Unthinking Goodwill Turns to Malice
Good intentions without thought can become malice and muddy the world.
After the event planning meeting wrapped up, Hubeo rushed over to me. He practically dragged me to a quiet spot inside the temple.
After scanning the area and confirming no one was around, Hubeo exploded.
"Yan! Didn't you promise not to meddle in my business last time?"
"Yeah. So what?"
"What do you mean, 'so what'? You just stuck your nose in!"
I put on my most innocent face.
"What the hell did I do?"
"Then why'd you suddenly take on the role of head supervisor for the Holy Hall event?"
I scratched my head with an annoyed look.
"Honestly, I didn't wanna do this gig. But Izenberg asked me personally—how could I say no? Plus, there's the Jores Island stuff, so I'm just helping out while I'm at it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Hubeo wiped his face in frustration.
"This is exactly why I didn't want you here. Everything goes sideways when you're around."
"Why? Did something go wrong?"
"The rotation. You weren't supposed to butt into my slot."
At Hubeo's outburst, I checked the roster again. It still looked right to me.
"Huh, weird. This rotation seems correct..."
"Correct my ass. It's all messed up now. It was supposed to come to me, but it went to you."
I double-checked the examinees in my slot. That's when I spotted a familiar name on the second day's list: Izel.
Sure enough. I quickly scanned the roster for Hubeo's preferred rotation, and there she was—Izel, slotted under him.
A chill ran down my spine, and I swallowed hard. If his girl was really Izel, this was gonna be a disaster. I'd made a tiny slip-up with her just a few days ago.
"Nah, it can't be Izel, right?"
"Why not? It is. I told you before— she's one of the students who came with me to the magic steam locomotive demo."
"But Erisa was there too."
"Dude, why bring up Erisa? Have you been thinking it was her this whole time?"
"Yeah. Izel's looks just don't match, y'know? Honestly, never even crossed my mind."
Hubeo bit his lip hard.
"What?"
"Objectively speaking, Erisa's way prettier."
"You judge girls just by their faces?"
"Yeah. All guys do."
Hubeo wiped his face again.
"There's a limit, man. Erisa's personality is a total turn-off."
"What's wrong with Erisa? She seemed fine to me."
"That's 'cause she respects you as her master. Think back—what was your first impression of her at school?"
I stroked my chin, recalling my visit to the Imperial Noble Academy. Erisa had treated me like total trash right off the bat.
"Yeah, she was kinda bitchy."
"Kinda? She's infamous as the 'Grand Prince of Womanizing' or whatever. Not your average girl."
I narrowed my eyes.
"And what's wrong with being the Grand Prince of Womanizing?"
Hubeo suddenly got all humble.
"Nothin' bad, just... she's got that manly vibe. You're a real man's man yourself."
"Am I?"
"Totally."
"Fair enough. Girls acting like dudes do kinda kill the vibe."
Seeing me nod along, Hubeo ramped up again.
"Anyway, what're we gonna do about this mess?"
I averted my eyes. Truth was, I had no clue. The rotation was mine now with Izel, so that was fine—but the screw-up on the Path of Penitence? That was gonna be a nightmare to fix.
"Can't we swap her for Erisa? Personality can grow on you over time, even if looks don't match. Worst case, just train her to fit."
"Be serious!"
Hubeo barked.
Fair enough—I got his pain. After putting up with me all through school, he didn't wanna spend his life getting nagged by a wife.
"Damn. But Izel's a no-go..."
"Anyway, you fix it. You know how to influence the Divine Relic's choice, right?"
"Sure, not hard or anything..."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Nothin'. Don't worry about it."
Looked like I'd have to clean up the Path of Penitence mess on the down-low. Every problem has a solution if you look hard enough.
The day before the event, I met with the committee members in the plaza to brief the examinees who'd be entering the Holy Hall. It was all about procedures and precautions for the event starting tomorrow.
They'd probably gotten the docs already, but with thousands gathered, some idiot always screws up—usually from skipping the reading.
So we had to warn 'em verbally on the key stuff. The Holy Hall was the world's holiest site—no room for fuck-ups.
The plaza buzzed with young examinees, families, retainers cheering them on from afar.
An elderly committee member took the stage, grabbing the magic mic.
"We'll start the briefing soon, so quiet down, please."
The crowd shut up instantly. Nobles or not, in the Divinum Cathedral, priests' word was law. Mess up, and you'd be branded a heretic like anyone else.
With silence falling, the old guy explained the schedule and rules in my stead.
Nothing fancy: follow your guide, no family or retainers inside. Stick to that, and event day goes smooth.
'Damn it. What a mess.'
