Chapter 83
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: 17. Who Was Eavesdropping... (3)
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It hadn't been long since the Pope arrived at the main hall. With every parishioner's eyes fixed on her, she climbed the podium with light, measured steps.
And then she began her speech, amplified by magic—as expected, it was nothing but formal platitudes.
His Holiness in heaven had chosen a hero for us. We must sacrifice our lives to vanquish the scourge of evil. It was all just tired old clichés, spilling out one after another.
In the game, at least you could hold the control key to skip through it, but here? No such luck. I could only sigh inwardly.
Haa... Anyway, this is where it really begins...
It had been so long. I'd dropped into this world three or four years before the hero was even chosen, and I'd nearly collapsed from exhaustion waiting for this moment.
After holding out that long, it finally felt like we were at the very start.
It was oddly surreal to finally see the opening dragon from the game's intro after all this time.
How many more years do I have to spend here...?
No—will I even be able to return to my original world?
Once this interminable speech ended, the real hell would begin. Tomorrow, I'd be selected as the hero's companion, dragged off to the Demon Continent to fight monstrous abominations that barely qualified as human, and only after decades would peace finally arrive.
Of course, it'd be great if I could have a smooth talk with Saintess Amaness beforehand and find a way home, but fat chance of that.
The first time I met her, she was furious with me for some reason... Guess I'll have to calm her down somehow. It wasn't like I had any other options.
"For so long, we have suffered under the root of the demonic beasts known as the Scourge of Evil. Now, it is time to sever that stubborn bond!"
The Pope scratched at her throat, pouring out emotion in her speech. By now, her reptilian slit pupils were flashing with intensity, captivating the crowd with her commanding presence.
Woooah!
Hero! Hero!
Waaaaah!
Cheers erupted from all around. Satisfied, she raised both hands to the heavens and slowly descended from the podium.
And then...
[Quest has been updated.]
A translucent window popped up in front of me—one I hadn't seen in ages.
Quest? Had this been a thing? It had been so long I'd forgotten. They used to pop up all the time early on when I was trying to raise my Corruption Value... but after it hit a certain point, I'd never seen one again.
It felt like just yesterday I'd been threatened that it'd go to 100 if I ignored them, and now those memories were creeping back, giving me a headache.
Amaness's doing?
Hard to say. She seemed to know about my Corruption Value, but whether she knew about this too? Who knows.
Still, odds are it was that bitch Amaness. She'd even threatened to raise my Corruption Value last time. Figured she had the authority to hand out quests too.
I bit my lip and focused on the center of the transparent window. Mentally clicking the alert.
[Help the Hero Party Destroy 3 Seeds of Disaster.]
Details: Hey, do I really gotta spell this out? You know the drill. Tomorrow at the hero selection—don't even think about running. Bet you're thrilled I'm looking forward to seeing your face, huh?
Reward: Piss off
Failure: 🖕
Artistic quest description, really. I'd played hundreds of games in my life, but this was a first.
No instructions on what to do—just a bunch of whatever she felt like saying. It was so ridiculous I couldn't help but admire it.
"Priest...? Are you alright?"
"Huh? Yeah?"
I quickly dismissed the quest window, my vision clearing. At some point, Deacon Rachel had leaned in close, tilting her head at me.
"It's over now. Priest, are you feeling unwell or...?"
"No, no. Just spaced out for a second."
I gave an awkward smile and stood. Sure enough, as Deacon Rachel said, the crowd was dispersing.
Oh, what about Bishop Lisa?
A quick glance—her seat was empty. She'd been right there a moment ago, but now she was gone without a trace.
"If you mean the Bishop, she said she was tired and went to rest."
"Ah, I see."
Deacon Rachel saw right through me.
She'd looked exhausted earlier, and the moment the speech ended, she'd bolted like she'd been waiting for it.
"Well, Priest, I'll head in too."
"Sure, good work, Deacon Rachel."
"..."
She bowed her head and walked toward the church interior.
I watched her go, hesitating a moment before calling her back.
"Deacon...?"
"Ah, yes."
"Got a minute to talk? There's something important I need to tell you..."
It felt like the time had finally come.
The church's back storage room, where no one ever came. Following Priest Isaiah inside, she was visibly anxious.
No way she found out, right?
Her mind raced with possibilities. If she'd been caught eavesdropping yesterday, that was a disaster. Her heart was already a mess over it—please, anything but that.
"This should do."
The storage room reeked of dust and mildew, thick layers coating everything.
Priest Isaiah let out a long breath, satisfied with the spot, then turned to gaze at Rachel intently.
Obviously couldn't say it in front of others, so he'd brought her here?
Her mouth went dry with tension, her expression twisting further. She was caught. What else could it be?
What should she say? Throw herself at his feet? No... It wasn't even her fault. If anything, the Priest had betrayed her. She'd adored him so much, endured everything just watching him—and this was squarely his fault.
"Deacon Rachel?"
"Y-yes!"
His voice snapped her back. She clenched her fists, tensing every muscle to hold onto her sanity.
"I think... I've been chosen as a saint. I'll have to leave here soon."
"..."
...Huh? What?
His completely unexpected words made her clear blue eyes widen like crashing waves.
No, wait—what? Chosen as what?
She doubted her ears. It was so out of left field, she was utterly flustered.
A saint—one of the hero party's members, right? So the Priest was the one His Holiness would anoint?
But tomorrow, His Holiness was supposed to descend in person... Ah... Her head hurt.
"Priest, what do you mean all of a sudden...? His Holiness hasn't even prophesied it yet..."
"He came to me in a dream. Told me to go."
"N-no... Are you sure it wasn't a mistake...?"
She pressed, but he shook his head firmly, eyes filled with sorrow. No joke.
...No. Yesterday's eavesdropping was nothing. If he joined the hero party, he'd be stuck on the Demon Continent for years—maybe decades. By the time she saw him again, he could be a wrinkled old man.
And it was life-or-death battles, too.
He could die anywhere, anytime...
"No! Then I'm coming too!"
Unpleasant thoughts flashed through her mind as she grabbed his shoulders. She couldn't let him go. If he had to go, she'd follow no matter what. She couldn't live without him. She'd close her eyes to whatever he did with Bishop Lisa. Please.
"Haa... Knew you'd say that. Deacon, can you protect yourself?"
"Pardon?"
"To be honest... You're... weaker than me."
"..."
Weaker. Not physically—despite her title, her Divine Power and skills were clearly inferior.
Heading to a demon-infested land? To the hero, she'd just be dead weight. Even if the Priest allowed it, the others wouldn't—and she knew the odds were zero.
Fair enough. Last year, she'd frozen against a goblin, hiding behind the one she was supposed to protect. Of course he didn't trust her. What could she even do?
"Th-then... at least let me be the pack mule..."
"Deacon Rachel..."
Just her name, but heavy with finality. His voice had never been firmer.
Speechless, Rachel let her hands drop.
Damn... Tears are welling up again.