Oliver carefully poured the finest tea into porcelain cups, the steam rising slowly and filling the room with a soft herbal aroma. He placed the cups on the table with quiet grace, his movements calm and practiced. Blanco sat across from them, his eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at the Blank family.

His gaze moved slowly from Sophia's composed face to Ray's curious eyes, then finally settled on Ethan, who sat at the head of the table.

'What kind of family is this?' Blanco thought, his mind racing. 'They look so calm and refined... And that aura... What's with that look? Is there some kind of secret technique that makes them look godly?'

His eyes narrowed as he stared at Ethan. He could feel something unusual coming from him. It wasn't just strength,it was something sacred.

'No... this can't be. He's radiating the power of light? But how? That's impossible unless he's blessed by the Goddess herself.'

A soft cough broke his train of thought. Ethan, sitting upright with his hands folded, looked at him gently, reminding him to mind his manners.

Blanco blinked and immediately stood up, straightening his posture. He pressed his fist to his chest, his voice rising with pride as he introduced himself.

"I am Blanco, a Paladin of the mighty Church of Light from the Holy Empire!" he announced loudly, his armor clinking slightly as he raised his chin.

"I have fought in countless battles against heretics, demons, and creatures of the dark. My sword burns with the light of the Goddess herself. Wherever corruption spreads, I cleanse it in her name. I walk as a shield of faith and a sword of judgment!"

He thumped his chest proudly, his voice echoing in the room. "To stand in the presence of those who respect the light is my honor. The Empire's Holy Cathedral entrusted me personally to travel across regions and bring hope to the lost!"

He smiled broadly, clearly proud of himself, while Ray watched him with a blank stare.

Why did this guy sound like a salesman?

'Are all people from the Church like this?' Ray thought quietly. 'No wonder Father said not to follow any religion blindly.'

Sophia hid a small sigh, covering her mouth politely as Blanco continued his speech about his sacred duties. Ethan just nodded slightly, not interrupting his flow. When the paladin finally paused to sip his tea, Ethan spoke.

"May I ask the reason for seeking out the Blanks," Ethan said in a calm tone, "or was this just part of your travels?"

Blanco placed the cup down carefully. "I was passing through this western region when I heard about the Dark Priest," he said seriously.

"I decided to take a look at it myself." He then looked at Ethan expectantly. "Would you care to explain what happened?"

Ethan's expression shifted slightly. His calm eyes flickered with something deeper—guilt.

After a moment of silence, he nodded and began to explain. He described the chaos, the corrupted villagers, and the dark ritual that had taken place. His voice was steady, but the heaviness behind it was clear.

When he finished, Blanco sighed deeply. He crossed his hands and closed his eyes for a brief prayer. "That's terrible," he murmured.

"May the holy light of the Goddess shine upon those poor souls and guide them to salvation."

Then he looked up. "What were the casualties?"

"Around seventy," Ethan said softly, lowering his gaze. His voice was low, carrying regret.

Blanco shook his head and spoke kindly, "It's not your fault, Sir Ethan. You did what was necessary."

Ethan's fingers tightened slightly on his knee. "The people were turned into zombies," he said with quiet guilt. "I don't know if they can be turned back. I killed most of them… maybe I should have tried to imprison them instead. Maybe there was another way."

Blanco's eyes softened. "Sir, I shouldn't give false hope," he said gently. "But once someone has turned into one of those creatures, it's over."

He sighed again and looked around the table. "There are two main methods used by cultists. The first is brainwashing, where they corrupt people's minds, making them loyal to the Dark Priest's will. Those victims can sometimes be saved if we can remove the curse and restore their will."

He paused, his face darkening. "The second method, however, is far more sinister."

Everyone fell silent. Blanco took a slow breath before continuing. "In the second method, they kill the person and sacrifice their soul to their god. The body becomes a hollow shell—a lifeless corpse controlled by a wraith from the nether world. These monsters are mindless hunting machines, driven only by hatred and the will of the dark."

"What!" Sophia and Ray gasped almost at the same time, their faces pale.

A chill ran through the room. The very air seemed colder.

"If they were only brainwashed, we could still bring them back by purifying them," Blanco said gravely. "But in the second case…" He stopped and shook his head slowly. The silence that followed was answer enough.

It meant they were gone. With their souls sacrificed, they were nothing more than empty shells.

Ray swallowed hard. "Why do they do this?" he asked quietly. "To create an undead army or something else?"

"It's not just about creating monsters," Blanco replied, his tone bitter. "These cults seek to overthrow Orthodoxy. They want to destroy the order of the world. Every sacrifice they make fuels their gods' descent. They believe that if enough lives are offered, their evil deities will return to the world."

Ethan's brows furrowed, but before he could ask more, Sophia leaned forward. "Who are these evil gods?" she asked in a serious tone.

Blanco paused. "There are many," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Too many to name. Some are ancient, forgotten by most. Others still whisper through the shadows of faith." His answer was vague, and his eyes flickered away.

Ethan noticed it instantly. 'He's hiding something,' he thought silently. 'He doesn't want to say their names.'

The air in the room grew heavier as the conversation trailed off. After a while, Blanco cleared his throat and turned toward Ray, his eyes bright again.

"Sir Ethan," he said, smiling warmly, "I see great potential in your son. Why don't you let him follow me to the Church of Light? With proper guidance, I'm sure he'll shine there. The Church would nurture his strength and make him into a true warrior of light."

"Church of Light?" Ethan repeated slowly, his expression tightening. He looked at Ray, who seemed confused, as if trying to understand his father's reaction.

Ethan's thoughts were sharp. 'What is this boy thinking? Join a religion and get brainwashed? Hell no. I've had enough of this nonsense.'

Out loud, his tone was firm and unyielding. "No," he said.

Blanco blinked, looking surprised. "Sorry, I didn't quite hear you. What did you say?"

Ethan met his eyes directly and repeated, "I said no. He isn't going anywhere for now."

His voice was calm but carried the weight of authority. The finality in his words left no room for argument.

Blanco opened his mouth, then closed it again.

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