Chapter 5

Translator: Nox

<Episode 5>

There were beings that made this vagabond shelter, which already resembled a prison, look even more like one.

Namely, the people lounging and chattering on the lawn.

As if they hadn't seen sunlight in ages and had dragged themselves out onto the grass.

"Phew......"

I tensed up and picked the group that looked the easiest among them.

Two elderly men and one woman.

"Oh, hello. I'm Dorothy, new here today."

"Oh? Ah. It's that young lady. Nice to meet you."

"It's all so unfamiliar since it's my first time. Please take care of me."

"Heh heh. We'd be grateful if a young lady like you hangs out with old folks like us."

Their smiling faces looked quite kindly. Perfect.

I naturally slipped in and sat among them.

The three vagabonds made space for me.

They were today's targets.

"The world sure has changed since His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne. If you're a lady who was wandering the streets, His Majesty must be very welcome news, right?"

"Oh, of course."

Even with me butting in, the conversation flowed smoothly.

They all seemed unfazed by new faces.

I glanced around cautiously.

[Lady Agatha, who's the one with the deepest worries here?]

[Look at the woman's leg, Dorothy.]

I shifted my gaze and was startled. Thick, black smoke-like substance clung to the woman's leg.

[That leg. What's wrong with it?]

[You can see it too, Dorothy. Yes. There's some bad energy......]

Her complexion was terrible, contrasting sharply with her gentle smile.

[What should I do, Lady Agatha?]

[Her skin is starting to rot and fester...... It's her possessions. Her possessions are the problem.]

[Pardon?]

[She's carrying something ominous, something ominous!]

Ominous......?

Like what Mom sometimes said: 'That house needs to cut down the persimmon tree in the yard!'?

Perfect timing. If it's something ominous, the visible effects would be dramatic.

Help a suffering person and get publicity too. Killing two birds with one stone.

Agatha gave me a ton of key info. I organized it in my head.

"Linette. Is your leg okay?"

With a rough grasp of the situation, I spoke to her in a concerned voice. I didn't forget to use the name Agatha had given me.

The three fell silent for a moment.

"Did we...... mention her name?"

"Does her leg pain show that much?"

"No. How'd you know sitting down? She looks fine."

The three whispered among themselves before turning to me.

Curiosity gleamed in their eyes.

"The doctors all say it's of unknown cause, so it must be really tough."

"What? Did you hear from the doctor?"

"Aigoo. Her skin is turning black and rotting, so she can't even sleep well."

"What? Linette, it's gotten that bad?"

Linette's pupils dilated.

Seemed like news even her friends didn't know.

Good, this is it.

I scooted over to Linette on my knees with a rustle.

At the same time, I quickly asked Agatha.

"Linette. Want to come play in my room for a bit? I have something important to tell you."

"Pardon? Why?"

Having guessed so much already, her eyes wavered uneasily.

"I need to talk about the red stone......"

Linette had picked up a fake ruby by chance at a tavern and cherished it in secret. Unfortunately, the gem was steeped in bad energy.

"......Th-that......"

Linette stammered, glancing at her friends.

Her face showed fear of her secret being exposed.

"Or should we talk here?"

"I-I'll go. Let's go."

Sorry, but I needed to hit her with deeper personal details to really shock her.

She nodded readily, her face full of bewilderment and shock.

* * *

After my long persuasion, Linette skeptically tossed the fake ruby into a flowing river, and within a week, her complexion improved.

A woman who had limped from a mysterious illness now walked briskly with a clear face, astonishing everyone.

Vagabonds each had their ailments, so they all asked Linette.

She answered precisely with locations as I'd instructed.

'It's thanks to the Saintess Dorothy who just arrived in Room 3 on the second floor.'

That way, I resolved the big and small worries of the people who came.

Even those whose issues weren't resolved came for fun, got everything spot-on, and left amazed.

Those people spread word of me again.

Thus, most in the building called me the 'Saintess,' and appointments filled my week-long schedule.

[I've never seen anyone resolve personal matters one by one like this. Priests don't have the ability to relay details this finely. Only you can do this, Dorothy. It was a really good idea. Helps people and boosts your fame.]

[Right? I didn't know I'd end up using a method like this.]

Agatha sounded amazed and pleased.

Even doing something akin to the shaman work I hated so much didn't feel bad.

Seeing people freed from pain filled me with pride.

[It's good that they seem relieved after visiting.]

[Yes. It might take a while to reach our goal...... but I think it's plenty good.]

Agatha was right. My pride bowed its head slightly.

This method would definitely take ages to meet the Emperor.

To build fame as a 'shield,' I needed to imprint my existence on more prominent people. Fame in the vagabond shelter alone wouldn't cut it.

For example...... nobles. Or priests from the Capital City.

Was there no way? It was frustrating.

"Um, Saintess Dorothy."

"Ah, yes."

Then someone approached me. One of the shelter residents.

"People who heard the rumors came."

"Who-"

"Move. Is this the woman?"

Before she could properly face the woman and finish asking, she was shoved aside.

"Kyaa......!"

"Gasp, are you okay?!"

"You're the Saintess?"

Three men appeared, knocking the woman to the floor.

The man standing between two burly ones wore clothes finer than anyone I'd seen so far.

[What rude bastards.]

Agatha's harsh curse, despite her usual aversion to rough language, echoed in my head.

Anger boiled up.

"My wife's a bit too spirited, so I want to temper her temper. Making her unable to speak works, but turning her meek would be better. Possible for a Saintess, right?"

"......Pardon?"

"Heard you were somewhat effective, so I came. I'm interested in this...... occult stuff."

Judging by his clothes, he was the kind of guest I'd hoped for.

I hesitated for a moment.

'Don't want to help, but what if he's my only chance?'

"Why no answer? Tsk. To think I'd come personally to such a filthy place. Hurry up and finish so I can leave."

But reading the contempt on his face as he disdainfully scanned the vagabond shelter made my anger surge.

Barging in, shoving people without apology, looking at a place where people live with those eyes.

"I won't take that kind of request."

I replied, mustering maximum patience, and bent down to help the fallen woman.

At that moment, the ugly mustached man's burly sidekick grabbed my arm.

[That crazy bastard-]

Agatha's double curse followed.

"Ignoring me while I'm talking?"

[Dorothy! That man, that scumbag! He became a viscount thanks to his wife's family, got caught cheating. Now trying to silence his wife so word doesn't reach his father-in-law and he can keep the title. That jerk-]

Aha. So that's how it is.

I stared straight at the ugly mustache, eyes flashing.

"You. Not scared of your wife, but scared of your father-in-law? Think sealing her mouth solves it?"

The mustache's face rapidly paled.

"Came to me 'cause you don't want to crash and burn, right?"

"N-No way! What are you-!"

The mustache panicked and slapped the shoulders of his two burly men, urging them to intimidate me.

He looked like a total idiot freaking out over his secret being exposed.

The burly men stepped forward.

[Those guys, where do they think they are! Ugh. Don't worry, Dorothy. Through you, we can use divine power-]

"Think no one but your wife knows your crimes? You're complacent and stupid."

Agatha was saying something, but irritation peaked, and my mouth moved on its own.

"Grab her. We have to shut her mouth."

The burly man gripping my arm yanked me.

But my body didn't budge.

I just watched the burly man topple backward.

"Huh?"

I was a bit surprised.

The two burly men fell one after another, then the mustache yelped and collapsed sideways.

"What is this......!"

The three men were pinned to the floor, unable to move as if bound by invisible forces.

[Hmph. How dare they to our Dorothy.]

Our sister...... is pretty tough.