CHAPTER 598: CHAPTER 402: YURSHIKA, WE CHERISH YOU

"Does anyone have any new footage of Yurshika? I can never get enough of Fingali’s scene."

"I have it here, and there’s a brand new dialogue too!"

"What is it? Tell us quickly."

"Oh ho ho, it’s her asking in an adorably cute voice how we got to the Tower of Prisoners!"

In the Sain Dungeon, at a tavern that had been taken over by the Dark Moon Sword as a gathering place, located by Lake Lienia.

A group was sharing their treasured footage of Yurshika. Many were shot directly during Fingali’s live broadcast. The filming was poor, and the images often blurry, so getting a clear picture was considered a stroke of luck, like watching a pirated movie.

Someone brought out Yurshika footage filmed from the first-person perspective by a high-profile adventurer who paid a hefty price to enter Yanor Londo, instantly capturing everyone’s attention and silencing the tavern.

The person proudly and smugly placed his hands on his hips and carefully took out an image stone from an exquisitely packaged box, playing the footage only after everyone had offered him a round of beers, making him slightly tipsy.

When the clear image and Yurshika’s figure appeared, everyone couldn’t help but cheer in unison.

Those gathered here were the core fanatics of the Dark Moon, so their exaggerated reactions were unsurprising.

A brand new dialogue not heard before emerged, as Yurshika asked in a puzzled voice:

"Can you answer my question? This place is the Tower of Prisoners, tall and isolated, with mechanisms inaccessible. How have you managed to come here? Can you fly through the air?"

An adventurer off-screen responded: "That’s right, I can fly."

Yurshika’s small mouth opened slightly in surprise, then her tone took on curiosity and a bit of pride, as if she’d guessed the right answer, and she said:

"Is it truly so? Then you must be of the dragons, or perhaps the crows? Ah, in any case, you evoke a sense of fondness and wonder."

Upon hearing this, one of the adventurers watching clutched their chest.

"Is there a priest? I feel like my heart’s going to stop!"

"Wryyyyy—"

"I could watch this all day!"

A non-Dark Moon Sword adventurer, who had happened upon the tavern by mistake, found the group noisy and embarrassing, more so than the Holy Light Church fanatics, and couldn’t help but ask:

"With the Shadow Sun’s body not yet cold, you’re already so enthusiastic over a new god, what kind of conduct is this?"

"Huh?"

The Dark Moon Sword turned to him and confidently retorted:

"If Lord Gwendolin were here, he’d be pleased to see us love his sister so much! He might even reward us."

"I feel like he’s more likely to shoot you with an arrow..."

The onlooker shook his head, saying: "This is just like a game. You haven’t even dealt with the Elderly who ate the Shadow Sun and you’re already here—"

Before the onlooker finished speaking, the tavern door was suddenly kicked open as someone burst in, excitedly shouting:

"Fingerley and the others have returned in triumph! They’re in Bed City now!"

The tavern was silent for a few seconds before erupting in a tsunami of sound as everyone rushed out, leaving it empty in the blink of an eye.

The onlooker was stunned for a moment, then put down his beer and walked out.

"I’ve got to see this strange event for myself."

Bed City.

The Holy Light Church’s routine procession was still underway today, with the Holy Light Knights leading the way, priests singing praises loudly, and nuns praying from behind, and in the midst of it all was Lica, the Divine Blessings bearer, being carried in a palanquin as the Holy Light God.

A considerable number of people were gathered around the procession, watching the spectacle. Right now, it seemed quite lively, right?

But compared to the processions of the previous days, fewer and fewer people were coming to watch, as everyone seemed to find it less novel.

A priest looked around and couldn’t help but grumble to himself: Damn, when will this parade end? I’ve been working overtime for days for this. Wasn’t it agreed it would only last three days? What day is it now?

Looking at others—Holy Light Knights, nuns, even Lica in the palanquin and the trailing believers—all showed signs of fatigue, evidently tired of this promotional event.

Just as they were about to enter Bed City’s busiest food street, a group of people blocked their path. The leader, a burly man in a chef’s outfit, said with an unhappy face: "Could you move elsewhere? It’s meal time, customers waiting to be served, and your parade is a nuisance."

After so many days, finally, someone had clearly expressed their dissatisfaction.

The Holy Light believers naturally started shouting in protest, and the food street’s shopkeepers were not to be outdone. It looked like an argument was imminent when suddenly someone shouted:

"The Elderly has been dealt with! Everyone, go have a look!"

The crowd dispersed quickly, proving that besides the believers, those watching the parade were mostly there for the spectacle, and if something more interesting showed up, they would unhesitatingly run to see it.

Seeing the audience instantly halve, the priest in charge of today’s parade twitched his lips, waved his hand, and called out:

"Let’s go have a look too!"

Anyway, his primary mission is to obstruct the pagan faith.

When they arrived, they discovered that the scene was astonishingly grand.

