Volume 2 1 — Part 2(1/2)
A minute discussion with the person concerned was proposed by Thoria and Shin accepted, he would have to wait in the orphanage until the church closed. It was understandable because she couldn’t afford to neglect her work. Furthermore, he intended to keep the children company, too.
“Fox!?”
“It’s fox-san!”
“I want to hold it!”
“Me too!”
“Kuu~..”
The children of the orphanage were interested in Yuzuha.
Though it was bad for it to be made into a toy, he asked Yuzuha to put up with it this time. Shin intended to join in if he saw the opportunity.
In contrast to Yuzuha, the children didn’t approach Shin at all. Only Millie was near Shin.
“Although it is understandable, what is this feeling of defeat..”
“..Don’t give up?”
The consolation caused his eyes to sting.
“..Well, to be attached to a guy who suddenly came and had a conversation is unreasonable, huh?”
As for the children, their wariness was strong. They would not trust him, no matter how much he was introduced by Thoria. All the more to the orphans who had lost their parents or siblings.
“Millie doesn’t want to join in?”
“I lose.”
“Lose what?”
“Yeah..”
Though a somewhat unexpected answer came back, the point was that she was defeated by a stronger opponent.
Millie remained anxious on whether or not to jump into the group that surrounded Yuzuha.
When he thought about that, Yuzuha was not able to endure anymore. It slipped through between the children, rushed to Shin and climbed up to on top of his head. Its fur was somehow bristled up, as if it was being cautious.
“Yuu-chan, come.”
“..Kuu.”
When Millie called, after pausing a little while, Yuzuha barked and settled itself into Millie’s arms.
Yuzuha’s wariness seemed to have faded compared to when it met them the first time. And its nickname seemed to be Yuu-chan.
“With this, only I hold it.”
“What a schemer!?”
“Without effort, victory.”
“You are saying something like that!?”
She seemed to have foreseen that Yuzuha would not be able to endure it and would run away.
“Millie, you’re a frightening girl!!”
Shin retorted. In the middle of such an exchange, from a distance, the children started to look at Shin.
Now a relatively serious girl, who appeared to be the oldest, stood before Shin as he thought ‘What’s up with that?’ There seemed to be courage in this girl. She might be a child in an elder sister position because she said, “Hey boy!” And she was not one of the children who had gathered around Yuzuha.
The girl had evenly cut, grey hair that extended down to her shoulders. If the children who gathered around Yuzuha were around lower grade elementary school students, this girl looked like an upper grade junior high school student. Her green eyes were tense, with an -ask something- look.
“..Hello.”
“Hello. You might already have heard it from Thoria, but I am Shin. I am an adventurer. Nice to meet you.”
“Kua, it is. Nice to meet you, too.”
To make sure, he introduced himself again. Was it the result of her being fearless? She introduced herself without feeling pressured.
“By the way, this fox is Yuzuha. Please excuse my partner from too much whisker and tail pulling.”
“Are you the person who came to help us?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
Shin would understand if she said, “person who came to help the Sisters”, but what about the remark “us”?
“Because the Sister told us that the place here might be lost.”
“The church will be lost?”
“No, only the orphanage.”
“Only the orphanage?”
Shin, who thought the church and the orphanage were a set, was surprised at Kua’s words.
What will happen to all the children who live here if the orphanage is lost? From Kua’s perspective, it was not a nice premonition
“May I hear the story for the time being? I don’t really know the details.”
“..I understand.”
Was Shin’s determination transmitted? Kua began to speak calmly.
And, he understood several things from Kua’s story.
First, the management of this church was not entrusted to someone unless they were a priest with a certain extent of ability, and Thoria didn’t meet the qualifications. The priest, in this case, referred to a job. Father and sister were similar to the priest job, they just differed in name.
Second, when one couldn’t meet the qualification as it was, another priest would take over the management here. Apparently, the man who was the next candidate would demolish the orphanage. It was really doubtful whether the man was a real Priest or not.
Third, a relative of the former manager. In the case of identical qualification holders, the relative would be put in a higher priority for the succession order. And this was the reason Thoria pushed it to the other Sister, Rashia. If Rashia succeeded this church, the current problem would be solved.
Shin, who didn’t think that the child was well-informed about the circumstances, was a little surprised while he heard the story.
“Even so, why is that Priest not going to keep the orphanage, even though it’s the same church?”
Judging from the actions of Thoria and Rashia, the church was an independent organization that helped other people.
