On the way to the church, Liza explains about the church, "I'll need to fill you in on the church anyway, so might as well do it now. They worship the one almighty God, Adam, which you corroborated earlier", her tone not leaving a lot to be desired, "the one who created everything, who gives life and brings peace after death. However, over the past couple of hundred years, there have been a handful of ones like you, who claim to be heroes sent by God. However, the church thinks it's blasphemous to claim that. This has led to a decline in the amount of believers within the general population, particularly on the frontlines, and Endventure especially. There are countless people the heroes have saved on the frontlines after all".
Liza takes a breath before continuing, "The church mainly serves three roles: Taking care of those who are impoverished, preforming the appraisal, and providing safe passage home for escaped slaves. When humans are captured, they are typically forced to work as slaves for Demons. However, a lot of slaves commit suicide. This led to the Demon King and Vampire Lord forming a treaty with the church, allowing them to set up churches throughout the land. The church staff are permitted to safely travel to and fro from said churches. This allows them to provide save passage home for escaped slaves. No demon or vampire is allowed to prohibit a slave escaping with the orders they give. There's apparently a squad of demons who go around checking orders that slaves have received. A strict punishment awaits those who do. No Demon or Vampire is allowed attack a member of the church or anyone they're escorting, or death awaits them. By doing this, the slaves are less likely to commit suicide as they have a sliver of hope. I'd like to complain about what scumbags they are, using this so stop their slaves from committing suicide, but there are occasionally people who make it home".
Ren just listened to Liza the whole way, sensing that he shouldn't interrupt, what a messed-up story. "Our slaves are dying, we need to do something or we'll be inconvenienced". Scumbags, even if more people are surviving because of it.
Liza notices his expression, "what's wrong?". Ren responds, "in the world I'm from, slaves are illegal. It's a dark part of history humanity wishes never happened…or me at the very least. Nobody deserves to suffer like that". Liza, "sounds like a nice world", but man is it a pain to explain everything. I know I need to because he knows nothing, but it's just so tiring.
They arrive at the church not long later. Inside, they some nuns scattered throughout, busily working away. Liza starts to head towards the closest nun but is surprised by Ren pulling her back. Liza, "what?". Ren lets go of her hand, "we shouldn't talk to her...or a few of the other nuns here". Liza, "Why?". Ren, "I don't know, but...somethings off about this place".
Liza, "hm...the church has some bad reputations, especially recently. Then, who should we talk to?", maybe I'll ask Alex to have it looked into...but she's more likely to send a search part to look for me from where I sent the Reta than read the actual letter. Ren looks at all the nuns he can see, his eyes shifting to one in particular due to her dropping a candlestick, "she seems ok".
Liza approaches the nun, Ren following after her, "sorry, but can we get an appraisal done?". Nun, who seems a bit slow, "em...you need to...ah, I remember! Pay a small fee". Liza, unsure what to think of the interaction, takes out her coin bag from her tiny pocket, which seems like it shouldn't have been able to fit the coin bag in the first place, "how much?". The nun puts her fingers to her temple, trying to remember, but keeps grunting as she's unable to do so. The two watch on as she digs the candlestick into her cheek as she does so, like she doesn't even know it's in her hand.
A voice rings out from behind the pair, "25 yero is the price for an appraisal outside of the designated time for new adults to be checked". Ren and Liza turn, seeing a nun with stunning facial features, but with a plastered-on smile that comes off as eerie to the two. The nun continues, "this girl survived a Demon invasion when she was young but suffered a head injury the time. She has trouble remembering things, so we take care of her. I can perform the appraisal if you like".
Ren and Liza briefly make eye contact, a mutual understanding forming in that brief moment. Liza addresses the nun with the eerie smile, "wow, the church really does God's work. Taking care of one with such misfortune. However, the afternoon mass is approaching, isn't it? Your time would probably be better spent preparing for that. We don't mind having her do the appraisal for us. That's what's best for everyone involved, right? Since we don't mind how long it takes".
The eerie nun, with her smile not faltering for a second, senses she's not going to convince them otherwise, "understood. If you have any trouble, please don't hesitate to call for assistance". With that, the eerie nun turns and starts to walk down a hallway. Ren and Liza turn back to the nun, who just now slaps the candlestick against her palm in remembrance, "25 yero!". Ren and Liza can help but let out exasperated sighs.
After Liza hands the nun 25 yero, the nun looks at it in her hand for a few seconds before going to put it in her pocket. However...she has no pockets. She just swooshes her had through the air a few times before looking at the money again. After a couple of seconds, she just decides to shove it into her cleavage, which was difficult to do in her habit, further exasperating the two.
The nun then looks at a hallway shortly before switching her gaze to another hallway. She quickly looks back and forth between the two hallways before eventually pointing to one and stats heading towards it, "this way". Ren and Liza follow after her, but the nun stops on the spot for a second before she starts heading towards the other hallway, "mistake, this way".
As this transpires, the eerie nun is walking down a hallway towards a room, they just had to ask Atia. She's a great mascot, and having her around reduces suspicion. The only problem is that I can't rely on her at a time like this. The eerie nun opens a door, leading to an empty room, "you two, time to work".
In the darkness filled room, trapdoors in the ceiling and floor open, two women entering the room from these entry points. Without a sound, they silently approach the nun and kneel in front of her. They are each cloaked in a hooded black cloak. Eerie nun, "there's a man here getting appraised, no doubt. Investigate him. If it looks like it there won't be any problems if he disappears, kidnap him. I don't care if the woman he's with dies or not".
