“Ding dong! Ding ding dong!”
Early the next morning, the doorbell of the Sweet Melon Church rang out.
The White Robed Priests and the Church’s Black Knights had already barricaded the iron gates of their own chapel tight.
Samimi couldn’t sleep in anymore; she had to get up early to start business.
Her little chapel finally had some use it could hold guests inside for detailed discussions. After all, these groups often came in crowds of dozens, sticking together.
“Ladies first.”
Samimi let the White Robed Priestesses enter the little chapel first, while the Church’s Black Knights had to wait outside.
Inside the chapel, the White Robed Priestesses sat down on the long bench. They sent a leader forward to sit beside Samimi on the front bench to negotiate, all under the watchful gaze of the Goddess Statue.
“I’ll introduce ourselves. We are members of the ‘Happiness Association.’ Our aim is to seek welfare for the vast number of divine clerical sisters,” explained the Head Priestess.
“Is there something you need from me?” Samimi heard her words but let them go in one ear and out the other, not bothering to remember.
Because this was the Church there were at least eighty to a hundred such organizations inside, and small groups numbered in the hundreds. She was too lazy to keep track; none of them were worth her attention.
“You’re a divine cleric too, a sister of ours,” the Head Priestess kept whispering into Samimi’s ear, trying to PUA her.
“Don’t drag me into this. I am a divine cleric, yes, but I am also a Sin-Punishing Nun,” Samimi said coldly. “What exactly do you want from me? Speak plainly I’m not buying your spiel.”
“That’s a Blood Recovery Potion you made, right?” The Head Priestess pulled a Blood Recovery Potion from her bosom and asked.
“Yes. What’s the problem?” Samimi countered.
“We Happiness Association members are responsible for the Church’s drug management. We analyzed the Blood Recovery Potion you created and found that besides healing, it can also gradually restore health over time, slightly increasing the user’s Strength, Endurance, and Speed,” the Head Priestess produced an Investigation Report.
“I didn’t even know my Blood Recovery Potion had that effect. Thank you for the analysis—it helps a lot,” Samimi smiled.
But this time, her words sank deep into her heart. It seemed this Happiness Association held real power—they controlled the Church’s drug management authority.
“Heh heh, stop pretending,” the Head Priestess suddenly changed her tone. “We want you to hand over the formula.”
“My selling rights are granted by Saintess Makima. Have you asked her about this?” Samimi replied.
“Don’t use the Saintess to pressure us! The Happiness Association manages all drugs. You’re overstepping,” the Head Priestess was both angry and a little afraid.
“Niubao, go get the production book,” Samimi ordered Niubao to bring the Blood Recovery Potion’s recipe she had.
Soon, Niubao returned with the black-covered book and handed it to Samimi.
“This is the formula,” Samimi said, passing the black book to the Head Priestess of the Happiness Association.
“Good choice,” the Head Priestess smiled widely upon receiving the book, unwilling to linger another moment in the shabby chapel. She left immediately with the White Robed Priests.
“Hmm,” Samimi emitted a satisfied hum as she watched them leave.
Because the Happiness Association had brought her good news.
Her Blood Recovery Potion wasn’t just an ordinary healing potion—it also enhanced attributes.
But the one she made was just a normal Blood Recovery Potion; the formula was the standard recipe. The extra effect must have come from her sufficient auxiliary power.
So she didn’t mind giving them the formula.
Now that she knew her potion wasn’t ordinary, she could package and advertise it better, earning more money.
She had only built a tenth of Sweet Melon Town’s city wall so far, and she really was running low on funds.
After the White Robed Priestesses left, it was time for the Church’s Black Knights to enter the Sweet Melon Chapel and come before Samimi.
“And you all? What group are you? What do you want from me?” Samimi’s mood was good after the new information, and she spoke with a smile.
“We are the Church’s Knights, belonging to the Knight Order called ‘Binding Demon Bureau,’” the Black Knight captain replied.
“Binding Demon Bureau? Those priestesses just now control the Church’s drug management, so what authority do you have?” Samimi asked.
“We don’t have much authority. I’m just a Church Knight,” the Black Knight captain said.
“Then why are you here?” Samimi questioned.
“Because of the sword behind you,” the Black Knight captain pointed at the Axe Demon Sword, then continued, “You are the Church’s first Demon-Hunting Nun. We are about to embark on a dangerous mission, so we hope to have your help.”
“The Church’s first Demon-Hunting Nun? Right, the Church probably only has one Demon-Hunting Nun left,” Samimi said bitterly.
She was still the Church’s first Mage, but that was probably just a boast.
The Church secretly housed many powerful holy magic users; aside from the Continental Magic Academy, it was the second-largest magic faction among humans.
But indeed, she was the only Demon-Hunting Nun of this era—because she was the only one.
“Is there any reward? You don’t expect me to help out for free, do you?” Samimi asked.
“I originally wanted to pay you, but it seems you’re not short of money now,” the Black Knight captain said. “Sorry, we can’t offer you a satisfactory reward.”
“When do you set out?” Samimi asked calmly.
“…What?” The Black Knight captain nearly thought he’d misheard. “In five days.”
“I want you to help me sell some Knight Basic Skill Books in the Royal City,” Samimi said indifferently. “I’m not convenient appearing in the Royal City myself.”
“Are you willing to fight alongside us?” the Black Knight captain asked, surprised.
“You pick the three strongest Knights. My support techniques work best with five people total. Bringing too many would only get in the way. See you in five days,” Samimi added.
The Church’s Black Knights all stood, bowing to the last Demon-Hunting Nun.
After they left, Samimi stared at the Goddess Statue, lost in thought for a long time, whispering to herself, “Binding Demon Bureau… has finally appeared.”
She had said before that the story in Cove Illusion Battle was made up of multiple adventure teams.
The Hero Party was the core of the story, but they were only one of those teams.
When the Church Black Knights revealed their organization’s name, Samimi realized they were another core team in the story.
But unlike the radiant Heroes, this was a group of unsung heroes moving forward in the shadows.
Besides themselves and the readers, no one in the story knew their contributions or names.
The Binding Demon Bureau, also known as the Church’s Demon-Hunting Knight Order.
And readers preferred to call them the “Cannon Fodder Squad.”