FSFSLU 10

Chapter 10

While waiting for Patrick to return, I rummaged through the standard-issue backpack left on the chapel pew.

“Money… here it is.”

The currency of this world was called Sonak. One Sonak was worth about 1,000 won in cash.

According to Old Tales, 100 coins—worth 100,000 won—could be exchanged for a single silver piece, but most people still used coins even if it was bothersome.

It was one of those settings where you could feel the author just didn’t want to reinvent the currency system. Then again, most fantasy novels weren’t much different.

Anyway, I knew it already, but seeing it in person… only 40 coins for a Holy Pilgrim. Just 40,000 won.

That was way too little for anyone about to embark on a long journey.

There was even a running joke: “The reason they send pilgrims looking like beggars is so bandits won’t bother robbing them.”

Of course, priests could always count on the local parish church for food and lodging anywhere they went. That’s why the stipend was small.

But for Isabel, the pilgrimage was just a pretense—her real purpose was something else entirely. The more money, the better.

“I-I’m back!”

Patrick returned quickly, carrying everything I had asked for. Both hands were so full he looked like he might drop something at any second.

“Hm~”

Time to check. Let’s see what he brought.

First, a pouch containing 20 silver coins—about two million won.

That was all out of Patrick’s own pocket.

Of course, I was entitled to it. Honestly, it felt a bit stingy, but it wasn’t like you could just go to an ATM in this world.

Next, ten glass bottles of Holy Potion, each carefully wrapped in cloth so they wouldn’t break.

“You didn’t slip anything extra in there, did you?”

“How could I? A potion made with holy power would immediately corrupt if poisoned or tainted—it would be obvious.”

Patrick answered in a groveling voice.

“What are the effects?”

“Applied to wounds, it restores flesh. Drunk, it cures poison, internal injuries, and fractures. If administered regularly, it can even treat serious illness.”

“How much per bottle?”

“Two silver coins each. I sanctified them myself.”

Two hundred thousand won per bottle—outrageous.

Still, considering it was a cure-all, maybe it made sense. Could it cure my illness too?

Anyway, that was two million won worth of potions.

Finally… the most expensive, most precious item of them all.

Wrapped like a long staff in cloth, but when I pulled it back, I saw a silver cross.

The Angelus Rod.

In the first round, Marcel had brought it to Isabel after she stopped the undead parade. A relic from Bishop Zeroprime.

It had proven invaluable in the final battle against the Demon King, and it was the relic Isabel had wielded the longest.

“Do you understand what it means to give this to me…?”

“I do.”

Patrick looked deeply troubled.

Handing such a relic to a mere Holy Pilgrim must have put him in a very difficult position. For a common priest, it was far too valuable. The procedures and regulations he had skipped over would’ve been countless.

Well, not my problem.

Good. This would do.

“Thank you.”

“Th-then… you’ll release the seal now, right…?”

“I can’t do that.”

“……”

Patrick dropped his head.

Sure, he had brought me everything I demanded. I had even hinted I might release him if he did.

But he couldn’t have really expected me to.

If I lifted the seal, Patrick would immediately try to kill Isabel.

Even in the moment Marcel killed him, Patrick had begged for his life, betraying not only Goddess Sunia but even the Demon King. That was how I knew—this man could never value anything above his own life.

So long as he wanted to live, he would obey Isabel.

“I look forward to working with you, Bishop~”

“‘Look forward to’… you mean….”

“I’ll be coming back whenever I need something, so be prepared. Now, please administer the oath. I want to get this over with and depart.”

“……”

Wow, look at that shocked face.

Patrick knew exactly why I’d chosen to keep him as my money source—because no one would believe me if I exposed him.

As far as the world was concerned, the Demon King’s army had been destroyed centuries ago. Patrick was a kind of second-generation demon army soldier, one who joined after the Demon King’s death.

If Isabel said, “Bishop Patrick is in the Demon King’s army,” no one would believe her. There was no solid proof, and no reason to bother proving it.

