#014

It is said that serfs in the Middle Ages usually never strayed more than 30km from the place where they were born until the day they died.

They didn’t move house, and they certainly didn’t go on long journeys. Walking to a nearby village to sell goods was the greatest adventure in a serf’s life.

Even scouring through Fabio’s memories, he had never been anywhere that required more than two days of walking.

‘Coming to this frontier village from the manor where he was born was probably the biggest adventure of Fabio’s life.’

Going to the capital involved traveling a distance that couldn’t even be compared to that.

It takes a month on foot, two weeks by horse, and a full week even if you gallop and switch horses.

‘It’s a total cross-country trek.’

To think I have to spend two weeks traveling a distance that would take five hours even on a Mugunghwa-ho train, let alone a KTX.

For me, who hasn’t fully adapted to the Middle Ages yet, this was a subtly shocking fact.

‘I wish someone would develop an internal combustion engine.’

Among the 16 “hardcore players,” it seemed plausible that at least one of them would be a fan of alternate-history novels and have the technological development tech tree memorized.

Even if not, among the Othergods, there is one who gathers Faith Points by accelerating civilization’s development and spreading “diabolical convenience.”

That Othergod is called the [Pioneer of Civilization]. When playing as that Othergod, by the time you reach the ending, the Dark Realm—which started in the Middle Ages—has become a cyberpunk world.

Being an Othergod, when the victory ending appears, machines reign over humanity, but compared to the victory endings of other Othergods, it can be considered quite moderate and peaceful.

‘If a Concluder is born, I hope it’s that one.’

Of course, the Pioneer of Civilization is a guy who dumps everything into a cultural victory, so if he engages in a bloody competition with other Othergods in the early game, the probability of survival converges to zero.

‘Is there nothing to do now but get used to this primitive movement speed?’

Still, humans are animals of adaptation.

Hadn’t I already adapted to the primitive life of waking up at dawn to work the fields, fetch water, and chop wood?

In fact, as I continued farming, I began to feel a sense of peace in my heart, and an affection for the fields and crops started to well up.

‘My heart aches a bit to give up those fields.’

To leave the village, a serf had to renounce their right to cultivate the land.

For a little over six months, I had only been tending to crops that were already planted, yet I had developed such an attachment to “my field” that my hands trembled as I gave it up.

‘If it were the original Fabio, who had actually reclaimed the land himself, he would never have been able to leave.’

But I am not Fabio, so I was barely able to let go.

I left the chickens I was raising—Koko, Kuku, and Kaka—to Antonio.

I wanted to give him a gift, but since I had no time to prepare one, I left them saying he should consider the money from selling them as my gift and buy whatever he needed. He replied that he would take good care of them.

‘Well, he probably doesn’t need much money.’

He’s the stepfather of a three-star.

Because Antonio’s connections were even better than I expected, I became more curious about what Antonio had done before becoming a bell ringer.

‘I bet he was at least a bishop at some point…’

“Fabio.”

While pondering Antonio’s past, I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of someone calling me.

“Take this.”

Here it is!

The [Item Bundle Containing Antonio’s Heart] acquisition event!

I quickly scanned what Antonio was holding.

‘A small pouch that looks like it would fit in two hands…’

This isn’t the [Practical Items Helpful for Travel] set; it’s the [Expensive and Small Valuables] pattern!

There is also the [Mementos to Look Back on Time Spent Together] pattern, but there are no such items between Antonio and me!

Therefore, there is a 95% probability that this item is a [Highly Cherished Valuable]!

Inside, I was beaming with a wide smile, but on the outside, I put on a surprised expression and declined.

“No, it’s alright! How could I possibly take such a precious item…”

“Do you know what this item is?”

He hadn’t even taken it out yet. Antonio spoke with a slightly puzzled expression.

‘Hmm. Was my timing a bit too fast?’

I should have been surprised after receiving it and taking it out.

But I wasn’t one to be flustered by such things.

“…Isn’t the symbol of the Order Sect embroidered on the pouch? Something kept in such a pouch must be a Sacred Relic that has received a consecration.”

Since even a wooden bracelet consecrated by a newly appointed priest is counted as a Sacred Relic, not all “Sacred Relics” are expensive, but as long as it is a Sacred Relic, it is indeed a precious item.

‘Because no matter how cheap the item is, if a priest has consecrated it, handling it carelessly becomes a crime of profanity.’

“Lord Antonio. I am not confident that I can properly keep something as precious as a Sacred Relic while traveling a long distance.”

“If you do not attempt something because you lack confidence, will you be able to learn anything new even if you go far?”

“But…”

“It doesn’t matter much if it gets slightly damaged. A Sacred Relic is merely a tool made to be used. To worship a Sacred Relic as an end in itself—that is what idol worship is.”

Antonio said so and held out the pouch again.

“Still…”

As I hesitated, pretending to think more, Antonio let out a small sigh and called Nasir.

“Nasir. You keep it instead.”

