Azimuth: The Elden Throne (New Version)

Chapter 161 Awakening: Saintess Part 3

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[DING]

[A Priest has been selected!]

[The Church of Resko has met all of the requirements to function properly]

[The Church severely lacks personnel, to resume all Extra activities, please procure to fill all missing positions]

[Given the current Church's Rank, these are the available positions left to assign:]

[Head Priest 1/1 

  Relic Atendant 0/1

  Ancient Texts Decypher 0/1

  Paladin Commander 0/1

  Head Custodian 0/1

  Head Artificer 0/1

  Head Scribe 0/1

…

]

[Related Class progression is now possible if all conditions are met]

[Knight Order]

[Priest Order]

[Sister Order]

[???]

[???]

…

[The Trade Market is now fully open.

Unique features of the Trade Market can now be accessed through the Church by paying the necessary fee.

The base fee for all operations within the Trade Market has decreased.

The Church's daily blessings and stress-relieving properties have been strengthened.

Artifact creation is now possible.

It's now possible to impart Holy energy onto objects.

Every day, the Church will produce 0.1 Liters of Golden Dew.

The Church's influence has been further expanded, dangerous creatures will greatly avoid the immediate surroundings of Resko.

The Underground seal has been Strengthened.

All previous activity boosts have been enhanced slightly.

Reputation with the Church of Ju-Arkesios +10

]

[The Head Priest is a Saintess, and the Church's authority intensifies improving all previous aspects by an order of two!]

[With the presence of the Saintess, Secret function, Cyclical Order is in effect]

[Cyclical Order (Only applicable to inhabitants of Resko)

> While the Sun is up:

Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity +10.

Insignificant increase in base Health, Stamina, and Mana regeneration.

Increased Heat tolerance.

Warm emotions are partially enhanced.

At 12 Am (Lasts an Hour)

Moment of Greatness:

All desire to improve is washed away. (Applies in all conditions)

Latent Potential is completely unshackled.

"Can't you feel the warmth of the Sun? Shinning above in a sky that belongs solely to him? Did its Stubbornness and Pride lead it anywhere?"

> While the Moon is up:

Mental Power, Reflexes, and Mana +10.

Extreme decrease in base Health, Stamina, and Mana regeneration.

Decreased Cold tolerance.

Cold emotions are greatly enhanced.

At 12 Pm (Lasts an Hour)

Moment of Weakness:

All sense of tiredness is momentarily washed away. (Does not apply if one is going to/is sleeping or is unable/unwilling to work)

Latent Potential is slightly unshackled.

"Oh, Moonlight, how come thoust doesn't change? Shining so strongly in a sky that is not solely yours? Where did your envy lead you?"

]

Dale's expression did not change much as he read the notification as he already expected to see something unusual.

Though this did not stop David from saying his lines:

"With this, we could say we have gone past the introduction stage."

"We have a functional Church, now it's time to take things to the next level."

"Priests, Sisters, Knights, and Paladins… There are many positions left to fill."

"We shouldn't let a Saintess do all of the heavy work on her own, just look at her, I would be impressed if she could even lift her own weight with those shabby arms of hers."

"We need to procure proper candidates to fill those spots and train them to become the hands and feet of our little Chapel."

"Since we have no way of contacting the main Branch, we'll have to treat things as if they don't exist, even if it means breaking some codes of conduct."

"And when I mean 'we', I mean mostly you since I'll be busy trying to teach this girl how to properly grow her abilities."

"In fact, now that I think about it, I'll have to teach her 'everything'."

"Old doctrines, texts, verses, and much more… Since most of it was either brought with the old priests when they left the city or was corroded over time."

"While some things are mostly taught through observation and word of mouth."

"It's going to take a while but I have faith things will work out in the end." He said with a slight smile

"..."

Dale didn't seem that excited though...

'More work… It seems to never fucking end.' He thought as he massaged his eyebrows

'But… All of this aside, Resko now finally has Classes for players to grow into.'

'Warriors can grow to become Knights and eventually Paladins? Doesn't really matter what they can become, it is something for them to grow into.'

'While the others can become Priests if they so wish, that looks straight forward to me.'

'Still very far from other Villages that'll have at least a dozen choices, even if they're all meaningless.'

'But something those Villages have that ours don't is that a player can move from one to another… Their options aren't limited to the place they choose as a starting zone.'

'Though, a start is a start.'I think you should take a look at

Noticing Dale's pensive expression, David added:

"Don't look at me like that, you also gain quite a bit from this, hard work doesn't come unrewarded."

"Your blessing, don't tell me you forgot about it?"

"My Blessing?"

Once that was brought forward, Dale checked his Status momentarily…

[...

Blessed by Ju-Arkesios -> Constitution +20 while within a 25Km radius of any of his Temples

…]

'Oh? The Constitution value doubled while the radius was elevated square.'

'Well, it's not a bad increase, it's pretty much a free item, the radius is also pretty substantial.'

