“We did come here specifically for you, Kayan.”
Nolan spoke with complete sincerity.
“You and I both know that the shadow in the south is not mere banditry. It is the prelude to war. You received the Mother Goddess’ revelation, and we witnessed it firsthand. There’s no need for me to repeat how serious the situation is.”
He did not launch into a long speech. Instead, he laid out his vision in simple, direct terms: building a force, preparing to face the undead, seeking the princess’ support, and ultimately restoring the kingdom.
His tone was confident and candid, as though he were not describing a plan, but a future that was bound to come to pass.
Throughout it all, Kayan sat in silence, his brows tightly knit as he listened.
“Priest Kayan, your sacred word spell, Hymn, is highly effective against the undead. That kind of power is crucial on the battlefield. Our team also needs someone capable of healing.” Nolan continued, his voice steady. “Looking further ahead, the territory I intend to establish will need someone to lead its temple. In times of chaos, ordinary people need the comfort of faith. To be honest, I don’t trust the institutional faction within the temple. We came to you because I believe you’re the best candidate.”
When he finished, Nolan met Kayan’s gaze calmly and waited.
Kayan did not hesitate. He gave a firm nod. “All right. I’m in.”
“You’re thinking we should start from the kingdom’s perspective… Wait, what did you just say? You agree?”
Everyone froze.
Nolan had already prepared a full set of arguments. He had planned to persuade this future saint through a long discussion that touched on duty to country, personal ambition, and practical benefits. He had been ready for an all-night exchange.
Instead, Kayan skipped every step and agreed on the spot.
For once, Nolan was caught off guard. His rhythm collapsed, and the words he had prepared tangled together in his mind, leaving him momentarily speechless.
It was Anna who recovered first. A hint of curiosity shone in her clear eyes as she gently broke the awkward silence. “Priest Kayan, may I ask why you trust us so easily? We don’t have any backing, and today is our first meeting. And Mr. Nolan’s plan… to be honest, it’s quite bold.”
Nolan rolled his eyes. At least she had the decency not to call it a daydream.
Hearing her question, Kayan smiled with a touch of simple honesty. He scratched his short-cropped hair, his gaze behind the lenses sincere. “Mr. Nolan’s plan is indeed unconventional. But just now, outside the temple, I saw how you fought.”
He looked at Hank, then at Nolan.
“To be frank, both Mr. Nolan and Mr. Hank would rank among the best fighters in the entire southern region. Mr. Hank’s strength is probably on par with mine.”
He paused, then turned his gaze back to Nolan, his expression growing more serious.
“As for Mr. Nolan… I’ll be honest, I can’t see through him. He feels unfathomable, and certainly above me. In terms of high-end combat power alone, this plan is feasible.”
Then he shifted the topic.
“But that isn’t the most important reason. What matters more to me has never been words, but the voice of the heart.” Seeing the confusion on their faces, he explained a little awkwardly, “Since I was young, my teacher said my ‘spiritual sensitivity’ was unusually strong. People like me, he said, can more easily communicate with the Mother Goddess. That’s why he guided me onto the path of a priest. My sensitivity allows me to resonate with the emotions of others. When someone’s feelings are strong, I can vaguely sense what they truly feel. Whether it’s anger or sorrow. That’s why I can see through hypocrisy at a glance.”
He lifted his head and looked straight at Nolan, his eyes carrying a quiet insight.
“What made me decide was Mr. Nolan’s sincerity. When you were speaking just now, I felt a powerful conviction from you. It was an unwavering desire to protect.” He paused, as if searching for the right words, or recalling that sensation. Then he added, somewhat uncertainly, “And… a sense of regret and sorrow?” Kayan’s voice lowered, tinged with confusion and awe. “It didn’t feel like sorrow over personal gain or loss. It felt more like… grieving for the entire world, mourning the passing of an age. I can’t quite describe it, but a feeling like that cannot be faked.”
Nolan’s heart skipped a beat.
Damn. I forgot he can sense emotions.
All eyes turned to him at once. Hank’s probing gaze, Little Donnie’s curiosity, Anna’s concern, and Leus’ confusion all converged on him.
That sorrow was not an act. It was real. It was a silent mourning for a lost Elfin, for comrades who had turned into data, for twenty years of a player’s obsession that had come to an end.
Nolan forced the surge of emotion back down and let a measured trace of grief show on his face.
“Maybe it’s because… when I think about my homeland possibly heading toward destruction, it hurts.”
The explanation was heartfelt and convincing. It was enough to move anyone, and the others all showed signs of understanding.
Kayan studied Nolan for a moment, thoughtful, but did not press further. Instead, he extended his broad, powerful hand.
Smiling, Nolan clasped it firmly. “Welcome to the journey to save the kingdom, Priest Kayan.”
“Welcome, welcome!” Little Donnie jumped up first, clapping enthusiastically.
Hank broke into a grin and gave Kayan a solid pat on the shoulder.