Nasir, who took the pouch in my stead, widened his eyes as if he could guess what was inside without even opening it.

“This is…!”

‘This is?’

What is it?

Is it something good? It seems good.

‘Say the line, Nasir! “This is the XX that only existed in legends! Are you really giving this to that serf?!”‘

“Hand it to Fabio once you arrive in the capital. Then he won’t be able to refuse out of fear of losing it.”

“…I understand. I will do my best to keep it safe.”

“Tsk. Did you not hear what I just said? A Sacred Relic is also just a tool. If a problem arises, it was simply meant to be. Just treat it like an ordinary object.”

“How could I do that? Considering what kind of item this is.”

“Even so, it is merely an object.”

‘No, seriously, what “kind of item” is it?’

Neither of them gave me an explanation.

I felt like a raccoon that had lost its cotton candy while trying to wash it in a river.

I really intended to wait just five more seconds before accepting it…

Because I was five seconds late, I’m now set to find out in two weeks.

‘They’re really making me curious.’

But it wasn’t an atmosphere where I could ask, “Could I just check the contents for a moment?”

‘Still, I can tell it’s a surprisingly good and precious item.’

Antonio… Affinity +30.

Since I still don’t know what the item is, I didn’t restore the 20 points that were deducted.

‘Right, Antonio did report me to the Heretic Inquisitors, but he even used his connections to hire someone as loose as Nasir.’

Even if the place I arrive at is a heretic detention center, I’ll just curse for about three years and then forgive him.

That was my resolve.

* * *

And two weeks passed.

I had not yet arrived at the heretic detention center… no, the Capital Church.

It was a distance that should take two weeks, but I had barely passed the halfway point.

The reason for the delay was nothing special.

‘Damn this Medieval-land!’

In the Middle Ages, naturally, there are no asphalt-paved roads, nor are there motor-driven cars.

The only way to travel quickly by land in the Middle Ages is by riding a horse.

Yes. People in the Middle Ages ride horses.

No, it’s an incredibly obvious fact, but…

‘How on earth do people ride these things?’

Having experienced that obvious fact, it wasn’t obvious at all.

Bumpy mud roads!

A means of transport that requires two-hour breaks every morning and evening!

Unnecessarily high ride height!

My first time horseback riding!

The only time I felt that riding a horse was fun was for the first five minutes.

‘Who on earth came up with the idea of climbing onto the back of a living creature?’

On the first day I rode, I didn’t even dare to get off the horse during the break, so I just gripped the reins and trembled.

If Nasir hadn’t lifted me up like a radish to let me down, I would never have been able to get off on my own.

Of course, after being let down, I immediately collapsed due to muscle pain.

‘Haha, you’ll be fine once you get used to it.’

Nasir laughed, perhaps finding me amusing, but I just wanted to cry.

‘Two weeks to the capital… doing this for two whole weeks…’

Any game that doesn’t support fast travel is a trash game.

‘I really want to pass out until I arrive.’

Can’t I just start from “When I arrived, the capital was an amazing place!”?

Anyway, due to my lack of horseback riding skills, the travel time was delayed significantly more than expected.

Two weeks, my foot. It felt like it would take a month to arrive.

“Are your legs still hurting a lot?”

“…It’s bearable.”

“If it’s bearable, that means it hurts.”

Over the two weeks, I had become somewhat accustomed to riding, but pain was still pain.

“The chapel we arrive at next has a priest who serves the Goddess of Healing. I’ll ask them for a special healing.”

“What? No, it’s just muscle pain…”

“Isn’t it true that the journey continues to be delayed because of it? I believe that is reason enough to receive help.”

Healing priests are rare and highly skilled personnel; he wants to ask such a person to treat mere muscle pain?

Just muscle pain?

It’s painful, but it’s a pain that would disappear on its own without any problem. To waste the divine power of someone at least at the priest level…

If I had any shame, I should refuse.

“Th-then, I suppose I must receive it!”

But the muscle pain was too severe for that.

I couldn’t even put up a polite front of refusing once.

Because if I happened to refuse once and the answer was, “Is that so? I guess it really is bearable. Keep enduring it,” I felt like I would shed tears of regret every night until I reached the capital.

“Since I’m the one causing the delay, it would be more of a nuisance to stubbornly refuse.”

I quickly added those words, but it only made me sound more pathetic.

But it didn’t matter.

‘I’m not a Saint, just an uneducated serf brat, so it’s fine if I’m a bit pathetic and clingy.’

Saints have high mental strength, so they maintain their faith and face martyrdom without yielding to any torture.

Me?

Do not expect such mental strength from a fragile modern person like me.

If it were me, I would spill everything I know and don’t know before the torture even begins.

Since I’ll end up confessing everything anyway, isn’t it more profitable to speak early and avoid the torture?

“You don’t have to feel too burdened. Because muscles actually become stronger after receiving healing, Holy Knights receive healing after training even if they aren’t injured.”

