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 39: An Unexpected Encounter

Chapter 39: An Unexpected Encounter

“—Shu, it’s fine if you eat breakfast first, but could you swing by the adventurers’ guild afterward? I’d like you to meet the guildmaster first,” Glen said, appearing at the Mist of Serenity’s first-floor dining area where we were having breakfast.

I munched on freshly baked bread, giving a casual nod with one hand. He flashed a toothy grin, gave a thumbs-up, and left the inn with a lively stride. Man, that guy’s way too energetic in the morning.

We finished our meal, packed our things, and left the inn. The morning air was still cool, and the streets were sparsely populated. The sunlight glinting off the cobblestones was bright and somehow refreshing.

We were walking side by side when it happened.

“Good morning!!”

A sudden, high-pitched wail echoed from a nearby alley. Turning around, I saw a small girl in the dim shadows, clutching her knees and crying.

Her eyes were red, and snot dripped from her nose. She looked about five or six years old.

“…Tch, seriously?”

I was supposed to head straight to the guild, but I wasn’t heartless enough to ignore her.

With no other choice, I stopped in my tracks.

“Iris, Medina. Sorry, but we’re making a quick detour.”

“Of course. As expected of you, Shu, so kind,” Iris replied.

“I-I’ll follow your lead!” Medina added.

Both nodded immediately, so I crouched down beside the girl.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Did your mom leave you behind?”

I tried to sound as gentle as possible, but—

“…Waaahhh!?”

The moment she saw my face, her cries grew even louder.

…Oh, right. I forgot about my intimidating eyes. Back in the village, I’d accidentally made kids cry a few times. Knowing it was my fault made it sting all the more.

“Hey, hey, don’t cry. I’ll help you find your mom, okay?”

I scratched my head and tried to reassure her, but she still looked terrified. Honestly, I’m terrible with kids. Someone friendly like Nora would be easier to handle, but with her crying like this, I was at a loss.

“…Hm? Your knee’s hurt, isn’t it?”

Looking closer, I saw her knee was scraped and red, with a bit of blood seeping out. She must’ve fallen and ended up sitting here.

Sighing, I raised my hand.

“Hold on a sec. I’ll fix it—<Heal>.”

A soft light enveloped the girl, and her wound closed up quickly. But at that moment—

“…Ah!” Iris reached out, trying to stop me.

Too late.

The girl, healed by my magic, blinked in surprise, then—

“Wow!”

Her big eyes sparkled as she showed off her healed knee, letting out a cheer.

The relief of her pain must’ve thrilled her.

“There, all better. Now let’s find your mom.”

“…Thank you, big brother… but I don’t have any money…”

“Hah, I don’t need thanks. Your gratitude’s enough.”

I ruffled her hair, wiping away her tears. Her crying face finally turned into a smile—when suddenly.

“<Mirage>.”

“<Stealth>.”

Iris and Medina activated their magic and skill, vanishing from sight.

“Huh…?”

I stood there dumbfounded, but the reason became clear soon enough.

“Hey! You there!”

“What?”

A bespectacled nun in a habit came running toward me, holding up her hem. Breathing heavily, she pointed straight at me.

“You! You just used healing magic in the middle of the city! And near the cathedral, no less!”

“Yeah, I did. So what?”

“It’s obviously a violation! Except in specific cases, healing magic is only allowed within church facilities in the city—and only after receiving the designated offering!”

…Seriously?

I’d heard healing magic was part of the church’s business, but I didn’t know there was a rule against using it in the city. What about adventurer priests? Do they hold off until they leave town?

That’s probably why Iris had called out earlier, trying to stop me. But in that moment, I could only think about healing the girl’s injury.

“…You’re wearing a habit under those clothes, aren’t you? Which church are you affiliated with?”

“Affiliated? I’m not with any church.”

“Unaffiliated? And yet you used healing magic? That’s even more suspicious!”

“Look, I just came from the countryside. I’m still learning the ropes here. My bad.”

I tried to explain, but it seemed to backfire. The nun’s eyes gleamed behind her glasses.

“Unaffiliated… Then you must join our Bulldog faction!”

Bulldog…?

That name made me frown instinctively.

“…If I go with you, what happens next?”

“If you can use healing magic, you’ll primarily work on treating the injured.”

“That’s it?”

“Of course not. If you achieve significant results, you could catch the eye of Archbishop Bulldog and rise from a regular follower. Your pay would increase too.”

“Hmm…”

Her eyes sparkled as she sized me up. I couldn’t help but smirk. This wasn’t bad.

In fact, it was a golden opportunity.

If I could infiltrate the church, I might uncover the misdeeds Bulldog was hiding. To catch a guy steeped in money and power, there was no better chance than this.

Iris and Medina were likely nearby, watching in secret.

I pretended to think it over, took a step back from the nun, and muttered under my breath.

“Iris, Medina. Sorry, but head to the adventurers’ guild and talk to the guildmaster for me. Also, see if you can sell all the wyvern magic stones and cash them out. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

A few seconds later, a whisper reached my ear.

“Understood. But once you’re in the church, getting out won’t be easy. You’ll likely be assigned to a church and required to live there. Still, at midnight, either Medina or I will contact you. We’ll share information then.”

Iris’s calm voice came through, and I gave a small nod. The plan was set.

I turned back to the nun.

“Alright. But I have one condition. Don’t charge this kid anything. And help her find her mother first.”

“…Very well. I’ll trust that you didn’t intentionally break the rules this time. I accept your conditions.”

She was surprisingly accommodating. I’d expected her to be more overbearing, but… well, this was already pushy enough.

“Alright, then—”

Just as I stood to help find the mother—

“Mary!!”

“Mommy!!”

A woman came running from the main street, and the girl’s tearful face lit up as she rushed forward. They embraced, overjoyed at their reunion.

“Don’t wander off like that!”

“I’m sorry…”

The mother scolded her tightly, and the girl apologized in a small voice.

I watched with a slight slump of my shoulders, sighing. Looks like my role here was done.

“Um…”

The mother noticed us, looking confused.

“She seemed lost, so I was just keeping an eye on her. Glad you found her. Hold her hand tight on the way home.”

“…Yes, thank you so much!”

The mother bowed repeatedly, and the girl waved energetically, shouting, “Bye-bye, big brother!” I watched silently as they disappeared into the crowd.

“…”

The nun beside me, who’d been quiet, stared at me.

“What?”

“You’re… kinder than you look.”

“Don’t judge people by their appearance.”

She adjusted her glasses with a slight smile.

I let out a deep sigh.

And so, I left the rest to Iris and Medina and decided to follow the nun to the church.

—

◇◇◇

“Shu… infiltrated the church!?”

At the adventurers’ guild, on the first-floor reception area, the Silver Blade team met up with Iris and Medina.

Upon hearing what had just happened—how Shu was taken by a nun to the church—Risia let out a loud cry, clutching her head.

“I’m sorry. Before I could stop him, Shu used healing magic on a lost girl,” Iris explained.

“…Ugh, what is that guy even doing…?” Risia groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead.

Iris, keeping a serious expression, continued calmly.

“But Shu intends to pursue Archbishop Bulldog from within. So, I’ll handle greeting the guildmaster in his place.”

“…I see. Whether the guildmaster will be okay with that is another question,” Glen said, crossing his arms with a grimace.

He was exasperated by Shu’s actions, but there was no calling him back now.

“Well… no helping it. Let’s get you to the guildmaster and see what he thinks.”

With a reluctant sigh, Glen stood and led Iris and Medina up the creaking, sturdy stairs to the guildmaster’s office—the heart of the adventurers’ guild.