44 – Let’s Volunteer!
“With the weather getting colder these days, let’s warm up the fireplace and move our bodies a bit.”
Father James, who was earnestly preaching at the chapel.
I sat in the chapel listening to the sermon.
There’s hardly anything fun in this boring medieval setting, but now Father James’s sermon has become quite interesting.
Living without a phone, unlike the inseparable Koreans, feels too dry!
Just like a countryside routine: wake up -> breakfast -> work -> lunch -> work -> dinner -> sleep.
This dry routine is everything to the Marquis of Roland.
If things get too dull, would a chance encounter between the stallion Leonardo and the mare Leona at the Baron’s stable become the highlight news of the day?
The stable keeper, Oliver, vividly narrating the love affairs of the horses was honestly quite amusing…
“Ugh…”
Kim Cheolsu, who is struggling with work at the clinic and spiritual training, is on the verge of losing it!
“Living a dopamine-free life is so boring for modern man Kim Cheolsu…”
How can humans just work and live?
There should be time for leisure too.
But there’s nothing to do!
“Kim Cheolsu, you’ve been visiting the chapel often lately?”
Catherine smiled faintly as if pleased and whispered.
“…The chapel is somewhat entertaining.”
Thanks to Father James’s eloquence, the sermons are somewhat bearable.
It’s like understanding elderly people in their 60s who watch Christian or Buddhist broadcasts on their phones.
Catherine giggled.
“Kim Cheolsu, you were a non-believer not long ago, your faith runs deep.”
“Ugh.”
That’s not it, Miss.
It’s purely for the entertainment!
Seeing the reasons why people like the Marquis of Roland frequent the chapel, it seems quite different from mine, with many peculiar individuals around.
Especially, I found it fascinating that the youngest maid, Becky, often visited the temple, so I asked her, “Do you believe in the Ur-Religion too?”
To which Becky replied, “Not really, I just go because other people gather there. And I enjoy not having to work.”
“Becky, you’re quite good at finding ways to relax.”
Becky sought refuge in the temple to avoid having to do anything when she was at the manor.
It seems there aren’t many deeply religious people.
Anyway, Mr. James was pleased that I visited often.
After the morning service, he always pretended to know me.
“It’s nice to see you so often these days, Brother Kim.”
“Haha… Is that so?”
“Yes. Recently, it was a bit disappointing when Sister Lara, who is both a hero and a priest, left, but it’s comforting.”
Mr. James brought up recent news.
Indeed, not long ago, Miss Daisy and her colleagues left for the battlefield!
“Um…!”
Unintentionally, I remembered the moment Miss Daisy embraced me.
The departure day, the fragrance of fresh leaves surrounded me as Miss Daisy buried her head shyly in my chest for a while before slowly pulling away. She was so adorable…
What lingering emotions remain in my heart?
It feels bittersweet.
“Kim…”
I’m startled by the chilling voice of Lady Catherine!
Already, I feel like a husband being scolded by his wife…!
“Ahem, it’s a misunderstanding, Lady Catherine.”
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Lady Catherine was upset because Miss Daisy embraced me on the departure day!
I should have called Lady Catherine into my room, held her discreetly, and she would have softened. She seems subtly jealous when I interact with other women.
Both Miss Daisy and Lady Catherine are quite cute in their own ways, what to call it…
Perhaps this sinful antibiotic bathhouse owner, Kim, should add the word “Casanova” to his title in this world..!
“In Korea, I was an unpopular anchovy, but here in this world, am I a Casanova!?”
…I boast to myself.
“Brother Kim.”
Anyway, Mr. James continued speaking.
“Have you become close to Sister Lara during this time?”
“Um… I can’t say we’re close, but I think we’ve developed some rapport.”
“Get along with Sister Lara. Brother Kim, having a good rapport with someone like Sister Lara will be very helpful if you want to rise in the ranks of the Ur-Religion.”
Mr. James taught me about gaining power within the Ur-Religion.
Is Mr. James expecting me to become a bishop or something?
Although I need to grow to the level of a bishop for my marriage to Lady Catherine, I don’t want the responsibility of being a bishop!
This Kim Chul-soo prefers a carefree life.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Remember. Adults always have reasons for what they say.”
“Haha… Yes.”
“And have you thought about volunteering?”
“Volunteering?”
Mr. James nodded.
“We have volunteer activities at our temple, helping the needy with farming or medical care. The Kim brothers have new staff at the free clinic and even have days off. If you’re interested, how about trying volunteering?”
“Oh, is it okay?”
I found Mr. James’s suggestion appealing.
