Chapter 162
Chapter 162
The Fox’s Major (1)
The Imperial House’s response to the Blood Mist would take a little time. They needed to try using it themselves first.
Even so, I was certain the response would be positive. Considering that most of the currently wanted vicious criminals were mages, the Imperial Knight Order badly needed something like Blood Mist.
“Hmm.”
Feeling refreshed, I left the Imperial Knight Order’s garrison. I had intended to head straight to the chapel, but I changed direction.
Thanks to Berrot’s proposal, it would not be long before I became the owner of the Floating Island. In effect, I would also gain much easier access to the rare materials that could only be found there.
The purpose of the mandrake I had exchanged for the horn with Berrot had changed. Originally, I had planned to cultivate it on Museion Island.
‘There’s no point anymore.’
Since I could simply harvest it whenever I needed it, there was no reason to go through the trouble of growing it in an unfamiliar environment.
Aside from potions, it had no particular use, and its effect was merely to warm the body. So, after a long while, I headed toward the Lofty Cathedral.
“Ah……”
The guestbook priest, whom I always ran into whenever I visited the cathedral, looked at my face and froze in despair.
Back then, I had not thought much of it, but by now even that kind of reaction amused me.
“It’s been a while.”
“A-Ah. Br-Brother Davide.”
I greeted him warmly, and the guestbook priest’s face immediately fell.
The moment I acknowledged him, the people inside the cathedral all turned their eyes toward him.
Cold sweat rolled down the guestbook priest’s face.
“Wh-What brings you here today?”
“Ah. I just came to see the Goddess for a moment.”
“I-I see. I hope you have a pleasant time.”
His obvious eagerness to send me away made me flash a fierce grin.
“You’re sending me off already? Aren’t’t we close friends who haven’t seen each other in ages?”
“H-Huh?”
His weak reaction, eyes opened wide in surprise, made me chuckle.
It was the same reaction Winter used to show me, but lately she had become much more steadfast, so it had become difficult to see.
“I’m kidding. See you around.”
I considered teasing him a little more before saying goodbye.
The gazes around us had become even more blatant.
Human trash, Davide.
It seemed it would still take a long time before I could shake off my infamous reputation.
I headed straight toward the place where Anaye’s plaque was displayed.
“Huh? Senior Davide.”
“Hmm?”
As I walked while casually ignoring everyone’s stares, a familiar voice called out to me.
When I turned my head toward the source, I was greeted by a dazzling radiance.
Someone so ridiculously handsome that he practically looked like he had a halo.
At least now, I remembered his name without forgetting it.
“Sake? Was it?”
“I’m Dike of the Karata Order, Senior.”
“Ah. Sorry. I’m terrible at remembering people’s names.”
For someone you were reasonably acquainted with to not even remember your name was quite unpleasant.
Unfortunately, unless the person benefited me or I had learned their name through the game, I simply could not remember it well.
Even so, Dike merely smiled and corrected me.
There was not the slightest trace of displeasure on his handsome face.
“What brings you here?”
“Ah. I came to commune with our Goddess.”
I answered his question as kindly as I could.
It was a level of kindness that only the Vice-Commander or Winter normally got to see.
After hearing my answer, Dike looked envious.
Beneath his gaze burned the passion of someone longing for the same thing.
“I truly envy you.”
“Hmm? What?”
“Communion with a god is a privilege reserved for apostles, saints, and saintesses. I hope that one day such a day will come for me as well.”
Ironically, despite being a Cult Leader, I knew very little about religion.
I also had no real sense of how others viewed positions like apostle or Cult Leader.
“You may not realize it, Senior, but you’re already quite famous in Museion’s religious circles.”
“Me?”
“Of course.”
Dike’s confident reply left me feeling a little embarrassed.
I awkwardly scratched my head.
As he followed me toward the public chapel, he continued speaking.
“You are the owner of the Holy Scripture that has appeared after so long, the founder of a new Religious Order, and not merely a branch of an existing religion, but the founder of an entirely new faith. In other words, that also makes you an apostle.”
Dike continued with an ecstatic expression.
It all sounded rather grand, but everything he said was true, so I remained silent.
Listening quietly, I realized my reputation really was enormous.
“I imagine several major religions are already keeping an eye on you. Our Karata Order is no exception.”
“Hmm. That doesn’t sound particularly reassuring.”
The setting of [Difficult Dungeon] differed somewhat from medieval religions.
While religions possessed tremendous power and influence, the imperial authority kept them firmly under control.
That was possible because the Lofty Order, which cherished peace and compassion, had been established as the state religion.
It was a world where the positive aspects of religion shone even brighter.
But wherever there were benefits, there were also competing interests.
When Dike said they were keeping an eye on me, he meant exactly what I had feared—the Religious Orders would begin checking and restraining mine.
“That only proves how remarkable you are, and how remarkable the Religious Order you founded is.”
Dike gently reassured me.
Listening to his soft tone coming from such a handsome face quickly washed away my irritation.
I clicked my tongue quietly.
He really was a dangerous charmer.
“Oh, that reminds me. I heard you became the successor of the Oppenheimer Family. Congratulations.”
“…How did you know that?”
At Dike’s next words, my expression stiffened.
Seeing the icy look on my face, Dike became flustered for a moment.
“It was a rumor from someone trustworthy. As far as I know, it has already spread quite widely throughout the academy… Was the rumor perhaps false?”
Dike cautiously watched my reaction.
I let out a scoff.
