Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: I Respect the Saint (1)
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"What are you looking at?"
I stepped outside right after waking up, and there was Headless along with the miscellaneous ghosts staring at me.
Like they were looking at a total idiot.
Their faces practically screamed, How can he just sleep like that?
"Oh...?"
- ....
Headless shoved his head forward with both hands.
Acting all cheeky—he must think I'm a total pushover now.
I figured it was about time to give the rattle a good shake after so long.
"What, did you all get your heads chopped off this morning or something?"
- .....
Sulky.
Headless and the ghosts' expressions darkened in an instant.
The miscellaneous ghosts with big wounds on their heads hung their heads low.
Even I thought that was a bit harsh.
"...Sorry."
- ....
"...Who told you to commit crimes and get killed?"
- ....
"I'll tell Serena to prepare some proper offerings for you."
The number of ghosts had increased.
About twice the usual.
They must have really taken a liking to the place since gathering yesterday.
"Still, this is a place where people live... why are there so many ghosts...?"
It's not like it's a goblin den or anything...
I walked into the shrine and nodded at the lit candles.
They were burning steadily without issue—nothing seemed wrong.
"Hmm..."
And then there was the newly added candle.
Serena had heard about the candles and lit one for me.
It seemed to be burning a little faster than the others.
"Wonder if anything'll happen today?"
I plopped down in front of the small table at the shrine's entrance and grabbed the pile of seeds I'd gathered.
Ding-a-ling—
Ding-a-ling—
"Let's see..."
Clatter—
"Good divine luck... good health..."
The seed arrangement was satisfying.
I hadn't planned it that way, but after accumulating merits here and there, my fortunes had cleared right up.
Right now, everything came easily—my energy was that good.
"Looks like customers are coming."
One corner of the spread-out seeds was heavily clustered.
"Not just one or two."
Several people, but two purposes.
The first customer...
"Coming with a path to success wide open."
And it was flung wide open, too.
What need does a shaman's fate have for success like that...?
"Success is great, but following it means a ton of hardship."
Ding-a-ling—
The second customer flashed through my mind.
"Tch..."
My mood soured the instant the divination passed.
I bet my face right now looked exactly like a parent's staring at their screw-up kid.
"Should I even take this one?"
A shady customer.
Not exactly welcome, but not unwelcome either...
Total troublemaker vibe.
"Might not be able to go into the village today?"
Today was a customer-only day.
"Hey, Headless!"
Whoosh.
Headless came scurrying through the wall.
"Customer's coming, so keep watch. Let me know when they arrive."
Nod.
"Don't mess with the second one... uh... just don't even get close."
Headless looked a bit puzzled.
But he nodded at my words and headed back outside.
"What kind of people are these that they're eating up my whole day..."
Ding-a-ling—
I shook the rattle.
"Stubborn, arrogant, tough... curious too? What the heck?"
Noble-like impression.
The first customer was probably a noble.
Ding-a-ling—
I shook the rattle once more and squeezed my eyes shut.
"...Oof, blinding."
The second customer seemed like a priest.
I hoped he wouldn't come.
"What a brat who won't listen no matter what."
That was exactly the vibe.
An immature rascal.
Ding-a-ling—
"Both customers are bringing paths of hardship..."
How long had it been since I got back, and now more hardship?
Couldn't help lamenting my fate.
"Can't just quit, either..."
Quit being a shaman?
Ridiculous.
Divine punishment was no joke...
Not just bad luck—could even lead to mental illness or disability in bad cases.
Not sure if it worked the same here.
Anyway, I'd never seen anyone reject their shaman fate and live normally.
Even those who did ended up in the same line of work.
Of course, that was for proper shaman fates.
Miscellaneous god recipients didn't count.
"Quit and you'd get struck by lightning at minimum."
Once wasn't enough—you'd get hit twice.
"Anyway..."
Among the hardship paths, I'd pick the one I liked best.
Not sure if it'd go my way.
"Let's see..."
Ding-a-ling—
Ding-a-ling—
The more I shook the rattle, the more the air around me seemed to change.
I could definitely feel it differently.
Super hot...
Scorching.
"This one's a fiery hell..."
Ding-a-ling—
The second customer gave the same feeling.
