Iris - Exorcist

[Iris]
A watchwoman who guards the Devil's Forest. She is guarding Michael so that no one can approach him, even while feeling compassion toward him. She secretly tries to let Michael reach the human world by helping adventurers.
Exorcist Recruitment Quest
Location: Devil's Forest

Hello.
You look somewhat bewildered. I sense some confusion from you as to what, exactly, this place is.
Then again, seeing a great forest deep inside of this frozen valley would surprise anyone, am I right?
Allow me to introduce myself. I am [Iris].
I am what most mortals call an angel.
Hmmm... As you can see, I don't have wings, but things are a little different here.
You'll come to understand bit by bit.
~
... Shhh! Someone must have noticed your arrival, warrior.
Please get rid of them.
No one can know that you are here.

Thank you.
You've made me feel somewhat relieved.

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

Where should I begin..?
The truth is, this place is not of the reality you know. However, that doesn't mean that this place doesn't exist.
This place is part of another dimension...
It's on a different plane of existence. It exists and yet at the same time, it doesn't.
~
How should I say this... Would it help you to understand if I said that this world is an extension of your current reality? You can think of it as a world inside your dreams while you are asleep.
I will explain it in detail, but first, please bring me the [Dream Shards] from the evil spirits that wander around this area.
It is not an easy task that I ask of you, but it is of absolute necessity for the continued survival of this world.

Thank you for your hard work.
Because of your efforts, warrior, the world will find peace.

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

In the beginning, there was Heaven and Hell.
Heaven was where angels, like myself, lived serving our Lord, and Hell was where the dark forces grew, with Lucifer as their master.
Then one day, a war broke out. Hell, who always had their eyes on conquering Heaven, constantly attacked us.
On orders from our Lord, Heaven rallied around the great [Michael] and tried to repel the invasion of Hell, but fighting off the great forces of darkness wasn't as easy as we thought.
A long, one thousand-year war began...
In the end, Heaven was on the verge of winning the battle.
That was when the great [Michael] committed a grave sin.
Our Lord commanded us to capture Lucifer alive at all costs, but for some reason [Michael] cut off the head of Lucifer with one sword stroke.
Our Lord was furious, but [Michael] was unfazed.
You see, this is where the most powerful angel of ancient times was confined for the crime of disobeying the Lord's orders.
This place is one giant prison.
~
Go deep into the forest, and you will find a demon named [Citratus].
Do not ask why, but just pretend that you found this place by chance. When he commands you to carry out several deeds, please do so.
We must gain his trust so that we can use him.

Wonderful. You have used him well.
He will be a big help to us from now on.

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

Now that you have met the demon, what are your thoughts on him?
Oh? You seem to think he's a few cards short of a full deck.
Hee... I wonder if there is anyone who takes demons as lightly as you do.
Ha ha ha. The more I think about it, the funnier it gets.
Even if you used the potion given to you by [Citratus], you must still be on your guard.
This place is surrounded by several layers of surveillance.
Even after being stripped of his power, the mere presence of [Michael] is a danger.
~
This place is swarming with [Night Watchers] and [Night Guardians].
They carry [Watching Bells] with them, and are supposed to ring them if they encounter strange invaders.
If... those [Watching Bells] were to ring, this place would be completely surrounded and no one would be able to escape.
Please retrieve those [Watching Bells] and bring them here.

You have done well.
This will allow you to move in the [Devil's Forest] undetected.

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

Have you ever wondered why this place was located in the depths of this frozen land?
The great [Michael] is blindly loyal to the Lord. It's like...
the religious faith that people commonly have.
No matter how cruel a punishment he is given, he will never betray the Lord.
Nevertheless, many angels asked the Lord to strip him of his magic powers, and on top of that, to create an alternate dimension to isolate him from the world.
That wasn't the end of it. They set a boundary around the place where he was imprisoned, so that his scattered magic powers could not come together again.
Complete and utter isolation was achieved...
~
For thousands of years I have followed Heaven's edict to watch over him.
But... I have decided to free him from this place. To do that, first we need to use [Citratus].
Now... Return to him once more.

Good work.
I thank you on behalf of the great [Michael].

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

Using [Citratus] has paid off. Warrior, when you defeated the [Succubus], its scream echoed throughout the entire [Devil's Forest].
It must have reached the second floor of the [Prison of Night] as well.
~
Yes. The prison has two levels. [Michael] is still sleeping in the prison.
First, before this place is completely surrounded and isolated, hurry to the upper level of the prison. Take the [Night Chains] from the [Night Prison Guards] and [Chief Prison Guards].
If those chains are linked together, this place will be completely isolated from reality. Please hurry.

Thank goodness.
Looks like we'll manage to make it in time.

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

Oh... It seems that [Michael] is imprisoned inside this seal, in a state of endless sleep.
I had forgotten that the seal's binding power has to be nullified.
~
I need Gold Ingots to break the binding power. It's rare...
Can you find me some?

These must not have been easy to obtain.
Thank you.
With this, all the ingredients for nullifying the seal have been prepared.

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

The actual ruler of this place is [Incubus].
It is the mate of the [Succubus] and the ruler of the night and dreams.
Now that it has heard the scream of its mate, it will certainly begin to stir.
~
Oh, dear... Maybe he will use the [Prison Tyrants] and destroy the seal [Michael] is in.
Or perhaps they will send him to another dimension that cannot be found... Oh no...
Please hurry. Go up to the second floor of the [Prison of Night] and destroy them.

Thank you, thank you.
If anything had happened to the great [Michael], I would never have forgiven myself.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

[Incubus] is in the [Room of Nightmares], deep inside the second level of the prison.
Considering the circumstances, he must be planning to flee this place, and take [Michael]'s seal with him.
I'm sure of it.
~
Please go and destroy [Incubus].
Also, bring me [Michael's Sealed Form].
I'm begging you!

Thank you... Thank you...
So this is [Michael's Sealed Form]...
Thank you so much!

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...

Everyone thinks of the great [Michael] as a fierce warrior, but he is actually kinder and more considerate than anybody else.
His heart is full of absolute loyalty and piety for the Lord.
His strength comes from that faith.
He is a true angel.
~
I'm about to nullify the binding power that was placed upon the seal.
First I will need [Platinum Ingots] to create a new seal. Could you bring me some?

Please accept this.
Even though his memories have been taken from him, all his powers bound, and his magic scattered away...
He is still [Michael].
His physical strength alone makes him a force to be reckoned with.
He won't have any memories from the time he was an angel. He won't be at full power nor have his infinite arsenal of abilities.
He may even be in a very weak state after all his powers were taken from him.
But I believe in you, warrior.
I believe that you will reawaken his abilities.
When you so desire, warrior, the great [Michael] will lend you enormous strength.
He will be in the form of a human, not an angel... Still, being able to see him walk freely on his own feet, underneath this sky...
I could not wish for more than that.
I am just happy that the great [Michael] has been freed from this place.
I cannot leave this place, but I will be cheering for you from afar, warrior.
If you ever think of me, please drop by sometime.
Thank you...
I entrust [Michael] to your care.

Light and dark will always exist together.
There is nothing as frightful as blind trust.
When you draw closer to the truth, it is wiser to close your eyes sometimes...