Chapter 300 ·Chapel? Fan Club?

Chapel? ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Fan Club?

Serea led the group to the business street. She believed that after yesterday's rush, the chapel's compatibility should have reached 50%. The sooner it unlocked, the easier things would become—mainly, she wanted to see what functions it offered.

But as soon as they reached the business street, they witnessed a spectacular scene.

"What happened here?"

Looking toward the street, they could see that the area in front of the opera house was surrounded by dense crowds, layer upon layer. The boisterous crowd kept shouting from time to time.

"Miss Candice!"

"We want to see our Goddess!"

The adventurers were shouting. Hearing this, Serea waved her hand.

"Let's go, let's check it out."

They squeezed closer to the crowd, who held up various portraits and signs, randomly pulling aside one person.

"Excuse me, what's going on here?"

"Huh? With all the commotion yesterday, you don't know?"

The turned-around adventurer responded. Upon this, Serea replied:

"I only heard there was a riot in the town yesterday."

"Yes, that! You could never imagine the scene—everyone in the town went mad, smashing and looting everywhere. I even heard they tried to attack Miss Avril's residence."

"And then?"

"Then our Goddess arrived."

"Goddess?"

"That's right—our Miss Candice! She was... no, she truly was a Goddess descended to earth. With just a song, the entire town's riot stopped. She saved every one of us!"

"So all of you are..."

"Waiting for Goddess Candice! You probably don't know, but although Miss Candice saved the whole town, she left without seeking credit or glory. We didn't even get a chance to thank her. Later, I heard she performed twice here before, so I figured I might see her again if I wait here. Looks like all these people think the same as I do."

As the man spoke, he pointed to the crowd surrounding the opera house. Their number easily reached three thousand—considering that the entire Trading Post, including all natives and adventurers, amounted to less than ten thousand people.

Hearing the constant 'Faith Crystal acquired *1' notification in her ear, Serea felt at a loss. Originally, she had only wanted to resolve the riot using 'diva magic,' but what started out as a side effect had blossomed into this...

After learning what happened, Serea quickly led her group away to avoid being surrounded by the crowd.

On the way to the chapel, Serea pondered a question.

"Maybe that plan is really workable—after all, except for Lilith, no one else knows that I am Candice..."

That was her thought, while behind her, Lola and the others covered their mouths, giggling to themselves.

The chapel was not far from the opera house. Arriving at the half-finished chapel, they found that the "Supreme Church" preaching point opposite had already been shut down, though a large number of adventurers still gathered outside it.

After the plot of the Supreme Church and 'Divine Medicine' was exposed, these believers' faith collapsed instantly and turned into uncontrollable fury. Each of their eyes was filled with blood, their minds slightly clouded—clearly symptoms of withdrawal.

"Damn it, did they escape?!"

They hammered at the shut door, able to vent their anger only in this way—until...

"Xiyun Merchant Guild people—the Xiyun Merchant Guild is here!"

Someone shouted. Upon hearing this, the adventurers turned around in unison. Then, as if crazed, they charged towards the chapel, where the Xiyun Merchant Guild's guards had formed lines of defense—barely enough to stop the addicts.

"Give me Divine Medicine!"

"Divine Medicine, quick, divine Medicine!"

Hearing the adventurers' shouts, the Xiyun Merchant Guild's squad leader tried to maintain order.

"Line up, everyone will get a share—don't rush."

Though he said that, the adventurers still pushed fiercely to the front, seemingly desperate to be the first to receive the 'antidote' marked with the emblem of the Darkmoon clan.

Many addicts took the antidote immediately, showing expressions of relief right after, but before they could rejoice further, the adventurers behind them quickly shoved them aside.

This made Serea suspicious.

"That kind of potion is..."

"It's Spring of Life."

Dogsius suddenly appeared.

"Spring of Life?"

"Yes, I experimented with various antidotes and medicines before. In the end, I determined that the Spring of Life could purify the addiction caused by long-term use of 'Divine Medicine.' So, miss Avril used the Spring of Life she had prepared last time for the 'Undead Plague' to help the addicts in the camp."

"She's helping for free..."

Serea muttered. From this, one could see why Avril was able to develop the Trading Post to such an extent.

This Supreme Church incident had nothing much to do with her, and she could have chosen to sell the Spring of Life. No matter how expensive, the addicts would have paid, but she didn't.

Watching the grateful adventurers leave, Serea understood Avril's reasoning. By this action, the followers' 'faith' of the Supreme Church would completely transfer to the Xiyun Merchant Guild and...

Looking at the Darkmoon clan emblem on the potion bottle—this was truly the best advertisement. Moreover, avril even chose to distribute the Spring of Life at the chapel, thus, invisibly helping Serea gather faith as well.

A successful merchant considered all angles; and clearly, avril was such a person.

"My Queen."

Someone came over and whispered—it was Leon.

"It's you—are you here to distribute potions?"

"Yes, and also to guard the chapel, in case of trouble."

As they spoke, another person approached.

"Leon, seriously, slacking off again!"

It was a woman of the Cangyue fox tribe, dressed in lightweight leather armor and looking quite dashing. She headed straight for Leon, but only noticed Serea after approaching.

"And you are..."

Recalling Avril's instructions, although Sabela hadn't met these mysterious girls before, she vaguely guessed their identities, greeting respectfully,

"Honored guests, hello."

"Hello to you."

Serea nodded gently. Seeing Sabela was in a hurry to find Leon, she added,

"If you two have things to do, go ahead."

"Then, queen, I'll take my leave."

Seeing the crowd start losing control, sabela quickly dragged Leon to help maintain order.

"I get the feeling I've seen that girl before..."

