him.

Pen was the one who ordered him to take on this Field Mission or case. And during their meeting, he also told him to “properly guide the Inquisitor that he’s going to be working with”.

Wind has been in an Inquisitor since he was in his late teens and he was now in his mid-20s so he quickly understood what was going on.

The first clue happened during the first week of the month. Vivian shared with him that Pen was the one who summoned her to come to the Inquisitor Division Headquarters and he also left a special order that in case he wasn’t around, she would talk to Blanch.

The second clue was when he was ordered by Pen to take this Field Mission and was instructed by Pen to “properly guide guide the Inquisitor that he’s going to be working with”.

With these 2 clues alone, and the fact that Pen was a Chapter Master yet he’s been personally arranging or setting up things for a rookie Inquisitor like Vivian, it was easy to piece things together.

“Which one is Brother Lieutenant Janis?” Vivian asked.

“The one on the left.”

Vivian’s eyes turned to slits behind her mask.

Is that really him…?

Both riders are wearing their helmets…

And as for their pets…

How should I know…?

Apart from their colors, they all look the same to me…

Well…

Let’s see if his birdie still remembers its lesson…

“I see,” she said and then headed towards Janis and his Rhonea called “Bru”.

Wind, on the other hand, headed over to the Crusader with the Draghorn.

Both the Bru and the Draghorn were closely watching Vivian as if they were looking at a dangerous animal.

And when Vivian was about 13 meters away from Bru, it raised its chest and flapped its wings as if it was pumping itself up.

Although Vivian couldn’t hear it, she saw Janis turning over to Bru and it looked like he was chastising the monster.

If the same thing should happen…

Well…

I guess I should’ve told Wind that we should’ve flown at separate times…

When Vivian stepped into the 10-meter mark, Bruh let out a low crow before lowering its head, causing a small smile to break out from Vivian’s lips behind her mask.

Should I raise my own ride…?

She shook her head mentally.

No point…

It would only cause more problems at the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint…

How can I justify that they should cut off a piece of meat from their monsters and heal them with [Greater Heal] to feed me every day while I don’t do that to my own pet…?

Not because I can’t do it…

But because I don’t have [Greater Heal]…

‘This Inquisitor is lording over us when she doesn’t even have a basic Class Magic Spell like [Greater Heal]?! This just shows she’s unfit to be a Priestess and is a heretic! Arrest her!…’

I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up killing all of them due to embarrassment…

Also…

Once I learn [Primordial Beast], the pet would be useless..

Janis removed his helmet and then saluted when Vivian finally reached him and Bru.

“Sister Inquisitor Monad! May the God of Light watch over you!”

Ah…

Thank the God of Light he’s here…

If he wasn’t…

I would’ve called for Sister Juana…

Vivian saluted back.

“Brother Lieutenant Janis, may the God of Light watch over you as well. I’m happy that your contract hasn’t ended yet,” she said and then offered her suitcase. “I hope you’re doing well.”

Janis received her suitcase.

“Thank you, Sister Inquisitor, yes, I’m doing fine and I hope you’re doing fine as well.”

Vivian nodded.

After seeing her nod, Janis proceeded to turn away and fastened her suitcase on Bru.

Come to think of it…

Yeah…

For my next Field Mission…

I’m definitely calling for Sister Juana…

But is it safe…?

I mean…

That old bastard seem to find it very entertaining to put me in one dangerous situation after another…

And now I’m being sent to a Field Mission that’s indirectly connected to one of the so-called Golden Families…

Don’t get me wrong, I couldn't care any less if a blueie dies…

But if she dies under my watch, I’d be embarrassed to go back to the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint…

What am I going to say…?

‘Hi guys, I know you must be wondering why I didn’t come back with Sister High Sergeant Juana. Well, the thing is, she accidentally died during the Field Mission because she’s weak. Teehee~’…

Like hell that’s ever going to work…!

“Brother Lieutenant, you’ve received my instructions?”

Janis quickly finished fastening Vivian’s suitcase before turning to her and nodding.

“Yes, Sister Inquisitor,” he said and then let out a somewhat forced smile. “I am also grateful to the God of Light and to you that you’ve personally requested for me to be part of your team and your personal ride.”

“If you can’t at least throw in a genuine smile, then don’t smile.”

An apologetic expression flashed on his face.

“Forgive me, Sister In--”

Vivian held out her hand and then turned to Bru.

“Well, at least this pet of yours is behaving,” she said and then returned her gaze to him. “So great job, Brother Lieutenant. I’m proud of you and your ‘pet’.”

He gave a slight bow.

“Thank you, Sister Inquisitor.”

Hmm…

I wonder if this guy is aware that I’ve forced him to be part of the politics involving the Golden Families…

“Is my suitcase already properly tied?”

He nodded.

“Yes, Sister Inquisitor, it’s safe and secure.”

But then again…

Even if he was aware…

Does he really have a choice…?

Even I can’t reject an order from the Holy Crusade…

Her lips slowly broke into a small smile that wasn’t exactly a smile behind her mask.

“For now, at least…” she whispered.

“Sister Inquisitor?”

“Nothing, let’s fly.”

“Yes, Sister Inquisitor.”

“Sister would be fine if it’s just the two of us.”

“Yes, sister.”

***

8:31 a.m.

She’kel Village, Holy Kingdom.

A Draghorn carrying a Crusader and a male Inquisitor was flying in the sky. Behind them, about 30 meters away, was a Rhonea carrying a Crusader and a female Inquisitor.

The male Inquisitor activated [Halo] and the Draghorn began descending to an open and wide space within the compound of the Branch Chapter Temple in She’kel Village.