However, the next candidate Priest’s actions were strange in this situation.
“We hate that person.”
“What kind of person is he?”
The children behind her were nodding at Kua’s words.
He asked what kind of person he was, yet Shin was somehow able to predict Kua’s answer.
“That pig is blinded by money.”
“..Ah, yes. Just that alone is enough.”
When a child said an abusive remark, one could imagine what kind of person that man was.
Though he understood that it was rash to judge only from one viewpoint, it was unreasonable in this state of affair.
By all means, there were always corrupt members somewhere in an organization. Shin had a distant look.
“In other words, the acquisition of 【Purification】 is required so that Rashia can take over the church?”
As Els from the guild said, 【Purification】 was a skill, a very special one for a priest.
“Because Shin-nii will help, it will be all right.”
“It can’t be asserted with only this.”
He warned Millie who was full of confidence in herself.
This time he intended to teach by the original method without using the secret book. In this case, if the person in question didn’t make any effort, it would not have much effect, even with Shin’s help.
He didn’t want to use 【Secret Books Creation】, because he didn’t know what kind of significance 【Secret Books Creation】 had in this world. Besides, he wanted Rashia to get used to fighting scenes.
From Kua’s story, he didn’t think that the problem of the church would be solved just by acquiring the 【Purification】skill. In 9 out of 10 cases, the predicament was that it would become a fighting scene. Although it was likely to end when Wilhelm started to rampage.
“But, if Millie-chan said so, I wonder if it’s really all right?”
Kua muttered and Shin asked about it.
“Is what Millie says always right on the money?”
“Yes, although she seldom tells me something about when the shop is cheap or where the sweets are put away.”
“No, wait, that is something different.”
Shin worried about Millie for being seen as weird because of her good intuition, but the unexpected reply about food came back.
“Weird?”
Millie looked up at Shin.
“No, it is not weird. But it’s rather a good thing..?”
Because he thought he should cover the one he should conceal, he questioned if it might be good.
He felt that she had a grown-up mentality, which Shin thought might be caused by 『Hoshiyomi』, as she had seen various things with that power.
“Well, it’s good if you don’t overdo it.”
He said while patting Millie’s head.
Initially Millie showed a face of wondering, but she looked comfortable after being patted.
“Being patted, love it.”
Afterwards, there were children of the beast race that looked enviously at Millie, who seemed very comfortable.
◆◆◆◆
They played together for several hours while Millie broke the ice with the other children. By the time Thoria returned to the orphanage, all of the younger children and some of the older ones were inside their dreams, leaving the other children behind.
“When I see the children sleeping..”
The words she was about to say stopped. It seemed that Thoria’s strength came from seeing the children who slept peacefully. As one might expect, she would hesitate to have Shin, whom she just met today, take care of the children.
“..these children seem to be completely off guard, too.”
“That’s right, and it’s nice to see.”
There was the figure of the girl called Rashia in the church behind Thoria. She had gray hair and the same chignon as Thoria. From her brown eyes, Shin could perceive the same tension as Kua had not long ago.
“Is that Rashia-san?”
“Ye-yes! This time I hope to get along with zu..iyai”
It appeared that she bit her tongue.
“Uhm, are you alright?”
“Though she has a little careless side to her, I can assure you she will do her best.”
This was followed by Thoria who showed a little bitter smile.
“Uu, I’m sorry. It was an unsightly scene.”
“Well, let’s be at ease. I’m Shin. An Adventurer. I will instruct you in how to learn the skill 【Purification】. However, whether it can be mastered is up to Rashia-san. Don’t forget that.”
“Yes!!”
She returned an answer clearly this time. Those eyes showed earnestness itself.
“Then, let’s move on to the finer details. First of all, I want to ask you two; Do you know of a place where undead monsters with high levels appear in large quantities? If not, I will check with the guild.”
There were essential conditions for the acquisition of 【Purification】. Generally, how long it took for acquiring it would depend on the place.
“I think the famous one is ‘Wraith Plains’.”
“Wraith Plains?”
Shin looked puzzled at the name of the place that came out from Thoria’s mouth, as he had never heard of it before.
“Yes. After you leave the country, the plains are located in the north. Originally, there seemed to have been a dungeon there, but a part of it rose above the ground due to the former natural disasters.”
“A dungeon is above ground? Is there such a thing?”
historical
“I heard that there are other, similar cases, but the details are..”
“Well, since this time the task requires undead monsters, I’d say it’s perfect.”
