“So Utarou, so-called Duke of Dracons… Whatchu want me and my hubbie to do about the vicar coming by?” May scoffed as she cooked up the rock Wyvern’s head into a stew.
She’d taken over Gertrude’s kitchen, she’d objected to all of the Wyvern parts she’d brought in but once May started cooking, she settled down upon smelling it, and with much reassurance from Henrek that it was safe.
“I have a simple plan, all you need to do is wait like you’re supposed to, then I’ll work my magic.” Utarou explained with a cocky grin.
“Hmpth, good enough.” May nodded as her and Barney continued to cook.
“She was so hostile with us at first…” Hope said sadly, Henrek patting her on the back reassuringly.
“More importantly, what skills does the child have potential for?!” Utarou asked, a devious glint in his eyes.
“That’s a bit rude you-”
“Only one that I care about! Dragon Diner! Look at it!” Barney said gleefully, pushing his Skills Menu into Utarou’s face.
Dragon Diner was one of three choices available for Barney and May’s baby boy, but Utarou agreed it was most certainly the most interesting.
The other two were Strong Constitution, which was just Barney’s Legacy Skill and Disease Resistance, which was apparently May’s mother’s Legacy Skill.
Dragon Diner was clearly a combination of May’s Monster Eater Legacy Skill and Barney’s various Dragon slaying skills.
It had a variety of similar effects, allowing for the consumption of monsters, but notably provided minor bonuses to eating Dragons.
“Would eating Dragons turn you into a Dragon I wonder…” Utarou pondered aloud as he tapped the skill on Barney’s menu, who flinched back as he did so.
“Hey hey watch it! You Blessed Fellas got some freaky things going on!” Barney retorted.
“Relax ya idjit! Ain’t no finger gonna work except yours.” May said, as lovingly as an angry and hormonal wife can.
“Still, it seems pretty obvious what the Church would want you guys to push.” Henrek noted anxiously, Utarou was still unwilling to share any details with his plan.
“Relax, the church won’t put the blame on any of you guys.”
“That doesn’t make me any more relaxed.” Henrek thought as he rubbed his temples.
“Hey hey! The vicar is here!” One of the former Nihola villagers shouted into the house.
“Crap, alright all you fella’s hide ‘n case he recognises one of ya’s! I’mma put this on hold for a minute, Gerty you mind?” May asked as she unceremoniously gave the cooking spoon to Gertrude as she made her way to the village entrance.
The people of Nihola had gotten to work quite swiftly, chopping down every tree they could to build houses for themselves as quickly as possible, the young and old were able to be housed somewhat comfortably in the empty homes, albeit cramped, while the menfolk were sleeping in their wagons until they could build new homes.
Luckily, the people of Nihola were a hearty people, so this posed little trouble for them.
Utarou, Henrek and Barney all followed May towards the village entrance, a simple stone path that spiralled down the steep hill that surrounded Dryholm.
Down walked a man dressed in a simple set of grey robes with a green symbol on his chest.
He was in his 50s and had a relaxed, pleasant aura surrounding him.
Barney and May were immediately distrustful as they watched the old man approach them.
“My, my, I see you’re making my job easy!” Vicar John laughed as he swiped his palm from his left shoulder to his side in a sweeping motion. Henrek reciprocated instantly, while Barney and May hesitated for a moment before obliging the old man, while Utarou tried and failed to copy to motion.
“Haha, now to whom do I have the pleasure of meeting today? Perhaps one of you could explain what all this ruckus is about.” Vicar John asked, noting the log piles and open skyline that was being carved into Dryholm.
“I’m Henrek, I’m the Knight of this Village. This is the new Duke of Dracons, Utarou. A Blessed Being from another world.”
“My, my. No wonder everything seems so busy all of a sudden! You two must be the happy couple looking to receive the church's wisdom then?” Vicar John asked, looking towards May and Barney.
“Y-yeah.” Barney muttered.
“Well let’s get on with it! I’m sure you must have something interesting considering your… Oh my.” Vicar John exclaimed as he forcefully opened up both Barney and May’s Skill tree’s.
“How’d he do that?!” Utarou whispered as he and Henrek watched from a few paces back.
“It’s just a part of the training to be a Vicar, you need to have a specific set of skills. That’s a Tier 3 skill called Skill Check”
“How do you know how to unlock a Tier 3 skill like that?”
