“You want me to make holy water?”
As much as I wanted to have a drink after meeting her after a long time, I couldn’t take someone who came for work to a bar.
So I stuck close to Serin, who was investigating, and said this, but she only looked dumbfounded.
“There’s a church here too. Can’t you just buy holy water there?”
“You know that the holy water I want isn’t mass-produced.”
Right. The holy water that goes into the tonic I need to make is proper holy water full of holy power.
Real holy water that requires several days of dedicated blessing from ordinary priests to make.
Serin frowned deeply, pondered, and then shook her head.
“I might if I had some free time, but I came here for work now.”
“I know. Who said you came for sightseeing?”
I thought this kind of talk would come up.
I took out the cultist’s seal from my pocket.
Seeing it, Serin’s expression changed.
“That…!!”
“I’ll give you this.”
“Ugh…”
She’s conflicted!
Good. Just a bit more persuasion here, and it should work.
“And I’ll help you with the investigation.”
“…Really?”
She’s totally convinced now.
Serin narrowed her eyes, pondered, and then held out her hand.
I placed the seal on her white hand, and after receiving it, Serin put the seal in her bosom and led me.
“Father Rewallon.”
Father Rewallon.
The middle-aged man is the priest in charge of the church in the territory.
He, who was also acquainted with me, bowed politely to Serin, who was with me.
“Haha. Isn’t it Priestess Serin. Have you found something?”
“Whether to call it a finding… this friend gave me this.”
“That is… a cultist’s seal, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Since we can find the cultists’ secret base using this… I think I’ll have to focus on investigating this for a while.”
And focus on making holy water too.
Father Rewallon looked troubled at Serin’s answer.
Of course, who would be happy about a priest sent from the central church not conducting the investigation they were told to do and instead focusing on something else?
“As a substitute, so to speak… I want to entrust my absence to Lee Hyun.”
“To Master Lee? Hmm… But isn’t Master Lee busy? He’s so busy that he can’t even attend Sunday mass.”
Serin’s sharp gaze pierced me.
Geez. If a person is busy, they might miss mass and such.
“No matter how busy I am with public and private affairs to miss mass, I’m not so busy as to ignore cultists performing human sacrifices. Although I haven’t been baptized yet, I maintain a good relationship with the church. I can’t just let this matter slide.”
“Oh. If you sincerely think so, that’s more than enough. Indeed, I heard that Master Lee also played a big role in resolving the previous matter… Alright.”
As Rewallon went inside to prepare documents, Serin patted my chest.
Her slightly raised eyes looked even sharper.
“Do well.”
“Don’t worry.”
This is nothing compared to raising a disciple.
After investigating traces of cultists with the church, I returned to the Eastern Trading Company.
As I headed to my quarters, I saw Sowol waiting.
“What’s the matter?”
“You’re late. Looks like you had a good time catching up with Priestess Serin?”
I felt an inexplicable pressure from Sowol, who tilted her head and smiled faintly.
I sighed toward her.
What nonsense about catching up.
“I’ve been working until now.”
“Pardon? What kind of work…?”
“Investigation about the cultists. I’m exhausted after being pestered by Father Rewallon. Could you pour me a cup of tea?”
“Oh. Yes.”
I took a breather while drinking the tea Sowol poured for me, looking puzzled.
Now, shall we organize what we investigated today?
Currently, what’s been investigated is that the cultists are trying to establish themselves here.
It seems they’re trying to spread the teachings of the cult centered around the back alleys to create confusion in the territory.
Why?
Although a huge trading company like the Eastern Trading Company has been established here, this territory is nothing special.
Of course, there’s a big city nearby, so the route to get there is good, but that’s about it.
So why are the cultists trying to establish themselves here specifically?
“Master?”
I looked at Sowol. Perhaps because of my gaze? Tilting her head, Sowol stared straight at me.
If I had to give one reason, it could be Sowol.
In the game, Sowol was a member of the cult.
Perhaps the cult is trying to draw her in to utilize her overflowing talent.
Or maybe they’re trying to draw the next head of the Eastern Trading Company into their sect so they can use that wealth.
Hmm. Then maybe the cult might try to assassinate So Jung-yang.
If So Jung-yang were around, no matter how much they had drawn Sowol into the cult, they wouldn’t have been able to use the Eastern Trading Company.
…Oh? Wait a minute.
Wasn’t it the cult that killed So Jung-yang in the game too?
