Chapter 124: Wen Qiu
The inspection time was over, and the congested crowd near the blockade gradually dispersed. Those who considered themselves healthy rested nearby, waiting for the second inspection in the evening. As for those who already knew they were infected and only came to queue with a glimmer of hope, they headed into the town. They might try their luck, whatever that might be, at places like the church, Mage Guild, or Alchemist Association. Some also left Ina Town dejectedly. Among them were those planning to secretly cross the blockade, those looking for a pleasant place to await death, and those holding onto a sliver of hope, intending to head north to Hofur City…
What Mo Tan said to the Orc earlier wasn't a rare occurrence. The intelligence that a high-ranking figure from the Holy Church United was arriving in Hofur City also wasn't big news; at least, the various churches in Ina Town had already publicized it, but it hadn't caused much of a stir…
Some time ago, Hofur City was one of the most severely affected areas by the Plague in Misha County, and the journey from Ina Town was not short. It wasn't easy for those who were already infected to go there, and any accident along the way wouldn't be surprising.
“Who knows if the news is true or false? What if those people just want us infected to die somewhere far away?”
“We just fled from the north to here some time ago, and now they want us to go back? How is that possible!”
“The Plague first broke out near Hofur City…”
“Walking all the way back without food or drink, even if someone took care of me, I might not even arrive there alive…”
“What's more, even if I really did make it…”
“Even if the Holy Church United really sent people…”
“Even if the Plague can truly be cured…”
“Would it be our turn?”
Many people thought this way. Even if hope truly existed, how likely was it to favor them?
No one knew, so…
“So, it's precisely because of these reasons that most people are unwilling to leave?” Owen sighed deeply after listening to Mo Tan's analysis. “But as long as they go, there's still hope! I believe the two Holy Maidens will definitely strive to save everyone.”
Mo Tan shook his head. “Hope isn't fair. No matter how hard the saviors try, it doesn't mean everyone will have a chance to be saved. To give a simple example, if you had the ability to cure the Plague, but at the same time, a thousand people needing salvation were queuing in front of you, what would you do?”
“I would try my best to cure every single one of them,” Owen replied decisively. “I'd give my all.”
“I believe you would,” Mo Tan smiled, then added, “But you are also human. Your magic power is limited, and you need to eat and rest, and replenish your magic power. So, what about the people who die during that time?”
Owen fell silent.
Mo Tan continued, “Now, let's assume your magic power is infinite, you don't need to rest, and you can survive on photosynthesis alone. But it still takes time to save people, right? By the time you save the hundredth person, the one queuing at position nine hundred ninety-nine might have already died. In that case, hope isn't fair to him.”
“I would prioritize treating those in the most severe condition,” Owen said softly. “Although…”
“No, no ‘although’,” Mo Tan shrugged. “That's a very correct idea. But what if a less severely infected person offered you ten thousand gold coins to save him first? What would you do?”
The old man's expression became serious. “I would refuse.”
Owen was a devout clergyman. Although he had no particular talent in divine magic and remained a low-ranking priest throughout his life, the old man's character was impeccable. For example, during the previous inspection, if Mo Tan hadn't come here today, he would have overexerted his body and magic power to continue his task, just to allow those not yet infected to escape danger sooner. However…
“I believe you wouldn't be swayed by such external things,” Mo Tan said, then suddenly changed the subject. “Hmm… by the way, you must know many other clergymen, right?”
“Yes,” the old priest nodded naturally. Although he had spent most of his life in this small town, Owen knew quite a few other clergymen.
“Then do you think all of them could remain unwavering like you, in the face of various irresistible temptations?” Mo Tan narrowed his eyes slightly, shaking an index finger. “I mean, every single one of them.”
The old man was silent for a long time, and finally shook his head with a complex expression. “I cannot say for certain.”
Although Owen very much wanted to tell the young man in front of him that he believed everyone would do so, such a thing was ultimately unrealistic, a pipe dream…
Let alone everyone, among the other clergymen Owen remembered, those who could achieve this were perhaps one in ten.
