High Priestess of Fate(1)

The next few days were relatively peaceful for our lovable retarded heroes.

The group spent most of the time in the house they rented in Orazvil City, but right now, they are readying their weapons while Vanoss was polishing his crowbar.

They were planning to go back to the 3rd City Section, returning to the Adventurers Guild, meeting old friends like the Caeruleum Guardians.

They also trained both targeting practice and their physical abilities which has been improved a lot during those past few days. Before, each of them could crush a several ton boulder to dust in more than five seconds when they were still Rank 4. Now, they could crush it like for a split second

It was quite exciting, but it immediately died down when they thought it's not that very impressive in this world.

Unbeknownst to the whole group. Reaching Rank 5 while they were mere Rank 1 just one and a half months ago, reaching an entire realm to another for a month is considered to be completely unheard of in this world.

The cultivation ranks on Fordalt are a bit complicated, because reaching to the next rank will take YEARS to accomplish. Example like an individual at Rank 1, the average rate of time it takes reaching Rank 1 to Rank 2 will take more than a year unless relying on very harsh training, but most very talented individuals will take three to six months to advance. However, reaching an entire realm for a very short period of time, their talents can be considered beyond monstrous and out of this world.

However, there is a reason why Team 6 advanced towards another rank for merely a month. Because their rate of progress was twice more than the most talented person in the world, and what made things much greater, all of them could share levels, kinda like sharing level XPs everytime each of them face trials and things look like you can level up in a video game. So it made sense on how both of them reach the same rank at the same time at a very faster rate.

Now back to the story, after readying their supplies, they all went back to the living room.

"It's time to kick some ass," Delirious said.

"Yeah…" Wildcat agreed, only for all the group to hear a knock at their apartment door.

"Hang on! My pizza's here!" Vanoss said as he ran towards the door.

Nogla groaned, "Oh, come on!"

"Hold on a minute! There's pizza in this world?" Basically was puzzled.

"Yes, there is indeed pizza here, just a few yards south of us," Terroriser confirmed, "The restaurant's name is called Mama Jane's Pizza."

"Wait a minute, is it me or does it kinda sound like a Papa John's Pizza rip-off." Wildcat questioned.

"I think it's just one of those weird otherworld theories." Moo stated.

"True."

Back to Vanoss, as he opened the door, what he saw didn't expect to be.

It was Ellies.

"Damn, I ordered pizza, not some chinese food."

"Excuse me?" Ellies was flustered.

"Oop, forget what I said. Alo Eli!"

"Hello, mister Vanoss." The wolfkin girl bowed respectfully to Vanoss. She then looked up with a serious expression, "The captain sent me to tell you that your reward is already ready."

Vanoss was startled before smiling, "Really? That is good. By the way, do you know what he is going to give us?"

Ellies smiled wryly, "Unfortunately, I don't. Captain has kept the reward a secret, but from the looks of it, it's a very good one.

Vanoss could not help but show a more interesting expression. This was a reward for saving a Prince, so he expected to receive something good. He could only suppress his curiosity for now, though. Anyway, he would know it soon.

Vanoss shouted and told his friends about the news and asked if they wanted to come with him. As expected, both of them showed interest in it and agreed.

Before they left the house, though, Ellies said something very strange.

"By the way, someone asked about you guys recently."

"Really?"

"You know what our business is, right?" Ellies glanced at Vanoss before continuing, "Well, someone or two asked for you and your friend's details recently. They seemed very interested in your abilities."

Vanoss' usual cheerful expression frowns. Nobody would like to know that they were being investigated, probably some stalker.

"What did you tell them?"

Hearing his question, Ellies just shrugged, "Well, we couldn't refuse them or it would have looked suspicious. Thus, we sold to them just superficial information; information they would have been able to find in any other business like ours. Plus, we are telling you so you keep an eye on it."

Vanoss nodded. Although he was not completely happy by the fact that Julian and Ellies sold their information to other people, he could understand their position if he's the one in there. In fact, they had broken the rule by telling him.

"Do you know who the stalker is who is asking for that information?"

"Unfortunately, no," Ellies shook her head, "They disguised themselves when they visited us. The captain later asked us to follow them, but we lost them quickly."

Vanoss furrowed his brows. Quickly, he thought about who could be interested in their information. Soon, a list of suspects appeared in his mind.

