I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game - Chapter 871

Side Story 46. [After Story] Torkel

Imperial Year 682.

Thirty years after the final battle against the monsters.

Everblack Empire. Imperial Capital, New Terra.

Goddess’s Order.

“I’m thinking of retiring soon.”

Rosetta said, after taking a sip of her tea.

The high priestess’s bombshell declaration made the other priests in the room freeze, and even Zenis, who had been casually sipping wine, spat it out.

But Torkel, seated across from her and calmly drinking tea, simply nodded.

“I see.”

“You’re not surprised?”

“It has been quite a long time.”

Torkel took another sip from his teacup and gazed out the nearby window.

“It’s already been thirty years since that war.”

“…”

“Several of our comrades from back then are already enjoying retirement. I think it’s a good time for you to find your own life too, High Priestess.”

“My life, huh…”

A soft smile touched Rosetta’s lips.

Her face was lined with wrinkles, and age spots had appeared, but the smile remained just as charming as ever.

“For priests like us, there’s no such thing as ‘individual lives.’ We must cast ourselves aside and live for the greater good.”

“…”

“Still, yes. My life… I wonder what I should do after stepping down as High Priestess.”

While the others cleaned up their spills, Rosetta and Torkel quietly drank their tea.

Then, as if she remembered something, Rosetta looked at Torkel.

“Oh, Torkel.”

“Yes.”

“The first clinical treatment has been released.”

“I see.”

Torkel tilted his head.

“But… a treatment for what illness?”

Rosetta replied gently.

“For leprosy.”

This time, Torkel was the one who spat out his drink.

Th𝘪𝙨 𝙘h@pƚҽr ı𝕤 pο𝓈𝖙𝓮𝗱 b𝕪 𝖪𝒾𝑡𝕖ṅℴ𝙫℮𝑙

Zenis, who had been wiping up his own mess, reached over to help clean Torkel’s as well. Torkel nodded in thanks, though he was still coughing from choking.

“Are you… serious? A treatment for leprosy?”

“The new medicine has shown effects in alleviating symptoms for the first time.”

Rosetta explained calmly.

“You may know this, but the daughter of a certain high official was afflicted. He invested in the research, and helped push national policy in that direction.”

“…”

“It’s ironic. Leprosy patients have been ignored for so long, and yet just a few words from those in power finally moved things forward.”

“No… Even so, this is… such good news.”

Torkel genuinely felt relieved.

Rosetta nodded and continued.

“It’ll probably still take a few generations before the medicine sees widespread use. And, Torkel, you likely won’t live to see the effects firsthand.”

“…”

“But hope has finally appeared. The reason I called this meeting of high priests in the capital was to share this news with you.”

Torkel, silent for a moment, slowly opened his mouth.

“It’s been proven, then.”

He placed a hand on his chest, as if in relief.

“That this disease is not some curse inflicted for sins in a past life…”

“That was already proven, wasn’t it?”

All magic had vanished from the world. And with it, curses too.

But leprosy remained. Because it had never been a curse to begin with.

“Heh. But public perception hasn’t changed much.”

Torkel slowly straightened his back.

“Still, things are gradually getting better. Compared to before…”

The hatred in people’s eyes had faded, and now even a treatment was being developed.

Someday, far in the future…

A world would come where people are not judged based on whether they carry a disease.

“Humanity will move forward. Toward better choices, toward better futures.”

Torkel smiled faintly.

“I believe that.”

Once the nationwide high priests’ meeting concluded, Torkel departed early.

The island where he served as high priest ran on his presence. He couldn’t be away for long, so he hurried.

“I wonder when we’ll see him again…”

Rosetta watched his figure grow distant through the window. Beside her, Zenis asked,

“So, Sis, what are you going to do once you retire? Finally enjoy life a little?”

“I told you. I’m stepping down as High Priestess, not giving up the priesthood. I can’t do that. Once we’re ordained, we devote our lives to the world until death.”

Rosetta flicked her priest robe lightly with her fingertips.

“But… yes. I do have something in mind.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“I was thinking of trying life as a wandering priest, like you. Traveling around, caring for the sick. Some of our old comrades are scattered across the land, so I’m sure they’d offer a meal and a bed.”

Zenis grinned slyly.

“Wanna go together?”

“I’d be grateful. You’re the expert in that field.”

“Sounds good. Been a while since I got to travel intimately with you, Sis.”

“Intimately,” he said.

The word stirred old memories in Rosetta.

“It reminds me of the days we used to travel together. We were so young then… Even though we carried the title of priest, most of what we did was kill.”

“There’s no need for that anymore.”

Zenis smiled as he looked at Rosetta, whose hands still bore the blood of those days.

“Just like you always wanted, let’s go serve the sick in the lowest places of the world. You’ll find out soon enough—it’s a hell of a lot rougher than the idealistic dream.”

“Heh… I’m already looking forward to the suffering.”

“Why would you look forward to suffering… Seriously, priests are all a bunch of perverts, I swear.”

Zenis grumbled to himself.

“But still, retirement, huh…”

Thirty years since that war.

