Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: 8. MacDullin Abbey (2)
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“Helena! Give me a hand here!”
“Yes! Coming!”
...
“Helena! Clean this properly! What the hell is this?!”
“Yes, sorry!”
...
“Helena, can't you sync up properly? Do you want to get kicked out?”
“Sorry! I'll do it again!”
...
“Helena... Protection isn't as important as healing, you know that, right? Are you doing this on purpose?”
“Haha, I'm just a bit useless! Sorry!”
...
“Helena... I know it's tough. Fighting isn't the only way to spread the gospel. If it's too hard, it's okay to give up.”
“I'm fine!”
...
“Helena, cover for me on this.”
“Sure!”
“Helena! Do mine too?”
“Sure thing!”
“Helena, I told you not to show off with protection miracles!”
“Ah, no, I mean...! Sorry!”
“If you don't want to end up like this bastard, shape up. Got it?”
Helena, Helena, Helena...
Even amid the echoing calls, scoldings, and jealous barbs, she just smiled.
“Sorry! I'm okay!”
Helena, the novice nun of MacDullin Abbey, smiled at everyone—yesterday, today, and every day before.
[30th Place: Helena]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Somehow... it feels a bit scary...”
That was Vivian's impression upon seeing the outer walls of MacDullin Abbey.
It suited the lonely fortress-like structure rising in the middle of the forest.
They seemed to allow outsiders even before the public exam day.
There were plenty of non-clergy groups besides ours.
“We'll stable your carriage over here.”
The coachman followed a nun's guidance.
He'd have to stay here until we headed back.
Vivian and I got out first.
Mercy the fairy and Kati the cat rode on my shoulders.
As we approached the entrance, an armored figure blocked our path.
Not as heavily equipped as the Papal Knights, but clearly a holy knight guarding the place.
“May I see your identification?”
I handed over my manager's license and temporary hero certificate.
“This one's my assistant.”
I pointed to Mercy, who had just poked her head out of my pocket.
“Welcome, Flame Guides!”
I could tell a satisfied smile formed behind his helmet.
Flame Guides.
A title favored by the priests of the Holy Flame Church.
And finally, Kati—no need to ask, since she was in cat form.
“Meow~.”
One of the holy knights chuckled at how cute it was.
“May you walk only the path of flames. Welcome.”
The two holy knights handed us three entry permits.
For me, Vivian, and Mercy.
“For questions about the public exam, just ask any passing nun.”
The interior wasn't much different from the outside.
The crowds made it feel less desolate, though.
The public exam seemed to be on quite a large scale.
I was wondering who to ask when I spotted a familiar face.
“Oh, Ian?”
A woman with a sharp expression that belied her small frame spotted me and gave a slight smile.
“Marie. Long time no see.”
“Yeah. I figured we'd cross paths again soon, and here you are. Here for the public exam?”
“Pretty much. My party's short on numbers.”
Marie's party had three members.
No priest among them, I recalled.
“Vivian, long time no see.”
“Y-Yeah, hi...”
Vivian was still shy around strangers, shrinking back a bit.
Marie stared up at her intently and suddenly stepped closer.
“Hmm.”
“W-Why are you...?”
“Still feeling sorry toward me?”
She was referring to that time Vivian had unintentionally tricked her.
“Ugh... That was...”
Marie chuckled at Vivian's flustered expression.
“Still cute as ever.”
“Eek...!”
Marie grinned mischievously and turned to me.
“Mind if I steal her?”
She really had no sense of personal space.
I was the same way, though.
“No can do. Besides, you've already got a mage.”
“Aw, come on.”
“She's my mage.”
“Oh? What's that mean? Getting bold, are we?”
“Not like that...”
Vivian's face was beet red as she bowed her head deeply.
Steam might rise from her head any second.
I'd known since she cursed out Felix, but Marie had a real talent for teasing.
Even though I meant nothing by it, her reaction made it sound suspicious.
[Master.]
