8 – Congratulations Party and the Disappointed(?) Priest of the Parish
A festival was held at Count Roland’s.
Originally, it was a festival to welcome the hero, but it turned into a “Kim Chul-soo Congratulations Party” because I saved the hero, Daisy.
“You’re really amazing, amazing. Kim Chul-soo! I’m curious about how you healed the hero Daisy’s injury!”
“Haha… It’s a treatment method that was in the place where I lived.”
I casually brushed off Count Roland’s question with admiration.
It’s burdensome, it’s embarrassing!
Why do only burdensome things happen to me!
Someone put up a sign that said “☆Celebration☆ Kim Chul-soo Hero’s Successful Treatment ★Congratulations★” on the signboard, so it was obvious to anyone that I was the protagonist of this festival.
At some point, I had a colorful hat on my head.
“This looks like a birthday party for an elementary school student!”
It’s embarrassing…!
If you want to congratulate, do it more politely!
Honestly, I thought it would be a solemn atmosphere because it’s a religious family, but Count Roland’s festival was very lively.
“On such a joyful day, music cannot be missing! Drummer!”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Play the music!”
“Understood, the beat is at its best!”
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!
The man playing the drum hit it as if possessed, with veins popping out of his neck.
“Wow!!”
People cheered like animals, drinking and enjoying the festival noisily.
Honestly, I had so much fun that even I, who is an expert in company dinners, was excited.
“How about it, Kim Chul-soo!”
“It’s really enjoyable!”
“Haha, enjoy yourself comfortably! Lord Urge seems to like the way we enjoy!”
I was trying to pass the time and escape, but I changed my mind.
Urge’s religion was a proper one!
“Viscount! I will pour a drink for myself!”
“Oh, the wine our healer pours! Seems special, right. Pour it full!”
It’s basic etiquette to impress your boss.
I reincarnated as the world’s most loyal servant. The more I gain favor with the Viscount, the easier my life will be!
“Come, Kim Cheol-su, take my drink too!”
Give and take.
After a few rounds of drinks with the Viscount, I quickly got tipsy.
Hmm, I never had the chance to drink wine when I was a sewage treatment worker, so I was shocked by the strength of the Viscount’s wine.
Feels like my throat’s on fire!
Everyone here seems fine, but I feel like I’m the only one drunk.
“Kim Cheol-su, have some water.”
Miss Catherine handed me water, taking care of me at a cutthroat drinking party where the weak drinkers don’t survive. Catherine was like a light in the darkness.
“Thank you, Miss Catherine!”
“Ugh, the smell of alcohol. Drink in moderation!”
“…Oh, okay.”
Darn it, it’s my first time getting drunk at Viscount Roland’s place, and I feel a bit sheepish getting scolded by Catherine.
Am I always like this?
Groggy.
“Kim Cheol-su seems to be getting tipsy, don’t give him more to drink.”
Still, thanks to Catherine covering for me, I wasn’t urged to drink more.
It was a bit ambiguous, but I acknowledge that I received help from Catherine!
If Catherine asks for something strange, I should at least listen.
The drinking party continued late into the night.
I heard it would go on for a whole week.
I clicked my tongue at the intense schedule and tried to leave my seat, but I couldn’t.
First, the warrior Daisy’s colleagues each greeted me.
“I’m the barbarian warrior Numidia. Thank you for saving Daisy.”
“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”
“I’m the dual-wielding fighter Carrot! You look so timid.”
“What.. are you picking a fight?”
“I’m the wizard Matteo, if you need anything, please let me know.”
“Oh, Matteo. You’re a wizard, right? Do you know any teleportation magic?”
Since Matteo was the party’s mage, I was curious if he knew how to return to Korea.
Well, in these otherworldly reincarnation stories, they usually come back to Korea through dimensional travel later on.
“There is teleportation magic, but it connects coordinates within the continent of Arcadia. Other dimensions are too high-level concepts. I’m not sure. Sorry.”
“Okay…”
As expected, it wasn’t going to be easy.
I was quite disappointed.
“But I will still look for it. It’s Kim Chul-soo’s request.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
Even though Mateo said he would look for a solution, it gave me a glimmer of hope.
I hope I can go back to Korea and use my smartphone!
Lastly, as the ceremony was coming to an end, Lara, the priestess, seemed a bit disappointed, but Father James, who was slightly drunk, grabbed me.
“Hey, Kim Chul-soo!”
“Yes?”
“You, why haven’t you ever come to the temple to pray, even though you claim to be a follower of Ur?”