And before they realized it, that time had come.

A few days later.

A port town in the southeastern region of the Everblack Empire.

Step, step.

Heavy footsteps echoed as a towering priest entered the docks. Despite the hot weather, the man wore his robe deeply over his head.

The dock worker dozing under the sun at the ticket booth jolted awake in surprise.

“Oh wow, Priest! Long time no see! How many months has it been?”

In response to the sailor’s greeting, the priest—Torkel—replied with a gentle yet slightly awkward tone.

“Three months. It’s been three months since I left the island.”

“Wow~, three months? Has it really been that long? Time flies, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed it does.”

Torkel smiled wryly.

“Time really flies.”

“Anyway, you’re looking for a boat to the Leper Isla—ah, no, I mean, the Island of Healing, right?”

The sailor hastily corrected himself, looking sheepish.

“Sorry about that. It’s just… I’ve called it that my whole life, so the name sticks.”

“No need to apologize. You still made the effort to correct yourself.”

The Leper Island.

It was once a feared and shunned place, where those with leprosy lived in isolation. But the perception had changed.

A proper temple of the Goddess’s Order had been built there. Exchange with the outside world became frequent. And the name had been officially changed to the Island of Healing.

Leading that entire change was none other than the High Priest of the Island of Healing—Torkel.

“The boat will depart in a few hours. Please feel free to look around while you wait.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Torkel gave a small nod, then slowly began to stroll around the dock. Stalls were scattered about, and merchants were selling various goods.

“Priest Torkel!”

“Heading back to the island?”

“I’ll give you a deal! Want me to wrap up some fish for you?”

Familiar vendors greeted him as he walked by.

He had brought back many good medicines from the Goddess’s Order headquarters, but now that he thought about it—he’d gone all the way to New Terra and hadn’t brought back any gifts or souvenirs.

‘I’ve been away from the island for three months. Maybe I should bring something back…’

As Torkel pondered what to buy, it happened.

“Hey, you there! Big guy!”

“…?”

A sharp voice called from behind. When he turned around, he saw a trio of thuggish men with rough expressions.

“You’re blocking the way just standing there. You think you own the street or something?”

It was a clear attempt to pick a fight.

Torkel was a large man, yes—but there was still plenty of room on either side of him to pass by.

Still, Torkel silently stepped aside. But the thugs didn’t stop.

“You… I’ve heard of you. Some big-shot priest on the Island of Leprosy. Got yourself a real reputation around here.”

“…”

“They say you’re some kind of saint, taking care of those lepers with all your heart. Huh? What a noble guy we’ve got here.”

Torkel glanced at a nearby merchant, who whispered quickly.

“They showed up a few days ago and have been causing trouble. Seems like they’re trying to run some kind of territory racket, picking fights wherever they go…”

“Sigh.”

Torkel let out a sigh inwardly.

Why on earth would they try something like a territory shakedown in a port town?

“If the fishermen out on long trips come back and hear about this, they’ll ‘take care of it’ soon enough. Priest, best not to get involved. We’ll handle it.”

“By ‘take care of it,’ you mean…?”

“Oh, nothing major. You see that hook over there? Sometimes we use it to hang up tunas we catch for public butchering. That one, right there…”

Fisherfolk might have warm hearts—but their fists were not so gentle.

If they heard some punks had been causing trouble in their town, it wouldn’t end peacefully. If anything, they’d likely go harder to set an example.

Judging by the ominous looks from the nearby townsfolk, the thugs were headed for a bad end.

“Hm.”

So Torkel decided to intervene himself.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“What? Priest, you don’t have to go to all that trouble—”

“It’s for their sake.”

Even villains deserved a chance to repent.

If he hadn’t encountered them, perhaps he could’ve left it be. But now that he knew their likely fate involved tuna hooks, Torkel resolved to take on the burden himself.

He slowly walked toward the three reckless thugs, like thunderclouds on legs.

“What do you want from me?”

“C’mon, does someone have to be sick to be considered pitiful? Guys like us, scraping the bottom of life, we’re really pitiful. But the Goddess doesn’t give a damn about us.”

The thugs cracked their knuckles menacingly, sneering.

“So show us some love too. In the name of the Goddess, yeah?”

“…”

“That pack on your back looks pretty full. Don’t waste it on some leper freaks—give us some instead. We’ll put it to good use, promise.”

“Understood.”

Thud!

Torkel immediately set his pack down on the ground.

The thugs thought he might actually be giving it to them.

But he wasn’t.

“True misery… isn’t poverty. Or illness.”

Leaving the pack behind him, Torkel slowly rolled his shoulders.

“It’s not knowing your own heart is diseased. That’s what’s truly pitiful.”

“What?”

“You are indeed pitiable people.”

Torkel slowly raised his thick fist forward.

“I shall guide you. Come with me.”

–TL Notes–

Tired of seeing Ads? Then please support me on Patreon! Any tier of subscription will make it so you won’t get any ads!

If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /InsanityTheGame

Join my Discord! .gg/BWaP3AHHpt