The Paladin Owns the Relic

6 – Slave Management (1)

I’m tired of dry, twisted bread.

I sat in the garden, flipped the bread and threw it into the air. Hmm. It honestly makes no sense.

I can’t believe I have to live through the day with just a few loaves of bread like this. It will definitely have an adverse effect on my growing body as well as my mind!

“Hey.”

“Uh, uh. Boss. Why?”

Hector, who was slowly fixing the wall, came running. I nodded.

“What are you doing?”

“This is working…”

“Does it look like it’s working?”

Hector’s gang wiggled between the gardens. He repeatedly tinkered with the broken iron bars, yawned leaning against the broomstick, and picked up and rolled fallen leaves.

I know it’s something that can’t be done by children. But even so, shouldn’t we show sincerity?

“Did I loose too much…”

“Very, boss…But there’s nothing more we can do.”

Okay. I did it.

They do the cleaning every morning, and Hector goes ahead with the small errands.

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Not only did he provide food rations, but he also excused himself that he had gone to the bathroom when he fell into evening prayer because it was annoying.

…Looking at it like this, it’s no different than a subordinate, right? Not a convenient guy.

I stare blankly at him. Seeing the big guy scratching the back of his head and laughing made him laugh a little.

Have you ever been attached to something?

Come to think of it, what will happen to these guys when I leave for the church headquarters? When you get older and get away from church, do you think you’ll survive by doing things like gangsters in the back alley?

“Hey.”

“Huh?”

“Do you have any plans for the future? What are you going to do for a living when you get out of here?”

“Uh, that’s…”

Hector scratched his head.

“I’m thinking of going into a place called Black Steel…”

“What are you doing here?”

“…A band of rogues?”

“It’s a thug’s lair.”

I called together Hector’s gang. Pavel from left. Linden. Marie, and…

“…Rotasha?”

“It’s Natasha?!”

“Roughly guessed.”

“Roughly?!”

I push away the fussing guy and look at them. Five in number. Next thugs. Well, women would sell their bodies.

There’s not much an orphan can do in this city. Helping out merchants, being sold into slavery, being absorbed by other gangs and running errands… Well.

Most of them went bankrupt after just living at the bottom of their lives.

“Hey. Hector.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you want my strength?”

Suddenly, the embers were lit. Eyes flocked. Maybe it was because they were still children, but their eyes were shining brightly.

“Ha, but that’s the power of a god, right? Damned Sun Godism…”

“Damn haaar?”

“…Tae, the Sun God Church. But…Even the captain, I don’t want to go there.”

“What if it’s not about joining the church?”

“… Huh?”

The means by which priests can enlist believers.

It had an additional skill effect on C-rank stigmas. The ability to imbue others with stigmata.

However, there is also a limit to the number a priest can collect, and the stigmata granted start at F rank. There are no ‘blessing’ or ‘healing’ skills that priests who are born with stigmata have.

In addition, the deletion of the other skills originally possessed. It literally turns white. With the exception of Divinity F and Stigma F, it was no different than turning them into sh*theads with only the levels intact in a clean skill window.

It can also be seen as a strange skill with a lot of penalties.

But aren’t the guys of today the same as blank paper anyway?

“Don’t trust the cult.”

I’ll make a way for me to live.

Given love and love After graduating from this withered bread.

“Trust me.”

. . .

Dubious children collected offerings. I skipped several meals a day and bought all the bread with the money I saved from running errands for adults.

“Captain. If you pickpocket…”

“If you get caught, you’re going to die? Come on. If you’re locked up, there’s no one to get you out.”

“Dae, Captain…”

“Me? What for?”

After this week, the bread piled up quite a bit. It was to the extent that even one bag could become one more.

Still, I thought it would double this.

He tutted and clicked his tongue. The upright guys flinched and trembled. I made sure no one was around and looked down at them.

“Once done, there is no turning back.”

“Well, then…”

“What?! You want to swear allegiance to me that much?! I can’t help it. They look like great guys.”

“Well, something’s wrong…”

“I understand your feelings.”

I grabbed Hector by the shoulders. I swallowed the flowing tears.

“Once a captain is always a captain… I’m thrilled.”

“I never said that…”

“Okay. Let’s begin.”

[The Crown of Ashes is activated.]

[You can decide which skills to enhance.]

With stigma.

[Ra sighs.]

[Ra orders to remove the tribute, saying that he can’t do it.]

[Holds up the dried bread and asks what to use it for.]

