Chapter 80 – Established Ties (End)

Chapter 80 – Established Ties (End)

Early morning. Western city district.

This was an area that was close to a lake; the scenery was pretty good.

Grasslands. A starry field of flowers. Everything appeared to be that beautiful. For the city that was gradually clamouring, this place was a simple place that only thrived in springtime.

The lake wasn’t big. Its area was approximately the size of a soccer field in the corner of the western city district. Tranquility streaming. Serenely gazing towards the heavens. A large river extending continuously onwards connected it to the outside.

However, in contrast to the turbulent river, the small lake appeared to be exceedingly tranquil. Exceedingly auspicious. Shallow fields of tender grass and vividly coloured blossoms were on the edges of the lake; similarly growing peacefully. The atmosphere was suffered with the fresh scent of flowers specific to springtime.

Encircling the small lake was a firm road for pedestrians to tread across; some idle city dwellers with nothing to do, or perhaps a couple holding hands, or perhaps wandering grandchildren and their grandparents, as one big family. Early in the morning, while the air was just fresh, there would be no small amount that would go for a stroll.

And by the side of this beautiful lake, there was a building that looked exceptionally refined. The people that went out for exercise in the early morning, whenever they went past this building, they would all painstakingly lower their own voices, their expressions would also go from a carefree manner and become more sincere and solemn. Their footsteps would also be tread more lightly. At the time they arrived at the front entrance, they would even go so far as to stop for a moment, close their eyes, and place their hands together in front of their chest. Sincerely praying for a moment. Afterwards, their footsteps would again lightly depart from this area. Right until a far distance away from the building, would they then recover their lively temperament, talking or laughing without the slightest restraint.

The inside of the establishment, amidst a small courtyard area, an image of a God of about 5 metres in height was carved out quite realistically. This was the image of a Goddess. She had the type of posture of gazing down at all living things as she stood high up on the altar.

The engraving on the wall behind her had a bull, as well as countless engravings of beautiful flora and fauna.

This idol of the Goddess was entirely carved out of white marble. Adorned on her head was a crown made of flowers and plants. Wearing a green hued dress, her countenance was beautiful. Feminine curves were faintly discerned, maximising the charisma of a female; additionally, it caused people to have heart palpitations. Even though she was only an statue, her pair of eyes was unusually lifelike. This was the Earth Goddess Irideus.

The people that stopped by just then were also just praying to her. This place was a Shrine for the Earth Goddess. It was of a different styling to the Shrine in Ricca town. The established Shrine, even though it occupied a bit of area, architecturally, it tended towards simple elegance, serenity, tranquility, auspicious harmony and a simple interior design. Only, this kind of simple feeling was nevertheless only given to people initially. So long as you visited the Shrine and got to truly know it, then you would get the feeling that within this place, it had a type of atmosphere with an enormous spiritual and magical influence; which couldn’t be felt in a small town Shrine. The building was not at all as grandly constructed as the Shrine in Ricca town, yet against all expectations it would cause people to have the type of sensation of needing to pay homage to it.

Continuing on from the Shrine on the main road, the flora on either sides of the road were growing even more naturally; offering the joyful feelings of spring. Endlessly growing up and up.

However, different to plants, humans would be evidently more lazy during the season of spring.

“Today’s weather is really great ah.” an elderly wearing a Priest’s gown was just reclining against a chair underneath a tree; softly sighing about the beautiful sunshine, while
enjoying the warm sunshine coming in between the gaps of the leaves at the same time.

The appearance of the elderly Priest was quite ordinary, however, even though his facial features were only simple and unspectacular, but compiled together, it gave people a type of highly auspicious and happy feeling. Benevolence. Because of a long life, he also displayed a peaceful temperament.

A very long and well maintained clean beard dangled to his chest. When the wind blew, his beard would lightly float along. Adding on the fact he was wearing a white chaplain gown, he looked rather holy.

In front of the elderly Priest was a small circular wooden table. The table wasn’t high. It was also quite close to him, perfect enough for when he stretched his arm out, it would be able to just reach it. On top of the small courtyard table were a few transparent plates, with some seasonal fruits on top; looking quite fresh and tempting.

As the elderly Priest enjoyed himself, he stretched out his hand to grab onto a fruit and slowly began to ate. He seemed to enjoy this kind of tranquil peacefulness immensely as he ate. He also did not seem to be purely for the sake of eating, instead, it was for the sake complementing the entire ambience that he did this kind of action.

Unfortunately, it was at this moment, a wave of footsteps had suddenly sounded through from the outside. The sound went from far to closer. It seemed to be heading in this direction.

The elderly Priest furrowed his brows. Regarding there being people disturbing his own rest at this time, he was quite upset.

“Master, did you seek for me?” quickly, another person arrived at this location. Seeing that the elderly Priest had already opened his eyes, the person immediately stood to attention with deferential respect in front of the elderly Priest, and softly inquired.

Seeing the one that came was a student he had once instructed, the elderly Priest’s dissatisfaction immediately lessened. However, he still had his brows furrowed, he then spoke. “Shardster¹, it’s not that I’m criticizing you. Normally your performance is always quite good, but forever at a pivotal point are you a slave to your emotions. This point makes me quite worried ah. I’m already so old now. Currently, I’m still stuck at the Rank 5 stage. Most probably, it’ll be too difficult to have further breakthroughs. You’re still young and presently you’ve already reached the level of Rank 3. Hopefully, down the track, you’ll have even better developments. Alright, your performance hasn’t been bad. Only, you always have disputes of personal feelings with others. You’re a Priest. What a Priest needs to do is have conviction towards the Gods. Many things can’t be strived for.”

