The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

39. Arsen’s Holiday (2)

The Holy Church was a massive religious organization that dominated this world.

The Empire had designated the Holy Church as the state religion, and as a result, a holiday called “Sunday” was established. Even Arsen couldn’t treat the Holy Church carelessly.

Therefore, Arsen officially invited the Holy Church’s priests who visited the Arpen region and treated them with utmost courtesy.

This was the content corresponding to the second act of the original story.

At that time, it wasn’t because of the ghost rumors in the dormitory, but because of the mine accident that occurred within Arsen.

“So, you’re… that Esperanza?”

The Holy Church’s priests, who had visited Arsen earlier than expected, were now…

I had a confessional-like feeling as I had a private meeting with Isabel. I told her everything I had experienced without holding back.

The things I experienced in Esperance, and the things that happened during the admission process. Meeting people like Kyle, and the recent dormitory incident.

Isabel’s expression was initially half-doubtful, but as she listened to my story, her face gradually regained its color.

She realized that everything I said was true. The wary gaze in her eyes had completely disappeared.

Of course, I naturally left out the parts about the game and the original story. Even if Isabel’s characteristic [Sacred] is exceptional, it’s not like she can figure out that this world is a game world.

“Do you believe my story now?”

“…….”

“Is this not enough?”

“No, it’s not.”

Isabel, a priestess from the Sacred Sect, is not an evil character.

She will become a reliable supporter of Kyle’s in the future, serving as the representative of the Sacred Sect. Since she values trust, she wouldn’t recklessly reveal secrets to others.

And even if my information were to leak, I have Rebecca, my ally, who would keep my secrets. After our deal, she would stake her own reputation, or rather, the name of Grandeur, to protect my secrets.

“I felt like you were an unusual person, but I never thought you were… from Esperance.”

I’m the same. I didn’t know I would fall into Esperance either.

“So, are you going to report this to Arsen?”

“That’s…”.

Isabel hesitated for a moment. I opened my eyes, which I had been keeping shut. The Pleiades behind my back were still grasping, but the fierce killing intent had long disappeared.

In the end, Isabel let go of the Pleiades.

“That’s something a priestess of the Sacred Sect cannot do. You’ve already received absolution, haven’t you?”

“I swear on my name that the story we shared here will remain between us.”

“If what we discussed here were to leak out, I swear on my name that I will protect you.”

The atmosphere was similar to that of a confession, but since Isabel said so, there wouldn’t be any problems later.

Besides, now that Isabel knows my connection to Esperance, she can’t treat me carelessly.

“Just answer one thing.”

“Please, priestess.”

“That rumor about the Sacred Sect having a close relationship with Esperance… is it true?”

This is the reason why.

Among Esperance’s clients, there were requests that came in the name of the Sacred Sect. This is the biggest reason why the Sacred Sect can’t ignore Esperance.

“It’s all true.”

“Incredible…”

Esperance holds the Sacred Sect’s weakness, and if their relationship were to sour, the faith rooted in the empire could be shaken. Esperance has the power to do so, which is why the Sacred Sect has been secretly relying on them.

For example, they would ask Esperance to eliminate fake believers or mediate with underground powers.

Or, they would ask them to eliminate internal enemies within the same sect.

These are hidden dealings that aren’t publicly known, but Isabel, with her characteristic [Sacred], can sense that something is going on behind the scenes. However, since she only has suspicions and no concrete evidence, she can’t report it.

Even if Isabel were to report it to her superiors, it would be silenced before reaching the top. The mid-level administrators would cut it off at their own level.

It’s likely that Isabel’s being sent to the Arpen region as a missionary is also related to this. There were rumors that she received frequent disciplinary actions.

In the end, Isabel would have to report the corruption within the sect directly to the Pope, but meeting the high-ranking officials of the Sacred Sect is difficult, and above all—

“So, what I heard about the Sacred Sect’s dark rumors is all…”.

“That’s correct, priestess. It’s all true.”

“I see…”

The current Pope himself is someone who acknowledges the existence of Esperance.

The man who had the elderly members of the Sacred Church expelled with the help of Esperand was none other than the current Pope, Benedict II.

The Sacred Church had already begun to rot from the inside. Isabelle, a priest, discovered the corruption within the Church and sought to reform it. With the player’s help, she succeeded in reforming the Church and rose to the highest position within it.

She didn’t become the next Pope, but rather the Saint of this world.

That, however, was still a distant future.

Isabelle seemed to be momentarily lost in thought. I would have been confused too, if I were in her shoes.

The Church she had devoted her life to had turned out to be a rotten organization from the very core. It was hard for Isabelle, who had always lived a faithful life, to accept this reality.

“…Yes. Thank you.”

However, Isabelle looked at me again. She realized that it was pointless to dwell on it.

“What is it that you want to talk about?”

“First, let’s keep this conversation a secret, okay? I’m sure you’ll agree to that.”

Isabelle looked confused for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.

“Alright.”

Now that our conversation was over, I took out the box containing the cursed artifact from the storage of my spatial rune.