He knew this, Mo Tan also knew this, Mo Tan also knew that he knew this, and he also knew that Mo Tan knew that he knew this, Mo Tan also… sorry…
“Yes, no one can say for certain~” Mo Tan spread his hands. “It's just human nature. Clergymen are also human, and we can't be exempt from that.”
Such is the reality, whether in real life or in the Innocent World, there are no absolutely noble groups or organizations. The idea of an entire group being bad or an entire group being good only exists in fantasies, and not even reliable ones.
Many stories portray organizations that claim to be good and just, but are actually full of scoundrels from top to bottom, which is pure nonsense. And an organization where all members are compassionate and saintly is even more absurd…
Where there is light, there is shadow. Whether it's a religion, government, corporation, hospital, or charity organization, the people within them can always be described using the pattern of 'there are… and also… and even more…'.
“So you mean…” Owen looked at Mo Tan with mixed emotions. He was a little confused about what this young man was trying to convey.
“I just hope you don't worry too much about everyone,” Mo Tan glanced around at the people nearby and said softly, “We will do our best to save the afflicted, but not everyone can be saved.”
At least, that's what he thought now…
Owen, who had been loudly comforting everyone and strongly urging them to go to Hofur City for salvation after the inspection, let out a somewhat dejected, bitter laugh. “Is that why you wanted to talk to me?”
Mo Tan shrugged. “That's right. Although these are just words from someone who isn't suffering, it's the truth. Those who desperately seek a glimmer of hope for themselves will act without your persuasion. And if everyone believed us and flocked to Hofur City… whether that place could accommodate them all is also a problem. The two Holy Maidens didn't bring many people this time.”
“Perhaps that's indeed the case,” the old priest nodded. Although still somewhat unable to let go, he knew very well that what Mo Tan said was not wrong, and even understated.
Just then, Dice, the Dwarf Thief who had been maintaining order nearby, and Basa, the Orc Shaman, also strolled back, bringing someone with them…
To be precise, a child.
A little girl, an exceptionally sweet and adorable little girl.
“Grandpa Owen!” The girl, only half a head taller than Dice, saw the old priest standing opposite Mo Tan from afar. She ran over excitedly, shouting, “I'm here to find you!”
The old priest, who had originally intended to chat with Mo Tan a bit longer, immediately broke into a smile full of wrinkles upon seeing this little one. He affectionately patted the girl's head and asked with a chuckle, “How did you end up here?”
“Because you promised to tell me a story yesterday!” Wen Qiu twirled her two long pigtails and giggled as she told Owen, “I just pretended to run away to find you, which scared Sister Mona, and then I deliberately let her catch me and take me back to the church. I tricked her into thinking I'd go to sleep, then I climbed out the window of my room to sneak out and find you~”
Dice gave the girl a resentful look and pouted, “This kid is definitely good material for a Thief. I almost didn't catch her just now; she's like a Mud-Kachu from the Misty Forest area~”
Owen glared at him. “Go on, go on! What Thief, Thief! Little Wen Qiu is very well-behaved.”
The girl turned and stuck her tongue out at Dice. “Uncle Dice, don't be angry. If you get angry, you won't grow taller.”
Dice almost choked when he heard that…
“Oh? Who is this big brother?” Wen Qiu shrank her neck from the Thief who was pretending to be angry, then her big, light golden eyes looked at Mo Tan. “I haven't seen him before.”
Mo Tan smiled. “My name is Black Vatican. Hello.”
“Hehe, my name is Wen Qiu,” the girl nodded obediently, then pointed at the holy book on Mo Tan's waist and the cross wrapped around his wrist, tilting her head and asking, “Big brother is also a priest, are you going to walk with us?”
Mo Tan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. “I'm going to Hofur City. I've already been delayed here for quite a while, so…”
“Black Vatican,” Priest Owen suddenly interjected, “I have something I'd like to ask of you, so could you come back to the church with me for a bit later?”
A system prompt immediately sounded in Mo Tan's ear.
