I Have a Task Log

Chapter 292: Chapter 291: Sincere Apology

Colin quickly floated up to the ceiling.

Just then, a figure in a gray robe walked in. The person wore a hood and looked identical to the servants in the Monastery.

He staggered into the room carrying a cloth sack, tossed it into a corner, and turned to walk back out the door.

Just as Colin began to relax, about to float down, the person whipped their head around and scanned every corner of the room.

Even in his gaseous state, Colin could faintly feel his own heartbeat.

Gaseous Form wasn’t some kind of Teleportation Magic. His physical body was still present here. Even before the Magic ended, someone could still inflict Damage on him, let alone after the spell wore off.

"Hmm... Hmm..."

After looking around, the person let out a strange mumble, then turned and staggered away.

Colin quickly floated out the door, leaving the strange place.

A moment later, just as he floated over the Monastery’s outer wall and reached his companions, his Gaseous Form happened to end.

If he had been any later, Colin might have left a trace of his presence around the Monastery.

"What’s the situation inside?" Kase asked.

Standing beside him, Orelia clasped her hands to her chest, her tail drooping behind her unconsciously.

"It’s a bit more serious than we thought," Colin said. "Without a doubt, there are Demons lurking in the Monastery’s Bone Repository Hall, and the situation feels dire."

It was the truth.

In a sense, the strength of a Cultist group was largely related to the scale of their offerings.

The principle was simple: the more offerings, souls, and Gold, the stronger the Demon summoned by the Cultists’ ritual. In turn, a stronger Demon could summon more Low-Tier Demons, who could then gather more offerings... and so, the snowball effect began.

Compared to whatever was Underground in the Bone Repository Hall, the ones in Three Bays City were nothing.

"So, are we going to ’cleanse’ this place next?" Ale said.

Kase looked into the distance and said, "There aren’t many people on the walls. We can just climb over the outer wall to get in. Pretty simple."

Colin kept his head down, not speaking for a long moment.

He was carefully assessing the risks of this operation.

’Could it really be like White Eagle said, that the mastermind behind all this is a Desire Demon? That’s something our current team absolutely can’t face head-on.’

’But at the same time, everything has gone smoothly recently, and the team has a whole bunch of Potions. Dealing with most Middle-Low Tier Demons should be no problem at all.’

As Colin was thinking, a small figure stood before him.

The figure was so slight, like a withered yellow leaf in the dead of winter, that it seemed she might vanish with the wind in an instant.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Colin, Mr. Kase, and Miss Ale," Orelia said.

"What are you apologizing for?" Colin asked.

Through the shadows, he saw a pair of eyes filled with firm resolve.

Honestly, Colin had never imagined he would one day see such a look on Orelia’s face. It was so unexpected that when he looked at her, she suddenly felt like a stranger.

’Is this still the same Little Priest who once apologized timidly with a bloody nose and her head bowed low?’

Orelia spoke. "Because I’ve decided to go to the Monastery and get rid of those Demons. I can’t abandon the children and the Abbot and just leave. But I know that if I make this decision, you won’t let me go alone. So, I’m very sorry.

These Demons definitely won’t be easy opponents. Going with me this time means you’ll be taking a huge risk. My decision has forced your hand. I know that, and I also know this might be the only way to save the Monastery, but I have to do it."

Colin’s feelings were complicated for a moment.

He had never once considered abandoning this course of action. After all, that place was Orelia’s old home, just like Kase’s tribe. This was never something they had a choice about.

But if he had to say it, he did feel a little like his hand had been forced.

Colin turned his head to look at his other two teammates’ expressions.

"I don’t get it. Why do you think we’d only go into the Monastery because of your decision?" Ale said, her face expressionless.

At the same time, however, the little girl’s eyes were shining. The words "I want to go" were practically written all over her face.

Kase crossed his arms, shouting as if he hadn’t heard a word Orelia said, "As long as we get paid, we’ll get the job done! If there’s really some nasty stuff in there, those guys will definitely have to pay us more later!"

Colin turned back to look at Orelia.

Although the young Tiefling girl’s expression was resolute, her pointed tail was wrapped tightly around her calf, like a small snake coiled around its prey.

’Her tail’s like that when she’s nervous,’ Colin thought.

Kase probably felt the same way when he led them to Snow Deer Valley. And Colin had felt something similar when he brought the others to Rommon to find the mission location.

Thinking of this, Colin said, "We’re a team, Orelia. We stand together."

The Tiefling pressed her lips together tightly, her hands clenched into fists.

A silver glint visibly welled up in her large eyes.

Since becoming an orphan, no one had ever truly stood with her as a companion, ready to face everything together.

And after this, she feared, there probably wouldn’t be many more who would choose to stand with her so unhesitatingly.

Finally grasping the situation, Ale stepped forward and took Orelia’s arm, turning her so her back was to the others.

’Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this Tiefling cry before, have I?’ Colin thought.

Orelia took a few deep breaths before turning around, having quickly composed herself.

"Let’s head back for today. We’ll talk after we’re fully prepared," Colin instructed. "I saw a strange Array Underground. We need to solve this problem quickly, before the Demons decide to act. It would be best to make our move tomorrow!"

Having reached a decision, the group quickly returned to their hideout.

Sitting in the bear cave, Battier saw the expressions on their faces as they returned and understood what was going on. He looked at Colin and asked, "Alright, what’s the plan?"

Morne teased, "I thought you were going to argue a bit."

"This is a time to leave it to the professionals," Battier said matter-of-factly. "Mr. Colin is clearly much more of an expert than the rest of us."

’Just a few days ago he was objecting, and now it’s "Mr. Colin,"’ Colin grumbled to himself.

"Hmph. Humans," Kase muttered.

"Alright, there’s no time for you two to bicker," Colin said, then looked at Orelia. "How many Guards are in the Monastery? Will they help the Demons?"

"There are very few Guards at the Monastery, only three," Orelia said, her expression firm. "The Demons should only be affecting some of the people mentally. Their corruption is very subtle. I don’t think the Priests would go so far as to help them."