And besides, thanks to Isabel’s history of foolish antics, everyone now automatically excused her strange behavior.

If I wanted to steer things my way while hiding that Isabel was a regressor, then this reputation—that Isabel was just a silly fool—needed to stay intact.

So it was fine if only Patrick knew the truth.

I’d keep him alive, since he’d be useful as my patron.

“T-then… let us begin the Holy Pilgrim’s Oath.”

“Okay~”

Smiling at the bishop, who now cared for nothing but Isabel’s expression, I recited the oath Isabel herself should have spoken.

***

Atop the Blue Hill of Sestina stood Zeroprime, the famed cathedral.

A priest emerged, sandals slapping as he bounded down the long staircase.

A stuffed brown backpack on his back, and a long staff wrapped in cloth in hand.

Brisk, lively steps.

“Phew…”

I watched Isabel.

Flat on the sandbox of my private domain’s playground, a translucent screen floating before me.

This descent had taught me: whenever I returned here after controlling a body on earth, the sensory dissonance was severe.

Like hopping on a trampoline, then suddenly stepping down to solid ground—the body felt unbearably heavy.

Add to that the mental fatigue, and it was exhausting to even sit upright.

“Isabel… don’t trip and fall….”

My muttering never reached her. Not that it mattered—she’d start running again soon anyway.

After squeezing everything possible out of Patrick, I had returned to my room, ended the descent, and given Isabel’s body back.

The moment she blinked, she offered me a prayer. I had been nervous.

“Even if it’s the second round… is it really okay for me to reveal what Marcel kept secret?”

Marcel had hidden Patrick’s identity to spare Isabel’s feelings. But I had used Isabel’s body to blackmail Patrick. I worried how Isabel would react.

“Lord Smiel! How was my body?”

But apparently Isabel had no memory of what happened while I was in control.

“…Can you phrase that differently?”

“Did my body move properly, as you willed it?”

“Uh, yeah. Perfectly. You don’t remember?”

“It felt like I just nodded off for a bit!”

So she really didn’t retain the memories.

Good. If Isabel learned Patrick’s identity, she’d not only be devastated but probably insist on returning to tell the church.

“But Lord Smiel, how did you get the money and staff?”

“Bishop Patrick gave them as gifts. Sorry for taking the oath in your place.”

“Actually, it was a relief! I couldn’t memorize it!”

“…It was only ten lines.”

After that short conversation, Isabel was finally able to leave Zeroprime.

On the way out, she ran into Patrick, who shrieked and bolted, but Isabel just thought, “Wow, the bishop is so shy,” and accepted it.

Good. Isabel had her new quest. Zeroprime was behind us.

Time to rest a little… and then start training.

After all, you can’t get quest rewards without putting in the work.

***

Isabel stared carefully at the glowing text lingering in her vision.

• [Check Erica Rizel’s whereabouts at the Sestina Adventurers’ Guild. (0/1)]

• [Rent a one-way carriage to Tetina from a church-affiliated rental service. (0/1)]

• [Purchase ten Starlit Bloom young leaves from an herbal shop in Sestina. (0/10)]

• [Reward upon completion: 50 push-ups, 1-hour jog, 5 minutes of sprinting.]

Isabel tilted her head, wondering if she could actually do 50 push-ups, jog an hour, and sprint for five minutes.

If it were during the first round, after years of fighting the Demon King’s army, maybe. But now, back in her younger body, she’d just collapse.

Normally, she would’ve obeyed without complaint. But this time, curiosity made her pause.

The first two quests made sense.

Among the four heroes, the elven archer Erica had already been an adventurer before the Demon King’s resurrection. If Isabel could learn her whereabouts from the Adventurers’ Guild, she might be able to reunite with her earlier than expected. The sooner, the better.

Renting a carriage to Tetina also made sense—anyone heading to their next destination, the underground city “Rat’s Nest,” had to pass through Tetina.