“Side Quest Triggered.”
…
Ten minutes later
Ina Town, Dawn Church, a certain room
“You wish for me to take Wen Qiu to Hofur City?”
Mo Tan sat on a slightly worn chair, his expression somewhat hesitant.
The old priest sighed softly. “That's right. Since you intend to go there and meet with the Holy Maiden and her companions, I hope you'll take that girl with you. Wen Qiu is still quite healthy now and hasn't contracted the Plague, but she is still a child with weak resistance. The others in the church and I are worried that over time, problems might arise…”
“I understand,” Mo Tan nodded, then smiled somewhat awkwardly. “But I don't have much experience taking care of children, and the journey might not be safe. I'm a little worried I won't be able to protect her…”
His words were not without reason, but they weren't the main point.
In fact, the primary reason Mo Tan didn't immediately agree to Owen was because of his own identity.
He wasn't just an ordinary Dawn Sect priest; he was also a player!
And a player with very unstable online time at that…
It was important to remember that Ina Town was not close to Hofur City. Even if Mo Tan rode his little white horse and rushed at full speed, he wouldn't be able to reach there in a single day, let alone with a child.
So the problem arose…
What if he disconnected midway?
It was fine when he was alone; if he disconnected, he disconnected.
But if he was with the girl named Wen Qiu…
It would be fine for Mo Tan as a player, but what about the little girl?
Whether he went offline by disappearing or by fainting, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“No, I must find a way to refuse!”
Mo Tan thought to himself.
“I understand your concerns,” Owen said softly.
“No! Sir, you really don't understand!”
“But Wen Qiu is a very obedient child; she shouldn't cause you any trouble…”
“I'm afraid I'll cause her trouble!”
“Furthermore, our Ina Town is on the edge of the Plague zone, and many people arrive every day. While we clergymen and people with some strength like Dice are fine, children with weaker physical constitutions are very susceptible to infection.”
“Sir! I understand all of that!”
“Plus, that girl is not at all well-behaved. She's always appearing and disappearing, and sometimes you lose track of her if you're not careful. It's really unsettling.”
“You just said she was obedient earlier? Uh… wait a moment…”
“Really, no matter how much you look, you can't find her, and then she always inexplicably runs back from outside the church or pops out of some nook or cranny. What if something goes wrong…”
“Huh!?”
Mo Tan finally couldn't help but interrupt Owen's rambling. “Please wait a moment. Can you first tell me where Wen Qiu came from? Was she originally a child from the town, or…”
“No,” Owen immediately shook his head. “Little Wen Qiu appeared in town a few days ago. At that time, the Plague here wasn't so severe. Mona and a few apprentices happened to be going to buy some things that day, and when they came back, she was already at the church door. I, who had been here the whole time, hadn't even noticed…”
Mo Tan pondered for a moment, then stood up and said, “I'll go talk to little Wen Qiu.”
With that, he quickly left the room.
…
A moment later, Novice Priest Mona's room
“My apologies~ I'll just chat with her for a bit,” Mo Tan said apologetically to Mona. “Thank you for your trouble.”
The latter smiled and shook her head. “It's fine, I've already disciplined her. You two take your time.”
Then she reached out and pinched Wen Qiu's little face, her eyes red, and left the room.
Mo Tan looked down at the girl in front of him, whose eyes were wide open, and whose head seemed to have little question marks floating above it…
She appeared to be eleven or twelve years old, with long pigtails, a delicate and lovely face radiating vitality, and a pair of clear, light golden eyes like crystals, filled with innocence and curiosity.
The mini-version of the priest's robe she wore made her appear even more innocent and adorable.
Clean, pure, innocent, harmless…
Wen Qiu was such a girl, consistent both inside and out~
“Alright, big brother is going to ask you a question, okay?” Mo Tan half-squatted in front of the curious girl and patted her little head.
“Okay~” Wen Qiu nodded quickly.
“How many steps does it take to put an elephant in a refrigerator?”
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-One: End