The conversation trailed a bit longer around the famous Saintess. Snow didn’t pay much attention as the subject bore her. 

“What do you think about the Gold Phoenix guild?” Levian had asked, stuffing a meatloaf in his mouth and chewing it a bit longer than expected before he gulped. 

Snow perked. She remembered not too long ago from running out of the Gold Phoenix guild, which she ran out of. She wondered how those handful of people that she had met were doing. 

“You mean the Infamous Player’s guild?” James waved his spoon around in front of him. “They are a big problem.” 

“What do you mean?” Levian asked.

 “Have you seen how they have been swooping down and gobbling up the market? Right now, the Player’s guilds are becoming the biggest movers and shakers in this world.”

“You sound a bit jealous.” 

James laughed. “I am. Not going to lie. The amount of money they make must be ridiculous.” Then he became serious. “But what would happen when they all disappear? What then?”

His words were shocking. Snow didn’t think about the cause it would bring when ALL the Players disappeared. What would the economy be like? How would the world turn, and what causes would the world bring when the Players all disappear? It hasn’t been even three years, but the world was shaped around the dungeons, the Hunters, and the major guilds that the Players steered.  

“Good question. The only thing I can think of is that we will have to pick up their slacks if they do. That’s a time and place we don’t know if it will even happen.” Sally retorted. 

“But, it's definitely something to think about.”

Snow agreed. If thousands upon thousands of Players have vanished, the world's economy will be in trouble. Not only that, the recent amount of surplus of Players appearing had constantly been increasing. There were words that the Players had hit over a hundred thousand in the city only. 

“You know, I find that the Players are actually not too bad.” Sally had said with a bright demeanor. “Some are very nice. Have you met the Guild Leader of the Gold Phoenix?” She had a slightly dreamy look in her eyes. 

“No.” James shook his head. “He looks and sounds like a pompous idiot.” 

“Well, he’s not.” Sally glared. “He’s actually quite charming and nice.” 

“If you say so, personally I rather talk with someone like Dairen, their vice leader. He sounds more down to earth and not crazy like Mike.” 

“Well, Dairen is great looking too.” Sally nodded his head, agreeing with James. “Though, I swear, all the guild leaders are some kind of models. Are they usually that good looking?”

“Why are you asking me?”

“I’m just asking.” Sally rolled her eyes at him. 

James sighed. “You and your men.”

“Well, I can look at them, at least.”

“Go ahead; nobody is stopping you.” 

“Good.” Sally crossed her arms. 

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Levian eventually spoke up, “With that being said, I heard that the Gold Phoenix guild will be sending their strongest players out to other states. Some even go to different countries to deal with higher-level dungeons. After their success at clearing an S-Class dungeon, they have become world-renowned. Now everybody wants a piece of them.”

Snow had heard about this news. The number of dungeons that were appearing was slowly but surely increasing. The problem was there weren't enough strong Players and Natives enough to handle such a difficult task.

“It’s because an A level Dungeon failed in Indio and Astra. A whole city was wiped out. Plus, the Gold Phoenix and the Heavenly guild are the only two guilds that can handle an S-Class dungeon as of now,” said Sally. 

“Yea, I heard that too.” Snow had been watching the dangerous dungeons that were spawning around the world. It was becoming a big problem. There weren’t many people who could contend against such powerful dungeons. “I wouldn’t be surprised if next year, we won’t have enough people to clear away most of the dungeons.”

“Where did you hear that?” Sally asked worriedly. This news was something that not many knew or believed. 

“Check the status reports on dungeon appearance. More and more has been sighted.” 

Sally said with a concerned voice. She gazed at Snow, hoping what she had said wasn’t the truth. But when Snow didn’t, she frowned. “I didn’t know that.” 

“She's right, you know.” Levian shook his head. “I have been following the data on that as well.”

“Why hasn’t anyone done anything about it?” 

“Why would they? I heard such information isn’t as widespread. Some are stating it is bogus.” 

