“WHY DID YOU THINK MONSTERS COULD STOCKPILE XP LIKE HUMANS CAN?!” Henrek shouted.
“WHY SHOULD I ASSUME IT’S DIFFERENT FOR MONSTERS THAN HUMANS?!” Utarou shouted back, pointing his finger in a rather aggressive manner into Henrek’s chest.
“RELAX! Look, let’s lay out the facts ‘ere.” Barney shouted, pushing the two men back while May and Hope kept close eye on the oncoming army.
The storm was still strong and they were clearly waiting for a break in the weather before starting the assault.
“Nihola was able to take the bastards down back when we were kids, right hun?”
“Yeah… I don’t think we ‘ad that many…” May said, biting her lips as she looked at the 300 templars.
“Well we didn’t ‘ave a dragon last time either! Barney gotta be able to do somethin nifty right?” Barney offered fruitlessly.
“Hold on hold on, I’m also the Duke of Dracons, what is the relationship of King Oldsman with the Church?” Utarou asked, everyone immediately staring at him like he was an idiot.
“What?”
“Why am I not surprised, you don’t learn anything unless it has to do with monster girls do you?” Henrek scoffed.
“No! I don’t! I thought this was obvious by now! What do you think I keep all you people around for!?” Utarou retorted defensively.
“King Oldsman is a devout man, hence why he believes so strongly in blessed beings and gives idiots like you positions.” Henrek explained.
“Wait a minute, what are they actually here for again?” Utarou asked.
“TO TAKE JUNIOR!” May and Barney shouted in unison.
“Alright alright alright, we still have proof of the Avoisian Ghost Core, right?” Utarou asked, Rhiney answering by spitting out the chewed on clam-like monster from his mouth.
“Can you still open its skill tree?” Utarou asked, May raised an eyebrow and tried, revealing that she still in fact could open it. The creature’s name was now “Dead Avoisian Ghost Core.”, with all of its skills greyed out but the names were still intact.
“What are you thinking?” Henrek asked suspiciously.
“You’ll see, don’t worry.” Utarou smirked, having no idea what he was thinking either yet.
“Well can you show us quickly, it looks like the Vicar is coming by himself…” Hope gulped.
“Alright everyone, let’s have a little chat with the Vicar.”
…
“I was hoping coming alone would put you at ease, I see it has not.” Vicar John sighed as the squad stood just outside the entrance of Dryholm, all but Utarou looking ready to fight or flee.
“Hi, I don’t think I properly introduced myself last time we met. Utarou Nishimura, Duke of Dracons.” Utarou explained, putting his hand out to shake the Vicars, who politely but reluctantly accepted it.
“Your Knight did a fine enough job I felt.” John replied as he looked towards the people aiming their weapons at him.
“I’m naught but a holy man, could you please lower your weapons.”John requested, raising his arms towards the archers in the watch tower.
“Yeah! We’re gonna have a nice chat, how long until your boys back there decide to rush in?” Utarou asked.
“Should I fail to return, they have been given permission to burn this place to the ground.” Vicar John explained honestly.
“I figured, well let’s make this quick then. What are you guys even here for?”
“TO BLOODY TAKE JUNIOR!” May shouted, being held back by Barney.
“Quite right, and also your pets here.” Vicar John elaborated, pointing to Rhiney and Hope.
“Woah hey, pets?” Hendrek stepped up as Hope took a step back, she wasn’t exactly a fighter.
“Those who stray from God’s wisdom are doomed to disgrace themselves as beasts, though it seems your Duke is quite keen on that outcome as I’ve come to understand.” Vicar John explained, Utarou’s smirk grew as he saw an in.
“Oh? So tell me, your church is against monster taming for any reason right?” Utarou asked, a cocky grin on his lips.
“Quite right, though I don’t see where you’re going with this.” Vicar John replied.
“May, would you like to show him the cause of our little ghost problem.” Utarou said, snapping his fingers as thunder rolled over them.
May stepped up, holding the Avoisian Ghost Core, opening its menu.
“What… What is this?” Vicar John asked, baffled by what he was looking at.
“Right what it says on the tin. An Avoisian Ghost Core, isn’t that your guy’s little church?” Utarou asked with a smirk.
“No, no that’s impossible… Are you meaning to tell me this is a monster’s skill tree?!” Vicar John asked, baffled.
“Oh yeah, if you don’t believe us, check May’s skills out. The one you’re looking for is gonna be Monster Skill Viewer, right above Calm Monsters.” Utarou explained with a cocky grin as Vicar John opened May’s menu to confirm she did have the ability to open Monster Skill Trees.
“You’ve strayed from the Holy Path… and found this…” Vicar John mumbled, trying to reconcile the contradiction in front of his eyes. How could something so useful be completely foreign to the Holy Path?
“What? Surprised? I thought all you guys would be in on it.” Utarou shrugged, shaking his head. Vicar John shook his head and looked at Utarou, a serious look covering his face.
“No, Monster-Craft like this is quite blasphemous. But I cannot deny the facts as I see them, whoever created monster this named it Aviosian Ghost Core and gave it the nessecary skills to-”
“YA THE BASTARDS WHAT NAMED DON’T TRY PULL THAT ON US!” May shouted, going to strangle Vicar John before Barney picked her up and pulled her back.
“Careful what ya say little man, I might not stop ‘er next time.” Barney growled.
“Ahem, yes what I was trying to say is that this is a cause worth researching, as I can unequivocally assure you the church does not support any monster-craft.” Vicar John explained, looking at Rhiney as his faint blue glow illuminated the area.
“Where is that on the hierarchy of importance compared to kidnapping?” Utarou asked cheekily. Vicar John let out a long sigh.
“As I understand, you are from another world, you are not truly aware of the dangers skills possess, and how straying from the Holy Path will lead to disastrous outcomes as described in the book of-”
“Yeah yeah buddy listen.” Utarou interrupted.
“I just want to know, where on the blasphemy scale does a little bit of straying from the Holy Path fall, compared to creating monsters in the churches name to torment innocent souls?” Utarou asked.
Vicar John thought for a moment before letting out a reluctant sigh.
“You’re quite right, this is a much more serious matter.” Vicar John relented.
“So, how about you tell your boys back there to march on back so we can leave on friendly terms, your holy path doesn’t exactly have a skill to let you find these things does it?” Utarou suggested smugly.
“Quite right, though I fear there is a reason we are not granted access to it.” Vicar John muttered.
“Welp! Glad we could chat, hope to see you-” Utarou began, preparing to wipe his hands of the situation.
“Wait, I’m not the leader of this expedition. It would be Templar Adam. I believe he will be amenable to a retreat should we explain the situation however.” Vicar John explained, May and Barney looked at him with fire in their eyes.
“I do not wish for blood to be shed tonight believe me, I am simply trying to follow the words of my lord as best as I can.” Vicar John pleaded.
“Relax guys, I’ll go in and explain it all away. And if they do something funny it’s not like they can kill me.” Utarou said with a beaming smile.
“How reassuring.” The squad thought in unison.