Chapter 221 : Chapter 221
Chapter 221. Rebellion of the Reformist Bishops
"Boss, should we set it up here?"
"That will block the path, so let's move it a little to the left."
Radel was setting up a tent with the employees.
It was to put up a shade for the customers trying to enter the House of the Undead.
They needed a space to avoid the sunlight while waiting outside, and also a place to take shelter when it rained.
'The number of visitors drops on rainy days. A shade is absolutely necessary.'
And he planned to appropriately place costume rental shops, ghost cotton candy, and lily brooch sales counters nearby to catch the eyes of the waiting people.
This way, wallets would inevitably open even while standing in line.
It felt like money was already being earned double.
Radel smiled automatically.
At that moment, someone asked Radel.
"By any chance, are you the 8th Prince?"
"Yes, but why?"
Radel smiled brightly and turned around.
There, priests wearing white clothes had gathered in a flock.
They were the reformist bishops of the Supreme Deity Order who had come to argue with Radel.
"What is the matter?"
Upon seeing Radel's dazzling smile, the bishops hurriedly squinted their eyes.
What is that rewarding smile?
Furthermore, the 8th Prince's appearance was that of a commoner laborer itself.
Was he not wearing a towel around his neck and gloves used by workers on his hands?
It was not the sleek appearance they had expected.
The eyes of the reformist bishops, who had come to publicly condemn the 8th Prince, trembled.
But they could not back down here.
Because it was a fact that the 8th Prince was daring to sell the name of the Supreme Deity Order to fill his belly!
'Are they high-ranking people of the Supreme Deity Order?'
Radel roughly guessed their identity.
Seeing the silver necklaces, it meant they were bishop-level clergy.
Moreover, he saw the apprentice priests and apprentice holy knights dispatched to the House of the Undead paying respects to them.
"No, how did the Bishops come here?"
"We greet the Bishops."
Just then, Gusto approached and whispered to Radel.
"They are the reformist bishops of the Order."
Radel also knew that there were factions within the Supreme Deity Order.
That they were divided into the conservative faction and the reformist faction and were fighting.
RING.
[A quest occurs!]
[Turn the Hearts of the Reformist Bishops]
You, who have bought the animosity of the Supreme Deity Order’s reformist bishops.
Your fame is making them nervous.
They feel you are a threatening existence and are trying to find fault to scratch at you somehow.
Win the favor of the reformist bishops to turn their hearts and overcome this crisis.
Condition: Win the favor of the reformist bishops (Achievement 0%)
Success: Identify the insider of the Black Order
Failure: Withdrawal of support from the Supreme Deity Order
Radel quickly scanned the quest that suddenly occurred.
'So it means I have to appease these people, right?'
It was already famous that the reformist bishops did not think well of him.
According to what he heard before, it was also the reformist bishops who drove the atmosphere up to the heresy trial.
However, situations were bound to change.
The fact that a quest popped up meant it was worth a try anyway.
Didn't he accomplish the Trial of Three Days and recruiting Gusto as a colleague?
In Radel's experience, quests did not present impossible conditions.
'On top of that, the reward is identifying the insider of the Black Order, so I must do this no matter what.'
Above all, the success reward was too attractive.
He had found out that there was someone in the Supreme Deity Order communicating with the Black Order, but it was difficult to figure out who it was.
Because there was a limit to finding out internal information of the Supreme Deity Order.
It was not easy for the employees of the Dice Shop, who had no divine power, to infiltrate the temple.
So Radel was gathering small information that could be found out from the outside.
He thought he would clash with the Black Order someday anyway.
It would be good to go peacefully, but since they were targeting him of all people, there was nothing Radel could do.
'To live comfortably, I have no choice but to deal with them.'
Radel did not panic and smiled broadly at the reformist bishops.
"Now that I see, it was the Bishops. To meet you like this. Nice to meet you."
"We are not pleased at all!"
Seeing Radel's reaction, the expressions of the reformist bishops crumpled in an instant.
"The world is so noisy that we cannot stay still! Do you know what kind of ridiculous thing the 8th Prince is doing right now?"
"That is right! When we went to the Marcellent Temple, it was quite a spectacle!"
"What are those brooches attached to the chests of those apprentice priests and apprentice holy knights? How can servants of God who should be frugal wear such flashy brooches!"
"This cannot be unless you are crazy about money! The brooches were also crude beyond measure, whoever made them!"
Radel listened to the relentless attacks of the reformist bishops and then made a pitiful expression.
"Ah... so you saw it that way. Actually, that is correct. Those brooches were made by hand by grandmothers and grandfathers living in the countryside who have physical disabilities, so the quality is a bit low."
What...?
Grandmothers and grandfathers?
The bishops' mouths stopped.
"However, they said they wanted to be of some help to the children, and since we were so grateful for that heart, we are purchasing the entire volume and selling them steadily. Of course, all sales proceeds are being donated to the Supreme Deity Order orphanage."
Donating the full amount?
The bishops looked at each other's faces and began to panic.
They had come to condemn the 8th Prince who was crazy about money, but since the story of grandmothers and grandfathers came out from the beginning, they were speechless.
