Chapter 372: Tis I

Chapter 372: Tis I

The pink shield in the sky crumbled and Beligenus appeared near the group, looking disheveled and exhausted. I shall abstain from asking unnecessary questions, this was beautifully done. Let us return-

Is he going to be alright?! Astelia interrupted him, which he took in strides.

Yes. His soul is extensively damaged but will recover in a matter of hours; his link to Scripture was completely severed, there is not a trace of essence left, he explained.

Wait, did we just miss an opportunity to steal another one of Scriptures essences?

It was worth it to save Astelias Uncle instead, though.

And this is really all I know about whats going on out there, so not much of anything new. Hopefully this is enough of a setback that Scripture stops bothering me for a while Sofia explained to Astelia.

Hmm. It was good that I left when I did, then I havent returned to the embassy often after we met in the moonlit castle, the ambiance in Skyreach had already turned a bit awkward Astelia commented from the other side of the bed.

The four girls were waiting, sitting around the sleeping Cardinal in Astelias room, with Pareth silently looking over them from a corner. Sofia had made sure that everyone was parasite-free, and now they were just waiting for Cardinal to wake up.

To think he, of all people, would get caught Astelia sighed.

The soul parasites are sneaky even if you know about them, but its true that I didnt expect him to get caught like that, especially after the warning letter I sent him Why was he even out there investigating the plague? Sofia asked.

Uncle Nyse is Hes always got to put his nose into every suspicious thing he sees. He spends all his time helping random people, playing doctor, investigating crimes, so much so that he often neglects everything else. He has been at the same level for a very long time, not because of a failed trial, but because he never took the time to actually do it Astelia answered while she observed her sleeping Uncle.

He was surprisingly trustful when Sofia met him, I remember he gave her the money for the blood in advance along with a storage item to put the blood in just like that, telling her to bring it back filled later, Alith chimed in.

Sofia nodded. That did happen, yeah. The money really saved our asses too. Im pretty sure we would have died against the Siren Queen if not for your mithril weapons.

Hes like that. Now that I think about it, its likely that he got your letter, Sofia, and decided to investigate the Church himself as a result, not wanting to endanger anyone else Anyway, thank you for helping me save him, Im indebted to you four, really, Astelia told them with a deep bow.

Saria waved her off, Its nothing. Just helping a friend. Besides, we had our own reason to deal with this issue, and Sofias part of the reason this even happened to him in the first place, so really, we did nothing but set things straight.

Cardinal frowned. Perhaps, I Do not know. I was investigating the plague. Spurred by Miss Sofias incredibly helpful letter, I managed to avoid the Soul Parasites and to start distributing a preventive brew to the civilians, for lack of an immediate cure. Afterwards, I traced the source of the spreading back to Einsens quarantined Holy See. I managed to slip inside of the barrier with relative ease, but to my surprise, the Headquarters of the Church were devoid of life. As if every last Paladin, Priest and Servant of Scripture had vanished off of the surface of this planet. I thoroughly combed the place, until I found myself in their strange underground prison.

Sofia cut him off, Prison? Not dungeon?

Not in the least, no, Cardinal answered, Was it a dungeon before? That is an interesting discovery There were no monsters, as far as Ive observed. Simply a large abandoned underground complex and abyss. The bottom of which I quickly reached, stepping on piles of shredded bones. I was curious at the time, intrigued by a set of Doors which I could not feel or teleport through for unclear reasons. I remember clearly grabbing the round handles. And that is it. End of story. Next thing I know, I woke up here, surrounded by a cortege of elegant young ladies.

You seem very unfazed for someone who just went through that and lost more than a year of memories, Alith commented.

Oh I have been through much worse, he answered with a laugh.

He has been through much worse, Astelia confirmed, nodding very fast with a terrified expression.

Hmm Piles of bones and a door, that much I remember as well from my rebirth as an Apostle Supposedly there was something or another sealed down there, I think? Didnt the magisterium say something like that? Im not quite sure, he did spout a lot of nonsense

Was there a body down there? With a pile of dead Zombies? And a sword? Sofia asked.

A body? Oh. So that is how you escaped? Most interesting. But there was no such thing, no, only broken bones, heaps of them, not the slightest hint of flesh, shattered armor, or anything else, really.

Hmm Well it makes sense that they recovered the corpse, but to get rid of the Zombies too

Now, however Cardinal disappeared from the bed. His voice reached the girls from behind the rooms door, which he opened, now fully dressed in his usual rhombus-patterned yellow and black outfit. I would appreciate hearing about your side of the story. This place We are in Brighthall, are we not? Seeing affirmative nods, he continued, I shall extend my thanks to the old Sage as well, then I believe my system log shall reveal plenty of things about my lost year or so, but a direct account of the happenings is always the best place to start, so let us discuss this in a more joyous environment, shall we? I am also quite thirsty.

How

Do you still have a storage item on you? Saria asked as she wondered about the same thing Sofia did.

Dear, my class is [Summoner],I am the storage item.

Im just surprised that Scripture did not rob you blind, Saria added, He seemed to have access to your skills.

Well, He might have been able to use the simpler ones, yes, but Divinity or not, there is little to no chance that He could have decoded a System specialization with five hundred years of upgrades in so little time. Besides, my Scribe would sooner die than allow anybody else inside my realm.