abcnovels
Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Three days passed. The Dark Priests in all three villages had acted. They first held a small rite and started preaching a bit differently.
Prosperity and happiness would come for those who followed the Lord. Eternal doom would fall upon those who refuse to bathe in his light.
It differed from the doctrine written in the Book of Light. Yet, who was going to know when only the priest had that book in the entire village?
Nobody’s gonna know. How would they know?
One by one, the villagers’ perception about their own religion was changing, and they didn’t have the slightest hint about it.
Outside the dungeon, at the Erpis village.
Today, Father Noah was holding a mass assembly while preaching to these ignorant lambs about the ”Lord.” Beside him, a few old men, the village leader and prominent family heads, stood to support.
The villagers were confused, but still listened. After becoming a Dark Priest, Noah’s words had a hypnotic effect on anyone whose Will was lower than 100. That worked to aid him in making them believe his words were true.
“Danger lies in the foul dungeon that has spawned. Our Lord requires the help of those pure and untainted.”
”What danger, Father?” one girl asked.
Noah smiled gently and got down from the wooden podium. He patted the short-haired girl with a fatherly nod and said, ”Terrible Danger! There are goblins, devilspawns, and man-eating monsters living in the dungeon. To stop them, our Lord himself cannot do. He needs the help of those like you.”
The priest stroked the girl’s head and turned around.
”You all are devout believers of the Lord! For years, he has blessed this land. Now he asks for our help. Who shall come forth?”
The people looked at themselves. One middle-aged man suddenly came forward and said, ”This can’t be true! No goblins or monsters can trouble the God of Light!”
The people around nodded and started whispering. However, Noah was prepared.
”Do not jump to conclusions. I have one more thing to say.” He looked solemn.
The tone in his voice made everyone go silent. They waited in nervous anticipation for him to say his part. After all, Father Noah was the priest of the village. He couldn’t have gathered people for nothing.
”Yesterday, after those adventurers visited me, I had a revelation.” Noah’s wrinkles emphasized his grave expression as he closed his eyes and dramatically opened them.
”He spoke to me. Yes, the Lord himself!”
The villagers seemed to be shocked. It was too easy to fool them. A few adventurers and rowdy youths seemed to not believe him. However, when the village leader and other important geezers sided with the priest, spouting a bunch of serious bullshit, they starting having second thoughts.
Such was the nature of people. When someone you know begins saying unbelievable things, you laugh. But when others agree, you doubt yourself.
The first stage of converting people went by flawlessly in this gathering. Noah Edwards then went to explaining why only virgin women can help the Lord. Other women may also go, but wouldn’t be that helpful. As for the men, they must stay and protect the village.
”I myself shall escort them. They will arrive with no scratches on the same day. If not, then you all are welcome to hang me.” Such bold words took the villagers by surprise.
But they weren’t sure… How could they just send the girls to a dangerous dungeon? Most of the virgin girls were below 18. Those higher were already married. Do they send the kids? Absolutely not!
That remained only unmarried girls who were still helping their families. However, the question came again. Which father, which mother would send their vulnerable girl to a dungeon? Even if it is to help God…
”I will do it.” One girl said.
Isn’t that Ashley, the only daughter of carpenter Lonard? They looked at the girl’s parents and saw them praying. No one knew that the carpenter and his wife ”advised” their daughter all night.
Suddenly, another girl also volunteered. Her parents had even prepared a line for her.
”If I can help our Lord in any way, I will gladly do so!”
Seeing such ‘devout’ believers, Father Noah heartily laughed. The surrounding people looked ashamed. But no one noticed that the shiny new cross hanging by the Father’s neck was upside down.
…
Clang! Clang! Tiiiing!
On the fourth floor of the dungeon, Jake battled with the Spider Queen and the minotaur at once.
He did not use any magic and only his scythe to fight them. His attributes were well-rounded for someone at the 2nd Circle.
After three days of constant practicing, Jake knew how to better use this weapon. He was honing his combat skills extremely fast because of his ability [Smooth Learner].
That, along with fighting vicious monsters, made him try out various techniques which he made up. Most of them cost him a tasteful defeat. However, some were good enough to fend off his ‘training partners.’
Shiiing!
His scythe’s blade swiped against Isa’s araneidal appendages. She had only four of them. A mature Demon Spider Queen would have six at least.
Isa would need to reach the 2nd Circle for that. Still, even though she wasn’t fully mature, she was a tough opponent when she teamed with another monster.
The minotaur’s size was the same as Jake’s. Maybe a bit bigger. Even its attributes were around the same, except intelligence and Will.
Jake had ordered it to go all out when it attacked him. Otherwise, this creature wouldn’t be swinging a club so aggressively at its master.
Jake dodged the attack and rotated his body along with the scythe. The sharp blade akin to that of a death reaper approached the minotaur, who hastily shot back in fear.
Whoosh!
Jake’s attack cut the wind as he made a full round. Both Isa and the minotaur were terrified as they went back. Just when they were about to circle him again, Jake heard a system message.
[Ding! Congratulations. You have gained a new skill, [Beginner Scythe Mastery]]
At the same time, he heard Lena’s voice in his left ear. “Master, just as you said. There are humans outside the dungeon!”
‘Oh, so they brought the girls…’ Jake smirked as he stored his scythe and headed to the higher floors.