Chapter 6

Adventurers risk their lives with every quest.

It’s nearly a luxury for priests or nuns to accompany adventurers on a mission.

That’s because those who serve the gods don’t need to risk their lives to earn money like adventurers do.

Their job was to reside in the cathedral, healing in exchange for rewards or helping society’s vulnerable by praying to their deity.

So most do not go on quests.

It’s understandable that they wouldn’t venture out to heal adventurers at the forefront when the role of an adventurer is exceedingly dangerous.

However, occasionally, very rarely, an oddball emerges.

Those who wish to practice asceticism, akin to those who, in the past, set out into the world to spread the teachings of the gods and go on pilgrimages.

In the past, their duty was to travel the world directly, but because too many were dying, it has been reduced to going on quests alongside high-ranking adventurers.

Yet, dislike aside, it was unavoidable.

Especially for someone like Dannes, who had survived solely with the goal of living in a world ruled by the strong.

Dannes touched the scar on his eye, bringing back memories of the past.

He too had a disability of not being able to see from one eye.

It was a glorious wound earned while fighting for survival amidst the hellscape of blood-soaked battles, like a sharp blizzard swirling around him.

Being unable to see from one eye was inconvenient, and while he should fix it to survive, it was impossible to restore a lost body part without a high-ranking priest’s intervention, making it an unavoidable situation.

“Hmm…”

If one asked whether he liked the girl, he would say he did.

Compared to those crawling in the cathedral, praying only to their own god without any ambition to claim anything for themselves.

It was inevitable that he felt drawn to a girl who survived under harsh conditions where living was even more difficult than for them.

Plus, how could he not feel a fondness for that little girl who was willingly facing asceticism that no one else accepted?

But he knew.

For warriors from the North, fighting is glory, and living is a sign of the strong.

Even they prefer not to die unless it is an honorable death, fearing a mere dog’s death.

They look down upon what some call reckless bravery.

The attitude of a Northern warrior is to live honorably within one’s means, believing that survival is glory.

But the girl did not know her limitations.

What could she be thinking trying to endure asceticism without sight and hearing?

What if she became a hindrance instead?

What if everyone was put in danger because of that girl?

That was his only dissatisfaction.

Dannes poked the campfire with a stick and glanced sideways.

Even in such a situation, that troublesome girl was praying to her god.

Religious types can be incomprehensible, he thought to himself as he called out to the girl, who would surely be busy in her prayers.

“Hey.”

The girl, seemingly startled by his call, wrapped up her prayers and turned towards him.

“[What can I do for you, Brother Dannes?]”

It was an unfamiliar way of speaking that he could never get used to.

He had heard she conveyed her thoughts directly as she couldn’t see or hear.

It was intriguing, though not particularly inconvenient, so Dannes continued poking the fire with the stick.

Since it was a method of communication that conveyed thoughts, he was confident she wouldn’t lie.

“Why did you embark on asceticism with that body of yours?”

It didn’t make sense.

He felt sorry saying it to her, but just surviving with such a body was already remarkable.

Perhaps becoming a nun and being able to handle divine power allowed her to somewhat overcome her disabilities, but it was still uncomfortable.

Even if she looked at herself objectively, she should know that she didn’t have a body suitable for heading into asceticism. Just that fact perplexed even the priests who allowed her to proceed.

“Normally, it would be your life, and I wouldn’t be concerned… but this matter is different.”

Though he disliked religious folk, he had lived as an adventurer for many years.

Naturally, he had met priests and nuns who had set out on ascetic journeys a few times.

Most of them ended up in dangerous missions together, and the outcomes were generally dismal.

Some had returned near death, going back to the gods they believed in.

If able-bodied individuals had such experiences, would this girl with visual and auditory disabilities, seemingly frail, even survive this quest?

“What will you do if you endanger the party?”

Dannes posed the girl a question layered with various implications.

Having wandered through many parties, he held this one in particular dear.

Spending years together as a single party in the harsh life where adventurers often perish was an achievement in itself.

He knew well they were not bad people.

Nonetheless, he had been brusque with the girl simply because he was anxious.

He treated her like a burden because he might as well be hoping she couldn’t endure this and would choose to return.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for his actions.

Adventurers were mostly busy safeguarding their lives, and if they were put in danger because of this disabled girl, there would be nothing more regrettable than that. Thus, he deemed it better to use inferior potions despite the extra money spent.

After all, even if they were healing potions, without being a formal nun, the best they could provide was a basic potion.

The question could sound cold at first, yet the girl still wore a gentle smile.

“[I simply want to help those in circumstances like mine.]”

“Ha…”

The answer was even more baffling.

No, it wasn’t that it was entirely incomprehensible.

If she referred to those in similar situations, it likely meant those with disabilities, but it was quite a personal reason for a nun serving a god.

Most would speak of saving poor lambs according to the will of the gods, yet these were the very ones who were most terrified when facing death.

Dannes felt there had to be more behind the girl’s answer.

“[I heard you lost one eye, Brother Dannes.]”

“Well… that’s true.”

“[If the opportunity arises, may I heal that eye?]”

“…”

This eye, huh.

Having lived for decades with one eye, he had gotten used to it, and didn’t feel an urgent need for it, but it was indeed inconvenient.

Dannes chuckled softly.

“Sure, if it’s possible.”

But to say she would heal his eye while still an apprentice nun, he thought it was a child’s rash declaration and responded to let her handle it herself.

Still, he didn’t dislike her bold proclamation.

Dannes thought inwardly as he looked up at the sky.

The night continued to deepen.

.

.

.

How many days had passed?

We were able to safely reach our quest location, the village of Barna.

“We are a B-rank adventurer party that accepted the request.”

“Oh, aren’t you adventurers? Welcome!”

An old man, presumably the village chief, greeted us… but.

My gaze was drawn elsewhere.

– It hurts… save me…

– The village… the orcs… ugh…

– Mom…

– It hurts… I feel like I’m dying… ugh…

The sounds of wailing echoed throughout the village.

As I could hear them only through their thoughts, particularly in a wounded state, the thoughts were rampant, creating a noise that was overwhelming.

I felt we needed to heal them quickly; it would alleviate things…

Ignoring others’ calls, I immediately moved toward the source of the thoughts that I heard closest.

As I entered a building, I found the injured gathered in one place.

Most were robust village men.

“W-Who…?!”

A woman’s voice, seemingly flustered by my sudden entry, reached me, but I ignored it and, after setting down my heavy burden, approached the nearest man.

Because I had walked here with that heavy load, my legs shook, feeling like they would give way at any moment, but I couldn’t ignore the cacophony of thoughts.

‘Though I don’t know how they got hurt…’

Despite appearances, I had an overflowing talent for divine power, so a decent healing spell should work.

For now…

‘How do I make this maddening noise stop?’

I don’t like seeing suffering, but I don’t like noise either…

I felt pathetic for still not being able to control the thoughts.

Raising my hands to channel divine power, I sighed internally as I cast the healing spell.