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Although Ferrak’s condition wasn’t great and required regular rests, his conversation flowed effortlessly throughout the trip, just as it had before. The chatter never seemed to end, seamlessly transitioning to new topics whenever one was exhausted.

A bottle of alcohol would have made the journey more enjoyable, but unfortunately, all he had was water.

Upon reaching the city, Ian escorted Ferrak to the Mercenary Guild.

“I hope to see you again, Senpai.”

“At a mission?”

“On a personal level. Since you saved my life, I’d like to treat you to a nice meal next time.”

“You know I eat a lot, right? You’ll either need to find a place with good value or have saved up a lot of money.”

“…I’ll try my best. And before we part ways, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Ian looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“When I was kidnapped by Baphomet and nearly became a sacrifice…”

“Right?”

“While my consciousness was fading, I heard a woman’s voice. It seemed like she was giving orders to Baphomet. You might think I was hallucinating due to my weakened state, but it’s the truth.”

“Do you remember what the woman said?”

“I distinctly heard, ‘To open the door, you must offer a sacrifice.’ After that, she said something more… but I can’t remember what.”

A door. Ian sighed.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Alright, then. I’ll be on my way.”

Since it had been mentioned beforehand, there was no question about why Ian didn’t accompany him into the guild.

Ferrak bowed his head in farewell and turned away. His departing figure seemed unfamiliar to Ian.

Ian watched Ferrak’s retreating back and continued on his way.

He was approaching the temple. It might be his imagination, but it felt as though he was being watched.

He remembered he had the golden insignia from the hero pinned to his cloak. Perhaps that’s what they had recognized.

As he climbed the stairs, he saw two knights guarding the entrance to the temple. They were dressed in ornate armor, holding spears and shields.

Even as people passed by right next to them, the knights remained still, like statues.

But as Ian approached, one of the knights turned his head to look at him, and the other followed suit.

Had they recognized the golden insignia?

He had heard that those who served in the temple would show proper respect for it, so he was quietly curious about how they would react.

However, their subsequent actions were completely unexpected. The two knights crossed their spears to block his way.

“Stop.”

Their voices carried magical power, with a heavy aura that pressed down on him intimidatingly.

People nearby looked around in confusion and moved back.

Ian was just as bewildered. This wasn’t respectful; it was outright hostile.

Why is this happening?

The knights wore helmets, so he couldn’t see their expressions or eyes.

“We’re starting a security check. Immediately open the pouch you’re holding and take out its contents.”

“Here?”

It made sense now. If they were sensitive to magic, they might have detected the ominous energy leaking from the pouch.

“Don’t make me repeat myself!”

The knight shouted angrily. Ian was about to point out the insignia on his cloak, but he decided to comply.

He untied the pouch, which had been tightly sealed. An overpowering stench immediately escaped.

He had tried to mask the smell with some strong-smelling herbs, but it wasn’t easy.

The only consolation was that the magical energy within didn’t decay easily.

Ian grimaced as he reached into the pouch and pulled out Baphomet’s head by the horns.

At that moment, those around him were horrified. Some people even screamed in shock.

However, not everyone reacted the same way. The temple was frequented by many, including skilled mercenaries.

“…Isn’t that Baphomet?”

“From the size of the head, it looks like it was still a young one. Did this young man capture it?”

“Given that he has the most valuable head, it seems so.”

“Does anyone know who this person is?”

It seemed the knights hadn’t imagined that what Ian pulled from the pouch was Baphomet’s head. One of them asked in confusion.

“Why did you bring that into the temple?”

“It’s evidence and a trophy for a mission I undertook on behalf of Bishop Gawon. Please verify it.”

Ian took out the mission document he had kept hidden and presented it. One of the knights reached out to take it. After a moment, he folded it neatly and handed it back, nodding to his companion. The spears blocking the way were withdrawn.

“My apologies for the inconvenience. You may enter.”

Ian nodded. However, he was suddenly curious about the significance of the golden insignia to the knights.

He pointed to the insignia on his cloak and asked.

“Do you know what this is?”

“…That’s…”

As Ian released a bit of magical energy into the insignia, it began to glow with a holy radiance.

At the same time, he felt the knights’ agitation. Their movements became stiff.

As Ian smiled, they stepped aside, assumed a formal stance, and struck the ground with the tips of their spears.

There were no apologies or explanations. They didn’t offer any excuses.

Ian chuckled softly. It seemed the knights had never seen the golden insignia and had been focused only on the pouch.

Not feeling the need to say anything further, Ian simply passed by them. He could hear murmurs of astonishment from behind.

It was rare to see such respect from the knights.

Feeling a sense of involuntary pride, Ian headed towards the third temple to meet Bishop Gawon.

