Saint Erde Cathedral, the confessional.
"I refuse."
Felix quietly watched the white-robed elder before him, a mysterious ascetic from the "Land of Rest." His response was simple and resolute. He didn't even give a second glance at the reward on the mahogany desk, a prize that would tempt any legend, as he modestly bowed his head and said:
"Your Holiness, Pope Euripides, I am but a humble priest. I believe I am wholly unqualified for the task you have in mind. The Eastern Orthodox Diocese is the most active area for dark creatures on the entire continent, and it's also a junction for grafting parallel planes. One may even encounter heretics from the abyss or hell itself there.
"I think this difficult mission should be entrusted to a Sacred Coffin Knight or a holy cleric, not to me, a lowly church priest."
Felix's voice was calm, but inside, he was nearly furious enough to laugh! Did this white-robed elder really expect him to venture to the Eastern Orthodox Diocese to face death, just for a golden species egg? Was he underestimating Felix's intelligence?
Setting aside whether he had the strength to subdue the hatched golden species—a formidable creature born of the union between the Nile Python and the Yamani White-crowned Serpent—the covetous glances attracted by the golden serpent egg alone were enough to doom him!
Countless dark creatures lusted after the body of the Yamani White-crowned Serpent, but they would rather pay any price to acquire the epic egg spawned by the two royal beasts! Far from being a prize, this serpent egg was the world's hottest potato!
Clearly, the white-robed elder was trying to rid himself of this troublesome object with the mysterious power of the Gamma mage! Not only could it please Felix, but it would also allow the Holy See to avoid the endless slaughter brought about by the dark creatures fighting over it.
What a cunning calculation!
If Lady Ireland were still around, if the mysterious Gamma mage had not left this plane, Felix might consider keeping this thing—but only consider it.
The Eastern Orthodox Diocese is the continent's most active spot for dark creatures, a crossing point for hell and the abyss alike! Hell is not just one layer, nor is the abyss.
Periodically, strong heretics from the lower levels of hell or the abyss break through the spatial barriers, arriving in Felix's plane in a manner similar to the mysterious Gamma mage! Without a doubt, those heretics, whose strength surpassed that of legends, could crush Felix with a mere flick of their finger!
It's the most chaotic place in the entire world—the location of the Eastern Orthodox Diocese has witnessed hundreds of heretic descents over the centuries, including six disastrous incidents of lower dark deities' avatars descending in person!
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Only Felix knew the mysterious Gamma mage had left this plane. Although he still enjoyed the mage's glory, he had lost his protection. Moreover, Felix didn't think he was tired of living just yet.
Exchange the continent's hottest potato of several centuries for a death mission to the Eastern Orthodox Diocese?
At that moment, Felix even wondered if Pope Euripides was insulting his intelligence?
...
"Your Holiness..."
As he left Saint Erde Cathedral, the middle-aged red-robed cleric who had stood behind Pope Euripides finally could not help but say, "Are we to give up, just like that?"
Pope Euripides' face was serene as he raised his head to look at the sculpture of the Virgin Mary on the wall of Saint Erde Cathedral, the kind and gentle Mary holding the holy child Iyeta, revealing a saintly and ample bosom, as the Virgin smiled, nursing the future God of Light...
"He will go."
The white-robed elder gently stroked the pure silver cross in his hand, with a faded stigmata that marked the traces of the holy light, smiling as he slowly said, "Because the Lord needs him to go..."
...
"God, who loves all people."
"The Lord is the only true God in this world!"
Lady Elizabeth closed the Bible in her hands with a teasing smile, lifting her gaze to the beautiful knight standing quietly beside her, she said, "Catherine. The Bible really is an interesting work of fiction, isn't it?"
If there were an inquisitor from the religious tribunal nearby, he would have strangled this blasphemous heretic without a second thought, who dared to equate the Bible with third-rate fiction, to have her body burned in flames and her soul wailing in agony—regardless of her status!
"Madam, you should not belittle the Bible in front of a knight who believes in God." Catherine bowed her head, her gaze calm despite the ruby-like shine in her eyes, as she attentively wiped her Viking greatsword with a piece of red cloth.
Lady Elizabeth stood up with a laugh, her voluptuous breasts trembling slightly under her light purple ruffled gown, her charming face blooming with a smile like a peony about to burst into bloom.
She stepped gracefully over to the beautiful knight, her fair fingers teasingly lifting Catherine's smooth and tender chin, her breath fragrant as she whispered, "Is that so, my enchanting canary?"
The beautiful knight averted her gaze, a blush appearing on her delicate face as if startled, stepping back slightly and then bowing her head, murmuring softly, "Madam, I only worship the holy light."
"Only that madwoman Ireland would worship God..." Lady Elizabeth's lips curled into a smile, a mysterious glint in her half-closed eyes, "That madwoman has given Felix far too much, and my sweet little cat is slipping out of my grasp bit by bit."
"He belongs to us," the beautiful knight declared, her eyes resolute.
Lady Elizabeth's smile turned sly as she gently lifted Catherine's chin, then slipped her hand into the neckline of her loose, pink robe, grasping her soft, full breasts, "Has my enchanting canary taken flight?"
Catherine, avoiding the topic, looked up gently, and said slowly, "Prince of the Damoer Titans is leaving the palace this afternoon for a rendezvous at Yamodo Manor with Viscount Guyana."
"The opportunity has come. Our charming Prince of Damoer should meet his grandfather."
Lady Elizabeth smiled as she untied Catherine's ribbon, letting the loose robe fall from the smooth body. She opened her petal-soft lips and gently bit into the tender red nipple on the knight's snowy breast, suckling gently, with the tenderness of a child's longing for mother's milk.
"Let's hope in his next life, our poor prince can fulfill his wish to become a real woman..."