Debuff Master-Chapter 824

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” An elderly theologian dressed in a clean robe introduced himself to Siegfried. “My name is Manuka, and I am what people would call a Religion Planner.”

“Ah, pleased to meet you. I am Siegfried van Proa,” Siegfried replied.

“Please, take a seat, Your Majesty,” Manuka gestured courteously.

“Thank you,” Siegfried replied, settling into the chair.

“I have heard that you are looking to establish a new religion,” Manuka spoke as he scribbled notes. He looked like a human resource manager interviewing a candidate for a job for some odd reason.

“Well... yes. It just sort of... happened, you know? Haha...” Siegfried admitted while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Whether intention or not, Your Majesty, it is critical to establish things properly from the start if you wish to found a new religion.”

“Is that so?”

“Are you perhaps familiar with the three core elements of a religion, Your Majesty?”

“Uh...” Siegfried paused, thinking for a moment. Then, he replied, “The founder, the doctrine, and the followers, right?”

“Precisely,” Manuka said. Then, he elaborated, “The Founder refers to the one who creates the said religion, the Doctrine is the teachings conveyed through the sacred texts, and the Followers are those who believe in and practice the said religion.”

“Oh...”

“Currently, Your Majesty is both the founder and leader of your religion, am I correct?”

“That’s right.”

“And do you already have followers?”

“There are people who pray to me, yes.”

“And you hear their prayers?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Excellent. That means you already have followers, so the only thing left for you is to have a—”

“Sacred scriptures?”

“Precisely,” Manuka confirmed with a nod. Then, he continued, “However, creating sacred scriptures is no easy task. It requires years of research and deep philosophical contemplation. Producing a fully prepared scripture like those of established religions is simply not possible at the moment.”

“So... does that mean I can’t start my own religion?” Siegfried asked, sounding concerned.

“Not at all! For now, Your Majesty, please focus on defining three core teachings to impart to your followers. Those three principles will serve as the foundation upon which theologians can later build a comprehensive scripture for you.”

“So once I have those three teachings, does that mean I’ll have all the elements? The Founder, the Doctrine, and the Followers in place?”

“Precisely.”

“So, what should I do now?”

“The first step is to establish the precise identity of the religion Your Majesty will be establishing.”

“And how do I do that?”

“By sharing your life story, Your Majesty.”

“M-My life story...? Is that really necessary?”

“Why it is! The life of the founder is a crucial framework for the religion itself. To create a proper religion for Your Majesty, I will have to hear your story first.”

“Well, that’s not too difficult. All right, here’s how it all started.”

Siegfried began recounting the significant chapters of his life to Manuka. Although he did not reveal every single detail, he provided enough for Manuka to understand the essence of who he was.

Ten hours later...

“And that’s how I ended up where I am today,” Siegfried concluded with a laugh. Then, he added, “Life’s been... eventful, to say the least.”

“Thank you for sharing, Your Majesty. From your story, I have determined the perfect name for Your Majesty’s new religious order,” Manuka said.

“Really? You already have a name?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

With a smile, Manuka revealed, “The Church of Heroes.”

***

The Church of Heroes proposed by Manuka was a new religious order with Siegfried as its founder and leader.

Its core ideology was straightforward. Heroes possessing great strength would eradicate the forces of evil that threaten to disrupt the world.

“Church of Heroes? Isn’t that name a bit... over the top? It’s kind of embarrassing...” Siegfried said with an awkward grin.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. Not only have you thwarted the invasion of the demons, but you have also accomplished countless heroic feats. No one would dare criticize you for this,” Manuka said, shaking his head firmly.

“R-Really?” Siegfried asked, looking a bit flustered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“All right then. Haha...” Siegfried replied, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

“Also, I was able to identify three primary teachings for the Church of Heroes after hearing Your Majesty’s life story.”

“Really? What are they?”

“First, cultivate both mind and body to strengthen yourself.”

“That’s a good one.”

“Second, use your strength to benefit the world.”

“Another solid principle.”

“And always receive proper compensation for what you do,” Manuka added.

“That’s a great point, but... doesn’t it sound a bit materialistic?” Siegfried asked hesitantly.

While he was, admittedly, one of capitalism’s greatest products, he understood that openly advocating for compensation might not sit well with a religious organization’s image.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. Compensation does not necessarily mean monetary gain.”

“Huh?”

“It is about encouraging those who benefit from the church’s work to show at least some gratitude. After all, no organization, not even a religious one, can operate on faith and thin air alone.”

“Fair enough.”

“Moreover, various expenses will arise while addressing your followers' grievances. Without proper funding, the church’s operations could run at a loss.”

“A deficit? Absolutely not!”

“Precisely, and this is why this third principle is essential.”

“Sounds good to me, then.”

“With these three teachings as the foundation, we can gradually develop the scriptures.”

“All right.”

“And... it is time for Your Majesty to establish the church’s symbols and appoint clergy to lead the followers in your stead.”

“What do I need?”

“To start, I suggest refining the Hero’s Statue, a key symbol of the Church of Heroes.”

As soon as Manuka said those words—

Ding!

Several messages popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes.

[Communication Is Key]

[Gather 150 Praystones to embed in the Hero’s Statues of Siegfried van Proa and improve its ability to accurately listen to those praying to it.]

[Progress: 0/150 (0%)]

[Reward: Clear the Quest – Establish a Religious Order (1/2)]

[Rally the Followers]

[Recruit followers to serve as priests for the Church of Heroes.]

[Progress: 0/5 (0%)]

[Reward: Clear the Quest – Establish a Religious Order (1/2)]

Completing just the Communication is Key quest would grant Siegfried access to a new class, enabling him to achieve a dual-class setup.

