Chapter 243
Chapter 243
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-1. Iris
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As Arhil had said, warm water gushed out from the bathroom faucet. After standing under the hot spray for a good while, Judah gradually felt his sleepiness fade. He used the soap in the bathroom to wash his body.
After drying off with a thick towel, Judah stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed and changed into fresh clothes.
"You don't seem embarrassed at all."
Arhil, who had been lying on the neatly made bed reading a book, stared openly at Judah's naked body as she spoke. Her face was a little flushed. She held the book up to cover her mouth, perhaps to hide her expression, but her two blue eyes never left Judah's form.
"......"
"...W-what is it?"
Their eyes met, but instead of looking away—perhaps thinking that turning first meant defeat—she boldly held his gaze. Her stare was a bit burdensome, but since he was at least wearing underwear, it wasn't too embarrassing.
"It's fine if it's you, Arhil."
"Hmm... Does that mean you're allowing it because it's me?"
When Arhil suddenly sat up and asked, Judah simply answered yes.
"Because it's me. Because it's you, it's okay? Hehe."
He hadn't meant anything by it, but Arhil nodded with a satisfied expression. She even let out a pleased laugh. Tilting his head in confusion, Judah pulled out clothes made from Black Wolf hide and a coat made from Requiem's leather from his <Bag> and put them on. Their durability had been quite damaged, but over time, the power of the imbued in the garments had restored them, making them as good as new. Once he had draped the coat over his shoulders, Judah turned to look at Arhil.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"Of course I am!"
"Then shall we head down and order breakfast?"
Arhil rolled her eyes as if pondering for a moment.
"Couldn't we just have it sent up here? I don't see why we need to eat downstairs."
"It's not that you just don't want to get out of bed?"
"Hehe. Busted?"
"I'm the same way about going down and coming back up, so let's go together."
He extended a hand to Arhil, who was making a displeased face. With a small sigh, she finally took it. Giving a tug, he pulled her from the bed, and they left the room. The single room was directly across from the double. Lime's room was right opposite. He knocked on the door and called his name, but there was no response.
*Still sleeping?*
The door was locked. He knocked again, but still nothing. Checking his , Judah saw Lime wasn't in his second-floor room but down on the first floor. He told Arhil to head down first, then descended and looked for Lime, but he wasn't in the hall. With no other choice, Judah reactivated his and pinpointed his location.
The kitchen.
He was in the kitchen, not the hall. It seemed he'd somehow gotten permission to learn cooking. A server approached the empty table where Judah sat and asked what he'd like to order. After a moment's thought, he requested hearty meat to fill his stomach along with a fresh vegetable salad and paid. Shortly after, to his surprise, it was Lime who wheeled over a cart laden with food. He waved cheerfully.
"Good morning. You slept in quite late."
"I got a good, long rest for once. But you're really learning to cook?"
As he transferred the food from the cart to the table, Lime nodded as if it were the most natural thing.
"Once I've said I'll learn, I plan to do my best. It's only a week, but fortunately, they allowed it. Well... as an employee, I do feel quite sorry for taking personal time like this..."
"It's fine. I permitted it yesterday anyway, and since we're staying here a week, it'll put my mind at ease if you use that time productively."
Lime gave a light laugh.
"That eases my mind. Thank you. Well then, enjoy your breakfast. I'll head back to continue learning."
With a hearty "haha," Lime wheeled the empty cart back to the kitchen. After a filling breakfast with Arhil, Judah recalled the temple he'd noted yesterday. As their meal was wrapping up, he mentioned it to her.
"The temple?"
She didn't seem eager to go. She took a sip of water and fell silent for a moment before sighing with a face full of reluctance.
"Well, I suppose I do need to visit to offer prayers to Lady Yophiel. It's been ages since I last set foot in a temple as a priestess."
"Don't you need priestess robes or something? How about buying new ones while we're at it?"
In this world, no different from an RPG game, good armor, weapons, and accessories held special powers. Some boosted the user's stats, while others activated enchanted magic in dire moments to save the wearer.
In short, good gear was a spare life.
"Hmm..."
Arhil knew this too, so she pondered Judah's sudden suggestion.
Acquiring new equipment was important even for a priestess who supported allies from the rear.
Magicians used gem-studded staves or rods to wield mana more efficiently. The same went for priestesses. For efficient holy magic, specially refined rosaries were ideal.
