Lair

Chapter 034 - Scheming Of The Church

By Skalsar

>Something.. is happening.<

>What do you mean?<

>I'm not sure yet.

Please just wait a little while longer.<

It was the dialogue between two men, but the second man wasn't really happy about it, as it seems.

With a loud *BANG*, his fist hit the table.

>We waited long enough!

Do you take us for fools?!

After your villages was destroyed, who gave you food and helped you set foot elsewhere?

You said you would be useful, where is that usefulness?<

Mardo bit his nail to that.

>Just a few more days.

I promise to...<, his words were cut off.

>No! Explain it right now!

First you start to talk about weird monsters and big treasure from the dungeon.

Shortly after that, the village gets raided by orcs.

You tell us, the dungeon even is a [Greater Dungeon].

And now it is just that you tell us: something is happening?!<, the other person shouted.

Mardo had tried to stall for time, but it seems like the patience of the man was at its limit.

>[Mafay Village] seems to have established something like a trade, with the dungeon.<

>Pardon?<

>They seem to have esablished..<

>What the hell are you talking about! How should a village establish a trade with a dungeon?!<

>That is why I...<

>Oh shut up! Are you still going to tell us this nonesense?!

You don't want to talk, alright, we are done with you! Leave!

We will send someone else to investigate!<, the man shouted angrily.

Getting up from his throne, throwing away his golden chalice.

Pointing at Mardo, two [Guards] came by.

Grabbing Mardo on both arms.

The sun breaking through the huge windowglasses of the church, light shone upon the man standing in front of the throne as he was shouting.

>You are hereby banished from the church of Legra'Nis!

Never set foot on any of our churches ever again or you will be burned at the stake!

And don't ever dare to even talk to any of our [Priests] ever again!<

With that, the [Guards] dragged Mardo away and threw him out of the building.

>That went better than I thought it would.<, Mardo sighed after standing up and dusting down his clothes.

Legra'Nis was the higher deity of the farmlands.

In short, a [Priest] from the church could change a small garden that fed a family into a farm that could feed a small village. With a power like that, they easily made it to nearly any city and even the [Capital].

But for one reason or another, they had it hard to set foot on Odas territory.

Money, influence and the hearts of the people were with them, but they were simply not needed.

The region Odas was managing wasn't densely populated and there was enough space for farms.

So they didn't need a church to help the farmers.

And the dungeons didn't pose much of a problem.

So the villages could get treasure and goods from there.

It was running smoothly without outer influence.

The church had their hopes up for the new settlement that soon grew into a village.

But Odas had managed just fine.

They had Mardo investigate, gathering informations in order to get something they could provide.

It didn't work out either.

Passing through the streets of the small city, Mardo noticed unusually high numbers of adventurers.

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'Dungeon Subjugation, huh?

Is it already this time again?', he thought to himself, after reading the [Adventurer Guilds] board.

It was a large pin board with jobs for those who were looking for fast money.

The Dungeon Subjugation was a request done every four months.

And it didn't pay very well.

The dungeon of this city was already conquered.

So it didn't pose a threat.

The [City Stadtholder] was simply taking his [Guards], some [Knights] and a few adventurers and broke through the weak monsters that appear in the conquered dungeon. Slaughtering the mindless monsters till they reach the [Dungeon Heart] and renew the claim over it.

It was a method used to keep control, because if left alone, a new [Dungeon Lord] might be born.

And that would mean that the mindless creatures would start attacking the city instead.

Not that Mardo knew about that last part.

>Don't bother with that one.<, some adventurer spoke to Mardo.

>What do you mean?<

He checked her from head to toe.

Just a girl in dirty clothes.

But she gave a feeling of an adventurer.

>That request is a week behind shedule.<

>Huh? And?<, Mardo asked a bit irritated, not getting what she was hinting to.

>They failed.<

Mardo was a bit surprised about that statement, but the adventurer continued.

>If they had succeeded, they would have taken down the request.

That it is still there means, no one came to take the request down.<

>But.. wouldn't that mean..?<

>Yes, the stadtholder should be either dead, or trapped inside the dungeon.

That is the reason that many adventurers are gathering.<

>But why aren't they going inside for a rescue?<

It was a bit off.

Somehow, there was still information missing.

Even though it made sense what the woman said.

>They can't.

No one was able to enter the dungeon.

As if it had vanished.<

Mardo started laughing to that statement and earned a scornful look.

>A conquered dungeon vanished?

Just like that?

After defeating the stadtholder?

Sure thing girl.<

Shaking his head, Mardo started to turn around and leave.

>It's on its way to [Mafay Village].<, she finally said.

Mardo stopped.

>What?<, he asked confused.

How should she even know something like that?

>I saw the man that took it.

The [Dungeon Heart], that is.

I could see its true form.<

>Who are you?<

>My name is Mina.

If you take me with you to the village, I will tell you more.<

>You don't have money to travel yourself?<

>Nope.<

>What is in for you?<

>I need to get to [Mafay Village Dungeon].<

>Why are you asking me?<

>I will tell you when we are there.<

>You kidding me?<

>Nope.<

Mardo sighed.

Feeling cheated.

>Why don't you ask someone else?<

>I can't.<, she says a bit vague.

It hit him then.

A hood hiding her face.

Dirty clothes.

Nothing else.

This girl didn't just have no money, she had nothing.

>You are a slave, right?<

>...

yes..<, she whispered weakly.

>You can tell me more on the way to the village...<