episode_0023

Orphanage.

Perceptions of orphanages were never particularly favorable. And why would they be? They were places where people abandoned children they didn’t want to raise.

But here, the perception was slightly different.

A place called [Cradle].

The orphanage here was remarkably well-equipped.

Gifts.

It was all thanks to this peculiar power said to be bestowed by the heavens.

No one knew how or why someone obtained a Gift. The only way to confirm it was by using a Gift Card once they turned twelve, revealing what they had been granted.

And if their Gift was deemed decent, they would be taken away to various places.

Those with the talent of a knight went to the [Empire]. Those with the talent of magic went to the [Magic Kingdom]. Those with the talent of a thief went to the [Back Alleys]. Those with the talent of a priest went to the [Church].

As for those with production-related Gifts, like blacksmithing, most were taken in by the Adventurer’s Guild.

It wasn’t called [Cradle] for nothing.

With a decent Gift, one could earn the honor of becoming an imperial knight or a mage of the Magic Kingdom. And if someone received a Gift related to divine power, they could go to the [Church] to hone it.

‘So even as an orphanage, it’s pretty well-off.’

Some people sponsored orphanages separately, and those who left them often supported them in return.

That was the nature of Gifts.

They were gifts bestowed upon the talented, rarely following bloodlines.

‘Though some noble families create [Prestigious Houses] with Gifts that can be passed down through lineage.’

Personally, I’d never seen one, so I didn’t know what it was like.

Anyway.

Thanks to such support, orphanages here were quite different—far better than in my past life.

‘Not that there aren’t any corrupt directors.’

But they either got killed or faced retaliation from those who awakened their Gifts later, so such figures had gradually disappeared.

At any rate, I’d heard that thanks to those with Gifts, the situation wasn’t too bad.

“……Come in.”

Erme and I followed Teresa. For some reason, Glasses had tagged along too.

“If you two are moving, it’s practically a party gathering. I’ll join in.”

That was his reasoning.

Not that this was a party event.

Well, in a way, it wasn’t.

Because right now, we were here to recruit a priest.

The conversation had taken a slight detour, but the orphanage still had some human resources remaining.

Though their clans and affiliations varied slightly.

There were those who stayed behind to help the orphans.

And usually, some remained to carry out what the [Church] called “humanitarian work” or acts of charity.

‘Which is why we’re here.’

Divine power grew differently compared to others.

Knights and adventurers leveled up by exploring dungeons. Through that process, they strengthened their bodies and mana.

That was how knights and adventurers grew.

Thieves learned stealth and other skills along the way.

Mages were rarely seen in dungeons, busy studying magic.

But priests? No matter how much they did that, their divine power wouldn’t increase.

There was another, more arduous process for that.

‘And it’s said that many priests fall into corruption during that process.’

Everyone worships them, but asceticism is a bitch.

As a result, it was said that barely any priests were sane.

Erme had mentioned it when recruiting a priest.

A priest addicted to alcohol and gold coins.

Teresa and Glasses had responded that such a case was actually quite mild.

They sighed in relief as they said it.

‘Just how much of a mess are they?’

How could that be considered mild?

Primordial curiosity surged, but I didn’t bother asking.

I’d see for myself soon enough.

And so, I did.

“Hic.”

“…….”

A woman, completely drunk and unconscious, sprawled on the floor.

“……That’s today’s party recruit.”

Erme’s voice trembled as she spoke. Teresa stared blankly at the woman lying on the ground.

Glasses took off his glasses, wiped them, then put them back on.

“Hmm, upon closer inspection, she seems fine.”

“……?”

Just what kind of profession were priests?

“Don’t overthink it, Yuseong. Compared to priests who cry and beg to escape to the Church because they don’t want to enter dungeons, she’s actually decent.”

“…….”

“Once, in a party I was in, a priest got high on drugs, raped a noble with a crazed look, and was executed.”

“Another one ran away in a dungeon and died right in front of me.”

“…….”

I was at a loss for words after hearing Glasses and Marcel’s stories.

Was this normal for priests? Even if they were revered like nobles, something about them seemed extremely twisted.

‘Aren’t they usually associated with piety?’

