Dong, dong, dong.
Father Andrew set down the broom in his hand and opened that door, which was a bit heavy for an old man of his age.
A young man draped in a wide, black cloak appeared in his view.
He had a head of brilliant golden hair, azure eyes that seemed to shine under the sunlight, and a face that balanced between youthful and rugged, making it impossible to dislike him at first glance.
The young man smiled friendly.
“You’re Father Andrew, right?”
He waved the booklet in his hand, which had “Hilos—Basic Introduction” printed on it.
“I saw your church in this book. Can you let me in to take a look?”
He looked very interested, but his behavior was quite proper, not like some ignorant commoners who would desperately push forward as soon as the door opened, just to grab a spot closer to the front.
The priest was silent for a moment, looking up at the sky.
“It’s not time for prayers yet, child.”
He spoke slowly, his voice aged.
“You should come back in half an hour.”
“Ah…”
The young man scratched his golden hair.
“I thought all churches opened their doors at seven.”
“According to regulations, that’s true.”
The priest’s sluggish voice paused.
“But this is just a small church on the outskirts of Hilos. We don’t strictly follow those rules usually… Fine, don’t look at me so eagerly. Come in.”
The priest sighed helplessly and stepped aside to make way for the young man.
“Thanks!”
The young man with the brilliant golden hair smiled, followed the priest into the church, and didn’t forget to close the door behind him.
The priest walking ahead glanced back but said nothing more.
The young man was Ed, who had just arrived in the Nordvian Kingdom for the first time.
Ed looked around curiously left and right.
It was his first time stepping into a church in another country, but it didn’t seem much different from the churches in the Nolan Empire.
On both sides were rows of wooden benches prepared for the believers to sit and pray.
A slightly elevated step led to a sandalwood pulpit, engraved with the emblem of the Radiant Church, where the priest would usually preach to the people.
Although it was just a small church, it had to be said that it had everything it should.
The priest walking ahead suddenly stopped.
“Father Andrew?”
Ed poked his head curiously.
“You…”
The priest turned back to look at the youth, his murky iron-gray eyes carrying a probing light.
“Aren’t here to pray, are you.”
The youth widened his eyes in surprise.
“Did God really manifest?”
The priest sighed.
“The Holy Father is very busy. He doesn’t have time to care about what a young kid is thinking.”
He pointed to those rows of benches.
“If you were really here to pray, you should be sitting there now.”
The priest patted the pulpit in front of him, making a dong dong sound.
“Instead of standing here with me, understand?”
Ed then noticed that he had unconsciously stepped up that level and was only two steps away from the sandalwood pulpit.
He smiled awkwardly and stepped back down.
But under his surprised gaze, the priest also slowly descended the steps and chose a nearby bench to sit down slowly.
“Child, you sit too.”
He patted the spot beside him.
“I can tell you’re not a believer of the Holy Father, but since you’ve come here, you’re a guest. Under the Holy Father’s gaze, if there’s anything, you can speak freely. I’ll help you as much as I can.”
“Are you clergy really this easy to talk to?”
Ed asked curiously.
“This is… a requirement of the doctrine.”
The priest was silent for a moment, then corrected himself.
“No, it should be said that without a broad and compassionate heart, one cannot receive the Holy Father’s grace.”
Ed wasn’t a believer of the Radiant Church and only had a superficial understanding of the church’s situation.
So he could only nod along with a smile and sit down beside the priest.
“Actually…”
The youth pulled out the rolled-up bounty from his bosom and unfolded it in front of the priest.
“I came here to ask if you have any impression of this bounty.”
The priest squinted to look.
“It’s the bounty we sent to various countries, that’s right.”
He nodded.
“But if you want to ask about the whereabouts of the witch on it, I’m afraid I’m powerless too.”
“Even you don’t know?”
Ed said in surprise.
“I thought as a priest of the church, a local like you could at least tell me some inside information.”
“Child, on this matter, our goals are the same as yours.”
The priest said calmly.
“Everyone hopes that evil witch dies immediately. The difference is that you’re after the gold coins on the bounty, while we are for bringing true radiance to this world.”
“So, if it were information I knew, I would never hide it from you.”
“Fine, then it seems I need to try my luck elsewhere.”
Ed accepted the situation helplessly.
The priest stared at Ed for a while with those iron-gray eyes.
“On that point, I can give you a suggestion.”
Ed perked up immediately upon hearing this.
“What suggestion?”
The priest turned his head, his gaze seeming to pierce through the church walls, stabbing straight toward somewhere.
“The Adventurers’ Guild.”
He said. “You can go there and take a look.”
“Adventurers’ Guild?”
Ed murmured the word that was both strange and familiar.
“Seems like… I’ve heard it somewhere.”
“Their influence also spreads across the world.”
The priest turned back, reminding faintly.
“It’s not strange that you’ve heard of it.”
Ed nodded thoughtfully.
“But when dealing with adventurers, please be extra careful. Best not to reveal your true purpose.”
“You’re worried that we’d fight over those gold coins and end up letting the witch escape instead.”
Ed smiled indifferently.
“Please rest assured. I’m here for the witch, not interested in those gold coins.”
“No, child, you don’t understand them.”
The priest sighed slightly.
“In front of that enormous sum of gold coins, no one will believe you’re not tempted.”
“Adventurer is a bloodthirsty profession. For them, gold coins within easy reach are far more real than distant friendships or love.”
Ed suddenly remembered the “five thousand gold coins” on that parchment bounty, and his confidence wavered.
“Uh, maybe you’re right.”
Ed sighed and stood up.
“All right, thank you for your suggestion and reminder. I’ll be more careful.”
He made a not very proficient gesture toward the priest.
It was a crooked circle; Ed remembered that believers of the Radiant Church often used it to greet each other.
“May He bless you.”
The aged priest sat quietly upright, sunlight streaming through the colorful stained glass and falling on him.
He gazed at the huge emblem on the church wall, his iron-gray pupils unmoving.
“No need to thank me.”
The priest spoke.
He also drew a neat circle on his chest. “May the Holy Father bless you.”