“Huh? An emergency request from Leon?”
‘I thought the supplies were being sent without any issues. Did something happen?’
Panicked, I checked the message. However, the content was completely different from what I had expected.
**[Emergency Request: Saintess Appointment Support and Farewell]**
Requester: Apprentice Paladin Leon
Content: The Goddess Althemia has finally chosen a Saintess! It is a miracle that hasn’t happened in Ceres for decades, and the appointment ceremony will be held tomorrow at dawn. However, there is a lack of preparation time, and we are short on various materials, so we are requesting assistance. Also, I apologize, but I have been appointed as the youngest member of the Saintess’s guard, so I will no longer be able to continue my mercenary activities.
Urgent Required Items: Dew and leaves from the World Tree, high-grade mana stones.
Additional Support Request: Food supplies for the festival (the festival is scheduled for 1 week starting from the appointment ceremony, but only 3 days’ worth has been secured).
Reward: Provision of the Agnes Holy Knights.
“A Saintess appointment ceremony? And Leon is in the guard unit?”
Aria flew over to my shoulder and looked at the hologram, her expression filled with surprise.
“Guardian, what is a Saintess? And why can’t Leon be a mercenary anymore?”
“I think it refers to a holy being with special powers in a religion. It looks like Leon got a promotion.”
I immediately spent some coins to check the information regarding the Saintess.
**[Saintess Appointment Ceremony of the World of Ceres]**
Description: The official appointment ceremony of the Saintess, chosen directly by the Goddess Althemia. The Saintess receives revelations from the Goddess, gaining powerful purification and healing abilities. She is the only hope to stand against the demons. The ceremony is a large-scale festival involving believers from all over Ceres, and the grand festival continues for 1 week following the ceremony.
‘So hope is finally springing up in Ceres.’
Ceres, the world where Leon lived, was a dark fantasy world plunged into despair by a demonic invasion. The appearance of a Saintess in such a place was truly a miracle. Though the sudden farewell with Leon was regrettable, this wouldn’t be the end.
“But tomorrow at dawn? That’s only a few hours away. This really is urgent.”
I quickly went through the items Leon had requested.
“They need World Tree leaves to make a crown for the Saintess’s head and World Tree dew to use as holy oil. Can you help?”
“Of course! I’ve been consistently harvesting and storing the World Tree’s leaves and dew.”
“You’re quite capable.”
“It was nothing!” Aria replied excitedly.
“As for the high-grade mana stones… let’s ask Mr. Yun Tae-seong.”
[I need some high-grade mana stones. Do you think I could get some from the Association?]
[Yun Tae-seong: High-grade mana stones? I’ll check the warehouse immediately.]
A reply came back a moment later.
[Yun Tae-seong: Fortunately, we have some in stock. I will provide them as part of our cooperation regarding the Rocket Store.]
‘Having a good relationship with the Association really helps.’
Fortunately, I had procured all the urgently needed items.
‘The festival food isn’t mandatory, but let’s provide as much as possible. Leon said there’s some time, so we can take it a bit easier on that front.’
It seemed best to post such a large-scale request as a notice for the members. I drafted a notice for the food supply request while also announcing Leon’s departure from the Rocket Store.
**[Rocket Store Notice]**
Title: Important Notice Regarding Apprentice Paladin Leon
Hello, this is the Rocket Store.
We have some important news to share.
Apprentice Paladin Leon, a mercenary who has received much love, has been appointed as the youngest member of the Saintess’s guard in the world of Ceres. As a result, he will no longer be able to continue his mercenary activities.
While this is joyful news signifying Leon’s growth and promotion, it also means that personal transactions with the Rocket Store will come to an end.
Currently, a historic festival for the Saintess’s appointment is being prepared in Ceres, and food supplies are needed for the celebration. We are recruiting members who are willing to cooperate.
**[Festival Food Supply Request]**
Required Items: Various monster meats and crops
Collection Period: 3 days
Reward: Special coin bonus
While I was posting the notice, Aria was selecting and preparing the World Tree dew and leaves that were in good condition.
‘It will take some time to secure the food ingredients.’
First, I packed the prepared items into boxes: the World Tree dew and leaves Aria brought, as well as the high-grade mana stones provided by Yun Tae-seong from the Association.
[I have received the items! Thank you so much! The priests and nuns have immediately begun work on the crown, holy oil, and staff. Normally, we wouldn’t be able to obtain such precious holy items. Thanks to you, they will be even more special!]
An immediate reply came from Leon. After posting the notice, reactions from the Hunters started pouring in.
“Guardian, orders for monster meat are already coming in!” Aria informed me excitedly.
Checking the Rocket Store, various monster meats and crops were indeed flooding in.
“That’s a relief.”
[When does the ceremony begin?]
When I asked Leon, he replied immediately.
[It is tomorrow at dawn, right before sunrise—6 hours from now! The Goddess said she would give the revelation to the Saintess at sunrise. Also, a grand festival will be held for 1 week after the ceremony. The festival food will be used then.]
To see this, I needed to set an alarm and go to bed right away.
“Aria, if you want to see it too, you should stop and get some sleep.”
“Yes, of course!”
—
The next day, as dawn was breaking, I sat in front of the hologram with Aria. On the screen, the sight of a massive cathedral where Leon stood unfolded.
The inside of the cathedral was lit by hundreds of candles, and believers were quietly offering prayers. In front of the altar, a young woman dressed in pure white clothes knelt, her face covered by a veil.
“That person must be the Saintess.”
“Yeah. She looks even more mysterious since her face is covered by the veil.”
