Chapter 5 – Episode 4 – Rather Than Let It Grow Into A Boss Monster, I’Ll Raise It Myself (1)
Episode 4 – Rather Than Let It Grow Into a Boss Monster, I’ll Raise It Myself. (1)
Whatever my worries, time flows on, and the scheduled daily routine of the Order approached like a predetermined sequence. At the sound of the bell announcing lunchtime, I headed to the dining hall at a leisurely pace. This damn Order has a strict policy of no food after mealtime ends.
I came to the dining hall to avoid starving to death, but somehow the smell is fishy… I’m a fool for having expectations again. Is it an unavoidable human nature to expect something even when you know it’s not going to happen? Ah, human nature is so weak.
As I recited my philosophical musings while putting the gamey-smelling chicken stew and vegetable scraps that were supposed to be lunch into my mouth, I seriously wondered if it wouldn’t be better to go back to the modern world. What’s so great about women? Food is more important than lust, damn it. I’d rather eat instant noodles and jerk off in the modern world than eat this crap for the rest of my life.
“Yurian.”
“Hmm? Ian?”
It was Irian, a knight with an androgynous charm, who was approaching while sweeping back his distinctive red hair. He’s called androgynous, but if he just grew his hair out a bit, he’d be a ridiculously beautiful woman.
…Come to think of it, this place where beautiful women are endless is better after all. Yes. Eating is something I can enjoy later when I leave the Order.
I was enjoying the eye candy as I watched Irian approach, but as soon as our eyes met, he scrunched up his face.
Seriously, how can you make that face after seeing this radiant face? Is his favorability towards me in the negatives? Surely, we haven’t become ‘rivals’ or ‘enemies,’ have we?
Irian, who approached with a scrunched-up face, crossed his arms with a haughty posture and blurted out.
“You seem to be free? Even though you know that the Saintess has a schedule to go outside the Order this afternoon. As a ‘Guardian,’ you should also prepare to ensure there are no issues with the Saintess’s procession.”
I was going to eat first, but why is he like this? Still, he’s right, and I can’t fight in front of everyone, so I nodded.
Guardians.
Those who protect the important figures of the Order.
They are the ones who follow and escort specific individuals like the Pope, cardinals, or saints and saintesses.
Along with Paladins, they are considered the most popular positions.
Both Paladins and Guardians are said to be the representatives of the Order, possessing not only faith but also knowledge, character, and the martial prowess to protect the Order from evil… In short, they’re the Order’s mascots.
Although they are both mascots of the Order, there are quite a few differences between Paladins and Guardians. That’s not important, so let’s skip it. What’s important is that I belong to the Guardians.
They chose me, who is supposed to be a being with faith, knowledge, theological knowledge, character, and the martial prowess to protect the Order… I guess everyone was completely fooled by my exemplary priest act, but I guess half of it was probably because of my looks. The other half is probably because our Saintess throws a tantrum if I’m not around, so they put me next to her to appease her.
“Understood. I will prepare everything without a single flaw, Sir Ian.”
Business mode when there are many eyes watching.
As I gave him a kind and gentle smile, a sneer appeared on Irian’s face. That’s his version of a management smile. I wish he’d do something about that twitching lip.
He’s such an easy guy to read.
It was a chore to even eat the tasteless stew, so I thought it was for the best. I gave an apologetic look to the priestesses who were gathered around me and got up, and there were sighs of disappointment from here and there.
Such popularity makes me feel proud.
I followed Irian out of the dining hall and walked for a while.
“You bastard. I told you not to be fake in front of me.”
“There were other people just now. You should manage your expression too. That expression earlier was… ugh.”
As I shook my head with a pitiful expression, the guy walking ahead clenched his fist.
His short hair swayed with every step, and the red hair, shining in the light, was so beautiful that I wanted to recommend him as a shampoo commercial model. There are salons here, but there aren’t products like rinses or treatments like in the modern world. How does he manage it?
Is this what they call heroine power?
No matter how much I look at it, I can’t understand how this is a disguise. Do people just recognize someone as a man if they have short hair and a gruff way of speaking? Are the people here really blind?
