Arsen's Holiday (2)

The Holy Church is a massive religious organization that dominates this world. The Empire has designated it as the state religion, which is why a holiday called the "Sabbath" was established. Not even Arsen Academy could treat the Holy Church lightly. As such, Arsen officially invited and lavishly welcomed the priests from the Holy Church who had visited the Arpen District.

This corresponds to the opening of Act 2 in the original story. Back then, they came not because of the dormitory ghost incident, but due to a demon incident that occurred within Arsen itself.

"So, you're... from the Esperand family?"

The priests from the Holy Church had arrived at Arsen faster than expected. I was having a private audience with Priest Isabel, confessing everything as if in a confessional.

I told her everything without omission: what happened at the Esperand estate, the events during the entrance process, my encounters with Kyle and the others, and even the most recent dormitory incident.

At first, Isabel's face was full of skepticism, but as she listened, color gradually returned to her cheeks. She realized my words were all true. The wary glint in her eyes had completely vanished.

Of course, I naturally omitted any mention of possession or the original story. No matter how exceptional her trait Holy was, it couldn't discern that this world was inside a game.

"Do you believe my story now?"

"......"

"Is this not enough?"

"...No, it's not that."

Priest Isabel from the Holy Church is not a villain. Later, she becomes the Church's proxy and a reliable backer for Kyle. She values trust highly, so she's not the type to carelessly spill hearsay to others.

And even if my information leaked, I now have Rebecca as an ally. Now that our deal is done, she would stake her honor... or rather, the Grander name, to keep my secret.

"I sensed something unusual about you, but I never imagined you'd be from... Esperand."

Same here. I never imagined I'd end up in Esperand either.

"So, are you going to report me to Arsen?"

"Well......"

Priest Isabel hesitated for a moment. I slowly opened my closed eyes. The flail hidden behind my back was still gripped tightly, but the murderous intent swirling around it had long dissipated.

In the end, Priest Isabel released the flail.

"That wouldn't be proper for a priest of the Holy Church. You've already completed your confession, haven't you?"

"I swear on my name that what we discussed here remains between us."

"And if word of this gets out, I'll protect you on my name."

It had the atmosphere of a confessional, but with Priest Isabel saying that, there'd be no backlash later. Even without that, now that she knew the Esperand name, she couldn't treat me carelessly.

"Before that, please answer one thing."

"Of course, Priest."

"Is it true that the Holy Church has ties with Esperand?"

This was the real reason. Among Esperand's clients, yes. There were occasional requests that came in the name of the Holy Church. That's the biggest reason the Holy Church can't push Esperand out.

"All true."

"My god......"

Since Esperand holds the Church's weaknesses, any fallout could shake the faith rooted throughout the Empire to its core. Esperand has that kind of power, so the Church covertly entrusted them with dirty work.

Things like eliminating persistent cults no matter how many times they're crushed, brokering deals with underworld forces, or taking out internal rivals within the Church.

These were shadowy affairs unknown to the public, but Priest Isabel, with her Holy trait, couldn't help sensing something amiss behind the scenes. However, with only suspicions and no hard evidence, she couldn't report it.

Even if she did report to her superiors, it would be quietly buried before reaching the top echelons. Mid-level managers would cut it off at their level.

Her assignment to missionary work in the remote Arpen District, far from the Church's heart, was surely related. The setting mentioned she faced frequent reprimands.

In the end, for Priest Isabel to expose the Church's corruption, she'd have to go straight to the Pope—but meeting high-ranking Church officials was difficult in itself, and above all—

"Then, all those rumors I heard about the Holy Church are......"

"Just as you think, Priest. All true."

"How could......"

The current Pope himself tolerates Esperand's existence. After all, he personally commissioned Esperand to purge the Church's elders to ascend to the throne—Pope Benedict II.

The Holy Church is already rotting from within. Priest Isabel realizes this corruption and seeks to reform it. With the Player's help, she succeeds and rises to the Church's highest position—not as the next Pope, but as this world's Saintess.

That's still far in the future. Isabel seemed lost in thought for a moment. Understandable. If it were me, I'd be confused too. To learn that the Church you've devoted your life to is rotten to the bone— for someone like Isabel, who lived devoutly, it must be hard to accept.

"...Yes. Thank you."

But Priest Isabel met my eyes again. She'd realized dwelling on it now was pointless.

