Chapter 25 : Guild (2)

Feeling as if I had earned a ton of points by sheer luck, I cleared my throat and spoke.

“I’ll buy you dinner as thanks for lending it to me.”

“Sounds good.”

“What would you like to eat?”

“Let’s keep it simple and go to the new restaurant nearby.”

“Sure.”

Thanks to borrowing Cardinal Caria’s autobiography from Priest Ando, it seemed I could manage to endure the wait after hiring the mercenary.

‘The thickness of this autobiography is no joke.’

The densely written text on thin paper made my eyes spin just looking at it. It was a testament to how great Cardinal Caria’s achievements had been during his lifetime.

“Hmm.”

I took some time to read the beginning of the autobiography. Starting from his training days, it detailed his life, revealing that becoming a cardinal wasn’t something just anyone could achieve—it required remarkable accomplishments.

“He saved a count possessed by an evil spirit at the age of 14?”

What was I doing when I was 14?

‘I think I was studying like crazy, getting nosebleeds, just to become a healer.’

Cardinal Caria, on the other hand, exorcised an evil spirit at the tender age of 14. He was extraordinary right from the start.

The only thing we had in common was being born poor.

‘This is interesting.’

When I first saw how thick the book was, I wondered when I’d finish it. Who knew an exorcism memoir could be this engrossing?

The experiences chronicled here were so intense, they felt more like a novel than someone’s real life.

‘He truly lived like the protagonist of a story.’

If he had lived longer, perhaps he could have become the Pope. But even as a cardinal, he traveled tirelessly, exorcising evil spirits without regard for his health. In the end, he was cursed to death by an evil spirit.

He had been the undisputed best in exorcism and also showed exceptional talent in healing.

Although I hadn’t finished reading, it seemed this autobiography leaned more toward exorcism than the healing information I was looking for.

‘Still, it’s better than not reading it at all.’

Time flew by while I was reading the book.

I almost didn’t have time to stop by before heading to meet Princess Canabi.

“I’m here.”

As if she had been waiting for me, Princess Canabi spoke.

“You’re late today.”

“I had some errands to run here and there….”

I felt it wouldn’t sit well if I told her I got caught up reading a borrowed book and forgot about her.

“Has your condition worsened?”

“It’s still fine.”

Even as she said that, she showed me her left arm, which suggested that her words were more of a habit than the truth.

“Starting today, I’ll be exploring new treatment methods.”

“What kind of new methods?”

“Not just treating the symptoms—I’m thinking of probing different areas using my energy.”

“Probing?”

She seemed unable to imagine what I meant.

“You’ll understand once you feel it for yourself.”

I placed both my hands on her left arm.

“Hmm?”

From the start, she tilted her head, as if the sensation was noticeably different.

“Feels different, doesn’t it?”

“It’s definitely unlike the usual.”

Up until now, I had only touched the targeted treatment points to lift the curse, making the process quick and efficient without wasting extra energy.

But this time, things were going to change.

I was planning to recklessly pour out my divine power in search of new methods of treatment.

Without any knowledge of alternative methods, my approach might seem crude, but it was the only way I could think of to find a clue.

That was how determined I felt at the moment.

“Hmm.”

I infused her body with divine power, scanning her internally as though I was conducting a full-body examination.

In medical terms, it was like performing a CT scan.

Unlike CT scans, which expose the body to radiation, divine power only benefited the body the longer it stayed in contact.

Divine power itself was practically miraculous.

“What are you doing right now?”

Her tone wasn’t accusatory but curious.

Watching the divine power form and dissipate around my hands must have piqued her interest.

“I’m examining your entire body. From head to toe, I’m checking how far the curse has spread. It’s like a health check-up, but it’s also beneficial for your body. That’s why powerful individuals often receive periodic divine power treatments.”

“His Majesty regularly summons priests. I always wondered what they were doing….”

“It’s not a service just anyone can receive.”

It was a special privilege reserved for the key figures of the nation, an exclusive service of the Holy Empire.

Receiving this service signified that the Holy Empire regarded you as an exceptionally important individual.

“So, what’s the verdict?”

“If not for the curse, your health would have been excellent. However, as it stands, the curse is subtly affecting your entire body. Your stress levels are also extremely high.”

“Divine power can detect things like that?”

“There’s nothing divine power can’t do. If something seems impossible, it’s due to the priest’s limitations. Honestly, there’s probably a better way to remove the curse than the one I’m using. The issue is that I don’t know what that method is. It’s my inadequacy.”

