Chapter 40. Disturbance

Walking through the snaking alleys, Michael calmly and patiently listened to all the advice Gonk was offering, even if he had already heard from the trio most of it already.

It was both a gesture of kindness and appreciation and a chance to revisit the information while ensuring he understood it correctly.

[The bottom line is that you first need to reach Level 10. After you hit that, it will make things more complicated, yet at the same time, all the proper benefits will be open. The amulet you're wearing now, it's absolute garbage. You don't gain anything good from it. However, proper jewelry after Level 10 gives you lots of amazing benefits, including Resistance. That right there is the reason why mages abhor us Barbarians. Imagine that you are a mage who spent most of your life honing elemental damage in your spells, and suddenly, a Barbarian picks on you. You throw your precious fireball at him, but the damage dealt is so small you would inflict more by hitting him with your staff.](Gonk)

"That sounds wildly exaggerated."

[Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. All I can tell you is that a single good amulet can provide +30% Resistance to all elements if you find a good one. That should tell you everything you need to know.](Gonk)

"That's... ridiculous! It seems that I need to start leveling up again. What do you suggest I do, Gonk? Quests, Dungeons, or just grind the wilderness?"

[Hmm... At your level, the best option is Quests. You told me the Church is waiting for you to explain what happened in Nevesk. That in itself is a Quest waiting to happen. Also, since even the Horadrim are involved, it might as well become a Main Quest. Those give great EXP and gold.](Gonk)

"So, Quests?"

[Well, you should know from the first one you got that Quests and Dungeons, or wilderness hunting, are not independent of each other. Instead, most of the time, Quests must be completed in Dungeons or by killing monsters in the wilderness. So, no matter how you look at it, you won't escape grinding.](Gonk)

The conversation continued for another five minutes until we reached the plaza again. The only change was that this time around, it was filled with people.

[What's going on now?](Gonk)

"Hmm? From the surprise on your face, I guess this is not a common event?"

[Not really. People gather around like this only when the mayor has an announcement or Miss Prava of the Church holds sermons. But it's too early in the day for both. So it might be an ad-hoc meeting because Heaven knows why.](Gonk)

"Well, only one way to find out, I guess. Excuse me, sir..."

Patting the shoulder of a middle-aged man, Michael drew his attention and that of the three ladies in the surroundings as well. Seeing Michael smile and greet them politely, as well as the smiling oaf behind him, the people were put in a good enough disposition to answer questions.

"...do you have any idea what's going on? We left for a bit to walk around and returned to this scene."

[*Sigh* It's one of the priests of the Church of Light. They used the guards to arrest and condemn poor old Milo.](?)

[Milo!? The brewer Milo?](Gonk)

[Yes, sir. They accused him of heresy, and he will be burned on the pyre.](?)

"Heresy? What exactly did he do?"

[Uhm... nobody except the Church seems to know.](?)

"...and nobody asked? What about proof? Did they show any proof of his supposed 'heresy'?"

Seeing the folk in earshot distance looking at each other confusedly, it is evident to Michael that no such 'proof' was provided. Rather, just like in the Dark Ages on Earth, whatever the Church said was held to be true, as they were the apostles of God.

He was unwilling to intervene in the matter as he would undoubtedly step on very 'divine' toes, but seeing the giant next to him pull out a sizeable two-handed axe, he sighed and patted him.

"Let's try words first. We need to find out the situation before acting recklessly."

[Words!? I know Milo! He's a devout man who attends Church every time there's a sermon. Ever since he lost his wife, that became his only solace. He works from dawn to midnight to provide for his daughter. When in the Burning Hells would he have time to commit any heresy?](Gonk)

"Okay, calm down for a bit. Even if he did commit said heresy, is the Church allowed to just kill anyone they wish? Doesn't the mayor and other nobles have anything to say in the matter?"

[Of course, they don't! It's weird that they can have the City Guards arrest someone in the first place. They answer to the mayor and their superiors only.](Gonk)

"I see. That means that something's fishy here. I need you to do something for me since you know the city better than I do."

The Barbarian leaned in and listened to Michael's plan. He reluctantly nodded while looking toward the front of the crowd, where an ungodly sharp voice kept yelling something.

Patted on the shoulder by Michael, the man sighed and left quickly under the confused eyes of the previous 'informants.'

Thanking them politely, Michael made his way through the crowd. It was much more difficult than he initially thought it would be, so he released a bit of his aura.

Under Gonk's nagging and pestering, he learned to infuse some Essence in his body and enhance his presence.

It was nothing more than a parlor trick and wouldn't help in fights against demons or monsters. However, deterring common folk from attacking or opposing you would be sufficient.

'Still... this is not the effect I was hoping for...'

Seeing the creeped-out people making space for him to the point where they almost ran away, Michael cursed at the oaf in his mind. When the Barbarian used his aura, it felt oppressive and filled with bloodlust.

When the young Necromancer used it, it felt like the stench of death and corpses wafting around him.

Not even thirty seconds later, he reached the front of the crowd and again turned around to apologize and thank the people for making way. Since he already made a bad impression, he could at least try to soften the impact.

'What's done, it's done. Now, let's see what this mess is all about.'

A group of slightly confused guards armed with shields and spears pointed their weapons at a kneeling man. The 'accused' wasn't very old, but he was past his prime, with gray hair covering his head.

The man in question had tears in his eyes, and a disillusioned expression betrayed his inner thoughts.

