Lauri returned to Tutorial Dungeon and kept grinding, ignoring Frank's advice as he converted SP to gold as needed for the entry fee. While losing track, it was around the 40th dive that he finally got the Hold Monster skill-book he'd been after. Letting Grey know the good news they chatted and he mentioned "I only lost two skills when I used an Amnesia Potion but this made me realise I was lucky when I got this on my first dive." He checked his logs just in case this earnt him a luck point but as he knew, it wasn't that easy.

"Everyone's first skill-book drops quickly, it's a thing. Mess up your leveling, did you?"

"It was more due to blood-levels I wanted rid of. I accidently killed 141 people."

"That doesn't usually happen by accident."

"I guess I was just... I mean, it must have been destiny."

"I've heard that people who say they're unlucky bring back luck upon themselves but you don't need to worry, it's all superstition. What about the 142nd kill?"

"I expected that one so can't include it as an accident."

The day was getting late and if Lauri was ever going to return home then now would be the time to do it. Riding his bull back he had come to like the mount and, now that we wasn't planning a long journey, wondered if he should stick with it. Past the main gate of the city walls Lauri could see that a crowd had gathered and wondered if the city was about to be under attack or something. He drank healing and power restoring potions and used Drain Level on Ladybug, just in case. Passing through, System prompts flooded him with requests for death duels and people shouted at him, too many at once to understand. He spotted Sarah waiting for him beyond the edge of the mob so steered his bull towards her, slowly moving through the angry crowd. Had they waited outside of the walls they wouldn't need System permission to fight him but, stopping them more than bad karma, even a single kill outside of duels was considered damning to a persons character. Only one person in the whole crowd had actually geared up for battle and even that was surprising. Nobody really expected a Level 4 to accept a duel against post Level 10s. Had he still been level 108 they'd have surely come properly prepared, if challenging him at all.

Getting closer Lauri made out that the geared up man was young and wore a full suit of Mega-Ant Plate armour and shield. The young man met his gaze as Lauri received yet another challenge, this one different than the rest. As he considered it, Lauri decided he'd better suffer through the info dump of checking his warhammers description.

[Greggory Antony of Level 28 has challenged you to a friendly PvP duel]

[Chitin Cracker Warhammer: The blunt force of hammers allows their damage to partially bypass heavy armour. For manufactured, natural or magical armour made out of chitin the epic-rare Chitin Cracker Warhammer not only bypasses them completely but maximises damage done, always critically hits (unless target cannot receive critical hits at all) and quadruples hit armours durability loss. As a two handed weapon the users full Strength Attribute contribute to damage]

Lauri stopped and dismounted in front of Greggory. "I declare that you're the only serious challenger here."

"We're all serious. Most of us are friends and relatives of those you killed."

"Yet unlike you, the others send me death duels. Sure I could kill them all but wouldn't more come? You on the other hand seem here for vengeance, not some petty revenge."

"I'm here to get r... to avenge my older brother Reberto."

"Very well. If you can name my wrongdoing then I shall accept your challenge, thus giving you a chance to wail on me until I'm downed."

"You killed him."

"It was a System approved PvP death duel, which like the rest he signed into, otherwise he wouldn't have died. If that is a wrongdoing then is every person here who challenged me to a death duel equally guilty of wrongdoing?"

"YES!"

Lauri didn't smile, as not to offend Greggory, but the crowds silence pleased him. "Then let it be known that I entered into Larry's guild challenge not knowing that Larry's loss would risk the lives of anyone other than himself and I. With that said, I accept your duel."

[Both parties have accepted a friendly duel], [3], [2], [1], [0]. Greggory readied a spear and charged forward. Hold Person, Lauri tried out his new skill and Greggory fell to the ground, his held spear caused him to roll onto his back and stare up at Lauri. Lauri noted that his strength score was 120 and he wondered what 'maximum damage' using 'full attribute score' meant, so he toggled to full detailed damage readout. Lauri moved the warhammer behind him and took a build up as he swung it all the way over his head and back down with all of his body. To his own surprise when the attack hit Greggory's chitin helm-face the recoil caused Lauri to fly a meter into the air. [Critical hit, (Received clean hit, overextended, full body swing, between a rock and a hard place, flat-footed, took advantage of prone, not the face), 28x, 3,360HP damage]. Effective except that his 6 second stun was down to 4 seconds and the attack hadn't quite managed a third health-bar damage. Lauri lifted the heavy hammer and started spinning around before swooping the hammer low then bringing it up over his head again. It slammed into Greggory's face so hard that the ground shook, [Critical hit, (Received clean hit, overextended, full body swing, charged attack, between a rock and a hard place, flat-footed, took advantage of prone, earth shaking impact, not the face), 36x, 4,320HP damage]. Down to 1 second, Lauri rushed to get back into spinning and then swinging. He watched carefully to anticipate which way Greggory would roll. Bringing the hammer around Greggory tried to reach his arms up in front of his face but was too late, receiving a repeat of the last attack.