I jolted.
Forgot to take off Kati's ring.
‘What.’
[......]
‘What is it.’
No reply.
Marie waved it off with a roguish grin.
“Kidding, kidding. No one's crazy enough to mess with Ian's party.”
“Ahem. I wasn't exactly kidding, but...”
Should've just kept quiet.
The whole conversation had tilted her way.
Mercy whispered in my ear as I grimaced.
“You're a real jerk.”
“Elf?”
Marie tilted her head upon noticing Mercy.
Come to think of it, she only knew me and Vivian.
“My assistant.”
“Nice to meet you! I've heard a lot about you!”
“Oh ho. Talking about me? What'd you say?”
“Nothing evil, even if you look at me like that. It came up with Felix's story.”
“Ah, that bastard?”
Marie cackled as if just thinking about it was satisfying.
“You saw the knight post, right? That was all me.”
“Read it cover to cover.”
“I read it every night before bed now. Might pass it down to my kids someday.”
That far?
“He got booted on the spot and dragged off by the military police. Sucks I missed the show. Did you set it up, Ian?”
“Not so much what I did... I just gave a nudge.”
“Whoa, the 1st Hero Party Manager...? Military police at your beck and call... Let's be friends for life. No pretending you don't know me out there.”
“First time I've had friendship forced on me like this. Fine, sure.”
Marie grinned and continued.
“The guild's still full of idiots, but clearing out the biggest trash felt great. Hey, what's with the cat?”
“Mm... My pet.”
“Aww, cute. Hi there?”
Marie lowered herself to eye level with Kati to greet her.
Kati responded with indifference.
“Cats gotta have attitude to be cute.”
Couldn't tell her tastes.
Mercy snickered at "attitude," while Vivian fretted unnecessarily.
“Come on. I'll show you around since I got here first. Listening to the nuns will drive you nuts.”
“If you're not too busy, sure.”
“For a lifelong friend? And when else do I get to play senpai to a 1st Party ex-manager?”
Marie led the way.
First topic: the public exam, naturally.
“There are 30 novice priests participating total.”
“...30 priest aspirants?”
“Yeah. Pretty big, right? Half pass, half fail.”
An exam for 30 at once in one place.
Holy Flame Church must've prepared thoroughly.
“But it's different from the temporary hero exam. No dungeon.”
The empire monopolized dungeon management.
Managers' Guild got subcontracts, but Holy Flame Church couldn't touch it.
“So they're doing it differently. First, three miracles priests use: healing, protection, scorching. They'll evaluate the miracles themselves.”
“Second, one-on-one sparring with holy knights to check individual skill.”
“Finally, groups of three to fight multiple hostile holy knights, testing teamwork.”
No dungeons, monsters, or demons, so holy knights fill in.
Not sure if it matched a temporary hero exam.
Whatever. I just needed to pick a priest to my taste.
Passing didn't matter.
If they listened well and had potential, I'd raise them.
“You can approach novice priests before exam day, but no material aid.”
“Material aid?”
“Like sneaking them good gear. Talking's fine pre-exam, but no taking them away.”
Made sense for equal conditions.
“You can watch their training before the exam too. They come to the central garden at set times daily to show off for visitors.”
“Hm. That's key to watch. Should've come earlier.”
“That's why, Ian.”
She had an expectant tone.
“Come watch with me? I can't tell who's good no matter how I look.”
“Not like I know right away either.”
“I said excessive humility is deception, remember?”
“Eek...”
Vivian flinched behind me.
From Marie's view, it'd sound obnoxious coming from me.
“They say managers and heroes are alike. Guess I pulled that on you.”
“I'll let it slide since you're both competent. Anyway, help me out? Obviously not eyeing anyone you've already scouted.”
...But I was picking talent based on regression memories anyway?
Not like I had real insight.
Conscience stung, but I couldn't say or refuse.
“I'll do my best.”
“Great. Guest lodging first.”
