The World After Leaving the Hero’s Party

Chapter 27: A Place You Shouldn’t Enter (2)

The next morning, after finishing my preparations, I stepped out of the barracks. Thanks to spending the night registering the weapons I’d brought with me into Moonlight, my luggage had been reduced to a single bag—quite modest, really.

“That’s all you have?”

“I can usually procure most things on-site.”

And if needed, I could just teleport to grab anything important.

Veronica furrowed her brows slightly at my response, as though she didn’t like it.

“Why?”

“Every time I see how little you pack… It feels like you’ll just disappear one day.”

“Sharp observation. I usually just leave when I’ve finished my business.”

“…..”

“But I’ll say goodbye before I go.”

“…Sigh. What about the Hero?”

“He’ll show up.”

That guy wasn’t exactly reliable either. Sure enough, Claire, Leventia, and Evangeline were walking toward us from behind the gathering paladins preparing to return.

Huh? Are all of them leaving together?

If they’re all gone, that’d cause a noticeable power gap in the battlefield, wouldn’t it?

“I already talked to General Leoden about it. He said they’re taking their accumulated vacation days.”

“Oh, I see.”

Well, that’s their business, not mine. Shifting my attention away from the trio holding leave permits from General Leoden, I focused on what I should be thinking about: achieving the linked achievements from the associated events.

After the Pale Moon event, there are two church-exclusive events I could tackle.

The first is the Church Collaborator Event. This involves meeting the Pope and several cardinals, establishing a cooperative relationship with them. The reward is the Church Collaborator achievement, which allows access to the linked Saint Event.

Of course, advancing the Saint Event requires increasing my affinity with the church, which is a bit of a hassle.

Still, it has to be done. No way around it.

“…Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Nothing. Oh, right. Do you think the church might have any jobs for me?”

“There are always jobs…”

Becoming a collaborator with the church would open up access to quests issued by the church. To obtain the Saint achievement, I’d need to clear a significant number of these quests and complete the final event that appears at the end. It’s crucial to take on as many quests as possible.

For now, I’ll try to snag the easiest ones by leveraging my connections.

I looked at Veronica, who was my closest and highest-ranking contact within the church.

“…What kind of work are you looking for? The church does assign tasks to its collaborators. But quests that offer relics or similar rewards tend to have heavy competition.”

“I’m fine with jobs that don’t have competitors.”

Just as I’m close to Veronica, others are similarly close to other cardinals or high-ranking priests. In other words, I’m not the only one using connections to grab quests.

While competing with them is an option, it would just waste time and energy unnecessarily.

For me, the count of completed quests is more important than the rewards.

“Even so… the jobs without competition will probably have poor rewards and be incredibly difficult.”

“Do I look like someone who cares about that?”

Veronica closed her mouth and stared at me for a moment. I shrugged, and eventually, she let out a heavy sigh.

“As a cardinal, I could direct good assignments your way.”

“Don’t. I know your relationship with the higher-ups isn’t great. I don’t want you getting into trouble because of me.”

Assignments involving valuable rewards are often tied to internal church power struggles. I didn’t want to burden Veronica unnecessarily, so I made my stance clear.

“Just give me the jobs others avoid. I don’t mind.”

“…Why?”

“Huh? What do you mean, why?”

“Why do you take on tasks like that? Why are you always… Sigh, never mind.”

What’s with her now?

Noticing the frustration creeping into Veronica’s tone, I was about to soothe her when Claire approached.

“Alright, let’s begin.”

As she raised the Hero’s Sword, a dimensional portal opened. Beyond the rippling space, a grand cathedral came into view. Without another word, Veronica turned her attention to the paladins.

“Let’s head back.”

Her steps were brisk and forceful, as if she was still angry about something. While I puzzled over her demeanor, Claire tilted her head slightly.

“Did you fight with Cardinal Veronica?”

“Do I look like the type to fight with anyone?”

I didn’t even fight with you guys.

“That’s… true.”

I glanced at Leventia and Evangeline, who were sneaking peeks at me, and then stepped into the portal.

The gothic cathedral loomed ahead, its sharp spires stabbing into the sky like spears. The priests greeted the returning paladins with blessings and hymns, purifying the corruption from battle before allowing us entry.

Inside, surrounded by numerous tapestries and statues, memories of the past stirred.

It was during the main story. After wrapping up the events in the Silver Village, around chapter five, we had to deal with undead minions of the Demon King.

Sacred relics were essential for fighting the undead, so Claire and the Hero’s party inevitably had to visit the church. Back then, they had to pass several trials.

And I… had to wait here.

While scanning the familiar corridors, Claire approached me.

“Being here brings back memories.”

It seemed Claire was reminiscing as well, her expression filled with bitter nostalgia as she surveyed the surroundings.

I had never been an official member of the Hero’s party. As such, I wasn’t allowed to participate in these formal events. All I could do was watch them from the sidelines.

And back then…

I glanced at Leventia. Did she sense my gaze? She looked flustered, then quickly lowered her head.

Now that I think about it, Leventia had told me something back then.

She had said I shouldn’t waste time waiting around in a place like this and should go take care of other matters.

It was good advice, really. There were always things I could do nearby.

“U-um…”

Was she also recalling the past? Leventia, sweating bullets, looked as if she was about to burst into tears.

“From here on, only authorized personnel may enter.”

“But I’m a collaborator of the church!”