“Oh, Father of the diocese. I was drunk!”
Other priests teased Father James for being drunk.
But I couldn’t dismiss what Father James said as nonsense.
The suspicion of “Are you a heretic!?”
Indeed, I lied to Father James, claiming to be a follower of Ur, but I had never been to the temple to pray.
I was an atheist when I lived in Korea.
Since I had never prayed in Korea, I never thought of going to the temple.
As someone who lied, my conscience pricked me!
“Huh? You, I know you’re good at curing diseases, but these methods are all unfamiliar! Are you by any chance…”
Father James stared at me with wide eyes, as if he had accumulated a lot of suspicions.
Religious issues in this era are very important.
If you make a mistake, you’ll be labeled a heretic!
Catherine, who sensed the urgency of the situation, intervened.
She knew that I didn’t believe in the Ur religion!
She came up with a plausible reason.
“Kim Chul-soo often prays privately! There was no temple where Kim Chul-soo used to live.”
“Tsk, I wanted to pray with Kim Chul-soo… Was there such a situation?”
“Yes, so please understand, Father of the diocese.”
Although Father James still couldn’t completely erase the suspicion in his eyes, he changed the subject and moved on.
“…I think I should visit the temple at least once.”
“…I agree.”
I exchanged whispers with Catherine, keeping an eye on Father James.
The society here is tightly knit around the Ur religion.
If I say I don’t believe in the Ur religion, it might be fine for now, but eventually, it would be perfect for me to be burned at the stake!
To blend in with them, I have to pretend to be a follower of Ur, at least on the surface.
Feeling a sudden clarity, I made a plan to visit the temple.
* * * *
On a sunny weekend morning.
The birds chirped, and the worshippers prayed at the temple where I visited.
“Are you offering a personal prayer?”
Mr. James, who was disappointed and suspicious due to my absence from the temple, narrowed his eyes as if he were a real detective.
“Of course, but as a follower of Urkyo, I thought I should visit the Mecca of prayer, the temple, at least once.”
I gathered my hands in a pious manner and slightly lowered my head.
A flawless appearance of a clergyman!
I have received extensive training from Miss Catherine to become a follower of Urkyo, so I am perfect.
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
To survive, I can convert to any religion, whether it’s monotheism or polytheism!
Why, it feels like changing religions every weekend in the military.
Mr. James seemed to be in a slightly better mood, as his lips curled up.
“Oh? Isn’t this because I persuaded you to come?”
“I came here of my own accord.”
“Haha! Good, very good! Let’s worship together in the morning service!”
With a glance, Mr. James happily led me to the worship hall.
Seeing Catherine raise her thumb to hide Mr. James, it was a success.
The temple service was not particularly distinctive.
“Oh, praise the Lord! Praise the Lord who takes care of us! Praise the Lord!”
A lively hymn choir.
Since the other followers knew all the lyrics, I just had to lip-sync appropriately.
“Oh, praise the Lord! Yes… let’s read Chapter 22 of the scriptures. The Lord said, ‘Pray with your brothers and sisters.’ This means that praying together is more enjoyable and better than praying alone. And…”
Recitation and interpretation of the scriptures.
Mr. James, the priest, stood on the visible podium, holding the scriptures and speaking.
Although I was a little nervous and my hands were sweaty, I continued to act as an “enthusiastic follower” with superhuman concentration.
It was a bit uncomfortable when Mr. James winked at me from time to time, but I could bear it.
“Well then, let’s finish the interpretation of the scriptures here… and I would like to introduce a new brother to all of you.”
The long-awaited self-introduction time.
I have to present myself well here to deceive others that I am a follower of Urkyo!
“Kim Cheol-su, please come forward!”
I stood up and walked piously to the podium at Mr. James’ call.
“Oh, praise the Lord Urkyo! Nice to meet you. I am Kim Cheol-su, who works at the Roland Viscount’s estate.”
“The Kim Cheol-su who fixed the viscount and the warrior?”
“Oh, the bathhouse guy finally came to the temple!”
In fact, most of the people from the Roland Viscount’s estate were followers of Urkyo, so most of the faces in the crowd were familiar.
Becki, the warrior colleague, and Miss Lara, and so on.
“…? A colored orangutan in the temple?”
Of course, not everyone knew me, and the unfamiliar faces seemed a little uncomfortable with my presence.
“Well… if I want to enter the Roland Viscount’s network, if I want to gain their trust, Urkyo is essential!”
There are already some followers who are not pleased with me.
I have to prove to them that “I am not your enemy, but your ally!”