Porter: Johann 17
Johann headed to the church as soon as dawn broke. The Priest went with him. Both had business there—Johann for treatment, and the Priest to remove her cursed gear.
The equipment the Priest wore came with powerful stat bonuses. Items from Delusions of the Parasite were generally top-tier. Farmed gear's quality scaled with the dungeon's difficulty.
The Cursed Shaman Outfit set was leagues beyond anything she'd worn before, but the Priest wasn't shameless enough to keep it on indefinitely.
Walking the streets drew stares from other adventurers. Some tilted their heads, murmuring, "Isn't that the Priest from the Flame Hero's party?" Every time she overheard it, her face burned. She desperately wanted to ditch the gear as soon as possible.
Johann hadn't actually been sick—he'd faked it—but the Priest's stubborn insistence dragged him to the church anyway.
"There's nothing wrong with your body. You just seem off, so I'll prescribe some recovery holy water."
The church charged a silver for the minor treatment. No health insurance in this world meant everything cost an arm and a leg. The Priest whined for a discount, claiming familiarity with the senior priestess.
But the senior priestess was firm on price. Johann paid without complaint. Money was no object for him. After checking Johann over, she eyed the Priest's outfit.
"Hmm. Sister, where did you get these clothes?"
"From Delusions of the Parasite."
"As I thought."
The kindly senior priestess frowned as she inspected the garments closely, appraising them repeatedly and clicking her tongue. The Priest felt a chill—her hunches like this always hit the mark.
"Is there a problem?"
"It doesn't look like something we can lift here. Mishandle it, and the wearer could get seriously hurt."
"No way..."
If the church in Start Village—the only one around—couldn't do it, they'd have to travel days by carriage to another town.
"Wanderer's Village has skilled priestesses. They should manage it."
"S-So I have to keep wearing this...?"
"Dungeon finds need careful handling. I hope this teaches you a lesson, Sister."
"The tuition's too steep...!"
The Priest pouted miserably. Johann stifled a chuckle.
"P-Porter! What's so funny?"
"Knowing I get more time with our charming Priest makes me grin ear to ear."
"Don't tease!"
"Not teasing."
The Priest balled her fists and lightly tapped his back. It was barely more than a caress.
Watching them, the senior priestess tilted her head. "You two seem close. Lovers, perhaps?"
The grandmotherly woman smiled with crescent-moon eyes. The Priest waved her hands frantically.
"N-No! Nothing like that!"
"Oh? My mistake, then. Guess I jumped the gun..."
Johann chimed in like a meddling sister-in-law.
"My, Priestess, you've grown into quite the woman. Waddling around the monastery causing trouble feels like yesterday, and now you're ditching handsome guys like this."
"Ahh! Porter! Cut it out! You're giving the senior priestess the wrong idea!"
The treatment room dissolved into laughter. Johann and the senior priestess tag-teamed the teasing, but the Priest didn't mind. If anything, it warmed her.
Does the Porter see me that way...? Kinda... happy...
A bold thought she couldn't voice aloud. Happiness wrapped her heart, light as air.
Just chatting like this brought joy—a truly wondrous feeling.
"Anyway, head to Wanderer's Village to lift the curse. You'll find answers there."
The Priest nodded at the senior priestess's advice.
Business done, they returned to the inn. The mage—who'd gone to the guild ahead—had beaten them back.
Her expression was grim, shadows under worried eyes. Spotting them, she looked up.
"You're back."
Thorns laced her greeting.
"Mage beat us here. Hero still out?"
Vints had left for Delusions of the Parasite last night. Over twelve hours, and no sign.
"That's why I hit the guild to post a request. He should've been back by now..."
"Oh no... What happened to the Hero?"
The Priest murmured anxiously.
Delusions of the Parasite was dangerous. Charging in solo was suicide. Reckless acts like that rarely ended well.
"Don't worry too much. The Hero's strong."
The mage's words sounded like self-reassurance.
"Should we go look for him?"
The Priest ventured timidly. Johann shot it down.
"I'm not fully recovered. Need a week of rest to regain my strength."
"Oh... right."
She backed off immediately.
The mage sensed something off. Normally, the Priest would've pushed harder on Hero matters—"I can't just sit here worrying about the Hero! Mage, let's go ourselves!"—even without action. This lukewarm response was weird.
"Mage, did you sell all the loot from yesterday?"
She nodded.
"Yeah. Guild paid top coin for it. Stingy bastards don't do that often."
She plunked a heavy pouch of silver on the table. It looked reassuringly full. The Priest beamed.
Not materialistic, but her impoverished monastery childhood taught her money's value. A fat purse meant options—and reasons to celebrate.
"Way more than usual!"
"Delusions of the Parasite's risky. Pays well."
"When Hero gets back, let's treat him! He'd love that!"
"Deal. Even if late, he'll make it by tonight. Dinner at a fancy spot. Light lunch, Priest."
"Sure. Porter, you good?"
"Of course."
Two days since the Hero vanished. Even the mage was getting antsy. Maybe he'd never return.
Ding~!
She visited the guild, bustling with morning adventurers.
"Mage! Early bird, huh?"
The receptionist greeted her loudly. She sat.
"Hero's still gone. Two days now."
"Sorry to say it, but two days missing in a dungeon means dead. Party might scrape by, but solo? No chance."
He mimed slitting his throat.
"Seen it plenty. So, how'd the Hero end up soloing that deathtrap?"
"Long story. Any intel from other parties who've hit Delusions of the Parasite?"
"Not many from Start Village. One yesterday, no reports."
"......"
"Just advice: don't rush in stupidly. No melee now. Half-assed party's suicide there."
"I know. But I can't sit idle."
"That attached? I can hook you up with a party. Mages in demand—some eyeing that dungeon. Safer in a group."
"Generous today."
"Customer loyalty?"
"Decent?"
"Stigma Hero, Priest, Rogue. Hero's scrawnier than yours, but solid record. No deadweight."
"Thanks. Introduce me."
"Pleasure doing business. Five silver fee."
"...Figures."
She glared but paid up.
Good thing loot sold big. Or maybe the receptionist foresaw this and paid fair. What a prick.
"Priest, Porter. Sorry, gonna temp with another party real quick."
The mage clasped her hands apologetically before them.
"Huh? Temp job?"
"Yeah. Scouting Delusions of the Parasite. Can't sit worrying about Hero."
"Then let me help!"
The Priest thumped her chest. The mage grimaced, shaking her head.
"They won't allow it. Splits rewards... Plus they have a Priest. Sorry."
"Oh..."
"Really sorry. Wait here. I'll bring good news."
"Got it! Be safe, Mage!"
The Priest showed no regrets.