I Became a Fake Priest the Saintess Is Obsessed With

8 – A Doctrine That Stands Out

“If you’re a cleric, you can heal this kid! Why can’t you!!!”

“I’m sorry. While I am a cleric, I’m one who wields weaponry, making healing impossible. And even if I could heal, I would have no obligation to heal this man.”

With my ears perked up, listening to their conversation, it seemed not a secret rendezvous after all, but rather a conflict of some sort.

“You…! Is that something a cleric should say?”

“The teaching of the Celestialist sect starts with filling one’s own stomach. Helping others is taught to be done only when one has the spare time.”

That’s… cool.

It’s way cooler than any doctrine of my sect…!

When I heard the teachings of the Celestialist sect, a sigh escaped from my lips.

For your information, the teachings of the Great Earth Mother said we should sacrifice for others and not expect anything in return.

Is the goddess producing teachings that are so suicidal for her own children, could she be the greatest garbage in history?

[The Divine One(ess) Glares at You]

Even though I desperately want to abandon worshipping the Earth Goddess and convert to the Celestial Church right now, I cannot do so due to the Divine One’s warning that she will swiftly bring about my death if I convert.

“Damn it! Is it too much to ask for a priest to save a single life…!”

The man with black hair, who had been carrying a person, dropped him carelessly and grabbed the nun by the collar.

“What do you think you’re doing? Pick up the patient at once.”

“Shut up, this poor soul is gonna die soon anyway. The bleeding from the chest wound hasn’t stopped since 10 minutes ago.”

“…Then explain to me, why are you clutching my collar?”

“Save this life, by whatever means necessary!”

“As I told you before, I do not have the ability to save him. And if you continue to behave this way, I will have no choice but to use force.”

The atmosphere was growing increasingly tense.

The man was glaring menacingly at the nun, and she had the look of someone ready to draw the cross-shaped sword on her back at any moment.

I did not want to get involved in a dispute, but seeing the situation unfold this way, it seems like I must step in.

“Excuse me… could you all please stop? It’s disheartening to see you fight while leaving the patient in such a state.”

“Who the hell are you? You don’t need to involve yourself, get lost!”

“I’m a passing priest. One of our doctrine’s teachings is not to ignore the sick, so… pardon my interruption.”

I naturally intervened and started treating the man rolling on the ground.

As I recited the incantation in my mind, the gaping hole in his chest started healing instantly.

‘Damn, it feels like I’ve taken an arrow to the chest…!’

True to the penalties, my chest started to ache unbearably.

The pain from curing the wound in conjunction with the pain from my clenched hands was overwhelmingly torturous.

“Unbelievable… my wound is gone… Thank you, Father.”

“No, I simply… did what I had to.”

“Father, you look quite bad. Are you alright?”

“I… am… absolutely… alright…”

Following the treatment, the man’s demeanor changed.

I bear the pain, clenched my teeth, and replied casually.

“Thank you very much. This bloody guy took an arrow for me… He’s been with me since we were children, and seeing him in this state, I lost my self-control…”

“It’s alright. We all lose our wits when faced with emergencies. By the way, what’s your name?”

“Oh, I’m Eric. This kid here is Bright.”

“I see, Eric. I merely abided by my church’s teachings. There is absolutely no need to thank me. Also, it seems that you offended that priest earlier. Perhaps you should, uh… apolo…gize…”

The pain in my chest is increasing.

It’s getting harder to breathe… It feels like my lungs are filling up with water…

“Are you sure you’re okay, Father? You seem like there’s something wrong…”

“I’m fine! Really. So, I’ll be going now…”

I didn’t want them to find out about my condition, so I quickly turned around and tried to leave.

There was no particular reason to hide how I was feeling, but I didn’t want to cause unnecessary worry since I was just in pain and nothing significant was wrong.

[The Goddess evaluates your actions highly and provides you with 5000PP]

In fact, since I received rewards, I was just trying to leave.

“Just a moment.”

At that moment, a nun from the Heaven’s Spirit Church who was looking at me absent-mindedly stopped me.

I forced a smile and turned around.

“What is it?”