Was there something about the priest profession?

“Well, there are those kinds, but generally, their reputation isn’t great. Divine power varies by deity, and they inherit those tendencies.”

Erme dodged the question.

-……Who is that woman?

Lysiel spoke while looking at Erme.

-I’ve thought it was strange since before… but that’s not information ordinary adventurers would know.

‘She’s a candidate for Sword Hero.’

-Even if she’s a hero candidate, something feels off. Be careful. That existence hides too much.

‘Yeah, I guess.’

I half-heartedly agreed while staring at the priest.

Black hair, golden eyes. A gaze that looked at alcohol as if it were something lovable.

‘Something’s… off.’

The scene felt unnatural.

It wasn’t that she genuinely loved alcohol—more like she was acting the part.

‘……I’m overthinking it.’

I must’ve been exhausted.

After entering the dungeon, training the next day, then going back—my body felt completely drained.

‘Well, it’s not just a feeling.’

Undoubtedly, it was because of the iron weights Volcan had attached to my limbs.

While I was assessing her, she clung to Teresa.

“What’s this? You smell nice. Hehehe.”

“Get off.”

Teresa scowled and shoved her away. The priest staggered briefly before collapsing again.

“Hnngh……”

“Isn’t that a bit dangerous?”

Glasses voiced his concern.

“Hmm… Oh, it’s Glasses.”

“I am not Glasses. I’m Marcel.”

“Glasses… hnngh……”

“Fine. From now on, my name is Glasses.”

Glasses spoke in a voice dripping with exhaustion.

“At least she’s not on drugs, but at this point, drugs might’ve been better.”

“Alcohol is easier to recover from with divine power than drugs. She’s surprisingly reliable in dungeons.”

Glasses frowned at Erme’s words and stepped back.

Since Erme was the party leader, her opinion carried weight.

“Hmm, what’s this? Glasses here is kinda cute~.”

“They say women’s standards drop when drunk. Guess it’s true.”

Erme shot back at the priest’s remark.

Marcel bristled and stepped forward.

“I’ll have you know, I’m decent-looking.”

“I never said you were ugly. It’s just that he’s here……”

“Yuseong’s the weird one.”

“…….”

Why am I the weird one?

Though, admittedly, even I was sometimes startled by how good-looking I was.

The reason was simple.

Because I’d put effort into my character customization.

“Heheh, looks like you guys came to recruit me.”

Huff.

The priest—reeking of alcohol—slung an arm over my shoulder.

I grimaced. Because she stank.

“What, you grimacing ‘cause of the booze? Guys who don’t like alcohol aren’t popular, y’know.”

“Says the one who isn’t popular.”

Erme fired back, then immediately looked like she regretted it. What’s her deal?

‘Is she being protective of me?’

Maybe she looked out for her party members more than I thought.

“Let’s start with introductions. I’m Erme. The one you’re leaning on is Han Yuseong. And this priest is Rosante.”

“Too lazy. Just call me Rosante.”

Hic.

With that, Rosante clung to me.

“I get it. A fledgling like you wouldn’t understand the taste of alcohol yet. Hic.”

She poured herself a drink and downed it in one go.

Hic.

After hiccuping, she stared at me with glazed eyes.

“What’s this? A hottie right in front of me? Heheh, did God send you as a reward for all my suffering? Not usually my type, but whatever……”

Rosante approached me with an ominous aura.

I caught her face just as she tried to kiss me.

“Mmph! Mmmph!”

She licked my palm.

I felt my soul wither. I wanted to bury my face in my hands, but they were already covered in saliva.

‘I give up.’

Recruiting a priest seemed harder than I thought.

Maybe there were more diligent priests further up.

Erme had hinted as much.

Even if the ratio was low, someone like us could eventually find one.

Just as I was about to say that—

Ding.

‘……Don’t do this to me.’

A quest notification window appeared before my eyes.

[Encounter Quest]

You have encountered a Saintess Candidate.

Either capture her interest or make her lose it entirely.

Reward: ??? Failure: No penalty.

Seriously, stop.

I resisted the urge to glare at the blue window.

But the system was clearly telling me that Rosante was important.

