YMDR 13

Chapter 13…

From Now On, I’ll Get Permission Before Stealing

Priest Reina of the Harmony Church quietly stared at the hole in the floor.

‘When are they coming out?’

The Fire Ant Nest labyrinth had an unusual structure.

Explorers entered through the opening in the middle of the road and exited through a hole that emerged inside this house.

Although it was an easy labyrinth with little risk of death, it wasn’t particularly popular.

First, the strategy was nothing more than navigating to the exit, which made it boring, and the rewards weren’t especially lucrative.

Its location inside the Cultist Quarantine District probably didn’t help its popularity either.

As a result, even at its busiest, only about three parties visited each month.

Which was why she’d been pleased to finally receive some explorers after such a long time…

‘They’re taking way too long.’

The two-person party consisting of a Cultist of Twisted Truth and a tiger beastkin simply wasn’t coming out.

Three hours had already passed.

Considering the average completion time rarely exceeded two hours, their expedition had gone on unusually long.

‘Did they die?’

Had they really fallen inside the Fire Ant Nest, one of the easiest E-Rank labyrinths?

It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption.

Finding the route was simple enough with the map…

But if you wasted too much time, swarms of Fire Ants would converge from throughout the entire nest… far beyond what a low-level party could handle.

After silently staring at the hole for some time…

Reina finally rummaged through her drawer.

[Explorer Death Report]

Whenever an explorer died inside a labyrinth, the priest responsible for managing it was obligated to report the incident.

Judging from the circumstances, the two-person party had almost certainly been overwhelmed by a Fire Ant swarm.

‘How tragic…’

She remembered the tiger beastkin girl who had listened attentively with her ears perked up while she explained the strategy.

Such a young child… To die so meaninglessly.

Steadying herself, Reina began writing the report.

The very first thing labyrinth management priests were taught during training was:

“Become accustomed to the deaths of explorers.”

If they dwelled on every tragic death out of pity, their mental health would eventually collapse.

Learning to quickly settle one’s emotions was therefore essential.

“O Artein, please guide those young souls into the sanctuary under Your protection. As for the Cultist… I suppose their Evil God will take care of them.”

After offering a solemn prayer… She stood to submit the report.

“…Huh?”

Leaving the house assigned to her for work and walking toward the temple…

Reina suddenly froze in place, her mouth hanging open.

A crimson gate shimmered ominously in midair.

“Waaah!”

“Oh.”

The blond Cultist and the tiger beastkin girl dropped out of the gate.

Both of them were absolutely soaked.

“…Why didn’t you tell me we’d fall as soon as we came out?!”

“I didn’t know either.”

“You’re lying!”

“I am.”

“Seriously, why are you like this?!”

“I had my reasons.”

“Did you think I’d prank you for no reason?”

Blankly listening to the two explorers bicker…

Reina suddenly came to her senses.

Had they emerged somewhere other than the designated exit?

This wasn’t an ordinary situation.

Artein’s blessing.

The hidden jewel concealed within the labyrinth…

What non-members of the Harmony Church called a Hidden Piece…

Had undoubtedly been discovered.

“Explorer! Welcome back!”

It seemed she’d still be submitting a report after all.

Only…

Instead of reporting dead explorers…

She’d be reporting a newly emerged talent.

The Third-Tier Mystery, Marvelous Intuition, bestowed upon her by Artein, was telling her so.

‘They’re going to become a great explorer someday!’

A promising new star had finally appeared…

Someone who would shake the entire explorer industry.

***

After selling the information about the Fire Ant Nest’s Hidden Piece to the priest…

We received an advance payment of fifty gold.

“Here you are!”

“Thank you…”

Holding the heavy coin pouch with both hands, Marlin peeked through the tied opening at the gold coins inside.

Her eyes sparkled like stars.

“Let’s go home.”

I gently pushed my assistant’s back while she remained transfixed by the gold, and we headed toward the marketplace.

We planned to buy groceries before returning.

“Fifty gold…”

“Are you really that happy?”

Marlin finally looked up at me.

“Of course I am!”

“You should get used to it. If you keep traveling with me, you’ll end up handling more gold coins than you can stand.”

For someone raised in the slums…

There probably wasn’t a sweeter sentence in the world.

Marlin nodded vigorously.

“If I just listen to everything you say, Kar… Can I become rich too?”

“In Pletika, famous explorers and rich people are practically synonymous.”

“Then I’m going to become a great explorer!”

“Aren’t you just stating the obvious? With me sponsoring you, there’s no way you won’t become a famous explorer.”

It wasn’t baseless confidence.

Across countless playthroughs…

Both Marlin and Abel had always grown into remarkable explorers.

Though, due to the Cultist class, I’d always encountered them as enemies rather than companions.

“We’re here.”

While taking back the coin pouch and planning our shopping…

We arrived at the marketplace inside the Cultist Town.

[The only marketplace in the Cultist residential district. Even at midday, when crowds should be thickest, only eerie silence fills the air. The scent of blood lingers far more heavily than elsewhere, and much of the meat sold here comes from suspicious sources.]

Delicious smells drifted from every direction.

I bought a grilled chicken skewer from a street stall and stuck it into Marlin’s mouth.

“If there’s anything you want, tell me. I’ll buy it all.”

“I want pork!”

“I wouldn’t recommend pork… But if that’s what you want.”

“Why don’t you recommend it?”

“It’s nothing. You wouldn’t be able to eat it if you knew.”

“…Then I’ll have something else.”

I bought every ingredient Marlin requested.

Altogether, it cost less than one gold.