"No, if... if it was something like that, you should have said so in advance...!"
"Since I was trying to act according to the Supreme Deity's word to do good deeds without anyone knowing... I still have many shortcomings. I would appreciate it if the Bishops could give me teachings."
The reformist bishops shut their mouths at Radel's faith-filled words.
It was too different from the situation they had expected.
* * *
'That snake-like guy!'
Bishop Taylor, the insider of the Black Order, ground his teeth.
That young guy was not ordinary.
He succeeded in driving the atmosphere towards condemning the 8th Prince at the reformist bishop meeting gathered after a long time, but when they actually confronted the 8th Prince, the atmosphere flowed strangely.
Even though several bishops rushed and argued, didn't he smile without blinking an eye?
His goal was to make the reformist bishops turn their backs on the 8th Prince at this opportunity and withdraw unofficial support.
In addition, he intended to find evidence of the 8th Prince's corruption so he could never set foot in the Supreme Deity Order forever.
However, reality was not easy.
"Oh my, it looks like even Bishops have come over there."
"Since the House of the Undead is a holy ground, wouldn't they have come for a pilgrimage?"
Many believers visiting the House of the Undead were paying attention to this side.
If the bishops' voices were heard loudly even a little, the believers frowned.
"What, surely the Bishops aren't saying something to the 8th Prince, right?"
"Ay, it is a famous fact that the 8th Prince does good deeds. Would those people not know that?"
The reformist bishops were not people who would not feel the gazes of the believers surrounding them.
Bishop Taylor cursed them inwardly watching the bishops who started to be conscious of the believers' eyes.
How could they achieve the great cause like this!
It was when his fist was trembling.
"Bishop."
A kid brought his own cotton candy and held it out to Bishop Taylor.
"Did you come to the House of the Undead too, Bishop? Then I'll give you this!"
"A, no, I..."
"You can stand in line from here. Or I can yield my turn to you!"
At the child's innocent words, the believers who were nearby covered their mouths.
"Goodness, to think there is such an angel in the world!"
"Did that young kid say he would yield his turn?"
"He must want to go in quickly too, how wonderful!"
The reformist bishops grasped the unfolding situation and froze.
Not only the believers but all the people around were paying attention to this side.
Bishop Taylor barely opened his mouth that wouldn't open.
"That... no. We just stopped by while passing through."
"Why? The House of the Undead is super fun!"
A situation where everyone was watching.
Radel was not one to miss this opportunity.
"That is true. Since you came all the way here, why don't you go in once? The Supreme Deity Order believers will also like it."
They should say no, why would they enter such a place...
Getting angry here was also something that would look bad.
The reformist bishops could not refuse the expectant eyes of the people and ended up being swept away by Radel's proposal.
* * *
"They say those people are Bishops!"
"For Bishops to come here! It's so fascinating."
The sound of people chatting in front of the House of the Undead could be heard.
The reformist bishops were standing in line with ridiculous appearances, holding skull cotton candy in their hands and wearing skull headbands on their heads.
"Look at that headband, it's cute."
"I thought they were only solemn people, but they feel friendly."
Cute...?
Feel friendly?
It was not a bad feeling.
While pretending not to, the reformist bishops were secretly caring about the reactions of the people around them.
When it became their turn, they even entered the House of the Undead wearing faint smiles.
And from the moment they entered the House of the Undead, they poured out the words they had held back.
"What on earth is this appearance! Without even being able to properly land a blow on the 8th Prince!"
"Look who is talking! You who couldn't say a word earlier!"
"What? Are you done talking?!"
The reformist bishops started glaring at each other blaming one another.
At that moment, a strange sound was heard inside the dark house.
CREAK.
The bishops' expressions changed.
"Wait. Bishop Hanson, didn't you say you almost became an Inquisitor in the past? Please take the lead."
"What are you saying? Bishop James, didn't you say you beat up undead like that in the field when you were young? You were boasting quite loudly before, isn't this an opportunity to show your skills?"
Of course, they also knew.
That in the House of the Undead, there were only beings imitating ghosts, not real ones.
Therefore, their divine power had no power here.
CLACK, CREAK.
Would it have been better if they were real undead?
Listening to the sounds heard in the darkness, the reformist bishops thought.
"Th-that sound... Doesn't it seem to be getting closer?"
At someone's trembling words, the reformist bishops looked at each other and turned pale.
Now it was really coming from nearby.
RATTLE, THUD!
And when the sound was heard right next to them, they ended up screaming.
"AAAAAH!"
* * *
"KYAAAAAK!"
Radel, who was continuing to set up the tent outside, smiled as he heard the scream.
The screams had not ceased since the reformist bishops went in earlier.
'They must be having a fun time.'
Indeed, there was no place like the House of the Undead where one could have such a vivid experience.
How bored must they have been managing priests and believers while trapped in the temple every day.
High-ranking clergy would also need a place to relieve stress sometimes.
Radel glanced at the quest window.
Condition: Win the favor of the reformist bishops (Achievement 50%)
To think he already achieved up to 50%.
It was smooth progress.