The Priest of the Slums
"Would you like me to help you find a priest?"
The sudden voice made me turn my head.
A young man with pink hair stood there wearing a friendly smile.
Gerard's hand went straight to his sword hilt.
"Who are you?"
The young man bowed lightly, as if he had been waiting for exactly that question.
"Just a porter passing by."
"That's what the most suspicious types always say."
"Then I suppose my job introduction was a success."
Gerard's brow twitched.
Drake sidled up beside me.
"Heh. His way with words is pretty slick."
I looked the young man up and down. No weapons in sight, and his clothes were far too clean. His fingertips were too pristine for a porter, yet for a noble his smiling face carried the unmistakable air of a merchant.
"Leaving the priest talk aside—do you know me?"
The corner of the young man's mouth curved into an arc.
"Is there anyone who doesn't know the Oh-Pan-Mu Hero who became the Capital's celebrity overnight yesterday?"
"I'd prefer you leave that nickname out."
"It's memorable."
"It's a wound for me."
"Then I'll correct it to the deeply wounded Hero."
"I like that even less."
The young man laughed it off shamelessly.
"Let's leave the jokes there. I've taken an interest in you, Hero. Even after going through such a noisy incident yesterday, you didn't look like you had any intention of giving up."
The corner of my mouth twitched upward.
Yeah, this guy.
He had a pretty sharp eye for heroes.
"Keep talking."
Gerard pressed his temple.
"You've already fallen for it."
"I haven't."
"Hide those mouth corners when you talk."
I hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand. Seeing that, Gerard sighed as if I were hopeless.
"Too late."
"I'm telling you it's not."
"Anyone could see you were thrilled."
"It wasn't that much."
"Then why cover your hand?"
"Reflexively."
"You admitted it."
"I'm saying it's not."
The young man swallowed a laugh with a cough.
"Let's get to the point. I'd like to apply as a porter for your party, Hero. And I can introduce you to a priest I know."
"Recruit him right now."
"Are you out of your mind?"
Gerard cut me off cold.
"We don't even know his name or identity. And you're going to put someone into the party right away who hasn't even been introduced by the Hero Management Bureau?"
"I can just ask for his name now."
"That's not the problem."
Drake crossed his arms and looked up at the young man.
"Heh. Moreover, I think you've come to the wrong place. Our Hero here doesn't have much juice left to suck dry even if you stick with him."
"Why is everyone saying such painful things today?"
"It's realistic advice."
"That hurts even more."
Drake jerked his chin toward the young man.
"So if you've come sniffing for support funds, go look for another hero. Around the Typhoon Hero over there would be much sweeter."
The young man nodded without the slightest sign of displeasure.
"A reasonable suspicion. However, I came sniffing not for the smell of money, but for the smell of empty seats."
Gerard's eyes gleamed sharply.
"Did you eavesdrop on our conversation?"
The sword hummed low in its scabbard. The young man showed his palms and stepped back one pace.
"I didn't eavesdrop. But considering the Hero's current situation, isn't it obvious what's most urgent?"
"What is it?"
"Maintaining the party. You've got a mage, a vanguard, and a scout, but for a party to last long, a priest is essential."
I opened my eyes wide.
"Wow. Really detective-like."
Clap clap clap.
The moment I applauded, a heavy impact slammed into my side.
"Guh."
Gerard glared at me.
"Be quiet."
"Hey, why are you hitting me!"
"Because you're embarrassing."
"Why me?"
"Asking that is even more embarrassing."
The young man trembled slightly in the shoulders, holding back laughter. Ainz, who had been watching the situation until then, stroked his beard.
"So, what do you hope to gain by joining our party?"
The young man looked at Ainz, then placed one hand on his chest and bowed his waist smoothly—a clean posture like a skilled butler greeting a distinguished guest.
"My introduction is late. My name is Reno. My occupation is porter, and my specialties are bookkeeping and logistics procurement. There's only one thing I want. To join the Hero's party."
"Reason?"