Ah.

It was hard to find. Rah. Just eat some.

Suddenly, I turned my back on them. He lowered his voice and whispered.

“Please raise it a little. It’s only one rank!”

– You crazy!

A sudden voice came flying.

-Do it in moderation! Do you think God’s majesty is a joke? Selling my name isn’t enough, what?! You say these pieces of bread are tribute?! There is a limit to accepting even foolishness!

“I heard you were talking about a world that will perish?! You’re the one who brought me here! To be honest, it looks like you’re trying to get me to do something… If you’re going to pamper me, do this!”

-So you’re saying take responsibility?! I said yes or no, and this cheeky thing! This is a matter of causality! I mean, I have limits too! A request is granted only when the fairness is met…Isn’t this nothing but rubbish!

“Ah, take responsibility! Take responsibility! I don’t know why! There is a god who refuses to increase the number of followers!”

-This…Damn…Is…!

Ra’s voice let out a sigh. All the dried bread disappeared, and there was a ‘thud’.

-…Only this time. Really only this time. No more. I won’t take it anymore, and if you do this sh*t one more time, I’ll shove them all in your mouth.

“Thank you. God!”

– Show your faithfulness! Damn you!

[The stigma is significantly strengthened.]

[‘Stigma’ skill level (D) -＞ (C)]

[divine laws related to stigma become stronger.]

[Your divinity will be strengthened, and you will be able to sing miracles.]

Status Window!

[Zahard Barton] [Level: 7]

[Race: Human] [Occupation: Apostle of the Sun God]

[Job Unique Skills]

-Love of the Sun God: Skills related to the Sun God grow rapidly.

– The Sun God’s Grace: The possessed holy power is quickly restored.

-Sun God’s Blessing: You can handle the sun god’s relics without risk.

– Prayer of the Sun God: Mental pollution does not work.

[Possessed Skills]

-Stigma (C): Has resistance to all demons. It can impart stigma to others. (5/5)

– Divinity (D): You can bring in the divinity of the sun god to some extent.

-Heal (F): It can remove scratches at a slow speed.

-Blessing (F): Your mood slightly improves.

-Ashes (E): Creates stinging flames when touched.

-Fire Prayer (D): When you pray, your body warms up to some extent. Slightly increases physical ability.

-Make Holy Water (F): Makes water clean.

-Sacred Barrier (F): Creates a small wall the size of a fingernail.

-Weapon Blessing (F): The sword becomes slightly sharper.

-Purification (F): Makes the curse embedded in the body unpleasant.

-Song of Fire (F): The basic swordsmanship of the Sun God. Control your body a bit.

-Crown of Ashes (EX): Offer an offering to raise the level of skills related to the sun god.

“Reach out your hands!”

I clenched my fists. He slapped the hand that held out the children as if branding them.

“Evil!”

“Oh, that hurts!”

“What is this?!”

Half-stigmatized on children’s hands. The number is just five, and it fits perfectly.

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Now, there is only one procedure left. To get the consent of the guys.

“You guys.”

I stared blankly. But in the end, I’ll let you choose whatever you want.

“Would you like to be someone else’s subordinate all your life, then get caught up in a gambling or territorial battle and search for it without leaving a name, or would you like to live a decent life, although it will be difficult for you?”

“Well, if it’s right…”

“Like a human. Huh? Like a human, eat what you want to eat, sleep when you want to sleep, and touch what you want to do.”

Hector looked at me blankly. I grinned.

“You weren’t born to live the rest of your life on dried-out bread. The choice is yours.”

Hector looked down at the back of his hand.

“…I hate the Sun God. But…”

Toreuk.

A drop of tear fell. The sadness of being an orphan and the sadness of living only licking other people’s buttholes slipped to the floor.

“…I want to live like a human.”

“Then let’s live.”

I reached out to him.

“Like a human being.”

“…Yeah. Captain.”

“Yes.”

I laughed evilly.

“I am your captain for life.”

Hector’s expression passed by, as if he was sorry for something, but alas.

What should I do? It’s already late.

I saw stigmata clearly imprinted on his hand.

“Let’s go, slaves.”

“No, slave?”

“Hmmm. Dear men.”

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Now that I have a worker, I just have to work.

“You only live once, shouldn’t you live it wonderfully!”

“No, that’s right.”

“It can’t be helped that this happened.”

“What can I do. Captain?”

“Once…”

I untied my hands clumsily.

“Roll. Execute.”