Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Priestess of Time (4)
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‘Ha...’
Lying in this hospital bed day after day was unbearably boring. It might’ve been tolerable if my body were intact, but with one arm missing, even holding myself up was awkward.
Noticing my restlessness, Seo Yu-ju spoke up.
“Y-Yun-seong. Please hold off on moving a bit longer. It’s still...”
“Haha... No, it’s nothing. I’m just... feeling a bit stifled lying still.”
It had already been three days since I regained consciousness. Yesterday, Kang Sung-jun had dropped by out of the blue and shared some astonishing news with us.
One was the outcome of the disciplinary action against Ju Seung-hwan. And the other...
The Priestess of Time had agreed to treat my arm.
Everyone’s reaction was a mix of disbelief and joy right there on the spot. Truth be told, asking the Priestess of Time for help had been a desperate long shot that we all knew wouldn’t pan out.
For me, it was half astonishment, half suspicion.
‘I still can’t wrap my head around it. Why would someone of her stature move for an injury to a mere trainee?’
I should’ve been thrilled from my perspective, but when unexpected good fortune hits out of nowhere, suspicion naturally creeps in.
Kang Sung-jun, who’d come to deliver the news, had looked just as stunned. He couldn’t make sense of it either, apparently.
‘Damn it...’
No matter how I turned it over in my mind, it didn’t add up. Even the fact that she’d set out the very next day after his request was odd.
‘...Does the Priestess of Time owe Kang Sung-jun something...?’
It was a plausible guess, but the problem was his expression at the time—he hadn’t looked like someone with that kind of leverage.
The party members were simply overjoyed that my arm could be healed, but I couldn’t take it at face value so easily.
‘This isn’t paranoia. It’s legitimately suspicious.’
On top of that, I was a dark sorcerer. Who knew how the Priestess of Time would react upon seeing me? From what I knew, the Holy Kingdom rejected dark sorcerers outright.
As my thoughts grew tangled, Seo Yu-ju addressed me.
“Are you okay...?”
“Ah... Yeah. It’s nothing.”
“Don’t worry. Today... the Priestess of Time is coming, so your arm will be restored.”
“...... Just, it feels off.”
“Huh?”
“Honestly... I thought she’d refuse. It’s too strange that the Priestess of Time agreed... I’m just a trainee, after all.”
Song Ha-eun chimed in from beside me.
“O-Oppa. Just take it easy. They’re healing your arm, at least...”
“...It’s just a minor doubt. Don’t worry, I’m not overthinking it.”
“That’s a relief, then...”
“More importantly, Yu-ju. Sorry to bring this up, but what about joining our clan? Because of me, we can’t join Incarnation Clan, right?”
“...Why is it your fault? Watch your words—it’s Incarnation Clan’s doing.”
“.... Ah. Right. Anyway... With graduation coming up, what’s the plan for clan recruitment?”
“We’re looking into various options. Probably... starting as a party without joining a clan, or heading to one of the other three major clans.”
‘The three major clans again... Party activities... So, no clan at all?’
“I get the three major clans. But operating as a party...?”
“Exactly what it sounds like—starting out as a party without joining a clan. It’s tougher without clan support, but... that much freer.”
I figured this incident had heavily influenced her decision.
I didn’t know the full details, but my well-being seemed tied to some trauma from her first timeline.
Seeing me get hurt this time might’ve made her scrap the idea of joining a clan altogether.
“This way, nothing like this will happen to you again.”
“And the others... they’re on board?”
“Yeah, they all understand. But...”
“......”
“An Tae-woo... I’m not sure.”
“I see.”
If I had to pick the party member I was most awkward with, it’d be An Tae-woo, hands down.
We didn’t chat one-on-one, and I could never read what he was thinking.
The others rarely talked to him privately either. Back in the tutorial, he didn’t seem antisocial, so I couldn’t figure it out.
“He might be thinking of going solo. I heard he got an offer from a mid-sized clan after the demonstration.”
Fair enough. If our party wasn’t joining any clan, he’d want to secure his own path.
‘I can follow her because I know she’s a regressor...’
To An Tae-woo, unaware of that, her choice might look insane.
No matter how devoutly he treated Seo Yu-ju like a goddess, survival changes attitudes fast.
With the Incarnation Clan plan in ruins, he’d have plenty to mull over.
‘Whatever. It’s his choice to respect.’
Even if it meant kicking away his own fortune.
As I pondered An Tae-woo, Seo Yu-ju continued.
“Anyway... don’t worry too much about the rest. We might still join a clan. Nothing’s set in stone...”
“Got it.”
There’d be plenty of options, really. Incarnation Clan shooting themselves in the foot meant other major clans were probably salivating over us.
‘They saw Yu-hyeon’s barrier at the demonstration, so our party’s value has skyrocketed.’
After responding to Seo Yu-ju, a knock sounded, followed by a voice.
“.... Instructor Kang Sung-jun here. Coming in.”
We all bowed in greeting as Kang Sung-jun entered.
He was still the clan master of the guy who’d wronged me terribly, but I owed him for making this treatment possible.
“.... The Priestess of Time has arrived at the Training Facility. She’ll be here in about ten minutes.”
“... I see.”
She’d arrived already. I’d heard she came from the Holy Kingdom, so this speed suggested she’d used one of those warp points we’d heard about in class.
“.... When she enters the room, please observe utmost courtesy. She won’t come alone—for her safety, two holy knights will accompany her.”