…Come to think of it, it’s better not to know. If it’s known that she’s a woman, there will be a lot of guys trying to hit on her because of her beauty. It doesn’t seem like this prickly guy would fall for that, but it’s better than having a bunch of guys around her.
I can’t wait to see how surprised he’ll be when I tell him I knew he was a woman. A smile naturally crept onto my face.
“Don’t smile, it’s annoying.”
“Yes, yes. Where are we going today?”
“The orphanage in the western district.”
Wow.
Is the Order pushing it?
The western district is a typical slum in the Holy Nation of Hespolte. Despite living in the Holy Nation, the center of religion in this world, it’s a den of all sorts of heresies and paganism, so it’s common to get beaten up while volunteering. If you’re unlucky, you might get stabbed while passing by.
“So that’s why you were so sensitive. I thought you were on your period.”
“Wha, wha, what nonsense are you talking about! I, Irian Wright, am a proud man!”
“Sure, I know. Who said otherwise?”
“You’re the one talking nonsense!”
“It’s just a joke. We’ve been together for 15 years. I know how cool Sir Ian is. Even his hair is so soft.”
I stroked Irian’s small head of red hair. Hmm, this silky texture is addictive.
“Get away! You crazy bastard! I told you not to touch my hair!”
He’s hissing like a cat, but while he thinks he’s angry, I just find it cute. But if I act like he’s cute here, he’ll really get sulky, so I have to give in appropriately.
“Sorry, sorry. Your hair is so soft that I can’t help but touch it.”
“You, you frivolous…! I’m warning you, don’t touch my hair again. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“…I think you said that last time too.”
“You’re mistaken, mistaken.”
Cute guy.
I followed Irian, who was grumbling but hurrying as if he was short on time, to the bathhouse. You might wonder why the bathhouse all of a sudden, but it’s said that you have to wash your body before starting anything. That’s the Order’s setting.
“Private room again?”
“Yes. I don’t want to be close to a frivolous guy like you.”
“Too bad. I was wondering what Sir Ian’s muscular body looks like.”
“You’re really… ha. Just don’t be late.”
Irian, who was about to get angry, sighed and disappeared into the private room. I really want to follow him, but I feel like I’d get stabbed if I did, so I should just go to the public bath.
Guardians have a high enough status to use a private bath if they want, but I don’t care about that. I’m going to the public bath with pride. Why? Because I have this handsome face, this toned body, and above all, this overwhelmingly large package.
I have to show it off.
* * *
I took a bath and changed into clean priest robes. High-ranking priest robes with a white base and luxurious gold embroidery. They look different from the plain priest robes of the regular priests.
I stood neatly in front of the full-length mirror, and wow, wow. The perfect face and the stylish priest robes combined to make me shine, shine.
It’s questionable that there’s a smooth glass mirror like in the modern world in a medieval-based world, but it’s a game world, so I should just accept it. It’s not like this is the only thing.
I admired my perfect appearance again today and left the small room.
My private room got a bit bigger when I became a Guardian, but it’s still a cramped room of about 6 pyeong (about 200 square feet). The temple is so damn big, why don’t they make the private rooms bigger, damn it.
I finished getting ready and headed to the main gate, and a group of people who were already waiting greeted me with a nod. They’re all so fast. I returned the greeting appropriately and stood next to the distinctive red-haired knight.
“You must have had a hard time polishing that white armor?”
“Shut up.”
As expected of a holy knight, he’s wearing pure white armor and a cape.
After a short while, Diana came out and got into the carriage, and finally, the group set off for the western district. I’m so grateful that they let me ride a horse as a Guardian.
The Holy Nation of Hespolte is just a city-state, but the size of the city is enormous. As a metropolis with a resident population of over 100,000, it takes longer than expected to get from the central grand temple to the western outskirts. After a boring time, the western district we arrived at was unpleasant from the outside.
Various trash and filth were scattered messily, and the houses were all shabby. I really don’t want to go in. Ugh, my clothes are white, so I shouldn’t get anything on them. Even as a high-ranking priest, I have to do my own laundry, so doing laundry is a chore.
“Protect the Saintess thoroughly.”
