I'm not a Witcher anymore.

Several people got off the train, each moving more slowly than the last.

Ravenna stomped her feet twice as soon as she landed, letting out a hissing sound.

Lucy held onto the carriage shaft and carefully straightened her legs a little.

Hill didn't say anything, he just pressed his lower back.

Zig also stretched his neck and legs.

Sitting down for the rest of the journey, my shoulders and back felt like they were being pressed against a hard wooden board, and my legs were tingling with numbness.

Traveling long distances by carriage is never a comfortable experience; even stepping off the carriage felt a bit unsteady.

Let's ride horses next time.

The thought swirled in his mind before being interrupted by Valeria's voice.

"Wait a moment."

Everyone turned to look at her.

Valeria stood by the carriage, glanced at the bustling crowd around her, and then said, "I plan to go to the Adventurers' Guild first to see if I can find out any information about the murder case in Water City."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ravenna chimed in.

"I'll go with you."

"Since you're new here, I don't recommend splitting up," Hill said, smoothing her hair. "This place is huge, and there are so many people, it's a mixed bag. If you get separated, it won't be easy to find your way back."

"Then let's do it together—"

As soon as Valeria began, Sieg raised his hand.

"team leader."

She looked at him.

"I'd like to go to the High Temple first. Could I travel alone?"

Valeria glanced at him twice, as if she had thought of something, but she didn't ask any further questions. After a moment's thought, she nodded.

"Can."

She made a decision quickly.

"But don't stay out too late. Remember to meet us at the 'Beef Slaughter Inn' before evening."

Zieg memorized the name.

"it is good."

Valeria added, "Be sure to arrive before dark, and don't linger outside."

"clear."

Once the matter was settled, the group quickly separated.

Valeria, along with Ravenna, Hill, and Lucy, followed the flow of people on the other side of the square toward the Adventurers' Guild.

Zig stood there, watching their figures disappear into the bustling streets, before turning around and looking towards the white temple at the highest point in the city.

Despite the crisscrossing streets, rooftops, and bridges, the building remains strikingly prominent.

The entire temple is almost entirely made of white marble, with its columns, dome, and high walls gleaming with a cool and clear light in the sunlight.

It stands tall above the entire city, so solemn it is almost inhuman, as if the endless flow of people, ships and noise in the city are nothing more than a layer of dust spread out at its feet.

Zieg gazed at the temple, took a breath, and then strode toward it.

……

Not long after, Sieg stood before the High Temple.

The white temple looked taller and colder up close than it did from a distance in the city.

The large, cold white boulders were dazzling in the afternoon sunlight, and the stone steps in front of the door were so clean that you could hardly see any dust.

Two temple guards, clad in silver-white armor, stood on either side of the entrance, their armor gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

Zieg stepped forward and spoke to one of them:

"I am an adventurer from the border town. I heard that there has been a series of murders in the Water City recently, so my teammates and I came here specifically to do our part in this matter."

He paused here.

"Please announce my arrival; I wish to see Her Majesty the Sword Saintess."

The guard's gaze lingered on the obsidian nameplate on his chest, but his face remained expressionless.

"Please wait a moment."

He turned and walked into the temple.

Zig waited there for a while. People came and went in front of the door, but no one gave him a second glance.

About five minutes later, the guard came out again and nodded to him.

"His Excellency the Archbishop wishes to see you. Please follow me."

There were more people in the temple than Sieg had expected.

The foyer was packed with waiting people, clergy moving back and forth, visitors arguing in hushed tones, and people who looked tired but were still trying to suppress their anger, making the whole space feel somewhat stuffy.

The guards led him through the corridors and inner courtyards.

The sound of footsteps echoed hollowly on the stone floor, gradually leaving the noise of the front hall behind.

In the end, only emptiness remained.

The guards finally stopped outside a sanctuary deep within the temple.

The sanctuary was empty.

Sunlight streamed in from above, falling between a row of white stone pillars. A woman knelt in the hall, dressed in a simple white robe, her golden hair gleaming softly in the sunlight.

The black ribbon covering her eyes added an indescribable melancholy to her appearance.

The guard leading the way stopped outside the door and bowed deeply.

"Your Excellency, the adventurers from the border town have arrived."

The woman got up from the ground, turned towards the door, and smiled gently and calmly.

"Please let him in."

The guard straightened up, turned to the side, and gestured for Zig to enter.

Zieg stepped into the sanctuary.

This is the Archbishop of the Supreme Temple, and the one who now truly holds power in the Water City—the Saintess of the Sword.

Her face was dignified and serene. Although her eyes were covered by black silk, they showed no sign of weakness.

On the contrary, precisely because her eyes were covered, she was even more difficult to ignore. It was a restrained majesty, not intimidating, yet commanding the entire sanctuary.

"Welcome, adventurer from the border town."

The Sword Saintess's voice was gentle and steady.

"Please sit down. Don't be so formal."

There were no tables or chairs in the sanctuary, so the two sat directly on the floor.

Sieg briefly explained why they had come to Water 7, skipping the formalities and the probing.

The Sword Saintess listened quietly throughout, holding the Libra sword that symbolized authority in her hand, her expression remaining unchanged from beginning to end.

She didn't speak until Zig had finished.

"A month ago, a young priestess from the temple went out at night. The next morning, people found her body in a nearby alley."

Her fingers tightened slightly around the sword hilt.

"After that, several more similar cases occurred in the city. The victims were all people who were alone at night, and the methods were brutal. The news quickly became impossible to suppress."

"Until one rainy night, patrolling guards shot and killed one of the attackers on the spot. When they lit torches and saw what it looked like—"

"They're goblins," Sieg finished her sentence. "Right?"

The moment those words left her lips, the Sword Saintess's face paled noticeably.

The change was extremely brief, as fleeting as a flash of light. Yet, Sieg still saw it.

The Sword Saintess quickly steadied her breathing and spoke again:

"That's right. The real culprit is the goblin."

She paused for a moment, as if letting the words truly fall into place.

"The guards followed the clues and eventually pinpointed the underground sewers. It was too big and too chaotic, with layers upon layers of side passages, culverts, and abandoned tunnels. We issued a commission to the guild, but none of the people who went in have returned."

Zieg's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this.

Underground waterways are places where experience and vigilance are paramount. Poor visibility, chaotic terrain, and easy ambushes make them easy targets.

Moreover, those goblins were backed by beings who could command them, so it's not surprising that all the adventurers who went in were wiped out.

"I roughly understand what's going on," Sieg said, looking at her. "But if my teammates and I can clear the threats from the underground sewers, what kind of reward does the temple intend to offer?"

The Sword Saintess's voice remained gentle.

"I am grateful that you are willing to risk your lives for an unfamiliar city. If you can truly clean up the underground sewers, the temple will not let you work for nothing. As for the goblin bounty, it will be paid in full at the highest level, not a penny less."

Hearing this, Zieg already understood the situation.

This promise is enough.

Afterwards, the Sword Saintess handed him a map of the underground waterways. The map had been used many times, and the edges were slightly worn, but the lines were drawn very finely, clearly not something that had been copied casually.

Zieg put the map away and got up to take his leave.

As he turned to leave, the Sword Saintess's lips tightened slightly. She seemed to want to say something, but ultimately remained silent.