In this case, he felt it was too timely, but decided to not to worry about it. He was saved the trouble of looking for such place one by one. He didn’t seem to have much time according to the story he heard. It would be better to start early, Shin thought.
“So, how long do you need to travel to arrive there?”
“You can expect ――”
“5 or 6 days by carriage.”
“..Ara, Will, did you just return?”
The one who interrupted Thoria’s words was Wilhelm, who had shown up at the entrance. He was carrying Venom in his hand, and was quietly raising his fighting spirit.
“Yo, I’m interfering.”
“Are you the adventurer who responded to the request?”
Though Wilhelm seemed calm on the surface, Shin knew that Wilhelm was openly prepared for battle.
“That’s correct, since I have received the rewards, I don’t mind teaching 【Purification】.
“..What did you hear?”
Wilhelm saw through Shin’s answer that the reward was not some kind of money or goods. His eyes were saying ‘I will not forgive a lie.’
Shin took a short pause and replied.
“..Millie’s title, and what kind of power she has. Afterwards, the talk of to make sure the information didn’t leak with the adventurers of orphanage alumni.
“Is it okay to put this much trust in him?”
The words were directed to Thoria.
“It’s okay. I don’t see him as a bad person. Besides, Millie also assured it. That it was all right.”
Wilhelm, who knew Millie’s power, was like “No way!” as he looked at Millie.
“..Did you see it..?”
“Yeah.”
“..I see.”
Millie’s word rendered him silent momentarily, and respond with a few words. He seemed to agree for the time being.
“Ah, did you settle the dispute?”
“Yes, since Millie said so, I will trust you for now.”
Shin could do nothing but shrug his shoulders to that reaction.
“I never thought of spreading what I heard, abusing Millie’s power or anything like that.”
“Indeed. If someone dares to do such things, I will kill that guy.”
Wilhelm told the joke while waving Venom, but his eyes were completely serious. There was a hint that the spear could be sent flying anytime.
“Mu~, quarrel, cannot!”
“Oops.”
“Uu”
Millie, who sensed the tense atmosphere, sweetly interrupted it. Wilhelm, who appeared to not be in a mood to press any further, let go of his fighting spirit.
“I’m sorry, I’ve never been a patient person.”
“Will doesn’t have the habit of patience.”
“Impatience Will-nii.”
Thoria and Rashia followed up casually. It seemed like it was more to criticize than to follow up.
“They told you..”
“You bastard..”
Shin had a hunch that if an ordinary man felt his fighting spirit, they would be completely frightened, yet Thoria and Rashia still remained calm despite being commoners.
“Well it’s fine. From the various things I’ve heard, in this case, they will receive information about 【Purification】, huh?”
“Just in case, keep it a secret from others.”
“Don’t worry. The information is about the church’s secret, it would be dangerous if someone were to talk about it.”
Others were nodding to Wilhelm’s remark. Apparently. Shin thought the church had a large influence.
“Did you put up the eavesdrop prevention magic just to make sure?..Well then, the main subject. The acquisition method for 【Purification】 is to defeat at least 200 undead monsters whose levels are higher than 150, while having the item called 【Prayer of Saint Sphere】. Because it only counts the decisive blow that defeats the enemy, I will weaken the monsters first so that Rashia can defeat them.”
“..Oi, is it true, seriously?”
“I’m serious. The truth is, obtaining the 【Prayer of Saint Sphere】 is really difficult, but it’s okay this time, because I have it.”
Shin talked about it like it was nothing.
Though he didn’t realize it, monsters whose level exceeds 150 were very dangerous existences to an ordinary person of this world. Rashia, who heard that she was required to defeat at least 200 monsters, was dumbfounded like her soul froze.
“Oi, Rashia!”
“Hahi!!”
“Oioi, are you alright?..”
Wilhelm tapped her shoulder and Rashia returned to her sanity. Besides, Rashia had no other option but to persevere.
“Oi Shin. I will also go together with you this time.”
“Yes, it does not matter, but she might be more at ease if she had someone with her whom she knows.”
If they were only 2 people, he guessed it would be severe. Shin who considered Rashia’s mental state.
Although he saw Rashia’s reaction, even if it was an adventurer in this world, it would be difficult to clear the trial Shin talked about. Shin thought he himself was prudent, but he unconsciously based it on the standard from the game era.
“Then, Rashia, try your best.”
“Yes, I will do my best!”
