1.
Humans always have something missing.
– The funding has been cut again.
– I’ll earn the money, Director. In return, please just get me a small room.
– …Han, you?
For the director, who was at risk of losing the orphanage due to reduced funding, it was money.
– Hey, Nahan. Can I trust you?
– It doesn’t matter if you don’t trust me. But I trust Big Brother.
– …Damn kid, you sure talk well.
For big brother, who barely survived betrayal by his right-hand man, it was trust.
– I want to go for a walk.
– I’ll carry you. Let’s go.
– …Mm. Thanks, bro.
For a friend who was slowly losing vitality due to a rare disease, it was health.
And for Asha Mirabelle, who outwardly seemed emotionless but had the gentlest heart of all—
“This is certainly a living being.”
It was Hestia’s survival that was missing.
“…”
Srrrk.
Though her face remained expressionless, the strength in her hand gripping the collar loosened.
Time passed in silent stillness, but even that was enough for Nahan to understand.
The undefeated Hero.
Asha Mirabelle was, at this moment—
“…Show me proof.”
—More shaken than ever before.
‘Let’s keep it simple.’
Ian Red was nothing more than a fictional persona created for Asha’s sake.
By getting closer to Asha, he could monitor the movements of the Hero Party, and in the future, he could use this connection for the main quest: saving the Empress and the Hero.
‘So first, I must gain her trust as a selfless Free Priest.’
With that thought settled, Nahan slowly reached out and gently held Asha’s pale hand.
“First, please calm down.”
At Nahan’s soft whisper, Asha’s trembling gaze slowly lifted.
“If you’re already shaking like this just at the thought of encountering <Black Wolf>, then… I can’t bring myself to say what I need to.”
Crimson hair.
Faintly glowing red eyes.
An infinitely kind smile.
A firm and mature man, one that one would instinctively want to rely on, stood before her.
“No.”
But Asha pushed his hand away.
“Proof comes first.”
She was no fool like Gardner.
This man’s words could be true, but in the worst-case scenario, he could also be affiliated with <Black Wolf>.
And if—
If this man really was involved with <Black Wolf>.
Then she would behead him without hesitation.
The moment Asha, resolved, moved her hand toward the Holy Sword at her waist—
The man, rubbing his throat where he had been struck, gave an awkward smile.
“Apologies, but I have no proof.”
“…Why?”
“As the Hero should know better than anyone, the Goddess’s Blessing is not exactly a grand authority to boast about.”
Nahan absentmindedly rubbed his throat again, as if something about it bothered him.
“…That’s true.”
What Nahan said was indeed factual.
Those blessed by the Goddess usually ranked E-rank on average.
Swordsmen remained at the level of trainees, magicians only reached the third-circle stage.
The blessing never elevated a F-rank ordinary person into the realm of a superhuman in an instant; rather, it typically bestowed abilities related to protection, healing, or combat.
As if reading her thoughts, Nahan added with a bitter smile:
“The only upside is that since my ability is so insignificant, it doesn’t require Mana, Divine Power, or Aura to activate. Thus, there are no warning signs before activation and no residual traces afterward.”
“…So that’s why you have no proof?”
“Precisely.”
Nahan nodded and sighed as he rubbed his throat once more.
“My original dream was to be a Battle Priest. But I failed to achieve it, and feeling useless, I became a Free Priest instead.”
“…”
Someone who gave up on their dream due to a lack of talent.
– The chance of awakening is extremely low. It’s like finding a needle in a desert.
…Hestia.
Wasn’t she the same?
“But it’s alright. I wished to be a Battle Priest for the sake of the world, but in the end, I have been of help to you, Hero. So in a way, I have fulfilled my dream. This must also be the Goddess’s will.”
His tone was unwaveringly calm.
His physiological reactions so steady that no liar could possibly replicate them.
A man who failed due to the limits of his talent,
Yet still chose to dedicate himself to aiding others—
Unintentionally, Asha bit her lip.
‘…This is just like my first meeting with Hestia.’
Seeing Nahan’s expression reminded her of Hestia.
And at last, Asha withdrew her wary gaze.
“Where?”
Asha finally put away her killing intent.
‘Good. She finally asked.’
Having cleared the first step, Nahan prepared the groundwork for the next.
“My ability only allows me to confirm whether someone is alive at a given moment. So pinpointing an exact location is difficult. However, I did manage to learn something useful.”
“Speak.”
Right now, the main story had begun following the end of the prologue.
Among the fifteen upcoming major incidents, the one approaching first was the Persona vs. Gardner battle.
‘I must scatter the Hero Party.’
Only then, deviating from the original story, could he save Luna, the No.4 member of <Black Wolf>.
