The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 83: Darkness Hunter (2)

When Kai came back to Tardal's mansion, Tardal's eyes opened as if he had been waiting for Kai.

"You've come," Tardal glanced at the clock as he spoke. Then he nodded slightly and continued, "The timing is just right. Let's see the scales you brought."

"Yes, sir."

Kai took out the scales of Hakhas, the prince of the naga tribe, from his inventory.

Then Tardal's eyes slightly widened as he stared at the greenish scales on the table. He, who always maintained a poker face, unusually showed a hint of surprise.

Tardal quickly looked up at Kai. "Last time you certainly had said... you wouldn’t disappoint."

"Yes."

"Good." Praise, which rarely came from Tardal, slipped out. "The Essence of Darkness. You said you were curious about what it is?"

"Yes."

The Essence of Darkness was a marble that made the nature of monsters cruel, and strengthened their power!

According to Kai's guess, this whole thing definitely wasn't related to just a minor sub-quest.

It’ll at least be related to the main episodes.

Kai had already confirmed two Essences of Darkness, and the Essence of Darkness associated with the naga tribe was directly related to a main episode.

"Have a seat."

For the first time, Tardal offered Kai a chair.

When he sat down, Tardal began to say in a serious voice, "This will be a rather heavy story. If you are an adventurer who enjoys freedom and romance over duty, I will give you more than enough compensation, so you can stop here."

"I cannot do that," Kai said with a determined expression. "With just this item, the residents of Glendale and the merfolk have suffered greatly. I am still lacking in many ways, but as a Cleric devoted to the Solairan God, I want to uncover the secrets related to the Essence of Darkness and bring justice to those who used it."

"...Your courage and intent are commendable. But behind this marble are mighty enemies that you can't even dare to look at with your current skills. Do you still have the confidence to swing the hammer of justice without hesitation?"

"Mighty enemies I can't even look at... Then I will strive and climb until I can meet them eye to eye. As I said before, if you give me a chance, I am confident I won't disappoint you."

He wouldn't disappoint. Kai had already said that once and had produced the excellent result of Hakhas' scales.

"Hmm."

Tardal closed his eyes and fell into thought, listening to Kai's eloquent words.

Of course, Kai was only able to speak so smoothly because he had already anticipated this situation.

The Essence of Darkness is definitely related to a main episode quest. So... I probably won't be able to.

Although level restrictions were just a small numerical difference, in the game, those numbers meant everything.

Moreover, Kai had stopped his progress in the main episode quest at level 40! But that didn’t mean there was no way.

In MID Online, there may be shortcuts and different paths, but there's no wrong path.

Whether he went left or right, as long as he reached the destination, it was fine.

Ultimately, it was the NPCs—the real power holders of this world—who gave quests! If he could win their favor, he could even skip prerequisite quests.

"First... I need to explain some background information," Tardal spoke again after a long silence. "Since you are a Cleric as well, let me ask you. Which order wields the greatest holy power in this land?"

"Of course, it is the Church of Solaris that worships the Solarian God, Helik."

This was a fact, not a sense of belonging or pride. In fact, 86% of players who had changed their job to Clerics had joined the Church of Solaris.

"That's right. Nowadays, the influence of the Solarian Church shakes the continent. But what do you think it was like a thousand years ago?"

"Hmm... Wasn't it still the Solarian Church back then?"

The era when the first and second Solaris Clerics were active was also about a thousand years ago.

However, Tardal shook his head. "Wrong. A thousand years ago, it was the Church of Muldine that boasted the greatest power in this land."

The Church of Muldine!

Kai felt his mind clear and his eyes widened.

The Church of Muldine is...

They had become his enemies after he unintentionally destroyed the merfolk city episode!

But they were the most powerful a thousand years ago?

This was entirely new information!

Seeing Kai's bewildered expression, Tardal nodded. "From the look on your face, it seems you didn’t know. It's understandable. The Church of Muldine was considered heretical throughout the continent. You can only find records of them deep in the archives of royal and imperial libraries."

"What on earth... did they do?"

"The evil god, Muldine. Those who served him tried to summon the demons, Demon King, and then Muldine himself to this land."

Kai was left speechless in shock.

"In the process, countless people were sacrificed as offerings. Feeling the crisis, all the forces in the world united against them."

United forces...

It was a history lost in MID Online, found nowhere in the library or mentioned by anyone in the community.

"The war lasted for a hundred years."

"A... a hundred years?"

Cold sweat trickled down Kai's back.

A single force against the united forces of the world. The power difference should have overwhelmingly favored the latter.

But... they endured? Not just for a day or two, but for a hundred years?

He even wondered if he should bring a gift set and go apologize right away!

