The Holy Church was more of an organization than a cult or church, its members were mostly scholars and alchemists who use monsters for the production of products.
Nobody knew how they came about giving themselves the name but that was how they were known and that was what they were called.
They were just as big as the Hunter's Association which manages all Hunters in the kingdom and the two organizations have close ties with each other. The Holy Church was interested in monster's material and the Hunters provided that while making money with it. And leveling up.
The Holy Church then uses that material in processing different materials and products that they sell to the people of the kingdom.
The Holy Church building dominated the center of the town and it was even bigger than the Lord's building. Far far bigger. It was made of painted cool blue stones and in front of it at the top, he saw the Holy Church insignia, a robed man holding a glass flask.
Belialthorn could smell chemicals and suffering from inside the building. It must be coming from the captive they kept.
"Is the bearded man meant to represent schoolers?" Belialthorn asked Freya as they stood in front of the building, she had volunteered to show him the way to the Holy Church this morning, probably thinking he wanted to join their organization.
"Yes, and the glass flask he's holding represents the alchemist." Freya looked at Thorn, the boy was a very mysterious being with his blue eyes and graceful features and she didn't want him to join the Hunters just because of a sense of revenge for the Demon.
Belialthorn had made it known that he wanted to join the Hunter's organization and Griffin's team hadn't been pleased, saying he didn't have to join just because he was kidnapped by a Demon.
Belialthorn snorted. "Seems fitting."
"Oh come on. The alchemist changed a lot of life when our civilization collapsed centuries ago. They are huge benefits for humans." Freya nodded at the building.
"I bet," Belialthorn muttered and started walking into the building, he didn't care about monsters but how dare they! Demons!
Freya gave him an odd look. "He behaves weird sometimes. Well, I guess that's what been kidnapped by a Demon does to you. Hey, wait!"
Freya went to join him and they entered the building together.
The room was cool and they met with a lady who told them they had to wait in a room. She directed them into a private room and asked them to wait for a bit.
"Why's everyone looking at you like that? You must be popular here." Belialthorn asked Freya. Even when they were coming into the town he had noticed the way people started at the Hunter's team.
"It's because of our level." That was all she said and Belialthorn understood somewhat, their team seemed to be powerful compared to average Hunters.
They didn't wait long before a loud voice boomed and a man strolled into the room. He was a large man with a huge stomach and a laughing face.
"Freya my girl!" He said immediately he saw her and went in for a hug. "So you are back from your hunt!"
"It didn't go as planned. Good to see you, Cana." Freya replied as she was folded into a hug. "You should show yourself more."
"Look who's talking! Always focused on your hunts." Cana said, looking at Freya who smiled and waved his words away. The two had known each other for a long time when Freya did him a favor, he hadn't climbed high in the Church then.
"Sorry, sorry. This is Thorn, I wrote to you about him before that he was kidnapped and kept for some time by the Demon." Freya pointed at Belialthorn.
Cana's eyes glinted as he heard "Demon" and he rubbed his hands together looking at the boy in front of him. He didn't look like he had been previously kidnapped but then again maybe the Demon fed him? It would be interesting to find out. "Yes! It was a surprise. While intelligent, the Demons had been known for killing as they wish with no regards."
Belialthorn felt a brief moment of nervousness and anger, had he been found out? It didn't seem so, Cana was just speaking generally, and that made Belialthorn angry. Cana would turned to something else if he knew what Belialthorn was.
"He's unclassified and interested in Alchemist. I was hoping you can take him as one of your students?" Freya asked.
Cana nodded. "That shouldn't be a problem, but which part is he interested in?"
"The Demon part." Belialthorn almost regretted it as Cana frowned as soon as he heard it. Had he made a mistake already?
"Straight to the point are you! Let's see," Cana frowned harder. "As you know monsters are used for different things. From drugs to some food and in our medicines. But Demons? They are at the top. Their blood can even make potions that can regenerate some limbs. They have limitless potential."
"From what I know seeing any Demons outside the Demon City is rare so how are you able to keep your experiment going?" Belialthorn asked, making sure to unclench his jaws.
Cana's eyes shone. "You have the sharp mind of an Alchemist! You see, we just use highly potent healing potions on them and their bodies do the rest. They can heal even from the most dangerous wounds that humans can't even think of."
"Aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Demon City?" Belialthorn asked.
"Of course not! It's generally known that once a Demon is kicked out of the Demon City then the City isn't interested in them again. That's what made this temple Demon a very rare occurrence because we knew it was a Noble Demon, those with superior Bloodline." Cana chuckled. "I don't care why it was kicked out, all I wanted is to get my hands on it!"
"I see," Belialthorn said. So he wanted to harvest his flesh while also keeping him alive? Humans were vile. He was already tired of the smell of this room and Cana who smelled of subtle rot.
Belialthorn breathe in, storing the horrid scent of Cana in his mind, a plan already forming.
"Thank you." He managed to say. "I will pick Alchemist when I go for my choosing."
"Yes, yes you should so I can pick you as my student," Cana said then turned to Freya. "We should see more Freya. Fix a quick breakfast to talk."
Freya assured him she would and ran after Belialthorn.