“Young friend. You’re later than I expected.”

He was able to meet the bishop immediately. Although he couldn’t have known in advance, the bishop’s expression was bright.

“Seeing you return safely, it seems the mission I entrusted to you was completed successfully?”

“…Yes, that’s correct. I’ve brought the report and letter from Priest Angelo for you to read.”

“Just a moment.”

The bishop readily accepted the documents. He quickly reviewed the key points of the report and letter and then turned his gaze to Ian.

“You’ve truly been through a lot.”

“I’m not joking—I thought I was going to die. If the hero hadn’t shown up in time, I would have been finished.”

“I imagined as much. Angelo would have been of no help against Baphomet. Is the head of the beast in that pouch?”

“Shall I show you? The smell is quite strong, though.”

“Just ventilate it. Let’s see it.”

Ian took out Baphomet’s head and placed it on the table. Bishop Gawon examined it closely, frowning, before nodding.

“It’s not a relic. You were fortunate. Again, truly, you’ve been through a lot.”

He took the mission document to the desk, stamped it with a thud, and after a brief moment of contemplation, opened a drawer to retrieve a small box.

“Here, take this. You’ll be able to claim the promised reward at the Mercenary Guild. And this is a token of my appreciation for the unexpected difficulties you faced.”

Ian accepted the box without hesitation and opened it. Inside were three small vials containing a red liquid.

They appeared to be recovery potions. Bishop Gawon spoke with a tone of pride.

“These are very rare recovery potions, only given to paladins of Level 5 or higher. Not only are they hard to come by, but they also greatly outperform standard recovery potions, potentially saving you in a critical situation.”

“What’s the effectiveness?”

“Well, I’d say they can bring you back from the brink of death. I’m not a combat priest myself, so I’ve never used them directly, but I made them myself, so I can assure you of their effectiveness. Especially this glass vial. It’s made to withstand significant impacts and harsh environmental changes, so you’re unlikely to accidentally break it.”

“Hmm, it does seem quite sturdy.”

The material of the glass was extraordinary. Additionally, the faint divine aura flowing over its surface indirectly indicated that it was a blessed item.

“But don’t just save it. The more precious the item, the more it should be used.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And as for the beast’s head… I know a place that might be interested. How about taking it there?”

“Hmm.”

“You likely won’t need the rest of the body, except for the horns. It would be better to dispose of it quickly rather than let it decay.”

Ian had been pondering where to sell the beast’s head, as the rest of the body was unnecessary. He had intended to find a place related to the Mage Tower, but an introduction might be beneficial.

Nodding in agreement, Gawon continued with a gentle smile.

“Try visiting the Milky Way on Ballaren Street. It’s a small magical shop, but it’s one of the few places that deals in beast byproducts. The mage there is Level 6 and has spiritual abilities, so establishing connections there could be useful.”

“Thank you. If I mention Bishop Gawon’s name, will I receive any benefits?”

Ian’s somewhat brazen question made Gawon burst into laughter.

“Hahaha, of course. That should be quite possible. As they say, a friend of a friend is a friend. Visit them today. Now, let’s end our conversation here. My position requires me to be somewhat busy, so I can’t linger on idle chatter.”

Ian packed the box into his backpack. There was no immediate need to use it, so he wouldn’t unpack it just yet. He stood up.

“If I have another mission to assign later, I’ll contact you. And if you ever need my help, feel free to reach out. Even if it’s not urgent, do keep in touch. We are friends, after all.”

“I will.”

As he was about to leave, the bishop called him back as if he had forgotten something.

“Oh, wait a moment. There’s something I forgot to mention.”

“Yes?”

Gawon approached. Ian looked at him with a slightly puzzled expression as he came within a couple of steps. His gaze shifted to Ian’s cloak.

“The insignia you received from the hero suits you very well.”

“…Ah.”

“Congratulations. I don’t know which hero gave it to you, but since you’re wearing the golden insignia, all of us who serve at the temple, including myself, will bless and always welcome you.”

As long as one doesn’t abandon humanity for the outer seas or commit major crimes like treason, this treatment will continue until death.

Gawon then raised his right hand and gave Ian’s shoulder a gentle pat.

“In that spirit, by the name of the Third Lord, Nerdeel, who oversees life, I wish for honor, glory, and peace to accompany your future.”

A soft divine energy infused Ian’s body.

The bishop’s blessing, though temporary, washed away every bit of the lingering fatigue and revitalized him.

It felt more like a divine protection than just a blessing. Ian thought, perhaps, that it was a form of divine favor.

“Thank you.”

“No need to mention it. Well then, take care.”

Ian gave a light bow to Bishop Gawon and exited the room. As he left the sanctuary, his steps felt remarkably light.

———