Chapter 08
What now…?
“Senpai Kae!”
“Senpai!”
Turning around, I saw two figures running toward me.
A small girl with light green twin tails and a skinny boy with beige hair were rushing forward, their eyes sparkling as they looked at me.
They were the new rookie healers.
Their names… Mika and Jadd, wasn’t it?
“Wow! You were amazing just now!”
They skidded to a stop in front of me with a squeak and continued, their eyes shining.
“Your skills put senior priests to shame! It’s incredible! How can you heal so quickly? You’re amazing! Kyaaa! With your talent, you could easily earn the title of ‘Legendary Healer’!”
“Senpai, I really respect you!”
I hid my embarrassment as I opened my mouth to respond to their endless flood of compliments, which might as well have been flattery.
“That’s not really the case.”
At my answer, Mika and Jadd’s eyes shone even brighter.
“You’re even humble…! But Senpai, you’re amazing! Perfect!”
“Why are you at Zeronia, Senpai? With your skills, you could easily go to the capital and get promoted, you know?”
The capital… The place where the heroine wants to kill me, of course.
I couldn’t tell such a thing to an oblivious rookie. Actually, there was no one in this world I could say that to.
“Hahaha, my skills aren’t polished enough to go to the capital yet.”
Jadd opened his mouth, looking very dejected.
“That’s too bad, Senpai. Earlier, the head healer said you’re too modest and that if it were you, they’d happily write a recommendation letter for the capital anytime.”
“Ahaha, thanks for thinking of me. But I like it here, so I have no intention of going to the capital. Well, I’ll be heading in now.”
As I opened the office door, they nodded and bowed politely.
“Yes, Senpai! Have a good rest!”
“Take care, Senpai!”
Watching the rookies walk away briskly, I closed the door behind me as I entered the office.
The small office, barely five pyeong in size, was the only place in the healing center where I could truly relax. I trudged inside, placed the healer’s wand I had been clutching all day onto the desk, and collapsed into the chair.
Sigh… what a tiring day.
Settling into the chair, my eyes fell on the Empire newspaper lying on the desk.
[The Helderios siblings clear the impenetrable Ascenta Dungeon!]
The bold headline on the front page caught my attention, and I couldn’t help but pick up the paper to read.
[The Helderios Duke family’s young master and young lady have cleared the legendary Ascenta Dungeon, previously deemed impenetrable, and acquired the Dragon Heart from the legends. They have pledged their loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire as powerful swords of the nation.]
It was an article about the Duke family siblings that had consistently appeared on the front page of the Empire newspaper for years.
They had steadily built their reputation by defeating enemies and monster hordes. This time, they had even cleared the Ascenta Dungeon, which was said to be full of terrifying high-level monsters and beasts.
And they even obtained the Dragon Heart… did they kill a dragon, then?
Truly, their exploits were worthy of a “munchkin” protagonist.
That’s why I can’t go to the capital.
I slammed the newspaper down and sighed.
Fear made my heart pound. The people in the newspaper were aiming for my life with their overwhelming strength.
Whenever I came across the heroine’s achievements like this, a wave of anxiety would hit me.
She wouldn’t come looking for me in this quiet backwater, though. It’s fine. Stay calm.
I took a deep breath and finally calmed myself, then opened my bag to pack and head home.
Knock, knock, knock. A heavy knock sounded at the door.
What could it be now, just as I was leaving work?
I looked at the door and called out loudly,
“Come in.”
The door swung open, and a pleasant mid-low voice filled the office.
“Kae, have you been well?”
For a moment, my eyes were blinded by the radiance. Th—this… is eye purification, isn’t it?
Seeing the man with neatly tied long white hair and red eyes, all my weariness seemed to melt away.
The effect of a handsome man! Internally squealing at my own silliness, I jumped up in delight to greet him.
“Apostle! Have you been well?”
At my words, the Apostle smiled brightly and handed me a bouquet of flowers.
“These are Crocos flowers. I picked them up on the way here.”
The flowers he said he “picked up on the way” were beautifully wrapped.
This old man… his actions are really cute.
“They’re so beautiful. Thank you, Apostle.”
As I looked at the flowers happily, his expression slowly stiffened.
“Your face is looking rough. Tsk tsk. Are you eating properly? Those damn Empire people! Working you like a mule!”
I had worked sixteen hours straight without proper meals! But I didn’t want to give the Apostle even one more worry. I forced a cheerful response.
“Nothing in the world is easy. But the pay is good, and the people are nice, so it’s manageable.”
“Still… you have to be able to trust the Empire people. Kae, if you ever feel too tired or overwhelmed, come to the temple anytime.”
“Hahaha! Yes!”
