Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Saintess Candidate
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"The newbie's here."
Volkan chuckled softly as he waited for me.
Is this old man really the Sword King?
Can someone of that stature really be this idle?
-He is the Sword King.
Rishiel nodded in agreement to my thoughts.
-Didn't I tell you before? The Sword Master is a rare gift, and only those who constantly train and refine themselves can attain it—that man is one of the pinnacles of humanity.
Humanity... is this really okay?
The fact that Volkan was our last bastion made me a little dizzy.
As I was lost in those thoughts, the old man handed me a black pouch.
"What's this?"
"Didn't I tell you? I had a gift for you when you got back from the Labyrinth."
He had said that.
But I hadn't believed him.
'I thought he was just saying it.'
It seemed he was serious. I'd even thought he was joking.
I was a little touched.
'A gift.'
What could it be?
I reached for Volkan's pouch.
Volkan grinned and let go of the pouch.
"...?"
Whoa.
What the—
Why is this gift so heavy?
My body nearly swayed. Partly because I was tired.
'No, what is this.'
The weight was no joke.
At least as much as my own body weight?
Rogue Mastery.
My honed dexterity measured the weight.
60kg.
What kind of gift weighs this much? Some sub-space armor? A sword?
I looked at Volkan with those eyes, and he grinned.
"You seem like the type who fights relying on your natural talent."
Of course.
It's only been a little over a week since I got dropped here.
I hadn't received any basic training at all.
So sometimes—
"That's why I brought something that'll build your foundation automatically."
"So what is this?"
"Iron rings. Simple to use. Just put one on each limb and go about your daily life. Since they're for training, I can make them even heavier."
He winked with his right eye and gave me a thumbs-up, as if to say he made them just for me.
"...."
I was a fool for expecting anything.
No, since they're solid iron, I could probably melt them down and make a decent amount of money.
As I was thinking that, Ermé approached us.
"Haa, with all these items, I won't be able to settle the accounts properly until tomorrow."
"Oh, you brought back a ton again? Must've been a good haul?"
"Hehe, even if you poke slyly, it's a secret."
Ermé said that.
Well, with this weird bunch involved, it was probably best not to say.
"Eut...."
"...?"
Ermé's reaction was different from usual.
Usually, she'd grin and say something like, "Things are heading that way today."
'Why is she blushing and pretending to be shy?'
Did she eat something bad?
As I wondered, Volkan looked at me and Ermé.
"Hehe... so that's how it is."
And smirked lewdly.
He's thinking something perverted again.
'I wonder how it'll turn out.'
I recalled the guys who ambushed our party.
Of course, we killed them all.
No need to let anyone who knew our info get away.
Ermé had insisted on making an example of them since they targeted us.
'We could become their targets otherwise.'
I thought about the side quest.
The items from the faction lurking in the shadows.
If that organization had started moving.
'Half the world as a reward.'
Ridiculous.
That level sounded like the Demon King's minions.
'The Demon King.'
I recalled the main quest of this game.
Heading to the Cradle.
The final goal of this game was probably killing the Demon King.
'...Catch that guy?'
The more I thought about the Demon King, the more bleak it felt.
The reason I got into Arcadia RPG.
I fell into this world on my friend's recommendation.
So I knew.
'I used to hear that guy curse the final boss of the game he was playing.'
But no matter how much I heard, could it even be cleared?
Physical immunity, magic immunity as basics, halves all attribute attacks, and every hit takes half your HP or more.
"...."
Suddenly, I felt like crying.
That stagnant water couldn't catch it, how am I supposed to?
But there was hope.
The guy was stubbornly fixated on pointless things. He'd set the difficulty to max.
'Compared to that, mine's easy mode.'
It should work out somehow.
As I pondered the Demon King, I suddenly felt a gaze.
"What're you brooding over?"
"The Demon King."
"The Demon King? Why that bastard?"
Volkan showed interest at my words.
His eyes sparkled with curiosity. Why?
"The Demon King bothering you?"
"Well, you're gathering hero candidates and openly raising them."
But I hadn't seen it myself.
Just official documents treating them well, and clans offering generous terms to those with outstanding gifts or close to hero candidates.
However.
Most of what they did was aligning with the kingdom or empire.
So I was puzzled.
Why not check the Demon King?
Volkan lowered his stance and said to me.
"Over the past millennium, neither the empire nor the kingdom has mentioned the Demon King appearing."
-That's right. So you don't need to worry about the Demon King.
Rishiel nodded and said to Volkan's words.
