Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: A Place You Shouldn't Enter - 2
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The next morning, after finishing preparations to leave, I stepped out of the barracks. Thanks to registering the weapons we'd brought under the moonlight overnight, my luggage had been reduced to just one bag—quite light.
"Is that all you've got?"
"Most of what I need, I can procure locally."
And if need be, I could always teleport back to grab more.
Veronica frowned slightly, clearly displeased with my answer, and shot me a look.
"What?"
"Every time I see how little luggage you carry... it feels like you're always ready to just up and vanish."
"Sharp observation. I do tend to leave once my business is done."
"..."
"But I'll say goodbye before I go."
"...Haa. Speaking of which, where's the Hero?"
"She'll show."
That one isn't much better. Claire, Leventia, and Evangeline were approaching from behind the Holy Knights gathered for their return.
Huh? Are they all leaving too?
If they all bailed, it'd create a huge manpower shortage on the front lines.
"I already talked to General Leoden about it. They're using accumulated vacation time."
"Oh. I see."
Not my problem, then. I averted my eyes from the three who'd gotten vacation slips after whatever they told General Leoden.
What I needed to focus on now was acquiring achievements from linked events.
After clearing the Pale Moon event, there were two church-exclusive events available.
The first was the Church Collaborator event. After meeting the Pope and a few Cardinals, you'd establish a cooperative relationship with them. The reward was the Church Collaborator achievement, which unlocked the linked "Saint" event.
Of course, raising affinity with the church was a hassle for the Saint event.
But what choice did I have? I had to do it.
"...Why are you staring like that?"
"Oh, nothing. Right, by the way—any interest in taking on some church jobs?"
"There are plenty to assign, but..."
Becoming a church collaborator let you clear quests commissioned by the church. You needed to clear a certain number, then the final event at the end, to get the Saint achievement—so I had to grab as many as possible.
Here, I could leverage connections to snag the no-brainer ones.
I turned to Veronica, the highest-ranking church contact I had closest to me.
"...What kind of jobs are you after? We do entrust tasks to church collaborators, but requests involving holy relics have tons of competitors."
"I'm fine with ones without competition."
There were plenty of others cozy with Cardinals or high priests, just like I was with Veronica.
In other words, plenty of people snagged quests via connections.
I could compete with them, sure, but it'd just waste time and cause interference.
For me, counts mattered more than rewards anyway.
"Even so... the rewards are meh, and they're a pain."
"Do I look like the type who cares about that?"
Veronica clamped her mouth shut and stared at me. I just shrugged, and she finally let out a heavy sigh.
"As a Cardinal, I can steer some good requests your way."
"Don't. You're on bad terms with the higher-ups. Don't take heat because of me."
Those requests were part of internal church power struggles. No need to burden Veronica, so I said it firmly.
"Anyway, even stuff others avoid is fine."
"...Why?"
"Huh? Why what?"
"Why are you so eager to take on that crap? Why do you always insist on taking the L...? Haa. Seriously."
What's her deal now?
As I noticed the irritation in Veronica's voice and moved to soothe her, Claire approached.
"Let's get started, then."
The moment she raised the Hero's sword, a dimensional gate opened. Beyond the rippling space, a massive church came into view. Veronica fell silent toward me and addressed the Holy Knights.
"We're heading back."
She strode ahead, her steps rough as if still angry. While I puzzled over it, Claire tilted her head.
"Did you fight with Cardinal Veronica?"
"Would I pick a fight with someone?"
I didn't even fight with you lot.
"...N-no, I guess not."
I glanced at Leventia and Evangeline, who were sneaking peeks at me, then stepped into the portal.
We arrived at the church, its Gothic spires stabbing the sky like spears. Priests were there to greet the returning Holy Knights. Only after their blessings and the choir's hymns purged the taint of battling heretics could we enter the church proper.
Stepping into the Gothic interior, filled with countless tapestries and statues, brought back old memories.
It was during the main story. After wrapping up Baek Eun Village around Chapter 5, the Demon King's minions included undead.
Holy relics were essential against undead, so the Hero party—including Claire—had to visit the church, passing several trials.
And I waited here.
As I scanned the familiar corridors, Claire approached.
"Coming back here brings back memories, huh."
She seemed to feel the same. Her face was full of bitterness as she looked around.
I wasn't an official Hero party member. I couldn't join these moments, so all I could do was watch from behind like this.
And back then...
I glanced at Leventia. Noticing my gaze, she fidgeted, then bowed her head deeply.
Come to think of it, Leventia had said something then.
Don't just loiter here doing nothing—go handle other tasks.
Of course, it was thoughtful. There were plenty of jobs nearby.
"Um, excuse me..."
Was she reminiscing too? Leventia was sweating bullets, her face on the verge of tears.