While Shin was thinking, Rashia somehow appeared to have recovered, too. Since she held responsibility for the church, she had to get over this.
After Rashia settled on her resolution, the discussion of minor things came to an end.
While it’s better to move quickly, the preparation time for each person was considered. The meeting place was decided to be in front of the east gate.
◆◆◆◆
After Shin left the church, the others started preparing for tomorrow. Rashia and Thoria explained to the children while preparing for the journey.
Wilhelm had gone out to purchase the necessary food and goods for the long journey.
He called out to trusted adventurers who were orphanage alumni, while at the same time, walking along the main street to buy the necessary things. It was because the Priest who tried to demolish the orphanage was not likely to make a move if someone was there.
Even if it was the adventurers from the orphanage, the people who knew about Millie’s power were limited. He had to convey all members to be on the lookout, since there was the possibility of a long time absence. While busy, Wilhelm kept thinking about a certain man.
Needless to say, it was Shin.
He met him for the first time in his favorite restaurant and shared a table by chance. Though Shin just became an adventurer, Wilhelm was surprised that Shin was talking to him without fear, despite him having Venom. Thus he was able to recall him immediately when they met again in the orphanage.
He heard that Thoria talked about Millie’s power with Shin in the church, and thought that no matter how he looked at it, Shin was being trusted too much, but he consented for the time being since Millie asserted that it was all right. Moreover, Millie said “I saw it”. Somehow, though he couldn’t say so himself, at least he was sure that Shin was not a dangerous person. Otherwise, he didn’t think that Millie would support Shin.
However, it didn’t change the fact that he didn’t know Shin’s true character.
If he thought about it carefully, he noticed that there were many odd things or spots. Especially the remark “Did you appraise it?”, and when he asked about the appraiser’s skill level, too.
Now that he thought about it, Shin’s expression at that time was like saying, “Then it is impossible”.
And then the 【Purification】 acquisition requirement. Shin said “defeat at least 200 undead monsters whose levels are higher than 150”. And then afterwards, he continued with “I will weaken the monsters so that Rashia can deal the finishing blow.” Judging from the way Shin talked, it didn’t seem that Wilhelm was included in the combat capability.
If what he said was not a lie, then that means that he has the ability to defeat opponents of Lv. 150 or more by himself. In addition to that, he was able to take Rashia along, who would be a burden in that situation.
(Did he really just become an adventurer?)
When they shared a table, he sounded like he had some battle experience before he became an adventurer, and it was not strange if the information for his skill was circulated. But no such information were found, even when Wilhelm asked the information dealer of the orphanage connection.
To be able to defeat monsters level 150 or more, the rank of adventurer would be at least B or higher. It would not be unusual if it was in the case of rank A.
What kind of person was he, that he was unknown until now?
(Possibly, that guy..)
He unintentionally stopped walking.
Words appeared in Wilhelm’s mind. Certain words that only a few people know.
Words that indicated the existence of a power that was not conceivable within the common society.
A person who had kept a lot of skills and knowledge, and deviated from the concept of level in this society, a ‘Chosen One’ as its generic term. Furthermore, Wilhelm had a deep connection with a Chosen One himself.
“A Chosen One..huh?”
Wilhelm’s spontaneous muttering was not heard by anyone, as it disappeared in the clamor of the town.
At dawn the next day.
Shin quickly finished his breakfast, and told Tsugumi that he wanted to check out of the room since he would be out for a long time. The remainder of the inn fee, which he had paid in advance, was received. Because all of the baggage was put inside the Item Box, he didn’t need packing and was able to leave without spending too much time. It was because Tsugumi didn’t want to let go of Yuzuha that he couldn’t depart immediately. Shin felt that it was the movement of a hunter who had found their prey. After all, was it because of the family name ‘Bear’? Shin guessed so.
As usual, Yuzuha rode on his head while he walked down the road where the pedestrian traffic was sparse. He arrived at the east gate at the appointed place at an earlier time than usual, probably because it was not crowded like it was in the daytime. Though Shin thought he was a little early, there was already a waiting member there.
“Yo.”
“Good morning, you are early.”
Shin replied, while feeling a little surprised that it was Wilhelm who came early and was waiting.
The way to know the time in this town was to hear the sound of the bell which basically rang at regular intervals. It was difficult to match the meeting perfectly, so either one would have to wait. The merchants were an exception because they have their own clocks, but adventurers were unexpectedly poor when it came to timing. Tsugumi and Douma said that rushing at the last moment was not unusual.
