Basically, in this world, the Church occupied most of the faith.
Of course, there were indigenous religions with regional characteristics, but the Church didn’t oppress them.
The Church only oppressed one thing.
Religions that practice human sacrifice.
The Church referred to them as cults and oppressed them, which could be confirmed in the event called the Religious War that would happen later.
“To think there really was a group of cultists…”
A few days after the matter was settled.
Baron Levent, the lord of the territory, received our report with a serious expression. Was it because An submitted it and Sowol and I were witnesses? Or was it because the traces of human sacrifice were so clear?
This incident became something that couldn’t be easily overlooked.
“If it’s a matter concerning cults, I can’t resolve it alone. Anyway, An. Good work.”
“Not at all. This time, most of the credit goes to Master Lee and his disciple, Miss Sowol.”
An humbly said she had just caught one ghoul, but Baron Levent didn’t seem to see it that way.
After praising An several times and promoting her rank, he turned his gaze to Sowol and me when An returned to her seat.
“This matter was entrusted to the Eastern Trading Company head, but you stepped in, Master Lee?”
“It’s only natural to do this much when I receive room and board from the Eastern Trading Company.”
“Even so, I can’t not give a reward. Is there anything you want?”
“I want this.”
I held up the secret seal of the cult that I found in the cult’s secret base.
Baron Levent, who was looking at it intently, tilted his head.
“What is that?”
“It’s what the Church wants. It’s necessary to find the cult’s base.”
“Oh. I didn’t know such a thing existed. By the way, how do you know about this, Master Lee?”
“I did some work with the Church in the past.”
I didn’t just use bugs for a year to gain strength.
In the process, I became acquainted with some people from the Church, and that’s when I heard about it.
Of course, I also learned some things because it was a game.
“Then take it. And by the way… Master Lee. Perhaps…”
“Haha. I won’t take an official position.”
I’m busy raising a child. I can’t waste time becoming a territory administrator.
He, who had already tried to appoint me several times, let out a deep sigh as if feeling regret.
Haha. Cry and wail all you want. As if I would.
“Then could you somehow teach my daughter too?”
“She’ll be able to find a better teacher than me.”
“Hmm. I see… That’s a shame. Ahem.”
I had met Baron Levent’s daughter before.
But she not only lacked talent, she also didn’t seem interested in becoming stronger herself.
There’s no need to teach such a child.
When I refused, he sighed again and turned his head.
Finally, where he was looking toward Sowol next to me.
“Sowol. I heard you defeated Lace. They say you even manifested aura at such a young age?”
“I’m still lacking a lot.”
“Aura at your age could be called a genius. How about it? If you want, you could become a knight.”
“I’m sorry. I still lack learning, so I think I’m not enough to take on such an important duty as a knight.”
Sowol’s refusal seemed to really disappoint him.
Baron Levent clicked his tongue and nodded.
He must have noticed, too.
That a genius who is the next head of the Eastern Trading Company and already using aura won’t stay under him for long.
Still, perhaps wanting to establish a connection, he gave Sowol a hefty reward despite her refusal.
“This incident brought peace to the territory from the evil cultists trying to attack the territory. I can’t end the praise for that merit with just a few words.”
So he’s pretending to be friendly to continue working well together in the future.
After praising Sowol to the point of embarrassment, Baron Levent said leisurely,
“Everyone has worked hard, so you can return and rest comfortably.”
As we came out of the lord’s castle, Sowol looked at me with a troubled expression.
The reward pouch in her hand seemed heavy.
“Master. How about using this for your drinking money?”
“Do you think I’m a drunkard?”
“But don’t you have many places to spend money? I heard yesterday that you even got an advance on your salary.”
How did she know that?
She’s not wrong.
I got an advance on my salary from So Jung-yang because I thought I should start giving Sowol some medicinal tonics.
The cost of ingredients for making tonics can’t be ignored, you know.
“If you insist that much, I’ll accept it.”
There’s no need to refuse when it’s being given.
I checked the reward pouch Sowol handed me. Ten gold coins.
This should be enough to make tonics for Sowol without any problem.