Not only does the muscle pain go away, but muscle strength is also enhanced.

Doesn’t that mean you can destroy your entire body with a full-body workout every day and still achieve full-body muscle growth?

‘That’s a story that would make gym rats weep with joy.’

Come to think of it, the Holy Knights who serve the Goddess of Healing all seemed to be tank units with overwhelmingly high durability.

‘The Goddess of Healing and Gym Rats…’

Anyway, it was a relief that in this primitive Middle Ages, there was a cheat called divine power.

Without the Blessing of Healing, I would have died painfully from even a minor injury.

‘Because folk remedies in the Middle Ages are all things that are better left undone.’

Medieval medicine is such that the probability of survival is higher if you don’t treat it than if you do.

Even if you survive the treatment, you might have to live with the aftereffects of the treatment for the rest of your life.

‘Compared to that, the Blessing of Healing is a miracle that achieves things even modern medicine cannot.’

The Blessing of Healing bestowed by a high priest can regrow a severed arm or recreate a lost eye.

For a cavity, it’s like pulling the tooth and then creating a new one.

‘I don’t understand why the Main God is the ambiguous God of Order instead of the incredibly awesome Goddess of Healing.’

Isn’t the miracle of healing the very miracle people would most want from a ‘god’? Honestly, Order is only noticeable when it’s absent; when it’s there, it’s taken for granted, so it’s not something you’re particularly grateful for.

“What kind of person is that priest?”

“What exactly are you curious about?”

“It’s my first time meeting a priest who serves the Goddess of Healing, so I’m worried I might commit a discourtesy. Is there anything I should know? Like something I absolutely must not do…”

“You can think of it comfortably. Priests are those who received power to serve. Regardless of which god they serve, that fact remains the same.”

Especially Agnes is quite broad-minded, so as long as you don’t throw out words insulting the Goddess of Healing upon first meeting, they are the kind of person who wouldn’t care about minor mistakes…

Nasir stopped talking for a moment, looked back at me, and continued.

“…There is one thing to be careful of. If, by any chance, you feel unpleasant or feel like swearing upon seeing that priest, please hold it in and tell me first.”

‘What? Why this warning?’

The first thought that came to mind after hearing Nasir’s sudden warning was a question.

Since they are a healing priest, they shouldn’t have hideous burn scars or skin diseases.

What could possibly make someone feel unpleasant upon seeing them?

‘Do they have a deformity that doesn’t fall under [Disease]?’

Physical mutation traits cannot be solved by the Blessing of Healing.

Depending on the degree of mutation, even just having cat ears can make charm -20, so if there is a severe mutation, a person with low mental strength might not be able to resist an instinctive feeling of disgust.

‘No matter what comes out, I’ll stay calm and earn points.’

I am a person who watched the movie Cats all the way to the end in a theater.

The stomach of a modern person tempered by various media!

I was confident that I would be unfazed no matter what form the person took.

“Yes, I will keep that in mind!”

That is why I answered with conviction.

However, that confidence vanished in 0.5 seconds the moment I saw the healing priest.

* * *

“You want to treat muscle pain?”

“Yes, uh, ah, well…”

I didn’t know where to look, so my gaze wandered here and there.

“No, uh, I think I’ve become alright. There’s no need to waste divine power on someone like me…”

“It’s alright. Even if it’s a minor pain, it doesn’t mean it’s not distressing, does it?”

“I-I’m really alright!”

I had forgotten.

That in the madness-filled Dark Realm, even the good gods are not entirely sane.

The Blessing of the Goddess of Healing was not a method where white light spreads and wounds are healed.

“Ah, you must be surprised since it’s your first time receiving the Blessing of Healing. This is a consecrated knife, so it can make an incision without any blood flowing.”

‘Why are you making an incision for muscle pain!’

“I will simply peel back the skin until the muscle is visible, and then insert the holy ‘Sacred Vessel’ of the Goddess of Healing, Ledeia. Now, sit here and stretch out your leg.”

‘No! Absolutely not!’

Ledeia, the Goddess of Healing.

I had forgotten that her symbols were ‘maggots’ and ‘leeches.’

In other words, the ‘Sacred Vessel’ referred to the ‘maggots’ and ‘leeches’ that the priest cultivated inside their own body.

‘Tearing through raw flesh and stuffing in maggots, then closing it back up—that’s the treatment!’

They say recovery power increases while the blessing is maintained, but that just means the maggots stay alive inside for a while!!

“You seem very nervous. It’s alright. Being cut by a consecrated knife is surprisingly painless.”

‘That’s not the point!’

The healing priest, Agnes, seemed to misunderstand that I was avoiding my gaze because I was afraid of the knife.

But what I truly wanted to avoid was Agnes themselves.

‘Fuck, something is constantly wriggling under the skin.’

Having never watched gore or horror movies, I had absolutely no tolerance to endure such a gruesome sight.

‘How the hell is this a good god!’

15 – 015