'What a pain in the ass.'

With a sigh, Vanoss decided to think about that later. The only thing he could do now was to keep an eye open in case something happens.

"Let us go to see your boss then."

Ellies nodded. After messaging Draila in the magic communication device from the Adventurers Guild about their absence, plus saying smiling emoji which made her confused, the group then departed in the direction of Animal Paradise.

But before they could travel for long, they were stopped by a nun-like girl followed by a female tall knight.

"Excuse me, are you the group known as the Banana Bus Squad?" The nun girl smiled gently and asked them.

Everyone was surprised, especially Nogla as he commented, "Ahhh shit, nun-fetish, even tho I'm a christian myself, forgive me God for I am about to sin." he said, colliding both of his hands into a prayer.

The nun girl raised an eyebrow in interest, "Hm, I didn't expect one of you to be religious."

Terroriser stated, "Oh, Nogla is the only religious dude in this group, while we dirty assholes are INCREDIBLY racist, homophobic, communist nutjobs, marxists, and-"

Before Terroriser could continue speaking, the girl spoke again.

"Anyway, you should stop in order to allow me to introduce myself. My name is Queen Sherene. I'm the current High Priestess of the Church of the Golden Dawn."

Moo widened his eyes, "Princess? Church of the Golden Dawn? Was that from the Kingdom of Goldrose?"

"Yeah."

"Then why the hell is the most important individual gone far from their kingdom? And is it dangerous to be in another country?"

"It's kinda simple, I send out my most royal and intelligent people to deal with both of my kingdom and church while I send out half of my entire military force guarding me."

"Your point here?" Basically asked nonchalantly.

"I'm here to ask all of you something..."

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In this world, the Church of the Golden Dawn was one of the most influential powers.

Its influence was not limited to the Kingdom of Goldrose. Rather, it had churches also in parts of the Western Region, including in the territory of other countries and other territories of other races. Even some intelligent monsters had accepted the teachings of the Goddess of Fate and Judgement, Genesis.

And the biggest dogma of the church of the Golden Dawn was "Protecting the World".

Most high-ranking members of the church of the Golden Dawn were zealots whose only goal was to make the world a better place and to destroy anything that could threaten the world.

In fact, the knight order of the church of the Golden Dawn, the Golden Paladins or rather called themselves as [The Order of the Guiding Light], had as the goal "Correcting dangerous fates".

That was the reason the church of the Golden Dawn was so widely accepted throughout the world, except for the Theocracy. And after the catastrophic event occurred a thousand years ago, the number of people that believed in the teachings of the Church increased even more. Nobody wanted to see another disaster like that again, after all.

But despite its wide acceptance throughout the world, the Church of the Golden Dawn was also one of the disliked organizations by other organizations and countries.

The reason? Because nobody liked having someone interfering in their affairs.

And with the Goddess of Fate's ability to peer into fate and the church of the Golden Dawn's zealotness to protect the world from any threat, they constantly meddled with the affairs of other organizations and countries... A LOT.

Several times they even threatened the sovereignty of a nation just to "Correct a fate".

'A troubling bunch of cunts it's better not to mix with'. That was how the zealots of the church of the Golden Dawn were normally described.

There is also another time when they interrupted a two gay couples' marriage, all because of a quote, "A Man Should Not Lay with Another Man as He Would with a Woman." Talk about conservative values, am I right?

Thus, when the nun-like girl in front of the group introduced herself like the high priestess of the church of the Golden Dawn, with the most knowledge about them like Moo, his first reaction besides surprise was wariness.

Sherene's appearance matched the stereotype of a priestess. She wore a white habit that covered her entire body, only showing her hands and face. But even that habit could not hide her otherworldly beauty.

In her early 30s, she had a pair of green eyes that seemed to see through any lie, and her face was the very definition of gentleness. Her face carried a sincere smile that made it hard to distrust her.

Unfortunately for her, the whole group somehow has immunity towards charms, they don't know why or how but it doesn't matter, probably for not getting distractions, they think that's why they couldn't feel lust towards any hot woman they've met.

Actually, their theory is true, all of them have a skill [Charm Immunity] or [Lust Nullification], with them, even a high-level Succubus or the Goddess of Love, Charm, or Lust won't even affect them.