Besides, when I’m at the mansion on holidays, Roland Viscount always drags me out for hikes.
Volunteering would allow me to break away from hiking and might bring a sense of accomplishment!
“Work and volunteering are different.”
A feeling of a new challenge?
Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I volunteered. I never saw volunteering at the hospital since I was busy with work.
I needed to find volunteering opportunities, but as usual, I was too busy with work.
Holidays were always about resting.
“Check on the children at the orphanage for war orphans. Since Kim Cheolsu is a therapist, he’ll handle the minor details well.”
“Oh, an orphanage?”
“Yes. From the handicapped to the barbarian orphans, children of different races, and so on.”
“This might be interesting.”
The diversity in races is intriguing!
Except for my fellow hero comrade Carrot, I’ve never met a handicapped person, so I became curious about the children at the orphanage.
Of course, they’re not there for entertainment.
It’s something I haven’t experienced, so I feel enthusiastic.
This Kim Cheolsu, when he lived in Korea, he never hesitated to try something new.
For instance, eating kimchi pizza tangsuyuk, riding an elephant at a Thai zoo, and so on.
Indeed, new stimuli can be a great source of enthusiasm for life!
“Great. Let’s go together in two days.”
Mr. James put me on the volunteer list.
* * * *
On Saturday morning, the volunteer members gathered in front of the temple!
Since it was the weekend and the clinic was closed, Mr. Malboi and Miss Catherine also joined.
“This is the badge exclusive to Kim Cheolsu’s medical team members.”
Mr. Malboi proudly showed off the badge I gave him a while ago!
Perhaps I’ve become famous; the temple folks looked at Mr. Malboi’s badge with admiration and envy.
“Wow… Is this a privilege only for Kim Cheolsu’s medical team?”
“Malboi brothers, making a name for themselves!”
“Hmph, it’s just a privilege for the chosen ones.”
Mr. Malboi, very human without any pretense, even in the temple.
I wish he was a bit like that at the clinic.
Anyway, now no one in the temple finds it uncomfortable to call me a colored foreigner.
I have not consumed alcohol for over 100 days since I promised to keep the rules of the Urgeyo sect.
And since I have become famous.
I haven’t become close with all the temple people yet.
But still, it proves that I am not a harmful creature!
“Hehe, I see that you are living and working hard.”
“Kim Cheol-su, are you completely part of the Roland Viscount’s group now?”
“Yes. Our healing team’s badge is something to be proud of.”
I agreed with Miss Catherine’s subtle hint.
In fact, Kim Cheol-su, the franchisee, is a success..!
I should start a business when I have enough money.
There were many merchants who said they wanted to do business among the patients.
“Now, everyone gather. Let’s check the list and start our volunteer activities.”
Mr. James gathered the members for the volunteer activities.
The destination is the Merhen Orphanage.
* * * *
At the same time, not far from the Roland Viscount’s group, is the Merhen Orphanage.
It is a poor orphanage run by a kind priest in a remote mountain area, so the children are all skinny and many of them are sick.
In a room called the “Recovery Room,” children with colds were resting, coughing.
“Cough cough!”
“May, try some rice porridge!”
“Cough cough… Huh… Yes.”
May, a girl who eats a little bit of porridge with the help of a nursery teacher.
May, a rabbit beastman, couldn’t eat well because her ears were too tight.
Nursery teacher Lina sighed inwardly.
Even if she treats the children with divine power, they quickly catch a cold.
Because they can’t feed the children well, their immune systems are weak.
The poor Merhen Orphanage cannot provide much support for the children.
Merhen Orphanage is a place where the director and nursery teachers cultivate crops and barely operate by receiving donations from the surrounding area.
Who knows if a lot of financial support will come.
The children even lack enough clothes to wear.
“Sigh, if only the children could eat well, they wouldn’t be this sick.”
Nursery teacher Lina looks at the children in the Recovery Room with a pitiful face.
Many children have caught a cold.
And among them, there was a girl with swollen throat and black skin.
Her symptoms were severe.
She complained of frequent headaches and was too weak to move from her bed.
Her throat was swollen, making it difficult to breathe.
She was suffering from a high fever.
Her name was Erzabeth, a very quiet girl who hardly spoke.
At a glance, Erzabeth seemed to be the most serious case.
“Erzebet, are you okay!?”
“…Venom.”
Erzebet, only breathing, showing no response.
Lina, instead of offering herself as prey to the rabbit-like child May, checked on Erzebet’s condition.
Hands not enough even if there were ten!
Lina desperately wished for a helping hand.