“Hey! Lee Hyun!”
That’s when it happened.
A leisurely voice that sounded fortunate was heard.
Looking in that direction, there was a priestess with dark blue short hair and a relaxed expression.
Serin Musumi.
An important figure in the future Religious War event.
She was the woman in charge of leading the religious war and defeating the god of the cultists along with the protagonists.
“Oh? Isn’t it Serin? Why are you here?”
And one of the few friends I have in this world.
She was an acquaintance I met when I was struggling to gain strength.
“How could I not come when it’s related to cults?”
Grinning cheerfully, she put her arm around my shoulder and looked around the territory, then lightly made the sign of the cross.
“Lord. Why are there such misguided people like cultists in such a peaceful place? Is this also caused by the seeds of the storm?”
“It’s not me, you know?”
“Strange things often happen around you. It’s like you’re always the main character causing trouble.”
“Hey now, that’s slander.”
What a harsh thing to say about someone who purely wishes to lead this world to the true ending and maintain peace and tranquility.
I tried to remove her arm from my shoulder, and that’s when Sowol, beside me, tightly grabbed my clothes.
“…Master.”
“Oh? Oh yeah. Say hello. This is Serin. She’s an ordinary priest of the Church…”
“I became a high priest last time.”
“A high priest of the Church and my friend.”
“Fri…end?”
Tilting her head, Sowol looked at me as if she couldn’t understand.
“Why?”
“That Master has a friend…”
“…How exactly do you see me?”
“No. That’s not what I meant. It’s just that you never talk about yourself, Master.”
I didn’t talk about personal things because there was no need to when teaching.
I guess I should tell her various stories from now on.
The dignity of a master is no joke.
“Oh ho~. Who is this pretty child? Hm? Hm? Not bad at all? Gasp. You’re not trying to do anything dangerous, are you?”
This priest has a broken filter. When will the Church fix it?
I kicked her once, and Serin, who was giggling, extended her hand to Sowol.
“Hello~. May the Lord’s blessing always be with you. I’m Serin Musumi, a high priest of the Church. Nice to meet you~.”
“…Yes. Nice to meet you.”
Somehow, Sowol doesn’t look pleased at all?
She, looking at Serin with a sullen expression, turned her head.
I patted her head.
“Sowol. I have something to discuss with Serin, so go in first.”
Unexpectedly, Serin came here, but it’s good.
Holy water can only be made through the blessing of someone with a certain level of holy power.
And Serin should be enough to make it.
You’re gonna have to work hard for once.
***
Sowol felt unnecessarily drained.
She, who had thought about eating something delicious with Lee Hyun with the reward money, trudged along and then glanced back.
Lee Hyun and Serin were standing in the same place as before, talking about something. Both Serin’s face and Lee Hyun’s face were blooming with smiles.
That didn’t sit well with her at all.
“….?”
‘It doesn’t sit well? Why?’
Sowol questioned the heavy emotion lingering deep in her chest.
Strange. Why has her mood, which was fine until just now, turned so bad?
After stopping for a moment to think, Sowol lightly bit her lip.
‘Is it because I couldn’t train properly today?’
Normally, she should have trained with Lee Hyun from the morning.
But today, she couldn’t do it properly because she had to prepare to enter the castle.
Could that be what’s bothering her?
But it was hard to think it was just that.
‘…Tch. What’s with Master anyway? He’s never shown me that kind of face when he’s with me!’
When Lee Hyun was with Serin earlier, he was genuinely enjoying himself.
She understood why.
Serin is beautiful enough to make one regret that she’s a priestess.
Just being together might be enjoyable.
‘But I’m pretty too, aren’t I?’
She had never thought she was inferior in appearance anywhere.
Right. In terms of appearance, she’s certainly not inferior to Serin.
‘At most, she’s taller than me, and her chest is a bit… no, a lot bigger. But to be so happy like that…’
He wasn’t like that when looking at her.
Feeling unnecessarily upset, Sowol chewed on her lip and shook her head vigorously.
“…Sigh. Why am I thinking like this?”