Built for this? Lodging for visitors lay beyond the extended outer walls.
Buildings and interiors were decent.
But with Vivian needing training till exam day, not ideal.
“Do we have to use the inner lodging?”
“Nah? Entry permit means free access. But nothing outside.”
“We'll camp. Need to train Vivian.”
“Mm. Might be inconvenient staying inside then.”
Time till next viewing.
We left Marie and scouted a camping spot.
“Find a spot without grass or trees.”
Mercy's skills came in handy for once.
“How's this?”
Riverside.
Walking distance from the abbey.
Gravel and dirt—no fuel to burn.
Perfect since I'd train Vivian in fire magic starting today; water nearby was good.
“Spot on.”
“Mm-hmm, yeah yeah. Praise me more.”
“Wanna spread out here and live forever?”
“...Don't if you don't want to.”
“Nah, you did great.”
“Hmph. Knew it.”
Subspace pouch maintained stocks like firewood and tent materials.
Hero life—you never knew when camping hit.
Unrolled the tent from the pouch on flat ground, set poles, added roof.
Big enough for Vivian, Mercy, Kati.
“...I have no idea what I'm looking at.”
Hadn't shown Vivian the pouch yet.
Pulled out the fist-sized pouch and shook it.
“Comes from this.”
“...?”
“Subspace pouch. Artifact.”
“You have two artifacts...? They say it's hard to get one in a lifetime...”
“Uh... Haha.”
Felt awkward, so I laughed.
“Practically carrying a house...”
“Ah. Used to stock similar stuff before.”
“...Pardon?”
“Too much hassle to unpack now. Want me to carry some for you?”
“N-No... It's fine... I'll work hard...!”
Vivian clenched her fists, inspired by the artifact.
“The harder you work, the better for me.”
Artifacts were rare, so admiration wasn't weird.
Set up a wide log table, round wooden chairs, piled firewood by the tent.
Lit a campfire with flame from my fingertip.
“Oh? You can use magic too?”
“A little.”
In my second run, I'd dabbled in everything.
Simple spells were doable.
Adapted 'Fire Hand' that radiated flames from hands.
No-cast from endless camping practice—mastered Casting Pass.
Honestly, embarrassing to call magic...
This was barely flint-and-steel level.
“Compared to your handmade Ice Spears, not that impressive.”
“Still, it's amazing... Totally unexpected.”
“I don't seem the magic type, huh.”
...Not denying it?
What'd that mean?
“Spots picked. Back for now. Viewing soon.”
“Huh, leave it like this?”
“Chase off intruders.”
*
Returned to abbey, rejoined Marie.
In the wide central garden, novice nuns emerged one by one from an inner building.
The slow, orderly procession felt reverent somehow.
“Anyone catch your eye, Marie?”
“A few... but not sure. Haven't been here long myself.”
Five rows of 30 scarred logs lined the garden center.
Novices stood spaced before them.
“Now, protection miracle demo and close-quarters combat.”
As early arrivals watched.
The 30 nuns knelt on one knee.
“Begin.”
At the lead nun's command, they clasped hands and invoked protection miracles.
Standard frontal barriers.
Hemispheres of yellow veils unfolding before the casters.
In the dim evening dusk.
30 nuns kneeling reverently, emitting soft glows—a spectacle in itself.
No set duration.
Some faded early, others held.
I observed every one meticulously till the end, then froze.
‘...None?’
No massive, intricate protection from Memory Correction.
“Rise.”
Truly none.
They picked up prepared weapons.
Protection demo over.
“Any vibes?”
Marie asked expectantly.
“......”
Speechless, I stayed silent.
Experience hones an inexpressible intuition.
No objective basis, but highly accurate.
My gut, built on countless trials, screamed.
These nuns were deliberately holding back.
Specifically, throttling protection miracle output.
Only a few showed true skill.
Why hide power here, where impressing visitors mattered...?
I swept my gaze over the abbey.
Something felt off.
This abbey was hiding something.