As soon as I heard this huge figure – 70 million stones – my heart pounded. However, I forced myself to calm down and continue the conversation. It will not be too late to rejoice when the money is in my hands.

"Will this letter serve as proof?"

After receiving the letter, Krovitz slowly read it from top to bottom, then completely changed his expression. He was silent for a long time.

—... Something's wrong?

"Oh, I'm sorry. If the contents of this letter are true... This is a really serious issue for the church. I don't doubt you, but could you please wait a little inside?

— Of course.

Krovits led us into a kind of living room inside the church, and then left with a sense of urgency. Apparently, he needed to confirm his handwriting before reporting it to his superiors.

"You don't think that... Will something go wrong?

"Haha, of course not. They just want to discuss it after verification.

"Murad is right. You guys have read it too. The content of this letter is not a small matter.

They had to wait longer than expected. When new assumptions slowly began to arise between us, Krovits returned.

"I'm sorry. I've made you wait too long. Come along. Everyone is waiting.

The place where he brought us was a chapel on the 2nd floor, a room that could only be used by priests, not ordinary believers.

"I've heard that non-members of the church are not allowed here...

"The goddess has connected our paths. How can we call you strangers?

Hearing Krovitz's answer to Rothmiller's question, I calmed my anxiety. If they thought the letter was a fake, he wouldn't have behaved like that.

*Creak*

Soon Krovits opened the door and presented the interior of the chapel. It was quite a large room, but there were only seven people sitting in it. Looking at their faces, I froze.

it...

After visiting the Count's residence, I read several books about the state of affairs in the church, so I immediately understood everything. Only two, a man and a woman, were in armor. Everyone had their own patterns on their armor, but the silver thread that adorned the edges meant that they were captains of the Order of Paladins. Including Blood, it meant that all three captains of the church had gathered here, but that wasn't all. There were two high priests, one cardinal, and an elderly man standing in the center.

As soon as Rothmiller saw him, he knelt down and made the sign of the cross.

— ... The servant of the stars greets the holy archbishop.

This was understandable. It's like the Pope for Catholics.

But who is this child?

Feeling for a moment a strange pressure from the impressive list of people present, I looked at a little boy of 10 years old sitting in front of the archbishop. Now, looking at him, it seemed that everyone was standing, as if protecting the child. Even the archbishop was standing right behind him. Who could this child be?

While I was thinking about this, the archbishop made the sign of the cross, and all those present turned to us and prayed.

"May the blessing of the twilight star be with you.

It was a very anomalous sight. Even Rothmiller, who was also a believer, was at a loss and froze like a stone.

—…

Maybe it's because we're in a chapel? There was a strange sacred and at the same time majestic atmosphere in the air.

After a moment's silence, the archbishop opened his mouth.

"High Priest Ludwig was a very dear person to us. Thank you for delivering the letter. May I ask how this letter came to be in your possession?

To be honest, I was somewhat surprised. The supreme authority of one of the three major religions was too polite and cautious when talking to the 4th floor researcher.

This will not always be the case. Apparently, that person was so important.

Soon I slowly opened my mouth and briefly recounted what had happened in the Labyrinth of Larkaz.

"The Twilight Star sent you to him because he lost his way. Thank you for saving his soul. Even though he was possessed by an evil god, his soul would shine forever even in the darkness.

Is this really the thinking of the clergy?

It was a little hard to listen to. It was not a question of whether it was right or wrong, but it felt that they were fundamentally opposite to me.

I have not gotten along with religious people for a long time.

— ... It belonged to him.

If it had been a sacred relic, it would have been worth much more than a reward, but I did not feel at a loss because it was the right thing to do. I was indebted to this priest.

"Thank you. This is not the subject we were looking for, but it should calm his soul at least a little.

Yes, it was not a sacred relic. Well, if there was something like that, that bastard would take it.

"Cardinal Grindond, what part of the reward will go to them?"

"The relic has not been found, but given the importance of the contents of the handwritten letter, its belongings, and the transmission of its last moments, it will not be insufficient to pay all 70 million stones designated by the Treasury.

"Then please do it."

Without realizing it, I swallowed hard. I expected to receive only half of the reward since there was no sacred relic, but they gave us everything. I repented that I was uncomfortable with their words. They were really wonderful believers.

But, of course, this was not the main thing.

"I want to ask you something.

"Ask."

With the first agenda finished, I went straight to the point, to what was perhaps more important than reward.

"So what are you guys going to do next?"

"May I ask what exactly you mean?"

"Haven't you found the criminal who kidnapped the High Priest Ludwig?" I wonder if you are going to take revenge, because now I am also involved in this case.

In asking the question, I naturally hinted that they were responsible to some extent.

The answer received in response was too vague.

"I can't confirm it at this time and place.

- I see.

Well, I decided that if these guys decided to take revenge, then this bastard wouldn't be chasing me for at least a while. I suppose I had no choice but to act on my own. I nodded, feeling a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Don't worry, great warrior.

At that moment, a small child, whom I had been watching from the very beginning, spoke.

