Chapter 155

EP.155 The Lost Lamb (03)

It all started with something Dawna suddenly said to me.

A little piece of advice that naming something has great value, both magically and theologically, since ancient times.

So, thinking “nothing ventured, nothing gained,” I decided to give the chain that manifested for me a name, and surprisingly, the chain that was like a raging wild horse obediently followed my words like a gentle lamb.

Dawna complained harshly about how ridiculous the name was, but honestly, “Bawngwi” was definitely better than Dawna’s “Judgment Chain.”

It’s cute. Bawngwi. It even somewhat resembles a rattlesnake.

“You little brat! Are you not going to untie this right now!? Do you even know who I am!? Do you!?”

Even while being bound by chains all over, the man didn’t stop talking for a second.

If he wanted to announce who he was so desperately, he should be carrying an ID instead of yelling like that.

The minds of rascals are truly hard to understand.

“You’re in a lot of pain, right? I’ll heal you right now.”

“Ugh····.”

“You bastard! Can’t you hear me!? Untie this right now····.”

Ignoring the trivial noise, I concentrated fully on healing, and suddenly the man trailed off at the end of his sentence.

His clumsy attempt to speak, with his face looking as pitiful as spoiled cheese, clearly showed panic.

I could easily guess why he was reacting that way.

Right now, I was healing without a single prayer, and on top of that, without even a proper catalyst to draw out divine power.

“It’s impossible····.”

The horror on his face was strangely familiar to me, almost reflecting my own, but it didn’t lessen my disgust towards him.

“Uh, uh····?”

“I went ahead and treated your cavities, bones, and any internal injuries while I was at it. Please don’t eat spoiled food carelessly from now on, and be careful not to step on shards of glass lying around too. Understand?”

“U-uh, that is····.”

“You need to answer.”

“Y-yes, yes!!”

Right after I heard that bright response, I carefully checked the child’s condition again with my eyes, and a sense of relief began to bloom in my heart.

Since the last day of the blessing ceremony, I had become able to perform miracles without any catalysts or spellcasting, and I had long been painfully aware that there wasn’t a single flaw in that healing power.

But maybe due to habits ingrained over decades, every time I prayed without a catalyst or spellcasting, I couldn’t shake off something that felt off.

“Now, take this.”

“Uh, this····!”

The child’s bright eyes, watching me closely, widened in surprise.

That reaction was so cute it slipped a smile from my lips.

What I handed to the child was a small chocolate I had saved for a treat.

In a world outside this system where the only sweet things available were dried grains or honey gathered in the wild, this was a luxury item that even poor citizens would find hard to see in their lifetime.

The scene of the child, who bragged about having tasted chocolate while growing up in the orphanage, rising to stardom still lingered in my memory.

Well, it eventually turned out to be a lie.

“Don’t think about saving it; eat it all here. Chocolate spoils easily, you know? And from now on, it’s better to aim for food items that won’t leave a trace rather than money. Money can be a hassle to exchange and store, but once food goes into your mouth, it’s gone.”

“Y-yes, yes!!”

With that, the child’s expression overflowed with vibrant enthusiasm as he stuffed the chocolate into his mouth like a starving hamster.

Even scolding him for stealing would not be enough, and here I was teaching him how to steal!

Even if I were criticized for tarnishing the name of the clergy, I wouldn’t have a decent rebuttal.

But I didn’t feel a shred of shame that this was a disgraceful act.

There are those in this cruel world who won’t even have a meal to count on today, no matter how faithfully they abide by the rules, making it impossible to live a life of righteousness in the first place.

“How dare you justify heinous acts in the role of serving the will of God! I will remember your face! Just you wait! Soon, I’ll hand you over for a religious trial!”

The man, who had been rolling on the ground quietly, decided to threaten me at this moment.

While the spirit behind his words was passable, the way he looked was a total fail. It was utterly useless.

“Thank you! Priest uncle!”

“Um, d-don’t mention it.”

The word “uncle” momentarily stirred up memories I couldn’t forget, but I quickly gathered myself and bid the child farewell.

“Ugh! Damn it! What the hell are these chains!? ”

Clank! Clank!

As I watched the child’s figure disappear into the distance, the man fumed angrily, struggling against his restraints.

There was no risk of the bindings loosening.

Our Bawngwi boasted toughness that would challenge even a hero or Bigtim, making it not easily breakable.

So, the task before me was singular.

If this man were to hold a grudge and seek revenge for this incident, I had to anticipate that possibility. If the arrow of revenge was aimed at me, that concern would be unnecessary, but if his gaze turned toward that child…

I had the duty and responsibility to prevent such a situation before it could happen.

Thud thud.

I loosened my body in preparation for intense movements.

Perhaps due to the impending cruel task that didn’t fit my nature, my stomach was already churning.

“What, what’s that! Why are you looking at me like that!?”

Did he sense a foreboding future from my suspicious behavior?

Suddenly, the man began spilling out words in a panicked tone without a moment’s pause.

“It’d be wise not to do anything stupid! I have connections with high priests who attended the blessing ceremony! I could send a no-name priest like you straight to hell with just a single letter! Got it!? Moreover, my uncle is a renowned priest who has dined with the saintess’s personal guardian priest! If you understand, untie this right now─”

“By the way, how many prayers can you use in a day?”

“····What?”

The man was left dumbfounded by my sudden question, cutting off his own words.

“What do you mean····.”

“Just answer the question. How many times can you pray in a day?”

“····Ugh!”

It wasn’t even a glance of intimidation, but judging by the man’s terrified reaction, it was clear that I appeared somewhat threatening to him.

How long did that uncomfortable silence stretch out?

Soon, the man began to stammer as he opened his mouth.

“Uh, around three times a day····.”

“Interesting····.”

He really was a priest after all.

I had known it in my head, but reluctantly I accepted the reality I had been denying, and I exhaled the heavy breath I had been holding.

It wasn’t an impostor or a pseudonym.

The genuine priest, granted divine powers by the deity, had mercilessly beaten that frail child to the point of no return.

Crack.

“Then I suppose you won’t die even if you get beaten to a pulp three times, right?”

“····Huh?”

In a dark alleyway where people’s gazes couldn’t reach, the cruel melody of flesh and bones clashing echoed for a while, and it all started right after that.

◈◈◈

“Ugh····.”

I was thankful I hadn’t eaten a hearty breakfast.

If I’d done that before committing such an act, I would surely have regurgitated all the food I had managed to gather.

Dawna’s advice that I’d become accustomed to hitting people after a while was losing credibility again within me.

If there was a choice between hitting someone and getting hit, getting hit was far better.

This was a historical moment where I realized just how ill-suited I was for violence.

“Hero····. I’m really late for our appointment. I hope you’re not too angry····.”

Worries began to flood in belatedly.

Just a short while ago, I couldn’t even imagine the sight of the Hero being angry at me, an idea completely out of the picture.

But now, I clearly pictured what humiliating acts she might demand of me, being fully aware of how furious she might be.

Especially since I had just come from a moment of intimacy with the saintess. On top of that, I had heard that our search for clues regarding the holy sword had also ended in futility, which would certainly add to her frustration.

If I were also to be penalized for being late for our appointment…

Gulp.

I instinctively swallowed.

I felt an overwhelming urge to turn back towards the cozy inn.

But that was not an option.

The only one who could pacify an enraged Hero within this system was none other than me.

I needed to compose myself.

Surely, it could go differently.

If I were lucky, perhaps we could take a nap together in the same bed like last time, or maybe share a bath. That would be nice.

That hopeful notion shattered into pieces the moment I laid my eyes on the Hero standing like a mannequin at the meeting place.