Great abbot
The world was always like that.
If the majority of people were shitting on the street, the guy using the bathroom was the weird one.
If the majority are murderers, then those who are not are cowards.
In that sense, the Abbot of Brighton was a very strange man, one who would never be seen again.
At first I thought he was just a picky guy who liked to point out other people’s mistakes.
It was originally easy to point out others’ mistakes, but it was difficult to correct one’s own behavior.
I glared at him and followed him.
If you show even the slightest bit of double standards, you will immediately receive a success bonus.
Since the deposit was five gold coins, the success reward was sure to be a bag of gold coins.
however···.
‘This guy is totally weird.’
The problem was that he was a really good priest.
Before pointing out others, he practiced it himself first, and although he was blunt, his words were based on deep faith, and when he looked back, he realized that everything he said was correct.
‘No, why is this kid so great?’
It was a world where it was common and normal for priests to have one mistress and a regular prostitute.
But he replaced his meals with a piece of hard bread, never let go of the Bible, and prayed as if he were talking to himself.
He was a gentleman who did not fit in with the Middle Ages, when the unconventional was common sense.
‘I’m going crazy.’
I scratched my head in rising irritation.
He ate a piece of bread for lunch and headed to the square.
He called the children playing in the square, lined them up, and personally blessed them one by one, starting with the child in the front.
‘I can’t go to my parents and yell at them to increase their donations, but a blessing? Isn’t that completely crazy?’
I coughed in vain because I was so dumbfounded by the guy’s behavior.
Even the abbot himself went around and gave blessings…
It was a story that would have gotten me cursed at if I told it to someone else, saying that I would be lying, and that I would rather say that there was a dragon.
“Stand up straight in line. Don’t twist your body. When receiving a blessing, you should keep your body and posture straight.”
In the meantime, I was astonished at the sight of him even pointing out the child’s posture.
“Aaah- I don’t want to take it!”
“No candy, no blessing.”
He even gave candy when he received a blessing, so he skillfully controlled the children’s short patience.
‘He was demoted. That’s for sure.’
I wondered why the abbot had come to such a remote castle, but seeing his actions, I could guess what he was going to do.
There was no way that such an upright and clueless guy could tell the difference between upper and lower.
It was obvious at first glance that he had spoken the truth to his superior and been demoted.
‘But who on earth did the abbot have to advise to get demoted?’
“Blessings are effective only when received consistently, so everyone should come here at this time tomorrow.”
Brighton, who had finally blessed all the children who had gathered, turned around without hesitation.
He didn’t even wait for the children’s thanks.
After that, the guy went around in reverse order starting from area 7.
He visited each of them, listened to their stories briefly, healed them with divine powers, and then spoke to them about God.
After following him around until the sun went down, I had no choice but to admit it.
‘This kid… there’s no excuse to hit him.’
Since I fell into the Middle Ages, this was the first time I’d ever met someone so useless.
“You’ve worked hard. At first, I was worried because it seemed like you gave the honorary monk position to some thug, but seeing that you’ve stayed with me until the end today, I can see that you have quite a strong faith. Faith doesn’t come from knowing the Bible, but there are many good words in the Bible, so I recommend that you read it.”
Even though his face was covered in fatigue, he still had a serious expression on his face as he continued to train, so I didn’t even feel like hitting him.
Even the guy seemed to be moved by my staying with him until the end, as his voice was strangely softer than before.
But still, the fact that it was a noisy fight didn’t change.
“Then I’ll see you at dawn prayer. Be sure to read the Bible.”
I made a resolution to myself after hearing the abbot’s words.
‘Whether it’s a success fee or something, don’t go near the synagogue.’
He nodded, hiding his true feelings.
Since I had already gone to the synagogue to get some beans, it was a problem that I could avoid for a while.
If I ever heard later that the pig priest had murdered the great abbot, I thought I could go and check it out.
***
They say things in life don’t always go as planned.
dripping.
I jumped up at the sound of a knock on the door and drew my sword.
It was only after I took a deep breath, holding my sword, that I remembered that this was Cassadic.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, drew his sword, and opened the door.
However, I had to resist the urge to close it as soon as I opened it.
“It’s a good morning to pray.”
Brighton was standing in front of the door, looking exactly the same as yesterday.
For a moment, I barely managed to hold myself back from swinging my sword.
If the pressure had been just a little bit heavier, that proud neck would have rolled on the ground.
‘How do you know my room?’
No, aside from that, I found it absurd that the abbot came to see me in person.
As the abbot, he was in a position where he could hold his head up high even in front of nobles, but he came all the way to the shabby inn. It was an obsession that went too far.
