Chapter 39: The Church of God’s Recruitment Drive

Today’s luck was truly exceptional. I stumbled upon a mid-level escort mission with a minimum rank requirement of Level 3, offering a substantial reward of 800 Sila, and remarkably, only a 100-point guarantee was needed—a sum I just happened to possess.

However, the specifics of this commission…

“Escort a priest from the Church of God to and from Tedlerus Town in the north. Only responsible for protection en route; no further guarding is required once delivered to the local church at the destination.”

“Pickup and drop-off location for escorted personnel: Partington Cathedral.”

The key points were clear: I was only responsible for protection en route, with no further obligations upon arrival, and the remuneration was generous.

This was perfect, a mission seemingly tailor-made for me. With my ability to fly, everything would be handled swiftly and securely.

After carrying Angelina home last night, I felt fully confident in escorting the priest myself.

Moreover, there was no fear of revealing my angelic identity; being from the church, they had likely already been fully briefed by Sally.

Having spent my last meager remaining points to accept the mission, a sudden thought struck me: although I felt confident in handling this solo escort task without significant danger, it was always better to be safe when venturing far from home.

Thus, I immediately rushed back to my residence and retrieved a longsword hanging behind the door.

This longsword, purchased downstairs from Tiffany’s place for a mere 100 Sila, was primarily for my missions; Angelina, with her Qi-Condensed Sword, naturally had no need for it.

It wasn’t particularly convenient to carry under normal circumstances, so I usually kept it at home, only returning to fetch it when necessary.

‘That’s why I need a storage ring…’ I mused.

I couldn’t help but sigh. Reflecting on my current meager savings, I reluctantly fastened the longsword to my waist, finding its presence quite unfamiliar.

Then, I headed straight for Saint Mary Street, the location of Partington Cathedral.

Upon my first arrival at this street, whose very name sounded peculiar, I noticed that amidst the bustling crowds, there were countless laborers distributing flyers.

“Hello, welcome to the Church of God! Interested in learning more? Join now and receive a discount on holy water!”

A small boy darted out from seemingly nowhere, thrust a leaflet into my hand, and then vanished just as quickly.

A familiar tactic!

I glanced at the paper in my hand. First to catch my eye was an enormous crucifix, followed by the activity details prominently displayed in large, bold letters below.

[Great news! Register now as a church member and instantly receive Supreme Level 1 membership, granting you numerous exclusive privileges.]

[I. Supreme Confession Channel, bypassing the hassle of queues.]

[II. Dedicated Supreme Confession Room, ensuring privacy and preventing eavesdropping.]

[III. Pay now to join the Holy City Pilgrimage Group and upgrade to Level 2 membership, with a chance for intimate contact with His Holiness the Pope.]

[IV. Holy water discount…]

…

Only at the very end were various introductions about the Church of God, including membership requirements, contact address, and contact person, among other details.

The contact address conspicuously listed was “Partington Cathedral.”

‘What exactly are these church people up to?’

Even the namesake church on Earth wasn’t this extravagant. I rubbed my throbbing temples, tossed the flyer into a nearby trash can, and continued my search for the cathedral’s location according to the address.

Saint Mary Street was arguably one of the widest thoroughfares in the entire Royal City, spacious enough to accommodate several carriages abreast.

The roadside was lined with shops selling various ecclesiastical items, including clerical vestments, holy water, crucifixes, and scriptures, forming a distinctive themed street.

Partington Cathedral stood majestically at the very end of the street, its pointed roof visible atop the domed main building from a great distance.

‘Finally, I have to enter this cathedral,’ I mused, standing in the center of Partington Plaza before the main entrance. I expressionlessly regarded the seven collected flyers in my hand before throwing them forcefully into a trash bin once more.

‘The thought of this Church of God’s connection to angels always fills me with a certain unease,’ I mused.

Though Sally had enthusiastically invited us back then, we had deferred, citing our registration with the Adventurers’ Guild. Subsequently, we remained preoccupied with missions, leaving no time for leisure.

Furthermore, due to the church’s unique background, I harbored some reluctance about visiting this place. However, this time it was for a mission, and earning money was paramount, so I had no choice but to brave it.

At this moment, the cathedral entrance saw very little foot traffic, with only a few solitary carriages parked by the roadside and no guards whatsoever at the door.

Inside was a moderately sized antechamber. Against the wall, an angelic statue stood in a fountain, a water bottle in its hand continuously spouting pure, clean water.

I sensed a considerable amount of light elemental energy within the water. Could this be the fabled holy water?

I cautiously dipped a finger in, dabbed a little, and sniffed it; there was no discernible scent. Then I tasted it—it seemed much like ordinary water. I was about to immerse my hand further…

“What are you doing?”

“Whoa—!”

The sudden voice startled me, and I immediately hid my hand behind my back.

‘Wait, why am I hiding? It’s just water, after all.’

The speaker was a middle-aged priest, wearing attire somewhat similar to Jia Boli’s earlier outfit, though his was white.

His voice, deep and resonant, carried an air of undeniable authority.

“This is our church’s holy water. Please don’t tamper with it unnecessarily.”

‘So it *is* holy water,’ I thought, pursing my lips. ‘Just mix in some light elements and call it holy water? I feel like I could make and sell this myself at home.’

‘If that’s the case, wouldn’t I make a fortune?’

‘Hey, that’s a brilliant idea!’ My eyes lit up as I suddenly discovered a new frontier for earning money. ‘I’ll discuss it with Angelina when I get back today.’

