Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 280

After a while, the priest in question approaches us, perhaps finished with the consultations. 

He is short and stocky, appearing more muscular than overweight. He resembles the type often found among the sword-and-shield soldiers of the Sword Fangs Legion. He seems to be in his forties.

With his thick eyebrows and large, lively eyes, there is an inexplicable charm about him.

“I apologize for interrupting you during your busy time. We are introduced by Father Serio, and I am Kenji,” I greet him.

“Ah, from Father Serio! I’m Vasquez. Please, make yourself at home. I’m glad you came,” he says, shaking my hand firmly. Afterward, he personally pulls out a chair for me and encourages me to sit down, then hurriedly fetches his own chair, quickly setting the stage for our conversation.

“Here is the letter of introduction.” Impressed by his busy yet humorous movements, I hand him the parchment from my pocket.

“Let’s see… Ah, as expected from the renowned scholar, Father Serio. He writes beautifully,” Father Vasquez says, leaning in to read the letter and nodding exaggeratedly.

He leans in close to read the letter of introduction and nods exaggeratedly. Such words might sound sarcastic coming from someone who seems like a brilliant priest, but from this rotund, older priest, they sound purely like a compliment, which feels strange.

That said, unsure if I should agree with him, I offer an ambiguous response. Father Vasquez waves his hands in front of his face, indicating that I need not worry about it.

“I really envy someone as young and talented as him. I got into faith late; I didn’t start training to be a priest until I was quite old. But I guess it can’t be helped, since I’ve awakened to the path of faith. I’m in good health, so I go around to churches in rural areas. Since last year, I’ve been transferred to the church in this district. I don’t feel at home in a church that doesn’t smell like the earth.”

Since the church is an organization made up of people, there are all kinds of individuals within it. While there are bureaucratic talents like the young people under Father Nicolo, there are also people like Father Vasquez who have worked their way up through experience. Even now, I feel overwhelmed by the depth of talent within a large organization like the church.

◇　◇　◇　◇　◇

After that, we spent about an hour chatting, introducing ourselves, explaining the contents of the letter of introduction, and discussing the purpose of my visit while seeking Father Vasquez’s opinion.

“Hmm. Adventurers, you say? I can’t really talk much about my own background, but many of the people who come to our rural church are quite a bunch of thugs,” he says bluntly. “They stop by to slay terrible monsters, so they must be quite on edge. Plus, they are armed, which may inflate their egos. They often get into fights with the hot-headed young men of the village. I am constantly called to mediate. To be honest, I feel relieved when they leave the village.”

As Vasquez frankly explains the poor impression of adventurers from the perspective of the rural church, I can’t help but feel a sense of despair.