-The Demon King isn't that scary now that you've conquered the Labyrinth. Adventurers are much stronger than the heroes of old.
Rishiel said that.
But.
Volkan added to me.
"That doesn't mean the Demon King hasn't appeared in the last millennium."
"...?"
What does that mean?
Volkan smirked up to there.
"This is info I can share with my authority. Want more? Come up top, newbie."
"...."
This old man really knows how to rile people up.
I looked at him incredulously, and Volkan said seriously.
"Newbie, I know you're talented, but there are things in this world you shouldn't know."
Things you shouldn't know.
Something like humanity's taboo. Dangerous for that.
Absurd.
I blinked innocently, pretending ignorance, and said to Volkan.
"What're you talking about? I didn't hear anything."
"...Your brass-faced denial is impressive."
"Gotta do what it takes."
To survive, no choice.
Info that could kill you for knowing.
I looked at Rishiel.
-What... The Demon King appeared in the last millennium? The World Tree...
Rishiel looked confused at Volkan's words.
From her expression and tone, she didn't know much either.
Well, not worth worrying about now.
Demon King stuff comes in the late game.
'Put killing the Demon King on hold.'
Survive as best as I can until then.
I strapped Volkan's gift to my limbs.
My body felt limp.
'Still, not impossible.'
Every movement required gritting my teeth, but I could manage.
"What, still here?"
As I tried to move, Glasses and Teresa waved and approached.
"Looks like you're not staying out of anxiety... Gasp, Sword King!"
"Yeah, yeah, Glasses."
Volkan half-heartedly acknowledged Glasses' greeting.
Teresa sidled up to me and spoke.
"Going to the inn again today?"
"Yeah."
"Not the orphanage?"
"Why would I go to the orphanage?"
"I grew up at the orphanage."
Teresa's blue eyes sparkled.
Her lips curved faintly. Eyes slightly moist.
Those eyes seemed to ask me.
Like asking if I'd come too.
"...Where after you're done?"
"Orphanage."
"What about the inn?"
"Eat and sleep at the orphanage."
"...Aren't you from the orphanage?"
"No, no one to look after it, so I help out."
Well, even on Earth, orphanages rarely ran smoothly.
Let alone in this near-medieval place.
So.
To understand what she meant, I looked at Teresa.
Teresa blankly asked me.
"Wanna come?"
I pushed back the 'why me?'
'I should check out the orphanage sometime.'
I looked at Teresa.
She still had that unreadable expression.
And then.
"You an orphan too?"
She blurted it out.
Is she picking a fight?
As I seriously considered, I realized her eyes were earnest.
"Kids who don't trust family are all orphans. Or sold young," or so they say.
Glasses hurriedly interjected. Well, he's been around her, so he knows her communication issues.
'Even with that, Glasses sticks to her.'
Despite severe communication barriers, something compensates.
Like how Ermé lights up seeing her or Glasses.
As if agreeing, Teresa nodded.
'The orphanage.'
I'd heard about it.
Didn't want to, but that guy chattered on regardless of my attitude.
'Not a great place.'
More precisely, places connected to it were dangerous.
But.
'Still a place I need to visit.'
Ermé wanted a Saintess candidate.
Now that we had firepower, for safety. Glasses does well, but.
'Not sure how long we can go without injuries.'
Danger everywhere if we're careless.
Better maximize safety.
And orphanages are run by nuns.
'A source of healers.'
Time to gather party members.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When you think of a Saintess, certain images come to mind.
A benevolent smile and outstanding divine power.
In our line of work, they call women in bizarre outfits flaunting vulgarity and sexiness Saintesses, but.
'That doesn't happen usually.'
Anyway, the image of a Saintess is generally that.
Emphasizing holiness, a bit thick-headed but mostly kind-hearted.
And candidates should be similar.
...They had to be.
Slurp.
So.
I hoped the drunken woman in front of me wasn't a Saintess candidate.
"What're you, handsome? Hehe, did God send you as a reward for my hard work? A bit sharp for my taste, but whatever...."
I grabbed the face of the woman trying to kiss me.
"Mmph, mmphmphmph."
The woman licking my palm.
I felt despair and wanted to bow my head and cover my face with both hands.
But my hand was already covered in saliva, so I'd endure.
'...This is.'
A Saintess candidate.
What a bleak world.
📜 ENCOUNTER QUEST 📜 You have encountered the Saintess Candidate.
Capture her interest somehow, or eliminate it.
⏰ Reward: ???
🎁 On Failure: No penalty
Seriously, don't do this to me.