“Everyone’s ready? Lets goooo! Hehehe, this will be fun~”

Abbess Unem’s tension was high. Viers would have thought she was a sorority girl if all his senses were not telling him that she was a Level 4 Pathseeker through and through.

“Do we have time for this? We should be getting ready for the expedition to the swamp of death,” Damon said.

“No-non-no,” Unem wagged her finger. “This is a crucial phase for the operation. You all must unwind and have fun.”

“It is as she says,” Mita confirmed.

On this sunny day, Mita and Unem seemed to be young teachers leading their class on a field trip.

Female Pathseekers usually maintained their beauty and youth as they aged. They both still looked in their twenties, though Mita’s physique was somewhat short compared to other people in the group. Unlike her colleague, Mita was calm.

While the Legionaries were talking, Rose whispered to Viers, telling Viers their names and ranks. The senior Silver Legion group consisted of the people he fought yesterday, Damon the steadfast leader, Bryan the rash two sword user, Wendy the chilly wind, and the group’s support Rachel.

“And then those are my two precious friends, Conn and June.”

The two nodded but seemed a bit stiff. They were uncertain how to treat Viers. Not only them, the others had also kept a distance from Viers so she acted like a liaison.

Rose and her two friends were the same as Viers, Level 3 low. Their age bracket was also similar.

They were all wearing casual clothes.

“She’s also coming?” Viers said with a confused tone.

“Well-”

Ciel answered before Rose.

“I’m feeling better now so I insisted on coming. Oh, and I haven't said thank you for saving my life. Twice, right? Thank you, Viers. I’ve been briefed about you by the others. The boy from that time has become so strong, I’m impressed. Ah, but you have done some bad things, right? You shouldn't! Doing bad things is bad!”

Ciel was using the tone of a big sister scolding her little brother. She was wearing a smile though. Meanwhile, Viers was looking at her eyes in silence, observing.

“Am I missing something here? We’re bringing the injured target of the assassins out in the open? Scratch that, aren't we all targets? You all are not treating this lightly, are you?”

“If they attack, it is a blessing instead,” Mita said. “You don't have to worry, dear guest. There are three additional Level 4s keeping guard from the shadows. They are not affiliated with the Church but agreed to lend us a hand during these dangerous times.”

“Hmmm… if you say so,” Viers faced Ciel again. His gaze was straightforward and quite intense.

“Err, is there something on my face?” Ciel felt a bit embarrassed.

Viers grabbed Ciel’s hand with a fast movement, making the others raise their guard. Then Viers placed a lollipop in her palm.

“This should make the ache in the pit of your abdomen better. I heard from Rose that you people are often busy and seldom have time for R&R. You also want to have fun with your friends, right? Now you don't have to hide your pain with a smile in front of them.”

Ciel was silenced.

“And you don't have to thank me. I'm only repaying the favor from that time.”

Viers walked away first, Rose went after him.

“Heeh, that’s quite cool,” Rachel smiled.

“Throw that away. It might be laced with drugs or something,” Bryan scoffed.

“My, my, my~ I thought of giving Ciel some medicine for your pain later but the young man had me beat, ufufu.” Unem playfully said. “Well then, shall we?”

Ciel looked at the gift in her palm for a few seconds, then put it in her mouth.

***

“So where should we go first?” Wendy asked.

“Was there a plan?” June asked the seniors.

“Lunch,” Viers said with a tone that brook no argument.

“Can't hold it anymore, fatty?” Bryan jabbed.

“Huhuhu,” Viers laughed without a care of the insult. “Eating is happiness.”

“Our breakfast menu might be a little simpler for the masses,” Damon said. “We’re used to them but the others might feel it is lacking.”

“Lunch it is. It isn't that long until the noon bell anyway. Destination? Abbess, any recommendation?” Mita asked.

“Sorry~ but I'm helpless in this matter.”

The people of the Church usually partake in a simple diet.

“If there's no objection, I'll lead the way. I know some good places. One of them is not far from here,” Viers said.

“Please do.”

“Go ahead.”

The group started walking. Among the group, there were three circles where they engaged in conversations. Mita and Unem, Ciel and the senior Legionaries, Rose and her two friends. Viers was integrated into the third group because of Rose.

“...You seem familiar with the neighborhood,” June talked to the guide.

“I’ve been living here for a few months so yeah.” Viers used the memories of the locals to make a false backstory.

“Viers, umm, can Paina and Farley come out like yesterday?” Rose asked.

“You want them to join? …Fine by me but are they okay with it?” Viers asked back.

“Well-”

“It’s fine,” Mita interjected. “They are also our guests. But may I request giving them a corporeal form instead of spectral? Spirits walking in the city in broad daylight will draw too much attention.”

“But a cultist-”

Damon shut Bryan up with an elbow bump. The guy was talking softly but it did not escape Viers’ super hearing.

“If Vestal said so…”

“We have no objections.”

“...Then I’ll summon them where there are fewer eyes.”

Fifteen minutes later, Viers went into a restaurant downtown. Since the people from the Church were not used to luxury, Viers did not choose a super high-class eatery, only a middle-class one. The restaurant had a nice interior and atmosphere that had stood for tens of years. It was usually full during dinner time, but they should have seats open since it was still noon.

“Twelve people, please,” Viers said to the waiter. “Is there a room open on the second floor?”

“Certainly, right this way.”