“I can’t go because I’m busy. I have to train.”
“···Hmm. I see. Working diligently is also a form of faith.”
Brighton nodded, rubbing his chin.
I bowed my head slightly and closed the door.
I tried to suppress the irritation that had been building up since morning and put on the armor that was left next to the bed.
‘A brilliant priest with no sense.’
I took a quick breath and opened the door, but the guy wasn’t there yet.
“I can’t go to dawn prayer because I have to train.”
I explained it again because the guy didn’t seem to understand properly.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be there to help you.”
The guy nodded without changing his expression.
I didn’t understand the answer, but I walked forward, thinking that it would fall off on its own.
Brighton followed behind me.
Soon, I could understand the bastard’s answer.
“The sun looks down on the dark land, and even if you lose your way, it will always show you the way, so do not be afraid···.”
‘Is he really crazy?’
While I was running through the vacant lot, the guy stood proudly next to me and continued praying in his characteristic low-pitched voice.
I forced myself to ignore the guy and swung and stabbed my sword to its limit.
When he finally stopped and could no longer move, his prayer ended.
He came up to me, placed his hand on my sweaty forehead, and recited a prayer.
Then, a ray of light came over and energized me.
The muscles that had been aching felt instantly better.
I found myself cursing at the unexpected refreshing feeling.
“Then may the sun shine today too···.”
The man who finished the prayer went back without any regrets as if his work was finished.
‘···crazy.’
I was dumbfounded for a moment, looking at the back of that guy.
“here.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks.”
As if he was watching, the mini fridge handed me an ice-cold beer as soon as he left.
I held him, hesitated for a moment, then handed him over in one go.
There’s even an ice cube in the beer mug that resembles my face.
There’s also a low-pitched voice that keeps buzzing in my ears.
I was very embarrassed.
***
I packed the dried goblins into a wooden box and headed to the castle gate.
I was thinking of making a friendly sales pitch to the guys coming and going from the castle.
“Chief, how about selling it as powder? It looks ugly, so I think it would be better to grind it up and sell it for a higher price.”
Grass, who was watching him from the side, made a tempting suggestion.
‘That’s true. Because it’s ugly.’
I nodded my head as I looked at the dried mini sweet potatoes.
After finding a suitable size for it, he took off Gelharu’s shoulder armor, which he had been watching blankly from the side, put the goblin things in it, and crushed it with the handle of his sword.
It dried better than I thought, so even with a little force, it quickly turned into powder.
“Oh, are you okay?”
“It looks much better, sir.”
The hideous thing was now just a dark green powder, which at first glance looked like green tea powder.
It was much better than its previous, more blatant form.
When I had ground about ten of them like that, a pale peasant came running.
“Ugh… We’re in trouble! We’re in trouble! There are orcs in the field over there…!”
I could picture the situation without having to listen to the end.
“Where is the field?”
“The one where Praga works!”
Then I handed the shoulder armor to Gelharu who was next to me.
Gelharu, who had been making a sullen expression, opened his eyes wide and received the shoulder armor.
“Pool, put the contact inside. Gelharu, you are grinding it.”
He was someone I knew.
Pra was a fairly honest tenant farmer.
He was a nice guy who invited me to his house and sometimes slipped me a beer during security checks.
The place Praga was in charge of was a field at the end.
He clicked his tongue and stamped his feet desperately.
***
‘What is this?’
Gelheim looked down at his shoulder blades and glared.
The shoulder pad contained a green powder and something ugly that had not yet turned to powder.
I wanted to curse, but I couldn’t ignore what he said, so I moved my hand with a displeased expression.
It was fortunate that the ugly thing was dried up.
It seemed like it could be reused if you turned the powder over and washed it with water.
‘But an orc appeared, can I send it alone?’
Suddenly, a thought occurred to me, but I quickly shook my head.
What does it have to do with him fighting an orc alone?
Rather, if you die while fighting an orc…
Gelheim was busy grinding while cursing all sorts of things.
At that moment, the guards came running out from inside.
‘But why are those guys’ armors like that?’
For a moment, Gelheim closed his eyes tightly, wondering if something was wrong with his eyes, and then opened them again.
It was still so incredibly colorful.
“Where? Ah- the end? First, run!”
“No, he’s the leader anyway, so with orcs like that….”
“I got scolded by the team leader for arriving late last time···.”
It wasn’t his eyes that were wrong.
It wasn’t some kind of clown show, just guys in colorful armor running around busily.
They had serious expressions on their faces, but the ridiculous color of their armor reminded me of the farce I had seen in the old city.