This was due to the fact that he had already recruited five followers, including Mischa, while completing the previous epic quests he had received.

“Simply gather one hundred fifty Praystones and embed them into the statues of Your Majesty’s image scattered across the continent. That will lay the foundation for the Church of Heroes.”

“Got it,” Siegfried replied with a nod. Then, he grinned awkwardly and asked, “But, uh... what are Praystones, exactly?”

“Praystones are rare minerals capable of converting human desires into frequencies that can be transmitted over long distances.”

“Oh? And where can I find them?”

“They are an exceptionally rare resource, known to be mined in specific locations on the Green Isles. Unfortunately, entering the Green Isles is notoriously difficult, so–”

Siegfried interrupted casually, “Ah, don’t worry about that.”

“...Excuse me?”

“You see, the Green Isles is my territory.”

“I beg your pardon...?”

Manuka blinked in confusion, unaware of Siegfried’s ties to the Green Isles. It was all because Siegfried had kept his identity as Captain Francis de Drake a secret.

“Let’s just say I have my ways,” Siegfried said with a mischievous grin.

“...?”

“Anyway, I will be handling that.”

“Very well. In the meantime, I will begin drafting the foundational scriptures for the Church of Heroes.”

“Thank you very much. I will be counting on you for that.”

With that, Siegfried set off to meet the leaders of the various religious orders.

***

The leaders of the various religious orders were at a loss. No one had a definite solution to the threat the continent was facing, as it was unclear how the angels had descended.

In this state of uncertainty, there was little they could do.

All they could manage was to prepare thoroughly for another attack from the angels that might come at any moment.

“To begin with... Mikhail here is likely the Star mentioned in the divine revelation. Therefore, we must do our utmost to protect him. It’s also crucial for everyone to cooperate and prepare for the angels’ next move,” Siegfried addressed the leader, presenting the most practical solution he could come up with.

Then, he turned to Mikhail and added, “...It is equally important to help Mikhail regain his memories.”

Siegfried had a strong suspicion about Mikhail’s true identity, which was that he might be an angel—or perhaps, an archangel.

After all, his descent from the heavens was extraordinary in itself. Furthermore, Auriel had referred to Mikhail as a traitor to their kind.

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‘Metatron wet himself in terror the moment he saw Mikhail. If the son of a demon lord fears him that much instinctively... Then he’s got to be an archangel or perhaps even stronger.’

Based on the clues he had collected so far, Siegfried hypothesized that Mikhail was likely the most powerful archangel.

If Mikhail was indeed such a powerful angel and was the Star mentioned in the divine revelation, then protecting him would be worth the effort.

“Your Master’s judgement is truly wise!”

“Such wisdom!”

“We shall act accordingly!”

“Ah, such a decisive call! Who else aside from the Savior can make such a call?!”

The religious leaders enthusiastically supported Siegfried’s proposal. They agreed to work together and prepare for the angels’ invasion while protecting Mikhail and helping him regain his lost memories.

“All right, then. I will attend to some personal matters for the time being. Let me know if anything urgent arises.”

Having entrusted Mikhail to their care, Siegfried left the meeting.

Before heading to the Green Isles to mine the Praystones, there was one other thing he had to take care of.

“You will be in charge of guarding Mikhail from now on.”

“P-Pardon me?! Y-You want me to protect that demon?!” Metatron shrieked in horror, flustered by the sudden assignment.

“Hey, the only demon here is you,” Siegfried spat, glaring at him.

“W-Well, I suppose that is true... but...”

“Who else here can protect Mikhail if the angels attack? You’re the only one who can do it.”

“But I am useless without the Avenger...”

“Here,” Siegfried said, casually tossing the Demonic Sword: Avenger to Metatron as if it were spare change.

“W-What?!”

Metatron’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief after Siegfried handed over the Avenger so easily.

“Y-Your Majesty...?”

“Protect Mikhail.”

“Are you serious?!”

“Don’t go overboard with it now. Use it only when necessary. Got it?”

“Yes! I swear I will!”

“And while you’re at it, I’ll see to it that you’ll get special allowances for taking on this assignment, so work hard. Got it?”

“W-What?!”

“But don’t waste money on nonsense. Save it. Every investment you make ends in a disaster.”

“Ugh...”

“And why is it that every plot of land you buy turns out to be cursed? Care to explain?”

“Y-Your Majesty! Please!”

“Just work hard and make an honest living. Quit trying to strike gold every time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty...”

“All right, I’ll be going now.”

Upon leaving Metatron with both the Avenger and the responsibility of guarding Mikhail, Siegfried set off for the Green Isles.

As soon as Siegfried disappeared, Chaos dashed toward Metatron and knelt before him.

“Congratulations, my lord!”

“What? Why are you congratulating me all of a sudden, Chaos?”

“Why, for the most obvious reason, my lord! The time has finally come! The time to overthrow Siegfried van Proa and take your rightful place as—”

It was then.

Slap!

Metatron swiftly clamped his hand over Chaos’ mouth. Then, his eyes darted around nervously, checking to ensure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation.

“You stupid fool!”

“Mmph! Mmph!”

“What if someone overhears you running your mouth like that?!”

“B-But, my lord!” Chaos stammered once Metatron let go of his mouth. Then, looking bewildered, he asked, “With the Avenger in your hands, why would you remain enslaved to a human?”

“You fool! Did you forget that I’m bound to him by a contract?!”

“My lord! Why not simply return to the demon realm and claim the throne of Demon King!” Chaos exclaimed, sounding frustrated.

“W-What?!” Metatron gasped, his eyes widening as the realization dawned on him.

He thought about it, and Chaos was right.

With the Avenger in hand, he could simply return to the demon realm and ascend to the most coveted throne of Demon King, all without going against his human master, Siegfried van Proa.