Chapter 6: The Priest of Corruption, Tudun!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
A blue cup placed on the table.
A sacred relic that had been nearly neglected by the church. It wasn’t particularly important.
The priest of the Holy Fire Church remained silent for a long moment. Eventually, his lips parted slowly.
"What became of the one who stole the relic?"
The novice priest—who had retrieved the relic from the rangers—bowed his head.
"According to the rangers, they were beheaded on the spot."
The priest fell silent again before speaking slowly.
"And the bodies... What was done with them?"
"They said retrieving the corpses wasn’t feasible under the circumstances. Only the relic was recovered."
The blue cup was placed into the novice priest’s hands.
"Priest?"
"Take this and return ahead of me. I intend to embark on a ‘pilgrimage’ from now on."
"A pilgrimage? So suddenly?"
"Yes."
The priest of the Blue Flame, Cheongyeom of the Holy Fire Church, slowly opened his mouth again.
"But did you happen to hear the exact location where the rangers killed the thief?"
Ten years ago, a single prophecy was delivered to all religious orders:
The end shall descend upon this land, cloaked in the shell of life.
Though chaos reigned briefly, nothing had happened over the past decade—a fact many found absurd. Some argued the prophecy referred to a distant future, while others interpreted it as a divine command to focus on the present.
A dark night. The moon glowed, its light embraced joyfully by the snow.
In that serene, beautiful nightscape, I walked.
One hand gripped a rope binding eight heads; the other supported an unconscious man wounded in battle.
"Such a tranquil atmosphere, don’t you agree, Mother?"
‘Kill!’
"I should’ve stripped their corpses of gear and coin. Had I taken everything, I’d surely be branded a money-grubbing priest later. But Mother, I’m content with this sword you gifted me—a reminder never to forget you."
‘Kill!’
"Yes, as you say, taking a little money would’ve been acceptable. How frugal of you. Still..."
I crunched through the layered snow and spoke slowly.
"Though my current circumstances leave me financially strained, my heart remains rich. For you are with me, Mother."
‘Kill...!’
While Mother Corruption lingered in the throes of deep emotion, I arrived at Guis. My relentless march, devoid of rest, had borne fruit.
As I neared Guis’s west gate, guards stirred upon noticing me. One hoisted a flickering torch and barked,
"The gates are closed! Return tomorrow morning if you wish to enter!"
I stepped forward, revealing myself. The torch’s crimson light fell on my spotless white robes, unmarred by battle.
"I am Priest Marnak, one of the mercenaries dispatched at the lord’s request this morning. While I can wait until dawn, my companion here requires immediate treatment. Could you permit him entry?"
At my polite tone, the two guards conferred hastily. The senior-looking one asked,
"You mean the ten mercenaries who departed this morning? Priest?"
"Yes."
"Then why do only two return?"
I raised the rope of heads.
"See this?"
The younger guard trembled. "Th-those are heads! Human heads!"
His senior remained composed. "Explain the situation, Priest."
I clarified the heads belonged to bandits, and that only I and Pyeur—slung over my shoulder—had survived.
The senior guard paused, then sent his junior away. "Wait briefly. We’ve notified those inside. But is your companion in critical condition?"
"He’s gravely injured, but the Goddess of Maintenance sustains him. A short wait won’t harm him."
In truth, it was Mother Corruption’s grace preserving Pyeur’s life.
Soon, two burly men and a red-haired woman in a thick coat arrived, breath misting in the cold—the mercenary guild’s receptionist.
Her jade-green eyes flickered as she ordered, "Take the patient to the infirmary. Now."
"Yes."
As I handed over Pyeur, I warned, "He may be somewhat heavy."
The men smirked, doubting my warning—until they took him. Despite my ease in carrying him, his bulk matched his weight. Their faces paled.
"Handle him carefully."
"Y-yes."
Now subdued, they hurried into the city with Pyeur.
Left alone with me, the red-haired receptionist said, "You may enter too, Priest Marnak. I’ve secured permission from the guards."
Thank you.