In the game, we only knew the fact that So Jung-yang was assassinated, but who was behind it and what the reason was didn’t come out.
If that’s true, then Sowol was just used by the cult…
“…Why are you looking at me like I’m pitiful?”
“Just because. You’re pretty, you know.”
“…Sigh. By the way, why are you investigating about the cult, Master?”
“I’m helping Serin.”
“Why?”
“I asked her for a favor.”
“What kind of favor did you ask…”
“There’s something. More importantly, I’ll be busy starting tomorrow, so I won’t be able to oversee your training.”
“…Pardon? But–”
“It’s only for a few days, so let’s not make a big deal out of it. Instead, I’ll give you homework, so do that. Stand up. I’ll give it to you now.”
Ah. She’s upset. Seeing her cheeks slightly puffed up, it seems she doesn’t like what I said.
But what can I do? I need to thoroughly investigate the cultists right now.
I raised Sowol, who had become sulky and grabbed a wooden sword.
Although she faced me with a sullen face, she didn’t refuse to grab the wooden sword.
Looking at her who lightly took a stance, I took a basic posture and slowly lowered the sword.
“What I’m about to teach you now is the sword you should ultimately learn. Its name is called the Moonlight Sword.”
“…Could it be that one from back then?”
“Yes. It’s a swordsmanship consisting of four forms, so learn it well.”
“But the sword dance you showed back then…”
“That’s an application. The Moonlight Sword consists of four basic forms, but if you consider related feints or variations, it can be divided into more forms. Now that you’ve learned how to guide magical power, you should be able to use the forms in earnest.”
I stood in front of her and raised the lowered sword. Sowol, who was hesitating, started to follow me.
“You emit magical power here. Slowly, but without stopping. The Moonlight Sword is based on its namesake, moonlight. To achieve that, you need to continuously maintain mana.”
I slowly taught Sowol how the mana flowed first.
Although she stumbled a bit, perhaps because she knew how to handle mana, she could somehow implement the first form of the Moonlight Sword.
“This is the first form of the Moonlight Sword. Moonlight Wave.”
In the game, it was an area attack that hit all enemies in front.
The damage wasn’t bad, and if used properly, it could even temporarily blind enemies.
But the Moonlight Wave that Sowol displayed was so feeble that it couldn’t even be considered practice stage yet.
But it’s okay. With Sowol’s talent, she’ll surely be able to pull off the Moonlight Wave.
“It’s not easy, right? Continuously maintaining magical power is the most important thing. Make sure to train your mana in your spare time. I taught you how, right?”
“Yes. You said to continue breathing to absorb it in nature while meditating…”
“That’s right. It’s important, so don’t skip even a day.”
“I understand.”
Seeing her nod with a serious expression, it seems the earlier sulkiness has completely disappeared.
She already knew how to meditate.
So, I should be able to move around freely for a few days.
“By the way, Master.”
“Yes?”
“What’s your type of woman?”
My type of woman, out of the blue?
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Just because.”
Can’t help it if it’s just because.
It’s not something I particularly need to hide, so I just told her.
“A woman who’s rich, pretty, tall, and has big breasts.”
***
‘A woman who’s rich, pretty, tall, and has big breasts, huh…’
After parting with Lee Hyun and finishing meditation in her room, Sowol recalled what he had said earlier.
‘I have money…’
The wealth of the Eastern Trading Company is certainly not small.
For Sowol, who is set to inherit the Eastern Trading Company when her father retires, money wasn’t a big issue.
‘Pretty… Right. I’m pretty, aren’t I?’
The pink-haired beauty reflected in the mirror looked beautiful even to herself.
But the next part is the problem.
Height. And breasts.
‘Height… I’ll grow taller.’
Considering her father, she’ll definitely grow taller. Yes. That’s settled then.
The rest is breasts…
‘Mother’s breasts were on the larger side.’
Recalling her mother, who remained in her memory and was drawn in pictures, she could see that her future was bright.
Of course, she couldn’t be careless. Along with the breast-enlarging exercises she learned from her close maid Laila, she also needed to eat well to grow properly.
‘It’s not like I’m particularly trying to become Master’s type. But if I do become his type, wouldn’t he focus more on teaching me? That’s all it is.’
Convincing herself inwardly, Sowol glanced at the mirror.
On the lips of the pink-haired beauty in the mirror, a faint smile was hanging.