Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 83

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 83

* * *

It was divine fortune that we spotted the village lights not far away when we escaped from the dungeon ‘Slime Paradise’.

It was also incredibly lucky that the blade-like wind had calmed down by the time we reached the village, and that what looked like an ordinary village was packed with lodging establishments.

Until I heard the words ‘White-Robed Saint’ from the Inn Keeper.

I headed to the shrine early the next morning to confirm the situation with my own eyes.

Just as the Inn Keeper had said, there really was that shrine I had seen in 【Hirome】 on the mid-slope of a low mountain behind the village.

Standing on the mid-slope where I could look down at the entire village, I let out the sigh I had been holding back.

“In 【Hirome】, this was the village that disappeared in a landslide.”

Unlike in the game where snow-covered horizons stretched out, I pressed my forehead as I looked at dozens of houses with smoke curling up from them.

* * *

【Hirome】 Ending Number 28. High Priest of the White Palace.

As you could guess from the name, it was an ending where you became a high priest, but it was extremely difficult to obtain.

Because to reach this ending, you had to make pilgrimages to all the shrines throughout the Kingdom.

By solving various sub-quests received during these pilgrimages, you would gain divine power as a reward.

Quest 【Relic of the White-Robed Saint】 was one of those sub-quests.

[Quest] Relic of the White-Robed Saint

There was a saint who made it her life’s mission to burn away evil.

The moment the saint’s heart was pierced by a demon’s claw, her divine essence was imbued into the brooch she held in her hand.

Find the rightful successor of the brooch and carry on the saint’s will.

[Accept/Decline]

I remember the story behind the quest being quite touching, but that’s not what’s important right now.

I remembered that the young priest who gave this quest had definitely said this:

“I heard there used to be quite a prosperous village around this temple before… Unfortunately, it was destroyed in a landslide. That’s why I’m guarding the temple so lonely like this.”

A village that disappeared due to a landslide.

Since Porbett Village where I spent the night was the only village around the shrine, it must have been referring to that place.

Realizing this, I was overcome with anxiety that a landslide might occur at any moment, sending chills down my spine.

‘Let’s leave immediately.’

First, I should flee to a safe place, then warn about the landslide by making up some excuse to the lord about the unstable soil conditions of the mountain behind Porbett Village or having ominous dreams.

I had steeled my resolve and was trying to find a hired carriage to return to the villa in Shabert Forest.

But the entrance to the village surrounded by low walls was extremely crowded, and the carriages showed no sign of moving.

As I stuck my head out the window wondering what was happening, shocking news reached my ears.

“From this moment, no one may leave Porbett Village! This is by order of the lord! We are prepared to use force if necessary, so please all return!”

What…? What kind of bolt from the blue is this!

Fortunately, there were people raging on my behalf.

“My lord, if I can’t transport goods, who will be responsible for my family’s livelihood!”

“How dare you block my path when you know who I am?!”

“I’m merely a pilgrim visiting the shrine!”

A commotion broke out at the entrance that had become a scene of chaos.

I cheered them on. Yes, well done! Rage more!

Then, someone leaped onto the carriage at the very front.

It was a middle-aged woman wearing priest robes, and after briefly making the sign of the cross, she raised her voice.

“Everyone, please calm down!”

With those words, everyone’s attention turned to her.

“It’s Priest Mellio.”

“Priest Mellio! Please explain what’s going on!”

She seemed to be quite trusted by the villagers, as everyone called her name and appeared reassured.

A priest in such a small village.

She must be the one guarding the nearby shrine where the remains of the ‘White-Robed Saint’ were buried and her relics.

She spoke openly to the people who were staring at her in bewilderment.

“The village lockdown is by the Temple’s will. Even knowing that you will all suffer great inconvenience, we had no choice but to do this because…”

After briefly catching her breath, she concluded with a face that couldn’t hide her sorrow.

“Last night, the shrine’s relic was stolen.”

Her words shocked the small village.

“We judged that the thief who stole the relic has not yet escaped this village, so with the lord’s permission and cooperation, we have sealed off the village’s entrances and exits. However, everyone, if the culprit is caught, we will immediately lift the blockade, and the Temple promises to compensate for today’s rudeness and inconvenience!”

I had inwardly thought it would be no big deal, that I could escape this village using my meager authority if necessary, but I just blinked in bewilderment.

Could things get this tangled? An incident involving the Temple had erupted, not just estate affairs.

That meant no matter how much Belinda threw her weight around, unless her power reached the heavens, we could never escape the village.

* * *

The only tea house in Porbett Village.

“Sir, could you possibly carry me and Jui-bam-tol and secretly escape this village?”

To my question as I tried to find peace of mind there, Penandel answered seriously.

“It would be quite possible at night. However, I think we’d be tracked down quickly. It’s not easy to hide traces in the snow.”

Penandel’s answer made my sigh even heavier.

A landslide is already a big enough problem, but now a relic theft too.

What’s even more confusing is that in the 【Hirome】 I know, the relic theft incident isn’t even mentioned. As if it never happened.

So there are two things I can speculate.

One. It was thoroughly hidden for some reason.

Two. A new, unplanned incident occurred like a butterfly effect when I came to Porbett Village.

‘In this case, it would be the former.’

No matter how a butterfly’s wing flap could cause a typhoon, it was ridiculous that a relic theft incident would occur because of me.

Our stay in this village was an accidental occurrence.

‘But then, who exactly is the culprit that the incident gets covered up?’

As I was doing my own deduction while looking out at the village square.

Led by Priest Mellio, a group of priests wearing plain robes appeared in the square.

“These are priests who have come on pilgrimage from the Holy Empire. If anyone is ill or needs a priest’s blessing, please come.”

At those words, people gathered in small groups.

More curious about progress in tracking the relic’s culprit than blessings, we also went out to the square.

Come to think of it, I think the Inn Keeper mentioned that a high-ranking priest had come on a shrine pilgrimage.

“Jui-bam-tol, would you like to receive a blessing from the priest?”

After thinking for a moment, Leo nodded and carefully approached the group of priests.

One of the priests spotted Leo and bent down to his knees to match the child’s eye level.

Soon he recited a prayer while placing three fingers on Leo’s forehead.

I was watching the scene warmly when my body froze at a system window that suddenly appeared.

The ‘Hero’s Star’ has received a high-level blessing for the first time and acquired the ‘Prayer Recitation (lv.1)’ skill.

The ‘Hero’s Star’s divine power has increased by +10.

“…?”

Didn’t an extra zero just get added?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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