There were reasons the prices were so low…

But seeing Marlin happily grinning at the thought of all the food she’d get to eat, I chose not to mention them.

“When I used to burglarize empty houses, I’d celebrate for an entire week if I found even a single silver coin. But today I’ve bought all this, and now I’m wondering why it doesn’t even cost one gold!”

I completely understood how she felt.

Though…

That was an incredibly inappropriate example.

She seemed to realize it herself moments later, smiling awkwardly.

“A whole week was an exaggeration. Maybe… three days?”

“…”

“Wh-Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing. Come to think of it, I was wrong. You’re a Thief. So I suppose that fits.”

Petty thieves had lives befitting petty thieves.

I couldn’t force ordinary morality upon her.

Still…

As her sponsor, I intended to correct what needed correcting.

“Marlin. From now on, don’t go around stealing without my permission.”

“Why?”

“You’ll get caught by a Holy Knight of the Spear of Order.”

The Spear of Order was the order of Holy Knights responsible for overseeing Cultists and managing the slums on behalf of the Harmony Church.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they maintained the peace of District Six.

“So what? I’ll just rot in the temple prison for a few months.”

[Your ward, Marlin (Tiger Beastkin, age 14). At such a young age, she has already efficiently sold away both her conscience and morality. A child with a promising future indeed.]

“…You still have much to learn.”

She really was still just a child.

Growing up in the slums meant she wasn’t ignorant of the world…

But she lacked common sense.

Then again…

It was difficult to acquire knowledge when even food, clothing, and shelter were uncertain.

“Marlin. Do you know what happens if you’re caught committing a serious crime by the Holy Knights of the Spear of Order?”

“I have to write apology letters every day?”

“They’ll forcibly implant Order into your mind using Mysteries. When that’s done… You won’t be the Marlin you are now anymore.”

“…Like brainwashing?”

“Something similar. Remember those people from the slums who disappeared without a trace? They’ve probably been completely ‘reformed’ by now and are serving as rank-and-file members of the Spear of Order.”

In the game…

This event occurred if the player caused major trouble within the city.

Joining the Spear of Order was fun in its own way…

But it sacrificed too much freedom.

Personally, I had no interest in a route where I couldn’t freely conquer labyrinths.

“I understand. From now on, I’ll only burglarize houses when you give me permission.”

“No… Well.”

As I soothed Marlin, who’d become slightly dejected after effectively having her livelihood forbidden…

We finally reached home.

“Abel, we’re ba–”

Marlin stopped abruptly as she entered.

The interior, which should have been filthy with dust everywhere and trash scattered across the floor…

Had been cleaned spotless.

Abel turned around, still holding a broom.

“You’re back. I got bored, so I cleaned.”

“Well done.”

Among Cultist players, including myself…

There existed one universal truth everyone memorized.

Leave burglary to Marlin.

Leave housework to Abel.

“But… what are all those?”

“Groceries.”

“Then may I take care of them?”

Cleaning.

Cooking.

Laundry.

Everything else around the house.

At a young age, Abel had become an all-purpose homemaker, mastering every household chore while supporting the older sister who worked to keep them alive.

Watching him carry the groceries into the kitchen…

Marlin looked up at me.

“I never imagined he’d work this hard. I didn’t think he liked you very much, Kar. And he’s even speaking politely…?”

“He’s quick-witted. He realized this opportunity doesn’t come often. You shouldn’t irritate your sponsor the way you do.”

“If you want people to respect you, stop playing so many pranks.”

“I don’t want to act this way either. But I can’t help it.”

“What do you mean?”

I pointed at my right eye, where Eye That Sees Through Truth resided.

“Lidni wishes it.”

“…Pranks and jokes?”

“Cultists of Twisted Truth are required to periodically prank the people around them.”

Members of priestly classes had to regularly perform the tasks their patron deity desired.

The official term for it was:

Religious practice.

Some gods merely wanted their followers to live morally.

Evil Gods, however, usually demanded nuisances, malicious acts, or outright crimes.

It was one of the many reasons the Cultist class was considered terrible.

[Objection: Lord Lidni desires you to prank those around you with ‘Mysteries’! Not by deceiving them with words as you do!]

“So you’ll have to put up with it for a while. You and your brother are the only people I’m close to.”

“I understand. It’s not particularly difficult…”

[Boo! You’re a fraud!]

I casually brushed away the floating text with my hand and seated Marlin on the sofa in the living room opposite the kitchen.

“Go rest until Abel finishes making dinner. I have something else to take care of.”

Something very important.

I descended into the ritual basement that came standard with every residence provided to Cultists.

A dark, gloomy room.

Other than the modest altar at the very back…

It was completely empty.

The mana lamp hanging from the ceiling flickered ominously, perfectly matching the eccentric tastes of Cultists.

[The basement of the residence was prepared by the Church of the Hypocrite Goddess. The floor is made from materials that absorb blood efficiently, and it has been designed so screams and sounds of torture cannot escape.]

[However, surveillance devices have also been installed to prevent indiscriminate human sacrifices, so privacy is not guaranteed.]

A room that truly highlighted the Harmony Church’s thoughtful consideration.

Walking all the way to the altar…

I placed the Hidden Piece I’d obtained from the Fire Ant Nest…

Su’eje’s idol…

Onto the floor before kneeling.

“I beseech the One who casts violent thunderclouds upon the earth and embodies filthy authority. Please answer my call.”

It was time…

To become a double Cultist.

【…Oh my.】

Crackle.

The moment the heavy voice of an Evil God echoed inside my head…