'Deliver 100 Elixirs and Rank Up!'
That was the kind of request posted at the adventurer's guild.
Were they still short on potions, I wonder?
Or maybe there'd been a mass casualty incident somewhere?
Well either way, it sounded super easy.
I cheerfully handed over the 100 elixirs I'd been carrying, successfully ranked up, and made it to Gold.
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And then I found myself surrounded by a whole bunch of church people.
Clerics, and knights—whether they were Church Knights or Holy Knights I had no idea, but they were armed with swords and looked like they were about to lunge at me any second.
Among them, the elderly priest who seemed to be the highest-ranking one spoke up.
"We are from the Holy Misery Church. You're the adventurer Alan, yes? Serve God alongside us, or depart to God's side—choose one."
For some reason, they were trying to force a religious conversion on me.
After I'd delivered the 100 elixirs, there'd been an additional request to transport them to the church, so I'd brought them here—and that was how this whole thing came about.
So religion exists even in another world.
It's kind of weird, isn't it? Religion running rampant in a world where magic exists.
I always assumed it was just a convenient setup light novels used to create villains.
"Huh, wait—why would I serve God?"
"That was a few months ago…"
The leader-type priest, who looked like he was approaching advanced old age, began to recount the tale.
This is starting to sound like a long story.
Is this about to be a flashback?
"A stampede regularly occurs in the town of Fandantal. Many adventurers are left injured. Then we of the Holy Church of Misery appear on the scene in style, healing them up. They weep with gratitude and make offerings to our god for years to come. Those whose faith is lacking pay their contributions in installments."
So you basically show up uninvited, heal the injured adventurers, then size them up and bleed them dry with extortionate medical fees, right?
"That was supposed to be the plan, but for some reason this time there was hardly anyone who needed healing."
Oh really.
"Just a few days later, one of our brothers was about to treat a poor woman's mana deficiency when someone else cured her for practically nothing, and we were unable to fulfill our duty of loyalty to God."
I see.
So your price-gouging fell through.
"After that, a certain inn in the royal capital caught fire. But the people who were injured were bathed in a wide-area healing light that cured even their old wounds."
Mm-hmm.
Didn't even get a chance to show up that time.
"In short, this means there is an excellent healer out there who treats people for free because they are ignorant of the divine glory of our god."
You just said the quiet part out loud.
Free of charge, huh — so basically they're interfering with your business.
Isn't this the same as a black guild panicking because someone's encroaching on their turf?
"Therefore, it is highly likely that this person possesses advanced healing magic or has a massive stock of healing potions. That is why we posted the elixir delivery request. And the fool who fell for it is you!"
Was I... the fool...?
"I never expected you'd be this easy to find! Now then, if you're willing to serve our god just as we do, we'll forgive your past transgressions. Together, let us wring offerings from the foolish masses!"
This group totally seems like the type that would sell indulgences or something.
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Episodes 28, 33, and 42 served as foreshadowing for this story.
Episode 28
Episode 33
Episode 42
Skills: [Reverse][Divine Eye][Sword God][Phantom Thief Gentleman][Dark Magic][Rock-Iron Magic][Holy Magic][Space-Time Magic][Scorching Magic][Freezing Magic][Magic Hand][Sedation][Pain Dampening][Complete Status Abnormality Resistance][Flame Spirit's Protection][Phantom Demon][Gale and Thunder][Dark Spirit's Protection][Monstrous Strength and Divine Force][Thunder God Sword][Great Luck][Clear Storm Magic][Humility]
Rank: Gold (Alisa: Gold)
Thank you for always reading! 😊