Once Blake’s footsteps had gradually faded into the distance, Aila suddenly dropped her playful demeanor and spoke in an unusually serious tone.
“Midir, let me give you a heads-up. Since you showed such powerful light magic during the battle, the people from the Church of Light are likely here to recruit you. If you’re not interested, be firm in your refusal. They aren’t the type to give up easily.”
“Oh? You sound like you know them quite well. Why are you so sure?” Midir asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Well... how should I put it? My old man and his lot have a bit of history with the current Holy Lord of the Church of Light. Apparently, they’ve been fanatically recruiting anyone with a high affinity for the light element for many years. I didn’t think much of it at first, but my mom always reminded me to be careful. I’ve looked into them a bit because I heard it so often.”
“From my perspective, their loyalty and faith toward the Church and their deity seem a bit too fanatical. After all, the Age of Gods ended over ten thousand years ago, didn’t it? So why is it that only the Church of Light’s heritage has remained unbroken to this day?”
“I’ve also compared them to the God of Nature and the God of Fire worshipped by the elven and dwarven races. Even we long-lived races are gradually losing our sense of awe for the ancient gods, yet humans, with their mere hundred-year lifespans, are completely different... Anyway, I feel like something is off, but just take my opinion with a grain of salt.”
Midir frowned and thought carefully after hearing this. He knew Aila’s personality well enough to know she wouldn't lie to him about something like this. If even she found it strange, there must be some underlying reason—though it could also just be her sensitivity as an elf.
“I’ll take your views into consideration. Since I haven’t had any contact with them yet, I’ll go see what the situation is. Why don’t you come along and hear what they have to say?”
Midir stood up after some thought, took a coat from his storage space, and draped it over his shoulders as he asked Aila in a consultative tone.
“Fine. I’m free anyway, and since you’ve asked, this lady will reluctantly accompany you. I don’t particularly like those preachy types, but who told this lady to be so helpful?”
After Midir briefly tidied himself up, the two arrived at the drawing room of the Duke’s Manor. They found a middle-aged man in a pure white robe, possessing a kind face, waiting there patiently.
Sensing Midir’s arrival, the priest turned around, took off his hat, and gave a slight bow to the two of them, a trace of a smile appearing on his round face.
Midir then remembered that this kind-faced middle-aged man was the leader of the priests during the defense of the city. He returned the smile and gestured for the man to take a seat.
“Mr. Midir, I am Darren Carvey, the Chief Bishop of the Church of Light stationed at Azure Fortress. During those soul-stirring days of the siege, your bravery and wisdom moved us all. Regrettably, the battle was urgent then, and I had no chance to speak with you in depth. Seeing you safe and sound now brings me great comfort. I hope this meeting gives us a chance to understand each other better.”
Bishop Darren’s words were filled with sincerity and expectation. His attitude was exceptionally humble, as if he didn’t care about his high status as Chief Bishop but truly wished to establish a connection with Midir.
A maid from the Duke’s Manor arrived at the right moment with black tea and exquisite pastries. The aroma of the tea and the scent of the snacks intertwined, adding a touch of comfort to the conversation.
“Thank you for the kind words, Bishop Carvey. You and your people deserve much of the credit as well. Without the help of the priests’ arrays, I don’t think I could have suppressed the Void Demons so easily.”
Midir took a small sip of the black tea. The warm liquid slid down his throat, bringing a sense of relief. He set down the teacup and looked at Bishop Carvey with an honest gaze, posing his question directly but politely.
“Why don’t you speak plainly? What does the Church of Light intend by sending you to find me?”
Bishop Carvey, who was just picking up a pastry to taste, clearly hadn't expected Midir to dive so directly into the topic. The speech he had prepared was thrown into disarray. He instinctively rubbed his forehead, appearing somewhat embarrassed.
After glancing at Aila, who was sitting idly to the side fiddling with her nails, he seemed to understand something. A bitter smile appeared on his face as he spoke.
“It seems my intentions cannot escape your eyes, sir. I have indeed come on behalf of the Holy Lord to invite Mr. Midir to join our Church of Light.”
“But I know almost nothing about your church. Is it appropriate to invite me so suddenly? Aren’t you afraid I might do something detrimental to you?” Midir asked with a slight nod after seeing the bishop frankly admit his intent.
Seeing that Midir didn't show any dissatisfaction, Bishop Carvey seemed to feel much better. He quickly continued his explanation.
“You may have heard from Miss Aila that our church has been searching across the continent for Chosen Ones who fit our doctrines. The various signs you displayed during the battle a few days ago undoubtedly meet the Church’s requirements. The Holy Lord’s intent is that if you are willing to join us, we can offer you the highest-level treatment...”
Aila, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly interrupted him, asking with a hint of surprise.
“Highest-level treatment? Wouldn’t that make his status even higher than yours, a Chief Bishop? You’re certainly willing to pay a high price.”
“Miss Aila, you joke. A powerful mage like Mr. Midir is highly valued anywhere. It’s only natural for us to want to recruit him. Our Church of Light has always cherished every member; their status and treatment are determined by their abilities and contributions.”
Bishop Carvey didn't mind Aila’s sudden interruption, instead answering her with a smile.
“Then you’re going to be disappointed. Midir is already practically a member of our adventuring group. If you’re here to poach him, your offer seems a bit lacking, doesn’t it?”
Aila spoke lightheartedly while popping a small pastry into her mouth.
Hearing this, Bishop Carvey’s gaze lingered on Midir for a moment. Then, a confident smile curved his lips, as if he had already planned for this.
“Miss Aila is right. However, according to my understanding, Mr. Midir has not yet signed a formal contract with your group. Therefore, I don’t consider this poaching, but rather giving Mr. Midir an additional choice. As for the treatment, I promise on behalf of the Holy Lord that if Mr. Midir is willing to join, we are prepared to increase whatever the adventuring group offers by thirty percent... no, fifty percent! I believe such terms are enough to express our sincerity and determination.”
“Furthermore, I heard that Mr. Midir plans to explore Crown Peak? If nothing else, our Jade City is the closest major city to the Valley of Ice. Our intelligence regarding that area is the most detailed on the entire continent,” Darren added immediately.
Aila’s lips twitched slightly upon hearing Bishop Carvey’s words, and she grumbled inwardly.
“This guy really knows how to hit the key points, using Midir’s exploration plan as a bargaining chip. And he’s not wrong—Jade City, being the closest city to the Valley of Ice, does possess a wealth of information about Crown Peak. As for the salary, I know Midir’s strength is enough to get him top-tier treatment anywhere, let alone with an extra fifty percent on top. Such a figure would be an astronomical sum anywhere.”
“This guy... surely he won’t be dazed by their sugar-coated lures, right? Why isn’t he saying anything? Since when was the Church of Light so filthy rich? Tsk... what a pain!”
She turned to look at Midir, only to see him staring at the table in silence, seemingly deep in thought. This made Aila feel a sense of unease.
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