“Just call me Kayan,” he said, his face full of relief and ease. “From now on, I’d be honored to fight alongside all of you.”
The atmosphere in the room warmed at once. Everyone relaxed, and casual conversation began to flow.
Hank exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and asked curiously, “Kayan, that red-haired kid earlier said you wanted to become a Templar Knight. With your strength, that shouldn’t be difficult, right?”
At the mention of this, a wry smile appeared on Kayan’s face. “Yes, that was indeed my dream. But the temple’s doctrine states: ‘Sacred words belong to priests, and the holy sword belongs to knights. Just as the Mother Goddess soothes all beings with compassion, she also purifies the unclean with majesty.’ That means the two paths of serving her are clearly divided.” He continued, “The path of the priest is responsible for the scholarly and spiritual side. Regional bishops are part of this order. They handle preaching in peacetime and provide support through sacred word magic in battle. As for the Templar Knights, they represent the martial side. Rowan, for instance, is the captain of the Templar Knights in Veli City. Above him is the Grand Commander, who leads all temple forces across the kingdom. Once you choose one path, you must follow it for life. It ensures that each person can reach the pinnacle of their own discipline, and it also prevents too much religious authority and military power from concentrating in a single individual.”
“So,” Leus interjected, quickly grasping the key point, “because you inherited your teacher’s position in the priesthood, you can’t become a Templar Knight?”
“Exactly.” Kayan nodded. “That’s also why Rowan harbors such hostility toward me. He probably thinks that by speaking of war, I’m driven by ambition, trying to cross boundaries and seize power for myself.” He gave another bitter smile, but it quickly faded as his expression steadied and his gaze grew resolute. “But it doesn’t matter anymore. Just now, I finally understood something. What faith truly means is continuing down the path guided by the Mother Goddess, even when no one else understands you.”
As he spoke, the quiet strength of his conviction made everyone glance at him with newfound respect.
He then looked at Nolan, his eyes burning with intensity.
“Mr. Nolan, you’re the same, aren’t you? I’ve felt something off this whole time, and now I finally understand what it is.” He spoke each word with deliberate clarity. “A person like you, with strength, strategy, and conviction, why have you been completely unknown until now?”
The question struck directly at the core of Nolan’s identity. Everyone’s attention snapped back to him. Even Hank unconsciously paused, cigar in hand.
Nolan felt a faint chill creep across his scalp. He could explain his strength and his plans, but his past was the one thing he could not account for.
He spread his hands in a casual gesture and forced a light smile. “Maybe… it’s just that times create their heroes. When I faced the terror of the Shiva undead in Shire Town and thought back to the devastation of the last Mandala War, I felt like I had to do something.”
This had always been his official explanation for his sudden drive.
But now, it was clearly no longer enough to dispel everyone’s doubts.
Hank suddenly recalled his own absurd speculation back in the underground tunnels about Nolan being some kind of “Omniscient One.” He pulled the cigar from his mouth and remarked offhandedly, “This kid Nolan is practically like one of those ‘all-knowers’ you read about in storybooks. Out of nowhere, he shows up knowing everything. The moment he arrived in Rosenberg, he saved all of us. And ever since, it’s like he can always predict the enemy’s moves…”
The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener heard everything.
The words “all-knower” struck Kayan like a bolt of lightning, clearing away all the fog in his mind.
His eyes widened suddenly, his breathing catching as fragments of thought rapidly connected.
A month ago, the Mother Goddess had sent a revelation foretelling crisis. Soon after, Nolan had appeared in Rosenberg out of nowhere, like a divine force descending to turn certain death into victory.
He could see through the future, as though he had personally experienced every detail of the coming war. That vast, sorrowful sense of regret within him was not something a mortal should possess. It felt like the lament of a deity grieving for a doomed world.
And then there were the fleeting, scale-like patterns Kayan had glimpsed on Nolan’s arm earlier. Dragon scales. And dragons were the most sacred creations and favored beings of the Mother Goddess.
All the clues converged into a single possibility.
So that’s it… so that’s it!
It wasn’t that Mr. Nolan had found him. It was that the Mother Goddess Sethis, had guided her “witness” to find her “agent” in the mortal world.
The shock in Kayan’s eyes transformed into fervor, then into reverence. As he looked at the young man before him, only one thought echoed in his heart.
The Witness stands before me.
Nolan, meanwhile, was growing increasingly uneasy under that intense gaze when Kayan suddenly placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply.
“I offer you my loyalty, Lord Nolan. From this day on, your will shall be my mission.”
【You have gained the complete and unwavering loyalty of “Kayan”. The Warrior class advancement quest has been completed!】
【Quest Completion: S+】
【Special Class Available: Paladin. Confirm?】
Nolan was completely dumbfounded. All he had wanted was to recruit a powerful healer who could also fight, maybe someone who could double as a cleric.
“Complete and unwavering loyalty”? What… exactly just happened?
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