“Mmmph! Pwah! Our hottie’s already clingy, huh? That’s no good.”

Who’s clingy?

Don’t rewrite memories.

“Heheh, you like me too, don’t you? Then how about you and this noona—BLARGH!!”

Midway through her sleazy pickup line, Rosante vomited.

Thankfully, I’d sensed something was off and stepped back.

‘This is beyond ridiculous.’

My first impression of her was worse than I could’ve imagined.

Near the orphanage, my first impression of Rosante was the absolute worst.

Yet Teresa and Glasses nodded as if she were acceptable.

“At least Yuseong can handle her.”

“Then I’m all for it. Having a priest feels like having at least two extra lives.”

But had we ever faced that much danger?

I thought back.

First, there was Lysiel.

And—

‘Hobgoblin Champion.’

That was about it.

But if we wanted to climb higher as adventurers, recruiting Rosante was essential.

“So, what now?”

“I’m staying at the orphanage.”

“Teresa can do that.”

“Hmm……”

Glasses gave me and Erme a strange look, then smirked and flashed a thumbs-up at Erme.

“I’ll pass. I’m a quick-witted support mage.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Erme beamed at his words.

Seemed like Glasses had tactfully bowed out of the priest recruitment. Probably didn’t want the hassle.

“Can we stay nearby?”

“The orphanage has rooms for sponsors. They’re a bit pricey and not exactly reasonable, but…”

I glanced around.

We’d have to drag Rosante along.

‘Carrying her on my back…’

I didn’t want her vomit-stained mouth near me.

Glasses cast a cleansing spell, but it still felt gross.

Luckily, I had a spare cloth in my bag. I wrapped it around Rosante’s head and lifted her by the legs.

“Yuseong?”

“Let’s go.”

I dragged Rosante toward the orphanage.

But then, an unexpected obstacle appeared.

“Hello.”

Standing at the orphanage entrance was none other than—

A smiling woman.

Not just red—more like a blood-like, ominous hue.

‘The Villainess, Lucia.’

The system-defined villainess.

She was right in front of us.

“Why are you here?”

“Visiting orphans is a hobby of mine.”

Her gaze slid toward me.

What could I say?

Her eyes were sticky. Like she was obsessed.

Since when?

I’d felt it ever since I destroyed the scarecrow using Dark Moon.

‘And now.’

I studied her.

Lucia.

The strongest person I knew, aside from Volcan.

‘Still…’

No blue lines.

That vision—the boundary between whether I could cut an opponent or not—was absent.

‘She’s still dangerous.’

The epithet Executioner Princess wasn’t for nothing.

The reason she looked at me with those sticky eyes was likely—

‘She wants to nurture me under her faction.’

Her obsession played a part too.

Because I had it.

“Executioner Princess Lucia, why?”

“We have a connection. Starting from Reglak, the nearby city.”

Lucia smiled sweetly.

“I met him in Reglak first.”

“Ah, you mean on the way here? Then I met him first.”

“If you met, why the tension? Almost like one side is being coerced.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Lucia hummed, her bewitching eyes fixed on Erme.

Like they were sizing each other up.

“So, you’re here to recruit a priest?”

Lucia pointed with a slender finger.

At Rosante, whom I’d been dragging.

Her face was unharmed thanks to the cloth, but—

‘……She’s a deep sleeper.’

As I stared, her body twitched slightly.

Not asleep—pretending to be asleep.

“But it seems the priest is awake.”

“H-Hey, long time no see, Lucia.”

Rosante sprang up, forcing an awkward smile as she shook hands.

What, she can act normal?

While I was stunned, Lucia smiled.

“It’s been a while, Rosante.”

Lucia accepted the handshake.

I stared blankly at Rosante.

Wait, if I use Lucia, recruiting Rosante would be easier, right?

But I shook my head.

‘No, she’d extort me later.’

Using Lucia’s obsession might work, but she’d see through my intentions and bind me. And it’d be in the most annoying way possible.

‘Too bad, but I’ll have to give up on Rosante.’

At least I left a strong impression by dragging her. Maybe I’ll still get the quest reward.

That’ll have to do.

I resigned myself to that thought.