"It seems you noticed the difference, and that's only the beginning."

"Once the Saintess learns how to properly do her thing, expect the help she can provide you to increase… Trust me, we'll need it when the time comes."

"Or should I say, you will." David added, this time, being serious about it

"I don't doubt it." Dale replied as he looked at her

"Mmnn…"

"Oh? She's waking up, well then, I did my job, you're on your own from here on out."

"Here's a quick tip, she is confused and needs attention, she's quite the refined lady but displaying your 'naturalness' will definitely attract her."

"Show your strong side, girls love it when a guy listens and is just nice, you are particularly good at that, something to be praised for."

"Doesn't work every time, but do it enough times and you can at least make it out with a friend."

"... Huh? What kind of tip is that?..."

"The kind you'll thank me later for." David added with a wink

…

/Opens…/

"Mnn... It's warm..."

Not long after, Erile opened her eyes, and the first thing she noticed was the fact David wasn't in her hands anymore, making her eyes pop open as her heart skipped a beat.

But as she raised her head, she saw the golden reflection atop the Altar and she immediately let out a sigh of relief.

It was then that she saw Dale sitting on the first row of chairs with a book in his hand.

Obviously, Dale wasn't reading anything, he was just trying to look less awkward since looking at her until she woke up wouldn't have been proper.

She also noticed that there seemed to be a small coat surrounding her body, making her very warm…

"!"

She was immediately taken aback by his presence and quickly became flustered as she tried to regain her cool by getting up, only to trip due to a sudden weakness in her knees.

/Clutch…/

It was then that Dale quickly rose from his seat, grabbing her midfall.

"..."

/Silence…/

Momentary silence soon followed.

Many things passed through both of their heads at that moment, but Dale could only stare at David as the latter winked at him once more.

He had the feeling this hadn't been that accidental…

Regardless, he carefully helped Erile sit in one of the pews, asking:

"Are you okay? It's quite chilly out here for you to be sleeping on the floor like that."

'Though, ever since the Church was reactivated in full, the temperature inside seemed to have increased.'

'It's definitely not comfortable but I would say it went from something like 6 to 8 degrees Celcius to 15.'

"I… Um… Yes." She replied after stuttering a few times

Dale did not know why she was embarrassed, but the truth was much simpler.

Erile came from a Noble Family, she grew sheltered and relatively protected all her life inside a Manor whose garden was big enough to fit a small town.

To her who grew up hearing and reading stories of Heroes and Legends, to be here in the South, far from home and mostly alone, the appearance of Dale, this prophesied man she had been thinking about all her way here being not only this… Galant, but also gentle was the depiction of her fairy tale Heroes.

She remembered how she first saw him, falling from the skies...

Such depictions of idealism and romance may be far-fetched for girls who grew on modern society, but for Erile, it was far from that.

Her actions were rather close to how Yumi reacted when she first met Dale and the subsequent days after their first meeting but different from her, Yumi was much more collected when dealing with Dale.

In a sense, they were complete opposites.

Erile was taught to maintain composure in high-rise events due to her lineage while Yumi learned to be calm in simpler down-to-earth situations.

But both are equally terrible when they are introduced to environments they aren't used to being in. 

"That's good, but it would still be best if we talked somewhere else." Dale said as he looked at the side of the Church

Albeit not used often, the Church wasn't solely the preaching Hall and the Cathacombs underneath.

Behind it, there were still a few quarters that are part of the original above-ground structure that composes this historical site.

It's just that when people think of it, most only remember its front side... It covers quite a bit of space so many do not remember it.

There were also other structures at the foot of the hill that was once used by the priests to live in, every day, they would make their way uphill, it was a form of commitment that didn't take much but helped them in maintaining their calm.

Or so they believed.

Although, these other areas being barged off was also a major plus to making everyone forget they even existed.

"I… Alright, my apologies for letting you see me in this state." She said with a slight nod

"There's a room in the back, it should be a bit warmer than here." Dale said as he helped her walk as her knees were still a bit weak

She was very confused as to why she was shaking, but something in her told her it was fine and that there was nothing wrong with her.

But just for the sake of it she would visit the alchemist later.

"Wait… Weren't the other rooms locked?" She asked lightly as they walked past David

"They are, but I have the keys… In fact, you can have them." He replied with a smile

'All doors have been mostly repaired and a set of simple keys were made.'

'There's only one such set and I'm the one that has it.'

'I don't know why they gave it to me though… But I imagine they wouldn't mind if she got the keys.'

"What? Are you sure about it?!... Oh…"

Perhaps realizing the mistake in her words, she looked down with a slight smile.

"I imagine you already know. It wasn't meant to be a secret but…"

"It's okay, explaining everything at once might've been overwhelming, but at least now we can exchange some words properly, and answers all of our questions."

"One at a time."

She gave him a nod.

"Yes."

And like that, the two made their way inside the locked Church room.

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Notes