SNBF 05

Chapter 05

Even in this hovel of a shelter, which already felt like a prison, there were things that made it feel even more like one.
They were the people sprawled out on the lawn, chatting noisily.
It was as if they hadn’t seen sunlight in ages and were reluctantly forced onto the grass.

“Phew…”
I tensed and picked the group that seemed the easiest to approach.
Two older men and one woman.

“Oh my, hello. I’m Dorothy, it’s my first time here today.”
“Huh? Ah, that young lady. Nice to meet you.”
“It feels strange being here for the first time. I hope you’ll take care of me.”
“Oh, we’d be glad if you’d play along with some old folks like us.”

Their laughter seemed genuinely kind. Perfect.
I naturally slid in between them and sat down.
The three vagrants made space for me. They were today’s target.

“With His Majesty the Emperor’s ascension, the world is changing. If you’re someone who wandered the streets, isn’t the Emperor’s rule a welcome change?”
“Oh, of course.”

Even though I joined the conversation, it continued smoothly.
They didn’t seem shy around strangers.
I observed carefully.

[Agasa, who here has the deepest worry?]
[Look at the woman’s legs, Dorothy.]

I shifted my gaze and was startled. Near her legs, a dark, smoke-like haze clung stubbornly.

[What’s wrong with her legs?]
[Dorothy, you notice. Yes, that’s right. Something bad is…]

Despite her kind smile, the woman’s complexion was terrible.

[What should we do, Agasa?]
[Her skin is starting to rot and decay… Her belongings. That’s the problem.]
[What?]
[Something sinister, something evil is with her!]

Sinister…?
Could it be like what my mother occasionally said, “That household needs the persimmon tree in the yard cut down!”?

Perfect timing. If there’s something “sinister,” its effect would be visible.
I could help someone in need while boosting my reputation. Two birds, one stone.

Agasa gave me all the crucial information, and I organized it in my head.

“Miss Lynette, is your leg alright?”
Having roughly assessed the situation, I spoke to her in a concerned voice, remembering to use the name Agasa had given me.

For a moment, the three fell silent.

“Did you… say your name?”
“Does it show that my leg hurts?”
“No, how would I know while you’re sitting? You look fine.”

The three whispered among themselves, then looked at me.
Curiosity shone in their eyes.

“It must be hard, with all doctors saying the cause is unknown.”
“What? Did the doctor tell you?”
“Oh, my skin is blackening and rotting, I can barely sleep.”
“What? Lynette, it’s gotten that bad?”

Lynette’s pupils dilated. It seemed even her friends didn’t know.
Good. This was perfect.

I crept closer to Lynette on my knees.
At the same time, I quickly asked Agasa,

“Miss Lynette, would you like to come to my room for a moment? I have something important to tell you.”
“What? Why?”

Having guessed most things so far, she seemed uneasy; her eyes wavered.
“I need to talk about a red stone…”

Lynette had found a fake ruby at a tavern and kept it secret, cherishing it. Unfortunately, it was filled with bad energy.

“…th-that’s…”
Lynette stammered, glancing at her friends, afraid her secret would be exposed.

“Or should I tell you here?”
“I-I’ll go. Let’s go.”

I needed to handle her personal situation more deeply to unsettle her slightly.
She nodded obediently, a face full of shock and embarrassment.

After much persuasion, Lynette reluctantly threw the fake ruby into the flowing river, and within a week her complexion improved.
The woman, who had limped due to an unknown disease, now walked energetically with a clear face, astonishing everyone.

Since each vagrant had some illness, everyone asked her about it.
She followed my instructions and gave the correct location each time.
“Thanks to the saintly Dorothy in Room 3, Second Floor.”

I resolved the various small and large worries of the visitors.
Even those whose problems weren’t solved would visit for fun, only to be amazed at my accuracy.
They went on to tell others, and soon most people in the building called me “the saint,” filling my week with appointments.

[This is the first time I’ve seen someone solve personal matters one by one. Priests don’t get such detailed information. Only Dorothy could do this. Brilliant idea—helping people and raising your reputation.]
[Indeed. I never thought I’d use this method myself.]

Agasa was fascinated and pleased.
Even though it resembled the shamanistic work I disliked, I didn’t feel bad.
Seeing people freed from suffering gave me satisfaction.

[It’s a relief that people feel better after visiting.]
[Yes. It might take longer to reach the goal… but I’m satisfied.]

Agasa was right. That satisfaction made me nod slightly.
Certainly, this method would take a long time to reach the Emperor.
To create fame strong enough to act as a “shield,” I needed to impress more influential people—not just the vagrant shelter.
For example… nobles, priests in the capital.
I felt stuck thinking of a method.

“Uh, Saint Dorothy.”
“Oh. Yes.”

One of the residents approached me.

“Some people have come after hearing rumors.”
“Who—”
“Step aside. Is this the girl?”

Before the woman could finish asking, she was shoved aside.

“Eek…!”
“Are you okay?!”
“You’re the saint?”

Three men appeared, pushing the woman to the ground.
The man in the middle had the best clothes I’d ever seen in this place.

[Such insolence.]
Agasa’s warning to avoid harsh words echoed in my head.
My anger boiled.

“My wife is difficult, and I want to calm her down. If you could silence her, that would be good… or make her gentle. Can a saint do that?”
“…What?”

Judging by his clothes, he was the guest I had hoped for.
I hesitated.
‘I don’t want to help, but what if he’s my only chance?’

“Why no answer? Tch. I had to come to this filthy place myself. Let’s finish this quickly.”

But seeing the contempt in his face as he scanned the shelter made me furious.
He barged in, shoved people, didn’t apologize, and looked down on their home.

“I won’t take that kind of request.”

I steadied my patience and bent down to help the woman up.
At that moment, the bulky man next to his ugly mustache grabbed my arm.

[That insane guy—]
Agasa’s curses continued.

“Are you ignoring me while I speak?”
[Dorothy! That man… that bastard! He got his title thanks to his wife’s family, but was caught cheating. He tries to silence his wife so her father doesn’t find out and keep his title. That bastard—]

Ah, I see. That explained it.
I glared at the ugly mustache.

“You. Not afraid of your wife, but afraid of your father-in-law? You think silencing your wife will fix everything?”

His face went pale.
“You came to me because you didn’t want to fail, right?”
“Of course not! What nonsense!”

He panicked and patted the shoulders of the two burly men beside him as if to order them to intimidate me.
Acting surprised at being caught was foolish.

The burly men stepped forward.

[Where do they think they’re going! Ugh. Don’t worry, Dorothy. Through you, I can use divine power—]

“You think no one but your wife will know your sins? Foolish and naive.”

Agasa was mumbling, but my irritation forced my words out.

“Now, catch them. Silence them.”

The man holding my arm tried to drag me.
But I didn’t move.
I just watched as he fell backward.

“Huh?”

The two burly men fell one after another, and the mustached man collapsed with a scream.

“What… is this?!”

All three lay on the ground, restrained as if by an invisible force.

[Hmph. Who dares touch our Dorothy.]

My sister… is pretty tough.