"Sir, are you here to pray at the church?"
The tall, thin nun had appeared before Kurose Akira at some point without him noticing, her cold gaze fixed squarely on him.
"Yes," Akira replied calmly. "A close family member of mine has fallen ill. I wish to pray to the God of Light for her recovery."
Something about this nun felt off to him.
With a flicker of intent, Akira opened her information panel.
[Moran (Rare)]Level: 10 (400/2000)Race: Human (?)Strength: 100 / Agility: 100 / Mana: 100 / Constitution: 100Growth: 6 (+6 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)Status: ? (Unable to query)
Two question marks?
Akira frowned deeply.
Could this Nun Moran be the demon mentioned in the quest?
"I see. Our church sells holy water capable of treating illness. If you're interested, you may purchase some. It's probably more effective than prayer," the tall nun said stiffly, her expression perpetually sour, as though the world owed her money.
"Thank you for the advice. I'll buy some," Akira replied with a nod.
The nun turned and left.
Yet even as she walked away, she kept glancing back at Akira—almost as if she regarded him as an enemy.
"Mr. Kurose Akira, what were you talking about with Sister Moran?"
Ivsha suddenly appeared at his side, smiling brightly.
"Nothing important," Akira shook his head, then continued, "Ivsha, aside from Sister Kaylee, who else in the church knows your true identity?"
"Oh~ that would be Sister Moran," Ivsha replied. "She and Sister Kaylee are the two most respected nuns here. They're the ones holding this church together."
"I see~" Akira nodded thoughtfully.
"Ivsha, this must be the Mr. Kurose Akira you're always talking about, right?"
At that moment, a group of nuns gathered around them.
Among them, the plump elderly nun squinted her eyes and smiled warmly at Akira.
"Yes, Sister Kaylee. This is Mr. Kurose Akira," Ivsha said sweetly, hooking her arm tightly around his.
"Hello, Sister Kaylee. It's a pleasure to meet you," Akira said, feeling oddly nervous—as though he were meeting Ivsha's guardians for the first time.
"This young man is quite handsome," a blue-haired nun suddenly commented approvingly.
"He really is—and he doesn't look like someone from Silvermoon Town."
"Probably from another country. So handsome~ No wonder Ivsha can't stop thinking about him."
"Ah~ Mr. Kurose Akira~ Ah~ my Mr. Kurose Akira~ Please punish me~"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Hahahaha~"
The nuns chattered excitedly, their curiosity piqued by Akira's sudden appearance.
Akira responded with a polite smile, feeling a deep warmth in his chest. Ivsha's life here—this family—was filled with joy and comfort.
But just as laughter filled the air, the church doors were suddenly thrown open, shattering the peace.
"Beautiful nuns, what lively discussion are you having? Care to share it with me?"
A shrill, grating voice rang out, making Akira's ears ache.
He turned to see an obese man dripping in gold and silver jewelry, flanked by servants, strutting toward him and Ivsha.
The surrounding townsfolk visibly recoiled, fear evident on their faces.
"He's back again!"
"What a despicable man!"
The nuns instinctively stepped back, their eyes filled with undisguised disgust.
Only Sister Kaylee stepped forward, placing herself between the merchant and the others.
"Mr. Moller," she asked calmly, "is there something specific that brings you to the church today?"
"Nothing special," the merchant Moller sneered, sweeping his gaze across the room. "Just taking a stroll, observing the many faces of human misery. Quite entertaining, really."
"How sinful," Sister Kaylee murmured, frowning as she clutched the cross at her chest.
"Sinful?" Moller laughed harshly. "The world has changed, Sister Kaylee. Goodwill alone won't keep you standing anymore!"
His beady, rat-like eyes slid greedily over the nuns behind her—until they landed on Akira, where a flicker of irritation flashed.
"An outsider?" Moller scoffed. "There have been more and more outsiders in Silvermoon Town lately. Who knows what they're really here for. I suggest you keep your precious nuns away from them, lest they be deceived and break your heart."
"That won't be necessary," Sister Kaylee replied evenly. "The nuns here know very well who is good and who is not."
"Oh? I doubt that!"
Moller strode forward until he loomed over Sister Kaylee, his massive frame dwarfing her slight figure.
Yet in her eyes, Akira saw no fear—only calm resolve.
After a brief silence, Moller continued, "You and Sister Moran should understand this clearly: the church is on the verge of collapse. Only by agreeing to my conditions can you preserve this place—and protect these nuns you're so proud of! Heh heh!"
His greedy gaze swept over them once more, his grin revealing rows of yellowed gold teeth.
"Spare us your hypocrisy. We can protect the church ourselves!"
Young Emily burst forward, shouting bravely, "Handing the church over to someone like you—that's the real descent into the abyss!"
"Emily!"
An older nun immediately pulled her back, shielding her in fear that Moller's servants might resort to violence.
"You think you can protect the church?" Moller sneered, lifting his fleshy hand to slick back his thinning hair. "With what? That baron from the royal capital? He can only help you temporarily. Without my support, the church's closure is inevitable—and you know it!"
"As for descending into the abyss…" Moller chuckled darkly, reaching out with his filthy hand toward Emily. "You've never even experienced it. How can you say it's—"
"Loserine."
Before Moller could finish, a cold blade was already pressed against his throat.
"Y-you—!"
The sudden killing intent sent Moller trembling all over.
He never imagined that someone in Silvermoon Town would dare raise a weapon against him.
He tried to bark orders at his servants—but the white-and-platinum-armored knight before him filled him with primal terror.
Panicking, he turned his gaze toward Akira.
"You! What do you think you're doing?!"
"You're too loud," Akira said coldly. "This is a church. It needs silence."
Moller's words had disgusted him.
And after confirming that the combined combat power of Moller's servants was inferior to Loserine's, Akira decisively chose to engage.
After all—when your visible strength surpasses the enemy's, and the enemy is clearly a villain, why hesitate?
Besides, Akira already knew Moller's background from Ivsha.
Just a nouveau riche thug.
As a player, why should he tolerate an NPC like that?
"Loserine," Akira ordered coolly, "escort him out."
"Yes, sir."
"You dare?! I am—AH!"
Before Moller could finish, Loserine drove her boot straight into his bloated stomach.
This had been Akira's explicit instruction—to avoid spilling blood inside the sacred church, and to avoid traumatizing the younger nuns.
In the next instant, the merchant Moller flew like a kicked ball, sailing straight out of the church doors…