Chapter 26 : The Price of Power

“What? Today?”

“Yes.”

A proud smile spread across Teresa’s lips as she looked into Iris’s sparkling eyes.

Passionate people have a way of energizing those around them.

“I like that passion. Well, since we don’t have any clients for exorcism today… shall we head straight to my place?”

The two got into Teresa’s car and drove to her home.

On the way, they encountered a biker gang and ended up in a chase, leaving dramatic drift marks on the road.

The gang had underestimated the two, thinking they were just an old woman and a young girl, but ended up crashing into guardrails, creating an explosive show like fireworks.

Then, while taking a short break at a rest area, a petty thief tried to break a window with a rock to steal the car, leading to a close-quarters fight.

Teresa launched one thief’s head like a beach ball with a kick, and twisted another’s head with her bare arms.

Blood splattered everywhere around her.

“You picked the wrong opponent.”

Leaving behind the now blood-soaked rest stop, Teresa got back into the driver’s seat, patting her lower back.

The shattered windows let the wind blow freely inside the car.

“Nice and breezy. Ugh, my back. I couldn’t transform in time, so I had to fight them as I was. My back’s aching. I need to put on some pain patches when we get home. Shall we get going?”

“Y-Yes….”

Iris, sitting in the passenger seat, trembled and nodded repeatedly.

She had witnessed the entire scene from beside Teresa, unable to do anything.

She felt incredibly lucky that Teresa was on her side.

After leaving the now-ruined junker of a car at an auto shop due to the thieves, they finally arrived at Teresa’s house.

After a quick meal and a short break, Teresa stood up with a groan.

“Ugh, I almost forgot. I need to send the loot to the exchange.”

“Oh, right! I forgot too.”

They each deposited their loot into what looked like a well-shaped gate.

A message appeared before their eyes.

Virgin Brigade, you’ve achieved a new feat.

[Achievement: Cleared the park of rampaging monsters.]

You’ve cleaned up a public park that was in chaos.

Your reputation has increased.

With a higher reputation, you’ll be able to open the Secret Shop.

‘Huh? A secret shop? So that’s the benefit of high reputation. That means I could buy items there, right?’

Iris’s honey-brown eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky.

A shop that could only be accessed by accumulating reputation—if she guessed right, perhaps it was a place where reputation could be used like money.

Even if it wasn’t, a secret shop was bound to have rare goods unavailable elsewhere.

That meant getting stronger faster, and taking down villains sooner.

‘Good. Getting stronger means surviving. And getting rich! I’ll work even harder.’

Then something happened that made the already-excited Iris even more thrilled—money had been deposited into her account.

The amount was what she’d usually earn after two weeks working part-time at a bakery, all at once.

‘This is insane. It’s like winning the lottery! At this rate, I’ll be rich in no time. I can buy gear with the fame, take on more missions… the stronger I get, the less likely I am to die, and then—!’

Imagining herself rolling around on piles of cash, Iris blushed and waved her hands.

“Teresa-senpai, I got a ton of money!”

“Don’t be surprised yet. If you get stronger and start taking on harder missions, you’ll earn even more. But still, for really dangerous missions… you should think twice.”

“Y-Yes. Haah, but what should I do? Now that I’ve had a taste of money, I want to do every mission on the app!”

“No, no. Don’t get carried away. Remember, this money is the price of your life.”

The price of her life… That word was like a bucket of cold water.

Right.

This wasn’t free money.

She had bet her only life to earn it—she couldn’t forget that.

After finishing up with the exchange, Iris learned from Teresa how to buy potions.

They ordered a few from the app’s shop, and when they marked the gate location on the map, the potions popped out moments later.

Iris quickly grabbed them, though a few rolled to the ground.

Thankfully, they were in specially-made bottles that didn’t break, so no loss there.

She felt proud for a moment—but seeing her nearly-empty bank account again, her shoulders slumped.

“Potions are pretty expensive.”

“Of course. They’re special items… that’s why the exchange gives you a lot of money, so you can buy those.”

“I see….”

Now that she was making money, she couldn’t keep mooching potions off Teresa.

From now on, she’d have to cover those costs herself.

That meant completing harder missions and still having money left over—only then could she get closer to becoming rich.

‘Is it bad for a hero to think about money? Who cares. It’s like fishing while catching crabs. Even if heroes are supposed to have a sense of justice, I can’t be poor and burn with justice at the same time.’

After buying potions, Iris immediately pestered Teresa to teach her a skill.

Though she desperately wanted to go home and rest after all that, she knew that slacking off would only delay her growth.

And if she tried to be a hero half-heartedly, she might end up dead and really resting.

For Iris’s training, Teresa transformed again and shook her head.

A hint of hesitation showed on her face.

She had said she’d teach her, but wasn’t confident Iris could actually learn the skill.

“Hmm. I’ll be honest. Even if I show you my skill… I’m not sure if you can learn it.”

“Just show me! I won’t know if I can unless I try.”

“All right. But don’t get too discouraged if it doesn’t work….”

Teresa placed a hand on her forehead, seeming deep in thought, then got into stance.

She showed her basic skill, which she used whenever she attacked monsters.

Whoosh!

The sound of wind slicing through the air, and the feathers she launched embedded themselves in the wooden dummy in front of them.

She turned and shot at a stone Buddha statue next, and the feathers lodged into its gentle stone face.

Clearly, Teresa wasn’t a Buddhist, even if she lived in a repurposed temple.

‘Feathers sharp enough to pierce stone! If I could learn that… My claw and chain attacks are a bit weak for ranged use. They only have reach, not impact. But that one…’

She wondered how she might acquire the skill.

As she thought that, a welcome message popped up.

You can learn the skill of the Eagle Woman.

She hoped the skill would be compatible with her bracelet.

As always though…

This skill belongs to <Virgin Brigade>. Would you like to learn it?

‘Huh? That skill name’s kinda weird. Is that a typo in the system message? Whatever—just learn it!’

After a moment of hesitation, Iris chose to learn it.

The name was odd, but she assumed it was just a display error.

As soon as she confirmed, a new skill appeared in her status window under the <Virgin Brigade> category, and a message popped up.

Iris frowned as she read it.

You have learned the skill.

Although originally incompatible, it has been permitted, and the skill has been adapted for your use.

You can now use [Crotch Feather Shot] LV.1. Practice it before you forget to make it yours.

‘What the…? It wasn’t a typo? I can use this skill because of the “Virgin Brigade,” but the name is Crotch Feather Shot? Feathers from where…? Don’t tell me… those feathers? No one else can see the skill name, but still… This system is definitely harassing me.’

A feather-shooting skill from down there… Iris stopped herself from thinking too hard about it.

Any more and she might lose her mind.

Still, she had to use the skill before she forgot it, or she wouldn’t be able to fully learn it.

“Phew….”

Iris took a deep breath, steeling herself.