As Greggory was reduced to 0HP a lot of people turned away, thinking that Greggory's nose would be caved in or that his head had entirely gone splat. The grimaces from those in the crowd were unnecessary. If they had paid closer attention they'd have realised this was a friendly duel, divine protection not abandoning Greggory as would be the case for a death duel. Hearing Greggory start complaining they relaxed and looked back. "What was that? Didn't you say you'd let me wail on you?"

"What I said was I'd give you a chance. You wasted it."

"That not fair, you didn't even give me a chance."

"I'll tell the ghasts that next time I'm in Tutorial Dungeon. Maybe the ghast, the skeletons and the zombies will apologies. You should avoid the role of tank."

"I am a tank!"

"Then you should have at least tried to roll left or right at the end. This type of stun didn't even effect your mind, why didn't you use your skills?"

"Because my skills need me to be able to move!"

"So you're saying, first monster with a stun you plan to stand there and watch as everyone in your party dies? This has turned out to be an important lesson for you."

"Tutorial dungeon doesn't even have ghasts!"

"Ask anyone who entered while level 4 or 5. Apparently you lost because you never completed the tutorial."

"I lost because, well it doesn't matter, because I lost!"

"Does your gear and last name have any relation?"

"It may have inspired. Does my name matter?"

"Only if it matters that this weapon is called Chitin Cracker Warhammer."

The now dumbstruck crowd said nothing as Lauri shifted through them to reach Sarah. "Been waiting for me long?"

"Yes. I mean... well... yes."

"I didn't know I was keeping you, sorry."

"Even though you killed all those people, I don't hate you."

"Then after you've killed a hundred, I won't hate you either."

"I'd never."

"Oh, think you'll die before? Did you really wait long just to say that?"

"Patriarch Innocent sent me to fetch you once you arrived back, so I've had no choice but to stand here all day."

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"Major Bishop Innocent got a promotion?"

"Let's go. You've kept him waiting but wilfully doing so further would be different."

They travelled through the city quickly and soon entered the gothic cathedral where Innocent resides. Lauri knew the place well since his dad worked there. Also because Sarah lived in an orphanage within one of 4 structures built onto the cathedral. He smiled, waved and said hello to many as they made their way and arrived within the inner chamber. Usually this chamber felt as good as home but with his father Joshua, Patriarch Innocent and nun Frances seated in the room he felt like he was intruding. Hesitating, his father called him over, "come take a seat son, there's a matter the church requests your help with."

He was surprised this wasn't because he's in trouble but 'need his help'? He sat down confused, "congratulations on becoming Patriarch, Innocent."

"Thankyou. Much time has passed since the two of us had a cup of tea together. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes thanks."

"This is a lovely little chapel, isn't it?"

"It looks a little less lovely, what with getting trapped in here for an hour, last time I was here."

"Your father has shared with me some wonderful news that I need you to verify."

"That's... good?"

"Since Rebecca hasn't reached level 20 again, I'm hoping to start, you'll be willing to swear on the name of the Goddess."

The mention of his new friend was another surprise he didn't understand. "What about Rebecca?"

"She acquired another copy of her Truth Zone but can't learn it until her level 20 profession change. Have you not heard about the new truth spell?"

"Is she the only one who can cast it?"

"The only one so far but you hope to become a tank, don't you?"

"What do I have to do with?"

"One of the paths available to Warriors is Heavy, then Defender, followed by Defender of the Weak or Defender of the Innocent. Well, her following choice was instead between Defender of Truth or Defender of Justice. She's a Ritualist, you're a Ritualist, it's a tanky profession. You might end up there."

"Ohhhh. And you'd like my help in casting Truth Zone?"

"There's no need to rush our conversation but no. There's an item we'd like your help in repairing."

"How do you know about that?" Lauri looked at his dad.

Joshua smiled back, "once I realised the implications of what I saw... the item is of utmost importance. Once you know what it is you'll understand why the Goddess gave you this curse."

"Curse?"

Innocent chuckled softly, "he meant blessing. Be cautious though child, blessings that defy this worlds understanding can easily become a curse."

"Even the goddess said to keep it secretive, so can I trust you three..." Lauri turned to see that Sarah was still in the room, trying to act as though she belonged there. "Can I trust the four of you to keep this a secret?"

