Chapter 174: The Role of the Candidate Saintess
"Stand there and don't move, okay? Watch carefully!"
Alice, more radiant and spirited than ever, said to me with a sweet smile from the side, though I didn't understand what was happening.
"..."
Following Alice's words, I stood to the side and eyed the excited Little Ghost In Front of me with a strange Gaze.
"Heh..."
Alice stood properly a few meters across from me, closed her eyes with a serious expression, and cupped her hands over her chest in a prayerful Movement. In an instant, a bright but not blinding Glow slowly emanated from her palms. Only when the Glow stopped increasing did she take a deep breath. With her hands radiating the dazzling Glow, she gently pushed outwards. Following her Movement, a transparent Wall made of Light spread out from her Body in all directions, extending over ten meters away.
Naturally, this Wall of Light also touched my Body. However, its actual effect didn't seem as spectacular as its visual appearance. I only felt as if a gentle, Warm breeze had brushed past. After the Wall of Light passed through my Body, there was no other Feeling. My four primary Stats didn't change, my Skills didn't change, and my Resistance didn't change either.
"Hehehe, how was it? Pretty amazing, right?!!"
Seeing me examining my Body with a surprised look, Alice said happily. Her small nose tilted up almost imperceptibly, and the end of her sentence lifted cutely. Her smug Appearance made her seem a little pitiful.
"Idiot, wasn't there nothing? Don't waste Energy casually."
Facing Alice, who was wagging her Tail and seeking praise, I mercilessly grabbed both sides of her face and pulled outwards.
"Who said that? Thish ish a very powerful Skill... Woo~~~"
Alice mumbled in response, her cute, pouty face being pulled by me.
"Oh, so what exactly is it used for?"
I let go of Alice and asked with interest.
"Exorcism!"
As soon as I let go, two straightforward words that made me furious eagerly popped out of her small mouth.
"..."
*Smack*
"Wah!!"
I mercilessly gave Alice a tap. Amidst her short cry of surprise, I continued to knead that face with an excellent Feel.
"So I'm a Demon, huh? Very good."
"Woo~~ It's not like that..." Alice wailed in confusion with a tearful face.
"Alright, can you tell me what's going on? Why do you have this Skill called 'Exorcism' or whatever?" After letting go, feeling Content,
"It's Exorcism."
Alice rubbed her numb face resentfully and muttered softly.
"Ahem, ahem. However, you finally noticed the most crucial question."
She coughed a few times. Alice lightly tapped her index finger, looking smug as if to say, 'Kid, you finally get it.'
"Actually, it's nothing 'big deal', really nothing 'big deal' at all! It's just that before the Hell Invasion, I was once a 'Candidate' Saintess. Of course, that's nothing 'amazing', just picking out 'a few people' from 'millions' of Maidens. Mhm mhm..."
She lightly swayed her fingertip. Beneath her simple white robe, her full breasts slightly perked up. She narrated in a tone that seemed completely normal. Of course, if there was anything different from usual, it was that the words 'big deal', 'amazing', 'millions', and 'a few people' were spoken with a slightly higher pitch, probably exceeding 80 decibels according to my ears, while 'Candidate' was barely audible. As expected of a Monster Ghost who had sung for thousands of years, she could speak with such fluctuating tones so naturally.
"Ah, indeed, it's nothing amazing."
I replied casually in a Tone like I was trimming my nails while speaking, echoing the expected response that Alice's words seemed to imply.
"Woo~~"
My indifferent reaction caught Alice off guard. She pouted, her silver eyes fluttering as she blinked a few times, looking at me with a pitiful Gaze, seemingly unsure how to continue the conversation.
"Alright, alright, explain it to me then. What does having Skills have to do with being a 'Candidate' Saintess?"
Seeing Alice's pitiful Appearance, I couldn't help but reach out my right hand and stroke her moon-colored long hair.
"Hmph—" Seemingly dissatisfied that the topic of her being a 'Candidate' Saintess was just brushed aside with a single sentence, she let out a slight huff through her nose but immediately answered my question.
