Chapter 163: Temple Knights 3
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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Everything below the 30th floor was just a taste.
Starting from the 31st floor, it felt like the developers were declaring an increase in difficulty.
Such as the toxic marshland.
The trees in the originally dense swamp had withered to ash grey, also providing a clearer view.
Thanks to this, a toxic gas troll rushed towards us, splashing through poisonous puddles in its way.
Of course, it wasnt just the troll; all sorts of undead creatures did as well.
These undead creatures blindly charge at any living being within their sensing range, but luckily, since they moved slowly and in a straight line, we had no trouble detecting and dealing with them.
"Ugh, this is really disgusting...."
"I think Ill have a very light dinner tonight, maybe just half of what I usually eat."
"As for me... I'll just chew on some jerky."
"I'll make a weak soup with a mild aroma for dinner. Youll still need to fill your stomachs to fight, after all."
While the group discussed their evening meal, complaining that their mental fatigue outweighed their physical exhaustion, Grace walked briskly, gazing at the towering pillar of divine energy rising in the distance.
Since the view was clear, monsters were annoyingly persistent, but at least we could clearly see the safe zone.
No monsters were around the divine energy pillar, but we could see a few adventurers hastily moving toward the safe zone as well.
"I wonder if they created that pillar of divine energy as a guide for everyone?"
"Maybe, but I think the pillar naturally formed due to a divine spell. When a sanctuary is created, pillars made of divine energy appear to form a temple. It seems like the shape has distorted slightly due to neutralizing the poison."
Seeing the pillar of divine energy pushing away the foul air, Irene became noticeably more energetic than usual.
Inspired by her, the rest of the team stopped their grumbling and started walking quickly.
It's not easy to lose energy while standing next to someone who smiles so radiantly.
As the sanctuary and safe zone gradually got closer, we saw another group of adventurers walking ahead of us on the narrow path.
Including the adventurers on another path, there were now three teams walking closely together.
However, unlike usual, there was no sign of wariness between the groups.
With divine energy soaring high in front of us and temple knights in shining white armor staring at us, no adventurer would dare to turn rogue.
As the temple knights in their shining white armor came into view, Irene naturally moved ahead of Grace.
Noticing this, a man from the leading group of adventurers slowly reduced his pace before approaching us.
He wore a wide, sack-like grey robe resembling that of a monk, and at his waist hung a belt with a symbol of the Goddess Faith.
"Hello, sister. By any chance, have you seen anything suspicious?"
"Hmm, apart from a troll that's supposed to be on the 40th floor appearing here, this 31st floor seems no different."
"A troll? A troll, you say... What I saw was a strange snake inside a gray tree. I thought it was a safe place and decided to rest, but paralyzing tentacles came crawling out from inside the tree trunk. I came to warn you to be careful when resting on tree branches or similar places."
"Is that so? Thank you, brother."
It seems like he intended to warn Irene about the snakes hiding inside trees.
However, his party seems to have not run into a troll yet; he was startled by Irene's words and hurriedly ran back towards his group.
Considering the troll is strong enough to be a boundary between intermediate and senior adventurers, adventurers have no choice but to be cautious.
That a named monster from the 40th floor is roaming around the 32nd floor is a large danger.
After briefly exchanging words, the group of adventurers ahead of us greet the temple knights and enter the safe zone without any issues.
We follow suit and soon arrive in front of the temple knights.
"Sister, who has embarked on a harsh journey, you have worked hard in carrying out the will of the Goddess."
"Hello, brothers. Is there anything we should be careful of in the safe zone?"
"The puddles inside are transparent, but the purification is not complete yet. They still carry a mild toxicity. Although it might be inconvenient, I advise against using the spring water inside."
It seems the temple knights' purpose is more towards guidance and support than interrogation, as they let us in without asking further questions.
As we followed Irene inside, a temple knight on our left suddenly grabbed me.
I looked at the knight in his white armor blocking my way.
"Um, brother?"
"...What's going on?"