The creature quickly moved away, soon becoming a colorful dot on the horizon.
‘···I really hate the Catholic Castle. I want to go back to the Bolt Castle.’
Feeling somewhat depressed, Gelheim shook his head slightly.
Then I tried to grind it again, but stopped when I saw that it had completely turned into powder.
The conversation between those rough guys earlier came to mind.
‘Is this really that good for men?’
Gelheim looked around for a moment and then ate some powder with his finger.
It also felt like strength was rising inside me.
The taste wasn’t bad either.
Gelheim’s fingers turned to the powder again.
***
‘seven?’
I looked around, catching my breath, which had become ragged from running.
In the long green fields, orcs wearing leather armor were grazing on something, showing off their thick muscles.
The form of tearing and eating was familiar.
Prawa and his two colleagues who were farming here, and his wife who went to deliver food.
In the hands of the orcs, they became their snack.
‘You’re late.’
After a brief reflection, he drew his sword.
I nodded at the cool sensation the sword gave me.
The tricky thing about orcs was their strength and decent combat acumen.
The orcs had been fighting each other since they were young, so those who survived and became adults were quite difficult.
‘Even so, it’s just an orc.’
Hoo- I took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The guy who was drinking the blood flowing from my neck like it was a beverage noticed me and twitched his nose.
At that, I immediately kicked the ground with my toes.
The guy swung his hatchet diagonally at me.
Its speed was quite good due to its natural strength, but it was still an orc. Its axe drew a very straight line, making it easy to dodge.
He turned his posture by putting strength into his waist and slashed the sword horizontally.
The sharpness of the sword was on a different level from the one I had used before, and it cut through the leather armor and the tough skin of the orc in an instant.
The guy swung his axe again, even though my guts were spilling out.
‘Is there no pain?’
If the guy had been a general, it would have been a hero that would have gone down in history, but unfortunately, the guy was an orc with a split stomach.
Shut up!
The orcs always screamed whenever they attacked, either because they liked a fair fight or because they were so excited that the screaming came out naturally.
Because of this, some have called orcs ‘stupidly upright’.
I put my hand into the split abdomen of the bastard and pulled out a handful of the hot, squishy stuff. The bastard waved his hand, as if he was being aggrieved at having what was his, but he didn’t have enough strength.
I quickly threw back what I was holding in my hand.
A squishy, greenish liquid dripping down from it flew in a sinuous line and hit the face of the man behind him.
“Keep going!!”
The guy who got hit opened his eyes wide in shock and paused for a moment.
‘It works on orcs too.’
I took advantage of the momentary gap created by this blow to correct my posture and swing my sword deeply.
This time the orc split into two pieces and fell down.
The sword was so sharp that even though it cut through the bone, only a slight resistance was felt.
I expressed my gratitude to the drunk who had willingly given me the sword.
Soon, axes came swinging up and down from both sides.
One for the head, one for the waist.
There wasn’t enough time to stop both.
I took a step towards the orc who was bowing his head and aiming for my waist.
The distance narrowed sharply, the impact point was misaligned, and was offset by a light thud.
Huh?
He looked at the ugly face of the orc who had come closer and struck his temple with the handle of his sword.
The guy didn’t fall over, his eyes just became cloudy because his scalp was thick.
At him I struck the hilt of my sword once more.
The guy who got hit twice for no reason because he liked Matt’s house collapsed with a creaking sound, as if he felt wronged.
Grow up-!!
At that moment, my body staggered from the strong shock I felt on my back.
“You dirty little orc.”
As I was about to swing my sword at the guy behind me, another guy next to me swung his axe.
It was a random attack, but it was rough because it came from all directions.
However, their hatchets could not penetrate my armor.
I fought him by avoiding only attacks aimed at the head and then striking him in the same way when I got hit.
The orcs then raised their spirits by shouting ‘Gwarts!’
“Growling!”
I couldn’t help but shout along with him.
The orcs paused for a moment, their eyes wide open, as if they thought I had done a pretty good job of imitating them.
I was able to make one more orc out of that gap.
I got into a fight with them again and managed to take them all down after a dogfight.
I was drenched in sweat as I moved my body in the hot weather.
“You tough bastards-.”
I calmed my ragged breathing as I looked at the orcs lying on the ground.
About that time the guys arrived.
“Captain!! Are you okay?!”
It was convenient because I could see it at a glance even from far away thanks to the armor.
“Here’s some of this, Captain. Hehe-.”
The weasel handed me a beer mug full of ice.
‘This little bastard was hanging out at the bar.’
I didn’t necessarily point it out.