But Tardal calmed him with a relaxed voice, "Don't be too scared. The war overwhelmingly favored the united forces. The war lasted only a year in reality. The remaining ninety-nine years were just cleaning up the remnants."

"I... I see."

"History says that every single trace of the Church of Muldine was eradicated... or so it claims."

"But they were wrong."

Tardal nodded silently. "Darkness inevitably arises wherever there is light. The stronger the light, the darker the shadow. They hid, sharpening their blades for revenge, evading the light."

"Then the Essence of Darkness..."

"It was one of their favorite wicked methods used in the past war."

In that case, there could only be one reason why the Essence of Darkness was being found everywhere at this point.

The Church of Muldine. They've returned.

Of course, it was obvious they wouldn't return without a plan after their initial defeat.

Come to think of it...

The Church of Muldine had already been on the verge of destroying the merfolk. Had Kai not helped them, the merfolk would surely have perished.

They are already moving in the shadows.

Even if they hadn't surfaced yet, they were actively operating deep below.

"The Essence of Darkness is related to such a formidable organization. Do you still hold the same thoughts?" Tardal questioned Kai's resolve.

"Yes."

It was needless to say, rejecting such a massive opportunity thrown his way would be something only a fool or an idiot would do.

Tardal, who had been staring at Kai's determined eyes, stood up and moved to the cabinet at the back. "In that case, I will accept you as a member of the Darkness Hunters from this moment."

Ding!

[Group: You have become a member of the Darkness Hunters.]

[The Darkness Hunters are an organization formed to counter the newly resurfaced Church of Muldine. You are the 1,258th player to join, and you can now receive missions related to the Church of Muldine from Tardal.]

[Main Episode Quest, Rumors About the Raiders, has been deleted.]

[Main Episode Quest, The Bandits of Wheellet Mountain, has been deleted.]

[Main Episode Quest, Report from Baron Valparen, has been deleted.]

....

[Main Episode Quest, The Pursuit of Darkness, complete.]

Awesome.

Rumors About the Raiders was the Main Episode Quest he had stopped at level 40. Originally, he would have had to progress step by step, dealing with the Looter Veghas, but now he didn’t have to.

It’s all deleted.

And it directly transitioned into the Darkness Hunter Quest, an ideal scenario.

If he had progressed through the Main Episode Quest one by one, it would have taken at least two months. After all, the Main Episode Quests weren't designed to be completed overnight.

Two months? It could have taken three or four months if I were unlucky.

Kai didn't have any information. Of course, there was extensive information in the community, but it was mostly useless.

The important stuff is always hoarded by those in the know.

That was why guilds were so crucial in MID Online. Even if individuals were weak, guilds could fully leverage the advantages of being an organization. For starters, they had more people to do the work.

For instance, I have to gather information, collect materials, explore maps, fight, and receive quests from NPCs all by myself...

But a guild could divide all those tasks. Information gathering, quest progress, and combat roles, dividing these tasks systematically was the basic requirement for a top guild!

And Kai, unable to expect such support, had to accomplish everything by himself. However, this fact didn't particularly sadden him.

If I succeed, I get a bigger piece of the pie than those guys.

Unlike those who had to share a cookie, he could have it all to himself.

That was why Kai had stuck to solo play since acquiring the Solaris Cleric job, and why he intended to continue doing so.

"I believe that you know your skills are much lacking compared to others."

"Of course. But I will work several times harder than them."

"Effort alone isn't enough. Frankly speaking... if the scales you brought weren't this impressive, I wouldn't have accepted you." Tardal said, tapping Hakhas' scales, "Keep proving your skills."

"Yes, sir."

Kai instinctively felt that Tardal was about to assign him a new mission.

It's called a mission, but it's actually an extension of the test.

The missions, which were essentially tests, would likely continue until Kai's skills caught up with others.

But he had no complaints. In fact, he welcomed this type of test.

Tardal pulled out a map from the drawer and laid it on the desk.

Kai immediately checked the map and tilted his head. "Konderun Hunting Grounds...?"

"There's a request for support from other Darkness Hunters."

"A support request? What do I need to do?"

"Go there and assist the other Darkness Hunters."

"What’s the timeframe?"

"I hope you can arrive within three days."

"I will depart right away."

Tardal's voice stopped Kai as he stood up to leave. "Oh, and once the mission is completed, return immediately." Tardal said, tapping Hakhas' scales, "Then I'll explain then why Darkness Hunters retrieve scales as an initiation test."

"Yes, sir. Then, I’ll be going."

Kai bowed deeply and activated his minimap as he left the mansion.

Three days... that's plenty of time.

Glancing at the scales in his bag, Kai headed straight for Glendale.