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 74: Totally Exposed

“――Some people are aiming to become monks, others want to be temple knights, right? So how come everyone’s taking the same classes?”

Ever since we became roommates, I’d been wondering about that, so I asked Canaan.

Today had been all lectures, but if people were heading down different paths, shouldn’t the stuff they learn be different too?

“There actually are elective classes. Monks focus mostly on healing magic, temple knights are mainly swordsmanship, wandering holy teachers go for offensive light magic… oh, and there are pharmacists who specialize in potion studies too.”

“Got it. So you have to pick just one?”

“Nope. It’s not fixed—you can choose different ones day by day. Like swordsmanship today, pharmacy tomorrow, that kind of thing.”

“That’s pretty flexible.”

“In the pharmacy track there’s even a job where you research and develop new potions. Ferdi Maia-sensei, who’s at this school, is one of those researchers.”

The second I heard that name, my body gave a tiny twitch.

Ferdi Maia.

That was the name written in the letter the old lady gave me when I left Iasis Village.

I knew he was in the royal capital. I’d planned to meet him eventually anyway.

The letter had his address, but I never imagined he’d be working at the church school.

And now he was in a research position, no less.

Judging from the old photo left at home, he had to be at least seventy by now.

Back when people called them the “Saint Party,” he was probably active as a mage.

“――Oh, it’s already bath time. Who’s going first?”

I glanced at the wall clock; it had just passed seven in the evening.

Perfect timing if we wanted to bathe and get ready for tomorrow.

“Since you’re the senior in this room, Canaan, you go ahead.”

“Se-senior!? C-cut it out… we’re in the same year. ――But, um, since you offered, I’ll take you up on it.”

Canaan grabbed a towel and disappeared into the bathroom with light steps.

While I watched his back, it suddenly hit me. ――Come to think of it, I still hadn’t bought my own shampoo or body wash.

Up till now I’d been using whatever the inn provided, but starting tonight it was dorm life. I’d have to get everything myself.

“I’m out～ …Hey, Shu-kun, you don’t have shampoo, do you?”

“Busted, huh.”

“Can’t be helped. You can use mine today.”

“Thanks a ton, Canaan.”

“Hehe. Tomorrow after classes, wanna head into town together? You can buy what you need, and I’ll show you around.”

“That’d be a huge help.”

With the bath towel draped over his shoulders, Canaan wiped his damp hair and smiled.

His cheeks were still a little flushed from the hot water, and a sweet shampoo scent drifted from his hair――for just that second, he didn’t look like just a boy; there was something distinctly feminine and alluring about him.

◇◇◇

“Ah～… feels so good～”

In the steamy bathroom I couldn’t help letting out a sigh.

This dorm had both a shower and a proper tub, and since Canaan had already filled it with hot water beforehand, I could soak to my heart’s content.

He’d even thrown in some nicely scented bath salts. Guy really thinks of everything.

The shampoo, conditioner, and body wash Canaan used all had cute packaging—stuff that probably sold really well to girls.

…Guess people with that kind of beauty awareness really do get popular, huh.

If this were my previous life in modern times, he’d definitely be the cute androgynous small-animal type of guy who’d have tons of fans.

“Phew, that was a great bath.”

“Same here――wait, Sh-Shu-kun!? Wh-what are you doing!? P-put some clothes on!!”

“Huh? Oh, crap. Sorry. I’ve got this habit of coming out naked right after a bath… Even with another guy, does it bother you?”

“Of course it bothers me…!!”

“My bad. I forgot to bring a change of clothes, so just bear with me for a sec.”

“O-okay…っ”

The moment I stepped out of the changing area with the towel still on my shoulders, Canaan hurriedly turned his face away.

I caught a glimpse of his cheeks burning bright red.

Dorm life from now on—looks like we’re gonna have more moments like this. We’ll probably need to talk and figure out some boundaries.

Come to think of it, back in Iasis Village, there was that one time I came out of the bath with just my lower half bare, and the old lady yelled, “Keep that dick hanging out any longer and I’ll set it on fire!” while waving some lighter-like magic tool at me.

◇◇◇

I-I saw it…

I saw Shu-kun’s naked body…

Is a guy’s thing… really supposed to be that big…?

