The Priest of Complete Dispel ~ Every Time I Save a Cursed Beautiful Girl with My Status Abnormal Cure Skill, For Some Reason Her Dependence on Me Maxes Out ~ - Chapter 26: The Mastermind

Chapter 26: The Mastermind

It was just before evening.

We gathered at the church again.

Iris, the members of Silver Blade, and the rescued women were resting in the back.

Iris had apparently heard the details from the women beforehand and was about to share the key points with us.

“I’ll start with the conclusion. The mastermind is Archbishop Undir Bulldog,” Iris said.

I had heard that name once before.

The first time was when I lifted Iris’s Lewd Curse. Now, I heard it again.

“For the sake of Silver Blade, I’ll explain. Archbishop Bulldog has been running a sex business using curses in an underground facility in Hares. He’s working with spies from the Miledia Empire and the demon race,” Iris continued.

“An archbishop doing such a thing!? And with empire spies and demons… This is too big!” Erina, a priestess, exclaimed in disbelief.

It was understandable. The idea of a high-ranking church official committing such crimes was unthinkable.

“But I saw it with my own eyes. I was cursed with the Lewd Curse by a demon named Dorotheia… and I gave in. I fled desperately to Magou Forest, where Shu saved me,” Iris said.

I remembered Iris crawling, crying, and losing her sanity.

The curse had a side effect of spreading through mucous membrane contact. If it hadn’t been me who found her, things could have been much worse.

“Such a thing…” Erina was speechless.

“From what the women said, they all had different circumstances—some were alone, others had debts. But they were trying to survive. Then one day, they suddenly found themselves trapped in a goblin nest. And… Medina was taken too and chosen to control the goblins. The one who directly ordered it was Archbishop Bulldog,” Iris explained.

It was almost certainly Bulldog who gave them the magic tool.

But why go to such lengths to control goblins?

“Why would he do that?” Erina asked, her voice trembling.

“Do you know the church’s biggest source of income?” Iris asked.

“…Healing magic fees, I think,” Erina answered.

“Exactly,” Iris confirmed.

I understood. In the village church, we got some money for healing, but it was small. In cities, it seemed to be an established business.

“Archbishop Bulldog made humans into breeding vessels to efficiently produce and control goblins, then had them attack people. He injured them just enough to need healing and come to the church. This whole incident was part of his healing business,” Iris said.

“What a filthy scumbag!” Glen shouted angrily.

But I still had a question.

“Who cast the Uglification curse?” I asked.

“As I explained before, Uglification changes someone’s face into what the caster thinks is ugly. I thought Dorotheia might be involved, but even demons can’t master many curses. It’s likely Archbishop Bulldog or the empire spy, Samuel. I believe Samuel is the caster,” Iris said.

I see…

But what was the point of the Uglification curse? If they were already captured, it seemed unnecessary.

“Shu, people reject things that are different from them. If it wasn’t us who entered the nest, would anyone treat pig-faced people as human?” Iris asked.

I fell silent.

I had Appraisal and Perfect Clear, so I knew they were human and restored them.

But if it was someone else? They might mistake them for monsters and abandon them.

Iris’s theory felt terrifyingly real.

“It’s truly the lowest tactic. And the healing fees are ridiculously high anyway. I’m already fed up with it,” Risia spat out.

She seemed frustrated with the church’s healing business, but this was a different level of malice.

“And one more thing… All the captured women were beautiful. Do you know why?” Iris asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

“Maybe… someone had a grudge against beautiful people?” Glen muttered.

If that was true, it meant many people suffered because of personal malice.

“Glen, you’re a handsome guy. You could be targeted anytime,” I said.

“Shu, I’m not handsome,” Glen replied.

“Are you serious…?” I looked at Risia and Erina.

They shook their heads, exasperated.

This guy was completely unaware of his good looks.

“So, Iris, what’s the plan? Originally, we were going to Hares to rescue the women underground…” I said.

Iris stayed silent.

“Don’t tell me you’re just winging it?” I groaned, holding my head.

She might actually storm the enemy’s base without evidence or preparation.

“Iris, Shu, we’ll help,” Glen said, standing up.

The Silver Blade members agreed instantly.

“We came here on a goblin extermination request from the Hares guild. We’re heading back anyway. If our saviors are in trouble, there’s no reason not to help,” Glen said.

“You really are a handsome guy…” I muttered.

“Shu, stop it,” Glen said.

His humility was annoyingly perfect, but he was reliable.

“Even if we know the underground facility’s location, we don’t know where other enemies might be hiding. Let’s gather information first. We have connections in Hares, so we can move more easily than you two,” Glen said.

“You’re too dependable,” I said.

So, we decided to head to the adventure city of Hares with Silver Blade.

But I was worried about the women staying at the church. Some had families, others didn’t. I wanted them somewhere safe until the case was resolved.

“Shu,” a voice called.

It was Lueda, the church’s head.

“Granny?” I said.

“We’ll look after the women for a while. We received magic stones, so food won’t be an issue,” Lueda said.

“Is that okay? There are so many,” I asked.

“Yes. Until you resolve this, we’ll take care of them,” she said.

“Thanks,” I said.

She seemed to know Mizette, so I trusted her to care for them.

I wanted to thank Lueda. Then I noticed the cane she used for walking.

“Iris, sorry, but Appraise her,” I said.

“Of course,” Iris said, immediately using Appraisal.

“Her shoulders, waist, and knees are in bad shape,” Iris reported.

I stood and approached Lueda.

“Sit down. This is my thanks,” I said.

“Shu…?” Lueda looked confused.

I made her sit and placed my hands on her shoulders.

“Perfect Clear,” I said.

Holy light flowed into Lueda’s body.

I felt her stiff muscles relax as I gently massaged them.

“It’s warm… It reminds me of when my granddaughter massaged my shoulders,” Lueda said.

“Haha, that’s good,” I said.

The massage lasted only a few seconds.

“Granny, stand up,” I said.

“What…? Oh…! This…!” Lueda stood, surprised.

She could walk without her cane. Her bent back was straight, and she looked twenty years younger.

“Amazing… The pain is gone…! Eida, look!” Lueda said.

“Grandma!? Without your cane…!” Eida, the sister Iris spoke to earlier, exclaimed.

Eida must have been the granddaughter who massaged her shoulders.

I remembered healing the old folks’ back pain in the village. Perfect Clear could truly change lives.

“Shu, you’re incredible. Healing not just curses but physical ailments too,” Glen said, amazed.

It was the first time Silver Blade saw my skill in action.

“It’s the skill, not me,” I said.

“Then I’ll throw your words back at you. The handsome one is you,” Glen said.

“Glen, I’m rough and have a bad glare. I only had one friend growing up. No way I’m handsome,” I said.

“Still, two people are smiling now. Isn’t that because you’re a kind-hearted handsome guy?” Glen said.

Lueda and Eida’s smiles were bright.

I shrugged and shot back at Glen.

“That’s a line a handsome guy would say.”