"Because the Requirements to become a Candidate Saintess are very strict. The first point is that you must at least have the Strength of a Priest Apprentice."
"So you were originally a Priest Apprentice?"
I raised my Tone in surprise.
"Wrong."
Alice diligently lifted her small, delicate nose. "That was just the minimum Requirement. I was a genuine First Tier Cleric!"
Only after Alice's explanation did I understand. In her Era, the division of Classes wasn't as detailed as it is now. A Priest Apprentice back then was roughly equivalent to a Student at the Rogue Encampment Training Camp today. A First Tier Cleric represented Levels 1-12, meaning a Cleric who had mastered Tier 1 Skills. By analogy, a Tier 2 Cleric was Levels 12-24, and so on, up to a Tier 5 Cleric, which was equivalent to Level 60 or higher. Furthermore, Clerics had many differences compared to the current Seven Major Classes. For example, for Cleric Level Up, besides killing Monsters, healing and aiding others could also grant Experience.
"The effect of that Exorcism just now is actually similar to a Paladin's Holy Bolt. Both are only effective against Undead or Demons."
"What about Damage?" I asked the most crucial question.
"Uh... just a little bit. The main effect is just pushing away the surrounding Monsters."
Alice turned her Head away, avoiding my expectant Gaze. Her Gaze drifted as she answered vaguely.
"Can it heal allies like Holy Bolt?" I threw out a second question.
"Um, it seems not..."
Alice's Head tilted a little further, making me wonder if she might sprain her neck, which was as proud as a white swan's.
"..."
"No wonder the Cleric Class was lost to History. I think I understand now."
"Don't say that! The main functions of a Cleric are healing and aiding, and Support. Fighting is really too Reluctantly." Alice Refuted unwillingly.
"That's why it was eliminated, a Class lacking Combat Power."
My definitive Tone instantly left Alice speechless. She could only keep looking at me from the side with an ill-intentioned Gaze, like a quick-witted boxer constantly searching for their opponent's Weakness.
"Besides Exorcism, are there any other Tier 1 Skills? Don't tell me that's the only one."
I asked in a Tone that suggested even if she told me there was only one, I wouldn't be surprised.
"Damn it, don't underestimate Clerics! Of course, there's more than one. Besides Exorcism, there's also Healing Spell and Cure Poison."
Alice glared at me with a troubled Gaze.
Level 1 Healing Spell: Instantly adds 25 Life to the Target.
Level 1 Cure Poison: Instantly removes Poison Damage from the Target and increases their Poison Resistance by % for 1 minute.
Healing Spell is alright; after all, it's instant and has a relatively short Cooldown. As for Cure Poison, I can only say it's not even as effective as a single Poison Potion...
However, I suddenly noticed a most important point.
"Ah!! You Little Ghost, you could have clearly tested with Healing Spell or Cure Poison just now! But you specifically chose Exorcism. Did you really imagine me as a Monster?" I fiercely approached Alice, my ten fingers slowly wiggling In Front of her.
"Please... please don't misunderstand my good intentions. I... I just wanted to purify your Spirit a little." Alice replied flustered.
"So you're saying my Spirit is impure? Even more unforgivable!" Without further ado, I continued my great endeavor of "bullying" the Saintess...
"Woo~~ I even deliberately revealed my Candidate Saintess Status, but it was completely useless! You Bad Guy didn't take it seriously at all and even teased me in such a humiliating way."
After the playful roughhousing, Alice twisted her Body in my arms, letting out a faint fragrance, and muttered in frustration.
So this Little Ghost specifically emphasized her Saintess Status just hoping I wouldn't bully her in such a humiliating way. Looking at the innocent Little Saintess in my arms, I couldn't help but feel both pity and affection. However, for me to stop bullying her because of this? That was absolutely impossible. There was no Method. Alice simply possessed a Temperament that could ignite others' training Instincts.
"Who said the Saintess Status is useless?" I pinched her face and Refuted.
