Inside the Water Illumination Codex Bureau, Slane Theocracy.
Sinedin had been in a foul mood for days.
The Sunlight Scripture—Nigun Grid Luín and his entire elite cadre—had been utterly annihilated by an undead entity calling itself the Sorcerer King.
Clementine had defected, stealing the priceless [Crown of Wisdom] in the process.
And now reports indicated the Ruin Dragon Lord (also known as the Catastrophe Dragon Lord or one of the remaining True Dragon Lords capable of world-threatening destruction) was stirring, on the verge of awakening from its long slumber.
Any single one of these crises could shake the Theocracy to its foundations. All three erupting in quick succession felt like divine punishment.
He had spent sleepless hours pondering the same questions:
Who—or what—was this Sorcerer King?
Who was the so-called "God of the Sanctuary" (or Holy Domain God Lord) that had appeared in the reports?
And could this mysterious figure named Helant, the self-proclaimed Human Emissary, be recruited—or at least manipulated—into serving the Theocracy's interests?
"High Priest, you sent for me."
A clear, steady male voice pulled Sinedin from his brooding thoughts. He forced a thin, practiced smile onto his face.
"Quaiesse Hazeia Quintia. You're here."
The newcomer was the fifth seat of the Black Scripture, widely known as the "One-Man Army"—Quaiesse Hazeia Quintia.
He bore a striking family resemblance to his infamous younger sister, the rogue Clementine: blond hair, sharp features, and an almost ethereal beauty that belied his lethal capability.
Unlike Clementine's perverse, bloodthirsty nature, Quaiesse was the epitome of composure and reliability—the very reason he had been entrusted with overseeing the high-risk operation to charm and control the awakening Ruin Dragon Lord using the world-class item [Downfall of Castle and Country].
"Quaiesse, is [Downfall of Castle and Country] ready?"
"It is prepared. We can depart at any time," Quaiesse replied with calm respect, bowing slightly.
Sinedin spoke in a grave tone. "You've heard about the destruction of the Sunlight Scripture."
Quaiesse's expression remained solemn. "Annihilated by an undead entity calling itself the Sorcerer King. Will we encounter this being during the mission?"
A rare flicker of nervousness crossed his otherwise steady features. The Black Scripture's overall strength far surpassed the Sunlight Scripture's, but who—besides Zesshi Zetsumei herself—could confidently claim they could single-handedly wipe out Nigun's elite force?
If they crossed paths with a Demon God-level threat rivaling Zesshi, there was a very real risk that [Downfall of Castle and Country]—the Theocracy's most precious mind-control treasure—could be seized or lost.
"High Priest," Quaiesse continued carefully, "why proceed with this mission now? Or why not assign it to Zesshi Zetsumei?"
Even with his ironclad temperament, a trace of anxiety crept into his voice.
"Zesshi must remain here to safeguard the homeland against unforeseen threats," Sinedin explained.
"The other seats are occupied with their own critical duties. But the Ruin Dragon Lord is awakening. If we can subjugate it with [Downfall of Castle and Country], the Theocracy gains an unstoppable trump card against any foe—even the Sorcerer King."
He sat heavily in his chair, fingers drumming incessantly on the armrest. "This was decided by a unanimous vote of the Cardinals. My personal opinion carries no weight."
Quaiesse's chest rose and fell visibly, as though bearing an immense invisible burden.
Sinedin leaned forward, placing a firm but reassuring hand on Quaiesse's shoulder. "During this mission, if you encounter unavoidable danger, abandon the operation immediately. I will take full responsibility before the other High Priests. But…"
His eyes were earnest, almost pleading.
"You must bring back [Downfall of Castle and Country] at all costs. It is one of the last legacies the Six Great Gods left to protect humanity."
"Yes, I understand." Quaiesse exhaled slowly, the tension easing from his shoulders.
With a High Priest willing to shield him politically, caution became the priority. If anything felt even slightly off—whether the Sorcerer King, the Ruin Dragon Lord, or this mysterious Helant—he would retreat immediately with the item in hand.
No foe could possibly prevent his escape if he chose flight, right?
Seeing Quaiesse's expression soften, Sinedin produced a rolled portrait from his desk and handed it over.
"This is?"
The image depicted a tall figure with long white-silver hair and piercing azure eyes. The face was impossibly handsome, radiating an aura of serene holiness that bordered on divine.
"Helant," Sinedin said quietly. "If you encounter him during the mission—while ensuring the primary objective's success—evaluate his thoughts, character, and intentions. I need to know whether he can be recruited to serve the Theocracy… or if he poses a threat we must eliminate."
