Snow Mountain Drake Hunt (2)
The inner sanctum managed by the Order Church looked as normal as the Royal Knight Order's domain.
However, the atmosphere inside was entirely different.
"Ah, the priests...."
"How much longer will this kind of life last...?"
"At this rate, even we...."
The citizens murmured among themselves.
On the way to the cathedral, the voices trembling with anxiety were impossible to miss.
It made sense, given they were in the process of moving the priests who had fallen victim to the Fallen Knights.
― The knight order is tough, but the people weren't like this.
― Isn't it all about having strength or not?
― Dif.fer.ent.in.strength.
― Without the barrier, these people are the dead in waiting, geez.
― Now I think about it, the knight order really is doing its job.
Viewers, too, felt the sa sense of unease. Soon, they exited the streets and approached the cathedral, and control was relinquished.
"Oh! O, hero!"
A priest, face wrinkled with age, hurried out and bowed deeply in one swift motion.
― Lol, he bowed instantly.
― Isn't the high priest usually a different type of character?
― Yeah, he's supposed to act heavy and try to stand above the protagonist.
― With no casualties, he just bends over quickly.
The viewers expressed their satisfaction at the high priest's changed attitude. The high priest bowed repeatedly, expressing his gratitude.
"If the hero had not arrived, there would have been much more bloodshed. Thank you, thank you again."
"That's enough. More importantly, I wish to et the Saint."
"Ah, of course. The Saint also wished to express her gratitude to the hero upon hearing the news. Please, this way."
Upon the protagonist's request, the high priest instantly offered to guide him. As he followed and attempted to enter the cathedral—
Suddenly, with a popping sound in the air, the Witch Golem on his shoulder was flung backward.
"Huh?"
-?????
― What was that?
― Whoa? What just happened?
― Mini noonaaaa!
Both Lee Gyeongbok and the viewers were startled. The protagonist hurried to recover the flung Witch Golem.
Geotric runes were inscribed across the golem's torso.
"Are you alright? What happened?"
"W-what happened!?"
The high priest, greatly alard, rushed over. His face quickly stiffened like a stone.
"O-Oh, hero. I am sorry, but that... cannot enter the cathedral."
"What do you an...?"
Before the protagonist could ask further, the Witch Golem stood up.
"It's okay. The high priest is right...."
With her words, the protagonist's gaze returned. The Witch Golem carefully descended from his palm and looked up at him.
"These runes are etched onto my soul."
"Etched onto your soul?"
"Yes. The aning of this rune is 'exile.' I thought it would be alright now..."
Her voice trailed off bitterly. The chat window grew noisy with her admission.
― Wait, what? Witch nuna is an exile?
― What the heck happened?
― Is this a new piece of cake?
― Elden fans, activate your FromSoftware brains!
― What if she's the true mastermind?
― Nuna is the final boss?
― Stop with the spoilers!
― It can't be; Godple didn't take her down, so that theory is off base, lol
Lee Gyeongbok could not agree with such speculation.
'I never sensed that repulsiveness from her I'd get from villains. The witch is clearly a supporting character.'
So then, for what reason was she exiled? There was no way to know yet, so Lee Gyeongbok focused on the cutscene.
"Broken one, it wasn't that I hid it deliberately. But it probably just sounds like an excuse now."
She looked like she wanted to explain herself but gave up, hanging her head in resignation. The protagonist looked at her for a mont, then carefully reached out his hand.
"I only believe what I've seen."
Her downcast face was gently lifted by his hand.
"You said it yourself. Nas are but fragnts of existence. So too is the mark of exile."
"What do you an...?"
"I trust the you I've seen over so mark stamped by who-knows-who."
A smile broke across the witch's face. She clutched the protagonist's fingers tightly, pressing her face into his palm.
"... Thank you."
The mood in the chat window shifted once again.
― Why the heart-throbbing mont now?
― Mini nuna is so cute, what is this!
― Yeah, how could a cute nuna like this be the mastermind, lol
― This must be that protective instinct?
― Every ho urgently needs a mini nuna
― What, is nuna going to self-exile at the viewer's ho?
