Luke was out there preaching the gospel in Capernaum. He stumbled upon a guy named Levi and said, “Follow me!” Levi jumped up and followed him. The crowd saw Luke chilling with Levi and said, “Hey, Lord, he’s a tax collector! Why are you hanging out with this filthy sinner?” Luke heard this and replied, “Healthy folks don’t need a doctor; it’s the sick who do! I didn’t come to call the righteous but sinners!”
—
Tax collectors. Sounds like they’re government officials taking your money, right? But nope! They’re just private contractors, loaning cash to the emperor, king, or lord and collecting taxes in return.
Right in front of me, I saw Levi, the tax collector of Capernaum! Well, actually, it’s her dad who probably borrowed money from the lord. Regardless, she’s collecting taxes in this city on behalf of daddy dearest.
“Hi, I’m Levi, just an insignificant tax collector,” she said.
But…… what to say? I’ve been waiting to meet her, yet I’m speechless. “Join me as my companion?” Sounds weird. Too sudden and strange.
How about something natural? “Oh, mighty one! I hate to ask, but I really need your help.”
A request? Surprising! I didn’t expect her to seek me out. After all, many came to me over the past three days, and some had a request, but not a single one appealed to me.
And this isn’t just any random person—she’s a character from “Deus Ex Machina,” one I played and loved. If she’s asking for something, I totally want to help!
But what could she possibly want? Hmmm.
“Your request… what is it?”
“Well… it’s….”
BAM!
The inn door swung open, interrupting Levi mid-sentence. A bunch of guys barged in.
What the heck? Why are they here?
“Lord! Forgive us! It was too hard to just listen from outside!”
The bravest guy stepped up, “This woman is a filthy tax collector! We can’t stand seeing her with you and she dares to ask for something!”
“Yeah, Lord! This woman doesn’t deserve your grace! We’ll drag her out!”
The men rushed towards Levi, grabbing her arms.
“Wait! Let her go!”
“Shut it, filthy girl! How dare one like you approach our Lord?”
“Come on, what’s her request? Is it to ease her money troubles or make tax collecting easier for herself?”
“Oh no! I’m here for something way different!”
Being dragged out like that, the men were being rough despite her being a woman. Levi, with her striking beauty, was treated as less than human by these guys.
Is this how people treat tax collectors?
The Pulsreino family doesn’t owe money, so we never had a tax collector around. I never witnessed such hate… but is it really this bad?
I knew tax collectors were hated, sure. I’ve heard stories of unprotected ones being assaulted and found in dreadful states.
Levi probably usually has guards with her, but she came here solo to avoid giving me a bad impression.
She even dressed nicely to impress me.
But surprise, surprise!
These guys don’t mean any harm, at least not malicious. They didn’t stop Levi from coming in until she wanted to make her request. They probably didn’t want me hearing her “dirty” plea.
Still…
“Stop right there!”
“… Huh?”
“Cease the harassment! I want to speak with her.”
Levi is one of my favorites.
Even if I gather all the extras in this city, she’s the only one who matters to me.
“But, my Lord! She’s worse than a whore!”
“Indeed, Lord! Talking to such a dirty woman could bring harm upon you!”
“I already said what I needed to. I’m here to reclaim the lost!”
To me, she is invaluable.
“Every sinner can be cleansed by a mother’s love. The righteous don’t need me; it’s the sinners who need me!”
“Tha-that’s….”
“Now, Levi.”
“… Yes? Yes, great one!”
“Follow me.”
“… How could I? How could someone like me dare to follow you… a filthy woman like me…”
“The mother’s love will cleanse you. You’ll be reborn!”
—
“The tax collector’s daughter! Mom said I was filthy! Throw stones!”
“Ugh. If only there weren’t guards…”
From birth, I’ve been a target of disdain. No other kids would play with me, and when I approached, they’d throw rocks.
If it weren’t for the guards dad provided, I might have already died due to their hatred.
All thanks to dear old dad’s choice of profession.
“Filthy tax collector! Go to hell!”
“Like father, like daughter! You’ll face divine punishment someday!”
As I aged, the more taxes I collected, as per father’s orders, the more their disdain grew.
I merely did my duty, collecting only what was asked of me, and nobody wanted to see the facts.
I wanted to decrease taxes but couldn’t. The emperor mandated collecting a minimum, so I was stuck with everyone’s resentment.
I did what I had to do but ended up as the punching bag for everyone.
Dad never helped me either.
He just said, “That’s your duty. Who cares what those simpletons think?” He’d dump all his duties onto me while he frolicked every day.
—
I wanted to escape.
My obligations, my homeland, this hatred.
I craved liberation from all of it.
Hopefully, some catastrophe would occur and drag me off to another adventure!
Would “Lord” come to rescue me like I’d read in the books?
Every day, I fantasized of escaping this life.
But each time, my dreams crashed back to the harsh reality.
Then one day…
I witnessed an incredible sight.
All the sick people in the city were healed! Scrapes, scars, and injuries all disappeared in a miracle.
This was a monumental event, something even my wildest dreams couldn’t imagine!
Rumors were spreading about a man who called himself the son of Deus, proclaiming miracles.
Deus… I think I’ve heard of him. Recently rising fast in neighboring Calandra Empire.
The son of Deus?
Under normal circumstances, I’d dismiss it as nonsense.
But seeing that grand spectacle, I couldn’t brush it off.
Could this be my chance?
A man capable of producing such miracles…
He must be a hero!
The hero I had yearned for…
And at that moment, the long-awaited person had arrived in this city.
Dressed up and trying my best, I sought him out at the inn where he was staying.
The place was packed with people hoping to meet him.
I waited a full day in line.
Without my guards, I felt uncomfortable in the crowd.
Did I just wander into my doom?
Luckily, most were merely glaring at me and didn’t even dare to speak. They avoided touching me like catching a disease.
Yep, I am a dirty woman.
I’m the filthy one everyone despises…
Wait a second.
Does this mean the hero won’t accept me?
There’s no way a hero would want a dirty girl like me around.
Why on earth did I think I could come here with no basis for confidence?
…… Why did I foolishly think I’d find a way out of my plight by dressing fancy?
I suddenly felt more pathetic.
“Next in line, please come in.”
As I was about to step out of line and return to my miserable reality, my turn was finally called, waking me from my thoughts.
The chatter around grew loud.
Everyone was shocked seeing me step forward.
What? Is she really here?
“Let’s go back…”
THUMP!
Just then someone behind me pushed me, causing me to stumble through the inn door!
And standing inside was…
The most beautiful sight, more stunning than any imagined hero…
A stunning blue-skinned man sat in a chair, looking straight at me.
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