Erlik: (Was I being too serious...?)
Sermon gently placed his hand on Erlik's shoulder.
Sermon: Thank you for helping me.
Erlik turned around and smiled at Sermon.
Erlik: It's nothing. I just did what needed to be done.Sermon: But Salazon is a level 3 Do user. When you meet him, you must avoid doing anything that might provoke him.
Erlik looked at Sermon thoughtfully for a while before responding.
Erlik: How can I learn Do without risking my life? Do you have any idea? I heard that only nobles and academy instructors can initiate Do. But isn't there another way?
Sermon was surprised by the question but began speaking to answer.
Sermon: Actually… that information isn't entirely correct.Erlik: What do you mean?Sermon: There are three ways for a person's Do to awaken. The first and rarest is being born with it. Some people are born with awakened Do powers, and they are the ones with the highest potential.Erlik: Because they can develop it from an early age, right?Sermon: Exactly. Because trying to teach Do to a weak body can cripple a person. That's why academic research once concluded that Do training should start only after the age of twelve.Erlik: But those born with Do—since they gain it naturally—it doesn't harm their body, and they begin learning Do twelve years earlier than everyone else. Am I wrong?
Sermon hesitated, surprised, and then answered.
Sermon: Y-Yes, exactly...Sermon: (He draws conclusions very fast. They're not unimaginable, but the way he instantly responds and states them so firmly is quite unsettling.)
Erlik continued with curious eyes.
Erlik: What are the other ways?Sermon: The second one you probably already know. It's how Ella gained her Do powers. Every person has Do inside them. When that becomes usable, they become a Do user. Sometimes, when your life is in danger, the Do energy in your body activates on its own to protect you.Erlik: And the third way?Sermon: The last method is the academic one. I don't know how it's done, but I know that it requires help from at least a level 3 Do user.
Erlik grinned slightly, almost devilishly, then softened into a more innocent smile as he looked at Sermon.
Erlik: Thank you very much, Village Chief Sermon.
Though Sermon was thrown off by Erlik's first smile, he quickly composed himself.
Sermon: You're welcome, my boy.Sermon: (That first smile… I think he just solved something in his mind.)
During the conversation, Berilla was staring at her father with a sulky face. Ella noticed this and tried to calm her down. But Berilla couldn't hold herself back any longer.
Berilla: Daaad! Can you stop with the boring talk already? Erlik hasn't even finished touring the village yet!
Sermon smiled warmly at his daughter.
Sermon: Alright, alright. Go on and have fun.
Berilla pulled on both Ella's and Erlik's arms with a smile.
Berilla: Let's go!
Erlik smiled politely and nodded to Village Chief Sermon to show respect. Sermon returned the gesture. Then, Berilla, Ella, and Erlik exited the Village Hall.
The girls continued showing Erlik around the village. They arrived at a very large farmland.
Berilla: This is the Communal Village Farm.Erlik: Almost every house has its own farm. What makes this one special?
Ella stepped in.
Ella: This is the farm where the orphaned children from the village church work. The fruits and vegetables grown here are distributed to the entire village.Erlik: To make paying taxes easier, right?Ella: Y-Yes, exactly…
Berilla was surprised by how accurately Erlik had guessed.
Erlik: So… how are the orphans' taxes paid?Berilla: The church and its orphans are exempt from taxes.Erlik: And what do the children gain from all this?Berilla: Every villager tries to donate five silver coins to the church each month. It's not mandatory, but unless someone is struggling, they always contribute. After all, paying five instead of twenty is a better deal.Erlik: Is this money given directly to the children?Berilla: No. Each child's successful yield is measured, and the total monthly donation is allocated proportionally into church accounts created for each child.Erlik: Can the children spend this money however they want?Berilla: Not at first. The main church in the capital, Vorgoida, sends large amounts of money to each church. That money covers all of the children's expenses. The money the children earn is saved for when they become adults.Erlik: Makes sense. That way, when they leave the church because of age, they can use the money to start a business and support themselves, right?
Berilla smiled in response.
Berilla: You're really smart. That's exactly it. Usually, when kids come of age, they do one of two things: move to a city and start a business, or use the money to buy good weapons and armor and join the military or become a village guardian.Erlik: Is this method used in every village?Berilla: As far as I know, no… Some villages may have their own version of it, but this specific system was created and implemented by my father.Erlik: Your father is a truly smart man...
Berilla blushed and smiled at the compliment.
Berilla: Yeah… he really is...
Erlik: Did the Overseer give permission for this?Berilla: Actually, he gave us a lot of trouble. My father had to go to Darkız City and speak directly with the city lord to get it approved.
Erlik: (That man… he's definitely just as I thought...)
Ella smiled and looked at Erlik.
Ella: I can't wait to take you there. The kids are so sweet.
Erlik couldn't help but smile at Ella's cheerful demeanor.
After exploring the communal farmland a bit more, they decided to leave. They continued touring the rest of the village.
*****
Ella turned to Erlik excitedly.
Ella: The only place we haven't gone is the church.
Erlik noticed three buildings larger than the others. One of them was the Village Hall where they had spoken to Chief Sermon. Another was clearly the church, even though they hadn't been inside. Then Erlik looked toward the third large building.
Erlik: We haven't gone there either.
Berilla and Ella frowned.
Berilla: That's the Village Guardians' building. It's where Controller Salazon stays when he visits.