Cloaked figured A, "there's been a rumour of a man staying at a local inn". Cloaked figure B, "timing is too perfect to be coincidence". Eerie nun, a little peeved, "tell me that information earlier!", why are most of my subordinates like this? Cloaked figure A, "it's unconfirmed". The eerie nun sighs, "fine, whatever. Find them in and attack them in the night". The cloaked figures, "understood", before they then slip back into the darkness as if they were never there.
The eerie nun closes the door and walks back the way she came, now that I'm in charge of a church in a major city, they can't erase me without arousing suspicion. If that old crow didn't take so long to kick the bucket, I could've modified the appraisal room by now! Life can be a real bitch sometimes. I'm exposed to risk just because they happened to approach Atia of all the nuns. I need to complete the secret rooms as fast as possible.
Now in a room with surprising think walls and a heavy study door, the Nun is reading over some pieces of paper intensely. The two watch over her, surprised by all the different faces she's making. At this point, they feel like rooting for her to do her best. After a little while, Atia asks Ren to put his hand on the magic glass as she looks at the paper even more intensely.
Ren does as asked, observing said glass. It's a weird design of two panes of glass sandwiched together with black lines scattered throughout the inside. On closer inspection, the lines are actually some type of black liquid floating around. Atia, reading off the paper, "em...'once the in...in...individual places their hand on the glass, ask them to cha...cha...channel magic into the hand touching the glass. Advice for first time users off magic is as follows-"-.
As Atia is reading the sheet, Ren channels magic into his hand, since I have complete control of lighting, that must mean my channelling of magic is also at the same level. As if coming to life, the black liquid sloshes around within the glass. After a few seconds, the following words appear once the liquid settles, "Affinity – Lightning, Unique Ability - Electromaster", how fantasy! But this confirms that I have a Unique...not that I can read what it's showing, just assuming.
Atia is still reading the sheet out loud, so Ren looks to Liza. Liza, "that's it. We can go now", thank God he could already channel magic! Ren takes his hand off the glass, causing the liquid to lose its perfect shape and become almost unreadable. Ren ties to get Atia's attention a few times, finally succeeding after blocking her view of the words on the paper, "it's ok, I was able to do it. We're finished".
It takes Atia a few seconds to process, but then her face lights up in excitement, "did I do a good job?". Ren and Liza find their hearts melting at the display of pure emotion that Atia displays, "yes, you did a good job". Hearing their words, Atia smiles in accomplishment, fur thing moving the two's hearts. Atia then suddenly remembers something, "that's right, I'm not finished. I need to reset it".
Atia flicks through the papers, which are a loose-leaf instruction manual. She stops on one page and freezes. She slowly turns her head to Ren and Liza, "you can go". Ren and Liza, so it will take a while. Hesitant to leave, Ren asks, "do you need some help?". Atia firmly refuses, "no, it says you shouldn't see this part. And I want to be praised by Phina for doing a good job". Seeing her determination, the two decide to leave without a fuss, cheering Atia on internally, do your best!
Ren and Liza return the way they came and leave the church. The eerie nun catches them out of the corner of her eye, already? But this is Atia we're talking about. She then speedily head to the appraisal room. Upon entering, she sees Atia putting a box back into a cabinet. She looks to the glass, dejected that it's already been rest.
Noticing who has entered the room, Atia quickly closes the cabinet and locks it after a few fumbles. She rushes up to the eerie nun with the biggest smile on her face, "Phina!". The eerie nun, Phina, can't help but melt at the intensity of Atia smile. Atia practically jumps into Phina's arms, Phina gladly catching her and intensely hugs her close.
Due to the difference in their build, Atia is sandwiched between Phina's breasts. Atia excitedly looks up into Phina's face, "Phina, I did it! I did the job!". Phina, who face is now nowhere close to eerie, lovingly pats Atia in the head, "good girl. I'm so proud of you". Seeing Atia relishes in the headpat, Phina finds her heart squeeze from the cuteness overload, "I think Atia deserves a reward". Atia gets excited once again, "really? Can we do the thing we do in bed?", as she starts to undress Phina.
Phina stops Atia from going any further, "hold on, it's almost time for afternoon mass. We can't right now", as she fixes her habit. Atia is visibly dejected in response, pulling at Phina's heartstrings. Phina pulls Atia close again, "in exchange, I promise we'll go extra long tonight". Atia can't help but cheer up at the good news.
Now with Atia's reward settled, Phina asks, "so, did the man from earlier have a Unique?". Atia, while buried in Phina's chest, somehow manages to tilt her head in confusion, contorting Phina's breasts. Phina, "you know, the results from the appraisal". Atia gets lost in thought for a second before tears start falling from her eyes, "I messed up!".
In addition to Atia's increasing torrent of tears, Phina can't help but feel her heart wrench from tone of Atia's voice as she clearly regrets her mistake from the bottom of her heart. Atia's cry quickly starts to escalate, and acting on instinct, Phina presses her lips against Atia's, surprising her. Atia starts to calm down, her tears slowly stopping. After a couple of seconds, Phina stops the kiss, "you didn't mess up. I was just curious", I'll just tell the Administration "yes" if they acquire as to what the Unique was, if there was one of course.
Atia, like a sad puppy, asks "…really?". Phina can't help but swoon at the cuteness, "yes, I'm sure. You even reset the appraiser and lock the tool in the proper place. If you got the fee, then you did your job perfectly". Upon hearing those words, Atia grabs her breasts over her habit and spreads them outward. With a smile on her face, Atia allows the coins to fall out of her cleavage and onto the floor.
After a few seconds to process the absurdity of what just happened, Phina bursts into laughter, causing Atia to pout in response as she then starts picking up the coins. She shoves them into Phina's hand and fast walks out of the room in a huff, still pouting, but Phina quickly chases after her.