The architecture in She’kel Village was similar to the one found in Holy City and Brew Town but with a couple of differences.

Although She’kel Village was smaller compared to the Holy City, looking at the “wealth” invested in the infrastructure, it was closer to the Holy City.

Another difference between She’kel Village and Brew Town was that She’kel had rings:

• 1st ring - the outer wall

• Between the 1st and 2nd ring - inhabited by the “normal family” population

• Within the 2nd ring - inhabited by the rich and the Priest families population

And the Branch Chapter Temple was located on the southern part of the second ring and near a market district that’s shared by people from all backgrounds. 

Meanwhile, for Brew Town, it had no rings or walls -- not even an outer wall; it was quite small, and it looked more like a village from the olden times that featured a cozy summer-dream aesthetic designed for young people to walk hand-in-hand around town and fall in love. All of the houses were only one or two stories tall, nothing dared to stand too tall. The road was paved with bricks, there were plants and flowers everywhere, and small animals either sleeping or running around and playing with the children and adults.

Also, Brew Town was under the “care” of the Votum Family, the 9th-oldest Golden Family, and part of the Judgment Faction led by the Fur’ia Family, the 3rd-oldest Golden Family.

When the Draghorn and the Crusader were done dropping off the male Inquisitor and flying away, the Rhonea carrying the Crusader and the female Inquisitor began descending.

***

Vivian, who had her arms wrapped around Janis, turned her eyes into slits as she stared at the people waiting below.

At this point, she has ridden a flying monster 7 times now. But despite that, even if she were still a man, she still would choose to wrap her arms around the coachman’s waist because riding a Draghorn or a Rhonea was basically like riding a flying horse. It was nowhere near like an airplane, a helicopter or anything similar to that where the passenger was truly secured.

When the Rhonea finally landed, Vivian dismounted from the monster and turned to the people around.

There was Wind.

There was a male Crusader in his early 30s with pink hair and a female Crusader in her late 20s with long blonde hair, and both of them had their helmet off.

And there was a White Cloak Priest in his late 30s with brown hair and a dark-skinned White Cloak Priest in his early 30s with black hair styled into a crew cut.

Apart from Wind and Janis, everyone was caught by surprise when they saw Vivian’s attire but immediately wiped that expression off their faces.

Vivian saluted.

“Greetings to you all, Brothers and Sister. I am Sister Inquisitor Monad of the Inquisitory Division. May the God of Light watch over you all.”

The two White Cloak Priests stepped forward.

“Welcome to She’kel Village, Sister Inquisitor Monad. I am Brother Demius and I’m part of the Internal Unit. And may the God of Light watch over you as well,” the Priest in his late 30s said and smiled.

“And I am Brother Theodore, I’m part of the External Unit. And may the God of Light watch over you as well, Sister Inquisitor Monad,” the Priest in his early 30s said with a Heisen accent and smiled.

Among all of the Chapter Temples, only the Holy Kingdom and the Orion Kingdom practice a different kind of Branch Chapter Temple structure.

The Internal Unit:

• 2 Red Cloaks

• 1 Gray Cloak

• 15 Gold or White Cloaks

These priests from this unit are all from the Holy Chapter Temple.

The External Unit:

• 5 Priests from the Holy Chapter Temple

• 5 Priests from the Orion Chapter Temple

• 5 Priests from other Main Chapter Temples

With this unit, they’re in charge of choosing who their 2 Red Cloaks and 1 Gray Cloak would be.

In addition to that, their contract lasts between the month of Aurgus and the month of Mayus (10 months). Once their contract ends, they have the months of Junus and Julus for vacation.

Furthermore, they would have to move to another town or village within the Holy Kingdom and the Orion Kingdom with every new contract.  

There were a couple of reasons why this system was created:

• First off, there weren’t any Nobles, Aristocratic Nobles, Royalty in the Holy Kingdom and the Orion Kingdom, there were only Priest families and non-Priest families.

And since both the Holy Kingdom and the Orion Kingdom doesn’t want to adapt such a system because it was against the wishes of the first Priest, the first Light Saint and the founder of the Temple of Priests, Ne’ua, and they also don’t have any intention of letting a foreign power to come in and help them in “governing” their territories, this was their way to ensure that they could lessen the amount of corruption and nepotism within the towns and villages of the two kingdoms.

• Secondly, the Holy Kingdom and the Orion Kingdom technically have their own Knights Chapters but it was severely limited.

In the Holy Kingdom, the highest rank a Guard could reach was only Guard Captain. And if a Guard happened to possess the True Light Affinity or 3 True Magic Art Affinities, they would be “encouraged” to join the Temple of Priests instead.

Meanwhile, in the Orion Kingdom, the highest rank that a male Guard could reach was still only Guard Captain. On the other hand, the highest rank that a female Guard could reach was Knight Captain. And of course, if any of the Guards happened to possess the True Light Affinity or 3 True Magic Art Affinities, they would be “encouraged” to join the Temple of Priests.

The male Crusader saluted.

“Sister Inquisitor Monad! I am Brother High Lieutenant Ronan of the Infantry Division. May the God of Light watch over you as well!” he said with an Azatean accent.

The female Crusader saluted.

“Sister Inquisitor Monad! I am Sister Lieutenant Zola of the Infantry Division. May the God of Light watch over you as well!” she said with a Twinian accent.

Janis stepped forward while carrying Vivian’s suitcase and then saluted without putting the suitcase down.

“I am Brother Lieutenant Janis of the Air Division. May the God of Light watch over all of you, brothers and sisters!” he said with a Verglasian accent.

Out of all the people present, only Ronan and Zola had a surprised expression but it only lasted for a split second.

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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

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Chapter end