Gerard asked immediately.
Reno still didn't erase his smile.
"I'll tell you after I've proven that I'm a useful person."
"Suspicious."
"I won't deny it."
"Bold of you."
Drake snickered. Reno lightly shrugged his shoulders.
"Isn't someone who admits to being suspicious more trustworthy than someone who hides it?"
"No."
Gerard's answer was firm.
"You're quite quick."
"I'm stating the obvious."
I looked at the three of them in turn. I didn't feel any hostility. At least he wasn't someone I needed to draw a sword on right this second. And besides, we needed a priest.
Very much.
"Let's meet him first and then decide."
"Zick."
Gerard's voice dropped a level.
"I'm not saying we should trust him right away either. Just that we look at the priest."
Drake clicked his tongue.
"Our Hero trusts people way too easily."
"I'm looking at ability."
"That can be more dangerous sometimes."
Ainz let out a hearty laugh.
"I think it's fine. There's no judgment more certain than seeing for yourself."
Gerard turned his head with a face that said he didn't like it.
"Hmph."
It meant he wasn't opposing. Reno smiled faintly.
"A wise choice."
"We haven't recruited you yet."
"Of course. So I'll have to work hard."
Like that, we headed to the outskirts of the Capital following Reno's guidance. At first it was the bustling district—carriages coming and going on well-paved roads, streets where merchants raised their voices in front of shops. But after leaving the main road and passing through a few alleys, the air changed markedly. It was because the number of people sitting by the roadside had increased sharply.
Children ran around the streets barefoot. By the roadside, a soldier sat with his back against the wall. On the chest of his worn armor, a crest with a lion drawn on it remained faintly. But it wasn't the Empire's crest. Looking at the armor broken here and there and the bandages wrapped around his leg, he looked like a deserter who had just fled from the battlefield. Severe coughing sounds came from somewhere as well.
I slowed my steps a little.
"There was a place like this even in the Capital?"
Reno adjusted his glasses.
"Because the war has dragged on."
"Refugees?"
"Most of them are. People who lost their countries to the Demon King's army or fled abandoning their hometowns."
"Doesn't the Empire provide support?"
"It does. However, there's a limit to the support a country at war can provide. It's already tight just sending supplies to the front lines."
Reno looked at a child sitting by the roadside.
"Still, they accepted them because it's the Empire. If it were another country, there's a high chance they would have turned them away at the border."
"Even though they have nowhere to return to?"
"That's why they came this far."
My mouth tasted a little bitter. I had been so happy about becoming a hero. I had blathered about catching the Demon King, gaining honor, and making a harem. But the words "Demon King's army" had already been snatching away someone's home, rice bowl, and family.
Then a clear bell sound rang. The people on the street began moving one by one in the same direction. Reno also didn't stop his steps.
"This way."
We entered a small plaza following the people. There was one priest there. The holy vestments he wore were completely different from the pure white clothes of the priests I had seen at the Pantheon. The ends of the sleeves were frayed black and worn, and on the chest, pieces of cloth that had been patched over and over were sewn on in patches. His face was also covered in a lot of dust. Yet somehow my eyes were drawn to him.
The priest was holding the hand of a child sitting on the ground. There was a long torn wound on the child's palm, and the priest placed his hand over it and murmured softly. As a faint light spread from his fingertips, the child's crying gradually subsided.
"You'll be fine now. Don't grab anything with your hands today."
"What about bread?"
"I'll hold the bread for you."
The priest smiled and handed the child some bread. The child wiped his tears and bowed his head. This time an old man approached. The priest supported the old man to sit in a chair and handed him a water bowl. There were many people waiting, but he didn't push anyone away.
Drake scratched his chin.
"A good person."
At those words, Ainz also nodded deeply.
"There's no hesitation in his touch."
I turned to Reno.
"Is that the priest you mentioned, Reno?"
Reno gazed at the plaza over his glasses.
"His name is Noah. He has an affiliated order, but in reality he's a priest who resides here. Other orders do come out regularly for relief activities, but people who stick around every day like that are rare."