The other guys looked after the fallen orcs and silenced the ones who were still breathing.
“Pra, this guy is gone.”
“Tsk, that’s why I told the captain to either send out patrols outside or keep the tenant farmers in charge of distant areas from going out.”
“There’s nothing the captain can do. The castle won’t give permission. Would the lord blink an eye if a few tenant farmers die? He’d probably think it’s better for the tenant farmers to die than for the crops to be ruined.”
“Those damn nobles. Leader.”
The guys who had gathered the dismembered corpses called me. I stood in front of the corpses and chose what to say.
As I looked at the torn pieces like a toy, the prayer the abbot muttered came to mind, humorously.
However, I swallowed it because it was too noble and useless talk.
“Revenge was taken.”
This would probably be enough to cover the cost of the beer Praga bought me last time.
“Chief, that guy Fry grumbled every time he passed the gate, saying he didn’t want to work… Doesn’t that expression look like a smile?”
Kel threw it out as a joke, but his voice wasn’t that of a joker.
“I’ll have to bring a cart and pack it.”
Berman spoke dryly, as if he was doing his job.
I nodded to him.
Death was not so strange here.
I shook my head and stopped thinking.
“Hey, Pool. Make the kids do that.”
I said, pointing to the orc corpses scattered around.
“Yes, sir.”
Snake Eyes simply nodded and called the children together. He then crouched down in front of the orc and demonstrated with his dagger.
“eww-.”
“Oh, how much does this cost?”
“Even the orcs are no match for me.”
The heavy atmosphere disappeared in an instant.
Brick retched, the weasel asked the price with shining eyes, and Kel pointed to his waist with a confident expression.
Berman was now crouching down in front of another orc and wielding his dagger.
‘It’s hot.’
I looked at the setting sun and drank the rest of my beer in one go.
He felt a prickling headache and his complicated thoughts were neatly organized.
“Berman and Brick, follow me. The rest of you, bring the cart and get rid of the bodies. Finish those too.”
“Are you going further?”
“Oh, since I’m sweating, I should clean up a bit.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The guys nodded without saying a word.
‘Tsk.’
I walked, wiping the sweat from my forehead with my hand.
***
Gelheim, who had been dipping his fingers in the green powder, came to his senses only when the amount had decreased to a visibly small amount.
He put the rest of it in and started grinding it again.
As I was doing this, I found it quite fun.
How much time has passed like that?
Gelheim eventually turned everything that was left into powder.
However, there was so much of it that it flowed down from my shoulder blades, so I had no choice but to pick up the powder and eat it.
‘I feel like I’m getting strength.’
Gelheim moved his waist here and there for no reason.
It felt like my waist had gotten a little stronger.
It seemed like it was burning hot.
‘Hmm···.’
Gelheim checked his pockets.
It was a little tight, but I thought I could get the price of a prostitute.
‘There’s no choice. To quell this overflowing energy…’
Ahem.
Gelheim coughed and poured a little more powder into his mouth.
Just then, a mean-looking guy in orange armor ran past the gate.
Judging by the urgent look on his face, it was clear that something had happened.
‘Failed? Well, what about the guards and the orcs?’
Unlike the small goblins, orcs were bigger than a grown man and could wield a hatchet, so they were not to be taken lightly.
There was one orc for every well-trained soldier with good equipment.
So, when dealing with orcs, it was common to dig traps or use bows.
Despite his outstanding fighting ability, his intelligence was poor.
‘But you clearly said they were orcs…’
No matter how big and monstrous that guy was, and how he was covered in iron, if he went alone, something was bound to happen.
‘If he dies, will this be mine?’
Gelheim smacked his lips as he looked at the powder that filled his shoulder blades.
Then, the guy in orange armor came out again.
But instead of bringing reinforcements, the guy was pulling a cart full of beer kegs.
“Freezing a beer keg! Boradongi is truly a genius.”
The guy who was mumbling something incomprehensible pulled a cart and disappeared over the horizon.
And there was no further news until the sun set on the horizon.
Gelheim hesitated and shook his head, wondering whether he should report it to him.
They might have reported it, and since this wasn’t Bolt Castle in the first place, there wasn’t a reporting system in place.
Gelheim licked his lips at the powder that was halfway left on his shoulder blade.
As I was revisiting the list of prostitutes at Cassidy Castle, something appeared on the horizon.
The biggest one in the middle and the rest next to it.
The six figures, illuminated by the reddish sunlight as the sun set on the horizon…
It was like a horrible picture drawn to tease children.
‘How hideous. Why are you wearing that armor…’
Gelheim swallowed without realizing it and turned his gaze away.