"..."
Alice looked up at me speechless. The expression on her face seemed to say, 'Look where your hands are now, what use is it?'
"Doesn't bullying you give me more of a sense of accomplishment?" I replied as if it were obvious.
"Wah!! It had the opposite effect." Alice exclaimed in her signature style.
"Hehehe..."
I stopped talking and lowered my lips onto the face that had lifted from my arms, capturing her two delicate cherry lips and playing with them roughly.
"How about that, noble Saintess? You're being bullied by a Man right now, you know."
After a long while, I reluctantly let go of Alice and said affectionately, my lips close to her ear.
"Woo~~ Pervert~~ Big Pervert~~"
In response, Alice's hot breath also hit my ear. Even with my eyes closed, I could imagine her blushing face and troubled expression at this moment. This Little Ghost, whom I both loved and wanted to bully, if the Time and place weren't wrong, I would really want to devour her right now.
"Alright, let's stop here. Since you also have a Class, you can probably use some Equipment."
After thoroughly bullying Alice, I finally got to the main Matter.
After careful questioning, I learned that Alice's current Cleric Level was only four. This was the result of her Practice in the Cathedral for a period of Time. Otherwise, this sheltered young lady who only knew how to read Books would definitely still be at Level zero.
"Let me see if there's anything you can use."
I frowned and started rummaging through my messy Inventory, which was piled up like a mountain. Speaking of which, all the Low-level useless Equipment from before had been given to Charsi. Most of the Equipment that dropped now was also unusable by Alice. Finding a set suitable for her was truly not an easy Matter.
While I was busy searching, Alice, who had recovered, sat properly to the side, quietly watching me sweat profusely as I rummaged through my Inventory. A trace of a Warm smile appeared at the Corner of her mouth, and her silver eyes trembled slightly, wondering what I was thinking about.
After a long while, I finally managed to put together a set of Equipment she could wear at Level four. They were a piece of blue Cloth Armor with added Mana Stats, a leftover Item from the bottom of the Inventory; a white Hat; for the Necklace, I thought about it repeatedly and finally decided that the Lizard's Dexterity Necklace, which added Mana and Dexterity, was more suitable. There were four Rings just now, and in terms of Stats, none of them were particularly good. Picking any two would be fine. The Boots and Gloves were Normal. There was no Method. It wasn't that I didn't have better ones, but firstly, her Level was Low, and secondly, as anyone could figure out without using their Brain, with a Cleric's Strength...
Additionally, there were several Potions, and even Town Portal Scrolls and Identify Scrolls. Although these didn't seem very useful to her, she was at least a mobile storage box, so it was only right for her to help me share the burden...
"Huh? That's strange, why is there no Transformation?"
After Alice put on the full set, I found that her outward Appearance hadn't changed at all. She was still wearing that simple, slightly revealing white robe.
"Because I'm a Ghost," Alice said as if it were obvious.
Because she's a Ghost? That's truly a catch-all explanation. My face darkened.
After Alice repeatedly confirmed that the Equipment was indeed effective, before I could say anything else, she suddenly showed an Appearance of Pain.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just my first Time replenishing Energy in this way. I seem to be a little unaccustomed to it." Alice smiled while enduring the Pain.
"What should we do then?" I immediately became anxious and flustered, but had no Method at all.
"It's nothing serious. However, I probably need to get a good sleep." Alice shook her Head and gently stroked my face with her hand. The cool Feel gradually brought me Calmness.
"Are you really okay?" I looked into her eyes seriously.
"Absolutely~~ There's no problem at all. I won't leave you again. I just need to go back inside for a while to recuperate."
Alice said with a very Affirmative Tone, and then her Figure slowly disappeared In Front of me.
"Probably, probably a little over..."
"Alice, Alice..."
Her Voice stopped abruptly. I picked up the Necklace in shock and pressed it carefully to my ear. However, what came from it was the sound of cute snoring, which both reassured me and made me want to laugh and cry at the same Time.