Our party, walking ahead, turned around to look at us, and even the temple knight responsible for explanations looked surprised at his colleague blocking me.
Despite the gazes, he scrutinizes me from head to toe.
Facing his sharp gaze from within the white helmet,
'Did I have any issues with the temple lately?'
However, the question thrown by the temple knight was something I didn't expect at all.
"By any chance, have you received a revelation from the Goddess?"
"...Why do you ask?"
"Because you possess divine energy."
Maybe he was able to see traces of divine energy in my shield due to his high level?
Knights of the temple cannot become adventurers.
Of course, this is because they are a military group that moves according to oracles and revelations from the Goddess, and they possess divine energy.
They cannot take up adventuring as their main profession.
From the perspective of a temple knight, I must be an extraordinary anomaly.
Like how scouts are skilled in tracking living beings and rogues excel at disarming traps, temple knights can imbue armor and weapons with divine energy.
So, when an adventurer like me openly uses these skills, it naturally leads to confusion and questions.
Hey, whats happening here? Roland isnt supposed to use divine energy, right? Or wait, is he actually using divine energy at this moment?
-He's a Paladin, idiot
-You dont even know what your tank is doing?
-You should probably just give Roland to me
-So what is Rolands character quest? Are the temple knights involved?
-So temple knights arent Paladins, only Roland is... and how about Irene?
The temple knights at the entrance, as well as the viewers and my party members, all threw curious glances my way after hearing the question.
I realized that since receiving divine energy from meeting the Goddess, I had experimented alone but I never actually told my party members, 'I can use divine energy.'
When we received a revelation from the Goddess in the Blessed Forest, divine energy was bestowed upon me.
A revelation! You received a revelation?
Yes. Sister Irene and our party heard the voice of the Goddess."
Answering it head-on seemed like the best option at the moment.
Corruption in the temple is unlikely in this world and we could even receive their support.
At my words, the temple knights look at me with tear-filled eyes, while my party members seem confused.
Looks like the ladies thought of the Goddess's revelation as a 'secret only our party knows.
Especially our Northern brat; her piercing glare is almost painful.
It's hard to believe, but seeing the divine energy within you, it must be true. I hope the Goddess's blessings be upon Sister Irene, and you, the adventurer siblings.
Luckily, the temple knight, who I thought would start interrogating me, bowed his head without a moment's hesitation and stepped aside to let us pass.
Once inside, we saw a tent village set up around a large hearth.
Looks like were supposed to pick out an empty tent to rest in, and then use the large communal hearth in the center to prepare our meals.
Roland! Is it okay to just, you know... blurt that out?
As the gaze of the temple knights faded and since no other adventurers were around, Katie, with her cheeks puffed up in frustration, approached me.
She must be upset about my disclosure of our secret mission, meant to be known only to our party members.
With a fierce gaze, she attached herself to my side as I sat down in front of an empty tent.
The rest of the party members gathered around, waiting for an explanation.
"It was something bound to be revealed sooner or later. And as for divine energy, it has been gradually increasing. I just hadnt mentioned it."
"Since when exactly?"
"Like I said, since after meeting the Goddess. My mana is slowly transforming into divine energy."
I showed them my tightly clenched fist radiating blue mana and then pure white divine energy.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
In this world, using two types of energy is nearly impossible, so it was hard for them to believe even when seeing it with their own eyes.
There are form-changing characters in Heroines Chronicles, but even that I've never seen in my ten years in this world.
My divine energy is quite weak compared to the mana I possess.
With dimension travel, reincarnation, system holograms, and helping Han Se-ah with quests all happening at once, I hadnt given my situation much thought.
However, to the NPC party members, excluding Han Se-ah, it must seem like Ive been given a special ability following the revelation from the Goddess.
"Its like"
Just as Irene, her eyes filled with emotion, was about to say something, BOOM!
"What the-!"
"An explosion? Did someone mess up a spell or something?!"
"Aaaah, help, help!"
A hot gust of wind rushed into the safe zone, accompanied by a loud noise.
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