Forsaken Priest of the Hero's Party-Chapter 6: Candle of the Sanctuary

Humans are beings who need time to adapt to new surroundings.

Someday, I’ll hold this child’s hands and go with her to the market district and buy what she wants, but for now, I bought the child’s clothes myself. Now, I’ll have to admit, it’s somewhat embarrassing for me, a grown man, to buy clothes for a little girl.

My Lord. While I don’t know why He chose me, and why He continues to give me His strength, it surely must be because of His expectations for this foolish servant.

When I think about whether I’m properly meeting those expectations, I just feel ashamed.

“...Sir? You wish to buy a little girl’s underwear...?”

The lady at the clothes store had a strange expression on her face, but I wasn’t embarrassed at all. Really.

*****“Please cut about six geun1of good quality pork. Only the meat, not the innards.”

“Aint that too much for a single lad like you? Also, since you only want the meat, it’s going to cost you more, is that okay?”

“Hm...Then make it seven geun and mix the innards. I’m taking care of a child with quite the appetite, you see.”

My little wolf may be quiet, but she has a bottomless stomach.

Perhaps it’s because the slavers starved her since every time she saw meat, she would lose her mind and eat until there was nothing left. Thanks to that, my wallet is emptying at a fast pace, but I’m not worried.

Because it was the Lord himself who sent the child my way.

If I cannot shoulder the costs of raising her, He will help me. While money won’t fall from the sky, an opportunity to earn money will show up.

“Aren’t you hungry? Let’s eat.”

“......”

The child looked at me as if she wanted to say something,

But when our eyes met, she quickly lowered her head.

Still, I offered a simple prayer seeing the child who would only approach me when hungry show some agency. I prayed while looking at the eternally burning candle on the table.

“...Who are you praying to?”

“To my God.”

Maybe she was curious since I pray before every meal.

It seemed like she asked without realizing it herself. So I answered her with a casual tone.

A smile found its way towards my face. Thanks to the Lord’s blessings, I was able to talk to her for a bit.

“...Does God really exist?”

“Of course. He’s always watching over me.”

“T-Then why...Why does He...”

The child tried to speak but stopped. She forcibly swallowed the words she was about to say.

But I know what she’s trying to say. It’s what nonbelievers always say.

-If God exists, why is the world like this?

I don’t think disbelief is a bad thing. If even God Himself doesn’t need our faith, what right do I, a mere human, have to criticize this?

-If God exists, why doesn’t He save me?

-Why doesn’t He help me?

But if you’re going to deny God’s existence, or belief in Him, do it until the end.

When things are good and everything is going well if you think it’s just thanks to your ability and yourself,

and only seek God after things get difficult and hard, then not just God, but no one will help you.

Moreover, the One I serve is not someone who directly intervenes in the world.

He merely watches humans overcome hardships with their own strength.

Even when he gives a little push, when we put in the effort, He won’t make our problems go away.

My Lord respects our free will.

After all, if everything exists and happens because of His will, what meaning would humans have in such a world?

However, if the world revolved around the consequences of Human actions, then people should also bear that responsibility. Because freedom comes with responsibility.

“The Lord doesn’t exist to help us Humans.”

He exists so that Humans may help themselves.

“So, don’t give up. Do not discard your Hope.”

As I said this, I made the holy cross sign. Even if all my faith doesn’t benefit Him in the slightest,

I still serve Him of my own free will.

“Should you do so, that Hope will guide you.”

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

“Hope...”

“The God of Hope is everywhere, child. Whether you serve another Divine or not, if you don’t let go of yourself and don’t give up until the end, you’re already believing in Him.”

After I spoke, the child stayed silent as she ate. After finishing her food, she got up from her seat timid as usual. She hesitated before running to her room and said,

“Roka.”

How much did she agonize to say that one word? And how much did she struggle?

Knowing that, I just smiled.

“That’s my name.”

I now knew the child’s name.