As I entered Guis through the front gate, the receptionist girl began chattering away.
"By the way, I didn’t expect this from a priest, but you’re incredibly strong, aren’t you?"
"I suppose I am a bit strong."
"I heard those heads you’re carrying are the culprits of this incident. It’d be better for our mercenary guild to keep them rather than you holding onto them directly."
"I’ll do that."
I’d never been attached to these heads. All I needed was to hand them over and receive twenty-nine silver coins.
The receptionist girl glanced at my face and grinned.
"Then would you mind escorting me to the mercenary guild? It’s a bit scary walking alone in the dark."
Not a trace of fear showed on her lovely, smiling face.
"Of course."
'Kill!'
I patted my mother’s squirming hand and moved forward.
The receptionist girl, who introduced herself as Erin, chattered nonstop the entire way. Was I skilled with a sword? What exactly happened today? Cross-checking the heads with bounties might yield extra rewards, and so on.
Her cheeks, red from the cold, bobbed animatedly. Meanwhile, Mother Corruption writhed ceaselessly in my chest pocket.
'Kill! Kill!'
"Thank you for escorting me, Priest Marnak!"
Erin beamed as she took the rope of bundled heads. A beautiful girl with a string of heads—grotesque, yet unremarkable in this world.
Where would I sleep tonight? Hopefully, my previous lodging had vacancies.
"Priest."
"Yes?"
"Do you have a place to stay?"
"I’ll start looking now. Surely this city has a room for me?"
Something within my budget of ninety copper coins.
"Searching at this hour must be exhausting."
Erin twirled a lock of hair, smiling.
"Would you like to stay over, if you don’t mind?"
Thump.
My heart leapt.
'Kill!!!'
Mother’s hand thrashed violently.
'Kill!'
"I knew it. That’s why I agreed so quickly. Mother, I have not an ounce of ill intent toward that red-haired receptionist. Truly."
Sadly, Erin’s offer was innocent. The guild had guest rooms, and she lent me one.
I produced my ultimate tool to calm Mother’s tantrum.
Squeeze. Squeeze.
Massaging her withered hand, her voice softened drowsily.
'S...a...r...h...ae...'
Knock knock.
Startled, I tucked Mother’s hand away and opened the door. Erin stood there.
"What brings you...?"
She blinked slowly and offered a basket.
"I brought spare clothes. Sleeping in robes must be uncomfortable. Did I wake you?"
I accepted it with a smile.
"Not at all. This will help me rest comfortably."
"Good. After you wake, please help with incident paperwork. You’re the only intact witness."
"Of course."
Erin bowed and left. I changed into the oversized men’s clothes she’d provided.
Folded priestly robes lay neatly by the bed—untarnished by battle because they were genuine robes blessed by the Goddess of Maintenance (維持). Self-repairing garments. Normally, only her devotees could activate their blessings, but I was an exception.
As a Priest of Corruption, I could wield items from other gods to disguise myself—all by Mother’s grace.
'Kill!'
"Don’t worry, Mother. I haven’t forgotten your hand massage."
Firm presses melted her voice again.
'S...a...r...h...ae...'
Knock knock.
Erin’s vibrant hair greeted me when I opened the door.
"I wanted to let you sleep, but something urgent came up."
I’d have woken soon anyway—this body required little rest.
"What is it?"
"The Lord wants to see you."
"The Lord? Suddenly? I have no ties here."
"His direct order."
"Why?"
Erin explained simply: Galard, the recent casualty, was the previous Lord’s bastard—making him half-brother to Tredon Fillian, current ruler of Guis.
"Strange... I heard the Lord treated Galard as nonexistent."
"I’ll change and come."
Guards escorted me to the mansion.
A gaunt frame. A parched face.
The cold-eyed man before me was Tredon Fillian, Lord of Guis.
I forgot all prepared strategies.
Mother in my pocket had drawn a giant ‘X’ with her finger upon seeing him.
A creature that doesn’t judge by fingers—
among those taking human form,
there is only one such being.
