How To Leave The Hero Party- Chapter 27

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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The next morning, I finished my preparations and left the tent. I had registered all the weapons I had acquired with Moonlight during the night, so my luggage was surprisingly light, just a single bag.

“Is that all you have?”

“I can procure most things on-site.”

And if necessary, I could always teleport to get what I needed.

Veronica frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with my answer.

“What?”

“You always travel so light… It’s like you’re always ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”

“You’re sharp. I do tend to leave as soon as my business is done.”

“……”

“I’ll say goodbye before I go, though.”

“…Haaah. Where’s the Hero?”

“She’ll be here.”

She couldn’t stay away for long. Claire, Leventia, and Evangeline were walking towards the paladins, who were gathered and ready to depart.

Huh? Were they all coming?

Wouldn’t that leave the battlefield significantly weakened?

“I spoke with General Leoden. They’re using their accumulated leave.”

“Ah, I see.”

Then it had nothing to do with me. I averted my gaze from the three of them, who were receiving their leave permits from General Leoden.

What I needed to focus on now was the linked event achievement.

There were two events at the Church that could only be accessed after completing the “Pale Moon” event.

The first was the “Ally of the Church” event. After meeting with the Pope and a few cardinals, I would form an alliance with them, unlocking the “Ally of the Church” achievement and the linked “Saint” event.

Of course, the “Saint” event required a high level of intimacy with the Church.

But I had to do it.

“…Why are you staring at me like that?”

“No reason. Oh, by the way, does the Church have any work for me?”

“We have plenty of work, but…”

As an ally of the Church, I could now accept their quests. I had to complete a certain number of quests and then the final event to unlock the “Saint” achievement, so I needed to take on as many as possible.

I’d use my connections to get the easy ones.

I looked at Veronica, my closest and most influential connection within the Church.

“…What kind of work are you looking for? We do offer quests to our allies. But the ones that reward holy artifacts are highly competitive.”

“I don’t mind the ones without competition.”

Just as I was close to Veronica, there were others who were close to other cardinals and high-ranking priests.

In other words, there were plenty of others who used their connections to get quests.

I could compete with them, but that would just be a waste of time and effort.

The number of quests completed was more important to me than the rewards.

“Even so… the rewards are poor, and the work is hard.”

“Do I look like someone who cares about that?”

Veronica fell silent and stared at me. I just shrugged. She sighed heavily.

“As a cardinal, I can direct the better quests your way.”

“Don’t. You’re not on good terms with the higher-ups. Don’t get into trouble because of me.”

Those quests were a part of the Church’s internal power struggle. I had no intention of burdening Veronica, so I spoke firmly.

“Anyway, I don’t mind the quests others avoid.”

“…Why?”

“Huh? Why what?”

“Why do you always take on such tasks? Why do you always put yourself at a disadvantage… Haaah. Seriously.”

What was with her?

Noticing the irritation in Veronica’s voice, I was about to say something when Claire approached.

“I’ll begin.”

As she raised the Hero’s sword, a portal opened. Through the shimmering space, a massive church was visible. Veronica stopped talking to me and looked at her paladins.

“We’re returning.”

She walked ahead, her steps heavy with lingering anger. As I looked on, puzzled, Claire tilted her head.

“Did you have a fight with Cardinal Veronica?”

“Do I look like the type of person who gets into fights?”

I didn’t even fight with you guys.

“N- No… you don’t.”

I glanced at Leventia and Evangeline, who were nervously watching me, then stepped through the portal.

Upon arriving at the Church, with its pointed Gothic spires piercing the sky like spears, priests were welcoming the returning paladins. After being cleansed of the impurities from the battle with holy water and the choir’s hymns, we were allowed to enter.

The interior, with its numerous tapestries and statues, brought back memories.

It was during the main storyline. After finishing our business in Silver Village, around Chapter 5, we had to face undead subordinates of the Demon King.

Holy artifacts were essential for fighting undead, so the Hero’s Party had to visit the Church. We had to pass several trials back then.

And I had waited here.

As I looked around the familiar corridors, Claire approached me.

“Being here brings back memories.”

It seemed Claire felt the same way. She looked around with a sad expression.

I wasn’t an official member of the Hero’s Party. So, I couldn’t participate in such events, and could only watch from the sidelines.

And back then…

I glanced at Leventia. Perhaps sensing my gaze, she looked flustered and lowered her head.

I remembered what Leventia had said back then. That I should go and do something else instead of waiting around.

I had been grateful for that. There were plenty of other things I could have been doing.

“Um… I…”

Did she remember as well? Leventia broke out in a cold sweat, her face on the verge of tears.

“Only authorized personnel are allowed beyond this point.”

“B- But I’m an ally of the Church.”

“This is a report and commendation for the defeat of the Pale Moon.”

Veronica’s voice was as cold as ice as she snapped at Claire, who fell silent.

“Let’s go.”

“Right. Ah, you guys came here to buy holy water and other supplies, right?”