“You’re… Father Ivan, right?”

Startled, my smile twisted.

How does this woman know my name?

“Yes, but how do you know my name…?”

The woman who had been expressionless all along suddenly revealed a look of pleasure when she saw me.

It was a fleeting moment, but I caught it.

“Nice to see you after a long time, Father. I’m a nun named Lecia Kaila. I was once blessed by you, do you remember?”

As I’m not good at memorizing names, I was a bit doubtful when I heard her name.

However, her firmness, the fact that she said she was blessed by me, gradually made someone from my memory appear.

Realizing who she was, I politely asked,

“…The Saintess of the Heaven’s Spirit Church?”

“Yes, some people call me that.”

When I said this, she nodded.

What on earth. What’s going on.

Forgetting the pain that was rushing over me, I looked at her.

This woman was the Saintess of the Heaven’s Spirit Church.

The woman I greeted a few times a long time ago.

“I’ve been desperately looking for you. Here, take my hand and follow me. I’m going to personally convert you.”

“Ah… that could be difficult.”

“Why so? You did always sing about your disdain for the goddess whenever you had a chance. Why on earth would someone who wanted to convert…”

So difficult.

I have a condition that would kill me instantly if I convert, and yet this person is seriously trying to make me do so.

How can I persuade Lecia and return to the monastery?

As I quickly rack my brain trying to find a solution, Eryk suddenly throws himself in front and pushes me back.

“Father, get back!!!”

My feeble body rolled on the ground from the shock, but thanks to Lecia cushioning me, I wasn’t slammed into the ground.

Plunk! Plunk! Plunk!

A few seconds later, the area where we stood was littered with several arrows, one narrowly missing my feet.

Startled, I look in the direction of the shooter and see dwarfs with green skin glaring at us.

These guys must be-

The goblins that often play the villains against the main characters in fantasies.

I never knew such horrors existed in this world since I always lived in the city.

“These are the goblins that attacked us… Urgh. They’ve apparently followed us…”

Eryk who said this looked agonized, an arrow lodged in his side.

I quickly pull out the arrow and immediately heal him.

“God damn it, this hurts.”

Thus, my hands, chest, and side are in immense pain making me feel like a fool.

[The Goddess appreciates your actions and offers temporary pain relief]

Thankfully, I was able to roll off the ground thanks to the swift intervention of the accommodating goddess despite the attack.

“What can we do…? We don’t have enough equipment to fight those creatures…”

“Brace yourself, Eryk. Let’s try to run away.”

“But Father, those bastards are unbelievably fast… The average adventure can’t outrun them, it’s practically impossible.”

“Ah, is that so?”

I can’t believe such tiny creatures have such speed.

What am I supposed to do..?

“I will take the lead.”

At the words that we can’t escape, I was momentarily dumbstruck, but Lecia stepped forward.

“What? You’re saying you’ll fight them alone, sister?”

“As you say, I will fight alone. If you’re worried, don’t be. I have confidence in defeating them myself.”

Lecia said in an arrogant tone.

It was emotionless as usual, but to me, it came across as rather arrogant.

“And watch closely, Father Ivan. I will engrave our doctrine’s ultimate principle in your eyes.”

With that, Lecia drew the gigantic sword she had on her back.

The enormous size, long hilt designed like a cross, Zweihänder, she lifted it with both hands.

“Remove the cause before an illness occurs. That is our church’s ultimate doctrine.”

Lecia surged forward, thrusting her sword, causing the earth she had been standing on to cave in.

With one leap, she reached the creatures and began to wipe out the goblins, skillfully using the Zweihänder.

One thrust killed two goblins; one swing took out three.

When Lecia plunged her pure white sword stained in blood into the ground, only the crumpled bodies of goblins were left in that spot.

“What do you think, Father? I don’t think there is anywhere that fits you better than our church. Don’t you agree?”

Lecia calmly asked Ivan.

However, Ivan was not there to answer her.

Because he had already fled the scene.

“……Where did Father Ivan go?”

She asked Eric, but he just shook his head.

When Eric noticed something strange, Ivan had already disappeared without a trace.