「Two mornings later.」
Colin climbed out of bed, had his Armor assemble on his body, and walked out of the guest room.
Outside the guest room was a dining area with a square table. Kase and Ale were sitting at the table, eating some bread. On the table sat a plate of bread and cheese, next to which was a mug of light beer.
That was Colin’s breakfast.
He walked over, picked up the bread and cheese, and began to eat, alternating bites of salty cheese and bread.
Just then, Orelia walked in from outside.
She was wearing a simple white robe stained with mud, looking as if she had just finished working.
The young woman was completely in her element after returning to the Monastery.
Colin could sense she was much more confident than before, having completely shed her shell of timidity.
For the past two days, Orelia had been busy processing the herbs, yet she still found time to help with chores around the Monastery.
Colin and the other guests, however, had it much easier. They spent their days training and reading as usual, almost as if they were on vacation.
"This Shaman’s Hut is really out of the way. Weren’t they saying there’s a trade route nearby? Logically, there should be a lot of people around," Kase complained. "And those gatekeepers won’t even let us go out to hunt for some meat. We can only eat bread every day."
"Monasteries and Churches are different."
Colin said to Kase, "Or rather, Monasteries, churches, the Church’s welfare organizations, and Knight Orders all belong to completely different systems."
Orelia’s tail twitched behind her, and Colin promptly closed his mouth to let her speak. "Churches are usually in villages or castles, helping knights organize villagers for things like the spring planting. Villagers can go inside to worship.
"Monasteries, on the other hand, are usually in more hidden locations. They’re places for Cultivators to train and study, and the atmosphere is rather secluded.
"Then, above the regional churches, you have cathedrals that manage an entire diocese. Above Monasteries, you have seminaries where Cultivators can pursue advanced studies. And charitable institutions like orphanages and relief houses are another category entirely.
"As for the Knight Orders, they are mostly the armies of the Church, responsible for dealing with Demons and other evil forces. Many of their members are Paladins. It’s said that Mr. Helder was once a member of a Knight Order."
"However, Monasteries these days have become much more secularized," Colin added. "To make an analogy, a Monastery is like a feudal lord, a Baron for instance. It can have its own lands and manors, but it must also provide taxes and troops to the noble who holds the title to that territory."
"I actually know about that. Every War Mistress has to go study before she can become one, then follow an older Mistress to learn how to handle matters. It’s pretty similar, I guess," Kase said.
"Close enough," Colin said with a smile.
Additionally, although many Gods existed in this world, the religious rules for each were actually quite similar.
The only differences might be that the seminaries of the Deity of Knowledge were more powerful than those of other religions, or that the Knight Orders of the Morninglord were stronger than those of most other Gods.
After they finished eating, the group quickly packed their things, left the room, and made their way toward the Monastery’s church.
The sound of Cultivators leading children in chanting scriptures echoed through the cloisters. After a few more steps, the solemn toll of a bell rang out from the bell tower, spreading in all directions.
The chanting stopped at once, and children immediately poured into the courtyard, running and jumping about. The sound of their bright laughter, mixed with the whisper of wind through the cloisters, reached their ears.
The atmosphere felt somehow familiar to Colin.
Considering the Monastery’s internal structure, he figured it was probably because it felt a bit like a university.
Come to think of it, universities in his past life were apparently related to places like Monasteries.
A short while later, the group arrived at the entrance to the Monastery’s church.
The large double doors, carved with reliefs and Inscriptions, stood wide open.
Several of the front pews were occupied by Priests who managed the surrounding churches.
They wore simple linen robes with pale gold, knee-length tunics over them. This was considered rather formal attire for these Priests.
For some reason, most of these Priests were bald.
Orelia swallowed hard, walked forward with determined steps, and handed her documents to the Priests. The file included the evaluation forms written by Colin’s group and her mission report from the past several days.
Colin and the others went and sat in a pew behind the Priests, offering moral support to the nervous Tiefling.
At the front of the church sat the rather serious Abbot.
Orelia’s debriefing, to put it simply, consisted of recounting the tasks she had performed and summarizing her thoughts on the experience.
The Priests below remained silent, passing Orelia’s report among themselves and examining it carefully.
’This whole atmosphere is a lot like a thesis defense,’ Colin thought.
In fact, among true Adventurers—not desperate paupers like hastily recruited refugees or dockside thugs—the proportion of Priests was very high.
While teaching these Priests to recite scriptures, most Churches would also send them out to adventure as much as possible.
Those skilled in combat had the chance to join a Knight Order, while those who performed poorly could be assigned to welfare organizations or churches to handle administrative work.
She spoke for several dozen minutes.
The Priests each asked a few questions, and finally, the old Abbot spoke. "What did you gain from this field assignment?"
"During my field assignment, I improved my professional Skills through practical application, enhanced my ability to work as part of a team, and gained a clearer direction for my future development..."
Hearing Orelia’s answer, the Priests below all nodded in approval; it was clear they were very satisfied with her response.
’Of course it’s good. I’m the one who found those buzzwords online and gave them to Orelia for reference,’ Colin sneered inwardly.
After a moment, Orelia looked toward her companions sitting behind her.
She paused, then continued, "I also gained several good friends who don’t mind my heritage. We adventured together, lived together, and survived several life-threatening traps... In truth, that was the greatest reward I gained from leaving the Monastery."
"A very good answer. Congratulations on completing your report. Now, please return to Thousand Masts City to continue assisting with the work there."
The old Abbot nodded, bringing the simple debriefing to a close.
Afterward, the Priests went up to chat with the old Abbot. Orelia, still standing on the platform, breathed a sigh of relief and walked over to her companions.
For some reason, Colin felt that her expression was inexplicably stiff.