Snow shook her head. She had heard such rumors as well. They said that dungeon increase won’t be as bad because of Players and Natives' growth rate. But, she had a nervous feeling that wasn’t the case at all. 

“Either way, what can we do? The higher-ups are not going to listen to us.” Levian shrugs his shoulders. He leaned back, placing his spoon on his plate. “We got to make the most of what we got.” 

“True.” Sally sighed. 

Snow didn’t sign up for these next few months because of the dangers of the explosion of dungeons. Plus, she wasn’t a fan of dungeon diving. Even though she doesn't remember what it must be like to dive into one, she had a feeling that entering one brought more suffering than it was worth. 

Eventually, everyone got up, splitting ways as they went back to their routine.

For the next three months, Snow was learning the intricate life of living in the Church of Light. It was a simple life. Getting up, going to morning prayer, eating, walking around the building interior and exterior, training, and back to sleep. It was a boring life. She got used to it quite easily as half the time, she surfed the web to find more answers about how to break the curse she was in. 

So far, she had asked around for curse breakers, voodoo practitioners, and even spiritualists to test out her theory on breaking the curse that she was in. None of them worked. Even going to different practitioners, they couldn’t break her curse. 

Snow was getting annoyed that the High Pope wasn’t going to arrive until the end of the third month. She was trying many different things hoping that she could break the curse even sooner, but nothing seemed to go her way. 

Both Levian and Snow were in the bedroom. Levian was visiting as it was his off day. Snow was lying down on the bed with her hand on her belly. She was staring at the ceiling, silently zoning out while Levian was eating some popcorn. 

“So, you holding up, alright?” Levian asked. 

It seems every time Snow saw Levian, he was eating something. 

“No.” 

“Why not? This is the simple life. You don’t have to go to any dungeon diving or even deal with annoying people.” 

“Yes, but my curse. I want it gone.” 

“Oh. You mean that.” Levian stopped eating for a moment. “The High Pope will be visiting tomorrow. You should have a chance then.” 

Trying to get a blessing from the High Pope was difficult. He was a world-renowned priest that is known for expelling demon possessions and fighting against the dark forces. Not only that, his charitable acts and donations of his times brought many followers. Every time he came and stopped by one of the branches, the number of visitors would flock to the point where they would have to sanction a block of space. 

These days, the High Pope has personally gone on crusades of dungeon diving, bringing with him a swarm of guards. 

Snow had seen clips of his explorations. The blessings that he brought out and put onto people were considered high level spells that many wouldn’t achieve. Every raid that he had gone to was a success. 

Hopefully, she would have a chance to talk with him with the number of people who would take his time. 

Snow rolled over toward her side. “So, I’m guessing tomorrow is a go for the mission.”

“Yep.” Levian placed the bowl of popcorn down. “You’re going to love it.” 

“I don’t know. Hopefully, you will be able to get the blood diamond from the Pope, then get caught and go to jail.” 

“Which is why you are there with me.” 

Snow sighed. She really didn’t want to do this. Stealing wasn’t something she condoned or wanted to take part in. But with the trade-off from Levian’s help, what could she do but to agree. Better yet, she wanted to be far away from him. 

Levian was hesitant for a moment. It was as if he was contemplating saying something to her but stopped himself a few times. Eventually, his reason won over, allowing him to rummage in his pocket. He then reached and grabbed her hand. “Take this. It’s going to be better than what you are using now. It should help you with suppressing the voices. It has my magic in it.” 

Snow gratefully took it, nodding her head. Staying around Levian for twenty-four seven wasn’t something she wanted to do all day. She had been waiting for this item for a while. 

“I promised I would help you, but this ring needs to be filled every night. It’s the best I can do.” 

“It’s better than nothing.” Snow wasn’t complaining. If it was to get rid of the aching headache, she would take a few extra steps to get it under control. 

“Don’t worry, we will soon get rid of your headache.” 

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” 

“No problem. What are friends for?”

Snow didn’t think that they were friends, mostly because of the uneasy feeling that she had around him.