I’ve got nothing to compare it to, but it was way more impressive than I ever imagined, and now the image is burned into my eyes.

And I had no idea he was that muscular.

You couldn’t really tell through his clothes, but that tight, toned body is clear proof he’s put in serious training.

I still don’t know exactly how strong Shu-kun is, but there’s this somehow bottomless aura about him.

I really wanna take some practical classes together with him soon.

…Oh yeah, I wonder which electives Shu-kun’s gonna pick.

—

Chapter 75: Elective Class – Temple Knight Course

Next morning.

Even after starting dorm life, I still got up early like always and was swinging my wooden practice sword I’d brought with me.

In front of the dorm stretched a stone-paved path, colorful flowers everywhere, and neatly trimmed bushes that made the whole area feel like a small park.

Benches were placed here and there, and the quiet of early morning felt really nice.

“Over there…”

I swung the wooden sword to train my magic techniques, and while I was at it, I lightly practiced some spells too.

If you focus hard enough, yeah, you sweat.

“<Purification>”

But right now I’ve got this purification magic.

A soft light gently wrapped around my body, and the sweat and grime just blew away clean. Seriously way too convenient of a spell.

“—Training this early in the morning? You’re pretty dedicated, huh.”

Right when I sat on a bench to catch my breath, someone called out.

The second I looked up, my eyes went wide.

An insanely good-looking guy was standing there, his light-brown hair swaying in the morning breeze.

“Hm… old m— nah, whatever, old man works. You need something?”

His voice sounded deep and mature so I figured he was older, but his face looked no more than late twenties at most.

I hesitated on what to call him, but from my age perspective, yeah, definitely old man territory.

“I had some business at the school. Woke up early so I was just taking a walk.”

“Oh. I’m just taking a break from training.”

His clothes were super casual, but the aura he gave off was absolutely not normal.

“…………”

Seriously though, why’s this guy still hanging around here?

Just go already…!

“You’ve got two wooden swords, I see.”

“Huh? Oh. Just keeping one as backup…”

“Hm… perfect. Mind sparring with me a little?”

“Hah?”

The guy casually picked up one of the wooden swords from the bench and grinned, the corner of his mouth lifting.

“…Fine, whatever.”

He kinda gave off vibes similar to Glen somehow.

Like he lives for fighting, the type whose blood gets pumping.

I gripped my wooden sword and put some distance between us.

“Best of three, yeah—”

“Huh? …Sure, whatever.”

First time in a while I’d met someone who actually felt strong.

Somehow he even seemed a cut above Seira.

“Then let’s begin.”

The guy took his stance with the wooden sword.

Hard to tell with the casual clothes, but his form looked really polished and refined.

Me, on the other hand? My stance was pretty half-assed.

What the old man back home taught me wasn’t really “proper forms”—more like a super free fighting style that adapts to whatever situation comes up. Apparently he used to be a Sword Saint, but his style is pretty much the total opposite of what you’d imagine from the title.

“…………”

The brown-haired guy didn’t move an inch, just staring straight at me.

Probably because I’m younger, he wants me to make the first move so he can gauge me.

Fine then—

“—Hah!”

No magic. I closed the distance in one explosive step and swung the wooden sword up from below right in a rising arc. But the brown-haired guy instantly blocked it.

“…Not bad at all.”

“You neither, old man.”

“Nn—”

I quickly swept at his left leg with a low kick.

I never said it had to be wooden swords only.

I pressed the attack while his balance was off, but the old man twisted away at the very last second, dodging by a hair.

Still, the moment he lost balance I didn’t give him any breathing room—I unleashed a flurry, hammering the wooden sword from both left and right.

Sharp, high-pitched cracks of wood clashing echoed across the park-like area in front of the dorm.

But I couldn’t land a decisive hit.

So I decided to get just a little serious.

I regripped the wooden sword with both hands and swung it wide from the left in a huge, sweeping cut like I was trying to reap his arm along with it.

“Guuuuh…!”

The brown-haired guy got pushed back hard. He barely held the block, but my sword was only a few centimeters from smashing into him.

Got him—I thought that for a split second.

“—!?”

The wooden sword slipped through like it met no resistance, and right after, a sharp counter came flying back.