"How good is his ability?"
"From what I can see, considerable. I don't know if he's at the stage to be called a saint or saintess, but at least he's not at the level of an ordinary priest."
"Why is someone like that still here?"
Instead of answering, Reno pointed at Noah. Just then Noah was changing the bandages of an injured soldier. The soldier said something with an apologetic face, but Noah shook his head and tightly wrapped the bandage again.
"He said he can't leave these people behind. He rejected all the other heroes' proposals for that reason."
Gerard's eyebrows shot up.
"Your words are different."
Reno stepped back one pace with a smiling face.
"I said I would introduce him, not that I would necessarily get him to join."
"Wordplay."
"Porters need excellent rhetoric to make a living, you see."
Drake burst out with a heh laugh.
"I like him. The way he does things that deserve a beating is quite refined."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It's not a compliment though."
As Gerard tried to turn his body toward Reno, I raised my hand to stop him.
"That's enough."
"Zick."
"Anyway, he introduced a good person."
Reno's smile wavered for just a moment.
"I didn't expect you to take my side."
"Why?"
"Normally people get angry. Especially like that knight over there."
"That person is a good priest, right?"
I looked at Noah again. A priest wearing old clothes, covered in dust, kneeling on the ground. But strangely, he looked more like a priest than any priest I had seen so far.
"I've decided."
Gerard looked at me.
"What."
"I'm going to recruit that person into our party."
"Didn't you hear he refused?"
"I heard."
"And?"
"Then I have to persuade him."
Drake pressed his forehead.
"Our Hero really can't be stopped."
I turned my head to Reno.
"Thank you for introducing a good person. After I talk with Noah, I'll think positively about your matter too, Reno."
Reno couldn't answer right away. He just slightly opened and closed his mouth like someone who had lost his words. I tilted my head at that reaction.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing."
"Then I'll be going."
I moved my steps toward where Noah was. From behind, Gerard's sigh could be heard.
"Hmph."
Drake snickered.
"That's our Hero for you."
Reno was still chasing Zick's back with his eyes. Ainz approached beside him.
"A strange hero, isn't he?"
Reno raised only the corner of his mouth without turning his gaze.
"Someone whose calculations don't add up."
"That's what makes him interesting."
Ainz stroked his beard and smiled.
"You also seem to be hiding something, but if you want to join that party, calculations alone will be tough."
Reno's shoulders stiffened just a little.
"I don't know what you mean."
"If you don't know, that's fine."
"It seems meddling is your hobby."
"When you get old, everyone becomes like that."
Reno snorted lightly.
"Then don't worry about me, elder. I'll take care of my own business."
"Hehe. You should."
Ainz didn't dig further. In the meantime, I arrived in front of Noah. Noah was about to get up after handing bread to a child when he discovered me.
"Are you injured?"
That was the first thing he said. I was momentarily speechless.
"No. I'm not injured."
"Then do you have an illness?"
"Not that either."
"Do you suspect a curse or demonic energy contamination?"
"Not that side either."
Noah looked at my face quietly then made a slightly awkward smile.
"Then for what business have you come?"
I straightened my back. First impressions are important for things like this. As seriously as possible, as hero-like as possible.
"Noah."
"Yes."
"Please join my party."
Noah's eyes went round. The children who had been receiving bread around also all looked at me at once. And right behind, Drake's voice could be heard.
"Heh. Straight to the point."
Gerard muttered lowly.
"Haa... No strategy."
Hey, I can hear all that.
Noah shook his head.
"I'm sorry. It would be better to look for another priest."
Having finished speaking, he naturally turned his back. An unspoken expulsion that the conversation was over. But I had no intention of ending it. Good talent is originally rare, after all.
"Noah."
"Yes."
"Perhaps my party..."
"I'm sorry."
The refusal was too fast.
"I haven't even spoken yet."
Noah made a troubled smile.
"I thought it would probably be the same content."
"You're right, but."
