Chapter 11: Goodwill
In the dimly lit underground passage, aside from the sound of footsteps, only the flickering lights remained.
With a crackle, a wall lamp on the stone wall went out.
"We're almost there."
The old priest was familiar with this place. After the two walked about a hundred meters, the passage noticeably widened.
A rusted iron door blocked the path ahead. The old priest stood before it, turning his head to look at Su Xiao.
Su Xiao turned his back, and only then did the old priest feel at ease, beginning to turn the mechanism on the iron door.
Creak, creak...
A grating sound that set one's teeth on edge came forth. As the iron door opened, a strange odor wafted out.
This strange smell contained many things: mustiness, a faint sweet and fishy scent, and the stench of rotting fish.
Su Xiao looked inside the iron door. Beyond it was a small, cramped secret chamber.
"Wait for me here for a moment."
The old priest walked into the secret chamber. In less than half a minute, he emerged, holding a piece of parchment, a test tube, and an old flintlock pistol.
With a rumble, the iron door closed. The old priest hurriedly walked back out of the passage, retracing their steps. A few minutes later, the two returned to the church.
Sitting in a corner of the church, the old priest wiped the flintlock pistol in his hands, seeming somewhat reluctant.
The old priest handed the parchment to Su Xiao. On the parchment was a magic circle, with mana surging within it.
"This is the 'key' to entering the Ryuudou Temple."
Su Xiao took the parchment, and a notification from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.
[You have obtained the Ryuudou Temple Key: Goat Skin.]
Goat Skin
Quality: Blue
Type: Consumable (Quest Item)
Effect: Can be used to locate the hidden Ryuudou Temple.
Rating: 70
Introduction: The Goat is not a living creature, but a familiar.
...
After handing over the 'Goat Skin,' the old priest held the test tube and flintlock pistol in his hands.
"How about... we spar a bit?"
The old priest had steeled himself, even wanting to spar with Su Xiao to test his strength.
Su Xiao was speechless. The old priest was now a neutral plot character, protected by Reincarnation Paradise; sparring was simply impossible.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
"Wait..."
The old priest quickly stood up.
"Come out alive, and turn off the 'Spirit Expulsion Barrier' there. Don't try to destroy that barrier. In a sense, that thing coexists with the Ryuudou Temple; it's almost indestructible."
The old priest handed the test tube containing the pale golden liquid and the flintlock pistol to Su Xiao.
[You have obtained 'Holy Water (92% Concentration)'.]
[You have obtained Dawn War Cry.]
[Holy Water (92% Concentration)]
Origin: Fate/Zero · Holy Church
Quality: Dark Purple
Type: Consumable (Single Use)
Effect: Can be drunk or splashed on enemies. Drinking restores 100% Health Points and quickly heals wounds. Splashing on enemies deals 500 points of Holy Damage + 190 points of True Damage to dark-type enemies, and causes a severe burning effect on them.
Rating: 255
Introduction: Its purpose is not for drinking or splashing on enemies.
...
[Dawn War Cry]
Origin: Fate/Zero · Vatican
Quality: Dark Purple (Originally Gold)
Attack Power: 1 ~ 3
Category: Flintlock Pistol
Ammunition Count: 1 (Built-in Hollow Crystal Bullet)
Durability: 4/68 (Severely Damaged)
Equipment Requirements: Strength 30 points, Intelligence 40 points.
Equipment Effect 1: Hollow Bullet (Passive) – This weapon's ammunition is a hollow crystal bullet. The crystal bullet can be opened to add any liquid inside.
Equipment Effect 2: Dawn (Passive) – When loaded, Dawn War Cry will automatically build up power, increasing the ammunition's attack power by 1% per minute, up to a maximum of 50%.
Equipment Effect 3: Gal's Mechanism Array (This effect is unusable due to equipment damage.)
Equipment Effect 4: War Cry (This effect is unusable due to equipment damage.)
Rating: 240
Introduction: If you use it to fire lead bullets, then your head must have been kicked by a donkey. This gun has been eroded by evil power and is beyond repair. So cherish every shot it can fire, because it might be its last.
Price: 3500 Paradise Coins (Price drastically reduced due to equipment damage.)
...
Looking at the Holy Water and Dawn War Cry in his hands, Su Xiao immediately thought of adding the Holy Water into the hollow bullet of Dawn War Cry and letting it build up power.
If the enemy was a dark-type, a close-range shot would either kill them or leave them crippled.
"This gun is a relic left by someone. We tried to repair it, but... it's a miracle it doesn't explode. Repair is impossible. Parts are missing, the arrays on it are defunct. Repairing it is harder than forging a new one. As for how to use it..."
The old priest gestured for Su Xiao to eject the bullet from Dawn War Cry. It was a round crystal bullet with a small hole at the top, through which liquid could be poured inside.
"If you fill the bullet with Holy Water, you must use it within ten days, or the Holy Water will lose its effect. As for who this bullet hits, that's for you to decide."
Following the old priest's instructions, Su Xiao poured the Holy Water into the bullet and reloaded it.
This thing should be important. Although its power against most creatures is almost negligible, for evil beings, its power is no less than a Light Gold-grade item.
"As for how to enter the Ryuudou Temple, take this parchment to the original site of the Ryuudou Temple, and you'll understand."
The old priest sighed, his gaze fixed on the gun in Su Xiao's hand. This was once the sidearm of a female Executor. The number of evil creatures she had killed with it was countless, saving many lives.
"I have one last question. Are you... involved in this Holy Grail War?"
The old priest's eyes were intense; he had already vaguely sensed something.
"Who knows? But if nothing unexpected happens, we won't be enemies."
Su Xiao's main quest was to touch the Greater Grail. As for obtaining it, he had never considered it.
Having experienced several Holy Grail Wars, the Greater Grail was no longer a universal wish-granting device. That thing had been corrupted by the world's filth and the evil thoughts of Heroic Spirits. Using it to make a wish was simply asking for death.
Therefore, Su Xiao had never thought of obtaining the Greater Grail. His main goal was to complete the Talent Awakening Quest. If the timing was right, completing the main quest would be ideal.
He put away 'Dawn War Cry' and carried the parchment with him. Su Xiao stood up and left the church.
"I wish you a safe return, young man. Or better yet, don't go there at all. Stay and have breakfast."
Hearing the old priest's shout, Su Xiao paused.
"Thanks for the kindness. If I can come out alive, I'll definitely turn off that barrier. And... be careful of those you think are reliable."
Leaving this remark, Su Xiao walked out of the church.
"Sigh, I wish you success."
Watching Su Xiao's retreating figure as he left the church, the old priest sighed.
"God, please forgive me for letting a young man step into hell. It was his choice, and he forced me."
It had to be said, although the old priest wasn't exactly a good person, he wasn't bad either. When he learned that Su Xiao wanted to enter the Ryuudou Temple, his first reaction was refusal.
It was hard to imagine how someone like the old priest could have a son like Kirei Kotomine.
Su Xiao walked out of the church, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.
With his Charm Attribute of only 6 points, the old priest's attitude was far too enthusiastic. This was definitely not normal. Moreover, his aura clearly didn't mark him as a righteous person; he was obviously from a different 'faction' than the old priest. Yet despite this, the old priest gave him a key, a one-use weapon, and even offered kind advice before he left.