"This one's a fiery hell too... why's it so hot?"
Follow and end up in flames somewhere?
Funny thing: both customers would ultimately flow to the same place.
Different purposes, but converging on one.
"Same everywhere, huh."
No choices like I thought.
When does life ever go your way?
A shaman lives by fate.
"Argh..."
I got up on a whim, dusted off the shrine, then turned and headed outside.
"Gotta prepare to greet the customers."
Aluerad.
A name without a family crest.
Yet his bearing was so refined that anyone would take him for a noble.
His platinum hair, nearly white, was neatly combed back and tied tight.
Below it, sharp features blended with silver armor to create a mystical aura.
The sword at his waist was spotless, without a speck of dust.
Many words described him.
Next pope candidate.
Noble holy knight.
Child of Ilia.
Aluerad followed Ilia, the earth god among the church's many deities, walking a path of asceticism.
Right now, he was climbing the mountain.
"Building a house in front of a graveyard and living there..."
Aluerad recalled Hans's words.
'Keep your expression composed. You'll get flak for your looks.'
'Keep your mind in order. He sees right through you.'
'If he asks for money, just give it. Skimping on 5 silvers could lead to big trouble.'
'He might seem casual, but don't take him lightly. Especially if he suddenly seems like a different person—be extra careful.'
Utterly baffling advice.
And there were more incomprehensible things than one or two.
"Receives oracles, was it..."
And supposedly could even see souls.
That wasn't the end.
He'd saved the World Tree and elves from a necromancer's plot, hadn't he?
Just from what he'd heard, it felt like tales of saints and saintesses from childhood stories.
Hans's assessment was this:
'Not a saint, but saint-like.'
That one line had drawn Aluerad here.
He'd begged Klein to let him go personally and finally got the mission.
For Aluerad, who revered saint tales more than anyone, it was an irresistible temptation.
"He lives in a place like this?"
The mountains were deserted.
No one would nod at living near a graveyard.
"He settled here to comfort the souls..."
As he followed the path up, a shabby little house came into Aluerad's view.
Aluerad had imagined a noble's residence inwardly.
This was completely different.
A commoner's house, and on the modest side at that.
A small sigh of admiration escaped Aluerad's lips.
"The elves' benefactor, yet so humbly unassuming."
He could've owned a mansion if he wanted.
His steps quickened at the thought of soon meeting that person.
And then Aluerad came face-to-face with Chris.
Snow-white hair like fresh snow.
Simple black clothes.
Aluerad stiffened the moment their upturned eyes met.
...What kind of gaze is this intense?
Behind the calm eyes lurked a chilling sharpness.
Even he, who'd met countless people, flinched.
Chris spoke first from where he stood before the halted Aluerad.
"What a filthy-mouthed brat who won't listen."
Who says something like that to a stranger?
Yet Aluerad felt no offense.
If anything, guilt.
Regardless of Aluerad's reaction, Chris's mouth kept moving.
"The one behind ended up coming first after all... sheesh..."
The words implied he knew I'd come here.
And it seemed true.
Food was already set on the table.
"Just sit anywhere. Got some eats ready."
"...Did you know I was coming?"
"The other's coming too. Gotta wait a bit. You came too fast."
Aluerad met Chris's eyes again and ended up turning away.
That piercing gaze was scanning him thoroughly.
Had he ever avoided someone's eyes before?
Only a few could make him do this.
"Blinding brat showed up first..."
With that, Chris closed his eyes.
Aluerad couldn't hide his bewilderment.
A sign he didn't want to talk anymore?
Chris had turned his head toward the distance.
As Aluerad followed his gaze, Chris's words flew at him.
"Not there. A bit to the side."
"...To the side, you say?"
Aluerad sensed something off as he tried to shift his gaze per Chris's words.
How does he know where I'm looking with his eyes closed?
"Don't look at me—look over there."
Aluerad turned to where Chris indicated, but saw only trees.
He could see souls, so maybe a different sight in his eyes.
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Aluerad asked Chris.
"Is there something there?"
A person more saint-like than saints.
Maybe he'd get a mystical answer—Aluerad hoped inwardly.
"Nothing there?"
"...Pardon?"
"The elders say you're ugly, so they're turning away."
"....."