Chapter 4

Adeba is dead.

There's no doubt about it. Abigail did it. Known as Abby, the "Queen Bee."

◇◇

I collapsed and was carried to a nearby cheap inn by the worker bees, the kids led by the Queen Bee.

When I opened my eyes, despite the unbearable headache, I met the gaze of the worried-looking demon girl.

"Ah, Dee. You're awake!? That's great. Abby!"

In my blurry vision, Abby leaned in to look at my face.

Abby took my hand and rubbed her cheek against it, almost dreamily.

"…Dee, I'm glad. You're going to lift all of us out of this cesspool. I'm glad… really glad… that you are our destiny…"

This murderer.

I don't want to be anyone's destiny.

I will definitely escape.

"…Dee, you've been asleep for three days. It must have been a message from Asclepius. Even a hag like her, a herald is a herald. She must have given you her final blessing…"

A message from Asclepius? That?

《The one who is all and one. The one who is all and many.》

《The one who is many and all. The one who is all and eternally one.》

《The two hands of Asclepius. One heals, one takes.》

Abby asked gently.

"Did you receive the message from Asclepius?"

"Yes…"

I answered briefly, and Abby's smile deepened as she looked around at the other kids.

"Dee. This prayer is yours alone. Recite it every day without fail. Then Asclepius will teach you everything. You don't need to go to that damned church."

That's right.

I must pray as a devout apostle of Asclepius.

I must offer my prayers to my beloved mother and receive the strength to live another day.

Mother is merciful and jealous. The stronger the prayer, the better the quality of the offering on the altar of sacrifice.

—What a miserly woman.

Mother is cheap and stingy. Even after all the blood, sweat, and tears, she only gives a little bit of power.

I know. I know everything.

Diethardt Becker.

You hated such a goddess…

And you pushed your fate onto me.

◇◇

My prayer is incomplete.

It stops halfway.

It must be because Abby killed Adeba.

Adeba tried to convey everything until her last moment, but she couldn't.

Adeba… an unknown, filthy old woman.

Rest assured.

Mother is cheap and stingy—and loves revenge.

I pray in my heart.

《The two hands of Asclepius. One heals, one takes.》

There's no need to leave anything behind.

Adeba. Unknown, filthy old woman. Rest in peace in Mother's embrace.

Mother loves bitter irony and fierce revenge.

One day—

The Queen Bee will receive her due for this atrocity.

I cut the sign of blessing.

◇◇

The next morning.

In a small, dirty room in the cheap inn, a large room that could fit four or five adults. About ten kids were packed in there.

I was sleeping on the best bed, hugging Abby.

"Abigail…?"

The demon girl, dwarf, cat girl, and rabbit girl who had slept with us before were huddled on separate beds. Probably Abby's orders.

The special treatment is nice but too obvious.

Evil begets evil, and good begets good. This will also sow the seeds of karma.

As I sat up, Abby's eyes opened slightly.

"Good morning… Dee. Call me Abby…"

Too familiar. But…

"Yeah, Abby…"

It makes it easier to handle.

Right now, I look like a scrawny kid, but inside, I'm an old man. I can make this group a little better.

…Well, whether it actually happens or not depends on Abby and the kids…

◇◇

That morning, in the room of the cheap inn, Abby was distributing portable food, like biscuits, to the kids.

"Abby, aren't we going to the church's food distribution this morning?"

"Hmm…"

Abby turned around, and her face looked gaunt. I had forgotten… even someone who can kill like a grown-up still needs adult protection.

"Feed them properly. They won't have any strength with just this."

Pointing at the three or so biscuits handed to me, Abby nodded unusually obediently.

"Yeah, you're right. Let's do that."

The rations doubled, and the kids were overjoyed, but Abby was shaking her hip pouch upside down and smiling wryly.

"That's it… there's nothing left…"

Abby must have squeezed out the last of the meager food.

The money for the inn and food is gone.

That's the situation. Still, the fact that she listens to me suggests that the position of 'priest' is very advantageous.

"Do you have any money?"

"…"

Abby shook her head tiredly and stared at my face.

"What did you do with the money you got from Adeba? The dead don't need money."

"I'm not a devil. I let her keep it…"

"I see."

She didn't want to, but she had no choice.

I don't fully understand, coming from another world, but Abby must have taken such a risk to secure the position of 'priest.'

After thinking for a while—

"If I say I'll do it, is there a way?"

At my words, Abby's face lit up with a smile.

"If you say so, then yes!"

She must have been counting on it from the start. Otherwise, the good treatment wouldn't make sense.

The kids have been struggling for a long time.

If I can do something, I have to do it. And the Diethardt Becker inside me says I can.

First—

I need to figure out what I can and cannot do.

◇◇

Abby and the kids left the inn.

The scent of sand carried by the wind.

Looking up, the sun floating in the sky was glaringly bright.

The nights are freezing cold, and the days are scorching hot.

It's a harsh environment for a 'human.' If Abby hadn't found me, I would have died. Personally, I owe her a debt of gratitude.

"So, what do we do?"

Abby nodded slightly.

"We'll be healers."

Abby's plan from there was as follows.

I, Diethardt Becker, have the power of 'Asclepius' as a 'priest.'

The typical power is the ability to heal and cleanse darkness. There are other abilities as well, but I don't know what they are. The Diethardt inside me won't answer either.

If it's just healing, there's a lower-class job called 'healer' for priests, but a 'priest' is the higher version of a healer.

"Dee, you'll use your power to make some money."

"Will that make money?"

"Yeah. It would be best to get healing at the church, but they demand exorbitant donations. There are plenty of fake healers, and we'll mix in and make some money."

It sounds simple, but will it be that easy?

"I'll bring in the customers. Then it's your turn, Dee."

The demon girl tugged at my sleeve.

"Can you do it?"

"I will."

I have to do something to survive, not just in this world. I managed to do well in the other world. It won't be different here.

"If it goes well, we'll be done with those sewers."

"Right."

At the very least, I need to secure a place to live and food. If we stay in that place, I won't last long as a 'human.'

"…"

Suddenly feeling a sense of unease, I looked around and saw that the eyes of nearly ten kids were focused on me.

Abby said,

"Dee, you're the No. 2 from now on."

I don't see much value in that position. But if I don't do something, I'll end up a homeless kid. I can't have that.

Without answering, I cut the holy sign with my right hand.

—May Mother's blessing be upon us.