At my candid confession, Princess Canabi paused before cautiously responding.

“I’ve heard before that the potential of divine power is limitless. Even mana, full of mystery as it is, can’t claim such a thing, but no one disputes that about divine power.”

The power bestowed by the Sun God upon the faithful. Divine power was a fundamental force, used in the creation of the world itself.

“With such a tremendous power, it’s only natural that it’s difficult to wield.”

“Your faith in me encourages me to work even harder.”

I decided to be satisfied with simply assessing the princess’s condition for today.

“You called this a health check-up? Whatever it was, I feel much better.”

“Since divine power essentially works like a full-body massage, the effects should last for several days.”

If tomorrow wasn’t my day off, I wouldn’t have even considered conducting the check-up.

“I hope you sleep well tonight.”

“With all you’ve done for me, I must try to.”

“Shall we turn off the lights and give it a shot?”

“You’re not busy today, I see.”

“I don’t have much time, but I thought it was worth trying. What do you think?”

She likely hadn’t slept well last night either.

“…Alright, let’s try it.”

“I’ll turn off the lights.”

At some point, Princess Canabi had stopped bothering to turn off the lights, enduring hallucinations and whispers even in bright spaces. Despite her resilience, the exhaustion from sleeplessness was clearly wearing her down.

Click.

The lights went out, and the princess snuggled under the blanket.

“Close your eyes.”

“Hmm.”

“Are you uncomfortable?”

Even though she had come to trust me, having someone near while she slept could still make her uneasy. As someone inherently wary, I was cautious.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Your body needs to be at ease to fall asleep. Stop overthinking and close your eyes. Don’t be afraid. Even if the curse flares up, I’ll take care of it.”

I whispered softly, almost like ASMR. Once the atmosphere felt right, I planned to leave quietly.

Sitting still in the dark, I began to hear faint breathing from under the blanket.

Ssshh, ssshh.

It seemed the divine power that had cleansed her body was having a positive effect. I hadn’t been certain if she would truly be able to sleep, but the steady rhythm of her breathing—a sound only heard in sleep—began to emerge.

‘I didn’t expect her to fall asleep this quickly…’

Divine power was indeed akin to a universal remedy. I found myself marveling once again at its greatness as I stood up carefully.

I worried that she might wake at the sound of my movements, but she was so deeply asleep that she didn’t stir at all.

Click.

I cautiously opened the door and stepped out, where the knights were waiting.

“Wha—”

“Shh!”

“??”

I explained the situation to the puzzled knights, telling them that the princess had finally fallen asleep and to avoid making any noise.

‘Has she truly fallen asleep?’ one of the knights mouthed silently.

I nodded. ‘Yes, so please be as quiet as possible.’

‘Understood!’

The knights’ expressions turned solemn. Knowing better than anyone how much she had struggled with insomnia, they were understandably overjoyed that she was finally resting.

Leaving the sleeping princess behind, I returned to work, focusing on treating other patients.

During brief breaks, I continued reading Cardinal Caria’s autobiography. The day passed in the blink of an eye.

At the end of my shift, I stopped by the princess’s room, but hearing that she was still sleeping, I decided not to enter.

“Where are you heading?”

“I have some errands to run outside.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

The knights assigned to protect the temple priests also ensured our safety when we ventured outside. Given my destination—the mercenary guild—I found it reassuring not to go alone.

“Thank you.”

With a knight in gleaming white armor at my side, I stepped outside.

“Where are we going?”

“To the guild. I need to place a request.”

“A priest making a request?”

“Yes, I’m looking for a specific book that’s hard to find around here.”

“Ah.”

The city was still growing, and while it was easy to find supplies needed for exploring the labyrinth, other goods, like books, were not as readily available.

“Never go to the mercenary guild alone. Even if I’m not available, always take another knight with you.”

“Is it that dangerous? I’ve never been there, so I don’t know what it’s like.”

“It’s hard to define. Some barely survive day to day, while others seem perfectly capable yet still work as mercenaries. If the latter were the majority, it wouldn’t be so concerning, but unfortunately, 80% of the guild consists of reckless individuals living without a future.”

The guild, a place where all sorts of people gathered, required a certain level of vigilance.

Still, wasn’t it just another place where people lived? While I acknowledged the need to be cautious, I didn’t fully grasp the weight of the warning.

That is, not until I stepped into the guild and saw its reality with my own eyes.