*Shaaaa!*

A too bright silvery light poured out of it. When I came to, my fat finger had a ring of three intertwined vines. I didn't understand what the hell was going on, but I knew what was going on when I heard the Cardinal's exclamation that followed.

"Oracle...!" An oracle has descended!

I have only heard this from NPCs in the game and have never experienced it myself.

Bloody hell.

It was an oracle, and apparently the first to descend in a long time.

***

At last, the mystery was solved. As for why the archbishop treated the child like a treasure box, the answer was simple.

He considers him a saint.

A saint is a vessel that can hear the voices of the gods and sometimes transmit their power through himself. A child who has the qualities of such a vessel said"

"The goddess has just spoken. This ring will protect you from three strong ill-fated relationships.

"You mean the Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos?"

An ordinary fortune teller would have answered this question with "yes," "maybe," or "no," but the oracle was different.

— Yes. She said that this could only prevent a connection with this person. So you must be ready to overcome fate when all the vines of this ring are torn apart.

It felt like I had become a warrior who would defeat a demon lord or something. To be honest, I was dumbfounded. Maybe I defeated that bitch Eliza, and sorted out the affairs of the high priest, but why did the goddess give me such a gift? Especially to someone who was called an evil spirit.

What's it? Is this a hidden camera prank?

Suddenly I wondered if all these people were scamming me with this child, but the ring on my hand dispelled these doubts. Even the faces on which the surprise froze seemed too sincere to be a pretense.

"May the blessing of the twilight star be with you.

"Let everything take its course.

All the religious leaders of this world looked at me and made the sign of the cross. I checked the faces of my teammates.

"Bjorn, who the hell are you?!"

"Are you destined to become a hero?!"

— No, that's not the problem. How can a barbarian be chosen as a human god?

And how do I know.

I stared at the boy, realizing that this was no reason to rejoice. I wanted to ask many things.

But...

*Fell*

However, the child collapsed on his back - apparently, this was the price for obtaining an oracle. The archbishop picked it up, and that was the end of today's meeting.

"Sir Blood, please escort these people outside.

"No, wait!" I still have to ask-...

"I ask for your understanding. We'll meet later and we'll explain everything. In the meantime, please keep today's case a secret. Otherwise, a great misfortune may befall you.

"What?" A big problem?

It was absurd, but the conversation ended there.

"Sir Krovitz will explain the details.

The archbishop's stubbornness forced us to leave. Then, under the guidance of Krovitz, we went to the living room, where we had been waiting earlier.

"Blood, what the hell happened here?"

"I... I also don't understand why she decided to give an oracle to a representative of another race.

— ... Has this never happened to a non-human?

- No, as far as I know, this is the third case.

"So what happened to them?"

"According to the records, we know that they were branded as heretics in their tribes and expelled.

Hah, that was a pain in the ass. As if in addition to the evil spirits, I was given another suicide button.

"Now I understand why you asked me to keep it a secret.

"Yes, because if it becomes known, it will do more harm than good.

The basis of the barbarian's growth was the Spiritual Imprint. If I were kicked out of the tribe, from that day on, I would be no different from a failed character. Barbarian shamans existed only in the Holy Land.

"Don't worry about us. Nothing will be revealed by us first," having said this, Krovits looked at his colleagues. They didn't say anything, but the intentions were clear.

So I also looked at my comrades.

"Oh!" I'll keep my mouth shut! Really! You trust me, don't you? Bjorn?

"Don't worry. I didn't hear anything today.

Of course, I wasn't worried about Misha or Rothmiller. He was not such a person, and he was also a follower of Reatlas. The problem was...

"Hey!" Why do you look at me with such eyes?

"What do you think?"

"I... From now on, I will stop drinking.

I sighed as Hikurod lowered his head with a dejected expression on his face. We shouldn't have gathered together. Are all the gods here really like that? Instead of removing the largest stone that weighed down my heart, it was as if a new, smaller one had been placed on it.

But he's not that frivolous, so...

I decided to focus on the positives. If this ring really prevented an encounter with a Dragon Slayer, then this level of risk couldn't be called a risk. If we talk about benefits and losses, then it was certainly profitable. I won what I craved so much: time.

For the first time, I received a sacred relic through an oracle.

Objects donated by the gods were called sacred relics. Most of them had cheating abilities. Therefore, I did not doubt the power of the ring. I didn't know how long it would last, but I wouldn't run into it until all three strands were cut.

The problem is how soon it will happen.

Two years? Three years?

I doubted if that much was possible, but it was a new sacred relic that had just been "forged", but... It is better to assume that the period will be as short as possible and prepare. I decided that it would last from six months to a year, and I finished collecting my thoughts.

*Tick*

As soon as I got up from the sofa, one of the intertwined vines broke.

"Eh, Bjorn?" It looks like one just broke.

— ... No. This cannot be.

I rubbed the broken vine with my finger, wet with saliva, as if trying to twist a rope. But, as always, the reality was cruel.

"Look. She is still holding on.

The moment I reached out my hand with the ring to show them, the severed vine emitted a silvery light and scattered in the air.

*Shaaaa!*

I stared blankly at this sight.

[The conditions for activating the Star Blessing have been met].

I didn't even bother to laugh.