I had only put it away for a brief moment, but my whole body felt numb. It wasn’t just a simple feeling.

The artifact had the following effects:

▶Cursed by the Demon: Weakened nerves, reduced mental power, decreased concentration, reduced magic recovery, decreased physical strength, reduced total magic power, physical fatigue, decreased endurance, and headaches.

[The trained body strongly resists.]

▶All resistance increases by 3%.

A strange, unfamiliar sensation swept over my entire body.

My vision blurred. I felt like I was about to fall backwards, but a warm sensation in my hands kept me steady.

“Just stay still for a moment.”

A faint prayer sound echoed in my ear.

Divine power is infused into your body.

The debuff caused by the curse is weakened.

The dark energy swirling around my body gathered and disappeared somewhere.

As my vision returned to normal, Isabelle gently placed my hand on the table.

“…Why do you have this kind of item?”

“I didn’t have it. I found it in the 3rd-grade dormitory. As you can see, it’s not something to be taken lightly.”

“No, why… no, why is this item in the dormitory?”

I raised both hands in a shrugging gesture.

I don’t know. Maybe the developer knows.

“It would be better for me to take care of this item.”

“Can you purify it safely?”

“That… I’m not sure, but I think it’s possible. Maybe.”

…Maybe.

It’s not perfect, but it’s safer than leaving it with me. In fact, Isabelle’s divine power was still lacking at this point, just as we had entered the first act.

If the Sacred Church were to establish itself properly in Arsen, the situation would change, but at least until then, I desperately needed someone to take care of this cursed box.

“Is it okay if I take care of this item?”

“Of course.”

Fortunately, Isabelle willingly accepted the role. She must be more sensitive to this matter due to her trait [Divine].

Isabel’s gaze, just looking at the trash that had been left untouched for several months, was like that.

“Well, since the story is over, shall we get up slowly?”

“Just a minute, please, Professor.”

Isabel, who had been suddenly called, stood up awkwardly.

“It seems like the debuff effect is still lingering, so it would be safer to visit me regularly for a while.”

The professor’s office was not a place I could come and go as I pleased.

“I understand, Priest.”

“And since it might be confusing to call me ‘Priest,’ please call me Priest Isabel.”

“Yes, I understand. Priest Isabel.”

“……”

The tense atmosphere that had been built up didn’t react anymore. The last time I saw Priest Isabel, she was looking at me with a pitiful gaze.

Anyway, it was fortunate that things had turned out well.

It was also fortunate that we had gained a connection with the Holy Order, which was difficult to approach normally.

This meant that we had found a way to counter the evil forces that would appear in the future. At least for today.

[Airi: Shion-sama, can you come to the dormitory now?!]

[Airi: It seems like something big has happened on this side. There’s a strange person….]

[Airi: No, no! Don’t come now!]

At least, I thought I could lie down on my bed by nightfall.

***

After Shion left, Priest Isabel let out a sigh she had been holding in.

Shion Esperanza.

He said he was a person from Esperanza, but it wasn’t a lie. Shion was a member of the notorious assassin family, Esperanza.

However, Shion Esperanza’s words were not a lie. Despite emitting a sacred power that made one feel warm, Shion Esperanza didn’t react at all.

That meant Shion Esperanza was not an evil person.

‘…That can’t be right.’

From noble mtl dot com

As someone who had seen many strange things and miracles while working at the Holy Order, Isabel had a fundamental question.

How could someone who had hidden their identity and name, and walked on this land, not have any malice?

He was a member of the assassin family, who had no blood or tears.

He was a man who had only learned the skills to harm people.

Instead, he was saving people and containing the evil spirits within himself.

This was a contradiction that couldn’t exist.

Isabel felt a throbbing headache. The conversation she had with Shion Esperanza lingered in her mind.

-As you said, Priest, I’m not a person who can act in the daylight.

-But, that’s not to say…

-There’s no law that says we can’t aim for the daylight, is there?

Was she influenced by Shion Esperanza’s words?

In the midst of her private conversation with Shion Esperanza, she couldn’t sense any malice from him.

Shion Esperanza said he had a business to discuss with her. The sealed container he handed her, wrapped in a cloth, was a magical item that ordinary people shouldn’t touch.

He handed it over to her, saying this.

-It’s not something I had, but something I found in the 3rd-grade dormitory. As you can see, it’s something that can’t be left alone.

According to him, this is something that can’t be left with Arsene.

He’s worried that someone else might get hurt, so he entrusted the handling of this cursed item to himself, a priest of the Sacred Church.

Considering his background, it’s more natural to think that he had this box from the beginning or was using it for another purpose. After all, Sion Esperanza is a member of an organization that will do anything for money.

“Priest Isabel, I command you in the name of the God of Light, Ad.”

Clang…!

At that moment, the box shook. It was resisting Isabel’s sacred power. But it couldn’t be left like this.

Isabel looked at the box he received from Sion.

It was an item that would cause great chaos if opened, emitting an ominous aura.

“Sleep.”

He quietly put it to rest, without anyone noticing.

[Side Quest Complete: The Box of the Dead]

◇ Reward: +300 Magical Power