Serea remarked, but didn't dwell on it. Entering the chapel,

"Unlock Evil God Chapel!"

System: The blueprint 'Evil God Chapel' matches the current building at 53% compatibility. Consume 200 Faith Crystals and 100 fear crystals to unlock construction?

Since just one main hall was done, the chapel could be unlocked. Serea checked her stock of Faith Crystals—she still had 1320.

"Unlock!"

The Faith Crystals and fear crystals appeared. As the unlocking was completed inside the chapel, nobody outside saw what happened. All they saw was...

"That's—!"

The entire chapel released a faint black glow, emanating a power both fearful and awe-inspiring. This paradoxical blend drew the outside adventurers' attention.

Meanwhile, Serea faced a choice.

System: Please select a faith and erect a deity statue.

"So I need to place the image of the one to be worshipped here. If I choose Candice, I'll surely get a lot of Faith Crystals... but..."

Serea hesitated, but the constant 'Faith Crystal acquired *1' notification tipped her decision.

"Ahem... Since Miss Candice helped us so much, I will set up a 'fan club' for her here. Yes, that's right, what do you all think?"

She stated this unblushingly. Lola and the others exchanged confused glances.

"A fan club?"

"Er... how to explain? Anyway, it's a place for people to fall in love with Miss Candice's songs."

"That sounds great. We'll listen to you, queen."

Everyone smiled knowingly, though Serea didn't notice. She simply clapped her hands and said,

"Well... since that's the case, let's do it! All to thank Miss Candice for her help."

Thus, while everyone watched her with stifled giggles, Serea selected the chapel's faith, then—

System: Erecting a statue requires 1,000 devout believers. Deity 'Candice' meets the requirement. Consume 100 Faith Crystals to erect.

"Do it!"

System: Please name the church.

"Since it's a fan club, let's call it the Candice Support Group!"

System: Naming complete.

Immediately, the Faith Crystals shot forth and condensed in the middle of the chapel's main hall. Then a circle of milky-white halo radiated out, forcing everyone to shut their eyes. Once their vision returned—

Candice!

At the very front of the main hall stood a statue of Candice in her diva outfit, holding a microphone. And that pose—

The girl stood on one leg, the other bent backward, one hand making a gun, the other pressing a finger to her lips—there it was, that embarrassing pose!

"Love you all!"

That echo reverberated in Serea's mind. Her black history so exposed, she flew into a rage, contacting the System at once.

"System! Change that statue for me!!!"

System: Statue has been erected, faith has been established. Changing it requires destroying the statue and re-unlocking the chapel.

"Ahhh!!!"

Returning to reality in frustration, she saw everyone gazing at the statue admiringly—it was so lifelike, it almost seemed about to come alive.

But—

"Love you all... Love you all... Love you all..."

Those words echoed endlessly in Serea's mind, freezing her in shock.

"So pretty. Miss Candice will be overjoyed when she hears,"

Lola said, barely suppressing laughter, while Dogsius noticed Serea's rigidity—she seemed more like a statue than the real one.

"Master, are you okay?"

"O-Of course I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be!"

Forcing a smile to hide her awkwardness, Serea muttered,

"The one embarrassed is Candice, not me. Embarrassed is Candice, not me. Embarrassed is me, not Candice!"

After reciting this three times, Serea took a deep breath and opened the chapel's management panel.

Believer's Mark: Grants believers a certain power boost.

This was easy enough—the mark on Lilith, for example, strengthened her light attribute magic.

She checked the available units.

Candice Support Group Believer: Requires a devout believer; consumes 3 Faith Crystals to grant the believer's mark.

Candice Support Group Missionary (building compatibility insufficient, not unlocked): Requires a steadfast believer; consumes 20 Faith Crystals to grant missionary's mark.

(Note: believers come in common, devout, steadfast, fanatic)

As expected, the Abyss Altar's path diverged greatly from the other two altars—the power lay in its invisible domination through 'faith'.

Of course, it wasn't without martial force—Serea could already build a Fear Sacrificial Altar and an Inquisitor's Hall.

The Fear Sacrificial Altar would be built at the Darkmoon clan camp—after all, not everyone could handle such power. The Inquisitor's Hall could be developed at the Trading Post, eventually forming Candice's own Knight Order.

Just as Serea was thinking this, a voice suddenly shouted—

"Miss Candice! That's really Miss Candice!"

Hearing this, Serea turned to see a large group of adventurers gathered at the entrance, recognizing Candice's statue at a glance.

Faith Crystals were being generated bit by bit. Seeing this, Serea and her companions retreated as the adventurers surged into the main hall.

"This is Miss Candice's church?"

"So... Miss Candice is a deity? But do gods really exist?"

"I don't care—Miss Candice is my Goddess. I'll be her faithful believer!"

Adventurers who had come for the antidote now poured into the chapel to worship the statue of Candice. Then—

System: Detected common believers *227, devout believers *256, steadfast believers *84, fanatic believers *37.

"Looks like we're not short on believers... So..."

Stretching out her hand, Serea took out a badge. The badge had no special use—she'd probably just picked it up somewhere—but—

"Imbue 'Believer's Mark'!"

3 Faith Crystals consumed, the badge was granted the mark.

Candice Support Group Believer's Mark Badge (Blue): Wearers with faith in Candice at devout or above gain +10% spirit recovery and their generated Faith Power increases by 10%.

A quite ordinary accessory—but—

By wearing it, a believer's faith generated for "Candice" would be increased, which basically meant an increase in Faith Crystal income. Amazing!

System: More powerful 'Marks' have been added to the lottery pool.

"I just knew it..."

Serea blushed in embarrassment.

(To be continued...)

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