I dodged at the very last instant, but a few strands of my hair floated gently into the air.

That must’ve been his killing move.

I didn’t miss the opening when his torso was completely exposed—I lightly tapped his body with the wooden sword.

“—Haa. My loss, huh… First time I’ve lost in ages.”

“Old man, what was that just now? Some kind of magic technique?”

It felt kinda similar to Glen’s 『Heat Haze』—like an instant feint or super-fast repositioning.

“No way—just a little trick.”

“Oh. Then after I win two more, teach me that trick.”

“Hahahaha! You’ve got some nerve, kid.”

The matches after that got pretty heated too, and in the end I won all three.

I won, but honestly it was a close call.

By level he should definitely be below Dorotheia.

And yet his swordsmanship had this unique flavor the old man back home didn’t have, plus way too many first-time-kill techniques.

I only managed to keep up thanks to my reaction speed from the level difference.

The strength of the monsters around Iasis, plus all the experience points from <Complete Dispel> and <Complete Dispel – Reverse>.

And then after taking down nearly ten thousand in Hares—my body clearly felt lighter.

Thanks to all that buildup I was confident I wouldn’t lose in raw power, but still…

“It’s probably been over twenty years since someone beat me three times in a row.”

“Old man… how old are you exactly…”

No way that face is over forty… right?

“If you’re a student here, we’ll probably pass each other somewhere. See you around—”

“Yeah yeah.”

Even the way he left looked annoyingly picturesque.

Bet he was swimming in girls when he was young.

“…Now I’m even more tired. Gonna head back to the room and take a shower… wait, I didn’t even ask his name. Who the hell was that guy anyway…”

I didn’t just forget to ask about the counter trick—I straight-up forgot to ask his name too.

◇◇◇

Right away, today was the day for elective classes.

Since I had the chance, I decided to tag along with the Temple Knight course Canaan picked.

Apparently elective classes are usually combined with other classes.

“Hah. So you picked Temple Knight too, huh, newbie. At least don’t embarrass us.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t cause trouble for Gaits-san!”

Gaits, Dad, and Morris came at me with their usual crap.

I figured they’d show up, but actually ending up in the same class… seriously?

“Shu-kun, just ignore them. We’ll do our best on our own.”

“Yeah. Having you with me makes me feel way more confident, Canaan.”

By the way, Alisha and MyuMyu weren’t around.

Looks like they chose different classes.

We headed to a big training ground inside the church school’s grounds.

It was built kinda like a small coliseum—way more money put into it than I expected.

“Alright, everyone’s here. Line up over here!”

The teacher in charge called us over, and when we lined up, there were actually quite a lot of students.

“Ugh, stuck with the special class again… Don’t you dare embarrass us, got it?”

“Hah? Shut your mouth if the only thing you can flex is class rank, trash.”

“What’d you say? Wanna go?”

According to Canaan, the group next to us was A Class and B Class.

In other words, the top-tier students from the church school.

An A-Class guy started trash-talking, and Gaits immediately fired back—that was the situation.

“Haha… it’s always like this.”

“Who’s stronger, Gaits or those guys?”

“Um… well…”

Canaan’s vague answer told me everything.

He talks big, but he can’t actually beat the elite group.

Also, why is Gaits even in the special class in the first place…? Total mystery.

“—Okay okay, you guys over there. You won’t be able to keep that fighting attitude today, y’know? Because we’ve got a special guest instructor!”

The teacher announced it with weird pride.

The students immediately started buzzing.

Everyone was dying to know who the special instructor was.

“Let me introduce them! Captain of the Clover Squad of the Temple Knights, Lady Seira Clover. And the Commander of the Temple Knights, also Captain of the Altria Squad, Lord Berkhart Altria!”

…………Huh?

“S-Se-Seira-sama!!”

“The Commander himself?!”

“Thank you, Goddess…!”

Screams mixed with cheers erupted all at once.

I’d heard Seira was staying here for a while.

But I never imagined she’d actually come to the church school.

“Seira-shamaaaaa~~!!”

“Whoa”

Behind me, Canaan’s eyes had turned full-on hearts as he yelled.

I’d heard she was the reason he wanted to become a Temple Knight, but man, he’s a hardcore fan.

Still, there was someone way more interesting to me than Seira.