*****Until a person adapts to their new locations, it’s normal for them to display a certain fear of the unknown, and be emotionally distant.

When this happens, it’s better to keep your distance and wait rather than forcibly approach them.

The child who usually stayed in her room, the only space in the house that was ‘hers’,

The child who only came out when I gave her food, now started to wander around the house.

Although she still hesitated when around me.

But her fear had noticeably decreased.

Other than that, things stayed the same. During the day, I would venture to the Market District, and after it, I would watch the barley I planted in the winter grow, sometimes I visited Mr. Rubert’s house and enjoyed his company for a few hours.

However, for about 2 hours a day, I would help those in need.

I didn’t receive money, or goods for my help. I simply shared the power the Lord granted me with those in need.

Whether they be rich merchants or poor commoners, I treated them all the same.

Even if they offered to give me something, I refused everything. And it wasn’t because I feared the Trinity Church.

My works, in the end, are something only possible due to God’s grace.

It’s not something that can be sold for money. At least that was my belief.

Even Roka, the child whom I welcomed in my house because it was the Lord’s will.

“Hello? Could this be Kyle’s Clinic? I heard this place could cure diseases even the Temple couldn’t.”

“Indeed, this is the place, may I ask if you’re a patient?”

“W-Well...I think my tooth is rotten...”

Judging by the fancy clothes, this person seemed to be a noble.

Ironically, Nobles are most prone to having such ills, since their easy access to sugary treats increases the chances of having bad teeth.

Cavities are a serious problem. It’s not incurable, but not just anyone can treat it.

The common way of treating cavities is to remove the afflicted tooth. Then a priest with strong Divine Power would regrow a new one.

However, this process is not only incredibly painful, but it’s not every priest who could use that level of Divine Power.

One would need at least a Bishop-Level priest of the Trinity Church for it, and such a high-level priest wasn’t readily accessible even to nobles.

“C-Could you possibly cure it? I heard you’re not a priest who serves the Trinity, but if it’s impossible, I’d like you to tell me in advance.”

“With the Lord’s help, I can cure you. There’s no need to remove the tooth as well. I have experience treating such problems.”

Parnell, the Party’s mage had a sweet tooth.

Thanks to that, I gained a lot of experience in healing cavities. And I can safely say, those things are scary.

The first time this happened, Yurinel and Lucia just agreed simply pulling the tooth out and growing a new one, as usual. But I tried funneling my Divine Power just in case, and I was able to completely heal it.

All thanks to the Lord’s grace.

The probability of cavities stopping and the decayed parts healing on their own was...Close to zero. The changes were so small that it wouldn’t be strange to call it impossible.

Regardless, through God’s power the logic of such probability is rejected,

And through his might, a new possibility was brought forward.

“Wow, my tooth is healed! Without any pain! W-What are you? Even with this level of holy power, why are you healing commoners and the poor? It wouldn’t be strange for you to become the exclusive healer of the royal family!”

“I’m not that great.”

“Nonsense! Even the great priests of Hillai couldn’t do it...”

Only after he looked around did he continue. In a much lower voice.

“Even they wouldn’t be able to do this. Unless they’re a saint.”

The noble made an offer,

“Why don’t you work for me? Maybe if it’s you...You could heal that person...Hmm...”

“Who?”

“I’ll tell you if you accept my offer. However, I cannot say any more than this right now.”

“That would be difficult right now, and I’m not as great as you think I am.”

I answered while lighting the ‘Candle of the Sanctuary’ in the center of the clinic.

In a situation where I have a child to raise, and where there are people who come to see me every day, I couldn’t break my schedule and go to heal someone I don’t even know.

“Then, if that person comes here, will you heal them?”

“This place doesn’t discriminate against those who come. That is my God’s will.”

“I understand. Then I’ll ask again on that day.”

The nameless man left, leaving only incomprehensible words.

I just prayed. Feeling the cold winter end and the spring breeze begin to approach.

1. 1 geun (근) - a Korean unit of measurement equivalent to about 600 grams.