-??? 'Ugh, is this the broken one? Maybe just his face got broken?'
― Manager, please hand out so bans here!
While the viewers clamored, the witch cautiously withdrew from the protagonist's hand.
"Go on. I'll... wait for you here."
"... I'll be right back."
The protagonist turned. The high priest watched for a mont, then resud leading the way.
"Oh..."
Upon entering the cathedral, Lee Gyeongbok unconsciously let out an exclamation. Entering through the doorway revealed a massive corridor.
Vast Gothic and Baroque-inspired décor, and vividly colored murals covered the corridor walls.
― Trying not to gush level 999
― Yeah, this is a must-see
― If sothing looks stylish for no reason, you know it's FromSoftware
― Now THIS is art
Viewers didn't bother hiding their satisfaction at Lee Gyeongbok's reaction. The high priest turned as he walked.
"These murals hold the history of our Order Church."
"History?"
"Yes. The history of humanity itself, in fact."
With evident pride mixed with reverence, the high priest looked up at the murals.
"In the primordial days, humans were nothing more than prey for other beings. Life was nothing but death and terror—a life that was no life."
The protagonist followed his gaze. The mural depicted humans being devoured by monsters.
"But then ca our savior, who freed us from that shackle of oppression: the 'Elden Knights' of ancient legend. He fought against the monsters for the sake of humanity and opened the age of mankind."
The mural shone with a knight painted in radiant gold.
― This is just the first Elden series ga's story, lol
― FromSoftware is great at weaving in past ga references
― But when you dig deeper, they were Elden nerds all along, lol
― Don't compare the ga to real life!
With viewers who played the previous gas, the chat burst with laughter.
"Yet even as the age of mankind began, we remained weak."
The high priest shook his head, moving on to another mural.
"With his help, humans prospered, but threats still lurked. No matter how great the savior, even he could not be everywhere at once."
There was a striking contrast between the joyous people in the sunlit golden light of the knight, and those dying in the shadows beyond his reach.
Lee Gyeongbok marveled at the mural's detail.
"In the end, he made a noble sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?"
"Yes. For humanity, he renounced his own soul—the precious soul imbued with 'immortality.'"
The next mural showed the knight no longer radiating gold. Instead, there were humans shining faintly, if not as brilliantly as the knight.
"Thus, those who received a fragnt of the Elden Knight's soul were born. Though not as strong as him, they drove out monsters through repeated deaths—'the saviors of humanity.'"
Soon, they reached the final mural.
Knights radiating golden light ford ranks in front of a grand royal castle.
"With the dawning of the age of mankind, the human kingdom 'Elden Kingdom' was established."
Lee Gyeongbok imdiately realized.
"This must be the story of the second ga, right?"
― Yep, that's right
― That's why Elden Kingdom had so many co-op contents
― But since everyone was an Elden fanboy, there were tons of trolls, lol
― Yeah, there were loads of betrayals in a co-op ga
― FromSoftware trusted humanity too much...
― That's why the Kingdom fell in the third ga, right? lol
― Yeah, fromSoftware learned their lesson
Viewers eagerly shared their nostalgia for previous entries. But that didn't last long.
"We've arrived at the chapel. The Saint is inside. I'll take my leave now..."
The high priest bowed deeply and finished his guidance. Entering, a subtle scent was in the air.
The reason was obvious.
The wide chapel was filled with countless burning incense sticks. At the center stood a woman.
Garnts of pure white embroidered with gold thread, and hair more golden than the thread itself flowing down her back.
"Oh, you've arrived. I am Sophia, saint of the Order Church."
With a clear and elegant voice, she turned her body. Her porcelain-white skin and stunning features made her the very definition of a beauty.
― Church noonaaaaa
― Welco, church nuna, hahaha
― Nuna from the Church is truly gorgeous
― I'm sure the Order Church selects Saints for their looks
― Honestly, if the story gave her more focus, she'd be more popular than the witch nuna
― But what if Mini Nuna steps up?
― Yeah, this ti Mini Nuna is here, so it's inevitable
Viewers cheered and praised Sophia's appearance. But Lee Gyeongbok couldn't join in.