“Understood.”
Shortly after Kang Sung-jun spoke, the Priestess of Time finally entered the room.
‘That woman...’
Her appearance was strikingly unique. Long golden hair framed an ornate yet understated nun’s habit, but the most distinctive feature was...
‘She’s blind.’
She wore an eyepatch. Likely congenital or from some incident.
I worried for a second about a repeat of the Yun Yeon fiasco, but curiosity won out, and I pulled up her status window.
Partial Time Regression (Legendary Grade) - Rewinds another's body up to one week prior. Can target specific parts or the entire body. Usable only once per year.
Wave of Emotions (Legendary Grade) - You constantly sense the emotions of those around you.
Vessel of the Gods (Legendary Grade) - Your body suits as a vessel for gods. Stamina +4, Mana +4 permanently.
Benedictio (Legendary Grade) - Greatly heals all allies regardless of distance. Healing scales with Mana stat.
‘Holy...’
Her job and traits were all legendary grade.
‘...Unbelievable.’
The standout was “Wave of Emotions.”
‘Could this... mean she can sense my emotions?’
If so, she’d be a nightmare to deal with. I despised anyone reading my feelings.
‘Damn it...’
As she approached, she stared right at my face despite her blindness.
‘What? Can she tell I’m viewing her status window?’
I hurriedly closed it just in case.
She stopped before us and spoke.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Lamenta Ministra. Just call me Lamenta.”
As the group greeted her, I bowed politely too.
“I’m Lee Yun-seong. Pleased to meet you.”
“I know.”
“...Pardon?”
“.......”
‘What the...’
Her mystical aura made her hard to adjust to. I hated dealing with types like this—impossible to read.
“You think a lot.”
“Pardon...?”
‘Damn it, is her Wave of Emotions active right now?’
I knew I shouldn’t think like this because of her trait, but my brain wouldn’t obey.
No human can fully control their thoughts—that’s god territory.
“...I meant I’d heard your name already. No need to mind.”
“Ah... How should I address you? Priestess Lamenta?”
“Whatever feels comfortable.”
Damn. If not for the treatment, I’d bolt. I couldn’t stand unreadable people—they gave me the creeps.
“I heard on the way. You suffered unjust violence.”
“Haha... Yes.”
“Indeed. My eyes don’t work, but I perceive forms through mana. As described, you’ve lost one arm.”
Seo Yu-ju pleaded earnestly.
“Priestess. Please... heal Yun-seong’s arm..!”
Her plea sparked the others to chime in.
“....Don’t worry. I came to heal his arm, and I’ll fulfill my duty.”
She placed her hand on the stump. Light emanated, and my left arm rewound like a video tape being fast-forwarded in reverse.
‘This... this is human ability...?’
I couldn’t comprehend it. This was divine territory.
Our group, Kang Sung-jun, and even Yun Yeon gawked at the impossible miracle.
Yun Yeon and Kang Sung-jun muttered, seeing it for the first time.
“How... This is really...”
“....Impossible.”
In under three minutes, my left arm was back, good as new.
‘.....Sensations are intact. No different from before.’
I clenched and unclenched my fist to test.
While everyone was speechless from the miracle, I thanked her.
“....Thank you truly. Honestly... I didn’t imagine it could heal like this.”
Seo Yu-ju and the others snapped out of it, expressing their gratitude.
“Sob... Priestess. Thank you so much...!”
“Thank you. Thanks to you, hyung...”
“Truly, thank you, Priestess...!”
Even the bratty Kang I-seo used full honorifics.
“No need. Just doing what I should. Don’t mention it.”
“....Still, thank you.”
“More importantly... Incarnation Clan Master?”
“....Y-Yes?”
Kang Sung-jun stammered, caught off guard.
“Hand the resources promised to our church to this victim.”
He responded incredulously.
“....You’re serious?”
“Yes. Give them to the victim.”
I interjected hastily—it felt overwhelming.
‘Damn it...! Why go this far? It’s too much...!’
The treatment was suspicious enough; now resources too?
‘There’s no such thing as a free favor in this world.’
“Haha... Priestess Lamenta. The treatment alone is more than enough thanks. Taking resources too feels excessive.”
“No. Please accept without worry. I don’t need them.”
“But this...”
“Your thoughts are quite complex.”
I froze at her words.
“I sense much turmoil from you, Lee Yun-seong.”
The others—save Yun Yeon—looked at me like I was spouting nonsense, but I couldn’t react that way.
“Sometimes, don’t overthink. Keep it simple. Anyway... for my sake, please accept.”
“.....Understood, Priestess. But may I ask one thing?”
She faced the door without looking and replied.
“Go ahead.”
“...What’s the real reason you healed me?”
The two holy knights barked at my question.
“Insolent! Doubting the Saintess’s intentions?!”
“A dark sorcerer dares...!”
“Enough, all of you.”
“Saintess...!”
She silenced them and answered me.
“It’s a secret.”
“...What?”
I blurted dumbly, forgetting decorum in my shock.
She left the room without responding.
‘....Ha.’
“......”
“....Yun-seong?”
“It’s nothing, Yu-ju. Anyway, glad my arm’s healed safely.”
As the group rejoiced and congratulated me, I had business and addressed Kang Sung-jun.
“Instructor Kang Sung-jun.”
“....What is it, trainee Lee Yun-seong?”
“May I see Ju Seung-hwan?”