"Yes, High Priest. I will observe him closely."
…
Dusk
E-Rantel.
"It's so lively~ Lord Helant, it was definitely the right choice to come out with you!"
On the bustling streets of E-Rantel, Mino tugged eagerly at Helant's hand, her eyes wide and sparkling as she took in the sights like a child experiencing the world for the first time.
The petite Sanctuary Demon—white hair tied in a low ponytail, clad in a form-fitting black priestess outfit—drew nearly as many stares as Helant himself.
Helant, tall and slender in flowing white sacrificial robes, long silver-white hair cascading down his back, exuded an effortless aura of holiness that turned heads everywhere they went.
Behind them walked Momonga in full heavy armor (his Momon persona) and Narberal Gamma as Nabe, both maintaining a discreet but vigilant distance.
Mino clung shamelessly to Helant's arm, pressing close with a coquettish pout. "Look at you~ Why did I have to beg before you finally agreed to come out and play?"
The sensation against his arm was pleasant but noticeably less… overwhelming than Albedo's.
"How did you even know I was coming out?" Helant asked, looking down with faint amusement. He reached over and vigorously ruffled her hair until it fluffed out like a dandelion.
He had originally planned to bring Lupusregina Beta, but Mino had appeared out of nowhere midway and shamelessly squeezed the wolf-girl out of the lineup.
"Lupusregina is a priestess, and so am I," Mino said, almond eyes misting over in an exaggerated show of grievance. "I'm basically your indirect creation, yet I never get any of the perks!"
"Herox got strengthened into a True Demonic Dragon, and you even tell bedtime stories to those two brats Aura and Mare. Only me—only I am unloved by you!"
She huffed, turning her head away dramatically and refusing to meet his eyes.
Helant sighed softly and patted her head again, gentler this time. "If you want to play, then come along. But tell me in advance next time. Otherwise you'll mess up my plans."
Mino had been randomly generated by the [Heart of the Sanctuary] world-class item, so her personality settings could not be freely edited. Her loyalty to Helant was absolute, but her 'SETTING' was lively, mischievous, and occasionally bratty.
While most NPCs viewed Helant with something akin to paternal/filial devotion, Mino treated him more like an older brother—albeit one she occasionally flirted with in her playful, teasing way.
Seeing that Helant had finally accepted her presence, Mino felt a quiet sense of relief.
The tip had come from Demiurge, of course—but she could never tell Helant that. For the Supreme Being's Offspring Plan, Albedo alone was insufficient. Demiurge suggested that they needed more "sisters" to work together.
"Helant-san, there's a tavern ahead," Momonga said, stepping forward to lead the group inside.
Ding-ling.
The moment they entered, the pungent reek of cheap ale, unwashed bodies, and old sweat assaulted their senses. The noisy clamor inside died instantly at the chime of the door.
Every eye in the tavern turned toward the newcomers.
"Yo, what pampered young master is out playing with beauties?" A bald, burly adventurer at a nearby table grinned sleazily, sizing them up.
His gaze drifted from Helant to Momonga (both wearing copper-rank adventurer tags), then lingered greedily on Mino and Nabe.
"So they're just copper-rank show-offs." The bald man licked his lips. "Hey, you two pretty boys—these two ladies ain't bad. How about leaving 'em here for me to have some fun with?"
Helant and Momonga exchanged a brief glance and let out soft, amused chuckles.
"There really are a lot of people without eyes."
Nabe's hand instinctively moved to her sword hilt, fingers tightening—but before she could draw, Mino gently but firmly pressed her hand back down.
Nabe blinked in confusion. Mino's cute little face was alight with eager anticipation.
"I'll do it."
She looked up at Helant, who gave a small nod of permission.
Mino stepped forward lightly, almost skipping, toward the bald man.
"You son of a bitch," she said sweetly, "I've been waiting for an idiot like you for a long time."
Before the man could even register the insult, Mino delivered a vicious, pinpoint kick straight to the groin—hitting the bullseye with perfect precision.
A sickening crack echoed through the tavern.
Ouch... Every male present winced involuntarily, hands instinctively moving to protect their own lower regions.
Thud.
The bald man folded like a shrimp, collapsing to the floor in wordless agony.
Mino followed up with a brutal second kick to his lower abdomen, launching him backward. He crashed into the far wall with a heavy impact, slumping in a heap.
Momonga turned to Helant, his gaze speaking volumes: Really?
Helant sighed wearily. "She's ...usually quite well-behaved."
Right then, a furious scream rang out from the corner.
"My potion! You'll pay for this!"