From behind, Drake's laughter leaked out.
"Heh."
Even after that I tried speaking a few more times, but the result was the same. Noah refused politely, and I didn't give up politely.
It was then.
"Ugh..."
A small groan was heard. Turning my head, a young child was dragging a food box. The box was about the size of the child's body. Without much thought, I lifted the box up with a heave.
"Where should I take this?"
The child looked up at me with a surprised face.
"Th-that way."
"Got it."
When I put the box down and returned, Noah was looking at me quietly.
"Hero."
"Yes."
"There's no need for you to do even that."
"Why?"
"I can do it."
"Then if I help, it'll finish faster."
Noah closed his mouth for a moment.
"That would be so."
"What's next?"
At first Noah kept trying to stop me. But I didn't care. If he asked me to support an old man, I supported him; if he asked me to look after the children, I looked after them. If he asked me to draw water, I promptly drew it. Honestly it wasn't hard work either. Rather, what concerned me was Noah's side. Every time he made one request, he made a face like he was the most sorry in the world, and I just couldn't understand the reason.
"Hero."
"Yes."
"Your clothes have gotten dirty."
"I can wash them."
"Your shoes are also covered in mud."
"I can wipe them."
Noah looked alternately at my clothes and shoes then burst into a small laugh.
"You're quite a unique person."
"I hear that a lot."
"It wasn't a compliment though."
"I hear that a lot too."
Around the time the sun was setting, Noah who had finished the last food distribution approached me.
"Hero."
"Yes."
"Why do you go that far?"
"What?"
"I've already refused several times."
"I know."
"Yet why do you keep..."
Noah paused for a moment as if choosing his words.
"No. Never mind."
I scratched my head.
"Just, because you're a good person, Noah."
"Pardon?"
"That's the reason."
"With just that reason?"
"Isn't that the most important thing?"
Noah couldn't answer. Instead he stared at me for a long while—eyes like treating a life form he was seeing for the first time. After a while Noah opened his mouth.
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
I opened my eyes wide. Finally the chance had come. There was value in following his tail all day today. It meant at least he was willing to listen to the story. I quickly nodded.
"Thank you."
Like that we headed to the residence where Noah stayed. A small building located on the outskirts of the Slums. It was old but neatly arranged. A subtle fragrance filling the teacup spread in the room. Noah set down the teacup with familiar hand movements. I looked at Noah while holding the warm cup in my hand. During the day he had been continuously surrounded by people, but now it was just the two of us. No one to interrupt, no urgent patients. Now it was time to properly bring up the main point.
"Noah."
"Yes."
"Please join my party."
Noah lifted the teacup and wet his mouth with a sip. And after setting the cup down, he faced me straight on.
"You are quite a strange person, Hero."
I unconsciously corrected my posture.
"Pardon?"
"At first I thought you would give up soon."
Noah drew a small arc.
"But that wasn't the case."
Good, the atmosphere is flowing as smoothly as receiving a blessing.
"Other heroes have come looking for me as well."
Noah fiddled with the teacup.
"But most of them turned their steps right away after being refused once."
"That's..."
Honestly I could understand. Other heroes with strong pride wouldn't have clung on so pitifully like me even after being refused.
"But you stayed all day, Hero."
Noah's gaze went to my clothes—a shabby appearance covered in a lot of dust and dirt.
"And you didn't even show any dislike."
"It's because I originally have that kind of personality."
"I know."
Noah smiled sweetly.
"That's why I was even more surprised."
Done. This is definitely fallen for. The atmosphere is truly the best.
"If it's someone like you, Hero, you will surely become a good hero."
I unconsciously leaned my body forward closely.
"Then..."
Noah slowly bowed his head.
"I'm sorry."
I froze solid while holding the teacup. A completely unexpected development.
"Even so, I cannot leave."
In that moment my head flashed white. Noah smiled quietly with an apologetic face.
"Because the people who need me still remain here."
And as if nothing had happened, he lifted the teapot.
"Would you like more tea?"