“This matter concerns the report and commendation for dealing with the Pale Moon. It’s important.”

Veronica’s tone was as cold as ice, silencing Claire.

“Let’s go.”

“Fine. Oh, right, you came here to buy relics and such, didn’t you?”

“…Yes…”

“Do you know where to go?”

During the main story, tasks like these were usually handled by me. Claire likely wouldn’t know the layout of the church well.

The cathedral was vast, with many restricted areas. It was better to guide her properly to avoid any accidents.

If they caused trouble here, it might delay the events I needed to complete.

“…I’m not sure. Uh, Hyun woo, could you…”

“Sister Ophelia.”

“Yes?”

“Guide the Hero’s party through the church.”

“Understood!”

Veronica, brisk and curt, grabbed a passing nun and assigned the task to her.

Claire looked back and forth between me and the nun, clearly disappointed, but eventually nodded.

As they walked off, occasionally glancing back at me, Veronica clicked her tongue softly.

“You were planning to guide them yourself, weren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“…You’re unbelievable. You’re so ridiculously kind it’s infuriating.”

I was only doing it for myself, really. But I decided against explaining further—it’d only worsen Veronica’s mood.

“How are you supposed to survive in the world, being that kind?”

“It’s not really like that… But isn’t that a weird thing for a clergyperson to say?”

A priest, especially a cardinal of such high rank, saying something like that really didn’t seem fitting.

Veronica, without so much as blinking, stared at me before letting out a soft chuckle.

“Doing good and being taken advantage of are two very different things.”

“Hm… I don’t really think I’m being taken advantage of, though.”

“From where I stand, you are. If someone doesn’t step in to anchor you, you might spend your whole life being used.”

What does she take me for?

“Alright, let’s go in.”

[Achievement: Church Collaborator has been achieved.]

[You can now accept quests from the church.]

Meeting the Pope was, to be honest, uneventful. I’d seen this event play out countless times in the game.

There was the report on the Pale Moon incident, a demonstration of Moonlight, and its verification to ensure it didn’t contradict church doctrine. That was about it.

“So, Sage, how are you able to use so many skills?”

“Indeed, how?”

“Sage, where do you come from?”

“Does that matter?”

“What drives you to help those in need?”

“I’m just doing what someone has to do.”

“What are your thoughts on the teachings of light?”

“If you can follow them, it’s probably a good idea.”

On and on.

After fielding these not-so-critical questions, the audience with the Pope concluded. Once the Pope, a few cardinals, and some senior priests left, I finally exited the audience chamber with Veronica.

“You never seem to feel tense, no matter where you are.”

“Why would I?”

At the end of the day, they’re just the Pope, some cardinals, and senior priests.

It’s not like they could have me executed. No need to stress.

“Whatever. Let’s just go grab some quests.”

Since I was here, I figured I’d take on whatever quests I could.

I followed Veronica to the church’s quest counter, where we ran into a few adventurers.

“Well, well! Isn’t it the Sage?”

One of the S-rank adventurers I had my eye on waved at me with a grin. Ah, right, this guy was Baltin of the Western Wind.

A lion beastman with a flowing mane approached, extending a hand. I took it, appreciating the soft pads on his palm.

“Here to take on some church quests?”

“Yeah, I thought it was about time.”

“Ha! Still not S-rank, though. Why not stick to guild quests?”

“I’ll do those too. Got anything interesting?”

“I’m planning to head to the Dungeon of Darkness. Care to join?”

“Not interested.”

There’s no achievement to unlock there. Sure, it might have good loot, but nothing I particularly need.

“Still going after those pointless quests, huh?”

“What’s pointless to you might be crucial to someone else.”

Baltin grinned, and as he laughed, Veronica folded her arms and asked seriously.

“I’ve heard the Sage takes on the kind of guild quests others avoid. Is that true?”

Baltin shot her a glance and nodded nonchalantly.

“Famous for it, actually.”

“Is that so… Then how about this?”

Veronica reached into the quest counter and pulled out a rather old-looking request.

“What’s this?”

“Storage cleanup. Relics and cultist items are all mixed together…”

“Oh, that’s perfect.”

It’s a job I could finish in a day. After that, I’d head back to the royal palace.

“The requester is… huh?”

I checked the name of the requester and looked back at Veronica. She avoided my gaze, pouting slightly.

“…Got a problem?”

“It was you?!”

“S-so what! I thought it’d go faster if you helped. Are you saying no?”

“I didn’t say that. Let’s get to it. Oh, Baltin, see you around.”

After saying goodbye to Baltin, I headed to the back of the church with Veronica. Past the spire-adorned buildings, we arrived at a large structure.

The Inquisition Office.

I stood in front of the massive stone storage building behind it and said, “While we’re here, why don’t you show me your room?”

Recalling how this area was off-limits in the game, I figured this might be my chance. Considering how close we’d become, it seemed possible.

“No way!”

“What?”

“M-my room is off-limits.”

“What are you hiding in there?”

“That’s… none of your business! How dare you try to enter a lady’s room uninvited!”

“Come on, I barged into your barracks before.”

“That was… that was…!”

Flustered and unusually prickly, Veronica stammered before turning abruptly and storming into the building.

Hmm.

Does she have something… inappropriate in there?

Well, even a priest can indulge in such things.

I’m not so uptight that I can’t understand that.

Still, I thought we were close enough for this. Guess I’ll have to work on building more trust with Veronica.