Although the Apostle always said I could return to the temple when things got tough, I knew very well that I couldn’t actually do that.
Sitting on the sofa I was allowed to use, he adopted a serious expression.
“Kae…”
The Apostle’s face was stern.
Instinctively, I knew what he was going to say next.
“Always make sure to lock your doors! Do you know how dangerous the world is these days? Today, a deep-sea monster surfaced from the sea! At the temple, I wouldn’t worry, but for a grown woman to be in such a dangerous building… tsk tsk. Make sure your doors are always locked. Understood?”
Dreadful nagging.
The day starts with door locks?
I was about to respond reluctantly, wondering what door locks had to do with deep-sea monsters, when he cut me off sharply before I could speak and continued.
“It’s not over! No matter how gentle someone looks, never follow strangers! Even people you know should be approached with caution, so imagine strangers! Are you listening, Kae?”
I gave a short acknowledgment, and he continued yelling.
“And stop drinking alcohol! Rumor has it you’re a heavy drinker all over Zeronia. Didn’t I tell you? Alcohol is poison! Poison that eats away at your body!”
It felt like hearing a parent’s scolding after visiting home after a long time. The Apostle often came by to shower me with such tempestuous lectures.
Although filled with care, endless scolding could get tiring. I smiled blankly, responding with “Yes, yes,” letting his words wash over me. But his expression gradually grew serious.
“I need to go to the capital urgently anyway. While I’m there, I’ll settle things with that minister fellow. That insolent guy! I told him it’s okay! Why is he being arrogant, saying no? I’ll make sure you get the healer priest you want.”
He ground his teeth and started ranting about the minister.
I heard the minister was the Apostle’s long-time friend, but with my lack of divine power revealed, it was nearly impossible for me to reenter the temple as a healer priest. Still, I nodded with a forced smile.
The Apostle, concerned even at my smile, continued.
“I’ve been worried leaving you here while going to the capital. I won’t be in Zeronia for a while, so always take care and be careful, Kae!”
He continued with more scolding: don’t go near areas with monsters, go straight home after work, and be careful because protective barriers can weaken.
I listened to the endless nagging storm as I saw him off, urging him to hurry.
“Hahaha, yes. Understood. You take care on your way too, Apostle.”
Waving as the Apostle disappeared, I returned to the office.
Sigh… no matter how caring the scolding, hearing it continuously was exhausting.
As I packed my bag again to head home, I heard footsteps down the hall, and a woman with gray hair tied tightly peeked her face around the corner.
“Kae, has the Apostle left?”
Freckles across her face, drooping blue eyes, a kind expression—this was Bri, my close friend from the temple and now a colleague.
She had intended to follow the path of a healer priest at the temple but found it stifling, so she became a healer under the Empire with me. She was also a good drinking companion during these long night shifts.
“Yes, he left after his storm of scolding.”
At my answer, Bri pouted and complained.
“But he takes such good care of you! That favoritism is outrageous. He doesn’t even care about me, from the same background.”
“Hahaha, once you hear the storm of scolding, you’ll forget all those thoughts.”
Bri shrugged and turned her gaze to the newspaper on the desk.
Reading the article about the Helderios Duke family twins, she said,
“The Helderios family is amazing. They defeat all the monsters, clear dungeons… oh, did you hear about the Helderios young duke? Apparently, he’s incredibly handsome!”
Of course… he would be handsome.
He was the twin brother of the beautiful heroine.
Rich, overwhelmingly powerful, attractive, and heir to the Duke family. He was adored by many women in the Empire.
So what? He’d probably just slice my throat if we met.
I couldn’t say this to Bri, so I laughed bitterly inside and played along. Bri continued, dreaming.
“I heard a monster horde appeared in Dorkan, and I hope the young duke would come there! Then I could see him immediately.”
Dorkan was a small city an hour from Zeronia, but a week’s ride from the capital.
The nearby cities could defend themselves, and the protagonist siblings had just cleared the Ascenta Dungeon, so the capital would be busy with celebrations. Why would the Duke come to this backwater?
I just nodded, not wanting to ruin her fantasy. Bri, absorbed in romance novels, dreamed of love between handsome noble heirs and commoners. If I weren’t the villainess, I might have dreamed of romance like her.
But what’s the point? It’s all pointless. Meeting them might mean losing my head.
I packed my bag and asked Bri,
“Bri, how about a drink today?”
After endless overtime and night shifts, my body and mind were exhausted. If there’s no work, it’s time to go have a drink. Right?
All the Apostle’s nagging about giving up alcohol had immediately vanished from my mind.
Apostle, did you know?
The sorrows and stresses of a working life are all cured by alcohol.
“I’ll buy.”
At my final words, Bri shouted excitedly.
“Oooh! Yes!”