Right outside the suburbs of Bed City, a high platform was magically erected by an incredibly skilled magician. Standing at its center were the adventurers who played a crucial role in the campaign against Elderly, draped in gold shawls and garlands symbolizing honor, while the crowds cheered for them.

The people gathered here were ten times, even nine times, more than those who watched the parade, blocking the roads in and out of the city completely.

Where are the guards? Why aren’t they maintaining order?

Oh, the guards are watching too. Wait, why is Count Charon on the city wall watching? Aren’t you supposed to be handling your duties today!

The procession of the Holy Light Church couldn’t even squeeze in and had to linger on the outskirts.

"Just putting on a front and claiming victory?" The priest curled his lips, "Where’s the proof? Without evidence, it’s just deceit."

From atop the platform, Fingerley suddenly glanced over, causing the priest to startle and lower his head guiltily.

"Everyone, here is the soul of Elderly!"

When Fingerley unveiled that grand and enigmatic soul, the crowd erupted with cheers loud enough to startle the birds. Just a glance is enough to tell, this extraordinary soul could only be nurtured by a formidable enemy from the Sain Dungeon.

Moreover, many present had entered the Deep Church, and could sense the deep aura emanating from the soul, leaving no doubt that this was authentic!

When the priest looked up and coincidentally met Fingerley’s sneering smile, his face turned dark as he realized his earlier remark was nothing but idle words, never expecting the other party to take it seriously, feeling as if his face had been slapped.

Elderly was vanquished, which invigorated the people more profoundly than any broadcast before. After all, this was about avenging the enemy who devoured Gwendolin.

In mythical tales, the deeds of Fingerley and his team would surely be adapted into hundreds of versions sung by bards, perhaps earning them a secondary deity status in the myths!

At this moment, Luluwo played the image of Yurshika recorded before their departure from the dungeon, propelling the already fervent atmosphere into frenzy.

Previously, people’s affection for Yurshika mostly stemmed from reasons like "Gwendolin’s sister," "beautiful and eloquent," and "tragic background," treating her as Gwendolin’s substitute.

However, when Yurshika said in the image that even if the Flame Transmission was unsuccessful, the Dark Moon Knight Order would still reserve a place for you and even celebrate you, she transcended her substitute status in people’s hearts, becoming a respected and followed independent deity!

The climax had passed, and Fingerley released the reflection stone of their peak period in Yanor Londo to end this grand feast.

Bow-advised Silver Knights, giants guards chuckling secretly on the sidelines, Bat Monsters jockeying for a place within the image stone, along with the sunlit castle; people discovered the other benevolent side of the monsters they fought fiercely against previously.

"When I grow up, I also want to vanquish Elderly and be bowed to by the Silver Knight!"

A young boy, perched on his father’s shoulders, gazed at the scene on the high platform with bright-eyed anticipation, his innocent words sparking kind laughter from those around.

Upon hearing this, the Holy Light priest suddenly trembled as if struck by lightning, raising his head with a stiff neck.

He looked around, witnessing the uplifting life force and vast positive emotions emanating from everyone watching the high platform. Not everyone was a follower of the Dark Moon, yet they held a simple view of good and evil, believing that Gwendolin was a good person, or rather a good god; thus Elderly, who ate him, deserved to die, bringing joy.

The priest shuddered violently, for it had been a long time since he’d seen such life force in the Holy Light believers who came to pray.

Those who came to the church to pray had different needs, burdened with troubles, with motives naturally impure, and sometimes their confessions in the confessional were suffocating even to the priest.

Even when news of the Holy Light God’s resurgence spread, the emotions displayed by the elated Holy Light believers weren’t as pure as those of the Dark Moon Swords present.

The priest could discern that the believers of the Holy Light showed joy solely for this reason:

"The Holy Light God has revived, my wish will be fulfilled!"

Meanwhile, the followers of the Dark Moon and Starfire’s reasons were:

"I revere them for their noble character and great deeds, whether they can help me or not."

At this moment, his view of the Dark Moon Swords in front of him shifted, as he murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear:

"You will be the Church’s most terrifying enemies..."

Staying here in the parade would only make them a laughingstock, so the priest, concerned, ordered a retreat, silently praying in his heart:

Holy Light God, please help us, let the Church regain its former glory.

Suddenly, he froze, clenching his teeth tightly.

It turned out that his own faith in the Holy Light was for serving his purposes too.

Meanwhile, within the Holy Light Church.

"After multiple trials, among the fifty believers who trained in the No Light Area of the Underground Maze, thirty-two have no major issues, fifteen exhibited growth in their virtues, and only three showed negative tendencies due to excessive stress."

The bishop listened to Albud’s report and said, "It doesn’t sound as terrifying as the rumors in the No Light Area."

Just what you should think.

Albud, without raising his head, agreed:

"Yes, even if acquiring saint-like virtues isn’t possible, with timely treatment there shouldn’t be problems. Moreover, with the resurgence of the Dark Moon faith today, I believe..."

"It’s time to send Lica into the Underground Maze, showcasing the resolute faith of the Divine Blessings to the world!"