The Great Cathedral

After their fruitless search of the monastery, Himmel and his companions returned to the hillside.

Frieren used magic to light a campfire.

Heiter sighed, looking helpless, and said, "There's no other way; we can only search for clues bit by bit."

Himmel nodded and said, "Many villages are scattered across the Northern Plateau; perhaps we can find out some folk tales or legends in those historically significant villages."

That's true, but he didn't have high hopes for it.

Even the monastery couldn't find any information about the [Goddess's Monument], let alone the villages.

"Folk tales or rumors..." Heiter murmured thoughtfully, "There is indeed a possibility of finding information in this area."

"Then let's go visit some of the nearby villages."

Eisen stirred the mushroom soup that had already come to a boil, put down the ladle, rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-developed biceps.

"You're asking the villagers for information, right? I'm good at that!"

Seeing this, Himmel laughed and said, "Physical strength is our forte!"

Heiter gave a wry smile and muttered, "You idiots who never get tired..."

Frieren wholeheartedly agreed with Heiter's assessment of Himmel and Eisen.

Visiting villages on the Northern Plateau is a very physically demanding activity.

Especially when [Flight Magic] cannot be used.

To prevent Magical Beast invasions, villages on the Northern Plateau are built in locations with complex terrain.

Frieren said softly, "Reaching the locations of those villages won't be an easy task."

"Indeed." Himmel nodded, his expression becoming much more serious. "All the villages we've visited so far have been built in extremely precarious locations."

"Some are perched on cliffs, some at the bottom of secluded valleys, and some are even built on isolated islands in lakes."

"Yes," Eisen nodded, "Even I was startled when I saw the village inside the cave."

Frieren tilted her head, looking at Eisen with some confusion, and asked, "Isn't this normal for dwarves?"

"... What do you take dwarves for?" Eisen explained helplessly.

"Although many dwarves make their living through mining and blacksmithing, we will primarily live on the surface."

"Without sunlight, even getting up in the morning is uncomfortable."

Basically?

In other words, there are still dwarves living in underground caves.

Frieren nodded thoughtfully and said, "I see."

Heiter, kneeling on the ground beside him, said with a look of utter despair:

"So, we're going to visit villages like this again..."

"I hope I have enough stamina..."

Constantly traveling is indeed too difficult for monks.

But this is not something that is completely insurmountable.

Especially for Heiter, Himmel had a super effective method.

"Isn't this a good thing? The more villages we visit, the more fine wines we can taste, right?"

Heiter paused for a moment, then stood up abruptly, clenched his fists, and looked excited.

"Let's not delay! Let's set off now!"

Seeing that no one moved, Heiter looked at them and said, "Why aren't you moving? Aren't we supposed to hurry up and visit the villages to gather intelligence?"

Eisen: "In the end, you still want to drink..."

Frieren: "A drunkard and a meat-eater monk."

Himmel didn't say anything, but her laughter said a lot.

Heiter showed absolutely no embarrassment and laughed along with Himmel.

The following evening.

In the village.

Himmel, Frieren, and Eisen searched the entire village but still couldn't get any useful information.

In fact, most people have never even heard of the [Goddess's Monument].

As for why there were three people...

Inside the tavern, Heiter was leaning on the bar counter, with three or four large empty wine glasses beside him.

Himmel stepped forward and said with a slightly helpless tone, "Heiter, we should go. How long are you planning to drink?"

Heiter abruptly raised his head and mumbled a retort, "Nonsense! I don't call this drinking."

"I'm trying to get information from the boss."

Himmel looked at the owner behind the bar. "Boss, do you know anything?"

Behind the bar, the young owner pondered for a moment, recalling that when Heiter first came to the tavern, he had indeed asked him about the [Goddess's Monument].

"I have absolutely no idea."

Himmel shook Heiter's shoulders, trying to wake him up as he Heiter down again.

The boss said he didn't know!

Frieren: "A drunkard and a meat-eater monk."

It was already quite late, and only Himmel and his three companions remained in the tavern.

Although it was somewhat impolite, the shop owner still gave a wry smile and said, "Um, could you please take him with you? Our shop is about to close."

Heiter didn't move, remaining slumped over the bar.

Himmel sighed, grabbed Heiter by the collar, and dragged him out of the shop.

Just as the group was about to leave the tavern, the owner suddenly called out to Himmel and his companions.

"Speaking of which, the adventurer group based in this village once said that there is a ruin deep in the southern forest, a town from the time of the Unified Empire."

"I've heard there's a large cathedral in the center of that town."

"Perhaps you can find useful intelligence somewhere."

Himmel thanked the shopkeeper, then frowned and said, "However, since you heard about this from an adventurer's group..."

Frieren understood and added, "Yeah, maybe that ruin has already been explored completely, and the valuables have probably all been taken."

The boss shook his head and explained, "You don't need to worry about that."

"The adventure party that set out to explore the ruins never returned."

The adventure team that used this village as its base never returned.

It seems that the town ruins from the Unified Empire era are no ordinary place.

Himmel thought this to herself, then exchanged a glance with Frieren.

There was no fear in their eyes; instead, they both revealed a restless, eager intent.

Himmel loved adventure; when she encountered mazes or other such places, she would thoroughly explore even the side paths.

Frieren thought that the Grand Cathedral might contain Grimoires from the Unified Empire era, which could supplement her collection.

Heiter, his face flushed, was being dragged along. Holding his empty wine glass, he muttered, "See? I knew the tavern had intelligence!"

Himmel: "..."

Frieren: "..."

Eisen: "..."

Boss. "..."

Sorry, guys.

I got a fever on my first day here and felt dizzy for two days.

I was feeling better, but then I ate something and started vomiting all night.

I vomited up bile.

A bit unlucky.

I'll update this now; I don't have much time for work right now.