But the Starlit Bloom leaves? That part puzzled her.

“What could they be for?”

Isabel tilted her head, then shook it hard and dashed off.

Better to act than overthink.

First stop: the herbal shop. By luck, she managed to buy ten leaves easily.

A new quest appeared immediately.

• [Purchase ten Starlit Bloom young leaves. (10/10)]

• [Divide and place one leaf into each of Patrick’s ten Holy Potions. (0/10)]

Much clearer this time.

“Ah, I see,” Isabel said aloud, opening a potion, slipping in a leaf, and resealing it.

• [Divide and place one leaf into each of Patrick’s ten Holy Potions. (10/10)]

But nothing else happened. Isabel examined a bottle carefully, then shrugged and wrapped it back up.

Next stop: the Adventurers’ Guild.

The receptionist tapped his chin when Isabel asked.

“Erica Rizel? You mean that elf adventurer?”

“Yes! Could you tell me where she is?”

“Normally, I couldn’t. But since you’re a priest from Zeroprime… I can. Though it costs a fee.”

“How much?”

“About 100 Sonak….”

Isabel handed him a silver coin without hesitation. The receptionist barely hid his delight.

“She last took a request in Grangthina, that coastal city to the west. It wasn’t long ago, so she should still be nearby.”

“Thank you!”

• [Check Erica Rizel’s whereabouts at the Sestina Adventurers’ Guild. (1/1)]

Watching the numbers tick up, Isabel beamed with satisfaction.

Two quests down. Only the carriage left.

Shops with cross signs were partnered with the church. Isabel found one such carriage depot and called out.

“I want a one-way ride to Tetina!”

The clerk flinched, pulling his hands from his ears.

“Could you… say that a little quieter?”

“One-way to Tetina!”

“…There’s a smoking area out back. Ask there.”

So Isabel wandered into the smoking area, coughing politely.

One of her old comrades, Keizo, had smoked. Isabel had always hated the smell.

“Hello! I need a one-way ride to Tetina!”

Everyone there—over a dozen drivers—turned to stare.

One, a burly, bearded man, stood up.

“Kid, you a priest?”

“Yes!”

“One-way’s 60 Sonak. But if you can fix my shoulder so it stops hurting forever, I’ll take you for 30.”

“That’s a scam, miss! His shoulder dislocates habitually—ten priests couldn’t cure that!”

The other drivers roared with laughter. The bearded man just waved dismissively.

“They’re not wrong. I’ve been to church plenty. They could only relieve the pain, not cure it. Guess it’s just my constitution.”

“Done!”

Her bright reply silenced the area.

Only then did they notice the holy light already spilling from Isabel’s hand.

“W-what…?”

“All healed.”

The man swung his arm experimentally, then whirled it like a windmill.

“No pain.”

He clenched and unclenched his fist, then grabbed a colleague and hoisted him over his head.

“Wha—Denck!”

“They always said relief was possible, not a cure. Guess they were wrong.”

So his name was Denck. He set his friend down and smirked.

The other drivers looked more amazed than disbelieving.

“I’ve suffered with this all my life. Thanks, kid. When do we leave?”

“Now!”

“Phil, Derek. Write me down as departed.”

Snuffing his cigarette against the wall, Denck laid a hand on Isabel’s shoulder and led her out.

She looked back, waved cheerfully, and disappeared around the corner before the other drivers could wave back.

Denck glanced down at the small priest walking beside him, utterly unbothered by his rough looks.

“Kid. Your name?”

“Isabel! No surname.”

Denck nodded. He’d heard some monastery orphans raised as priests never took family names, even as adults.

“I’m Dencklo Bezel. Call me Denck. Without breaks, we’ll reach Tetina in a day. With breaks, about a day and a half. You hate cigarette smoke?”

Isabel grinned.

“I hate it!”

“…Since the client asked, I’ll try to hold off. For a day.”