Chapter 61: Qiu Nuoya and the Church

"The matter is still under investigation. If possible, it would be a great help if you and Igor could also accept the investigation mission." The guild employee spoke hesitantly.

However, Viktor immediately rejected the request. "Denied."

The response was completely blunt.

"I am traveling together with Nuoya, so I will not accept any mission that he cannot accept."

Qiu Nuoya appreciated having Viktor as his protector.

He really did.

But sometimes, he could not help feeling that Viktor was becoming a little too overprotective.

Still, Igor only smiled wryly at Viktor’s attitude. "I’ll go. Just in case there are more monsters like that out there, it could become dangerous."

"But are you sure you can go alone? Wouldn’t it be better to go together with Viktor?"

Despite Qiu Nuoya’s concern, Igor simply accepted the investigation mission from the guild employee.

"Don’t worry. I’ll just take a quick look."

With those words, Igor turned his back to them and left.

"Is it really okay to let him go alone?"

"If it is Igor’s strength we are talking about, even a group of Orcs would be no match for him."

"I see..."

Qiu Nuoya had nearly been defeated by just one of them.

Well, there was no way such a difference in strength could be overcome easily.

All he could do was continue working hard and improve himself.

After leaving the Adventurers’ Guild and parting ways with Igor and Warren, the next place Qiu Nuoya and Viktor headed toward was the city church.

The reason they were going to the church was because Qiu Nuoya had heard that the saintesses and her group he had rescued from the goblin cave was staying there.

One of the women he had saved was named Sherria Realight.

Apparently, she was the most respected saintesses in the church of the royal capital.

Her name was famous enough that even people in this remote countryside knew of her.

Qiu Nuoya was honestly surprised.

He had never imagined that the woman he happened to save would be someone so important.

Sherria wanted to personally express her gratitude to him, so Qiu Nuoya and Viktor went to the church.

However, the moment Qiu Nuoya arrived, he was somehow taken directly to the appraisal crystal he had used before.

"Um... What exactly is going on?"

"Now, now, now. Please don’t worry about the details."

Being separated from Viktor, Qiu Nuoya was guided into the appraisal room.

Inside, Sherria and the other women who had been captured alongside her in the goblin cave were waiting with cheerful smiles.

The cave had been extremely dark and the women had been in terrible condition at the time, so Qiu Nuoya could not remember their appearances clearly.

However, now that he saw them properly, he realized they were all exceptionally beautiful.

They were dressed in elegant priestess robes and carried an atmosphere that made them seem almost impossible to approach. Yet, completely ignoring that intimidating presence, the smiling women repeatedly urged him forward.

"Come now, come now."

Their enthusiasm was so overwhelming that Qiu Nuoya had no choice but to stand in front of the appraisal crystal.

Without understanding what was happening, Qiu Nuoya closed his eyes and placed his palm against the crystal.

Just like before, his status appeared on the parchment held by the saintesses.

Sherria stared at Qiu Nuoya’s status with intense focus.

After carefully examining it, she gave a small nod. Then she quietly knelt before him and said, "My Lord Saint, we have come to welcome you."

Following Sherria’s example, the other women around her also knelt before Qiu Nuoya.

"Huh? What? What do you mean by Saint? Please stand up."

"Some time ago, I received a revelation from God." Sherria looked at him with sincere devotion. "God told me that a special child would be sent to this land and asked me to take proper care of him. After confirming your status, I have become certain."

She lowered her head deeply.

"You must be the reincarnation of the founder of our church, the first Saint! Please come to our church in the royal capital and guide us."

"Huh?"

Qiu Nuoya blinked his eyes.

Was she saying that she was some kind of guardian sent directly by God?

He had never heard anything about that.

Still, it seemed God had not simply abandoned him after all.

But... The reincarnation of a saint?

What exactly did that mean?

"Um... I already have reliable guardians like Viktor and Igor, and I think I can somehow make a living as an adventurer on my own. So I think I’ll pass." Qiu Nuoya hesitated before continuing. "Also, I’m not a saint or the reincarnation of one. I’m just an ordinary child."

"What are you saying!?" Sherria’s expression became serious. "I witnessed everything you did inside that cave. Through your actions, I became certain that you truly possess the qualities of a saint."

She clasped her hands together.

"Besides, God’s revelation is absolute. You are the divine child who will one day become a saint." Her voice grew more passionate. "We cannot allow you to remain in such a remote place and lower yourself to the life of an adventurer!"

Qiu Nuoya was left speechless.

Seriously?

This was troublesome.

He actually liked his current life.

Having all of this forced upon him felt more like a burden than a blessing.

"By the way, what exactly does a Saint do?" Qiu Nuoya asked Sherria with a slightly troubled expression.

"A Saint is someone who teaches people the correct path and guides them. Only those with a strong, pure, compassionate, and virtuous heart can become one. Training is also absolutely necessary. You cannot allow yourself to become stained by the ways of the secular world."

Wow.

That sounded incredibly troublesome.

Not only did it seem difficult, but it also sounded extremely restrictive.

[ Hey, Nuoya. Who is this person? ]

From inside Qiu Nuoya’s clothes, Mochi suddenly popped out.

The slime had shrunk down even smaller than usual.

Seeing Mochi appear so suddenly, Sherria was startled and took a step back.