Kunoichi, Get!
"All in all, that is what I want you to do. If there's a change in the agenda, I will tell you later," I end our talk and watch Biscas' expression.
We were talking for around two hours. Every ten minutes or so, the Church's Shadow entered the room to check his condition. They were invisible, but Artemis notified me through the message screen for the first few. I decided to use a skill to sense them afterward. Then, I knew whenever they entered the room.
I never faulted them for their duty to keep Biscas' safe. In fact, I admired their dedication to their task. I know that Shadow is extremely loyal to their sworn lord, and I want Church's shadow to be my minions too.
Of course, I could easily use Omnipotence to make it happen. But, I didn't do it because such a thing is redundant. I have controlled Biscas, and he will hand over all assets of the Church to me.
Be that as it may, let's return to the present.
The Head Priest looks thoughtful briefly and then nods deeply. "I shall follow your instructions faithfully, Your Holiness."
"That you do, Head Priest Biscas. I have faith in your ability to push forward our cause."
"It's an honor to be in service of God's Champion, Your Holiness." Biscas dips his head, flattered by my lip's service.
"Alright, let's conclude our talk for the time being. Now, you can summon your Shadows." I take down the soundproofed barrier around us.
"Shadows, assemble!" Biscas declares, and I sense the Shadows outside enter the room. They assemble behind Biscas' chair. There are 7 Shadows. One is kneeling close to Biscas' chair, and another one is right behind the former. The rest are kneeling in line behind those two.
"Take off your masks. It's a sin to disrespect His Holiness the Bow Hero and Lady Artemis!"
Following Biscas' statement, they take off their masks. They have the same appearance: a plain face with dark brown eyes. It's hard to differentiate them from one another.
[Hero, they are using Illusion Magic to conceal their true appearance.]
I read Artemis's message silently before inspecting each Shadow operative.
In my previous discussion with Biscas, I found that the Church of Three Heroes has 60 shadows or so in its service. Some of them have a duty to protect the generation of High Priest, and the rest are doing their normal espionage jobs.
There's a leader and a vice-leader that always stays close to the High Priest. Other than those two exceptions, other shadows don't have a rank.
Also, I've heard from Biscas that Church's Shadows aren't as skilled as the Shadows of Royal Families in this world. But, it doesn't mean that they are useless.
I want to get a ninja-girl in my Party.
"I'll take that one in my party, High Priest Biscas." I point at the Shadow in the front. They are likely the Leader of the Church's Shadows.
Biscas inclines his head to the side briefly and nods in my direction. "By your will, Your Holiness," says Biscas before shifting his attention to the Church's Shadow.
"Effective immediately. The Leader will relinquish their position to the Vice-Leader and become His Holiness's companion. The new Vice-Leader will be chosen by the new Leader later. Also, His Holiness the Bow Hero holds the highest authority over the assets of Church. Then, prepare the ritual to renew the Slave Crest of the former Leader."
"Ha!" The shadows make an affirmative sound sonorously.
After that, the former leader of the Church's Shadow approaches me. She kneels in front of me, waiting for my instruction in silence. Meanwhile, the new Leader of the Church's Shadow disappears somewhere.
"Put down your illusion. I want to see your real appearance." I command my Shadow.
She takes off her illusion. I see her real appearance and raise my brow in bemusement. She has the appearance of an attractive woman in her mid-twenties with sharp, spiky auburn hair in medium length and emotionless green eyes.
Her appearance reminds me of a female character in the Naruto series. If she has longer hair, she would look like Mei Terumi the Fifth Water Shadow.
"What's your name?"
"Shadow operative has no name, Your Holiness."
"Then, from now, your name is Mei."
"Ha!"
After that short exchange, I invite her to my party. She immediately accepts it, and I check her status.
———————————————
Name: Mei - Race: Human - Gender: Female - Age: 28
Class: Assassin - Level: 73 - EXP:…
————————————————————
She has Class Up already and is equipped with many skills and magic. She can become the Heroine of Vassal Projectile with her Assassin build.
The new Leader of the Church's Shadow comes back with a vial of ink, a vial of holy water, a brush, and a dish. After completing the ritual, I'll let Artemis absorb the ink mixed with my blood.
"Your Holiness, we need your blood for the ritual," says Shadow Leader.
I use the offered penknife to make a small cut on my thumb and then squeeze out blood into the dish. I watch as the Shadow mix my blood and ink and walk to Mei.
Mei has opened her tight uniform, displaying the Slave Crest on top of her lovely cleavage. Another Shadow is using the Holy Water to erase the slave curse on her without destroying the crest. Then, the Shadow Leader crouches in front of her and applies the ink. So far, the procedure is similar to what happened in the source materials when Naofumi bought Raphtalia.
"I want that ink," I tell the Shadow Leader who hands over the dish to me. Then, I turn in Artemis's direction. Suddenly, I feel curious about something and ask my Bow's Spirit. "Artemis, how do you absorb materials when you're in your human form?"
"I eat them, of course," answers Artemis bluntly.
I blink my eyes and imagine her eating all manners of materials from broken tools to unprocessed monster's carcasses. (That would be a major turn off,) I comment silently.
"There is no way I'll let you do that! Alright, turn back to your bow form please."
"Okay."
Artemis transforms into the Legendary Bow. Ignoring Biscas' awed look, I pour the ink in the dish into the Legendary Bow's jewel. I get notifications thereafter.
[Unlock: Slaver Bow (Unawakened) - 0/20 - Rarity: Uncommon - Proficiency: 0/100 - Equip Bonus (Locked): Slave Growth Up (Small)]
[Unlock: Slaver Bow II (Unawakened) - 0/20 - Rarity: Uncommon - Proficiency: 0/100 - Equip Bonus (Locked): Slave Condition Up (Small)]
I need to reach the required level to unlock the equip bonus. Although I can use my Omnipotence, I want to have fun and power-level normally.
I turn in Mei's direction and ask a bit of her blood. I recall that the Legendary Shield absorbed Raphtalia's blood to unlock more Slaver Series.
Following my instruction, Mei dutifully creates a small cut on her thumb and lets her blood being absorbed by Legendary Bow's gem. I receive notifications.
[Unlock: Slaver Bow III (Unawakened) - 0/20 - Rarity: Uncommon - Proficiency: 0/100 - Equip Bonus (Locked): Slave Condition Up (Medium)]
[Unlock: Slaver Bow IV (Unawakened) - 0/20 - Rarity: Uncommon - Proficiency: 0/100 - Equip Bonus (Locked): Slave Condition Up (Medium)]
[All Slaver Series has been unlocked: Unlock: Slave Master Bow (Unawakened) - 0/40 - Rarity: Rare - Proficiency: 0/100 - Equip Bonus (Locked): Slave Condition Up (High), Slave Condition Up (High)]
I feel satisfied. But, there is still more to do. I let the Legendary Bow absorb the brush and the dish.
[Unlock: Disk Bow (Unawakened) - 0/10 - Rarity: Common - Proficiency: 0/100 - Equip Bonus (Locked): Disk Shot]
[Unlock: Brush Bow (Unawakened) - 0/10 - Rarity: Common - Proficiency: 0/100 - Equip Bonus (Locked): Calligraphy Proficiency Up (Small)]
With that, my business in the Church is finished. It's time to leave and head for Beloukas' place. Getting Raphtalia is my next priority.