Becoming the successor of the Oppenheimer Family had not yet been officially confirmed.
To be precise, Berrot had only said he would announce it through the Dream Bird.
Though, in reality, it was practically settled.
More importantly, it had been a conversation between Berrot and me.
There was no way someone else should have spread it.
The first thing that came to mind was the existence of a traitor.
“What’s the source of the information?”
“Well… according to the person who heard the rumor, the new Administrator of the Floating Island personally told the department head.”
Hearing Dike’s answer, I let out a small sigh.
Who would have thought Berrot himself had said it?
Of course, there was a chance he had not, but considering the possibilities, Dike’s explanation made the most sense.
“Congratulations. The Oppenheimer Family is an extremely influential family. It will make up for much of the background you lost.”
“The Oppenheimer Family?”
His next words drew out my genuine curiosity.
The Empire had many distinguished families.
Several of the oldest and most legitimate families were considered great houses with immense influence.
The Duhein Family and the Ulbushis Family belonged among them.
But the name Oppenheimer was unfamiliar to me.
“The Oppenheimer Family is an ancient family. In terms of history alone, it stands shoulder to shoulder with the Duhein Family and the Ulbushis Family. However, unlike them, rather than building independent political influence and power, they devoted themselves to managing the Floating Island. That’s why they aren’t as widely known, but their name still carries considerable prestige.”
“…I see.”
I answered without much enthusiasm.
It certainly did not seem that way.
They lacked a solid foundation and did not even possess a proper family estate.
All they really had was the Floating Island and the fact that they had managed it for generations.
“In any case, it’s something worth celebrating. The name Duhein lost all meaning the moment you were expelled, and considering your Religious Order is still newly established, the title of Cult Leader alone wouldn’t have carried much weight.”
Dike was right.
Being expelled from a family was practically no different from death.
Every noble family had enemies.
Expulsion was essentially declaring to those enemies, ‘He’s been cast out, so feel free to kill him. We won’t object.’
The title of Cult Leader was much the same.
There was no need to explain how little influence a newly founded Religious Order possessed.
“But now everyone knows you’re the successor of the Oppenheimer Family. The real opposition will begin in earnest, but at the same time, it will protect you from all the lesser opportunists.”
“Opposition, huh. What do they usually do?”
It was hardly welcome news.
Rather than regretting accepting the position as successor of the Floating Island, I asked Dike about the kind of opposition he had mentioned.
“Well. There are many different methods, so I can’t give a definitive answer. But the simplest one would probably be taxes.”
When it came to religion, there was no one better informed than Dike.
Winter was also knowledgeable, but hers came from direct experience rather than deep study.
Dike was different.
He had devoted himself to religion since childhood and accumulated his own practical experience.
“So, taxes.”
“Yes. I imagine the investigation will be quite thorough. It’s standard practice, of course, but the standards they apply will be much stricter.”
So it had finally come.
Much earlier than I expected.
What surprised me was that it was all because of the Floating Island.
I would probably need to discuss it further with the Vice-Commander.
“Thanks for the information. Let’s have a meal together sometime.”
“I’ll come whenever you invite me.”
With that, Dike and I parted ways.
The goodwill he showed me simply because I had once saved him was surprisingly heavy.
Though I had much to think about, I decided to put it aside for now.
I quietly gazed at the silver plaque engraved with Anaye’s emblem.
“Mother Anaye, I have prepared an offering.”
Kneeling down, I took out the mandrake.
Its effects were nothing special, and it only truly displayed its value after being processed into medicine, but it was still a rare item.
The brilliant light I had seen in the Holy Scripture enveloped the mandrake and swallowed it whole.
I quietly lowered my head before the silver plaque.
“?”
Then my eyes widened at the strange sensation on my head.
Something was patting it, but the texture felt odd.
It was not the softness of skin, and every slight movement was accompanied by a fluttering sound.
“Huh.”
I raised my head slightly.
The familiar Holy Scripture was patting my head.
None of the offerings I had made before had ever drawn this kind of reaction.
It was strange to think it simply liked the gift.
I had offered things far more valuable than a mandrake before.
▶[Faith Quest: Anaye’s Memories]
Anaye was extremely pleased that her son had offered something that reminded her of old memories. Although she felt sorry, Anaye asked her son to make her an alcoholic drink that would remind her of her homeland.
Condition: Brew and offer an alcoholic drink using the [Stern Mandrake Seed].
Reward: Random Skill Enhancement Ticket.
“……”
I was left speechless.
Who would have thought the hometown liquor Anaye used to enjoy was made from mandrakes?
I had only made more work for myself by offering it.
Still, if a god was asking for it, what choice did I have?
Swallowing a small sigh, I stood up.
‘I should be able to handle the taxes.’
The most urgent matter was the tax issue.
They would probably conduct something like a tax audit.
Well, as long as I kept the number of believers hidden, there should not be any problems.
The Floating Island also had a grace period until graduation, so there was no immediate rush there.
Instead, I needed to prepare for Episode 5.
‘I’ll handle them together.’
Episode 5 was a little different from the others.
It was the first branching episode to appear.
That was why affinity with other characters was so important in [Difficult Dungeon].
To prepare for it, I had personally gone to the Sanctuary and even received the Mark of Pilgrimage.
Come to think of it, I might even be able to solve the tax issue through that.
One of the important NPCs encountered by the religious class in Episode 5 was a saint of the Lofty Order who managed religious taxes.
‘First, the chapel.’
Liquor and taxes.
There were many things I needed to ask the people at the chapel.