The Healing Solaris Cleric-Chapter 318: Stroke of Genius (3)

"What’s wrong...?"

As Kai approached, Yoo Ha-Rin stepped back the same distance again.

She waved both hands up and down in front of her while stammering, “P-please calm down, Kai. Calm down.”

“... Well, okay. I’m calm.”

Kai shrugged and also took a step back. It was an action to show her that he had indeed calmed down.

That gesture definitely gave Yoo Ha-Rin a bit of reassurance. After taking a deep breath, Yoo Ha-Rin fidgeted with her fingernails, clearly thinking about something, then looked at Kai. As she lowered her gaze, she saw the ring case in his hand.

Ugh...

The fact that he said he had something serious to say, the fact that he came all the way to her hunting grounds himself, and finally, the luxurious ring case in his hand...

This is a... c-confession...

Yoo Ha-Rin’s face flushed red like a ripe persimmon all the way to the tips of her ears, and she shook her head.

No matter how I think about it, this is too soon. Way too fast!

She knew that Kai was a good person, but the two of them still knew too little about each other.

I didn’t know he was such a hasty person...

At this point, she had to be the more rational one and apply the brakes.

With an expression that showed she had made a firm resolution, she said, “Kai.”

When he looked at her with a puzzled expression, she returned his gaze with eyes full of apology.

"First of all... I'm sorry. Of course, I know you're not a bad person, Kai. I'm guessing you first came to Happy Orphanage to see me... but regardless of your intentions, the Kai I’ve gotten to know personally is a really good person. I’ve mentioned this before, but I don’t have any friends. So maybe that’s why talking with someone like you, someone I can really connect with and share interests with, has been so fun and made me happy... Honestly, I’ve been looking forward to Tuesdays all week because of that."

Kai blinked in confusion at Yoo Ha-Rin’s sudden confession.

What am I even listening to right now?

Why was she saying these things out of nowhere, and what was that pitiful and apologetic look in her eyes?

Kai tried to interrupt her, but she was like a train running full speed on a track, unstoppable.

“But I think it’s still too early. Honestly... we haven’t known each other for that long, and we still don’t know a lot about each other. We need more time. I’m really sorry.”

“Huh?” Kai let out a bewildered reaction.

Kai, age twenty-three. Zero confessions, rejected once. Holder of a miraculous record that defied logic even when laid out plainly, Kai, waved his hand. Even without any dating experience, he at least understood what was happening in this situation.

She thinks... I’m confessing right now, right?

Thinking about it, it was an understandable misunderstanding.

Kai looked at her with a troubled expression.

How do I even explain this... Is her blanket going to survive tonight?

Kai was already worried about the number of times she would kick her blanket in regret tonight.

“Ahem.” After briefly organizing his thoughts, Kai cautiously said, “Um, Ha-Rin.”

“Y-yes, go ahead.” Yoo Ha-Rin, who was extremely tense, looked at him with a nervous face, hoping he would retract his feelings.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us.”

“A misunderstanding...?”

“Yes, a misunderstanding.”

Kai’s voice was far too firm to be the voice of someone confessing. “I didn’t come here today to confess, actually.”

“Th-then... but the ring case!”

“Please check it.”

When Kai opened the ring case, Yoo Ha-Rin picked up the ring with trembling hands.

“Cal... Rashya’s Guide ring?”

As she confirmed the item’s info, her gaze trembled violently.

So it wasn’t... a confession?

Then what were all those things she had said to Kai?

Feeling dizzy, Yoo Ha-Rin sank down onto a rock in the canyon.

“Agh... ughhh...”

Curled up on the rock with her head buried in her knees, Yoo Ha-Rin let out one groan after another. If only she could turn back time, even just five minutes.

Kai, too, seemed embarrassed by the situation and had started counting trees beyond the canyon for no reason.

“Um... I was just trying to recommend a job class to you. Cal Rashya’s Inquisitor... It’s a Hero-tier hidden class. You mentioned today that you enjoy close combat and want a meaningful class.”

“I-I see. I didn’t know that... I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Kai lightly scratched the back of his head and changed the subject. “So, what do you think about the class?”

“Huh? Oh, the class... well...”

As her thoughts gradually returned, Yoo Ha-Rin once again examined the ring.

The order of Cal Rashya... the God of Change...?

It was an order that had already collapsed, but the ring would allow her to advance to the class of Inquisitor. If listed at auction, it was so valuable of an item that buyers would surely come not by truck, but by plane.

While Yoo Ha-Rin was momentarily lost in thought, Kai suggested, “If you’re unsure, how about meeting them once?”

“Meet who...?”

“Cal Rashya. The god you would serve if you chose to advance.” Kai smiled.

***

The Farm of Change was the name of the celestial realm where Cal Rashya resided. Since she was the god who governed change, all sorts of unique flowers and plants grew in the farm every day.

“It’s beautiful...” Yoo Ha-Rin, the second player ever to visit the celestial realm, looked around the farm with an enchanted expression.

“Please wait here a moment.”

Leaving her behind, Kai immediately approached a cabin located farther inside the farm.

When he knocked on the door, a drowsy voice leaked out through the crack. “Who is it?”

“Cal Rashya, it’s me, Kai.”