They all came to an agreement that this should be kept secret and Sarah was forced to take her leave before the conversation continued. Innocent spoke of an Oath of the Trustworthy and that once Lauri had taken the oath he'd become part of the churches inner circle. Also he claimed that Lauri's secrets, shared only with the inner circle, would be church secrets so he too would benefit from the oaths taken by others. It was explained that Lauri needed only repeat the words Innocent spoke and to System integrate the oath, then he'd gain benefits, many of which couldn't be told in advance. "Repeat after me, I swear on my life and in the name of Goddess Dike..."

A System prompt warned him that he was entering into an oath and for confirmation he wished to continue. "Woah, woah, woah. Swear on my life? Nobody said anything about that."

Innocent remained calm and explained, "ones life is but a small trifle, does death scare you so much?"

"Not only my death. There's going to be some difference of opinion and you'll... hmmm... accuse me of lying about something. But then it will turn out that I was right and you'd think everything would be fine? But no, the System will be all 'everyone else were therefore lying and they all took the oath ' and then you'll all die and somehow my PvP kill count will skyrocket again."

"Is that what happened at the Guild of Mathematics?"

"It was a math answer but otherwise yeah, exactly like that."

Innocent lifted up his tea cup and took a sip, then put it back down. "I was planning to turn a blind eye but that helps a lot in understanding what happened."

"It's not what I wanted."

"Fear not my child..." Innocent started.

"Actually I'm Joshua child. Not one of the orphans."

"It's not only the orphans I call child. Everybody are children of the goddess."

"You call everyone your children?"

"And everyone may call me Father."

"Okay dad." His actual dad, Joshua, couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Not 'dad', Father, with a capital F. A proper noun, like a name."

"Okay Father."

It took a while for Joshua and Innocent to convince Luari that he wasn't going to accidently kill the entire clergy. Joshua asked that he do this for him, telling Lauri how much this meant to him and that Lauri was getting this very exclusive opportunity. Eventually he was ready and told the System "yes" about starting the oath. By this time Lauri already knew all the words and even felt a bit like a sheep that he almost started earlier without knowing. "I swear on my life and in the name of Goddess Dike that I will protect the secrets of the holy church and to strive towards actions of good faith, honesty and kindness." The System acknowledged completion of the oath and created a new screen related to the church's inner circle. Despite the previous platitudes Lauri couldn't help feel a knot in his stomach. Perhaps only to reassure himself, he told himself there was an implied blackmail that the church wouldn't keep his secret otherwise and that he was also doing this for Dad's sake.

Innocent used his System to spot Lauri Williams within his trusted confidants and with a satisfied smile asked "have you heard of Dike's Staff of Sanctuary?"

"Umm. We talking about the legendary item which creates an invulnerable instance which protects anyone under level 20, without fail?"

"Yes. I'd like you to repair it."

"Doesn't it have like a million durability and will basically last forever?"

"Nothing is intended to last forever, even with a million durability. Any bit of repair would a huge boon. Are you able to help?"

"I have my doubts, sorry. My skill only allows me to renew items available to me and I'm not a Priest."

Innocent think about this and frowns. "Hang on, you're lying to me. Joshua recognised and mentioned Chitin Cracker and that's not a Sealer or even a Ritualist item."

"I didn't say available to my profession or class. Chitin Cracker is one of many epic-rare items with no class, profession or level restrictions."

Innocent smiles again, "Staff of Sanctuary is one of few divinely-rare items with no usage restrictions."

"Then it sounds like I can be of help."

"Wonderful. A million durability would be too much to ask but how much do you think you could renew it within around 60 days?"

Lauri considered that if he wasn't careful the church might try and turn him into a Renew Item slave-worker so picked his wording carefully, making sure to still be 'honest'. "My two items I've used it on so far were restored not by the same amount but each by 10% of their maximum durability. If nothing prevents me from making use of my skill on the staff once per day for 10 of those days I could easily have the staff renewed to full durability within that time. Provided we don't discover a hard cap to the durability restored or something of that nature."

"What might prevent you on any given day?"

"You should consider this one of the church's secrets but Goddess Dike suggested I create a hero party to fight against the great evils. She pointed me towards Harry Morin so that I might make use of his equipment. Much of which is at the end of its durability. On some days I may need to use my skill towards that purpose but I will most definitely renew the staff tomorrow, if that's not a problem."

"The king has accepted to send the staff here but it hasn't been dispatched yet. Please use the days before it arrives to renew items you'll need. Hopefully that will mean less delays after we get started."

"Will that cost us from the 60 days?"

"We have about three months. I estimate 60 more because this isn't something to be left to the last day."

"I'll take it the great evils are three months away?"

"For someone sworn in just now, you seem to already know a lot."