I wiped my face behind Hubeo's back. No sign of Izel among the examinees. She'd probably bailed after my screw-up.
This was why I didn't meddle. Helping Hubeo just screwed Izel over—unintended malice from good intentions.
Take the temple's annual firewood charity: believers haul logs to poor neighbors per doctrine. But it kills the woodcutters scraping by on sales.
Woodcutters ain't living large. Robbing them for "good deeds" ain't right—better not to bother.
Sure, if the poor can't buy firewood, believers' scraps don't hurt sales. But think deeper: it's dumb. Just pay woodcutters to deliver—poor get warm, cutters get work.
Yeah, less "sincere," no direct thanks—but if that's your motive, it ain't pure charity. Plus, believers save time for rest or other stuff.
Win-win with cash. Why lug logs themselves?
Then Hubeo sidled up.
"Weird. No Izel."
Caught off-guard, I mumbled.
"Huh? What?"
"Izel's missing."
"Oh..."
Hubeo eyed me sideways.
"What're you daydreaming about?"
"Uh, yeah."
"What about?"
"Temple firewood charity and woodcutters."
Hubeo stared like I was nuts.
"You're thinking about that crap now?"
"It's training too. The Way isn't hidden in some distant valley—it's right here, if you look."
"Yeah?"
"Yep."
"Hmm. The Way is not far..."
Hubeo mulled it over, committing it to memory. As one of five known Mind Masters on the continent, my words carried weight for his mental training.
I slipped away while he pondered. Best to dodge trouble.
"Whew. This is nuts. Never stick your neck out if you ain't used to it."
Hiding behind a tree trunk, I lamented my blunder. Hubeo would've handled it fine—why'd I stir the pot?
I peeked at the plaza. Briefing long over, but Hubeo still hunted for Izel.
Then a woman's voice from behind.
"Master. What're you doing there?"
Turning, I saw Erisa, dolled up gorgeously. Beside her stood an elderly man in stately black robes.
My eyes widened. It was Lupert Grand Duke. I'd recognize him anywhere—rival to my dad.
But he shouldn't be here. To dodge my uncle the Yosrahim Emperor's purge, he'd faked illness for years. Total malingerer.
"Oh, Erisa."
"Yes. How've you been?"
"Good. You?"
Lupert approached slowly.
"Erisa, who's this?"
"It's Baekmyeon. You know him, right?"
Lupert startled, grabbing my hand tight.
"What an honor to meet Baekmyeon here. I'm Lupert Grand Duke—a humble name."
I eyed him skeptically. No more faking—eyes sharp, full of vigor.
"Lupert Grand Duke? Heard of you. Weren't you sick?"
"Recovered recently."
"Weird. Thought it was incurable."
"It was, but the Great Saintesses visiting our empire graced Lupert territory and healed this old body."
"Great Saintesses?"
"Yes—Lady Katrinah and Princess Ignes's group."
I wrinkled my nose. Those women meddling again.
They wouldn't heal a fake illness, but it gave him cover to reemerge: "cured by saintly grace."
One more headache. In my past life, when Lupert recovered, Yosrahim plunged into chaos—he rebelled with disgruntled nobles.
Proof: unthinking goodwill breeds malice, stirring the world to ruin.
If Lupert had ulterior motives, Yosrahim would drown in blood soon.
"Glad you're better. Congrats."
"Thank you. Since fate brought us together, care for a meal?"
Fate, my ass—more like design. No way a "recovering" geezer shows for his granddaughter's event otherwise.
"Why would I? First time meeting."
Lupert smiled warmly, pointing to Erisa.
"Aren't you my granddaughter's master? As her grandpa, it's only polite."
I twitched an eyebrow. Obvious play—cozying up to me. With my power added, Yosrahim falls for sure.
"Problem is, got urgent business."
"What kind?"
"Finding a girl named Izel. Erisa, seen her? She was here with me a few days back."
Erisa's eyes went wide.
"Master, you saw Izel?"
"Yeah."
"Weird. We planned to meet right on arrival."
Yeah, no way she'd seek Erisa. Loves Hubeo, but my slip made him think Erisa's the one.
"Got it. I'll look. Whatever."
"I'll help."
"You too?"
"Yeah. She's my best friend."
"Alright. Let's search together."
I'd tag along with Erisa. Izel might hate it, but it's a misunderstanding—no biggie. Erisa's her friend; could help convince her.
"Sorry, Grand Duke. Meal next time."
"Of course. Until then."
As we left, I glanced back. Lupert watched with a meaningful smile.
Watch that guy. Faked sick for over a decade—master schemer.
'Another damn worry. This world can't even give me one peaceful day. Fuck.'
Good intentions without thought can become malice and muddy the world.