'What's going on?'
Ga characters often give off various impressions. Lee Gyeongbok used his sixth sense and spiritual energy to distinguish friend from foe.
But the Saint was different.
'Why do I feel nothing?'
Neither positive nor negative.
It was as if he were facing an inanimate object.
"Ah, I was... offering morials to the fallen. I had hoped the number would not grow, but now the chapel is filled..."
Sophia glanced around the chapel and let out a deep sigh.
"Today was the sa. But thanks to your efforts, greater sacrifice was averted. My heartfelt thanks."
She respectfully offered a salute with both hands. The protagonist nodded serenely.
"I've received enough thanks already. I have a different reason for seeking you."
"A reason?"
"Yes."
As the protagonist spoke, the screen flickered and then brightened again.
"I've co to ask you to grant the Holy Orb, so I may check on the state of the royal castle..."
Sophia muttered, her face solemn. Lee Gyeongbok added briefly,
"Ah, looks like he's explained the situation."
Clearly, the story with Knight Order Commander Blondo had been relayed. Sophia slowly shook her head.
"I understand the situation, but I cannot give you the Holy Orb."
"Because of your conflict with the knight order?"
"No, it's not that I doubt Commander Blondo's intent. There is another problem."
"Another problem...?"
Sophia pointed upward with her finger.
"The barrier protecting the sanctuary draws its strength from the Holy Orb. If I hand it over now... the residents of the sanctuary cannot be protected."
Her words caused a stir in the chat window.
― Oh! That's the bit Mini Nuna hinted at.
― Yep. Saint said she couldn't make that sort of barrier with her own ability.
― So the barrier is powered by the Holy Orb, hahaha
Watching the chat, Lee Gyeongbok sensed sothing off once again.
'Strange. If it's an item with such a function, I should feel sothing...'
Useful items could always be detected with his sixth sense. Yet he still felt nothing from Sophia.
'Is the Holy Orb sowhere else?'
Maybe it was just outside his detection range.
― So what now?
― Originally, the protagonist would claim the knight order's territory in exchange for the Holy Orb.
― So he'd emigrate the people instead.
― But this ti it's different?
― Right, alliance route with the knights, so it'll go another way.
― Is this going to be a reconciliation between the Church and the knight order?
An answer soon ca.
"Impossible?"
"... Not completely impossible."
"What do you an by that?"
"The reason I cast the barrier over the sanctuary is not rely because of the knight order. There is a greater threat."
"Greater threat? What is it?"
"Yes. Behind this place lies a snow mountain. At its summit dwells a drake."
The protagonist furrowed his glabella.
"A drake?"
Sophia produced a sapphire orb—a blue sphere with a small sword embedded crosswise like a crucifix.
'That's the Holy Orb?'
Lee Gyeongbok once again felt sothing odd.
Yet the orb gave off no reading whatsoever.
"Yes. If... you can subjugate the drake, I would feel safe enough to hand over the Holy Orb."
Her condition, offered in place of the knight order, was the drake's defeat. A flood of question marks filled the chat.
― Huh?
― What even is this?
― Frost Mountain Drake was supposed to be an optional boss, wasn't it?
― Now it's mandatory in this route, haha
― They made Wraith Golem optional, but now Frost Mountain Drake is required, lol
― The difficulty has gone nuts, lol
Viewers could not hide their surprise at the unexpected turn. Lee Gyeongbok tilted his head watching the reactions.
'Chat only ntions the drake. Does that an the orb really is genuine?'
anwhile, the protagonist turned to leave.
"I'll co back when it's done."
"Yes, I will be waiting. May the Elden Knights' blessing protect your fight."
As Sophia left the chapel, control returned.
The cutscene was over.
It would have been natural to leave the cathedral at this point.
'... But sothing feels off.'
Lee Gyeongbok couldn't take a step. Sothing about the conversation with Sophia made his chest feel blocked and heavy.
Passing by such a sensation never led to anything good.
'But I can't just start fortune-telling during a broadcast, either...'
As he hesitated, one object caught his eye.
'This...'