That is why Moo didn't feel any lust when he was surrounded by four stunning girls back in the Exodu dungeon, without it, well, he has no children left in his baby pack.

So that means Sherene's beauty was not enough to make the group feel attracted to her or Moo lose his wariness. And perhaps noticing that the Queen who called herself Sherene put on a strained smile.

"Don't worry, we don't come here with bad intentions, we only want to chat with you all for a bit."

"...And why would some church send the Queen herself to speak to a bunch of nobodies like us?" Wildcat asked harshly.

"Hey, don't you dare speak to her majesty like that." Samara muttered deeply at Wildcat.

"Calm down, Sammy. However, for your question little pig is that you're definitely not nobodies," Sherene smiled gently as she giggled, "The goddess actually knows who you are."

"Little pig? Okay, that's it, I've heard enough with that!" Wildcat exclaims as he moves forward but is stopped when he feels Samantha's gaze.

"Rather blunt, huh. I like that." Sherene said smilingly.

Wildcat grunted. Although none of the group did not know how much this Princess knew, they were sure about something.

It seems she knows their origins.

Looking at her suspiciously, some of the group were about to pull out their weapons.

But Sherene told them first softly, "Calm down, boys. As I've told all of you before, we don't have bad intentions." She then shivered briefly and looked at Wildcat, "Also, can you ask your friend to stop? I can barely endure his killing intent."

Wildcat snorted, but he retracted the pressure he had been releasing until now. His eyes, however, were returned to the knight behind the nun-like girl.

When Marcel saw that and looked at what Wildcat gazed on, he looked at the knight too. Instantly, his eyes shrunk.

That woman was incredibly powerful. Definitively a demigod. Or atleast, at Sainthood level, which made things had just turned more serious than before.

"But your group sure is unusual, huh." Sherene said with a look of interest. She first looked at Terroriser before moving her gaze to Delirious, "I never knew that the arch-enemies of the world can be somewhere on the good side. How very new it was."

"Hey, what are you speaking about?" Delirious said with a frown. Since a while ago, he had been unable to follow the rhythm of the conversation.

"Anyway," Sherene stopped looking at Delirious and moved her gaze at Vanoss and the rest, "Why don't we search for a more private place to have our conversation."

"You have not told any of us yet the reason you are here, lady!" Vanoss shouted.

Sherene nodded, "You are right."

Instantly, her expression turned serious, and the smile of before disappeared completely. It was as though her gentle look of before was a lie.

"I'm here to know if you know about the Blight," Sherene's gentle voice reached the group's ears.

"Jesus Christ, we don't even know much about these pieces of shits!" Wildcat shouted in exasperation.

"But we encountered it more than anybody in this city," Moo stated, "And also that lady, she seems to know more about it."

"Of course, I hope you can tell us everything the lady knows about the Blight. It's something that concerns the future of this world, so I hope you cooperate."

Silence...

"Well, to be honest, we have no clue." Basically said.

The Queen frowned. She did not seem very happy that none of them even knew. She thought they could be something after they've been transferred to this world.

But at that moment, several people appeared in the street, surrounding the group.

"Stop right there!" An imposing voice boomed. Then, a blonde cat woman appeared suddenly and stood between the high priestess and the group.

"High Priestess, it's an honor to have you here."

"You are... Matilda Ballard, right?"

Matilda bowed slightly, "I'm honored that someone like you remembers my name."

"You don't need to be so cordial. Your position is not much lower than mine, after all. Can I ask, what are you doing here?"

"I should be the one making that question, your majesty." Matilda said with a stern expression and cold eyes, "Can I ask why are you stopping my people in the middle of the street? Secondly, why are you far from your kingdom?"

"Oh?" Sherene's eyes glinted with interest, "I see, so they are related to you, huh."

With a soft giggle, Sherene used her beautiful eyes to scan Matilda.

"That is great. I think you can help me then. There is something I want to discuss with you."

While she says those words, meanwhile, Moo leaned to Nogla's side and whispered, "Ugh, I seriously hate such types of overly friendly people. It always feels like they are in control of you, due to the fact that a completely unknown person, who just appeared in front of you, is behaving as though they have known you all their lives. Almost like a stalker, which is VERY creepy."

"What do you think they do on a daily basis?" Nogla whispered back to his friend, "They probably watch peoples' lives as if they are slice of life or action anime."