“…Yeah…”

“Do you know where to go?”

I had handled most of those tasks during the main storyline. So, it was likely Claire didn’t know her way around.

The Church was vast, with many restricted areas. It was better to guide them properly than to let them get into trouble.

If they caused trouble here, the events I needed to complete might be postponed.

“…I’m not sure. Um, Hyun-woo, could you show us the…”

“Sister Opersia.”

“Yes?”

“Please guide the Hero’s party.”

“Understood!”

Veronica grabbed a passing nun and spoke sharply.

Claire, looking crestfallen, looked back and forth between me and the approaching nun, then gave a small nod.

As they left, glancing back at me, Veronica clicked her tongue.

“You were going to guide them, weren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“…You’re too soft. So soft, you’re almost a saint.”

I was just doing it for my own sake. But arguing would only make Veronica more upset, so I kept my mouth shut.

“How are you going to survive in this world, being so nice?”

“It’s not like that… And isn’t that something a member of the clergy shouldn’t say?”

A member of the clergy, one who was supposed to always do good, and a cardinal at that.

Veronica stared at me without blinking, then chuckled.

“Doing good and being used are two different things.”

“Hmm… I don’t really think I’m being used.”

“From where I’m standing, it looks like you’re being used. If someone doesn’t look out for you, you’ll be used for the rest of your life.”

What did she take me for?

“Alright, let’s go.”

The meeting with the Pope was unremarkable. It was an event I had seen several times in the game.

A report on the “Pale Moon” event, showing him Moonlight, and verifying that it didn’t go against the Church’s teachings. That was it.

“But Sage, how can you use so many skills?”

“I wonder.”

“Sage, where are you from?”

“Is that important?”

“Why do you help those in need?”

“I’m just doing what needs to be done.”

“What are your thoughts on the teachings of the light?”

“It’s good to follow them if you can.”

Etcetera, etcetera.

After a series of unimportant questions and answers, the audience with the Pope concluded. Once the Pope and the other cardinals and high-ranking priests had left, Veronica and I were finally able to leave.

“You’re never nervous, are you?”

“Why would I be?”

They were just the Pope, cardinals, and high-ranking priests.

They couldn’t kill me, so there was no need to be afraid.

“Anyway, let’s go get some quests.”

Might as well get what I could while I was here.

Veronica and I headed to the Church’s quest board, where we encountered a few adventurers.

“Well, well, look who it is! Isn’t it the Sage?”

One of the S-Rank adventurers I was aiming for smiled and waved. Uh… Wind Walker Valtin, right?

The lion beastman, wielding a single spear, approached, his mane flowing. I shook his outstretched hand.

His paw pads were soft.

“Here to take on some Church quests?”

“Hmm. Thought I’d get started on them.”

“Heh. You’re not even S-Rank yet. Why not stick to quests from the Adventurer’s Guild?”

“I’ll do those too. Got anything good?”

“We’re going to the Dungeon of Darkness. Want to join?”

“Nope.”

There were no achievements to be gained there. And while the loot was good, I didn’t need it.

“Are you going to take on those useless quests again?”

“They’re important to someone.”

The lion beastman adventurer, Valtin, grinned. Veronica, who had been watching him intently, folded her arms and asked seriously,

“Is it true that the Sage takes on quests at the Adventurer’s Guild that no one else will?”

Valtin, glancing at Veronica, nodded nonchalantly.

“He’s famous for being an eccentric.”

“Is that so… Then how about this one?”

Veronica reached for the quest board. She pulled down a rather old-looking request.

“What is it?”

“Storeroom cleaning. Holy artifacts and heretical items are mixed together…”

“Ah, that’s a good one.”

I could finish it in a day. I’d do this, then head back to the palace.

“The client is… huh?”

I looked at the client’s name and then at Veronica. She avoided my gaze and pouted.

“…Do you have a problem with it?”

“It’s you?!”

“Y- Yes! So what! It’ll go faster if you help. You don’t want to?”

“I didn’t say that. Let’s go. Ah, Valtin, see you later.”

After saying goodbye to Valtin, we headed towards the back of the Church. Past the impressive, spire-topped buildings, to a rather large building.

Arriving at the Inquisition headquarters, I looked at the large stone storeroom behind it and said,

“Since we’re here, let’s see your room.”

Recalling the area I couldn’t access in the game, I asked Veronica. Considering our current relationship, she might let me…

“No!”

“Huh?”

“Y- You can’t go into my room.”

“What’s in there?”

“Y- You don’t need to know! Trying to barge into a woman’s room!”

“Hey, you barged into my tent.”

“That’s! That’s…!”

Veronica, uncharacteristically flustered and cold, stammered and hurried inside.

Hmm.

Did she have something embarrassing in her room?

Even a member of the clergy could have some secrets.

I wasn’t so narrow-minded as to not understand that…

I thought we were close, but it seemed I needed to work on our relationship a bit more.

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