The Priest Wants to Retire

〈 Chapter 67 〉 With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.

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It has already been two weeks since the sudden commotion caused by the unregistered dungeon’s appearance within the system.

Was it because there were more ties of doubt than the resolved grievances?

Even though I had plenty of time to tidy up the mess, my mind was just… bleh.

I knew all too well that seeking excessive unity in the phenomena within the dungeon was as futile as trying to find purpose in soggy cereal.

Yet, I couldn’t shake off the spooky feeling that this dungeon was distinctly different from any I had seen before.

Why did the power bestowed upon me by the Saintess resonate with that dungeon?

Why did I feel the dungeon resembled the meeting room?

And who was that enigmatic entity I encountered within the dungeon, neither human nor monster?

Questions spiraling like a whirlwind, that’s exactly what this situation felt like.

Thus, I wanted to consult with the Hero, who must have been sharing my doubts, about what happened there.

But as time passed, it felt like fog was gradually swirling away.

The Hero, who was slowly losing their memories of that place, seemed to forget everything except for the fact that they met me there.

“I don’t remember! I just found the Priest right in front of me! It’s quite the mystery!”

This was a monumental moment that boosted the credibility of some research findings stating that the more careless a person is, the longer they live.

Well, what’s the big deal about being a little slow on the uptake?

As long as they grow healthy and tall!

“Sigh…”

Lying back on the bed, I slowly shifted my gaze to my right wrist, where a line of symbols lay engraved.

The day I partially deciphered the meaning of these symbols, chaos erupted in the monastery.

A being that holds a comparable status to the Dangun myth of Korea over thousands of years in this system.

The First Saint, Onorel Larabai.

They say she could heal severed limbs without leaving any trace behind.

Patients suffering from lethal diseases could breathe their last and still be healed.

Even those who were dead could potentially be revived. Truly legendary!

The shocking fact that a fragment of that power was contained in this symbol was first revealed through documents discovered by the Sister.

I often get teased by my comrades for the shock that left me bedridden for a while.

How could such a noble figure exist in this shabby place?

It wasn’t a matter to be dismissed lightly or just joked about.

That would be like putting the best high-end tea inside a used yogurt cup!

The symbol consisted of seven strokes.

Well, more accurately, it should be considered as six strokes and one stroke combined.

My originally pathetic divine power was augmented by another six doses of that transcendental power embedded in this symbol.

The revered authority bestowed upon the Saint by God.

To put it simply, it was most appropriate to say that I was temporarily borrowing this power.

How could I carelessly lend a borrowed item to someone else?

Saintess, that’s not how it works!

On the day when the dungeon disaster occurred, I used divine power once on Apis, and twice on Bigtim and Dawna.

It became clear that it was thanks to this symbol that I could use divine power more than twice a day.

So at first, I desperately tried to exhaust this power and let it go as soon as possible.

With great power comes great responsibility.

That’s a truth kids who love superhero movies, like those Spider-Man films aired during the Chuseok holidays, have likely pre-learned.

Especially since I had suffered greatly from desiring honors beyond my means.

Of course, I was aware that this power was a burden.

However…

The circumstances behind this symbol engraved on my body were holding me back.

“Smooch.”

By now, the Saintess’s lip baptism had become routine.

And this symbol was generated through that very kiss each time the Saintess pressed her lips against me.

Thus, no matter how wastefully I spent this power like throwing around tissues…

Unless the Saintess’s naughty habit was corrected, I had to keep grasping this excessive power.

When I mentioned reducing the number of kisses, the Saintess had gotten all worked up, so I could only imagine how she’d react if I forbade it entirely.

It was a definite no-no to stop physical contact carelessly.

Until the blessing ceremony was safely concluded, I had to avoid any behavior that could negatively affect the Saintess’s emotional state.

Taking a step back from my role as a guardian priest, distancing myself from the Saintess was a card I couldn’t play during the seven days of the blessing ceremony.

However, on the flip side, that meant I would have options after the seven days were up.

By the time the blessing ceremony was over, I could finally say goodbye to this annoying guardian priest position.

The obnoxious threat from my former colleagues about blowing my cover as to my whereabouts would become irrelevant after reuniting with my comrades.

But, why did it feel…

The emotions draping over my thoughts were starkly different from relief or a sense of freedom.

It felt like colors of paint were carelessly mixed together, making it hard to pin down.

If I had to lump those feelings into one messy sentence, I would say it felt…

Squirmy.

It was uncomfortable and unsettling, and definitely not refreshing.

It seemed that the copious amounts of alcohol I consumed yesterday had an impact, but it felt like it wasn’t just the hangover.

Oh, speaking of which, where did I wander off to yesterday?

I remember something about being up high and ranting to someone whose name I didn’t know.

And I vaguely recall buying something expensive at some spontaneous shop.

But everything after that became quite hazy.

“I think I bought something very small and shiny… what was it… Ugh, my head…”

It seemed it was a bit too much to demand coherent thoughts from a head ready to splode from a hangover.

Suddenly, I couldn’t take the splitting headache anymore and stopped thinking altogether.

Just then…

BANG!

The wooden door swung open with a loud crash, jolting me awake.

In that instant, someone dashed into the room.

“Priest! You’re finally awake!”

“Y-You, Hero!?”

The intruder was none other than the Hero, dressed much lighter than usual.

She had discarded the armor that covered her body and was now in a very dangerously revealing outfit that showcased her figure.

For anyone not aware of her background, seeing her like this would lead them to mistake her for a simple, innocent countryside girl.

“I’m sorry for interrupting!”

WHOOSH!

Like a golden retriever welcoming its owner home, the Hero suddenly leaped toward me and wrapped her arms around my waist.

I felt like a toddler’s beloved teddy bear that couldn’t be dropped for even a second.

With her arms wrapped tightly around me, I felt a sense of security akin to being buckled in a car seat.

“Oh, hello, Hero. Were you waiting for me to wake up?”

“Yes! I was outside, waiting for you until your fatigue from last night was fully gone!”

She wasn’t some puppy, but as she trembled with excitement while speaking, my body swayed along with her.

Creak Creak.

Each time that grating noise echoed from the old bed, it felt just a tad annoying.

I shook my head left and right, desperately trying to erase any impure thoughts that had briefly crossed my mind.

“Hero, just in case, when you were waiting for me outside, you did remember to wear that perception-inhibiting necklace, right?”

“Of course! It’s a top secret that I, the Hero, am already here in this monastery before the blessing ceremony!”

“Yes, if you could just lower your voice a bit more, that would be even better.”

“Yes! Please, keep your worries to yourself!”

“…”

Due to either the booming voice echoing around or the Hero’s overly confident demeanor with no basis in reality, my still drowsy mind was pounding terribly.

But there was no way I could frown in front of the Hero.

As I forced a smile onto my face and was about to mumble something…

“Oh?”

A single sprout of anxiety blooming within my chest suddenly swelled, devouring my thoughts in an instant.

“Y-You, Hero. What time is it right now?”

“It’s 7 o’clock sharp!”

“Gah!”

I was late.

Suddenly, that scream within my heart burst forth.

Faster than my mind, my body reacted sluggishly, trying to tear away from the Hero’s grasp.

“Are you heading to the Saintess?!”

“Y-Yes! Yes, that’s right, Hero! So, could you please let go of my hands for a moment?!”

“No!”

“W-What?!”

“I said I’m not letting go!”

SQUEAK.

Just then, as if to express my tangled emotions, the old bed creaked again with another rusty squeak.

*