“Yes, Yes!” the person that arrived was also a Priest. His age was roughly of 25 or 26 years. He repeatedly nodded and said yes. But immediately, this Priest called Shardster, couldn’t help but speak again with a complicated expression. “Master, what you’ve said is correct. Only, this matter, you still need preside over it. This has already affected the reputation of the Shrine; a blemish on the Goddess’ honour.”

“Oh. What serious matter is this?”

“It’s like this. The Adventurers Guild has officially inquired, requesting to thoroughly investigate this matter. It’s related to Dennis……” Priest Shardster spoke at once, attempting to be as objective as possible. But his heart was still yet agitated.

He was the same graduation class as Dennis. However, Dennis had relied on a few connections to first become a presiding Priest, own a Shrine, and then manage over a district; naturally making it easier to obtain divine favour. Consequently, Dennis had rapidly progressed. Although in the recent years he had seemed to stagnate, he was still a Rank 4. As for Shardster who had worked hard and bitterly, he was currently only a Rank 3.

“So that’s the matter!” finished listening to Priest Shardster’s words, the elderly Priest immediately submerged himself into deep contemplation.

Seeing him ponder, Shardster then cautiously informed him of transpired within the city.

Because of the Adventurers Guild’s announcement, as well as the networking between Adventurers, the matters pertaining Priest Dennis had already spread out slowly from the community of Adventurers.

Furthermore, it was not just the Adventurer’s community. Because quite a lot of Adventurers would frequently go to the pubs and such locations to eat and drink, and meanwhile it would be difficult to avoid discussions on the topic that made them furious, quite a few citizens within the city had slowly also begun to discuss about this matter.

There was no correlation to the city’s Shrine, but because it was still a Priest of the Agricultural Goddess, there would still be malicious comments from the people on the road; it was hard to avoid having a type of embarrassed feeling, having a negative influence was neither good as well.

The elderly Priest listened. A moment later he spoke: “it looks as if it really does need a clearing.”

Finished speaking, he looked at Shardster in a profound and thought provoking way.

As a teacher, he wouldn’t know of Shardster’s thought processes. He could only beforehand, prohibit inner struggles. Merely, with the current event occurring, he could possibly justifiably and honourably suggested to topple over Dennis and give his own apprentice an opportunity.

“I hear and obey your orders, master!” because the response was so frank like this, Priest Shardster was still lacking in confidence. But in the blink of an eye, seeing that the elderly Priest’s bearing was definite, Priest Shardster was immediately happy inside. As he saw it, so long as Priest Dennis toppled over, then within the Shrine, with him already approaching the level of attaining Rank 4, then it was most probably that the position of presiding Priest should to go to him right?

Even if he didn’t desire it, being able to topple his own rival Dennis, which had always made him uncomfortable, was also truly a joyous matter.

With his thought processes, he believed that the present kind of trend was quite beneficial for himself. He had decided to further fan the flames and stir this matter even bigger.

As a result, after once again having a brief exchange with the elderly Priest, Priest Shardster had then taken his leave and left.

And watching his rear view as he left, the elderly Priest that was reclining on the soft chair had only shook his head without saying anything. Sighing within his mind.

Half a day later. At a place about 100 or so kilometres away from the small city. A Church.

“What? Such a matter has happened? Scum! What the fuck is this Dennis doing?! If it’s truly like this, then that Dennis is simply inexcusable of crimes!”

The presiding Bishop that was responsible for the arrangement of Shrines, for this district area of 10 or so cities and 100 odd towns, at this moment, he was precisely looking at a secret report from Ricca town with an angry face turning pale.

He angrily threw the report on the table before pacing endlessly within the room.

Ever since he assumed the office of district Bishop, he had never encountered such a grave matter. If the matter continued to escalate, he was afraid that even he couldn’t shirk the responsibilities.

“Unacceptable. I can’t allow the matter to continue on worsening. Without doubt, I need to learn the truth of the matter……the influence of this matter is growing increasingly. If it truly escalated, there would be serious repercussions for the reputation of the Earth Goddess……”

As it turns out, written atop of the report was the detailed account pertaining the heavy crimes of Priest Dennis, as well as the concrete matters of how Dennis had collaborated with an Adventurer to plot against an Adventurer squadron; all filed atop of the paper.

What made the Bishop most angry was related to the negative influence created from the matter. This kind of influence was grave and unfavourable for the prestige of the believers in the Earth Goddess. Even more so was that there was a loss of trust from everyone towards the profession of a Priest, and to his leadership for this district during this period of time.

If the matter continued on to develop, then it was quite possible that as the presiding Bishop he would also need to be punished. Not only would the punishment come from the Church, it would also possibly come from the Goddess———such as a decrease of divine favour.

For this reason, the Lord Bishop had convened a meeting at once for the first time.

The results of the meeting was to dispatch a Rank 5 Priest and go to Ricca town and carry out divine judgement———to request God’s decision on whether Priest Dennis was innocent.

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