A container filled with thin incense sticks for the chapel. Lee Gyeongbok's eyes sparkled.
'I could do a sort of stichomancy with this, couldn't I?'
Stichomancy.
A fortune-telling thod often used by the blind, where sticks within a bamboo tube are drawn and the fortune is read based on the carved lines. The phrase 'breaking the tube' cos from this practice.
Lee Gyeongbok drew three or four incense sticks. Using them as staves, he read the grain instead of carved scores.
'Hmm...?'
Fortune regarding accepting Sophia's request to handle the drake.
The result: 'Minor Misfortune.' But that wasn't all.
'Banishing evil and seeking fortune, huh.'
It was followed by the result: 'Great Fortune'—disaster driven off and blessings sought.
Having finished the reading, Lee Gyeongbok took one incense stick and lit it.
-???
― All of a sudden, why light incense?
― What is he doing!
― Haha, don't distract Godple's imrsion!
Viewers expressed confusion at his action. Lee Gyeongbok answered with a light laugh.
"It's for the drake's sake, who will have to be sacrificed for the Holy Orb."
― There it is! The killer smile!
― Haha, now it's a 'drake killer smile'
― Well yeah, it's still a sacrifice.
― Sacrifice (forced)
― Humans: "Sorry!"
― Yudahee: "You're arranging a blind date? Not with a person, but with a drake?"
― Haha, yudahee has shifted to blind date broker for drakes
Lee Gyeongbok smoothly adlibbed his way through. None of the viewers suspected he had been divining the outco.
"Well, shall we go?"
* * *
Lee Gyeongbok arrived at the snowy mountain with the Witch Golem in tow.
"Wow, the atmosphere here is incredible."
Perennial white snow coated the landscape, and intermittent valley winds whipped blizzards through the air. Shrubs barely grew on the rocky mountain, filling the view.
"If this were real cold, I'd freeze before I could ever fight."
Lee Gyeongbok shivered theatrically and joked.
― If you felt real cold, no one would do this dungeon, lol
― Yep, even the dead would be wearing long padded jackets
― Undead in padded jackets, hahaha
― Ti for Elden Goose?
Fortunately, the actual cold felt closer to a cool breeze.
"But wow, climbing to the summit will take forever..."
Lee Gyeongbok craned his neck to look up. The route to the peak was winding around the mountain, made necessary by the sheer height and steepness.
― Yeah, enemies guard every turn, so it's a pain to dodge
― Plus, if you slip you'll die from a fall, lol
― The snowy mountain trail is pretty long
― Snowy mountain trail," haha
― There's a reason the Frost Mountain Drake used to be an optional boss!
― But now it's mandatory, lol
― If the broadcast gets longer, all the better!
Viewers agreed. Lee Gyeongbok frowned slightly.
"Hm... Think I'll take a shortcut."
A cascade of question marks filled the chat. What shortcut could there be in a snow mountain like this?
Instead of explaining, Lee Gyeongbok showed them.
"It might get dizzy if you watch in first person!"
With that, he extended his hand and shot upward in an instant. Viewers were stunned.
― What just happened? What did he do?
― Is there a bug here?
― Wait, he's climbing with sorcery?
― Lol, grabbing onto tiny ledges with spell chains
― Those tiny ones actually hold up?
― If your aim slips just a bit, won't you fall to your death?
― The cliffside winds blow really often, can he really control it?
The cliff wasn't level; Lee Gyeongbok used sorcery to grab jutting rocks and pull himself up.
Ferocious gusts sent his body lurching in a dangerous, dizzying display.
Viewers were both amazed and then quickly acknowledged sothing obvious.
After all, whose broadcast was this?
"This feels refreshing!"
He laughed cheerfully and made a joke—he was, after all, 'PerfectPlay.'
― Anyone else would treat this as a vacation content
― I'm not worried; if anything, I'm jealous, lol
― No one climbs the snowy mountain like you do!
― Might as well enjoy so makgeolli at the summit on the way down
― But there's no such thing as makgeolli in EldenSoul, hahaha
Viewers relaxed.
With Lee Gyeongbok, there were no mistakes.
---
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