There were still 20 min before the appointed time. Shin understood that thanks to the game system. Somehow, he regretted that he went out too early.
“Are you always this early?”
“No, I just want to confirm one thing before departing. Just follow me for a moment.”
Shin was at a loss at Wilhelm’s frightfully serious look. He followed after Wilhelm while thinking, “What’s the matter?”. Yuzuha was still relaxing on top of Shin’s head. It didn’t seem to feel the danger in particular.
“Come to think of, where is Rashia?”
“She was asked for a trivial errand. She will be late.”
It looked like he didn’t want to be asked by Shin about Rashia somehow.
They began to walk for several minutes. Wilhelm stopped in front of a certain shop.
It looked like a restaurant judging from the signboard. The signboard had a glass and a spoon combined drawn on it.
After knocking on the door three times at fixed intervals, Wilhelm opened the door. The inside of the shop was dim, but the brightness was kept at a level where it was not inconvenient to walk. Three tables, five counters seats and a bottle of sake were displayed in an orderly manner inside the shop as they entered his sight. And then, a bartender polishing a glass.
It appeared that this shop was like a bar.
“Sorry. I’m going to borrow this place.”
“........”
The bartender nodded at Wilhelm’s words, opened the back door and left the shop. He should have noticed Yuzuha, but didn’t say anything. Shin thought on whether animals were going to be declined due to hygiene, but it seemed to not be a worry about in this world. He might have thought that Shin was a tamer in this case.
“Someone you know?”
“It’s one of the orphanage connections. Didn’t you hear about such fellows from Thoria?”
“Oh. The bartender from a while ago is an adventurer?”
“Something like that.”
The two of them were chatting while standing, before sitting on a seat in front of the counter.
Then, Wilhelm suddenly began to talk.
“I want to confirm one thing. Are you a Chosen One?”
“..What, is that?”
Shin asked back as he had never heard of those words in his memory, while tilting his head. The reason for his slight pause was due to him trying to search his memory for that title by the name. However, there was no title called the ‘Chosen One’ as far as Shin knew.
“You don’t know?”
“No, not in the least.”
“........”
Wilhelm observed Shin’s state after he replied, and began to talk calmly after a short time.
“A chosen one has skills and titles since birth, and they have knowledge that is not supposed to be known. The person himself has strength not conceivable for their level.”
“Since birth? You don’t say! Did the baby talk or fire some magic?”
From Wilhelm’s speech, Shin imagined the mysterious phenomenon of a baby being able to talk due to a restart from reincarnation, which he read about occasionally in web novels.
“I’ve never heard of such a story. Instead, there are numerous stories, such as a boy with a single digit age killing a Tetra Grizzly with his bare hands, or suddenly being able to use a secret skill.”
“A person strong since birth, huh? How should I say, like normally being branded as a monster.”
Though the ability was influenced since birth, it was strange to acquire skills and knowledge from the beginning. Though it depends on the point of view, the dwellers of this world surely have said such thing to a chosen one.
“With all of that knowledge, does the Chosen One have the memories from their previous life?”
“No, mostly item and monster knowledge, but the story of a fellow who remembered their past life is unheard of.”
“I see.”
While hearing Wilhelm talk, one possibility popped up in Shin’s mind.
(Several skills can be used from the beginning, has a title, and the ability is high..could it be, the reincarnation system is still functioning?)
Originally the reincarnation was conducted in the temple inside THE NEW GATE, so a start over for a baby inside this reality world was not that strange. He couldn’t deny that there was the possibility that he would be born normally in some family if it could happen.
It depended on the reincarnation frequency, but there were a lot of reincarnation benefits, such as titles and skills inheritance, bonus stats, and so on. Shin thought that this possibility was the highest if he overlooked some of the contradictions.
However, the place where the temple was became a danger zone because of the monsters, so it was hard to enter now, and the confirmation seemed to be difficult.
“Do you happen to know about it?”
“Yes or rather no.”
Shin was at loss for that answer.
He himself had reincarnated too, but that was the story in the game, and one was not reborn as a baby like in this world. But the ability of Shin might only be explainable as the chosen one to the humans in this world. In addition, it was not possible to make an excuse that his abilities were high because he was some long life species, since Shin stuck to being a human in the guild.
He didn’t know whether Wilhelm would believe him if he spoke honestly, and even if Wilhelm believed it, Shin would be in trouble. Since High Humans were sup-->>