In Arhil's case, she could cast holy magic without one, but that was because she was exceptional—not the norm for ordinary priestesses, for whom rosaries were essential.
*Should I get one too...?*
If she used a rosary, her holy magic efficiency would amplify further.
*Her priestess robes are old too.*
They dated back to when she first left the temple, so it was time for new ones. They could buy rosaries, robes, and even holy water if needed. But right now, equipment took priority over consumables like holy water.
Priestesses in particular could only purchase certain temple gear based on their holy power level. Hers had grown significantly since being chosen as Gabriel's saintess. It had been respectable before, but now it rivaled a high priest or bishop.
"You're right. Who knows when we'll visit another temple, so I should stock up while we're here."
"That annoying?"
"Of course not. Well, maybe it is a bit. If the bishop's there, I might even receive teachings on holy magic, which could mean shuttling back and forth to the temple for days."
Arhil sighed and poked at the nearly empty salad bowl with her fork. She'd thought she could just pop in and learn a skill, but as a non-player, talent and time were required. Even if she picked up a new one, mastering it would take effort. Judah wondered if he'd burdened her unnecessarily, but since it would surely help someday, he just smiled at her.
"Haa— If I have to go anyway..., I should learn it as quickly as possible. Can you guide me to the temple?"
She could go alone. Finding a temple wasn't hard. But Arhil wanted to walk with Judah. Though she'd said it casually, her quiet wish had slipped out.
"Of course."
He hadn't noticed her feelings, but he had no intention of refusing. Priestesses were rare. Adventurers and mercenaries coveted them most; sending her off alone would draw hunters like moths to a flame. And being a beauty, she'd attract even more impure interest.
They finished eating and promptly left for the temple. He'd been unsure which one, but luckily, it was the one dedicated to Holy King Yophiel. Smaller than the one in Serenia Castle. With a nearby labyrinth, injured adventurers and mercenaries were common sights—a group carried a comrade up the steps on his back as a priestess rushed out to hurriedly lead them inside. It seemed routine; passersby merely glanced before going on their way.
Arhil stopped a passing priestess and politely asked after the bishop. The priestess kindly answered and even escorted her. The bishop was a woman with a kindly face. Judah gave a brief greeting and waited outside. Soon after, Arhil emerged with an apologetic look.
"What do we do? It seems like it'll take some time..."
"Then we'll come back this evening. I'll pick you up then."
Arhil gave a wry smile at Judah's words. It felt like escorting a child lest she get lost. Not a bad feeling, but she wanted to sulk a little.
"I can find my way, you know?"
"There are plenty of wolves who prey on lost lambs."
He'd seen men wandering the temple eyeing Arhil with wide eyes and lecherous, sticky gazes. He couldn't leave her alone.
"Hehe, got it. See you this evening then. I'll be working hard."
"Yeah."
Judah watched Arhil follow the bishop inside before leaving the temple. With Lime learning to cook and Arhil buying gear and skills at the temple, he naturally ended up alone. Not intentional. Wandering the streets after descending the temple steps, Judah fell into thought.
Now, recruiting Moonlit Iris would wrap up his business here. Normally, players had no chance to recruit her once she joined Judah. But many players coveted her abilities and beauty, petitioning for recruitment options. Initially refused, the developers eventually added special conditions to enable it.
*But I'm Judah, not Kain.*
He wouldn't need those conditions. Opportunity would come. If not, he'd approach her directly and ask to join. He preferred not—letting her test him naturally, passing to build trust, and recruiting her that way.
Lost in such thoughts, he wandered the city like a aimless ghost. As sunset neared, shadows lengthened in the streets. Magical streetlamps at intervals remained unlit.
*Hmm.*
With many taverns, drunken rough-looking mercenaries stumbled about, raucous noise echoing everywhere. A high-crime area, patrolled by occasional soldiers.
Then Judah spotted her: Moonlit Iris. He wasn't the only one watching her light steps. A handsome man leaning against a wall snatched her wrist as she passed.
"!"
She instinctively tried to shake off the approaching hand but froze upon locking eyes with Judah. The man yanked her effortlessly into an alley. She vanished from sight in an instant, and it seemed only Judah had witnessed it.
Coincidence?
The opportunity had come far sooner than expected.