The ss surrounding Stepping Man was close to being over, but the sa couldnt be said for the cleaning up that had to be done afterwards.
Figuring out what happened and what to do in the aftermath was the way to put this case to rest, but putting it into practice ca with its own problems. This was true both for Sem, and the inhabitants of the abandoned area.
Excuse .
Youre
Sem stood alone in front of the door to Nargavas old office. The man occupying this space was gone, but for so reason several people hung around. At a glance, Sem could see ten people, including one he knew, the manager of the communal cetery.
Im sorry, what was your na again?
O-oh, right , I didnt get to tell you. Its Rabe.
You helped us that ti Are you hurt? I ca here to examine the people who were mid-treatnt, so we should decide the order first.
A-are you sure? We dont have anything to give you.
Rabes puzzling but sincere attitude put a small smile on Sems face. He rembered that Nargava also had a good impression of him.
I said I was going to take care of patients here for a while when I ca to get his notes and docunts. We were in a hurry and only made verbal agreents, but I can more or less rember the people that talked to at the ti.
Ah, I rember hearing about that We just sort of assud youd flake out.
The thought did cross my mind too.
Hey hey
Sem ignored Rabes bewildernt and told everyone waiting outside to co in.
Everyone was wounded in so way, and went there in the hope that sohow, Nargava would be there.
Sem being there brought about a sense of relief, but also disappointnt, as it ant Nargava would not be there anymore.
You being here is a big help, it really is, but
Said Rabe, stopping before finishing his sentence.
He had a bruise on his cheek, probably from a fight.
Dont ntion it. You were hit recently Well, lets leave that be. It will heal itself soon, but be careful about hits to the head.
I will. Youre not going to be here 24/7 like Nargava right?
Yes.
Are you thinking about living here? Nevermind people here right now, but there are so who will actually reward you
Sorry.
Well Thats what I figured, Nargava was an exception. Well make do.
Rabe gave up and sighed.
I have sothing to ask. We were after him Nargava, and that led to his death. Do you resent us for it?
I guess we do.
I figured.
It seed they knew the story of Nargavas capture and death.
An excommunicated priest kidnapping children was too scandalous of a story, and anyone involved with Nargava in any way would want to know more. Sem knew how fast information spread via word of mouth.
But We all sort of figured he would die or disappear one day. Thats just the impression we got from him. I guess thats pretty pessimistic.
Well I can see that.
Even putting that aside, everyone that cos to this place is at the end of their rope in one way or another. You never know when they might be gone.
Well, it is tough for the people to give treatnt here.
If thats what you think, staying here would help.
Sem ignored Rabes sarcastic eyes.
Im not so virtuous priest, Im just an adventurer.
I guess.
So, we should only have people that should be here in the first place. That will do, right?
People that should be here?
I an people that arent excommunicated priests like Nargava and I.
Sem ignored Rabes confusion, and started laying down his plan.
There is soone I want you to introduce to .
Eh? Introduce?
The priest that performs Sacred Fire. Id like to know that person better.
In the Labyrinth City, there were temples for four gods.
Obviously, there were not just four temples. dlar alone had more than ten locations.
Many dlar temples were attached to the Labyrinth Citys schools, and Sem, a priest who was excommunicated from dlar, had mixed feelings about this.
Lowell, the temple that excommunicated Nargava, also had many locations.
When rchants ford contracts, and people of certain status were about to get married or have a marriage eting, Lowell would butt in.
Their business grew, or rather, their chances to extol the virtues of their god were many.
But, Sem was visiting a temple that belonged to neither. It was a temple of the god of harvests, Baer.
So, you think the chief of a temple like myself is going to listen to what an excommunicated priest has to say?
Are you talking about or mister Nargava?
Both!
The man with the stern expression angrily yelled.
This man was the chief of this branch of Baer, Rupard.
That Rabe Why did he send soone like you here? I was under the impression that not being intrusive was one of his features.
Now, now, lets just calm down. I am not telling you to do what I ask. All I want to do is propose that this is the perfect ti to restart the food distribution and dical treatnt in the abandoned area that stopped for so reason.
Sem noticed sothing in his travels to the abandoned area. Although there were priests that entered it to perform Sacred Fire, the only person providing dical treatnt was an outlaw excommunicated priest like Nargava.
Sacred Fire was a technique that only so priests could use. If this was being done, it ant that priests could clearly co and go without issue. And yet Nargava, who secured a room for himself and started examining people unprompted, was doing the work that should be done by the temples.
What do you an perfect ti? Anyone that works there is in for a hard ti. Muggings happen there all the ti.
If I could, I would stop sending people to perform Sacred Fire, but Not dealing with dead bodies would certainly lead to more trouble, so we are left with little choice. But if one of the priests we send is assaulted, I will stop it regardless of what anyone says.
Rupard was the chief of this branch, which was relatively small, with only around thirty people. Their main duties were marriage ceremonies of local Baer worshipers and divine services, but originally, voluntary activities specific to their sect were a part of their daily duties.
Is that threat to keep things peaceful?
Yes. Its hard to stop, since soone has to do it, but I will not have people take advantage of us.
Said Rupard with an indignant expression.
Sem did not find this unpleasant, rather, he thought what Rupard said made sense. Himself and Nargava were the strange ones for being able to adapt to that environnt. Sem felt that just sending priests in there to perform Sacred Fire was already enough self-sacrifice.
But he still chose to visit the temple.
I see. You cant expect offerings, and just going there is a big risk in itself. Nargava was strong, so no one would do anything to ss with him.
No one would do it, or maybe people that strayed off the right path, like you two. If you insist on it so much, do it yourself. Do a good enough job, and you may even be allowed to return to priesthood.
Said Rupard sarcastically, but Sem shook his head calmly.
I have little desire to go back.
So stop acting like one. It will only bring trouble.
Yes, so I propose this as an adventurer. How about you hire guards like myself, but not necessarily , to protect you?
Rupard was not expecting such a proposal.
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