“Helic’s envoy?” There was a loud thump inside, and soon the door opened to reveal Cal Rashya with a curious look on her face. “What brings you here?”

“Oh, I’d like to recommend someone to help revive the order of Cal Rashya.”

Cal Rashya gasped in surprise as her blue eyes sparkled.

Nodding like a little kitten, she said, “I want to meet them. Where are they?”

“She’s probably looking around the farm, but she hasn’t made up her mind yet... so you’ll need to give her some reassurance.”

“If that’s all, leave it to me. I’m good with words.”

Cal Rashya dashed out the door, lifting her skirt and running toward the farm.

“I guess this is where my role ends.”

Connecting the two, that was all Kai could do. Whether or not Yoo Ha-Rin would advance was something she and Cal Rashya would have to work out themselves.

Kai looked toward the farm for a moment, then left for earth.

***

Kai went to visit Camilla for the first time in a while. Even after crafting Zatan’s Gravity Gloves, she had stayed in Libertia, actively exchanging knowledge with the dwarf artisans.

“It’s been a while.”

When she took off her work bandana, her sweat-drenched red hair flew out in all directions as usual.

“Ugh, it’s way too hot. What did you come for?”

“I’d like to request some gear.”

“I’m expensive... Well, I guess you’ve got money.” Camilla chuckled, answering her own question, and stretched out her hand. “Let’s see the materials first. No matter who you are, if it’s boring, I’m not doing it.”

Without replying, Kai took out Harley’s scales from his inventory.

“Huh?”

Camilla’s eyes widened as she immediately recognized the value of the scale. Unlike the hatchling Sineras, this was the scale of a full-grown dragon.

“This is from a grown dragon. Where did you get this?”

“I went and caught it last time I left town for a bit.”

“You’re talking like you picked up a random mob drop. Anyway, if it’s this kind of material, it’s always welcome. It’s good for raising skill proficiency. So what do you want made?”

At that question, Kai handed over all of Harley’s scales and requested, “I need a full set of light armor.”

“Didn’t I just make you the White Death Dragon Set not long ago?”

“It's not for me, it’s for my summon. Oh! And please make a hole near the back for the tail.”

“Wait, a hole for the tail on your summon’s gear... You’re giving this to that lizardman?”

When Kai nodded in affirmation, Camilla clicked her tongue with a dumbfounded expression. “That’s insane. If people knew you were investing this kind of material in summon gear, they’d line up begging to be your summons.”

What she said was true. The items currently being traded at the MID Online auction house were mostly worthless compared to Harley’s scales, or even the materials from Zatan and the Death Dragon that Kai had once caught.

After finishing his request for equipment, Kai left the workshop, when he suddenly heard a familiar notification sound.

“She sure is having fun.”

It was the sound of a message from Helik. Ever since she got the phone, she had been sending messages non-stop. Of course, they were just reports about her daily life most of the time. For example:

[Helik: I’m eating candy and drinking tea now (photo)]

[Helik: Oww, I fell while running and scraped my knee.]

[Helik: What’s up? ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶]

That was the usual content.

If one didn’t reply, usually people would stop sending more messages, but Helik seemed to be quite fond of the new tool of civilization in her hand. Thanks to that, Kai was able to know exactly what she was doing all day in real-time.

“But what’s this now?”

Kai tilted his head as he read the new message from her.

[Helik: Oh no! Thers truble! Kai, it seems the Church of Muldine has apered!]

Kai squinted at her message full of typos.

The Church of Muldine has appeared...?

If that was true, it was something Kai, as a member of the Darkness Hunters, couldn’t just ignore. He immediately used Shadow Shift to teleport to the Celestial Garden, where he saw Helik anxiously pacing.

“Helik, what do you mean the Church of Muldine has appeared?” Kai asked as he cautiously scanned the surroundings.

Then Helik pointed toward the earth and Kai was able to share her view.

—Mwahaha, I am the Archbishop of the Church of Muldine. I’ve come to conquer the continent.

—My name is Patrick, the Paladin of Radiance. In the name of justice, I will defeat you.

—Oh, the legend of the Solarian Church, the Paladin of Radiance. He spreads justice in the name of Helik.

What Helik had seen was a story about the Paladin of Radiance, a well-loved fairy tale among NPC children across generations. She was watching a play where actors were performing their roles, while a minstrel was singing and encouraging the audience to join in.

What was I worried about?

Realizing it was nothing serious, Kai began explaining, “That’s a play. It’s not that the Church of Muldine actually appeared, but they are imitating the roles and telling an old story.”

“So, the person wearing the black mask isn’t really a bad person?”

“Of course not. If you go down there, there are plenty of such plays...”

As Kai continued, he suddenly stopped talking.

Wait, now that I think about it, are such plays common in this world?

After thinking for a moment, Kai shook his head. Plays with minstrels singing and actors performing weren’t that common.

I guess it is something the nobility likes.

They wanted a dignified hobby that could entertain them. From that perspective, theater was one of the best hobbies. In fact, at Beoruk’s birthday party, there had been a band performing and some actors doing small plays on stage.

However, for Kai, who was exposed to modern media, it didn’t spark much excitement or interest.

Which means...

It was a case of high demand but no supply. Realizing that, Kai’s mind started to race.