“So long as your legacy skill isn’t too unique, the church has a guide for it.”
“How come my research didn’t say any of this!”
“Well, everyone already knows. Plus the church is pretty secretive with this stuff.” Henrek explained, just as Vicar John finished examining both Barney and May’s skill trees.
“My my, your parents strayed from the word. Thankfully it seems the Lord has blessed your child with a chance at redemption! The only path forward towards the light is Disease Resistance!” Vicar John declared, grabbing Barney’s hand.
“Now my son, prepare thy child to head towards the light.” Vicar John began, lifting Barney’s hand into the air to push the button.
This is where Utarou’s master plan began.
“Oh yeah Vicar! I’ve got a couple questions I want to ask you about-” Utarou began before ‘accidentally’ tripping over himself, falling directly into Barney.
Barney didn’t react for a moment, before being kicked by May to realize what was going on.
“Oh right… I mean Oh no! I pushed the wrong button! I pressed Dragon Diner! Lord have mercy!” Barney shouted in fake anguish.
He was a terrible actor, but luckily the church didn’t teach vicars how to detect sincerity.
“My child, this is grave news… This child shall never be able to join the church.” Vicar John lamented sadly, his voice still as warm as ever as he rubbed May’s stomach.
“Oh woopity doo.” May snarked as she pushed his hand off of her.
“I can only speak of the child in my prayers, and you good sir…” Vicar John said, looking at the incredibly smug looking Utarou.
“I will have to report this to the Grand Wizard of Avoisa. Do you have any defense for yourself?” Vicar John asked, his tone cold and serious.
“Uhh, woopsie?”
“The Utarou, Duke of Dracons. I am disappointed in you. May God have mercy on your soul.” Vicar John lamented, shaking his head as he looked to Henrek.
“Now, Henrek was it? Is there anywhere else I must attend to my duties?”
“Yes Father, we have 12 undead who have yet to be properly put to rest since you last came.”
“Hmm, I hope I am not too late.” Vicar John sighed as he followed Henrek.
“Too late for what?” Utarou asked.
“The only reason to keep the church around.” May grumbled.
“Ghosts.” Barney explained.
“Oh I have got to see this.” Utarou said as he quickly ran after Henrek and Vicar John, following a few paces behind them so he wouldn’t be too obviously following them.
“Psst, are they going soon? Rhiney is getting annoyed in the chest!” Hope hissed from inside of Utarou’s tent, where she was sitting atop of Rhiney’s chest as it was shaking and pushing around.
Hope was, for hopefully obvious reasons, hiding from the Church with their pet dragon.
“He’s got some ghost busting to do, so I dunno!” Utarou replied with a grin.
“G-ghosts… great…” Hope shivered, remembering her frequent encounters with them during her childhood.
Making their way to the village's graveyard, to Utarou it looked like a normal graveyard.
“Hmm, this is quite bad.” Vicar John mumbled as he stepped into the graveyard.
“Is this just all superstition? They’re letting the evolution of MONSTER GIRLS be held back because of whatever silly make believe ritual he’s about to-” Utarou thought cynically until being interrupted by a wave of transparent blue hands bursting from the floor beneath him.
12 pairs of hands, 3 pairs grabbing each limb.
“YOU FOOL! Why did you follow us?!” Vicar John shouted as he grabbed some silver dust from his pocket, but it was too late.
Utarou was ripped apart, limb by limb.
Vicar John quickly gave the dead their final rites as the wave of blue hands charged towards him and Henrek, being blocked by Vicar John’s holy circle.
“... Amen.” Vicar John finished, the ghost hands suddenly seized up and faded away, only leaving behind the hand prints on Utarou’s body.
“Poor child, may he rest in peace…” Vicar John sighed as he walked up to Utarou.
“Uh yeah I wouldn’t worry about that.” Henrek explained as Utarou began to reform himself in front of the Vicar’s very eyes.
“GOOD GOD I’VE NEVER SEEN IT HAPPEN THIS FAST!” Vicar John shouted as he fell to the ground, watching Utarou’s body reattach itself as he rose from the ground.
“Brainnsss!” Utarou moaned, before being smacked in the head by Henrek.
“Knock it off.” Henrek sighed.