As I entered under the protection of the tense holy knights, it felt like I was in a gang den from a Hollywood movie. After passing through the hostile gazes from here and there, we arrived at the orphanage, which was a dilapidated building that looked like it was drawn in a picture.
I wonder how they’re maintaining an orphanage in this place, which is almost at the level of anarchy.
While the holy knights stood guard, the group, including Diana and me, hurried into the orphanage with their luggage, as per the original plan to take care of the children.
The children, who were dirty, didn’t approach easily, as if they were wary. A plump nun, who was the director, came and thanked us for coming, and Diana smiled kindly and approached the children. They finally approached, as if they knew she was pretty.
As for me… I don’t like kids in the first place, and I especially hate dirty kids, so I was just dealing with them with a fake smile.
“Oppa, oppa. Why are you so pretty?”
“I know, right? Do you know about character customization? If the creator works hard, you can become like me.”
“What’s character customization?”
“Something you can’t understand.”
“Will you come tomorrow too?”
“No. Just today, you little rascal.”
I slowly moved away from the kids who were swarming around Diana and went to a corner, and there was a little kid hiding there. What’s with him? Is he an outcast?
“Hello?”
“…Yeah.”
Somehow, the atmosphere is gloomy. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen black hair in this game world where colorful hair colors are rampant. Even black eyes?
Black hair, black eyes, and the typical appearance of East Asian people. It felt familiar and strange at the same time.
It’s a common sight in reality, but this place, the game world, is set in Europe. It’s based on Northern Europe with a mix of Central Europe.
If it were Southern Europe, there would be black hair typical of Latin people, but this place is mostly brown hair with blonde hair and blue eyes being quite common. It’s hard to find black hair, and even harder to find black eyes.
To be honest, it’s been 15 years since I’ve seen someone with both black hair and black eyes. I’ve seen black hair and black eyes separately, but I’ve never seen someone with both at the same time.
Really… It’s been 15 years since I’ve seen someone from my hometown.
“Why are you alone?”
Was that why?
It was rare for me, who doesn’t like kids, to kneel on one knee and stroke the child’s head while looking him in the eye.
Looking at him up close, I could tell even more clearly. He’s really Asian, an East Asian. He looks just like a Korean.
“I don’t know either. Why I’m here.”
He was quite cynical. He didn’t look older than 10, but he spoke like he was six or seven years older. Did he already have middle school syndrome?
I opened the child’s status window, wondering if he had a cynical trait.
【Karsilla】 ● Sprout of Disaster
▼ Status
[Lethargy] [Anger] [Frustration]
…Holy shit.
Why is the Witch of Disaster popping up here? I remember how annoying she was as a boss monster in the late game, spamming wide-area magic.
“…Mister.”
Ah, mister? Mister with this radiant face?
“Hey kid. Why am I a mister? Can’t you see this smooth face?”
“How old are you?”
“22.”
Actually, I’m not sure if I’m 22. However, when I first arrived at the temple, I asked Diana how old she was, and she said she was 7, so I just went with it. I look about that age, so I just decided to be the same age as Diana. Either way, it’s better than being a 30-year-old mister.
“You are a mister.”
“That little mouth of yours is a problem, huh?”
He’s already sneering with that tiny face. I grabbed his pouty mouth and shook it, and he wiggled, which was cute.
Hmm. This cynical and cute kid will become a boss monster in the future. …Wait. He’s only a powerless orphan here, not a boss monster in the game. Do I have to follow the game story? If I recruit him in advance, will there be a miracle where the boss monster becomes our ally?
Come to think of it, it’s not bad. No, it seems very good.
He’s a late-game boss monster, a mage type who uses magic with bone-crushing power. Doesn’t that mean he has an amazing talent for magic?
“Hey kid. Do you trust me?”
“……?”
“If you follow me, I’ll be your guardian. How about it? Good, right?”
“……Not really.”
“Okay, I knew you’d agree. Just trust me.”
“I said no.”
“I’ll go talk to the director. Pack your bags.”
“Listen to me!!”
I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you.
Raising a child! Raising a child! Haa… I’m just leading a child who will grow into a boss monster down the right path. It’s definitely not because I have other ulterior motives.
