Chapter 2
Chapter 2
The Mad Priest of the Slums #2
Having knowledge forcibly injected into your mind by someone else was fascinating—but not something I’d want to experience often.
“How is it?”
At the woman’s question, I answered honestly.
“I expected more, but it’s pretty bland.”
“For example?”
“In novels, people scream or suffer when this happens. This was… very ordinary.”
“Are you disappointed?”
“No.”
She let out a small laugh.
“Whether it hurts or not is up to the one giving it.”
That made sense.
A being that could drag someone across dimensions and create something from nothing should have no trouble controlling something like pain.
“Is this a service?”
“Let’s call it goodwill. Calling it a service makes me sound cheap.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She leaned back slightly, then pulled out what looked like a parchment from a drawer.
“I’ll prepare the contract. Take some time to organize your thoughts.”
“Alright.”
A quill would’ve suited the parchment, but she instead used a fountain pen from her chest pocket.
Scratch. Scratch.
I leaned back, listening to the fire crackling and the pen moving.
“…Not quite medieval.”
The world I was about to enter wasn’t as advanced as modern Earth, but it was still fairly developed.
The differences were:
Magic existed.
Gods and temples existed.
Dungeons and monsters existed underground.
“…People are the same everywhere.”
There were still the rich and the poor.
Those with power and those without.
The only difference—
Strength wasn’t just money or status.
If you were strong, you were respected.
And one more thing.
Something impossible on Earth.
People there truly believed in gods.
Priests—
Were untouchable.
But not because they couldn’t be harmed.
Because no one dared to.
On Earth, people talk about divine punishment.
There—
It actually happens.
An example came to mind.
A famous adventurer assaulted and killed a priestess.
He disposed of her body in a dungeon.
No witnesses.
No remains.
The next day—
He was found tied in front of her temple.
His skin peeled off.
For a year—
Salt was poured on him every hour.
On the anniversary—
He was burned alive.
Until sunrise.
Then died.
They say even his soul was taken.
That was enough.
To remind humanity—
Power, wealth, status—
Mean nothing before gods.
As for corruption among priests—
No information was given.
Maybe there were no examples.
I’d find out myself.
There were more details—
But none that mattered right now.
“What do you think? Ready for the benefits?”
I opened my eyes.
She was waiting.
“Yes.”
“I’ll give you three.”
Snap.
Nothing visible changed.
“Say ‘Bank.’”
“Bank.”
A hologram appeared.
Balance: 13,700,000,000
“…Familiar.”
“That’s your lottery money. I transferred it.”
So time still flowed on Earth.
“Try withdrawing.”
I tapped the interface.
Entered a small amount.
A bill appeared.
“…Exchange rate is 1:10. You’re the 1. It’ll become 1:1 later.”
“I see.”
There was also a deposit option.
“If you’re alive, you can take that amount back to Earth.”
“…Understood.”
This alone—
Solved most of my concerns.
“Now say ‘Shop.’”
“Shop.”
Another window appeared.
“Same system. Money leaves, item appears. Only things from that world.”
Useful.
“Lastly—this.”
She held up the parchment.
“At the end, you can choose. Stay there, or return to Earth.”
“…Normally?”
“You return.”
Not relevant to me.
“Are you satisfied?”
“Yes.”
There was no reason to say otherwise.
Not to someone like her.
“Then it’s time.”
“Before that—one question.”
“Go ahead.”
“My friend. Is he coming too?”
She smiled.
“What would you do if he is?”
“…I’d smash his head.”
“You’ve known him a long time.”
“I just cut him off.”
She didn’t answer.
But she was laughing.
“He’ll come too. Unlike you, he’ll possess a character.”
Didn’t matter.
“Where will I start?”
“Anywhere you want.”
“…In front of Bishua’s temple.”
“Easy.”
Snap.
A mirror appeared.
Not reflecting us—
But a street.
“Just walk in?”
“A final service.”
“…Thank you.”
“Good luck.”
I stepped forward.
The moment I crossed—
The fireplace vanished.
Noise filled my ears.
A bustling city.
And a massive temple.
I walked toward it—
“Hey!!”
A strange language—
But I understood it.
Before I could respond—
My wrist was grabbed.
“What’s going on?”
“…You heard that?”
“I did.”
A man laughed.
A woman cuffed me.
I looked down.
“…Ah.”
Black T-shirt.
Underwear.
“That explains it.”
“You are under arrest for indecent exposure.”