"Only authorized personnel beyond this point."
"B-but I'm a church collaborator too...?"
"This is about reporting and commendation for slaying the Pale Moon. That's the priority."
Veronica's tone was icy as she snapped at Claire, who fell silent.
"Let's go."
"Sure. Oh, you all came to buy holy relics and such, right?"
"...Y-yeah..."
"Know where?"
I'd handled most of that during the main story, so Claire probably didn't know the church layout.
The church was huge, with many restricted areas. Better to guide them properly than risk trouble.
Any incidents here could delay my events.
"...Not really. Um, Hyunwoo? Could you show us around...?"
"Sister Operthia."
"Yes?"
"Guide the Hero's group around the church."
"Understood!"
Veronica coolly ordered a passing nun.
Claire, looking disappointed, glanced between me and the approaching nun, then nodded faintly.
As they left, stealing glances back at me, Veronica clicked her tongue.
"You were going to guide them yourself, weren't you?"
"Yeah."
"...You're something else. So quick on the uptake, like some perfect saint."
It was just for my own sake, but saying more would sour Veronica's mood, so I shut up obediently.
"So saintly—how do you plan to survive in this world?"
"Not really... And isn't that a weird thing for a cleric to say?"
Clerics were supposed to uphold virtue, especially a high-ranking Cardinal like her.
Veronica stared without blinking, then chuckled.
"Being virtuous isn't the same as getting used."
"Hmm... I don't feel used."
"To me, you are. Without someone pulling you back, you might get exploited forever."
What does she take me for?
"Anyway, let's head in."
[Achievement: Church Collaborator unlocked.]
[Achievement reward: You can now accept church commissions.]
The Pope meeting was nothing special. I'd seen the event plenty in-game.
Just reporting the Pale Moon incident, showing the moonlight, and verifying it didn't contradict church doctrine.
"But Sage, how can you wield so many skills?"
"Beats me."
"Sage, where are you from?"
"Does it matter?"
"Why do you help the needy?"
"Just doing what someone has to."
"What do you think of the Light's teachings?"
"If I can follow them, sure."
And so on.
After the trivial questions and answers, the audience ended. Once the Pope and some Cardinals and high priests left, Veronica and I could exit the audience chamber.
"You never tense up anywhere, do you?"
"Why would I?"
Just the Pope, Cardinals, high priests.
No reason to fear when they couldn't kill me.
"Whatever. Let's grab some commissions while we're here."
I headed to the church commission counter with Veronica, running into a few adventurers.
"Whoa~ If it isn't the Sage?"
One of my target S-Rank Adventurers waved with a grin. Er... Westwind Baltin, right?
The lionkin spearman approached, mane flowing, hand extended. I shook it.
His soft paw pads felt nice.
"Here for church commissions?"
"Yeah. Figured it was time."
"Keh. Not even S-Rank yet. Why not stick to adventurer guild stuff?"
"I'll do those too. Got any good ones?"
"Heading to the Dark Dungeon. Wanna join?"
"Nah."
No achievements there. Good items, sure, but nothing I needed.
"Gonna chase more of those worthless requests?"
"They're vital to someone."
Baltin the lionkin adventurer grinned. Veronica, eyeing him intently, crossed her arms and asked seriously.
"I've heard the Sage takes requests no one else at the adventurer guild touches. True?"
Baltin glanced at her and nodded flatly.
"He's famous for it. Weirdo."
"I see... Then how about this one?"
Veronica reached into the commission counter and pulled out a worn request form.
"What's this?"
"Warehouse sorting. Holy relics mixed with heretic junk..."
"Oh. Perfect."
Could finish in a day. Then back to the palace.
"Client is... Huh?"
I checked the client name and stared at Veronica. She avoided my eyes, pouting grumpily.
"...Problem?"
"It was you?!"
"Y-yeah! So what? With your help, it'll go faster. You against it?"
"Didn't say that. Let's go. Oh, Baltin—catch you later."
After bidding Baltin farewell, we headed to the church's rear. Past buildings with striking spires, to a large one.
Arriving at the Heresy Inquisition, I eyed the massive stone warehouse behind it and said,
"While we're here, mind showing me your room?"
Thinking of game-restricted areas, I asked Veronica. With our current closeness, maybe...
"No way!"
"Huh?"
"G-going to my room is... a bit..."
"What's in there?"
"N-nothing you need to know! Barging into a lady's room!"
"Sheesh. You went right into the barracks."
"That was... That...!"
Unlike usual, Veronica looked flustered and curt, sputtering as she stormed inside.
Hm.
Something naughty in her room?
Even clerics can enjoy that stuff.
I'm not so uptight I can't understand...
Thought we were pretty close, but looks like I need to build more rapport with Veronica.
Author's Note
Good night today too~