The forest of Blonka, once a perilous zone under the Empire’s management, had recently fallen into the hands of the Church.
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for the shocking news to spread across the entire congregation.
"It was the Pope’s decision to take over that useless Blonka Forest!"
The rumor burned through the halls like wildfire, sparking heated debates and becoming the hottest topic in no time.
The clergy, already disillusioned with the Pope’s erratic behavior, freely expressed their discontent.
"Is it just me, or has His Holiness gone senile in his youth?"
In the bustling central square of the cathedral, a priest lounging on a bench started the conversation.
His companion, startled by the audacity, quickly scanned their surroundings. But the first priest merely chuckled.
"Relax. Even if someone hears, no one cares anymore. Everyone feels the same way."
"Well… that’s true, I suppose."
"Think about it—claiming that cursed land was madness. It’s a colossal waste of money, and when the monster hunts start, how many knights will we lose this time?"
The second priest, initially hesitant, nodded after hearing the grim assessment.
"...It’s insane. The poor holy knights are the ones who’ll bleed for this."
"Exactly. And that’s why people are starting to suggest we... ‘replace’ him."
"Wait, replace? Are we really talking about the Pope here?"
"Why not? He’s an orphan with no backers, clearly unfit for the position—"
The priest stopped mid-sentence as a frantic young acolyte ran toward them, his face pale and his breath heavy.
"It’s been discovered!"
"What’s been discovered?"
"An ancient ruin! It’s in the western part of Blonka Forest, just as His Holiness decreed!"
The central square, perpetually buzzing with people, erupted into chaos.
"Did you hear that? An ancient ruin was found!"
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"In that monster-infested wasteland? No way!"
"Wait, wasn’t that land given to us by the Empire for free? This is like stumbling on a mountain of gold!"
Ancient ruins from a bygone era, when magic and science far surpassed modern advancements, were legendary. They often contained artifacts beyond contemporary imagination, making ruin-hunting a lucrative but perilous venture.
The revelation hit like a lightning bolt, leaving everyone in the square pondering the same question:
“Was it luck, or did the Pope receive divine guidance?”
Though he bore the title of Pope, Nikelus had never demonstrated the sacred powers one might expect—no miracles, no healings, no divine prophecies. Rumors whispered that he was a fraud, a mere usurper. But this discovery was too uncanny to dismiss as mere coincidence.
"Even that leech finally did something right," one priest sneered.
He laughed, expecting his companion to join in, only to find him frozen in terror, staring over his shoulder.
"What’s wrong—" the priest turned, only to lock eyes with Bliss, the Church’s infamous enforcer.
"Don’t stop now," Bliss said, a cold smile curling his lips. "It was just getting interesting."
The priests blanched. Insulting the Pope might not have dire consequences under normal circumstances, but Bliss was a different story. His reputation for dealing with dissenters was chilling.
The priest attempted to retreat, mumbling an excuse.
"S-sorry, I just remembered I have urgent—"
"Sit down." Bliss’s voice was dangerously soft.
The priest froze. Slowly, he moved closer as instructed. Bliss leaned in, whispering directly into his ear.
"You’re free to go. But if you hear anything... interesting about that ‘leech,’ come tell me. Let’s share the fun, shall we?"
The moment the words hit his ears, the priest felt an inexplicable surge of loyalty toward Bliss, an emotion as unnatural as it was irresistible.
It was the power of Bliss’s A-rank skill, Whisper of the Dead King. A skill that planted irrational devotion into the minds of weaker individuals.
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Meanwhile, in the Blonka Forest, a lone figure moved stealthily through the monster-infested terrain.
Nikelus, the very Pope who had been the subject of such scorn, stood hidden behind dense foliage, his focus on the system interface before him.
[Fifth Main Oracle: Purify the Ruins (In Progress)]
Sub-Oracles:
1. Hunt 10 monsters in the western Blonka region. (0/10)
2. Destroy 10 suspicious sources of magic. (0/10)
3. Locate and purify the final source of magic within the ancient ruin, Temple of the Crimson Moon. (0/1)
The system was almost identical to the one Nikelus had used before his reincarnation. Even the quest interface retained its familiar aesthetic, albeit with one change: quests were now referred to as Oracles.
"Well, as long as the rewards are real, I won’t complain."
He unsheathed his weapon, a plain steel sword marked as [Iron Sword (E)]—a far cry from the rare items he once possessed.
Before him, three wolf-like monsters emerged from the shadows, their fangs glinting with saliva.
"Let’s make this quick."
In moments, Nikelus dispatched the creatures with surgical precision, his new S-rank body proving more than capable. As the last wolf fell, a system message appeared.
Sub-Oracle 1: Hunt 10 monsters in the western Blonka region. (3/10)
Nikelus wiped the blood from his blade, smirking.
"Just seven more to go."
Another monster fell from the treetops, its life snuffed out by a thrown dagger. The system chimed again.
Sub-Oracle 1: Hunt 10 monsters in the western Blonka region. (4/10)
Progress: 40%
Complete this Sub-Oracle to unlock one of your sealed skills.
Skill to be unlocked: [Blasphemy! (S)]
Nikelus’s eyes narrowed at the unexpected reward.
"An S-rank skill… unlocked just by completing this? Interesting."