Erlik noticed their expressions had dropped. To change the mood, he looked at Ella.
Erlik: Your eyes lit up when we mentioned the church. You seem to really like it there.
Ella's mood immediately lifted, and her eyes sparkled.
Ella: I love taking care of the children and seeing them smile...
Ella continued talking enthusiastically about the church and the children. Seeing her so happy made Berilla smile as well.
Erlik: (They seem to have a serious issue with the Guardians. But it doesn't feel like hatred... more like disappointment or resentment...)
Erlik, Ella, and Berilla continued walking toward the church. When they arrived, several six- to seven-year-old children were running and playing inside a fenced garden in front of the church. A middle-aged woman who clearly looked like a nun was supervising them.
Another adult was playing with the children too. As they approached, Erlik recognized her. She was one of the Village Guardians—Hira.
When Ella and Berilla saw Hira, their expressions turned sour, but they kept walking. Hira looked toward them and nodded at them with a faint smile. Ella and Berilla returned the gesture, but theirs was more reluctant.
As they got closer, Hira saw Erlik, furrowed her brow, left the children, and walked quickly to the gate of the fenced garden.
She stared at Erlik sternly and authoritatively before speaking.
Hira: That man is not coming in here.
Berilla responded with a frustrated and confused voice.
Berilla: What are you talking about?Hira: Exactly what you heard. I won't allow a suspect near innocent children.
Hira wasn't wearing her work gear or leather armor, but she still had her sword at her side. She gently placed her hand on its hilt.
Erlik: (She doesn't seem like she'll draw it. She's just keeping her hand there in case I make a move, to avoid being caught off guard.)
Berilla: Don't be ridiculous, Hira. Get out of the way. Who do you think you are to claim such authority?Hira: I'm the Deputy Leader of the Village Guardians. I have the right to detain anyone I consider a suspect at our headquarters for a day. Would you like me to use that right?
As this was happening, Ella was silently staring at Hira with disappointment and sorrow. Hira, on the other hand, couldn't bring herself to meet Ella's eyes.
Hira didn't seem to have an issue with Berilla, but every time her eyes met Ella's, she quickly looked away. This made Erlik even more curious about the relationship between Hira and Ella.
Berilla: You bit...!!! Are you threatening us, Hira?!Hira: I don't want to do this, but you need to realize what you're doing. You're trying to bring a suspect into a place full of innocent children. Does that sound reasonable to you?
Just as Ella was about to intervene, Erlik stepped in—he didn't want things to escalate.
Erlik: It's fine… Let's just go.Erlik: (What she said makes sense. I can't be mad at her for that.)
Ella and Berilla looked at Erlik, ready to protest. Erlik quickly interrupted them.
Erlik: How well do you know me, girls? Can you truly say you're 100% sure I'm a good person?Ella: I...Berilla: I don't think someone who wasn't good would say that.
Erlik: Life's not that simple… Your friend Hira is right here...
Ella: But...
Erlik gently placed his hand on Ella's head and patted it.
Erlik: Don't worry. The suspicion around me will eventually disappear. Then we'll spend a whole day together at the church.
Ella smiled sadly and nodded after thinking it over. Berilla sighed.
Berilla: Alright, alright... Let's not push it. That's enough sightseeing for today.
While this was happening, the nun inside the fence had been watching everything but was too scared to intervene.
Nun: (On one side is the Deputy Leader of the Guardians. On the other, the Village Chief's daughter and that tall, handsome suspect. Yeah, that's way above my pay grade.)
While she was thinking this, another nun exited the church. She was older and clearly had an authoritative presence. She looked at the younger nun and spoke.
Elder Nun: May the light of Goddess Silvia be with you, Sister Milianna.
Milianna hadn't noticed the elder approaching because she was too focused on the argument. Startled at first, she clumsily tried to compose herself.
Milianna: M-May the light of the Goddess be with you, Sub-Saintess Periana.
Periana examined the situation without taking her eyes off the conflict, and asked Milianna:
Periana: What's happening there?
Milianna answered obediently.
Milianna: Berilla and Ella brought the stranger to visit the church. But Hira, who's here to supervise the children, says he's a suspect and won't let him enter.
Though her old features hid it well, Periana's voice betrayed her anger.
Periana: Who does she think she is, driving someone away from the house of the Goddess?
Periana began walking gracefully but firmly toward the argument. Just as Erlik and the girls were about to turn and leave, she called out:
Periana: What is going on here?
Hearing the voice, Erlik and the girls turned around. Ella lit up with joy upon seeing Periana and ran to hug her.
Ella: Aunt Periana!
Periana smiled and gently patted her head.
Periana: You're still such a child. I think it's time to grow up a little.
At that moment, Erlik leaned toward Berilla and whispered:
Erlik: Who is this woman?
Berilla whispered back:
Berilla: Sub-Saintess Periana. She's the highest authority in this church, and excluding the Overseer, she's the strongest person in our village. A level 2 Do user—and of course, a holy magic specialist since she's a church Saintess.
Erlik: (Burla had mentioned it. There were two magic users in the village. She said one of them was a fire user who lit the cooking fires. So the other one must be this woman.)
Periana's smile vanished, and she turned to Hira.
Periana: Is what I heard true? You're driving someone away from the Goddess's house without my permission?
Hira looked extremely nervous.