Chapter 30: An Uninvited Guest

Another gust of cold wind swept past outside, and the young priestess couldn't help but tighten her cloak. She had no idea how long she had been dozing off; the logs in the fireplace were nearly burnt out, leaving only a few dying embers. Had it not been for the sound of branches tapping against the window that woke her, the biting wind would surely have seeped into her body, and she would have been running with a runny nose by morning.

She wasn't afraid of catching a cold or a fever—she was quite skilled at dispelling such minor ailments—but if the High Priestess found out she had dozed off during her night watch, she would undoubtedly face another lecture and be punished with several rounds of transcribing prayers.

As the young priestess added firewood to the hearth, she clasped her hands toward the oak tree outside the window and said, "Grandpa Oak... please be magnanimous... forgive my ignorance... for actually... actually mistaking your kindness... The day after tomorrow, I promise to pour two extra buckets of water for you and add a bucket of fertilizer!"

As the flames in the fireplace rose once more, the temperature in the hall gradually warmed, and the Sandman once again extended his wicked hand toward the young priestess.

The young priestess slapped her own cheeks, cheering herself on: "Anna, hang in there. You must hang in there. You can't slack off just because the High Priestess isn't here... You must... Ah... Oh no, oh no... This time, the High Priestess will definitely scold me to death..."

Anna, who had just sat down, suddenly felt as if she had been pricked by a needle. She leapt up from her seat with a piercing scream.

When she had drifted off earlier, she had used the prayer book as a pillow. Half of it was soaked with her saliva, and much of the ink had already bled.

"What should I do... what should I do... This is the High Priestess's favorite book... If she finds out I was snooping... she'll definitely kill me... what should I do..." The young priestess was on the verge of tears. She hurriedly tried to wipe it with a cloth, but instead, she only made the smudge worse. "It's over, it's over... Anna, you idiot... you messed up again... The High Priestess will definitely kick me out of the church... Papa, Mama, they'll definitely kill me..."

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Just as the young priestess was pacing in a frantic circle, the heavy church doors actually sounded.

The young priestess jumped nearly three feet in the air. Could it be that the High Priestess and the others had returned?

No, it couldn't be. She had heard that the town the High Priestess visited was suffering from a plague—the troublesome kind. It wouldn't be resolved in ten days or half a month. It must be a patient; yes, it must be someone seeking help.

"Wait... wait... coming... coming right away..." Panicked, the young priestess slammed the prayer book shut, straightened her appearance, and tried her best to project an air of seriousness and maturity.

However, on her round, baby-faced countenance, this attempt at solemnity was, to put it mildly, hard to describe.

Having already opened a crack in the church door, she suddenly remembered something and slammed it shut again, saying in a flustered manner, "Wait a moment, just a moment..."

It was a good thing the person outside reacted quickly; otherwise, the heavy church door would have made intimate contact with his forehead.

The young priestess opened the small viewing window in the door, peered out cautiously, and asked, "Do... do you have some business?"

"I am an adventurer... I have come seeking help... I have a companion who is gravely injured..." the man outside said weakly, looking exhausted as if he had traveled a very long distance.

"So you're an adventurer..." Upon hearing the word "adventurer," the young priestess's round eyes widened even further. "Are... are you a good person?"

*Would a bad person call themselves a bad person?*

Gawain, outside the door, almost burst out laughing. To think that this mature, steady, and experienced fellow was so innocent in his youth. Had his name, characteristics, and background not matched perfectly, Gawain might have thought he had the wrong person.

*Hold it in, hold it in. You have to commit to the act.*

Gawain replied with a straight face, "Your door is already open. If I were a bad man, I would have rushed in long ago."

"That's true!" Behind the door, the young priestess sheepishly stuck out her pink tongue. As she opened the door, she apologized profusely, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's my first time... on night watch by myself, so I'm not very practiced... I'm sure I'll get better... Lord Adventurer, please come in and get warm... get warm... I'll go get you a cup of water..."

Mainly, Gawain was quite handsome; his slightly delicate features were quite disarming. In the young priestess's words, he "didn't look like a bad person."

"No need to trouble yourself. Saving a life is like fighting a fire. My brother is still out in the snow and ice, waiting for me to bring help. If it is convenient for you, Priestess, please bring your equipment and accompany me. I will certainly reward you handsomely afterward." As he spoke, Gawain had already stepped into the simple little church.

In the center stood a statue of Ilmater, the God of Suffering. While the exterior was unremarkable, the interior was kept very clean and cozy, with a temperature that was just right, making one forget the bone-chilling cold of early spring outside.

"Wait a moment, I'll go gather my equipment," the young priestess said, hurrying toward the back.

"Bring plenty of healing potions, and it would be best to change your gear. It's also wise to bring two sets of clothes. It is early spring, after all; though the nights are cold, the sun can be quite fierce and hot by midday," Gawain suggested, following closely behind her.

He wore an expression that said: *I am an adventurer, I know wilderness life well, you can trust me.*

"I see! As expected of a Lord Adventurer, your considerations are truly thorough." The young priestess nodded repeatedly and hurriedly found a large backpack that the High Priestess and the others often used for excursions. Following Gawain's advice, she began to pack.

After a moment's thought, the young priestess grabbed a ring of keys, opened the door to the High Priestess's medicine cabinet, and took out a combat potion belt, fastening it around her waist. She began picking through a pile of potions while muttering to herself.

"In the wild, you absolutely cannot rely solely on healing potions; potions for other auxiliary spells are also very important. If possible, you must bring plenty. We suffered this time because we didn't bring enough potions; we didn't expect one of those Gnolls to be an Abyssal Gnoll empowered by demonic strength," Gawain said as he picked out a bottle of *Heal Moderate Wounds* and downed it. His previously pale face instantly regained its color.

They were playing a part, but it was based on truth; they had indeed fought a bloody battle against a pack of Gnolls and traveled over a dozen kilometers through the night, exhausting all the magic potions in their pockets.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, truly... truly sorry. I didn't realize... that Lord Adventurer was also injured... I was... I was truly negligent. I will... I will perform... perform a healing spell for you right now." The young priestess apologized repeatedly, her hands trembling as she tried to cast the spell. In her nervousness, her habit of stuttering returned.

(End of Chapter)