"What was your business with me?"

"First, please keep what you saw here a secret. Though I assume you will."

Priest Isabel looked momentarily flustered, then nodded reluctantly.

"Understood."

With the discussion settled, I retrieved the Cursed Box from my subspace rune. I'd only stored it briefly, but my whole body tingled. It wasn't just my imagination.

An unfamiliar sensation, one I'd never felt before in my life, swept over my body. My vision spun dizzily. Just as I felt like I might topple backward, a warm grip steadied my hands.

"Stay still. Just a moment."

A faint prayer whispered in my ear. Holy power enveloped my body. The debuff from the curse weakened. The impure energy swirling through me gathered and was swept away somewhere. As my dizzying vision cleared, Priest Isabel gently placed my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hands back on the table.

"...Why do you have such a thing?"

"It's not mine—I found it in the third-year dormitory. As you can see, it can't be left alone."

"No, why... how did something like this end up in the dormitory?"

I raised both hands innocently. Beats me. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠developer would know.

"For now, it might be best if I hold onto this."

"Can you safely purify it?"

"I'm... not sure, but probably. I think."

...Probably. Not the most reassuring, but safer than me keeping it. We're just entering the early part of Act 1, so Isabel's holy power is still lacking. Once the Holy Church properly establishes itself at Arsen, things will change—but until then, I desperately needed someone to take this damned box off my hands.

"Is it okay if I keep it?"

"Of course."

Fortunately, Isabel willingly accepted the role. Probably because her Holy trait makes her more sensitive to this than I am. Just look at her eyes on the box—like staring at months-old food waste.

"Well, seems we've finished talking. Shall we head out?"

"One moment, cadet."

Turning at her sudden call, Isabel stood demurely.

"The debuff effects seem to linger, so it might be safest if you visit periodically for a while."

The faculty quarters aren't a place I can wander freely, but still.

"Understood, Priest."

"And calling me 'Priest' might cause confusion, so please call me Priest Isabel."

"Yes. Understood, Priest Isabel."

"......"

My heightened Sense no longer reacted. Glancing back one last time, Priest Isabel looked at me with... pity, perhaps.

Anyway, glad it worked out. Gaining a connection to the Holy Church, something I wouldn't normally touch, was a bonus. This opens a slight path against future unholy threats.

That said, today—

—it looks like I won't hit the bed until midnight at least.

After Shion left, Priest Isabel let out a held breath.

Shion Esperand. He claimed to be from Esperand. It wasn't a fabrication. Shion was indeed a member of that ruthless assassin family.

But Shion Esperand's words weren't lies. Despite emitting holy power warm enough to envelop the room, Shion showed no reaction whatsoever.

That meant Shion Esperand was no villain.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'...That can't be.'

Working for the Holy Church, she'd seen countless monstrosities and miracles. But Shion Esperand's oddity was on another level from anything before.

As someone who'd witnessed endless malice toward humanity, Isabel felt a fundamental doubt. No hint of evil from someone hiding his identity and name to tread this land? From a man of the assassin family said to have no blood or tears?

A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠man trained solely in killing? Yet he saved people and even carried an evil spirit he shouldn't touch.

What a contradiction.

Isabel felt a throbbing headache. Her conversation with Shion Esperand replayed in her mind.

-"As you said, Priest, I'm not suited for the light."

-"But that doesn't mean."

-"I can't aspire to it, does it?"

Was she swayed by his words? During their private talk, she sensed not a shred of malice from him.

Shion Esperand said he had business with her. The wooden box wrapped in cloth he presented was an object of demonic energy no ordinary person should touch.

He handed it to her, saying:

-"It's not mine—I found it in the third-year dormitory. As you can see, it can't be left alone."

As he said, this couldn't stay at Arsen. Worried others might suffer, he entrusted its disposal to her, a Holy Church priest.

Considering his background, it would be more natural if he'd possessed the box from the start or for some ulterior purpose. After all, Shion Esperand was part of an organization that kills for pay.

"Priest Isabel, in the name of the God of Light, Ad, I hear your confession here."

Thud...!

At that moment, the box shuddered. Resisting her holy power. But she couldn't just leave it be.

Isabel gazed at the box Shion had given her. An object that would cause chaos if opened, oozing ominous aura.

"Sleep."

She sealed it silently, unknown to all.