Michael clenched his fists and did his best not to include his personal biases in his judgment of the situation. Looking to the right, a skinny, well-dressed middle-aged man was yelling at the crowd in a shrill voice.

He was standing on a crate improvised to serve as a podium for whatever bullshit he was feeding the masses. A vein popped through the skin on Michael's right temple as he did his best to reign in his increasing anger.

[...sinners! All of you! You keep turning away from the Light and from Father's teachings! Not only that, but you even dare to question our decisions!? How very bold of you!](?)

Seeing how the man screamed until he got red in the face, Michael's impression of him kept decreasing by the second.

[Not only did this man fall from the grace of the Light, but he also conspired with demons. What else could we do if not burn him at the pyre to purge his sins!?](?)

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Michael infused some Essence in his throat and spoke loud enough for the entire plaza and those beyond it to hear.

"And where is the proof of the said 'conspiracy' you claim this man held with demons?"

Like a rooster with his throat strangled, the yelling 'priest' stopped in his tracks. Michael didn't even bother to glance his way as his eyes stopped on the five confused guards and the accused.

The five guards gave a very 'unwilling to be here' vibe, while Milo's eyes seemed to shine briefly, only to lose their luster after seeing the one that spoke on his behalf.

'Probably seeing a young man such as myself, whatever hope he held was probably dashed. Still, from that reaction, my assumptions should prove correct. This yelling eunuch is suspicious.'

[Who are you to stop the Church while it conducts judgment!?](?)

"And who the fuck are you to conduct judgment on behalf of the Church!? No, to begin with, since when does the Church even have the power to judge people?"

[You... you... HERETIC! How dare you question the Church!? You should be burned at the pyre!](?)

Hearing the yelling priest, Michael's nerves were pulled taut, and he almost cast a Blight at this broken music box of a man.

Taking a deep breath, he tried calming down and reasoned with the man.

"You didn't answer my question. Who are you, and on what basis are you using the City Guards to arrest someone? From my brief knowledge of Kyovashad, priests of the Church don't have the power to order the guards, do they?"

Directing that question at the five guards more than he did at the priest, Michael saw the weapons of those five tremble, and their eyes faced the ground.

Probably noticing this as well, the priest started screaming even louder.

[How dare you question the Cathedral!? A dirty Necromancer such as yourself dares to put into question my judgment!? No wonder you came into this heretic's defense! You are embroiled in his plans to undermine the Church, aren't you!?](?)

Michael was floored. He truly was. He actually thought that his man, this common person who couldn't beat a Level 1 Wanderer, didn't know he was one of the 'adventurers' and was acting stupid due to his ignorance.

But from the looks of it, he was aware of his Wanderer identity and was still pinning imaginary charges on him. This was incredible!

"I will give you one more chance. Answer the damned question. On what basis did you arrest this man, and who gave you the authority to do so?"

[Lunatic! Heretic! Guards! Arrest him! If he dares to resist, kill him!](?)

Michael almost tripped even if he was standing still. Was this man insane!? Did he actually dare to have the guards arrest a Wanderer?

Just as the audacity of the priest shell-shocked him, an oriole-like voice interrupted his thoughts.

[What the hell is going on here!? Christian, Grant, Fridon, Mehlan, Allor, why aren't you at your posts?](Helen)

Hearing the voice, Michael sighed in relief and calmed down considerably while the 'eunuch' paled when realizing who just arrived.

A large hand gripped Michael's shoulder as he looked back and saw a grinning Gonk. Luckily, it seems that he was able to find Helen pretty easily.

"You moved fast."

[Luckily, I could find her at her father's shop. When she heard that you asked for her and explained the general situation, she bolted out of the shop before I could put another word in. *Cough* Her father asked you to come for a visit when he saw her reaction. Uhm... good luck!](Gonk)

Ignoring the latter part of the explanation, as he had enough on his plate at the moment, Michael almost robotically turned his head and saw Helen walk toward the guards like an enraged lioness.

The five men that were called by name were literally shaking in their boots as the 'clang' sounds made by their shields hitting their retracted spears forced the crowd to snicker.

Unsurprisingly, Helen was more angered than Michael was, as she was roaring rather than speaking.

[So!? I've asked you a question!?](Helen)

[Miss Helen, I would ask you not to...](?)

[It's Captain Helen for you, Leotar! Since when does the Church have the right to order my men!?](Helen)

[Miss Helen, I would ask you to watch your words! Those five agreed to help after I persuaded them that this man was a heretic! It's their duty to assist the Church in our endeavors to fight the demons! Seeing how you came to defend the heretic, are you perhaps one of his helpers!?](Leotar)

Michael's jaw dropped to the ground. Gonk shook his head and looked at the priest called Leotar with pity. Even the crowd gathered had their mouths open wide enough to fit three to four apples at once.

The only person who seemed unsurprised was Helen. When Michael saw her nonchalant expression, he wondered if this guy had some supreme backing and therefore dared to act this stupidly in front of the Captain of the guards, as well as a genius Wanderer that's over Level 50 with their Paragon Page open.

A pair of swords appeared in her hands and slashed in the direction of the arrogant priest. With two spurts of blood, the man's right hand and left leg were separated from his body.

"Well, shit..."

As it turns out, it wasn't that she was calm but rather furious to the point where she couldn't care if he was a Cathedral member or had immense backing.

Unfortunately, the situation only complicated further.