Priest Marco was also visible on one side of the screen. He was sitting in the front with other priests, watching the ceremony.
“In the name of the Goddess Althemia, may blessings be bestowed upon the Saintess.”
A white-haired Archbishop presented the holy items I had sent to the Saintess one by one. He placed the sacred crown, intricately woven from World Tree leaves, onto the Saintess’s head and applied the holy oil made from World Tree dew to her forehead. Finally, he placed the staff embedded with high-grade mana stones into her hands.
“This crown, blessed by the World Tree, shall rest upon her head; this holy oil of life shall grace her forehead; and this staff, embedded with crystals of divine mana, shall accompany her on her journey through hardships.”
As the Archbishop’s prayer began, the entire cathedral was suddenly filled with a warm light. A soft golden radiance began to emanate from the Saintess’s body.
“Wow!” Aria exclaimed in admiration.
I also watched the scene with bated breath. As the Saintess slowly stood up, divine light flowed out from behind the veil. Then, a mysterious voice echoed throughout the cathedral.
**[My daughter, you shall be the hope of this land. You shall drive out the darkness and bring forth the light.]**
At that moment, everyone inside the cathedral knelt. Leon and Marco also bowed their heads reverently.
‘They really did exist.’
I muttered to myself without realizing it. To think I would witness such a divine moment firsthand.
**[Achievement! Witnessed a Rare Sight has been accomplished!]**
**[You have witnessed the Saintess’s appointment ceremony and the voice of the Goddess]**
**- Magic stat permanently increases by +3.**
Then, the Saintess spoke again. This time it was her own voice, yet it was still filled with divine energy.
“The Goddess has given me a revelation. She told me to keep three knights with pure hearts by my side. Among them, the one connected to a good power from another world will take on a special role.”
Leon’s face was zoomed in on the screen; he was bowing his head with a tense expression. The Archbishop stepped forward and made an announcement.
“The Saintess’s guard has been formed! Grand Knight Marcus is appointed as Captain, Knight Elias as Vice-Captain, and Apprentice Paladin Leon as a member of the guard!”
“Leon did it!”
Aria flew around in joy. I also wore a proud smile. Leon bowed his head deeply and reverently accepted the appointment.
After the ceremony completely ended and the hologram turned off, I received a new message from Leon.
[To the Manager of the Rocket Store]
The Saintess’s appointment ceremony ended successfully! As I mentioned, I have been officially appointed as the youngest member of the Saintess’s guard. The Captain is Grand Knight Marcus, and the Vice-Captain is Knight Elias. And during the ceremony, the Saintess gave a new revelation to the Agnes Holy Knights. It was the Goddess’s will to begin full-scale exchanges with the good merchant from another world! Now, cooperation on the level of the Holy Knights, not just me, is possible! The Agnes Holy Knights have decided to provide special services to repay the grace of the Rocket Store.
“What? Cooperation on the level of the Holy Knights?”
Just then, a series of system notifications popped up.
**[Notification: Apprentice Paladin Leon has been promoted to a member of the Saintess’s Guard!]**
**[Notification: Your bond with Leon has deepened, unlocking a new feature!]**
**[New Feature: The Influence System has been activated!]**
“Influence System?”
A description window appeared.
**[Influence System]**
Description: When a trading partner with a deep bond with the Rocket Store grows their influence in their own world, it becomes possible to interact with larger factions in that world.
Currently Active Influence:
Leon (World of Ceres): Member of the Saintess’s Guard + Interaction with the Agnes Holy Knights possible.
**[Additional Notification: New services have been unlocked through interaction with the Agnes Holy Knights!]**
‘Oh! To think such a system existed.’
Aria flew around excitedly.
“Guardian! This is the new change! Because Leon grew, a bigger opportunity has been created!”
“You’re right. Now we can trade with the entire Holy Knights, not just Leon as an individual.”
I checked the list of newly unlocked services.
**[Sanctuary Installation Service]**
Temporarily transforms a designated area into a sanctuary (lasts for 12 hours)
Inside the sanctuary: Undead/Demon-type monster abilities decreased by 50%
Inside the sanctuary: Ally Health/Mana recovery speed increased by 200%
Range: 100-meter radius
Cost: 500,000 coins (limit of 1 per month)
**[Paladin’s Blessing Ritual]**
Simultaneous blessing for up to 20 people (lasts for 48 hours)
Damage against undead +150%, Poison and Corrosion resistance +30%
Cost: 150,000 coins
**[Apprentice Paladin Dispatch Service]**
Dispatches other Apprentice Paladins belonging to the Agnes Holy Knights as mercenaries in place of Leon.
Abilities: Basic Paladin skills (Healing, Blessing, Purification)
Cost: 3,000 coins
“This is incredible.”
I properly checked the newly unlocked Influence System.
**[Influence System]**
Description: When a trading partner with a deep bond with the Rocket Store grows their influence in their own world, it becomes possible to interact with larger factions in that world.
Just as Leon’s growth made interaction with the Holy Knights possible, I wondered what changes would occur if other trading partners also grew and expanded their influence. I thought of my existing trading partners.
“If we become more famous in Dwarf society, we might be able to interact with a Dwarf forge or kingdom. And if we grow our influence in the Halfling world, we might even be able to trade with a Halfling village or merchant guild.”
Aria said with sparkling eyes, “Then that means more diverse and powerful services could be created in the future!”
“That’s right. If transactions were on an individual level until now, from now on, transactions on an organizational level will become possible.”
Not only would the Rocket Store’s reach expand, but it would undoubtedly give wings to the speed at which Hunters climb the Tower.
‘I’m already curious about how people will react.’