Chapter 261 A Sketchy Old Man

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Ellergest and my mother were struck down by my father's unmovable will. With that, the conversation of making me a priest quickly ended because he was very stubborn about it. At the end, they began to adress the important things here, why did I made a second name and why did I kept this all a secret.

"I did this to protect my family. We had fought a member from an organization, a cult. Keeping my true identity a secret made it so it would be harder for these members to track me down. Don't you think? I also didn't wanted the old man to track down my family to manipulate them into making me a priest, just like it is happening right now."

The moment I dropped those words Ellergest made a horrified face filled with indignation.

"H-How would I even do that?! Do you think I am evil or something?" He cried.

"Well you just did that, Head Priest." Said Seth while readjusting his glasses and raising an eyebrow.

"Ah… T-That wasn't like he described it though!" Ellergest one more retorted, but now that I explained things as they were, there wasn't much to discuss.

"To think you were friends with the Head Priest and these other priests… My son really is amazing at making connections with important people…" Said my father.

"Y-Yeah, even if you don't want to be a priest, will you continue helping them?" Asked my mother, imploring me to keep such connections. Don't worry mother, I know how valuable these connections are, and this is the reason why I choose to be employed by them, aside from the money.

"Don't worry mother, I will continue helping them as long as I am paid fairly for my services." I said with a nod.

"W-Well, I guess I have to say that I am happy to know that you won't betray us or leave us, Blake." Said Ellergest. "Nevertheless, I am curious about those three children, they're very powerful and talented…" The old man pointed at my childhood friends, Eric, Chris, and Erika.

"Well, they're my childhood friends, children from hunters or apothecaries from this village." I said, letting the three children present themselves.

"N-Nice to meet you once more, Head Priest! I-I am Chris. I wonder if you still remember my face…" Said Chris. "I am the humble son of Hunter, and my aspirations is to become an Adventurer!"

"I-I am Eric, I was raised by my uncle and my aunt, who are the apothecaries of this village, they're the ones that sell their products the cheapest! Most of your supply of Health Potions were brought from our family… My aspiration is to explore the world and uncover its secrets…!"

"I'm Erika! I am strong, and I like to be with Blake! My daddy is a doll maker and an alchemist. He makes pretty dolls and he's old like a grandpa!" Erika said. "Ah! I want to be with Blake so I will also become an Adventurer!"

Eric and Chris were nervous while Erika spoke fluently but often lost herself in what she wanted to say. I might have to teach her how to properly adress people with authority in the future. Seeing how her bloodline is that of nobility and even royalty, she might one day clash with these people who are good at speaking. I cannot let her lose to them in speech alone, or she'll get easily taken advantage of.

"Oho, I remember you three now! Chris is the boy that attacked another in the awakening ceremony, right?" Asked Ellergest.

"T-That was… actually Blake. I apologized to him already. I was being stupid back then…" Sighed Chris.

"Eh? It was him?! Y-You were the kid that just blocked a fireball with your hand?" Asked Ellergest.

"What? It's not hard." I sighed. "I am also the one that got the book spirit, the laughingstock of that ceremony."

"Y-You were the book spirit kid?! D-Don't tell me that book actually granted you special magic and the powers you have now?! A grimoire, maybe?!" Asked Ellergest.

If I told him that the only thing the book does is show me my status he would go insane, so I better not. People in this world also seem to lack the power to see their own Status despite having stats, levels, and skills.

"The book was an extension of my true spirit which you've already met, Eleanora. She's currently resting so I can't summon her yet…" I said.

"I see… A-Anyways, Eric, right? I do remember a boy getting a Vines Spirit and the Druid Talent, you seem to have a good future ahead!" Ellergest said. "Are you interested in becoming a priest? Your healing talent is outstanding."

"N-Not for now, I want to follow the footsteps of my ancestor and explore the world while finding new materials to collect and use to create items through alchemy. I will follow Blake, he promised me that he would protect me in our travels…" Eric said with a smile, as he looked at me while giving me a thumbs up.

"I see…" Sighed Ellergest. "And well, Erika, right? I also know you well, you're the Doll House girl, aren't you? An incredible spirit I had never seen before. It seems you've been improving it over all this time already, it can do so many things that I am left quite speechless, and you're quite mighty with the big sword you carry around, how come you can wield such a weapon with your size?!" Asked the old man, as Erika seemed to laugh while feeling embarrassed of being called amazing.

"Heheh, if it wasn't for Blake, I would had never grown this strong though…!" Erika said.

"Hm… You kids are all promising. It is a pity you don't want to join the church, but it cannot be helped. At the very least, I would like to employ your help in the future similarly to how I do it for Blake. Talented children like you must be also raised well and taught well… Have your parents considered moving to the capital?" Ellergest wondered.

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