I Have a Task Log

Chapter 306: Chapter 305: Lost Justice

At that moment, Morel was also at his desk, listening to an Adventurer squad report on their latest commission.

The guy had reverted to the same prim and proper state he was in when he first interviewed Colin, looking every bit the part.

"Welcome back, Mr. Colin." Edwin moved the papers and documents in front of him aside.

Edwin very formally took a teacup from his drawer, then filled the cup to the brim with tea.

"Um, well, I’m here to report on what we’ve done," Colin said, then began to recount everything that had happened on their trip, just as he usually did—from dealing with the Cultists in Three Bays City with Yuri, to reporting at the White Tower, and finally, their experience at the White Dove Monastery.

After a few cups of cheap tea, he had more or less covered the main points.

At this point, the squad that had been reporting to Morel next to Colin also bid their superior farewell and left the office.

As soon as they were gone, Morel immediately showed his true colors, leaning back leisurely in his chair and staring at the documents in his hand to pass the time.

"You all did very well. The Holy City has already informed me of your accomplishments. In fact, they were just complaining to me that you came back too soon; they wanted to thank you for your contributions in person."

Edwin said with a smile, "I also know that no amount of praise is as good as..."

THUD!

Edwin slapped three gold bars onto the desk, startling the worried Colin.

The Paladin quickly apologized, "Sorry, are you all right, Colin?"

"I’m fine..." Colin took a closer look and saw three solid gold bars on the table, worth seven hundred and fifty gold coins. His tone immediately softened a few notches. "...I’m fine."

"This is your reward. Considering your contributions, I won’t beat around the bush—you’ll likely be scheduled for a promotion soon."

"Besides that, there’s actually something else."

Colin continued, "After we looked through the materials, we discovered that Thousand Masts City is a crucial Ora Kaim ruin. So, I was thinking of trying my luck in the Undercity."

"Is that so? Apologies, I don’t read many history books. So, you want to search for the ruins of Ora Kaim to see what the Ancient Empire was like, is that right?"

Colin nodded.

"We could actually have the Gray Squad or other members of the Field Team handle it. There shouldn’t be a difference whether they go in or you do..."

Edwin took a sip of his tea. "However, considering you’ve passed the trial of [Silent], I think it’s best you go take a look yourself. You might achieve results that others can’t."

"That’s what I was thinking," Colin said.

"We don’t have anyone stronger than you available at the moment. Besides, sending a large group into the Underground City isn’t a wise move. Are you sure you want to enter the Undercity soon?"

Colin nodded and said, "Just our squad will be enough."

"That works. For now, just check out the situation on the first few floors. Remember not to go too deep."

After speaking, Edwin studied Colin’s expression again.

He asked with a serious tone, "Did something go wrong recently?"

"It’s actually about Orelia." Now that it was just them in the office, Colin didn’t intend to hide anything and briefly explained Orelia’s situation.

The more Colin spoke, the more solemn Edwin’s expression became.

He said, "So, you have Orelia staying in your apartment right now, correct?"

"Is there a way to turn her back to normal?" Colin asked.

"That’s probably impossible. Maybe if you found a Mage who could cast Tier Nine Magic to help, there’d be a sliver of hope," Morel chimed in from the side. "But that hope is likely rather slim. A Grand Mage’s Tier Nine Magic can’t be used casually. They’re ’strategic weapons,’ after all."

"In any case, let me go have a look first." Edwin stood up and draped a worn-out greatcoat over his shoulders. "Lead the way, Mr. Colin."

The two of them hurried to the apartment building and walked up the stairs step by step.

Just as they were about to reach Ale’s door, they saw two small figures sitting at the top of the stairs—it was the now-awake Orelia and Ale.

The former was curled into a ball on the steps, hugging her legs with her small face buried motionless in her knees. The latter sat beside the Tiefling, a hand on her shoulder, having draped her own Cloak over her.

Upon seeing the two approach, Ale shook her head helplessly at Colin.

"Uh, what’s going on now?" Colin stepped forward and asked.

Hearing his question, the Tiefling immediately lifted her head.

Unexpectedly, the little girl’s expression looked completely normal. There was no sense of evil, nor the sadness or despair of someone who had suffered a great misfortune. She looked exactly the same as usual.

At the same time, she seemed almost drunk, giving off a dazed feeling.

Orelia looked at Colin and asked, "Is something the matter, Mr. Colin?"

"Edwin came to check on you," Colin said as tactfully as he could.

"Pardon me." Edwin stepped forward, carefully observing Orelia’s condition for a few moments, his gaze dropping to her hooves.

After a moment, he opened his right hand, aimed his palm at Orelia, and began to chant a prayer in a low voice.

A faint golden light appeared on the Tiefling, but it quickly dissipated without any unusual reaction.

At that moment, Colin vaguely heard Edwin mutter a couple of curses.

Edwin then asked, "Have you felt anything wrong lately?"

"Wrong? Oh, Morninglord..."

Orelia immediately held out her left hand and began to recite a prayer, looking somewhat as if she hadn’t fully woken up.

As a golden light seeped from her small, red hand, wisps of white smoke began to rise from it. She immediately furrowed her brow in an expression of pain.

The golden light faded, revealing a burned red palm.

The source of a Priest’s Power is their God, and their Divine Arts are a manifestation of that God’s Power. If a Demon were to try and summon the Power of a benevolent God, this would likely be the result... rejection and backlash from the summoned Power.

Edwin frowned and pulled a pendant from his coin purse.

The pendant featured a silver, teardrop-shaped charm, within which a few conspicuous specks of blood-red could be faintly seen.

[Lost Justice / Rare Magic Item]

[Restrain Evil: When the user voluntarily wears this necklace, their evil thoughts will be suppressed.]

["No! Solance, that is not justice!" — Shield of Thousand Masts, Edwin Helder]

’A Rare Level Magic Item?’ Colin was startled by the pendant’s Panel, but then he relaxed. ’If he has equipment like this, then Orelia will definitely be okay!’

The Paladin reached out and offered the pendant.

In the light filtering through a small, high window, the pendant gleamed with a silvery light.

"Do you want to wear it, Orelia?"