After pretending to think for a moment, Nahan whispered to Asha:
“Tomorrow night. <Black Wolf> will attack <Count Gardner’s Territory> once again.”
Twitch.
Her expression remained unreadable, but Asha’s face tensed slightly before she asked.
“Are you certain?”
“I overheard it while checking on Lady Hestia’s condition. The ones holding her captive were discussing it themselves, so it should be accurate.”
As soon as Nahan finished speaking, a question formed in Asha’s mind.
‘…Why?’
Why would they return, even though they already had Count Gardner’s treasured daughter in captivity?
‘…Could it be?’
A faint killing intent flickered around Asha, as if heat waves were rising from her body.
“They intend to use the hostage to obtain that.”
“That?”
“As a priest, you might not care for material goods, so you may not know. But they must be aiming for Count Gardner’s greatest heirloom—”
The Celestial Barrier.
A legendary item, mentioned briefly even in the original story—
An artifact that could nullify any attack once per day, resetting at midnight.
“Using a person’s life as a bargaining chip for an item… What absolute trash.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
So that’s where it was.
‘…I’ll have to steal that too.’
Having acquired unexpected information, Nahan subtly approached Asha, who was trembling with rage, while rubbing his throat.
Feigning ignorance, he grabbed her unwary hand and whispered with a bright smile,
“My apologies for offering only such meager assistance.”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Asha shook her head, her face still expressionless.
“No, if not for you, I wouldn’t have known that Hestia is alive, nor that <Black Wolf> intends to attack that place. Once this matter is settled, I will submit a request to the Empire for your reward.”
“You know as well as I do—such things hold no meaning for us. Please, use it as travel funds for your perilous journey.”
A gentle smile.
A man who exuded the crisp scent of a cool evening field.
A man whose presence made one instinctively want to rely on him.
Swoosh.
As Asha’s wandering gaze subconsciously traced his face, her eyes landed on the deep red mark on his neck.
‘…Once again, I’ve only inflicted wounds. And yet, why is he so kind to me?’
Feeling a pang of guilt, she hesitantly reached out—
“Ah.”
—Only for Nahan, as if just now noticing the injury himself, to cover it with his hand and hide it.
“It’s alright. I may not look it, but I’m quite sturdy. A wound like this will heal in no time.”
“… I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need. Had I been in your position, I would have reacted the same way. Rather, I’m simply grateful that you chose to believe me.”
He smiled once again.
…Thump.
A faint heartbeat echoed from somewhere.
“…?”
Asha felt something was off.
But there was truly no time to dwell on it.
Still expressionless, she gazed at Nahan as she spoke her farewell.
“I shall take my leave.”
“Yes, Hero. Please, in my stead, teach those Black Wolf bastards a lesson.”
Bastards?
A priest using such language?
That unexpected choice of words momentarily caught Asha off guard.
Seeing her reaction, Nahan chuckled and added.
“I’m a Free Priest, after all.”
“…Is that so.”
“It is.”
A man kind yet composed.
Who, despite everything, walked his own unwavering path.
“I will always be here. If you ever find yourself struggling, please, stop by anytime.”
“…I shall. Now, go back inside.”
“No. I will watch over you until you are out of sight.”
Seeing him escort her to the very end, Asha’s lips twitched just the slightest bit.
“Very well. Farewell.”
“Oh, and… Please, do not get hurt. I fear it would pain me more than you.”
“…Understood.”
Asha turned and walked away.
Her face, her steps, her breathing—
Everything about her remained cold.
Yet the faint glow of the setting sun bathed her in warmth.
Was that why?
As she unconsciously recalled his warmth.
She murmured his name to herself.
“…Ian Red.”
She hoped that this matter would be resolved safely,
So she could return with good news for him.
Still expressionless.
Still walking with steady steps.
And yet, just a little—
– Oh, and… Please, do not get hurt. I fear it would pain me more than you.
“…What a ridiculous man.”
A breath warmer than before.
Asha thought to herself—
If the world were filled with only men like him.
She would never have had to become a Hero.
As the sun set, she found herself hesitating, unable to easily walk away from the image of that rare, earnest man.
2.
A few hours after Asha left—
Inside a <Black Wolf> hideout, where its members had gathered.
A chilling voice echoed through the air.
“You all know about it, don’t you? Count Gardner’s greatest heirloom, the Celestial Barrier.”
“Yes, Captain!”
The resounding response of disciplined, resolute subordinates.
Black Wolf met each of their eyes one by one.
His gaze as deep as the abyss, before he declared his will.
“We’ll take it.”
“Yes, Captain!”
The new objective was set,
And the glint of bloodthirst shimmered in their eyes.
An <Transcendent>-rank artifact.
<Celestial Barrier (SS-)>.
‘…There’s no way I’m letting that slip by.’
Nahan was already salivating at the thought.
