Debuff Master

Chapter 791

Chapter 791

The memorial service reached its climax.

Whoosh!

A fierce wind swept across the ceremony, stirring the air.

Sseuuuu!

A soft pale gray light descended from the heavens, bathing the entire venue.

And then—

Swoosh!

Thousands of faint shadows emerged from behind the altar, swirling through the sky in a haunting yet graceful dance.

“Oh! The souls of the fallen warriors!”

“The spirits of the dead have appeared!”

“Ah!”

The attendees of the memorial service gasped in awe, and their voices trembled with a mix of reverence and awe.

A miracle.

This was nothing short of a miracle.

Even on the Nurburg Continent, where magic and bizarre phenomena were commonplace, the appearance of spirits was extraordinarily rare.

Swoosh!

The ethereal spirits whirled around the venue like dancers. Their movements were so elegant and mesmerizing that the onlookers were left enchanted by it.

‘Gratitude of the Fallen Heroes? What kind of event is this?’ Siegfried wondered. He observed the swirling souls when a message popped up in front of his eyes.

[Alert: Due to your dedication, the souls of the soldiers who fell in battle have become guardian spirits of the Proatine Kingdom!]

[Alert: The guardian spirits are grateful to you!]

[Alert: Though they have lost their physical forms, their loyalty and respect for you will never waver!]

[Alert: The guardian spirits have bestowed their blessings upon the Proatine Kingdom and you!]

[Alert: You have received the buff Blessing of the Guardian Spirits!]

As soon as the system messages disappeared, the spirits cast a wide-area buff over the entire kingdom.

[Blessing of the Guardian Spirits]

[A blessing bestowed by the guardian spirits who were moved by the memorial service.]

[Type: Passive Buff Skill]

[Duration: Permanent]

[Effects: +3% to all stats of citizens of the Proatine Kingdom, +3% evasion rate in battle, +3% luck in battle, +10% stat increase during defensive battles]

“Oh?”

Siegfried’s face lit up with joy as he read the effects of the buff.

A mere three percent boost? It seemed small, but it was not small at all.

The three percent boost in stats, evasion, and luck could very well save lives in critical moments, and the ten percent stat increase during defensive operations was a significant bonus, making this buff truly exceptional.

‘Guardian spirits... thank you, all of you.’

He couldn't help but be grateful for the spirits’ unwavering devotion to protecting the Proatine Kingdom even in death, so he bowed deeply as the king and paid his respects to them.

Flash!

A brilliant flash of light illuminated the sky, and as if by magic, the fierce wind and the pale gray light vanished. In their place, warm golden rays of the sun shone down, showering the ceremonial venue with unexpected warmth in this cold season.

[Alert: Quest progress has reached 50%!]

The quest’s progress bar advanced to fifty percent.

‘This must be recorded!’

Royal Scribe Gringore hurriedly took out a parchment and hastily recorded the miraculous event. He was determined to preserve this historical moment for future generations to ensure that the tale of this miracle would be passed down through the ages.

Whether distant descendants would believe the accounts of his record as truth or dismiss it as mere legend, only time would tell.

***

After the memorial service, Siegfried hosted a medal ceremony followed by a performance for the Proatine Kingdom’s military personnel.

Both events unfolded seamlessly.

The performance, in particular, was a smashing success. Siegfried had invited the continent’s most celebrated performers using his vast resources, the crème de la crème of the entertainment world.

Their combined might as superstars created a sensation, turning the event into an unforgettable spectacle.

In fact, the crows grew so large that even the citizens of Preussen flocked to the military bases. What started as a morale-boosting event for the soldiers quickly transformed into a full-scale concert.

After the performances concluded...

Help my father...

I beg of you...

The voices that had been silent for quite a while now had returned to torment him.

“Honey? What’s wrong?” Brunhilde stirred.

She woke up upon hearing Siegfried's distressed voice.

“Nightmare?”

“No,” Siegfried replied. Then, he grimaced with visible irritation and added, “I keep hearing these... voices.”

“Voices?”

“Yeah, it’s like somebody is—" Siegfried stopped mid-sentence.

‘Hold on...’

He suddenly remembered the contents of the Epic Quest, "Who is it? Who Dares To Call Out To Me?"

‘It told me to listen closely to the call. Could this be the call?’

Siegfried asked Brunhilde to excuse him, and then he focused on the voices echoing in his head. To his surprise, the voices actually grew clearer.

Hero! Please save my father. I am begging you. I pray with all my heart.

A young girl’s voice pierced his consciousness, and her voice was filled with desperation.

I will do anything if you can save my father. Please hear my prayer, Hero.

‘Why am I hearing this, though? Also, how am I supposed to respond to her?’ Siegfried wondered. Then, he focused harder to try and reach out to her.

‘Can you hear me?’

Unfortunately, it seemed that his thoughts couldn't reach her at all.

You are my only hope, Hero. Please, save our village. Every day, I pray to you. Please!

‘Hey, can you hear me? Hello? Anyone there?’

If you help us just this once... I will give you everything. Please, Hero.

She kept praying, unaware that Siegfried could actually hear her.

‘It seems I can hear her, but how the hell do I respond to her?’ he thought in frustration.

It was then.

Rumble...!

His inventory opened on its own, and a pocket watch fell into his palm.

[Seeker of Faith]

[Did you call for me, young lamb? Lift up your head, for I am here now.]

[Type: Accessory]

[Rating: Legendary]

[Current Status: Unusable]

[Effect: Descent]

Siegfried finally understood what he needed to do, but before that, he turned to Brunhilde.

“Honey.”

“Yes, dear?”

“I need to go out for a bit.”

“Where to?”

“Someone needs my help.”

Brunhilde was at a loss, but she nodded. “Be safe.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I love you,” Brunhilde replied with a gentle smile. Then, she kissed him and said, “Come back soon, my love.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Siegfried hugged her tightly before focusing on the Seeker of Faith. He channeled his concentration into the pocket watch and then infused his Divine Power for the first time into an object out of his own volition.

“Descent,” Siegfried muttered.

Fwoosh!

A blinding flash of light erupted, engulfing Siegfried.

He vanished in the blink of an eye.

Brunhilde stared at the empty space where Siegfried stood just a few moments ago, and there was sorrow in her eyes.

“Poor thing... he must be really exhausted...” she said with a sigh before drifting back to sleep.