The party got into a private room for big groups. They took their seats. Some were pretty impressed with the interior and gave positive comments.

“Feel free to order what you like,” Mita said while looking at the menu.

“But the spending…”

“It’s fine! This will be included as the operation cost. Right~?” Unem asked.

“...Yes. You all have done well. Enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you very much. Then I want this Silk Bird Noodle; it sounds delicious!” Rachel said.

“I’ll take the chef’s recommendation,” Damon said to the waiter.

“One Chika-Chika vegetable pie please,” June said.

“Arozani-style dish? I’ve always wanted to try it. Remember we went there but never had the chance? I’ll take this one,” Ciel looked happy.

The scene was like a school’s field trip, very warm. Once they ordered and the waiter left them, Viers summoned Paina.

“Umm, nice to meet you all,” she greeted.

“Farley said that she appreciated the invitation but preferred to stay inside me,” Viers said.

“It can't be helped.”

“Paina, sit next to me. Oh, you haven't ordered yet,” Rose realized.

“It’s fine. I’ll have what Viers has. It’s not like I can actually eat real food but Viers often recreates the food that he eats for us using soul sorcery,” Paina said.

“Oh… Haven't heard that one before,” Wendy said.

“Is that why you ordered three dishes? Because there are three people inside you?” Rachel asked.

“I bet he’s just hungry,” Bryan rolled his eyes.

“And there’s one more person joining us,” Viers said. “Come out and say hello.”

The leaf green badge on Viers’ chest shone out a streak of light and on the table, appeared an adorable palmtop green-skinned plant sprite.

“I am Dia!”

Dia raised her hand and struck a pose.

“OMG! So cute~!!”

“Whoa!”

“Kyah! What is that criminally adorable thing!?”

“Hwawawa~ Here, here. Hop to sis’ hand.”

“Viers, she’s your familiar?”

“I am Dia~”

The girls were scrambling to get a piece of the tiny dryad, even the boys were charmed by the puppy-like cuteness. The new addition, as expected, livened up the stage.

Dia allowed the girls to poke at her round cheeks and pat her hair.

“Mmm?”

Her gaze stopped at Rose. She beamed cuteness laser straight into Rose’s eyes and her expression melted. But that was not all, Dia jumped at Rose’s chest. She almost slipped but Rose propped her up using both hands.

“Like~” Dia gave Rose a hug using her tiny body.

“I like you too!!”

Dia was clearly attracted to Rose. Viers guessed the familiarity stemmed from Rose’s wood affinity. The two were a kind of sort.

“Ahem.”

Mita took out some kind of green and brown bead that gave off a thick aura of nature. A treasure suitable for Level 3. With it, Dia might have the slight boost necessary to become Level 3. Dia’s eyes lit up after seeing that and abandoned Rose.

“Like~”

Now Dia gave Mita the hug and it was super effective.

“Ufufu, how adorable,” Mita relinquished the bead to Dia and she hugged it like a treasure.

“Ahhh! Master, that's not fairrr!” Rose complained with a pitiful expression.

Because of Dia, the wait for the food didn't seem long at all. In the end, Dia got a few treasures that were useful for her cultivation. Viers told her how to behave cutely in front of others and the training bore fruit. Dia’s cuteness was an asset that Viers weaponized.

The dishes came and the delicious aroma that tickled everyone’s sense of hunger filled the room. The party ate the delectable dishes with joy. Dia got fed a mouthful from the other dishes.

Viers saw that and thought: Just according to plan.

Dia’s cuteness helped Viers break the ice with the Church’s people, especially the girls.

Not only that, the swamp must be filled with all kinds of flora, Dia’s home ground. I’m sure she’ll be an asset there. I feel sorry for Faiya and Futon cause I’m keeping them asleep. I don't want to expose them if I can.

***

After lunch, the party went aimlessly and ended up in a place with a lot of shops.

“Ah.”

“What’s wrong?” Ciel asked Wendy.

“That shop's children's clothes seem nice. I want to buy some for my younger siblings back home,” Wendy said with a gentle look.

Ciel pulled her arm. “Come on. Let’s pick together.”

***

“Oh, those kids, they’re playing yutang.”

Bryan said while passing by an open field.

Viers also saw them.

Yutang. This world’s quidditch. A bit similar to American football. The most popular sport in this world.

“How nostalgic,” Conn said. “I used to play that every day with my friends in the past. I was known as Cracking Conn back then. Hehehe.”

“Do you know that the Church had a hand in creating and popularizing the sport?” Unem said.

“Really?”

“In the past, the only popular sport was the gladiatorial fight between Pathseekers, bloody and savage. They still exist but yutang became more popular as time went by,” Mita added a piece of history.

“It is also not limited to only Pathseekers. Since the use of Victa is forbidden, even non-Pathseekers can participate. The Pope back then hoped it would become a bridge between the two sides, minimizing and eventually erasing segregation,” Unem said.

After hearing the story, seeing the kids playing happily gave a warmer impression to the members of the faith.

***

“Viers.”

“Hm?” Viers turned around, Dia was on his shoulder.

“Do you know a skilled craftsman? I got things that need repair,” Rachel said.

“Actually, our gear is pretty busted,” Wendy sighed. “Even Damon’s beloved sword was smashed to pieces yesterday.”

“So we need to gear up, know someone?” Rachel tickled Dia’s neck.

“You’re in luck. I got acquainted with a dwarf yesterday. Shall we visit his shop?”