But now, serious business was at hand, so I quickly explained my purpose.

“I’m here on an Adventurers’ Guild commission to escort your church’s priest.”

“Ah, so you’re from the Guild!”

Upon hearing this, he immediately understood, directing me to wait in the inner hall while he went to inform the bishop.

Stepping into the main hall, I noticed that its layout looked remarkably similar to a Church of God cathedral on Earth.

It was still filled with long pews, a table stood on a raised platform at the front, and behind it, against a stained-glass window, a crucifix prominently displayed a man hanging upon it.

‘What the hell is this?!’

‘How could it be so identical? I absolutely refuse to believe this has no connection to transmigrators.’

‘This church is truly unsettling; the feeling of being back on Earth makes me incredibly uncomfortable, as if some hidden conspiracy lurks within.’

“You must be the escort for this mission?”

Soon, an older church official entered through a side door. His attire was similar in style to the previous priest’s, though its color seemed a touch… yellow.

“Yes, that’s right.”

It was my first time undertaking such an escort mission alone, so I quickly straightened my posture, aiming to appear utterly dependable to the commissioning party.

“This is my mission card.”

I presented my credentials. The man was indeed the bishop; upon seeing the mission card, he nodded immediately and then addressed me.

“Flora?”

“That’s me.”

“I am Stilwell Lister, the Bishop of this Partington Cathedral, and you are the amnesiac angel Sally spoke of, aren’t you?”

“Uh…”

‘I hadn’t expected him to be so direct, seeing right through me. Even with a name, there could be others with the same one.’

“Yes! That’s right! It’s me!”

A triple confirmation. It was inevitable I’d be recognized sooner or later, so I might as well be straightforward.

“Then, would you be interested in joining my church?”

“……”

‘That smile again! It was the same when Jia Boli tried to rope me in. The Church of God’s pyramid-scheme smile, still vivid in my memory.’

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.”

I answered bluntly, utterly fed up with this church. Whether on Earth or in this other world, they were perpetually recruiting, like persistent ghosts.

“There’s no need to refuse so quickly. You should consider it; ordinary people don’t receive such treatment. It’s precisely because angels are naturally adept at light magic that I extend this invitation. Many noble scions skilled in light elements travel great distances to join us…”

As expected, he wouldn’t give up easily, continuing his persuasion relentlessly.

‘Ordinary people don’t get this treatment?’ I thought.

I scoffed, a shiver still running down my spine at the memory of what I’d encountered before entering the cathedral.

“Then what about all those people distributing flyers on Saint Mary Street outside?”

“Oh, you mean that promotional drive!”

Bishop Lister, hearing this, suddenly understood.

“They are merely recruiting the lowest-tier congregants, who can never ascend to higher ranks. After all, broadly gathering believers is one of our church’s tenets. But you are different; as an angel, joining our church offers numerous benefits. For example, your status would be exceptionally high from the outset.

“While ordinary congregants might reach Level 3 membership at most, you would enter as a Super Supreme Level 12 member, even surpassing me in rank.”

‘Bishop, what’s with that expression? You look exactly like someone trying to con a little girl into buying goldfish.’

“Furthermore, having lost your memory, you surely haven’t mastered light magic, have you? Join now, and you can freely access all our church’s light magic scriptures. We’ll provide professional instructors, offering lessons at your convenience, on call whenever you need them…”

“Hold on!”

I quickly interjected. This series of tactics felt all too familiar, akin to an otherworldly church’s advertisement.

Glancing around, I saw no one else besides us two. I quietly stepped closer and asked,

“You wouldn’t happen to be a transmigrator, would you?”

“A transmigrator? What is that? Is it another name for angels?”

To my surprise, his reaction was far from what I expected; he genuinely didn’t know?

“I apologize, but while I deeply aspire to become an angel, I am indeed merely an ordinary bishop.”

As he spoke, he straightened his back and tidied his vestments.

‘Alright, he doesn’t seem to be faking it,’ I conceded, feeling defeated.

“Then… are all those conditions you mentioned true?”

Even though I felt a pang of shame, I had to admit I was tempted.

The terms were simply too generous; such wealth was irresistible. I was desperately short on money, my household funds depleted by Angelina, and the prospect of free magic lessons felt like a luxury only a tycoon could afford, alleviating immense financial pressure.

“Of course.”

Bishop Lister, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips, personally assured me.

‘This good? I almost blurted out my agreement, but then a more crucial question suddenly came to mind.’

“May I also ask…”

I leaned in cautiously.

“Can my status upon joining be so exalted that I wouldn’t need to read scriptures, pray, or attend your church’s gatherings?”

“Well…”

He immediately frowned upon hearing this.

“Wouldn’t that be… inappropriate?”

“Though you are an esteemed angel, you are still a servant of the Lord. If even these fundamental activities are excused, where then lies your faith?”

‘So, after all that, there’s no escaping it,’ I thought, pursing my lips. ‘Talking about faith with me? At least, I don’t believe in *this*.’

“Then, forget it.”

‘I had initially considered countering with something like ‘wine and meat pass through, Buddha remains in the heart,’ but then realized such a mismatched idiom might not be understood.’

“I see…”

A look of disappointment instantly clouded his face.

“No matter, you can take your time to consider it and reply later.”

‘No need to consider,’ I thought. ‘I won’t fall for it again. I almost got swindled once more.’