'Seems it'll be difficult to find it this way.'
Weed was submerged in labor.
Finding a clue through a book was hard even for Adventurers with vast experience, so it seemed it wouldn't be easy for his Sculptor self to gather information.
'Is the method of my approach wrong? Alright. Since I'm a Sculptor, it might just be that I was supposed to look at the Sculptors first.'
Weed sifted through the art-related books.
“History of Monuments”, “Excavated Carving”, “Sur Kingdom's Proud Sculptures”.
He saw a book titled, “Ancient Sculptures” entangled among the many books he was reading. The contents of the book, although the name was different, there was information about the sculpture he currently had possession of.
Figure of Rest: Symbol of Religion
It is the symbol of the worshippers who followed the God Matallost, who guides the dead. They did not have a flag or pattern, but were famous for having a sculpture.
The Priests of the Matallost Church had strong holy power and can guide the dead.
After the birth of the continent's official language, rather than using their God's name, they also called themselves the Resurrection Church.
They weren't very high in public favor because they were close to and conducted research about Death. It was assumed they used as sculpture as their symbol primarily for preservation of secrets.
There was a story of some Matallost faith idol being special and sacred artifacts, very different from normal sculptures.
— You have acquired all of the required information for the quest.
He did flounder a little, but still finished the quest.
He went to the tavern and reported to Smith.
“This sculpture was apparently the symbol of the Matollost Church.”
“Whaddaya say?”
“It said it was a symbol of an ancient religion. And it might even be an idol.”
Ding!
“Old Smith's Curiosity” quest completed.
You have answered the former mercenary Smith's question about the sculpture he saw in his youth.
Now he will tell you the stories he knew of during his mercenary days.
— Sculpting skill proficiency has improved by 0.4 %.
— Your Faith stat has risen by 1.
Since he could raise his sculpting skill proficiency while completing a quest, these kinds of commissions weren't all that bad either. Though it took up too much time for going to various different places.
“So that's what it meant after all. Hiccup.”
The old drunkard Smith was very intoxicated.
“As promised, please tell me stories of what you saw and heard when you were young.”
“Ayup! I was, ya know, a really reliable and well mannered Mer-mer-mercenary. I made lotsa money, too. Though I did use most of it buying drinks and women.”
With a loose-tongued way of speech, Smith told of how he came to be a mercenary and roamed the continent while fulfilling requests as a free mercenary.
For Weed, of course, it went in one ear and went out the other— there was no end to listening to each and every word of a drunkard.
After a long while, Smith finally spoke of the the main subject.
“This sculpture, ya see, at that time, the Count was going to escape through the castle's basement together with this sculpture. Haaah, I'm gettin' drunk.”
“Why do you think he did that?”
“I dunno either. Anyways I thought it to be really very strange. Hiccup. The alcohol tastes real good right now. What were we talking about again?”
With a befuddled look, Smith babbled on about more irrelevant stories for a long while.
He boasted of his job as a mercenary, and a drunkard's preaching about the continent's drinks!
Smith's attention was directed at the sculpture once again, and as if he had regained his senses, he asked.
“Though I didn't see this sculpture after long while… you're not busy, are you?”
“I am busy though.”
“Could you take me to solve this mystery?”
Smith pulled out a rusty key from his bosom.
“If I remember correctly… after that time, the basement was sealed, so you can probably only go in if you have this key. Can you take me there with you and solve the mystery for me?”
Ding!
Old Smith's Second Curiosity.
The old, drunkard Smith has a question about the last time he saw Count Savoid.
In order to answer his question, search the Count's mansion, find the basement, and dig up the secret.
Chain quest, leads to the long-cherished wish of the Matallost Church, which guides the dead, and the reconstruction of the Niflheim Empire. Difficulty: A
Reward: A drink from Smith.
Quest Restriction: Limited to Sculptors. Quest failure upon Smith's death.
If it was Niflheim Empire, it was a great empire that existed a dozen years ago in the Northern part of the continent, where Morata was part of, and Weed was her current Lord!
The castle and villages went up in flames due to the monsters around and Bone Dragon who descended from the Forest of Darkness. The emperor tried to seal them using the Serbian Beads, but it only resulted in lamentable freezing of the entire Northern area. Under the attack of the cold, the monsters, and division of the people, the empire collapsed.
If the Niflheim Empire were to be reconstructed right now, the North would stabilize on its foundation.
It was a little unexpected that a quest such as this would become available from a sculpture, and then linked to the Resurrection Church. But it wasn't very surprising. The Resurrection Church and the Matallost faith were churches that had originated in the North.
If he solved mercenary Smith's question, then he would also solve the quest relating to the reconstruction of Niflheim Empire.
'I'll be able to sell off Morata for a more expensive price.'
Weed nodded his head as he tore into a chicken leg as an appetizer.
“I will do my best to solve the mystery.”
— You have accepted the quest.
The Savoid County was made into an enormous hunting ground. Sur Kingdom was infested with level 150 to 200 monsters, so a considerable number of parties were out hunting.
“Recruiting people to hunt inside the mansion. Preferring People with experience or courage.”
Count Savoid's Mansion was a region-class dungeon. The max level of the monsters was 282.
The astral Knights, Soldiers, and even astral maids spawns there.
Weed entered the mansion with the drunkard mercenary, Smith.
“Arghh. My insides are gonna die of heartburn.”
Smith complained as he followed.
“Won't you give me just one bottle of booze?”
“I don't have any.”
Weed firmly refused. There was, of course, a lot of liquor in his rucksack. All because he made brandy or whisky whenever he saw edible fruit or wheat, etc. There were a few cooking items that sold well, and easy to store like liquor. With its astounding taste, disinfectant properties, and since it even raised Health recovery speed, liquor received the most limelight among preferences.
Since well-distilled liquor could be priced expensively, it was no different from cash.
Although he distilled liquors in his spare time by plying his cooking skill, he was frugal with it to the utmost, to the point where if it wasn't SwordNoob or the other elder brothers, no one would even ask Weed for it.
“Ahem, my mouth is dry.”
Smith grumbled as he followed.
In the old mansion, dust was piled thickly and pieces of furniture were scattered around. The mural was damaged to the point of unrecognition, and the chandelier had fallen to the ground, shattered.