However, the fierce and muscular rainbow image imprinted in my mind was not easily erased.
“Shouldn’t I be getting paid extra for this? My arms are shaking like crazy.”
“That’s because I usually neglect my training.”
“Isn’t the captain particularly diligent? Even the knights wouldn’t be that diligent.”
“Director, do you dry these and make them into powder too?”
“uh.”
“Then I will go and stop it.”
“It’s all money… It seems a bit strange.”
Then I heard the conversation of those who came closer.
His voice was so calm that it seemed like he had just come from a picnic, but his appearance was anything but that.
Green blood all over his body, chunks of flesh all over his body. What on earth have he been doing outside?
Gelheim straightened his back and swallowed without realizing it.
“But, Team Leader. Can we do it among ourselves? Actually, Team Leader did it all, but…”
“what?”
“No, that Jace guy is also causing a fuss by getting ready to clean up the mess in Naeseong.”
“The first one to pick it up is the owner.”
“That’s not what I meant… Hey- whatever.”
Then the guy snapped his fingers.
Gelheim, startled by this, ran over and grabbed his shoulder armor.
“Gelharu, are you done well?”
“···Hmm.”
Gelheim gave a subtle affirmative answer, pretending not to answer.
It was my last bit of pride.
“But why is this sheep like this? Did you eat it?”
“Hmm···?”
I tried to pretend not to notice, but the moment I saw the blue eyes in that scarred face, my hands reached into my pockets.
I held out the few silver coins I had left, and the man who received them had his eyes soften.
“You’re a customer. So, what’s your review?”
“Hmm···.”
Gelheim looked away, holding back tears that were welling up in his eyes.
Only then could I see the contents of the cart pulled by the orange armored guy.
There was a mountain of green things of various sizes piled up there.
Gelheim was startled to realize that he had been licking his lips at the sight of those hideous things.
Just then the replacement crew arrived, exchanged a quick greeting, and entered the castle.
“Hey, Gelheim. You don’t look so good. And where did one of your shoulder blades go?”
“···Okay!”
Gelheim shouted at the question and ran towards the castle.
My body feels hot and my lower back feels tense.
Actually, I didn’t have any money.
Gelheim swallowed the tears that were welling up.
***
‘You can’t make a mistake.’
The black magician Peroron continued to mutter.
There’s been chaos in the company since the last querental failure.
In order to silence him, the company had invested so much this time that it was unthinkable that it would fail.
The company even sent additional ‘Knight Hunters’ and ‘Crimson Darkness’. Sending those two just to deal with a castle in such a remote area!
I don’t know much about ‘Crimson Darkness’, but ‘Knight Hunter’ was famous for his eccentric temperament as well as his feat of taking on a knight single-handedly and breaking his neck.
Even though he was a fellow black magician, he was a foul-tempered man who would immediately drain blood if you provoked him even a little.
If he made even the smallest mistake, he would surely get his neck cut off.
Peroron stroked my neck and exhaled softly.
‘It’s okay. Everything is going well. I’ve also put away the darkness that was eating away at the monsters that the company supported.’
Even if they were monsters, dealing with ones with remaining intelligence was extremely difficult, but since Peroron’s specialty was brainwashing and manipulation, it was possible.
Of course, even that was only at the level of giving a very simple command and letting it go.
Now, all we have to do is just follow the meeting plan…
‘Why do I feel strangely uneasy?’
Peroron kept pressing down on his pounding heart.
But the feeling of anxiety just wouldn’t go away, so I decided to look around.
If the guys had come out of the castle, they would have contacted us the day before, so there couldn’t have been a problem.
Still, I moved to relieve some of my anxiety.
I wonder if the goblins and orcs I placed are doing well.
‘Huh? I’m sure they placed it here too? Did these idiots go off on a different path again?’
Ah, so that’s why the monsters… Peroron sighed and moved his uncomfortable legs.
After walking for a while like that, I was fortunate enough to find some orcs and goblins, and was slightly relieved by that.
They were peacefully eating something normally. Peroron patted their heads every once in a while, looking at their adorable appearance.
Still, just in case, Peroron decided to check the remaining places as well.
And soon I realized what the anxiety was all about.
‘What…what is this?’
It was a place where a group of orcs were deployed.
No, there were still orcs.
The problem is that the neck is cut off.
‘Why is it all the lower abdomen···.’
Something wasn’t where it should be.
Peroron felt an instinctive fear of what should be beneath the orc’s decapitated head.
‘What on earth is going on···.’
Peroron covered his lower body with his hand at the cool feeling.
Something was seriously wrong.
