Witch Monastery

Chapter 345 345: Blackstaff District, Lovers Reunited After a Long Separation

As soon as those words were spoken, the room fell silent.

"Sigh, this really isn't an easy spot to fill," Kowal said with a wry smile. "We have plenty of top-notch priests like you and me—people who are strict with themselves, follow the rules, and serve as living examples, guiding ordinary folks to become pious and disciplined believers. But when it comes to reversing the process? We really have no experience making zealots more, well, normal."

He was telling the truth. The Church of the Goddess of Life had always taken a hands-off approach with its followers, so if anything, clergy everywhere had trouble with people being too lax.

Even the most self-disciplined, fanatical devotee wasn't immune to the relaxed, "enjoy the beauty of life" philosophy constantly modeled by fellow churchmates. Sooner or later, it rubbed off; they loosened up naturally.

Joanna hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said, "How about we send Nymeria to his monastery?"

Kowal's eyes instantly went wide. "That brazen, spendthrift, gluttonous, lazy Moon Elf?!"

Joanna thought privately, Geez, that's a little harsh! Nymeria's one of the few true prodigies of the Moon Elves—she wasn't even an adult before the Moon Goddess recognized her, and she single-handedly sealed a fallen angel—an Erinyes, at that. Sure, she hit a rough patch adventuring solo and has been staying with us a bit dispirited, but that's no reason to talk her down.

Joanna liked the elf girl a lot, but she wouldn't stand up for her in front of Kowal. Instead, she said, "Yeah, just look at her. Every day it's shopping, spa treatments, snacking, buying luxury stuff, and hitting every party—she's as basic as it gets, right?"

"Put her in with those over-the-top nuns, let them influence each other. Maybe Nymeria will actually pick up some discipline, and those nuns will mellow out a bit."

Kowal was still wavering. Dwarf or not, as a disciplined believer he was full of prejudice and distrust toward that Moon Elf—certain she'd only make things worse.

Since Kowal wouldn't commit either way, Joanna hurried to add, "Besides, at the rate she spends money, I can't afford her anymore. And like you said, that Priest Charles is a master at making gourmet food out of cheap ingredients—maybe she and he are a perfect match?"

Evan chimed in as well, "Not only that, we heard that Priest Charles gets along well with blue dragons, right? He's not short on cash, so supporting a decently strong Moon Elf like Nymeria shouldn't bother him at all."

Joanna's eyes brightened, and she nodded in agreement, "Exactly! Plus, Nymeria can teach those nuns what it really means to fight as a believer of the Goddess of Life!"

Together, these arguments tipped Kowal's heart; it was the final straw.

"All right!" he declared, making the decision. "We'll send Nymeria to his monastery!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Only Charles remained oblivious—a major headache was speeding his way…

But Charles had his own things to handle. The very day after Kowal left, he set out alone by carriage for Blackstaff District.

There was still fallout to resolve from the Demon incident, and reports to follow up on concerning the cultist outposts. Recently, Anno had been extremely busy; she had agreed to pick things up from the monastery herself, but in the end just couldn't find the time.

So, not wanting any further delay—and the year's end fast approaching—Charles decided to deliver the items himself.

Compared to poor South Harbor District and the affluent Central District, Blackstaff District was somewhere in between.

It didn't have all the tall, shiny skyscrapers and science-fiction luxury of the Central District, nor the slums and struggling fisherfolk of South Harbor.

Instead, it spoke of an age, or really the legacy of the Empire of Sein after years of rule: rows of low, old, sturdy but practical two- and three-story marble buildings, all with weathered signs hanging out front.

The roads were wide gravel paths, clearly not new, full of potholes and rarely level. The carriage jolted with every turn. Whether the city hall refused to fund repairs or the locals just didn't care, you got used to the rough ride.

Charles got down from the carriage, paid the driver, and headed into the café Anno had suggested—a place with old-fashioned decor but spotlessly clean: "The Centaur Café." She'd claimed this place served the best coffee in the whole of Blackstaff District.

Just as Anno described, the owner was an older female centaur, the corners of her mouth always holding a gentle smile. She moved slowly, without rush, and recommended her signature coffee with a kind word. After Charles ordered two, she took four gold coins for payment.

Money wasn't tight anymore, but two gold per cup still made Charles quietly wince at the waste.

After the centaur prepared the coffee, he took his cup to a window seat. Savoring the rich fragrance, he waited for Anno.

Truth be told, coffee wasn't really a tradition in the Empire of Sein. Only in recent years, as the empire waned and the Gold Dragonborn empire rose—along with Liberl Port's love for trends—did coffee become fashionable.

Sun Elves loved it, so as Gold Dragonborn spread across the world, upholding justice and earning all-around admiration, coffee became the mark of high society in Liberl Port.

And more than ninety percent of these cafés were owned by Gold Dragonborn merchants or businesses funded by the Golden Dragon Bank.

After all, the major coffee-producing countries had signed free trade deals with the dragonborn, letting them buy beans for rock-bottom prices—an unbeatable competitive edge.

For other merchants, there was simply no way to compete.

Today, coffee was definitely a high-margin business.

Staring at his tiny cup, Charles couldn't help but sigh. Just one little coffee cost him two full gold coins—that's a whole day's wage for a high-level blacksmith. Even fishermen in South Harbor District, with full hauls each day, wouldn't make this much in a week.

Yet, thousands of miles away, coffee bean farmers in producing countries only earned five copper a day—their whole families scraping by, even facing famine or war.

Skyrocketing global demand hadn't improved their lives. In fact, it weighed them down even more.

The massive profits had made the Gold Dragonborn empire what it was, but there was nothing outsiders could say—it really was free trade.

The Gold Dragonborn stuck to their ideology of "freedom," arguing that protecting freedom was the truest justice. Sometimes, out of lofty morals, they sent a bit of aid to famine-stricken nations, but never changed the economic "order" of free trade.

Why would they? The strongest among them were also the greatest beneficiaries.

Lost in these random thoughts, Charles didn't have to wait long before a bright silhouette entered. Anno, small bag in hand, hurried inside and, spotting him, flashed an angelic smile.

She wasn't wearing armor today, but a white shearling jacket—fresh, pretty, utterly adorable.

Without hesitation, she sat down right beside Charles, wrapped her arms around his, and teased, "Did you miss me?"

Charles knew what she really meant was, I missed you.

He smiled too, pulled her fully into his embrace, and softly said, "Of course I did, sweetheart. I missed you so much it hurt."

"Come here, let me steal a kiss."

He lowered his head, clearly about to go for her lips. Anno, both joyful and embarrassed, glanced at the centaur behind the counter and pinched his thigh, whispering, "Stop! Someone's watching."

That centaur deliberately turned away, pulling out some scissors to trim a potted plant, pretending she saw nothing.

Grinning, Charles lifted a hand to cover their faces. "There, now no one can see."

Anno's heart beat faster. Blushing, she tilted her chin up just a bit and they shared a light kiss.

It was a public place, people passed outside the window, so Charles didn't press things any further. He just dropped a simple, quick kiss on her soft lips—a dragonfly's touch, brimming with longing, then hugged her quietly, going no further.

Anno laid her head on his chest, lips curled in a sweet smile. She wanted nothing more than to turn off her brain for once and just quietly enjoy this rare peace.

Too bad she didn't have the luxury of staying lost in it for long. After a few moments, she softly asked, "So, what did you bring for me?"

Charles pulled out his Bag of Holding, looked at her, and said in a grave voice, "This. Inside is something extremely dangerous."

~~~

Get early access to 330+ advanced chapters on Patreon!

patreon.com/PokemonStoryWeaver

~~~